6107 - Recon Ray

Rating:
Pros: Looks nice; includes a crystal
Cons: Too few pieces for the price; set is dominated by painted round front/bottom piece
Contents: 17 pieces
Price: $2.99 (including one Stingray mini-fig)
Reviewed: 01-Dec-1997
Reviewed by: Patrick Delahanty

The news quickly spread to all coastal and maritime cities: "The Aquanauts Have Won!" Fortunately for the Aquanauts, the Aquasharks didn't have much time to plan an evacuation and left much technology behind. While incorporating this technology into their sea vessels, the Aquanaut forces decided to update their logo and uniforms and change their name to "Hydronauts".
While exploring a remote Aquashark research facility, Hydronaut headquarters lost contact with two recon teams. Suspecting rebel Aquaraiders from kidnapping the teams, headquarters was about to send out a rescue party when they were contacted by a member of the Hydronaut recon team.
"It was horrible," he said, "They were mutants or something. The Aquasharks were doing genetic research. The base was full of half-fish/half-man hybrids! ...and they're out to get us!"
Hydronaut officials were stunned, but could offer no further comment until more information was available. Hopefully the rescue party will return with more details.

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Gone are the glorious days of Aquanauts and Aquasharks. Both sub-themes have been discontinued and replaced with Hydronauts and Stingrays. The Recon Ray is one of the four new sets in the Stingray sub-theme.
Unfortunately, this set is rather disappointing. The front and bottom of the set is one piece. From the appearance on the box, I had assumed that the round piece on the front was a small version of the U.F.O. discs. To my disappointment, I was wrong and it's permanently attached to the 2x6 plate behind it. Also, the round piece is painted, not a sticker.
Behind the pilot's seat are grips for two knives and a rear propeller. I wish I could give more details, but that's really all there is to this set. There is a nifty Stingray mini-fig with red eyes and with gills where ears should be. His helmet looks like the basic design was borrowed from Fright Knights.
I'm so disappointed by the fact that this set is primarily one ugly piece, that I can only give this one star. It's yet another example of how Lego is getting more expensive and less fun. Two years ago, this set would probably have been priced at $1.99. $3 is definately too much for these 17 pieces.
One note about the U.S. version of the box...it does not say "Stingrays" on it and it has "Internet: http://www.lego.com" written on the bottom. The 1998 sets are the first to include the URL.