Review: 60279 Fire Hazard Truck
Posted by CapnRex101,
60279 Fire Hazard Truck includes an innovative steering mechanism which requires two unique components. These have been integrated nicely and function effectively as suspension, befitting this robust vehicle and recalling the suspension element launched during 1989.
Additionally, the firefighter features an updated helmet that combines two plastic colours. The component includes remarkable detailing and only otherwise appears in 60282 Fire Command Unit. Given the presence of such interesting pieces and the inexpensive price of £8.99 or $9.99, 60279 Fire Hazard Truck seems appealing.
Minifigure
Firefighting minifigures traditionally include simple helmets which have remained essentially unchanged since 1978. Fortunately, that component will remain in continued use during 2021, although I am delighted with the dual-moulded element which seems realistic. Its texture lacks the complexity of other modern helmets but works perfectly for this character.
The torso decoration has been adjusted as well, now featuring red fabric above the reflective strips. These metallic silver and lime green designs are unaltered though, while the legs were introduced during 2013. The bearded face has also appeared on multiple occasions, including some dark bluish grey soot which looks splendid.
The Completed Model
Fire brigades sometimes equip vehicles with ploughs to clear flaming debris or reach isolated locations. This design is certainly unusual but I appreciate such variation from previous LEGO firefighting vehicles and the model looks superb. The colour combination of red and bright light yellow matches Fire sets released during 2019 and 2020 and I like the proportions of this truck.
The white plough contrasts against the bodywork and has not appeared in this colour since 3181 Passenger Plane was produced during 2010. This is connected using a small ball joint which appears somewhat awkward when viewed from either side, although that design offers extensive movement and therefore allows the entire vehicle to tilt for steering.
Vehicles from the Town range were frequently four studs wide and this model appears rather reminiscent of those designs. Not only is its width the same but this combination of standard slopes seems unusually simple for a modern set. However, the short bonnet looks excellent, displaying a printed fire department symbol on a 2x2 curved slope which also appeared during January, 2020. I love the open wheel arches too, accommodating the steering mechanism.
The mechanism requires two elements for each axle. The dark bluish grey bearing is angled while the black axle clips inside, tilting in either direction. Similar structures have appeared in Clone Turbo Tank models from Star Wars and I am impressed with this small assembly which appears exceptionally adaptable. The bearing element could fit beneath many minifigure-scale vehicles, only needing space for the wheels to move without interference.
White 2x2 domes are situated outside the truck, representing a water tank and avoiding any bland areas. There is space for multiple trans-light blue 1x1 round plates inside this tank and these can be launched from the stud shooter which is cleverly connected to a short string. An additional clip offers storage for a megaphone and a 1x2 rounded plate depicts twin exhausts underneath the water tank.
Four flaming logs are included, ready for collection by the aforementioned plough. These are exceedingly basic, although they provide welcome play value and including several items was sensible. Additionally, the reddish brown logs are sufficiently light to be knocked over using the stud shooter, much like the new flame elements which appear in larger sets.
Overall
The steering mechanism is certainly the most interesting aspect of 60279 Fire Hazard Truck, providing superb play opportunities without compromising the appearance of this model. The turning circle may leave something to be desired but I am impressed with the design of these parts, offering the potential to include rudimentary steering in many small vehicles.
Furthermore, the new fire helmet looks fantastic and the integration of the stud shooter is very effective, further increasing the play value. The price of £8.99 or $9.99 also seems reasonable, hence I would recommend this set for younger children or anybody interested in the innovative steering components. Hopefully they will be integrated with subsequent sets.
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23 comments on this article
Yes, Steering! Very nice- and what a beautiful helmet. Now, off to the Blacksmiths to put out some fires.
I picked this up the other day for the pure purpose of getting a new helmet design and to check out the steering mechanism. A$15.95 was the price from the new LEGO branded store here in Adelaide (Woo Hoo), for me a bit steep as I'm not too keen on the look but I'll definitely be picking up some more of those helmets to retrofit my current brigade. Just need a new air cylinder design now to fit with them as they don't work with the old 2 tank design.
Affordable city sets that have some story in them are always welcome, because everyone who wants some Lego sets with play features for themselves or their family should have access to one in their budget. These sets are crucial to make Lego accessible to more people as Lego keeps putting out more expensive sets.
It has a very late 90s vibe to it. And I don't mean that in a good way.
