Featured set of the day: Silver Mine Shootout
Posted by Huw,
Our 'featured set of the day' series of articles highlights sets that are special in some way to a reader. If you'd like to make a nomination, please contact us!
Today's has been selected by Your_Future_President:
I know what you are thinking: this is such a lacklustre set. Why should you even keep on with this article? Good question—I’m glad you asked. Keep on reading to find out!
This might not be considered one of the classics, but this set not only was the foundation of one of my greatest MOCs of all time, but also the foundation of my new hobby.
Growing up, The Lone Ranger was one of my absolute favourite TV shows. The bad acting, the reuse of the same horse riding scenes in almost every episode, and the riding into the sunset combined into the ideal show for me. So when I saw that Lego was producing a theme based on it (albeit based on a failure of a movie), I decided it was time I got back into Lego.
I purchased some of the lower priced sets such as 79106 Cavalry Builder Set, 79107 Comanche Camp, and 79108 Stagecoach Escape. They were pretty good sets, packed with fun action features and lots of horses.
Nevertheless, the crown jewel (or at least as I saw it at the time) was 79110 Silver Mine Shootout.
To me the nostalgia of having not only Ranger and Tonto, but also their archenemy Butch Cavendish in one set was enough to make me giddy. And to have two random characters that I couldn’t care less about (but could perform all the actions nameless goons do) just added icing on the cake.
However, this being one of my first larger sets, I didn’t know better at the time than to just build it on top of the box it came in (big mistake). This led unfortunately to structural instability in time to come. I eventually just took it apart. This, though, was not the end of its legacy.
I used the pieces and built what time would turn an amazing Batcave—one of my most prized MOCs. The various slopes in the Silver Mine proved invaluable in designing a cave environment. I even kept over some of the more obvious functions such as the trapdoor.
As time passed, I added a helipad, several waterfalls, trophy room, suit chamber, bat-poles, and a space shuttle launch pad. I even added retractable walkways (to keep intruders from advancing to the batcomputer). Well, I could go on describing my MOCs forever (couldn’t we all), but to save your sanity I’ll stop there.
My Lego collecting did not end with that one set I wanted so much: I moved on to other themes.
Even though the Silver Mine no longer had a place on my shelves, it would always have a permanent place in my heart.
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44 comments on this article
This set always looked cool to me.
The Lone Ranger sets were quite good, given the relatively poor quality of the film. I bought this set for its passing similarity to Bandit’s Secret Hideout from the 1990s Western theme. It has a lot of play features and useful pieces for MOCing, while still looking good for display.
Really would like western sets to make a comeback, but it seems unlikely without a major movie tie-in these days. Maybe Disney will get the license for F-TROOP lol
I actually really really like the movie. Probably an unpopular opinion. I only have the two cheapest sets from the wave: the Cavalry battle pack and the Comanche Camp, because they came out at a time when I could only get what my parents would buy me. I wish I got the Silver Mine, as well as Colby City and the Stagecoach. They are pretty decent western-themed sets. I've been meaning to try and get them on BrickLink
Meah ! Western again...Who wants western besides the majority of AFOL's..... but not LEGO Company?
Loved the movie, loved the sets, have em all. The 79111 Constitution has been on display ever since, for a while I had even modified the Silver Mine shootout so the train would with through it and extended the entire thing with pieces from the other sets to make it even bigger.
I used the silver mine set (or two!) and turned it into a train tunnel with a skull piece on top with cannons out the eyes. Was a perfect fit for my steampunk-ish western layout. Link here if you want to see a pic: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55973205 @N08/43142969942/in/album-72157637424318833/
@legolover777 said:
"How could you call this lackluster!? This set was awesome."
This is indeed a great set; probably the best mine-based set of all time. Even though it's mostly just a pile of dirt and rocks, all of the added features make it so versatile, interesting and unique. Very well designed set.
This was a great set! I never saw the film, but this was too cool to pass up. Fun build, good parts and was like an amped up version of one I had as a kid: 6761 Bandit's Secret Hide-Out. I love how much there is going on inside and all the play elements.
I love this set, I managed to pick this up 2 years ago for £30 new in box on ebay, even though the film was a missed opportunity by Disney, the Lego sets however I feel are great sets, this set in particular has so much play value. The wild west is a theme one I really wish Lego would revisit
The Constitution Train Chase set was one of the best trains that Lego have done in recent years.
I bought the sheriff and bank set to supplement my Legoredo stuff from times past. The Tonto head is too freakazoid for my taste and now lives with my Lego zombies. But his costume is great and was given a replacement face and hands so he looks like one of my "classic" native americans.
I got the train, stagecoach and the "battle pack" from the film. I keep telling myself I need to get back on Bricklink and "complete the wave" one of these days. This set has always caught my eye, just big enough to form a nice backdrop for a western scene. One of these days...
The Western teme is beloved by many and I also like the movie.
Thanks guys! I wasn’t sure how well this set would be received. But I’m glad to know I’m not the only one to like this set and theme!!
Always wanted the Colby City set because...well...
I bought this set because it was so cheap way after the movie. I wasn't even going to get it, a total lark. I was stunned by how good it was. It is a perfect playset and anyone would be happy to have it. As a side note, the henchman's head is a great Pre Vizla from the Clone Wars.
Lone Ranger was a good theme and this was a good set.
