JawaJim
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JawaJim's Stats
 
Reviews
  • 3
    Average Rating
  • 42
    Helpfulness Votes
  • 0
    Featured Reviews
  • 3
    Review Count
  • December 24, 2008
    First Review
  • December 27, 2009
    Last Review
 
 
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JawaJim's Reviews
 
LEGO Vehicles - Rally Truck
LEGO Vehicles - Rally Truck
Get down and dirty with this tough off-road rally muscle truck! With its tilting front suspension system, springing rear suspension and working front-wheel steering, it's ready to roar off the road and into the rugged outdoors. Includes instructions for rebuilding into an additional truck! 2 in 1 model: Rebuild into additional truck! Features oversized wheels, working rear suspension, tilting front axel, and working front steering! Rally truck measures over 6" (15cm) long and 4" (10cm) tall
 
Posted:December 27, 2009
Customer Avatar
Age: 35-44 years old
Overall: 
4 / 5
4 / 5
Polished Design - Its a Monster Truck
" This design feels very polished and refined. Most of the pieces have dual functions - visual and functional. This is the first Technic car I've built in 20+ years, and its nice to see that the technology has improved some in that time.
There are three main moving parts:
* The steering
* Front suspension ("wishbone"?)
* Rear axle suspension (with a spring piece - yay!)
The tires are also a highlight of this set - they've got a smooth tread at the equator, so they roll well on tables and floors, but the off-axis is knobby like a mountain bike tire. They also provide a degree of shock absorption just on their own shape. They're my favorite lego wheels, and they'll see a lot of use on my own creations.
In America, this is called a "Monster Truck". I guess "Rally Truck" is what they call them in Europe or something. I HATE monster trucks - too much pollution and destruction for no worthwhile purpose - had they named it accurately I would not have bought the set. I'm glad they gave it an inaccurate name, because now I have a great set. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Louisville, KY
Age: 35-44 years old
How long has this product been owned?  1 week or less
How often is this product used?  Every day
Play Experience (Optional): 
4 / 5
4 / 5
Value for Money (Optional): 
5 / 5
5 / 5
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-1point
0of 1found this review helpful.
 
LEGO® Power Functions Battery Box
LEGO® Power Functions Battery Box
LEGO® Power Functions Battery Box
 
Posted:December 27, 2009
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Age: 35-44 years old
Overall: 
1 / 5
1 / 5
The Weak Link in Power Functions
" This battery box is dragging the whole Power Functions line down. It is too big, too heavy, and fantastically hard to change the batteries for it. Because of awkward angles it takes a fair amount of shaking and poking with a screwdriver to get the batteries out. These weaknesses combine to make the result even worse: because of the weight, the battery pack has to be built into the center of mass of the model, which means its tempting to use it as an essential structural element. That in turn makes changing the batteries into major surgery on the model. There has to be a better way!
I try to use NiMH rechargable batteries for all household applications, but they need changing every 6 weeks, and they're heavier than alkaline, both of which hurt this product.
I know they make a non-modular battery pack, but it costs as much as a big lego set, and will it still work in ten years? I doubt it.
If you ask me, they should make a 6xAAA battery pack, where its much easier to change out the batteries. It might not be a valid power source for the giant pig 4-motor Bulldozer model that I suspect this pack was mainly designed for. But it would be a more reasonable size and bulk for normal vehicles.
On the plus side: This part is pretty cheap by Power Functions standards. And the reliance on standard, AA-sized batteries means that these battery boxes will work just as well for your children as they will for you. Actually they will probably work better, since we can expect some improvements in batteries in that time. "
From: Louisville, KY
Age: 35-44 years old
How long has this product been owned?  Longer than 1 year
How often is this product used?  A few times per year
Play Experience (Optional): 
1 / 5
1 / 5
Value for Money (Optional): 
3 / 5
3 / 5
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+23points
41of 59found this review helpful.
 
LEGO Star Wars Classic: Hailfire Droid & Spider Droid
LEGO Star Wars Classic: Hailfire Droid & Spider Droid
The Separatist army is on the attack! Roll into battle with the giant-wheeled Hailfire droid with 8 flick-firing missiles. The heavily armed and armored spider droid is close behind, backed up by a squad of battle droids! Includes folding Hailfire droid, spider droid, super battle droid, battle droid commander and 2 battle droids! Halfire droid has giant movable wheels and flick-fire missiles!
 
Posted:December 24, 2008
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Overall: 
4 / 5
4 / 5
Droid Construction Set
" The hailfire droid looks awesome, and it is awesome. I would buy this kit just for that droid regardless of the Star Wars franchise. It is a sinister armed wheelchair!
From examining the box I could not figure out what method was used to suspend the Hailfire droid's treads. I was a little disappointed to find out that the method was to wrap treads loosely around transparent radar-dishes. The downside of this approach is a pair of wheels that don't actually ROLL. Tightening the treads by one link, as suggested by other reviewers, leads to fused non-rolling treads on my model, I can't recommend this approach either. Just get used to it.
The actual physical firing of the Hailfire missiles is utterly unimpressive in accuracy and range. But that's misses the point of the projectiles, which is clearly to not poke out anyone's eyes.
The Spider Droid and Battle Droids are capable to stand with some posing but are certainly not action figures in the sense of minifigs owing to weak joints and hips.
However, the real strength of this set is as a droid construction kit. While the Hailfire droid is quite a model, the set's pieces tend to generate whimsical, emotive critters more in the vein of the Spider Droid. I had fun making models with downcast eyes and sad eyebrows. Think of Wall-E.
The huge amount of tread in the set is also a bonus if you have some gears lying around, though it's otherwise hard to use with just the pieces given.
The ball-and-socket on the Spider Droid is more useful, as the inner ball splits off and you have three rocket engines, or eye sockets, or whatever. I found them to be more useful apart than together.
And finally the color of the set is a nice change from all the Grey Grey Grey of the clone sets. I give the set a hearty thumbs up. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Louisville, KY
Play Experience (Optional): 
4 / 5
4 / 5
Value for Money (Optional): 
4 / 5
4 / 5
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
1of 2found this review helpful.
 
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