6256 - Islander Catamaran

Rating:
Pros: A couple of canoes for a cheap price
Cons: The sub-theme looks too much like a random idea that was never fully developed.
Contents: 58 pieces including 2 mini-figs and 1 crocodile
Price: About $11.99 - Discontinued
Reviewed: 24-Apr-1997
Reviewed by: Joseph Gonzalez

Ocean waves roll smoothly beneath the royal catamaran as King Moriancumr spends early dawning hours with his daughter Mahana and he remembers similar trips with his own father when he himself was just a boy.
The time will soon come when Mahana will take over the responsibilities of leading the Islanders' clan and Moriancumr enjoys every opportunity to share time with his daughter to instruct her in the ways of listening to the whispers of the island gods that have protected their tiny island home for so many years.
In one more moon, the rites will be performed when power is transferred and the kindly king will begin a long journey, but for now the two family members enjoy each other's company on such peaceful morning trips aboard the Islander catamaran.

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I don't know if we'll cover any other Islander sets, so I want to express some opinions with this one. If you're not among the few Islander collectors, you'll probably only purchase this set for one of two reasons, canoes or the island girl. Lego had a great idea with this sub-theme but didn't quite carry it through to some good models. Nevertheless, the Islander Catamaran is good as a piece pack and currently is being sold at lowered prices (with other Islander sets) to clear it out.
The catamaran is essentially two canoes joined by a small central platform with a sail. There isn't much to the design, but then again it isn't supposed to be a Technic motorcycle.
Pieces worth picking the set up for would be the island girl (much more easy to acquire than an ice babe or forest chick), two red parrots, canoes, Islander sail, and the chief's headdress. Stickers on the canoes are optional, which means these little boats are useful in almost any other theme (but how about another color besides red, like a black one?).
Now on to my gripe, Lego can make excellent models for any kind of sub-theme (there's proof in Paradisa if people will look past the colors), so why didn't they try a little harder with the Islanders? I could see a few more stone structures (6278-Enchanted Island was a step in the right direction, but it wasn't taken further) like mini-temples or even some ruins, but we only got a few scattered sets and nothing to even make them a noted presence in the pirates' theme. As it turned out, they just looked like a nuisance (maybe this is why there aren't many fans/purchasers). I'm sure the same thing won't happen to Wild West Indians, but we'll see.
I gave the set two stars because it really isn't anything to get excited about. If you're slightly interested, pick them up now at discounted prices because they will disappear from stores someday.