PlaymoFriends
General => Report & Review => Topic started by: playmofire on July 03, 2011, 21:42:47
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It suddenly struck me that the Seaport and Beachtown Coastal Railway has no Playmobil beach related sets, so I did a bit of quick checking out on the Playmobil website and started off by buying 3664, The beach, with my latest DS order (it was on the site as "last chance to buy". So here's a review.
The usual drill then starting with the box front:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Boxfront.jpg)
and then the back:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Boxback.jpg)
Then the detail picss on the sides (I suppose on a food product these would be called "serving suggestions":
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Boxside1.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Boxside3.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Boxside2.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Boxside4.jpg)
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On with the contents (and apologies for the backgrounds in the photos - this was a rush job while Diane watching the Wimbledon final).
The base plate is a single piece of rocks, sand and sea. The sea is just blue coloured plastic and not the more recent water-looking sea:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Base.jpg)
The are some small plants to assemble to go in the sand (presumably it represents a northern European beach with grassy dunes:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Discrepancy2.jpg)
The plans here are either ambiguous or wrong. As you can see, they suggest that there is a plant made up of two green stems slotted together when, in fact, these are two separate plants:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Discrepancy1.jpg)
The lookout post for the lifeguards is a two piece structure, a ladder and base:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lookoutbase.jpg)
and on top of that a crow's next type structure:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lookoutpost.jpg)
Here's a side view of it:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lookoutpost2.jpg)
There is a small jetty which is supported on four "legs" which slot on:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Jetty1.jpg)
The landward end of the jetty then fits into the rocks:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Jetty2.jpg)
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Time for bed; to be continued. :wave:
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Thank you!
Looks like a good set.
Also looks like George when he was younger on the 'serving suggestions' pics. :)
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A fantastic set and a great review. I can't wait to see pictures of it near the train track :wave:
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Gordon,
Thanks! Looks great in real life!
Must add it to my list, Pgal :wave:
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Serving suggestions... that's a good one! :lol: Thanks for reviewing this set!
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Thanks for your comments, folks, here's the rest of the review.
Looking now at more detailed items, there is a flagpole and selection of flags to go on it which goes on the lookout post:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Flags1.jpg)
Here, I've put the green flag above the red (danger) one as there is an onshore breeze and so no chance of people being blown out to sea (but still a need to watch out for undercurrents of course.)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Flags2.jpg)
For the holidaymaker, there is a parasol which comes with a cranked pole:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Parasol1.jpg)
Because the pole is cranked the parasol is on at an angle to allow the person under it to be in the sun or in the shade:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Parasol2.jpg)
Something I forgot to mention is the seaweed draped over the rock. A nice bit of detail but in my experience seaweed is never pale green, very dark green, brown maybe, but not light green.
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Let's look at the lifeguards and their equipment now.
There are two lifeguards, a man and a woman. The first is rather pale compared with the very suntanned blonde, maybe he's new to the job and so will get a suntan as the year goes on.
There equipment includes binoculars, a rescue float, a lifebelt (not shown in the picture below) and a jet ski. One thing lacking, however, is a mobile 'phone so I'll add one.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lifeguard1.jpg)
The jet ski comes in three parts, the steering/control column, the hull and a torpedo shaped lead ballast weight which slides on to a projection on the bottom of the jet ski. If the weight is not fitted, then the electric motor can be fitted instead. (Tests and photos will follow.)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Jetski1.jpg)
Here's a top view of it assembled:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Jetski2.jpg)
and one showing the ballast weight in place:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Jetski3.jpg)
Now, the lifeguards trying the jet ski out:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lifeguard5.jpg)
It's a nice looking little job, and it'll be interesting to see how it goes with the motor.
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The fly screen over the back door has just come unstuck, so I'll break off here and will continue later today.
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Now let's look at other equipment.
A pair of powerful binoculars are included in the set. These are the standard ones used before in other sets:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lifeguard2.jpg)
The life float has been used before and comes with a length of rope and two handholds:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lifeguard4.jpg)
We'll test if it floats later.
There is other life saving equipment in the form of the traditional lifebelt:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Lifebelt.jpg)
A megaphone is provided, too, and note also the lifeguard's cap:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Capandloudhailer.jpg)
Note, too, the excellent printed detail on the lifeguards. Very smart and businesslike.
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In addition to the lifeguards, there are two other figures, a surfer and a small child.
Here's the surfer on the jetty ready for a spot of surfing:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Surfer2.jpg)
And here he is riding a wave (well, maybe just practising balancing!):
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Surfer1.jpg)
There is a small clip which has to be fitted (with some difficulty I found) into the surfboard:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Surfboard.jpg)
This holds the surfer in place and can be turned round so he can be facing the front of the board or standing facing the side of the board as in the surfing shot.
(You'll notice that the small clip is also difficult to photograph well!)
