6848 - Strategic Pursuer

Rating:
Pros: A neat little robot with an interesting leg assembly. I think that all Futuron sets are just great!
Cons: The arms can only move side to side and not up and down, the cockpit isn't quite enclosed.
Contents: 58 pieces including 1 mini-fig
Price: Discontinued
Reviewed: 30-Jun-1999
Reviewed by: G. M.

The forces of Futuron and M:Tron had been long-time friends and allies, so when the Futuron Academy received news of a giant volcano that had not existed until now blowing ash and boulders on M:Tron cities, the Academy naturally sent backup and rescue units to aid the M:Trons.
Captain Gree Horth was one of the many pilots sent to the planet. His job was to aid the investigation team. The investigation party were the ones who took samples of the air, soil, and volcano's surroundings, and they also tried to figure out what caused the freak eruption. Captain Horth's research vessel was an old but reliable service robot called Stalker.
The day after the news arrived at Futuron headquarters, troops were sent down. Captain Horth was one of the first to arrive and was first to see the devastation. Only the tops of the tallest buildings were visible under the ash, and a river of magma was slowly creeping its way into the heart of the city.
"Why take samples?" the captain thought. "These people need help!" Immediately, Horth and his robot started picking up anything that looked big enough to help stop the flow of the magma. A huge boulder would probably help dam it up a little, so Horth maneuvered the robot over to a large rock in the ground. The robot managed to pick it up for a split second then drop it, cracking the brittle ground beneath it and in turn causing a huge geyser to erupt underneath the robot and its pilot.

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If you have read my review of the 6810 Laser Ranger you should know that I have always wanted any or all of the Futuron sets. Well, I managed to acquire the Strategic Pursuer so now I have a whopping two sets from the Futuron line, but I love both of them!
The set is a very small and compact robot that includes a yellow Futuron astronaut. The astronaut can sit inside the "head" of the robot and steer it with two control sicks. The canopy where the astronaut sits is a trans blue octagon like the ones in the Sea Sprint 9 and Saucer Scout. One of the few cons of this set is that the cockpit is open on the sides and in front.
Below the cockpit are two arms made of plates and hinge bricks that each have a 1x1 plate with a vertical clip as a hand. A small black socket wrench fits in one of the hands. Below the central body of the cockpit and arms are the stubby legs. Each leg is made of three inverse slope bricks and hinges. A small removable laser gun is situated atop each leg. The legs also have an interesting assembly that I have never seen in any other sets before or after this one. The only part of the leg that is hinged is the ankle, allowing the robot to increase or decrease its height. When the ankles are moved, the lego also moves forward a little bit. This mechanism allows the robot to reach higher places with its arms, and it also gives the pilot a smoother ride than some other robots like the ones in the Robo Force subtheme.
There is a very good selection of pieces in the set for some great alternate models like a small space ship (because two wing pieces are included).
This set is great all around and I would recommend any kind of Space collector to go ahead and pick this set up in an auction for around $20-30, depending on its condition and if it still has the box and instructions.