So, they can create steering elements for 4-wide vehicles but can't figure out a way to integrate steering into Creator Expert vehicles (barring the Mustang).....
@MrJackson said:
"So, they can create steering elements for 4-wide vehicles but can't figure out a way to integrate steering into Creator Expert vehicles (barring the Mustang)....."
Wut?
Pretty cool little model if you take away the plow. Really unrealistic and seems unnecessary, although I guess it accentuates the steering function a bit. I like the helmet but it's going to irk the US crowd. They finally made yellow firefighter minifigs and now going to a Euro rescue helmet. lol
@berkerdem said:
"Affordable city sets that have some story in them are always welcome, because everyone who wants some Lego sets with play features for themselves or their family should have access to one in their budget. These sets are crucial to make Lego accessible to more people as Lego keeps putting out more expensive sets. "
Lego never stopped or even slowed putting our affordable sets but yes
@MrJackson said:
"So, they can create steering elements for 4-wide vehicles but can't figure out a way to integrate steering into Creator Expert vehicles (barring the Mustang)....."
The best design work is often found in the smallest products.
@fakespacesquid said:
" @berkerdem said:
"Affordable city sets that have some story in them are always welcome, because everyone who wants some Lego sets with play features for themselves or their family should have access to one in their budget. These sets are crucial to make Lego accessible to more people as Lego keeps putting out more expensive sets. "
Lego never stopped or even slowed putting our affordable sets but yes"
Although to some extent they did not, the case can be made that they are distributed unevenly. Nowadays many ranges have sets of 20 euro as their smallest. The 5 euro pricepoint has been represented more by polybags, which are not always available everywhere. City is one of the few lines that has consistently provided sets of 10 euro or more as their smallest pricepoints.
@fakespacesquid said:
" @berkerdem said:
"Affordable city sets that have some story in them are always welcome, because everyone who wants some Lego sets with play features for themselves or their family should have access to one in their budget. These sets are crucial to make Lego accessible to more people as Lego keeps putting out more expensive sets. "
Lego never stopped or even slowed putting our affordable sets but yes"
Oh yes they did, where are all the Impulse sets gone? Some years ago you could buy some little sets for the equivalent of 2-4 dollars, and now the cheapest non-licensed sets cost at least $10, not to mention that the price of Collectable Minifigs has more than doubled since Series 1. It is far more difficult nowadays to buy Lego from your pocket money :(
The steering reminds me of 8226 from 1998, with different components
That is certainly a very interesting new element which has a lot of potential.
And let's not forget that any steering / suspension element is better than no such thing.
@CDM said:
" @MrJackson said:
"So, they can create steering elements for 4-wide vehicles but can't figure out a way to integrate steering into Creator Expert vehicles (barring the Mustang)....."
Wut?
Pretty cool little model if you take away the plow. Really unrealistic and seems unnecessary, although I guess it accentuates the steering function a bit. I like the helmet but it's going to irk the US crowd. They finally made yellow firefighter minifigs and now going to a Euro rescue helmet. lol"
Not realistic for fire fighting, arguably, but realistic for snow plowing for those of us in snow country. I didn't see the point of this vehicle until seeing the detail photos in this article; however, I now see this model makes for a nice ATV-type response vehicle.
I'm still not a fan of the off-white/yellowish stripes the latest fire theme has adopted. Looked better in white, IMHO.
@DaBigE said:
"Not realistic for fire fighting, arguably, but realistic for snow plowing for those of us in snow country. I didn't see the point of this vehicle until seeing the detail photos in this article; however, I now see this model makes for a nice ATV-type response vehicle."
I just mean the box art suggesting the plow is included to push burning logs out of the way is bizarre. You're right that a snow plow would be realistic and useful...just not in the way that are marketing it. I too was confused about this set until this review. The ATV-style is well done.
The set looks fairly fun for a 5 year old new to Lego City wanting a simple build to play with. Although it does look very 1980-90's to me, e.g. 6650 and older kids will prefer the more challenging builds and greater functionality of the 6 wide engines found on the secondary markets, e.g. 7239. I note you mentioned the new 60282: Fire Command Unit which looks just bizarre and very over-priced at $60 for 380 pieces.
I was curious about how these new suspension pieces were designed, and it's great to see that the parts do in fact seem reasonably versatile — especially since I was a little concerned based on the original pictures and the similar sizes of the first vehicles using this part that both the front and rear axles might be attached to some kind of singular chassis element. As it turns out, the size and shape are a lot more versatile than I would have anticipated, and I'm excited to see what other ways this part might be useful for sets and MOCs going forward!