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Gordon,
It looks like they remembered everything but the cell phones, cooler for cold drinks, and sunscreen. Assuming the male lifeguard has some sort of visor hat before he turns into a friend lobster.
Nice details in photos. This set appears to be quite flexible in where it could be placed amid the boats, pools and beach sets as well as train sets.
Thanks again, Pgal :wave:
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The second figure is a young girl equipped for the beach with straw hat and small fishing net:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Child.jpg)
Here she is again, laid in the sun:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Beachtowel2.jpg)
And sitting up (no doubt wondering where her parents are! I have the bikini girl who can look after her for the moment):
(http://
i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Beachtowel3.jpg)
This is an opportunity, too, to show the beach towel, plastic not material, biut nice nonetheless:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Beachtowel3.jpg)
Notice how the towel is shaped to fit the contours of the sand.
As well as fishing, she can also collect shells on the beach, and investigate a starfish:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Shellsandstarfish.jpg)
One thing which does spoil the set is the rather noticeable point where the sprue has been removed from the injection process:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Castinghole.jpg)
It's a bit more noticeable than usual maybe because it has been a two colour process (the sand and the water) which maybe makes the sprue point larger and, in the example I have also a mix of yellow and blue. Maybe, though, on reflection, this is nit-picking and the hole can be seen as the resultof a bit of digging in the sand into which water has seeped.
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Gordon,
It looks like they remembered everything but the cell phones, cooler for cold drinks, and sunscreen. Assuming the male lifeguard has some sort of visor hat before he turns into a friend lobster.
Nice details in photos. This set appears to be quite flexible in where it could be placed amid the boats, pools and beach sets as well as train sets.
Thanks again, Pgal :wave:
Hmm, good points. I have a cooler box somewhere and maybe even a tube which would pass for sunscreen. (Or do Playmobil do one?)
Thanks for your comments on the photos. :wave:
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On now with to the wildlife, a pelican and a dolphin and a supply of fish.
Here's the pelican:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Pelican1.jpg)
Who can also bend forward:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Pelican2.jpg)
The dolphin now:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Dolphin2.jpg)
Fins and tail move:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Dolphin1.jpg)
They get on well together:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Dolphinandpelican.jpg)
And there are plenty of fish to share:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Fish.jpg)
(Would someone like to check if dolphins eat fish?)
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To round up, a photo of the set all together:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Overallview.jpg)
And one to show that with minimum taking apart it will fit back in the original box:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Beach%20sets/Stowedaway.jpg)
Thanks for looking and next up is the beach compact set.
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Excellent excellent review, Gordon! :wow: :wow: :wow:
You have picked up on all the small details which make this set so great, and make me really want it now!
I think the klickies are really great in this set, especially the surfer!
Can't wait for your review of the beach compact set! :camera:
Damo :)
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Great review Gordon! :lol: Thank you I loved it. I really like the set though it is not my theme! :love:
The Special bikini girl comes with a yellow bottle of sunscreen ;) though I can't think of a set with a cellphone :eh?:
There are plenty of coolers in several sets and you can add a thermo bottle too :)
Yes, dolphins eat fish ;D
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Excellent review Gordon!! I doubt I'll add it to my collection but its good to know there are such choises!!
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Yes, dolphins definitely eat fish. ;) A very thorough review, thanks so much!
Gaston, one version of the skateboarders with the half pipe: http://playmodb.org/setpics/4414.jpg came with four cell phones, though I have the version sold at TRU here that is identical except that they have applejuice instead of phones. :hmm: They've also come in quite a few cityservice and construction sets.
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An excellent review Gordon :clap:
I love the photo with the pelican and the dolphin :love:
I've looked at this set and thought about getting it, think I've been persuaded now! :lol:
Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)
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Thank you all for your kind comments and for confirming that dolphins eat fish, Bonnie. I assumed they did but wasn't sure (maybe had whales in mind and krill). Maybe I should have shown them fighting over a fish!
I've a number of spare cellphones and so I'll fit the lifeguards up with one.
I'm just photographing the compact beach set so the review should be up, hopefully, this evening.
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Great review Gordon. I really had no intention of getting this set, but now I want it! ;D
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For £9.99 it seems like great value for money with loads of details that you have captured really well.
Thanks for the fantastic review.
naflibomyalp
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Thank you el jefe and Verity.
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Thanks for a great review of a nice little set. I like the klickies for a modern beach diorama and can also use the other parts but for some reason I never am able to find what to do with the base pieces. If Geobra would have made them in such a way that they connect, similar to the African creek, I could use them in a diorama but by themselves to me they are pointless.
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Yeah, baseplates drove me crazy even when I was a kid. I love the concept of connecting ones and wish they would do that with every theme, So that by the time you buy all the sets in a theme, you have a nice size base. It would also be a great way to get kids to beg for every set in a theme, because it would be like a missing puzzle piece. ;) But it should still be where it looks finished even if one is missing, like the african ones.