Random set of the day: Finn McMissile
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 9480 Finn McMissile, released during 2012. It's one of 9 Cars sets produced that year. It contains 52 pieces and 1 minifig, and its retail price was US$6.99/£4.99.
It's owned by 2,122 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $17.40, or eBay.
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36 comments on this article
"Finn McMissile, British Intelligence."
"Tow Mater, average intelligence."
Probably my favorite line in Cars 2 was his, "And I'm just in the import-export business," because it furthered the James Bond reference, that being Bond's usual cover story.
I always loved cheap little "character" sets like this, especially Mixels and the recent Mario blind bag series. Granted as a car with eyes this isn't quite as exciting, but still fun.
The only things I remember from Cars 2 were a wasabi joke involving Mater, a surprisingly adult joke about lemons, and kid me freaking out over the fact that the plane was also alive.
@Randomness said:
""Finn McMissile, British Intelligence."
"Tow Mater. Average Intelligence.""
I'm pretty sure Mater lied.
@GSR_MataNui:
No freaking out over Celine Dephare?
I see he lives up to McMissle.
@TheOtherMike said:
"Probably my favorite line in Cars 2 was his, "And I'm just in the import-export business," because it furthered the James Bond reference, that being Bond's usual cover story."
It also happens to be one of George Costanza's favorite cover stories as well. I don't know if that was a purposeful decision by the creators though, I'm not much of a Bond guy so I don't know the reference.
LEGO: We don't do violence.
PIXAR: Hey how about a set with a car using a Tommy gun?
LEGO: Hmm...
@NotProfessorWhymzi:
I mean, there have also been a few polybags that contained nothing except a single minifig, with no accessories or other loose parts. And Scooby-Doo. Except he might be catalogued as a dog.
@ItisNoe: He lives up to 'Finn' as: he's an amphibious vehicle...speaking there of...
Thing that bugs about the 'carsverse' is how EVERYTHING 'ANIMAL' is a vehicle and with a level of intelligence...yes, even the bugs look like vehicles...yet, somehow, someway; they have plants including lemons, and probably tomatoes. Plants need oxygen, which vehicles don't produce (gas powered produce Carbon Dioxide, not straight Oxygen)...it's weird...
I always felt shortchanged that we only ever saw Leland Turbo as a cube of metal.
I think my family is perhaps the only Cars 2 fans on the planet. Most people we know hate it. But my kids and I, and my wife, love it. And my kids have never even seen any James Bond movies.
Finn McFlickFireMissile
@brick_r said:
" @ItisNoe: He lives up to 'Finn' as: he's an amphibious vehicle...speak there of...
Thing that bugs about the 'carsverse' is how EVERYTHING 'ANIMAL' is a vehicle and with a level of intelligence...yes, even the bugs look like vehicles...yet, somehow, someway; they have plants including lemons, and probably tomatoes. Plants need oxygen, which vehicles don't produce (gas powered produce Carbon Dioxide, not straight Oxygen)...it's weird... "
Hmmm... plants require carbon dioxide to complete photosynthesis. A by-product of that is oxygen, which is required by animal life (including humans) to complete cellular respiration. A byproduct of cellular respiration is carbon dioxide. Thus, the circle of life.
In that sense, the oxidation of carbon by animal life is analogous to internal combustion engines.
Perhaps I misunderstood your confusion. Was it something about green ice cream or lemons?
@peterlmorris:
I found the sudden shift in genre made it hard to really appreciate Cars 2 on first viewing, but on subsequent viewings I believe it really holds up. I can’t say the same for Cars 3. That’s…I can’t decide if C3 or The Good Dinosaur is the worst film they’ve released.
Anyways, I’ve actually made 6-wide versions of Rod “Torque” Redline (Bruce Campbell’s American spy who gets cubed at the start of the film), Grem the Gremlin (with missile launcher), and Acer the Pacer (with oxyacetylene cutting torch), as well as both street and flying version of an 8-wide Holley Shiftwell to go with my 8-wide Lightning McQueen (in vintage Corvette livery), and 6-wide Mater and Todd (the Pizza Planet truck, which is what kicked off all the rest of these).