I never watched the movie but I liked most of the sets for how you can use them in your own story. The funny bit is, for those who watched "The Lego Masters", the judges Amy and Jamie kept telling anyone who would listen: "your creation must tell a story". Lego, do you know what tells a story? answer: classic space, castle, pirates, western, adventurers, exo-force and probably a few more. Know why? because this is the story that we build out of our own imagination(i.e. TRUE creativity), this is not just the reenactment of a movie. Movie tie-ins are bad because if the movie is bad suddenly the theme is abandoned - there will always be large legion of fans of the above themes - just make them generic - there is ample material without the need of a specific movie and buyers will flock in. We keep saying that to Lego and yet, nothing... Maybe they know better than us what we like. As for kids, they got their sets from their parents who will remember fondly playing with these themes being AFOLS or not.
Love this set, got it aftermarket a few years ago and thanks to the poor reception of the film these sets were still pretty affordable aftermarket! It looks awesome displayed, and has great playability as well! I agree that it was nice to have some Western sets again, even if they were not "true" Westerns!
Hey! I had this one! (Before breaking it down for parts that is)
I always appreciate the landscape heavy sets so this looks cool to me!
This was a great set. Extremely fragile as well (wasn't just your box). Spectacular parts pack.
I bought the stagecoach, which is a really attractive set. Then decided to get the rest of the theme, except the train, it was too expensive. I've sold a lot of my Lego sets on eBay recently, but this theme I'm holding on to. Now should I buy the train...
I think we can all agree that the movie was pretty terrible ... but the sets were fantastic. I'm with you on the mine, I think it looks brilliant. Me? I absolutely loved the Constitution train set. It's a beautiful Western steam engine (it could use some more carriages, but that's true of most of Lego's trains).
@Murdoch17 said:
"I used the silver mine set (or two!) and turned it into a train tunnel with a skull piece on top with cannons out the eyes. Was a perfect fit for my steampunk-ish western layout. Link here if you want to see a pic: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55973205 @N08/43142969942/in/album-72157637424318833/"
A bit OT, but your cannons-as-eyeballs are very clever. Your idea?
IIRC the set was not discounted much (and when it was clearance priced it went quick) however it really is a treasure trove of parts, especially rock type pieces and small gauge train rails. Coupled with the figures it actually is a great set, especially if you found it on discount.
I was too young to see the movie, but I really wanted most of the sets. This one I didn’t care for as much as the others, but I was very intrigued by Colby City and the Stagecoach.
There’re also generally good value for what they’re worth. For example, this one can be found on Bricklink for $120 AUD. Not bad for a set as neat as this.
This by far was one of the top sets for my kid. It was in his top three Christmas wants that year. It is a scenery set with lots of hidden and special features, and the set was not primarily focused on a vehicle. We still have it all together and displayed. He got a ton of play value from it.
Love this set and the theme. I purchased all the sets as I love the western theme, most were discounted decently, and the movie was fun to watch. Not the best as far as movies go and some parts that brought an audible "stupid" from my mouth, but still fun, which made me think the LEGO sets would be cool to have as they had a lot of cool play features. I still need to convert my constitution train to be motorized so it can cruise around the LEGO city on special occasions.
Great set, I got it fairly recently on eBay. I’m only missing the train from the theme.
I enjoyed the heart of your article though...the fact that the set brought you back and it became a foundation for something else.
@WemWem said:
"The Lone Ranger sets were quite good, given the relatively poor quality of the film."
The movie was actually fantastic. Glad the sets matched that. Wish I had gotten some.
Even though the film was not good in really any way, the sets pretty great
never watched the film but,....
Nameless Goons Forever!!!!!!!
I loved the movie. Don't know why but I see it as an enjoyable, funny movie. It was on last Saturday night locally and I made sure to watch it. Don't understand all the hate? Is it the story? The acting? The Depp? Whatevernreason it is that people don't like it, to me its underrated. I was too late to pick up any of the LEGO sets from this line so I'm jealous everytime I see one posted.
I think i'd like to see that Batcave Your_Future_President,
A great set
I love this set - don't think it's lackluster at all! I love how complex it is, with lots of moving parts and little nooks and crannies on all sides. It's got a wild, nutty MOC-like design which is awesome. It was very enjoyable to build and I still have it on display! The minifigs are great too, especially for an older set.
Nothing wrong with this set... to me the only lackluster one in the theme was the town set. One of the few themes too where I have all minifigs from
Never saw the movie but I love the tv show. I have this one, the stagecoach, and the cavalry pack.
I love all the Lone Ranger sets. Trying to find a way to watch the movie for the past two years, but no such luck! I might watch it on amazon video this week...
@Judgeguy said:
"I actually really really like the movie. Probably an unpopular opinion. I only have the two cheapest sets from the wave: the Cavalry battle pack and the Comanche Camp, because they came out at a time when I could only get what my parents would buy me. I wish I got the Silver Mine, as well as Colby City and the Stagecoach. They are pretty decent western-themed sets. I've been meaning to try and get them on BrickLink"
That makes two of us! I got the cavalry and stagecoach ones
@Your_Future_President @Huw Haha u got me! I bought this set after reading this article as well as watching the movie!
@Your_Future_President
Can you put link to your Batcave? THX
A great Lego theme, even if only to get western Lego back.
...and I liked the film too. (Not sure why it gets such bad press!)
Great set and underrated movie. :)
I think a big problem with this theme was the pricing. The sets were just too expensive, maybe because of the involved license. I remember always looking at this set in our toy store - and always putting it back on the shelve because of the price. Luckily I later got one used at a decent price. I am really happy with it and bought Colby City and the stagecoach used, too.
The movie is definitely not overwhelming, but also by far not as bad as many say - it is enjoyable, I like it. :)
Thanks for the shoutout to this set!