6150 - Crystal Detector

Rating:
Pros: Nice way to get suction element, cool Hydronaut mini-fig
Cons: Middle section falls off too much, doesn't include knives, costs $4 more than it should
Contents: 101 pieces with 1 mini-fig
Price: $19.99
Reviewed: 02-May-1998
Reviewed by: Josh Opotzner

Having reported from the Hydro Crystalation Station, the Crystal Detector, basic Hydronaut unit for crystal handling, goes about in one of its normal missions collecting more crystals from a destroyed Aquashark base. The drivers put their ships on course and turn on cruise control.
However, our freind here sees some shadows casting over him, looks up, and spots something very familiar: the Stingray shape. It was a massive Stingray ship, ready to take the crystals for themselves. Soon, small crafts appear and drift behind the detectors. The Hydronaut turns his cockpit around to see what's happening, just in time to see a harpoon break his windshield.

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As soon as the '98 line came out, I rushed to the nearest store to buy SOMETHING from '98. I loved Aquazone, so I was interested in this set: good size, affordable at the time, and it included the new Hydronaut figures and pieces. I got it and built it in the car. I was dying. I just HAD to satisfy my curiosity. Well, I was pretty satisfied on the whole with this set, but when I got home I found minor problems. But I won't start with that.
Special pieces include a dark green dome/canopy with pre-printed bottom half with technical-looking stuff, two 3x2 sloped yellow bricks with more pre-printed designs. There's a dark green suction cup element used for moving crystal storage boxes. It's cool for space fanatics as it looks like a Mars Attacks blaster!
The figure included has an awesome blue chrome suit with clear green mask (like the Aguaraiders. His head has a really cool technical-looking design with "in" eyes so when I saw the catalog I mistook him for a bad guy. Their are three different Hydronaut torsos. I like this idea since Aquanauts only had one. There's also a grey tube that holds the suction piece. Lego borrowed this piece from the Pnumatic sets.
Set is really a submarine on wheels. In the back you can open a canopy for keeping a crystal storage box or at least 4 crystals. I front of this, there's some normal bricks, but only a few. These keep up the shoulders of the sub with the familiar Aquazone arms at each tip. One is a grabber arm. The claws are up and down unlike Aquanauts with left claw, right claw.
Next to each "shoulder" there is a black propellor case with dark green propellors. Next there's the cockpit on a 4x4 swivel brick. The cockpit can be detached, and makes you think of the Solo Sub set.