5542 - Black Thunder

Rating:
Pros: Almost everything! The computers, engine, body; everything is realistic!
Cons: Instructions are too repetitive; too many decals
Contents: 483 pieces
Price: $39.99
Reviewed: 04-Sep-1998
Reviewed by: G. M.

Wow! I am more than impressed with the Black Thunder! At first I expected it to be just a bunch of pieces thrown together in the shape of a helicopter, but boy was I wrong! All I expected was for it to look real on the outside. Everything on it from the reclining sets to the engine are incredibly realistic!

The overall model is a gigantic (56 studs long -- excluding the two propellors) black and yellow helicopter. It is incredibly sleek and aerodynamic. I'll review the set from the nose to the tail.

The front of the chopper is made of tons and tons of regular and inverse slope bricks. The windshield is the same 8x4x3 one used in the Whirl and Wheel Super Truck as well as the Crystal Explorer Sub.
Next on the list are the doors. There are four train-style doors; two on each side. In addition to these are two train-style windows. The interior is a little bit too empty in the back, but the front cockpit is not missing a thing. It includes two 2x2x1 sloped computers, two 1x2x1 sloped "telephone" bricks, and a 1x2x1 Blacktron I computer.
The roof of the chopper has two small flip up panels that allow access to the engine which is made of two blue megaphones and six 1x1 flat rounds. The propellor is a monster. It is nearly as large as the helicopter itself. In addition to this, it has multiple new pieces including four dark grey Technic axles with a stud on one end.
The tail is made of a huge amount of inverse slopes. I've never seen so many 1x3's in my life! On the end is a large fin made of two sizes of slope bricks. A small propellor is mounted to the side.

The main vehicle is just plain awesome. The colors are great, the amount of normal bricks is high, as is the special piece count. There is one con to the set though: the building instructions get a little too repetitive and younger builders would not stay occupied long. Even with this, it is a great set worth the money.

While I was raving, I forgot to mention the alternate snowmobile. At first I thought it would be a mega baddie, but I was wrong. It is as sleek in design as the original chopper model and is just as fun to swoop around. The inside has two seats: a front and back. The motor is made of the small propellor mounted on the tail of the main model. Multipe 1x1 flat rounds and grille bricks make it look powerful.

Both sets are great, and very worth it to pick up.