6324 - Chopper Cop

Rating:
Pros: Inexpensive; good design
Cons: Real-world version is dangerous
Contents: 23 pieces
Price: $2.99
Reviewed: 6-Feb-1998
Reviewed by: Patrick Delahanty

It's the fourth of July and just before dusk. Within an hour, the Independence Day celebration will begin and dozens of people will start setting off illegal fireworks on the beach. Not if Officer Cote has anything to say about it.
He wheels the department's new ATC off the trailer, straps on his helmet, and heads out to patrol the beach.

---

I'm glad that Lego decided to release the ATC as its own set. Now it's not necessary to buy a large set just to get one of these gems.
The ATC's are much more versitile than the Lego motorcycles which were introduced more than ten years ago. These ATC's come in several pieces and you can even tow a trailer using the trailer hitch on the back.
There are also more places to connect pieces. Not only can you take advantage of the front and rear light spots, but there are four studs behind the driver's seat and one on each side of the engine.

I feel I should mention the other stuff included in this set...but other features are nowhere near as thrilling. In addition to the police mini-fig, you'll find a radio, spotlight, and an antenna with a light. Pretty standard stuff that's been around for a long time.

On the back of this set, as well as many other 1998 town sets, Lego has started including instructions on how to open the box. [See figure to the right...] Is this really necessary? Have there really been people who return sets to the store because they can't figure out what to do when they get it home? It just struck me funny that they would do this.

I was actually a little suprised that Lego opted to create an ATC (with 3 wheels) rather than an ATV (with 4 wheels). ATC's have been banned from numerous (if not all) states because they have caused many injuries due to tipping over. Apparently Lego never considered the safety of the real-world version.

This set is inexpensive and a must for any town setup. Space fans may also enjoy using the ATC as a kind of moon rover. Laser guns or rockets could even be attached to the back. If you don't have an ATC already, buy one (or more). You can't go wrong.