6854 - Alien Fossilizer

Rating:
Pros: The robot arm is very articulate; there is a storage area for the magnetic fossils
Cons: No wheels in front and the thruster scrapes the ground; mini-figure pops out often when connected to the vehicle by the hose; mini-figure cannot sit down
Contents: 51 pieces
Price: $5.99 - Discontinued
Reviewed: 21-Feb-1996
Reviewed by: Patrick Delahanty

You're on a strange new world trying to figure out the history of the planet. Was there ever any sign of intelligent life? Was there any sign of animal life at all? The vehicle you'll need to perform this scrutiny of the surface of an alien world is the Alien Fossilizer.
Skim along the surface of an alien world and pick up delicate alien fossils with your highly articulate robot arm. Place the fossils underneath your scanners and let the computer do the work. All the secrets of the fossil will be revealed before your eyes.

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The Alien Fossilizer is a fine addition to the Exploriens line. The vehicle features a robot arm that can pick up the magnetic "fossils" at nearly any angle around the vehicle. Fossils can be stored in the rear bay while not being examined under the scanners. The scanners, which seem to be the most prominent feature on all Exploriens sets, are red and blue. Placing a fossil under one will show one image on the fossil, the other color will reveal a different image. Why this is seems to be so thrilling to the Lego company is beyond me.
The set isn't without its problems though. One should feel bad for the poor mini-figure included with the set. Not only is his air tank inferior because he has to be connected to his vehicle by a hose, but he can't even sit down. There is a (removable) piece where his butt should be that has no studs on top. Unless that piece is removed, the mini-figure has to stand. As a result of his standing, he's not held down as well as he should be and the hose sometimes pulls him off.
The biggest complaint I have about this set is that the wheels are in back and there are no wheels in front. The thruster drags along. I don't know what the people at Lego were thinking when they designed that. Don't give up hope...if you have spare wheels, you can easily take the thruster off and put on the new wheels. A third pair of wheels will allow the vehicle to roll along easily.
Once modified with a third pair of wheels, the Alien Fossilizer is an excellent addition to any space community from here to the Klingon Empire.