Random set of the day: The Wasp
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8217 The Wasp, released during 1998. It's one of 27 Technic sets produced that year. It contains 64 pieces.
It's owned by 414 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 $23.00, or eBay.
46 likes
24 comments on this article
"Janet, where'd you go?"
"I'm identifying as an attack helicopter now, and you will address me as such."
A Technic-build ... designed for minifigs and in their scale?
What bizarro-world have we woken up in?
All I'm hearing is "Waspinator, Terrorize!"
If this is the Wasp, then what exactly is Ant-Man?
I like the look of the function. You can drive it along the ground to spin the rotor blades. (Or turn the wheels with your hands as you fly it about.)
If only we got an actually good Wasp minifig, preferably WITH leg printing.
Wasp? It ain't even yellow!
@Zordboy:
It looks like something minifigs build in their back yards from a kit purchased at Ikea.
Stickers for pilot controls when they had been making control levers for decades?
Oh hey, this popping up reminds me that I actually have this set! And I have no idea how I ever got this set, seriously, just seem to have had it one day
Looks more like a helicopter to me than a wasp. But I've never been to Denmark, so I don't know what kind of wildlife they've got...
I wonder if it's supposed to be a spy helicopter à la James Bond given the colloration because it looks so similar to 8213 Spy Runner, which definitely is a secret agent's vehicle because of the transforming feature and clearer name.
'The Wasp' might be its code name because of its buzzing sound. Making it green with white might also make it stand out less in the sky than yellow and black, for what it's worth.
... or I'm overthinking this given that 8208 Custom Cruiser and the later 8236 Bike Burner also exist. Maybe they wanted to make some green sets because they now could, and only had white as a good looking accent color to work with.
But still, this one's flex tubes are so similar...
Anyway, Microtechnic is sorely missed by the way. So much variety! I wouldn't have gotten into technic if my 25 euro sets were my first exposure instead of sets like 8236 and 8213. So Microtechnic, a line of tiny sets, would have opened the threshold even lower for kids to try the system first.
We get a polybag every once in a while now, but there's no good reason to have as little entry level stuff as we do know. You usually have to start at 12 or 17 euro whilst stuff this simple works too.
Why universe hate Wazzzpinator?
Wahoo, green Technic!
Love this, more dinky sets like these please.
@MCLegoboy said:
""Janet, where'd you go?"
"I'm identifying as an attack helicopter now, and you will address me as such.""
Wow, there are still people wheeling out that tired old trope?
I see the 80s rock band made it through the Ideas assessment process.
Oh hey. Two sets I used to own in a row!
Like 8216, this was a gift from my aunt and uncle, though I don't remember the specific circumstances of receiving it; I assume it was one time when they stopped in at our place on their way somewhere else, like the other one definitely was. May have been a Christmas present now that I think of it, though? I don't remember.
In any case, if their intention with those was to get me into technic... it didn't really succeed xD
Still, it was a fun little set ^^
Breaking the two day Castle streak.
I don’t get this set name. It is neither white, nor Anglo-Saxon, nor Protestant.
@Binnekamp:
Green, especially on top, could be useful camo for low-flying aircraft that want to go unobserved by patrol aircraft, but odd as it sounds, grey is the best camo color for high-flying aircraft. So the A-10 often sports green, while most air superiority fighter jets are basic grey or silver. When you fly high enough, atmospheric filtration kinda cancels out any colors to the point that the surface of the earth looks grey with faint tints of color. If you’re flying at 30,000, and an enemy aircraft flying at 29,000’ is painted green, it’s going to stand out like someone trying to hide in the jungle wearing hot pink. Grey, and you might not notice them.
Speaking of hiding in pink, there was also a British spy plane during WWII that was painted a faint shade of pink as camouflage. It flew missions at dawn or dusk, and the pink paint job helped it blend in against clouds that were illuminated from below by the rising or setting sun.
Of course, nothing explains the US Navy’s “aquaflage”. If someone falls overboard, do you really want them blending in with the entire ocean?!?!? Or do you think they’ll go unnoticed by the enemy while standing on the deck of that aircraft carrier?
@Librarian1976:
Well, parts of it are white…
Clever to use wheels to drive the main rotor when pushed. The next challenge to add 4 more gears to drive the rear rotor as well!
I have "Little Nellie" vibes from this set...but, that was a 'gyrocopter'...Do like the "Idea" of minifig-sized Technics set, but I guess there's limits:)
@PurpleDave: Ikea???...Na, this look more 'backwoods', sorta' like the one (on the right) in 60174...although, that one did have a canopy; but that tail section...:|
@brick_r:
I dunno, I’ve never seen a “backwoods” tree that came with such neatly spaced holes…
@PurpleDave: Well, yeah the need the holes to be like that...otherwise the crooks couldn't build their 'timber tuxedos'...or would (:)) that be a 'spruce suit'? 'Pine pajamas'? 'Oak overcoats'...Geez, bring a whoooole news meaning to 'Earth Wares':D