Explore Together: Racing Leopard - Faster Than A Speeding Bullet!
Written: Dec 08 '02
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Pros: Sturdy, inexpensive, no building required, the cutest in the series!
Cons: Only three pieces in the set, most retail stores have stocked them yet.
The Bottom Line: The Explore Together series of racecars are inexpensive, fun to play with, compatible with the Racers series and built to last.
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| Freak369's Full Review: LEGO Systems LEGO - Explore Together: Racing Leopa... |
Being a Lego fanatic I couldn’t pass up picking up these small and utterly adorable racecars for my nephew. He fell in love with blocks at a very early age and thanks to my trusty MasterCard – I spoil him with Duplo and Lego sets every chance I get. I sent him a lot of the Bob The Builder sets when they first hit the market in the United States and when I saw these at the Lego website I knew that there would be a great chance that these too would be a huge hit with him. Since he lives overseas a majority of the time I have to repackage the Lego and Duplo sets to save space when I ship them out. This also makes it easier on the Customs workers if they have to open the box – they can see all the items and don’t have to rip open the boxes [and yes, that has happened]. This allows me to get a hands-on view of the set, try it out and see what my boys think of them. A majority of the time they look it over but aren’t too enthused with them since they are “kid like”. They really liked the style of the racecar and they way they resembled the vehicles from the Ice Ramp Racers sets. I was more than a little shocked when they asked me if I could order them a few of these racecars to add to their Racers collection since there really isn’t much to the set.
Driver
The driver is clad in a very nice birth yellow jump suit. The detailing on his chest is simple but it enhances his overall appeal. His hands have an open grip so he can hold things however there aren’t any accessories included with this set for him to use. With a little bit of patience you can have him hold his helmet – the bottom part of the open face section works the best but I am sure your child will find his or her own favorite position. The helmet is glossy black and has a very nice multi pin stripe design that covers the mid section. The helmet slips off easily but remains in place once you slide it over the figures head. The face portion is cut out so you can see the drivers eyes but there is no drop down visor provided like the smaller Lego figures. These are almost the same size as the figures that are included with the Lego / Duplo Bob The Builder sets however when I ordered them from the Lego website I was under the impression that they would be as large as the Jack Stone figures. The chunky style of the driver makes it easy for the littler kids to use and handle so don’t worry about them being too young to enjoy this set and its features. The helmet of the racer matches the racecar so aesthetically it looks great. I have no doubt that my nephew will flip over this car due to the cool logo on the car and driver as well as the cat design.
Racer
Out of the three sets that I purchased, this is my personal favorite. The racecar is done up in a glossy black color, features black racing slicks [tires] and yellow rims. The thing that I absolutely fell in love with was the cat like stenciling on the front of the vehicle. The yellow eyes, triangular nose and simulated whiskers had me squealing like a schoolgirl when I first opened the box. The design is extremely simple but looks fantastic against the black glossy finish of the racecar. The wheels are functional and extremely sturdy so you won’t have to worry about them falling off or breaking – even under a lot of stress and pressure. There is enough room in the seat area to get the driver in and out easily – this is great for the younger kids since they will be able to get the figure in and out without assistance or frustration.
Checkered Flag
The blue chunky 2x1 block that comes with this set features a checkerboard flag design on it. This is a great piece to have handy if you want to proclaim a winner in a race or build a small racetrack. If you have extra Duplo bricks you can build a nice platform for the checkered flag to rest on or possibly a small winners circle where you can pose the driver, car and flag. There really is no limit to what you can do with this set providing that you have some extra blocks and an imagination. I’m not too sure about the color of the block, the blue does tend to make it stick out a little since the car and driver are both done in yellow and black. Even so, you can mix and match these blocks with the other two sets for a little bit of variety.
Things To Know
As with all my Lego and Duplo reviews that have pieces with stenciled imagery I like to include a bit of information on how to preserve them. Since these sets are designed for the 18 month and older crowd I am suggesting a non-toxic sealer for the stenciling on the helmet, racecar and checkered flag block. Normally I suggest coating the image with clear nail polish however since the kiddlets might want to give these a taste test as well as a test drive – non-toxic is the way to go. BY coating these with a non-toxic sealer you will be able to preserve the image and protect it from scratches and general wear.
The three sets in this mini series work well with the Lego Racers series. The ramps and raceways can be used with these three sets as well as with the Racers vehicles. This is a great way for older kids to be able to include the younger kids without having to worry about them getting a hold of smaller pieces. The jump pads and ramps can also be purchased separately through online brick brokers and vendors for about $3.00 to $4.00 if you want to expand the raceway. Please make sure that the older kids keep an eye on the younger ones since there is always a possibility that they might get a hold of some smaller pieces that could present a choking hazard.
I was really hoping that these would be in the stores before the holiday season started but as of yet I haven’t been able to find them anywhere. I ordered these for my nephew from the Lego website and received them in about a week. Since these are inexpensive and geared for younger kids, these smaller sets are usually the first ones to sell out so if the racecars seem like they might be a hit in your house, I suggest that you order them as soon as possible.
The Bottom Line
Out of the three cars in this mini series, this one is my favorite. The design on the front of the car is very eye catching and makes it stand out when compared to the other two racecars. I plan on ordering several more of these, a few sets for the boys to play with and one for on top of my computer monitor. These sets are inexpensive, great for kids that have expressed an interest in Duplo sets and make great small gifts or stocking stuffers. These are the kind of sets that help to expand young minds through creative playtime. When you look at the price of the set, how well constructed they are and easy to use – it’s easy to see why these have sold out at the Lego site over the past few weeks. They are restocked often but I wouldn’t wait too long to place and order – especially if you want to receive them before the upcoming holiday.
The Stats
Set Name: Racing Leopard
Family Set: Explore Together
Lego Set: 1403
Number of Pieces: 3
Age Recommendation: 1 1/2 and older
Ease Of Assembly: None, everything is pre-built
Time Of Assembly: None
Cost: $2.99
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2002 Freak369
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $2.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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