@StyleCounselor: Whoops, my bad: Carbon MONoxide; 'di' sans an an Oxygen atom, which IS NOT usable by plants. And it's also funny: they talk about rising CO level IN THE MOVIE...thing is: the levels would have been MASSIVE already. Seriously, if every animal on Earth were replaced with an automated vehicle...
This is a beautiful car, under all that weapons and stuff. So I simplified the model. It looks so much better without all the additions.
Oh yeah, they made a few of these $10 'Character Models'. Almost like a LEGO Hot Wheels line. I think this was the best of the lot.
@PurpleDave said:
" @peterlmorris:
I found the sudden shift in genre made it hard to really appreciate Cars 2 on first viewing, but on subsequent viewings I believe it really holds up. I can’t say the same for Cars 3. That’s…I can’t decide if C3 or The Good Dinosaur is the worst film they’ve released.
Anyways, I’ve actually made 6-wide versions of Rod “Torque” Redline (Bruce Campbell’s American spy who gets cubed at the start of the film), Grem the Gremlin (with missile launcher), and Acer the Pacer (with oxyacetylene cutting torch), as well as both street and flying version of an 8-wide Holley Shiftwell to go with my 8-wide Lightning McQueen (in vintage Corvette livery), and 6-wide Mater and Todd (the Pizza Planet truck, which is what kicked off all the rest of these)."
Toy Story 4 is the worst Pixar film.
@PurpleDave said:
" @peterlmorris:
I found the sudden shift in genre made it hard to really appreciate Cars 2 on first viewing, but on subsequent viewings I believe it really holds up. I can’t say the same for Cars 3. That’s…I can’t decide if C3 or The Good Dinosaur is the worst film they’ve released.
Anyways, I’ve actually made 6-wide versions of Rod “Torque” Redline (Bruce Campbell’s American spy who gets cubed at the start of the film), Grem the Gremlin (with missile launcher), and Acer the Pacer (with oxyacetylene cutting torch), as well as both street and flying version of an 8-wide Holley Shiftwell to go with my 8-wide Lightning McQueen (in vintage Corvette livery), and 6-wide Mater and Todd (the Pizza Planet truck, which is what kicked off all the rest of these)."
I think I'm in the minority here, but Cars 2 is my favourite PIXAR Cars film. Although that excludes Mater's tall tales. For those who haven't watched those shorts I would highly recommend! Laughs are guarrenteed!
@GSR_MataNui said:
"I always loved cheap little "character" sets like this, especially Mixels and the recent Mario blind bag series. Granted as a car with eyes this isn't quite as exciting, but still fun.
The only things I remember from Cars 2 were a wasabi joke involving Mater, a surprisingly adult joke about lemons, and kid me freaking out over the fact that the plane was also alive. "
The lemon party joke was super subtle to be fair, they don’t actually call it a “lemon party” and even if they did, most audiences (this being a kids movie, kids and parents old enough to have kids) wouldn’t know what that meant. This is assuming you’re not talking about another joke in the film, in which case I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.
Why the Tommy Gun? Surely they could’ve given him a minigun if the literal G-rated cartoon about talking cars could show one. Less than a year later they did a Batman set with one! (The Two-Face Bank Robbery)
This looks like it's from Cars: Death Race.
Just recently I dug this up from a cardboard box in the attic where it has spent the last couple of years only to find out most of the medium blue pieces have horribly yellowed :-(
Lotta hot takes on bad Pixar movies here, but when it comes to Cars, I think the hate stems from people that overthink the world. Things are just cars and they all do extraordinary things, leave it at that. As for Cars 2, after years of hearing how bad it was, when I finally saw it in 2020, I was confused on how it was so bad because I didn't really think it was. It wasn't fantastic, but I had some fun. I also remember next to nothing from it though, so that says a lot, too.
