1822 - Sea Claw 7

Rating:
Pros: Weird but neat sub design kind of looks like the front half of a scorpion that got chopped into two pieces.
Cons: I really hate the oversized display the box that came with the set.
Contents: 183 pieces including 2 mini-figs and a black octopus.
Price: $19.99 - Discontinued
Reviewed: 09-Jan-1998
Reviewed by: Joseph Gonzalez

By decree from the King himself, various units of the Royal Navy have been dispatched to investigate and map the numerous heretofore unexplored lochs of the kingdom. On that directive, a Captain and training Ensign find themselves mapping the murky depths of loch Shal-Ghan. Within a week of topographical studies they find a most interesting tunnel of twists and turns that opens into a large open-air cavern with strangely glowing walls. Their submarine, the Sea Claw 7, is safely moored in the shallowest portion of the cave and the two explorers then wade to the dry cave floor. While the air inside the cave has been determined to contain toxic levels of methane gas, their oxygen tanks will stay secured. Hiking boots will replace the awkward swimming fins as the two carefully begin investigation of the dark cavern.

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Here is another set I had never planned on adding to my collection but I noticed them slowly disappearing from stores' shelves around mid-1997 (plus the box says something about being a limited edition) and I decided I better make my move. I'm still not entirely sold on the Aquazone theme but from the few models I've picked up I've decided I like the Aquanauts most.

The Sea Claw 7 is an oddly-shaped exploration sub with a fair-sized interior cabin and a small one-man escape/exploration sled (comparable in size to the 1806 Paravane) that actually fits inside the nose of the cabin. There are appendages located on either side of the compact body. The right arm houses a jointed robot arm with a magnet on the end for picking up crystal boxes. This arm also has a spear gun mounted on it. The left arm has a pincer-like claw shaped with two 4x8 wing plates that snap open and shut (using an elastic band). Hinged hatches located where the appendages meet the body cover small storage areas for crystals or boxes. The two Aquanauts access the sub through the flip-top nose canopy or through an entryway in the rear (a ladder serves as the door to this rear entrance).

The high point of the set for me was the collection of almost 200 pieces. There are a good number of large black and medium-size yellow plates, more than a few hinged elements, and a few building bricks that would make this an excellent set to add on to either the 6175 or 6195 sets. Unique pieces included in the set are the trans-blue canopy top and bottom, three yellow propeller housings and the jointed robot arm.

My only gripes with the set are the preprinted hatches (I prefer stickers) and the ridiculously shaped box that doesn't serve well for storage purposes. Despite these complaints I quite enjoyed the set for a great number of pieces at a reasonable price.