On a more general level, the proportions of this vehicle feel a bit awkward to me, especially how narrow it is and how flat the sides are compared to its much more robust appearance from side view. I sort of wonder if there might have been any way for the designer to use SNOT elements or other parts to flesh out sides and wheel arches a bit more.
Off the top of my head, maybe it could have used parts like https://brickset.com/parts/design-29120 and https://brickset.com/parts/design-2911 instead of the inverted 1x2 slopes. But I realize that might've added a bit more to the cost since it'd require the use of two each of three different parts in place of four of the same part. Definitely something I'm sure people could explore, if they want to mod this vehicle or MOC their own vehicles with this sort of suspension, though!
Finally! They made MY fire helmet. I...erm, how can I put it politely...I do not like the design of LEGO's fire vehicles lately and this plough thingy is no exeption, but I WANT many of these to equip my MOCs with (and of course to make a firefighter minifig-me).
@CapnRex101 the new fire department symbol actually appeared in January 2019, not 2020.
@560heliport said:
" @CapnRex101 the new fire department symbol actually appeared in January 2019, not 2020."
That element was introduced at the start of 2020: https://brickset.com/sets/containing-part-6288042
@tisi said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
" @berkerdem said:
"Affordable city sets that have some story in them are always welcome, because everyone who wants some Lego sets with play features for themselves or their family should have access to one in their budget. These sets are crucial to make Lego accessible to more people as Lego keeps putting out more expensive sets. "
Lego never stopped or even slowed putting our affordable sets but yes"
Oh yes they did, where are all the Impulse sets gone? Some years ago you could buy some little sets for the equivalent of 2-4 dollars, and now the cheapest non-licensed sets cost at least $10, not to mention that the price of Collectable Minifigs has more than doubled since Series 1. It is far more difficult nowadays to buy Lego from your pocket money :("
Its the opposite for me. I buy Lego Magazines and polybags which are readily available in every kiosk an most grocery shops here in Poland. It has never been eaaier for me to buy impulsively some lego for 3-4 euro.
A perfect kids birthday set. Cool pieces, low price.
I dont understand the "steering" system. Is the piece similar in use as piece 2484c01?
@thor96 said:
" @tisi said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
" @berkerdem said:
"Affordable city sets that have some story in them are always welcome, because everyone who wants some Lego sets with play features for themselves or their family should have access to one in their budget. These sets are crucial to make Lego accessible to more people as Lego keeps putting out more expensive sets. "
Lego never stopped or even slowed putting our affordable sets but yes"
Oh yes they did, where are all the Impulse sets gone? Some years ago you could buy some little sets for the equivalent of 2-4 dollars, and now the cheapest non-licensed sets cost at least $10, not to mention that the price of Collectable Minifigs has more than doubled since Series 1. It is far more difficult nowadays to buy Lego from your pocket money :("
Its the opposite for me. I buy Lego Magazines and polybags which are readily available in every kiosk an most grocery shops here in Poland. It has never been eaaier for me to buy impulsively some lego for 3-4 euro."
I'm glad to hear that they are at least available at your place :)
You're right that these bottom price range sets have shifted towards polybags and magazines, my two concerns are that their avaliability is more limited and their value is worse.
In Hungary I recently saw one of these magazines costing 1290 HUF (cca $4) which is not a great value for such small sets if you don't read the paper. Around nine years ago the small boxed Impulse sets cost cca. 700-800 HUF and sometimes contained more stuff - the value today is worse, even if you calculate with the inflation.
Considering "normal" polybags, their price tend to start at 1500-2000 HUF (or even more at licensed sets), and they also aren't available everywhere. Sets like 60156, 60170 or 60190 have had a lower retail cost but with a lot more content and widespread availability.
It may sound I am kind of nitpicking here, but I think it would be quite important to make widely available and good value pocket-money products affordable for children and/or poorer families to make entering into the Lego world easier. Some years ago there was a far greater selection with 2008-2011 Impulse sets and before-2018 'semi-impulse' ones (City, Creator, and even earlier Racers and other adventure themes) costing around $4-$6, and collectable minifigs for $2-$3. Today everything starts at $10-$20 except for some Classic sets and these promos and you can hardly get any minifigs under $5.