Review: 60300 Wildlife Rescue ATV
Posted by CapnRex101,
Several appealing animals populate the Wildlife Rescue subtheme, including new monkeys. This creature features impressive detail and appears quite realistic beside previous examples. 60300 Wildlife Rescue ATV contains two such monkeys and therefore looks interesting.
The accompanying vehicle integrates the clever steering and suspension mechanism launched during January, alongside a detachable drone. This set should accordingly provide considerable play value, particularly with those monkeys!
Minifigure
Several unique minifigures have been created for the Wildlife Rescue range. This character's colourful torso is only otherwise found in considerably larger sets, so its presence is welcome and I appreciate the animal rescue symbol on the reverse. Moreover, the dark red motorcycle helmet is new in this colour and looks marvellous, even without a visor.
The bearded head underneath looks splendid as well, although that component is reasonably common. Additionally, decorated legs have been introduced for the Wildlife Rescue subtheme, featuring pockets which complement those on the jacket. These designs are surprisingly basic but I admire their consistency.
Accessories for monitoring and wrangling animals are supplied, including a grabber which is perfect for handling the scorpion. The printed drone controller looks appealing too, displaying two trees around a meandering river. More traditional controllers have generally accompanied LEGO drones, but this element is undoubtedly preferable.
The Completed Model
Quad bikes and ATVs are ubiquitous throughout LEGO City. However, this example is bigger than most to accommodate the new steering elements, measuring 7cm in length. The vehicle proportions look realistic though and increasing the size creates space for the aforementioned drone, which is positioned behind the driver.
The colour combination of red and tan appears consistently across the Wildlife Rescue range and looks excellent here, although I dislike the bands of light and dark bluish grey underneath. The printed animal rescue symbol complements the minifigure and there is adequate space to seat that character behind the handlebars, as one would anticipate.
This steering mechanism was introduced at the beginning of 2021, although it functions more effectively as suspension here. Both axles can move independently and these elements avoid spoiling the appearance of the model, which is impressive. Moreover, I like these balloon tyres and their red wheel hubs, corresponding with the bodywork.
Drones have become an important asset to wildlife conservation and I think this design looks surprisingly good when connected to the quad bike. Removing the drone reveals no unsightly pieces underneath and storage is available for the accessories, including two vacant studs for the printed drone controller.
The drone comprises black and white elements which are attractive together, with trans-clear 1x1 round tiles forming cameras. I think an asymmetrical arrangement would have been more successful here, although I love the articulated rotors because they distinguish this model from previous LEGO drones. Furthermore, these rotors can rotate which is welcome.
Of course, wildlife is probably the most important aspect of the Wildlife Rescue subtheme and two monkeys appear here. Their tiny habitat seems rather silly, although the presence of some foliage is important. The space has been used efficiently and I appreciate the 3L bar, where the monkeys can swing, as demonstrated below.
Remarkably, the monkeys' tails cannot actually grip bars which seems odd. The shape seems quite realistic though and the monkeys' right hands are extended forwards, forming clips. They function perfectly but appear slightly awkward. However, I love the dual-moulded ears and face, displaying a lovely smile. While these monkeys look good, I prefer the chimp that was released with the Zookeeper Collectable Minifigure.
Overall
60300 Wildlife Rescue ATV is absolutely excellent for play, considering its modest size. The functional steering and suspension is enjoyable and I love the detachable drone, particularly with the printed controller. Additionally, the quad bike includes reasonable detail and features attractive colours, corresponding with other vehicles within this range.
In fact, the monkeys and their habitat are arguably the weakest aspects of this set. They look appropriately adorable, but I think more connection points could have been included. This set costs £8.99 or $9.99 which represents fair value, although anybody intending to acquire some new monkeys might favour 30570 Wildlife Rescue Hovercraft because the polybag contains a monkey too! Of course, that depends upon its availability.
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43 comments on this article
Something something something monkeys something something something.
SOLD!!
Seriously, though. We get yet another ATV. It's a safe vehicle that can be made with few pieces, particularly the lack of a roof. Reminds me of all the small open-topped Classic Space ships. And I bought my share back in the day.
It's a good set and you get exactly what is advertised. The vehicle is small compared to many $10 sets so it really comes down to MONKEYS.
Wow, huge oversight on the monkey tails. Can’t believe they missed that obvious connection point.
So we get two monkeys, a blue scorpion and a neat ATV with a fine foliage, sold as is all this Safari line.
@WemWem said:
"Wow, huge oversight on the monkey tails. Can’t believe they missed that obvious connection point."