My favorite Cars movie is in fact Cars 2. It has plenty of laughs and is a clever parody of spy films. It is the most "fun" of the Cars movie. About Toy Story 4 being the worst--nah, I don't think it is. The problem is it suffers from the writers' brainless shift of attitude for a certain sheriff.
I agree with @PurpleDave and @NotProfessorWhymzi about The Good Dinosaur. That is the worst Pixar movie of all. Yawn. That sleep inducing movie is junk, insipid, and flat--not the qualities of a Pixar movie.
For once I have nothing much to say here. I've never watched Cars 2. Or Cars 1. Or Cars 3... All I know are the sets. And they're weird. The 'figures' are a bit specialized but beyond that I guess it's okay for the fans.
I don't own any and I'm not really planning to. These are not for me.
The Good Dinosaur is one of only two Pixar films I haven't seen (the other being A Bug's life), so I can't speak to its quality, although this comment thread isn't the only place I've heard negative things about it.
@Modeltrainman said:
"Toy Story 4 is the worst Pixar film."
Worst Toy Story film, I'll grant you. But that's only because it's up against such stiff competition.
@peterlmorris said:
"I always felt shortchanged that we only ever saw Leland Turbo as a cube of metal.
I think my family is perhaps the only Cars 2 fans on the planet. Most people we know hate it. But my kids and I, and my wife, love it. And my kids have never even seen any James Bond movies. "
I was obsessed with it as a kid. I watched it three times in theaters and then got it on disc. It probably is my favorite Cars movie as well.
@GSR_MataNui said:
"I always loved cheap little "character" sets like this, especially Mixels and the recent Mario blind bag series. Granted as a car with eyes this isn't quite as exciting, but still fun.
The only things I remember from Cars 2 were a wasabi joke involving Mater, a surprisingly adult joke about lemons, and kid me freaking out over the fact that the plane was also alive. "
Yeah, Pixar has made quite a few adult jokes in their movies. The first Cars had the twins flashing their lights at McQueen...
All the large junior car parts seemed to be only created for these 2 films then discontinued, while 4+ kids would probably still find appealing in sets today.
@Modeltrainman:
Were you one of those people who was so upset by the fact that they “ruined the trilogy” by making a fourth movie that you skipped what might well be the funniest Pixar film ever released, but still make a point of judging it anyways?
@ozbrickcreator:
I could go with that. I’ve never been a “NASECORE” fan, so the racing scenes from the first film didn’t do much for me. At least the racing scenes from the second film were diluted with a spy thriller plot. And the third movie was so overeager to present its message that it tripped on its untied shoestrings and faceplanted.
@Trigger_:
6864? That thing would be humongous on a dinky little 4-wide Car. Those sets are basically in scale with Tiny Turbos, while the Two-Face set is more like World City.
@NotProfessorWhymzi:
Brave is in my top 5.
@MCLegoboy:
Cars was basically a buddy/sports film, with Lightning as the main character. Cars 2 was more of a spy thriller with a dash of sports (just not ‘Murican sports), and Mater is arguably the main character in the second round. Many people just couldn’t stand Mater, so Cars 2 is like nails on a chalkboard to them. And anyone expecting Cars 2 to just be More Cars 1 probably spent half the film trying to figure out why James Bond was in Days of Thunder.
@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J:
Part of me wonders if TGD went the same route as Surfs Up!, which, while a good film, was basically just cribbed from a less watchable movie called North Shore.
As for TS4, I’m not sure I get where you’re coming from. Woody has been the leader of the toys for nearly two decades by the time TS4 starts. Bonnie isn’t Andy. She’s not going to stick to his internalized rules for play, and that basically sidelines Woody. And it’s not the only time toys have left by choice. The Green Army Men were doing it at the start of TS3, I believe.
