6444 - Outback Airstrip

Rating:
Pros: Fun, simple standalone set; definitely worth a discounted price
Cons: Prefer a hinged canopy to get pilots out of their planes rather than having to remove pieces for access; would love to have had the cargo area just a little bit bigger
Contents: 157 pieces including 3 mini-figs and 1 grey bird
Price: $19.99 - Discontinued
Reviewed: 4-Feb-1998
Reviewed by: Joseph Gonzalez

The subtle buzzing of a twin-engine plane breaks the silence of a dull afternoon at the Chappell airstrip. "Darn" mutters Stan as he throws down his comic book, but the frown turns to a smile as he spots the 'Auntie May' land outside.
Soon, two old friends are catching up on the latest gossip while the summer help, Stevie Ditko, fills the plane with gas for its last leg of the Auntie's transport journey. The visit is all too short as Kirby is soon on his way again, allowing Stan to return to his Arachnid Adolescent story.

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I'm not quite sure what attracted me to this set but I liked the small plane model and the inclusion of a radio shack was a perfect counterpart.
The 6444 is just the kind of structure you might expect to find in the Australian outback or on the outskirts of a small town in the western United States. It's a simple combination of a cargo airplane and communication booth. Neither of the models is overly pretentious which is exactly as it should be. The cargo plane seats a pilot up front and has a cargo area of just under 4x2x3 in back. The plane isn't too flimsy but the cockpit is covered by a 4x3 sloping brick that needs to be removed whenever you want to get the pilot out (which I'm never too crazy for). The cargo area is accessed by a hinged door that drops open.
The radio shack is nice for an average town add-on. It's made up of a booth and shelter plus a windsock and revolving vane. Small items litter the area (barrels, tools, a radio, a couple of tires and even two leafless shrubs) and add a nice touch of realism to this out-of-the-way place.

Three mini-figs come with the set, two pilots and a mechanic. A few unique pieces include the wide-blade fan used for the vane, small three-blade propellers for the plane, two black 2x2x5 latticed beams, the 8x32 tan baseplate, and two preprinted 8x6 sloping roof bricks. I particularly liked the inclusion of two preprinted radio bricks (one is the white 1x3 radio/cassette player while the other is a red 1x2 shortwave-type radio).

I think the set makes a good starter for someone who is just starting to collect. It introduces one to the basics of town construction (vehicle and shelter) and could be enjoyed all by itself or added to a larger town collection.