I don’t have any of these monkeys (yet) but I think the tail may be the diameter of a bar/handle. If so, it will be possible to pass is through holes such as the ones at the end of the foliage piece in this set and, depending how curved it is, it will be holdable by a minifigure.
Bought this one fairly recently and to be honest, I don't mind the monkey tails not being a connection point - if they were you wouldn't be able to have em swing freely about on the branch as well as the current design. Connection points are cool, but less so when they get in the way of silly things like this!
I much prefer the monkeys of old... https://brickset.com/parts/4217846/monkey
Pretty nice set. Still love the new suspension/steering mechanism. And those monkeys are cute too. Sets for 9.99 Euro RRP often become available for around 6.99 to 7.49 Euro, at which point getting one becomes a no-brainer.
Also, those wheels with their red hubcaps are the perfect basis for small retro Classic Space ground vehicles.
@Phoenixio said:
"I much prefer the monkeys of old... https://brickset.com/parts/4217846/monkey"
2550C01 for life!
That was how monkeys should be done.
@bananaworld said:
"
@Phoenixio said:
"I much prefer the monkeys of old... https://brickset.com/parts/4217846/monkey"
2550C01 for life!
That was how monkeys should be done.
"
Quite! They were so much more poseable and playable, with the four moveable limbs. I don't understand why they'd go away from that design. Unless they really wanted accuracy, everybody knew that it represented a monkey and they were so fun, a perfect Lego integration.
Had issues linking within Brickset, but that Bricklink piece number is the good one, thanks!
Thanks for the nice review!
Hope you will have a closer lock at other sets in this subtheme as well. It is a fantastic wave for us animal collectors, hope it sells a lot so we may get a farm or zoo subtheme with a lot of animals in City soon :D
@Phoenixio said:
" @bananaworld said:
"
@Phoenixio said:
"I much prefer the monkeys of old... https://brickset.com/parts/4217846/monkey"
2550C01 for life!
That was how monkeys should be done.
"
Quite! They were so much more poseable and playable, with the four moveable limbs. I don't understand why they'd go away from that design. Unless they really wanted accuracy, everybody knew that it represented a monkey and they were so fun, a perfect Lego integration.
Had issues linking within Brickset, but that Bricklink piece number is the good one, thanks!"
I suspect that accuracy is one of the main reasons. The old one was undoubtedly a monkey, but newer ones with painted faces do go better with the more modern animals. They also were a bit too big in terms of size.
Having said all of that, if they released a set that was just the old monkey, I would buy every single one I could.
Not one mention of the "Reddish Brown Plate, Round 1 x 1 with Vertical Swirl / Twist"?
For just $9.99 your Lego city can have a monkey that throws it's own feces.
Like the set, mostly because the monkies (they will be cheap on Bricklink). But as written, tail should be more like classic monkey, easier to grab a bar. I would add two round 1x1 trans-red tiles on quad as taillights (instead of controler). And few more bricks to have normal size tree.
I'm buying it.
Monkey's right hand looks REALLY awkward. Looks like it is going to pinch someone on the ass and run away making monkey sounds.
As a wildlife biologist with a six year old daughter who goes bananas over animals, we're quite excited for this theme! A lot of the sets are going to be day one buys for us.
Shame it doesn't come with a waterfowl as that monkey's paw looks ready to goose somebody.
I like the monkeys but I am a sucker for that dark blue Scorpion
@Soundwavves I do appreciate how scatological modern Lego sets have become.
If I recall correctly then African monkeys don't have prehensile tails so can not grip with them like a fifth limb, unlike South American monkeys. From the other animals in this subtheme these sets seem to be based on the African continent.
For how long will these just be sold at Lego.com?
@Wolfpack_Matthew said:
"For how long will these just be sold at Lego.com?"
Probably depends on country, I bought one discounted 20% at local web shop in Czechia.
This Monkeys should had the Golum arm to at least have on e movable arm.
Wait, what’s this about new steering elements? What did I miss? Do I need to go to New Elementary?
@d_m_t_arnold said:
"If I recall correctly then African monkeys don't have prehensile tails so can not grip with them like a fifth limb, unlike South American monkeys. From the other animals in this subtheme these sets seem to be based on the African continent. "
Excellent point, although I still think more connection points would have been useful.
@Blondie_Wan said:
"Wait, what’s this about new steering elements? What did I miss? Do I need to go to New Elementary?"