@TheOtherMike:
Top two Toy Story films. And I say that, having become a Pixar fan because of the original Toy Story, but there are so many aspects of that film that just haven’t aged well, plus it feels like half the main cast is missing.
@MCLegoboy said:
"Lotta hot takes on bad Pixar movies here, but when it comes to Cars, I think the hate stems from people that overthink the world. Things are just cars and they all do extraordinary things, leave it at that. As for Cars 2, after years of hearing how bad it was, when I finally saw it in 2020, I was confused on how it was so bad because I didn't really think it was. It wasn't fantastic, but I had some fun. I also remember next to nothing from it though, so that says a lot, too."
I for one loved Cars 1, I've easily seen it 20 times. But Cars 2 I only ever watched twice.
I'm with most in thinking Cars 2 one of the worst Pixar movies, but Pixar films have such a high bar of quality anyway that's still a fun romp.
Cars 2 is notable amongst Pixar movies for the amount of violence it contains, with many of the sentient cars dying on screen. This is a tonal shift from the first and third films. I think the creators sought to inspire thought on whether the characters, which bridge the gap between people and machines, were disposable, as machines often are.
The missile knows where it is at all times
A very good set for Cars films lovers, as me!!
@PurpleDave : I became a Pixar fan because of the first Toy Story, as well. In fact, it was the first film I saw in the theater. I still remember how excited I was when the first Toy Story sets were announced, because two of my favorite companies were coming together. I've mentioned that I have all of the Toy Story sets from the first three films (except for the polybags). I also have all the Incredibles sets they've done, and some of the TS4 and Cars 1 and 2 sets. I didn't bother getting any of the Cars 3 sets, less because they were 4+, and more because I didn't actually see the movie until long after the sets were off shelves. My Brave collection is also complete; but that's not hard at all. Unless you count 40621, but only half of that is a Brave set. Or a Pixar set, for that matter.
@PurpleDave said:
" @Modeltrainman:
Were you one of those people who was so upset by the fact that they “ruined the trilogy” by making a fourth movie that you skipped what might well be the funniest Pixar film ever released, but still make a point of judging it anyways?"
Speaking as someone who enjoyed Toy Story 4 (albeit not to the extent of the original trilogy) I wouldn't say it was the funniest Pixar film, there were effective jokes, for sure, but some of them felt very Reddit-ish to me in a way that the humor in, say, Wall-E and The Incredibles, didn't. I like Keanu Reaves but it speaks volumes to me that Wholesome 100 Keanu is a voice actor in this film. I for sure wouldn't say it ruined the trilogy, though, I even have hope for the fifth one, although I'm kind of clueless as to what it'll be about at this point.
@TheOtherMike:
I actually did get a complete set of TS3 sets, including the polybags (the last two I had to buy from the UK, as they didn't seem to have ever been available in the US). I got a ton of extras of the two large characters and the Green Army Men, a few extras of Buzz' ship, and several dozen extras of the Claw Alien polybag, plus enough other extra sets to have a complete display set of characters. I'm not sure what I have for Incredibles CMFs, but I only bought one of each retail set to raid for minifigs and parts. I got doubles of everything from TS4 and Lightyear, plus a third yellow drone. I won an award at Brickworld for the first of four MOCs of the Pizza Planet truck I've built (TS1, Cars, Tiny Turbos, and TS2), plus I have ideas for at least four more versions, and I've already mentioned the other Cars cars (there's also a display base that looks like the road that Lightning tried to fix in the first film). I have a complete set of Pixar Brickheadz, but nothing that involves minidolls. Other MOCs I've done are an extensive group of Green Army Men in different poses, plus a Jeep and a tank to go with them, an RC RC, and I converted the large Buzz into a mech for a Buzz minifig. One other thing I'd like to build someday is Frozone's ice effect, so I can have him riding in on his disc when we do layouts. I'd also like to design a better yellow drone from Lightyear, and turn the Zurg set into a mech suit.