The new steering elements were discussed during January, in the review of 60279 Fire Hazard Truck: https://brickset.com/article/56963
@Phoenixio said:
"I much prefer the monkeys of old... https://brickset.com/parts/4217846/monkey"
For sure!!! This monkey doesn't look nearly as good with the extra-large hand/clip. The 8805-7 Zookeeper monkey is better than this one without any clip abilities. I like this monkey but not his hand so if I do get one, I'm going to grind his hand down to look normal. That's preferable to always having fruit or something else clipped in his hand.
@Phoenixio said:
" @bananaworld said:
"
@Phoenixio said:
"I much prefer the monkeys of old... https://brickset.com/parts/4217846/monkey "
2550C01 for life!
That was how monkeys should be done.
"
Quite! They were so much more poseable and playable, with the four moveable limbs. I don't understand why they'd go away from that design. Unless they really wanted accuracy, everybody knew that it represented a monkey and they were so fun, a perfect Lego integration.
Had issues linking within Brickset, but that Bricklink piece number is the good one, thanks!"
The old monkey uses multiple parts and needs factory assembly, so they likely cost way more to make than the new design, which makes it harder to justify within a set's budget, which leads to the monkey being rare.
With the new design they can fit two in a cheap set, which is amazing. While I like the poseability and have a lot of nostalgia for the old design, a horde of p-slinging banana eaters for peanuts is a kind of fun I find hard to argue with.
Another quad/ATV. How much do you have quads in your Lego collection?
I love these sets. Reminds me of the the $4 - $5 classic sets from the 80's that would be at the point-of-seal :)
gsom: no one is stopping you from building your own.
need this
@Soundwavves said:
"Not one mention of the "Reddish Brown Plate, Round 1 x 1 with Vertical Swirl / Twist"?
For just $9.99 your Lego city can have a monkey that throws it's own feces."
Not really, as this monkey doesn't have movable arms.
To echo some other comments here, an updated version of the classic monkey would have been cool to see, but these ones seem fine also.
Those monkeys...are weak sauce...TLG should take another 'shot' at this: take these ones (colour, facial design, etc.), combine with the previous 'iteration' (movable limbs w/hands/feet); and pure win.
I'm buying this set for the monkeys
Fun fact - there is already 2 version of these monkeys. This one and with darker face in the biggest set
When I saw the first picture, I actually thought it was an ATV with built-in rotors for flying!
The monkey needs to find a higher tree as it looks like the scorpion already stung one arm which needed to be amputated and has come back for the other one. Good thing the human is around with the extra long stick to rescue both monkeys.
* gracefully no reading any comments above, the inner AFOL surfaces:
1. Old monkeys > new monkeys
2. notanotherATV from a distance it could've been Fire ATV
3. at least the scorpion will be nice for detailing buildings
it's a nice set and good for kids.
Still better then any 4+ vehicle.
I think I’ll have to get this; I’d like some more monkeys.
I do wish this had some of the functionality of the old monkey, but multiple designs are nice, since there are lots of varieties of monkey. And the tail on this one is arguably actually more versatile than the one on the classic monkey, since it’s not tightly could to the point of not being able to go around a lot of LEGO elements that this one can.
Very nice also that apparently all the decorated elements here are printed.
I'm not too proud to admit I think poop is funny and I want to get the piece somehow but I find it a tad strange how so many sets suddenly have it now, even licensed ones like the new 4+ Jurassic World set.
I'll admit that this doesn't look like the best of the best deals for a $10/pound/euro set but I still think it's easily the best deal out of the new line. Admittedly I thought 60301 wasn't a 4+ set at first so I guess I can excuse the poor value because of that but the rest of them seem to mostly rely on the animals for their pricing and appeal. This one has three animals, albeit small ones, two builds, and a Minifigure; when you look at it from that perspective, it sounds pretty enticing. In any case, it's a $10 set, it wouldn't kill my wallet to get it, but I barely buy LEGO anymore so I'm not sure if I will. LEGO monkey poop, though.
A comprehensive review. Thank you.
Cons: Sadly, yet another ATV, not worth the £8.99 price tag, the Chimps/Monkeys are not as good as the ones from the 1990s which had 4 posable inverted mini figure arms as limbs including the positionable hands to hold onto whatever you wanted and a curled tail that allowed it to hang off anything you wanted. The suspension is also a far cry from The type Lego created in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Compare this new set with 6672 from 1990 and I'd say hands down 6672 wins out in everyway possible - and you got 2 figures, 3 if you include the Chimp! I'm glad I own that set. But thank you for the review, it was nice to read.
I'm another classic monkey fan. Reusing arms was a great idea back in the day and still would be now.
But also I'm not a fan of moulds that are too specialised. I'd have liked to have seen these animals brick built and poseable.