@Maxbricks14 said:
"Is that an explosion in the background? Or is it water jetting from a whale's blow hole?"

It’s the green dinghy from 60373

Once again a (regional) exclusive set.
Whenever I see four-digit set numbers starting with a 1, I immediately know this was a set that would have been impossible to get at the time, at least not without some serious effort (like flying to the US, finding out about and taking part in some strange promo or sweepstake or something).
Pity, since often these were some of the coolest sets. Then again, at the time there was no way of knowing about such sets, unless you somehow got into direct contact with them, so no FOMO happened.

The first time I saw one such set was at my English friend's who had 1552, which also was my first experience of a non-standard LEGO colour, in the form of the awesome Maersk-blue.

I tend to think of that face as having measles, rather than stubble.

@cm5878 said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Is that an explosion in the background? Or is it water jetting from a whale's blow hole?"

It’s the green dinghy from 60373 "

Slow dinghy- It only arrived last year!

Lovely set. Only thing bothers me is, he is wearing a regular green jacket with pockets. Plain yellow torso would have suited better.

@Minifig_Jez said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"You might ask, how is that 21 pieces?
But it has two buoys which are 6 pieces each."

Like 6599 Shark Attack… the set name baffled me from the picture here, it was AGES before I found out it came with 3 sharks!"

6599 came in a cool box too.

@AustinPowers said:
"Once again a (regional) exclusive set.
Whenever I see four-digit set numbers starting with a 1, I immediately know this was a set that would have been impossible to get at the time, at least not without some serious effort (like flying to the US, finding out about and taking part in some strange promo or sweepstake or something).
Pity, since often these were some of the coolest sets. Then again, at the time there was no way of knowing about such sets, unless you somehow got into direct contact with them, so no FOMO happened.

The first time I saw one such set was at my English friend's who had 1552 , which also was my first experience of a non-standard LEGO colour, in the form of the awesome Maersk-blue. "

Almost all spend sweepstakes are illegal in most of the US.

Lego's spend VIP points/money for a chance at a sweepstakes is illegal in most if the US. Yet, they do it anyway. I would love to sue them. (Who's with me?!!)

This is with the proliferation of pugilistic precedent. They think that they're above the law just because it's a small amount.

Class actions were based upon the idea that a lot of people should be meaningfully able to sue, even for a small individual amount.

Otherwise, they can act with impunity knowing that our collective damage is individually imperceptible.

Cool. First thing that popped into my mind upon seeing this set was the GIJOE MANTA: https://www.3djoes.com/manta-mail-order.html

As an avid windsurfer I approve this set!
I got my own Lego windsurf fix with 6595, which is on permanent proud display.

@Maxbricks14 said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"You might ask, how is that 21 pieces?

But it has two buoys which are 6 pieces each."

There's more to the set than what's visible in the image. There're also two buoys, each of which is made of five pieces."

I literally just said that. It also has six pieces, not five."

I must not have really noticed the second line of your comment.

@Binnekamp said:"It was part of a value pack :)
1967-1"

Which means that I do have this one. I loved those multi-theme value packs, back in the day.

I hope his sunglasses don't fall!

@PurpleDave: re: 'water spout'...nah, that's a water elemental...and it's reeeeally mad that some 'dirt walker' is messing up its home. :D

@brick_r said:
" @PurpleDave: re: 'water spout'...nah, that's a water elemental...and it's reeeeally mad that some 'dirt walker' is messing up its home. :D"

I never noticed that. I got the fantastic 1967 Value Pack and loved it, but this set was overshadowed at the time by 3 of the other 4 sets (all except the other city set). Now, it's about as dear to me as the others, but at the time Lego had many windsurfers and this one didn't really stand out. Apparently though, he 'stood in front' of that water spout / water element, saving his fate...

@Minifig_Jez:
Two sharks and a ray (still disappointed that Discovery Channel hasn’t started producing programming for Ray Day). And they were awesome.

@StyleCounselor:
My gut tells me you’d lose that case. Yes, there is a cash exchange rate established for VIP points. No, you can’t actually redeem them for currency, so it’s all handwavey on their end. I didn’t get to participate before they stopped inviting LUGs, but they used to do this thing where they’d have a paid event, mostly so they could use it as a giant advertisement. And they’d invite LUGs to display, because AFOLs can build some cool stuff. And they offered compensation, but they changed the way it was delivered because of income taxes. I think it was either direct payment by check, or cash loaded onto gift cards, and I think it changed to allowing you to make a purchase at 50% discount, because a check gets taxed and a discount does not.

VIP “cash” is classified as a discount. Return the item, and you don’t get the VIP “cash” back, just what you actually forked over in payment. There’s no legal way to monetize those points such that you’d have a Benjamin in your hand tax-free.

@brick_r said:
" @PurpleDave: re: 'water spout'...nah, that's a water elemental...and it's reeeeally mad that some 'dirt walker' is messing up its home. :D"

I will accept that as a valid possibility.

Dude's living his best life.

@PurpleDave said:
[ @StyleCounselor:
My gut tells me you’d lose that case. Yes, there is a cash exchange rate established for VIP points. No, you can’t actually redeem them for currency, so it’s all handwavey on their end. I didn’t get to participate before they stopped inviting LUGs, but they used to do this thing where they’d have a paid event, mostly so they could use it as a giant advertisement. And they’d invite LUGs to display, because AFOLs can build some cool stuff. And they offered compensation, but they changed the way it was delivered because of income taxes. I think it was either direct payment by check, or cash loaded onto gift cards, and I think it changed to allowing you to make a purchase at 50% discount, because a check gets taxed and a discount does not.

VIP “cash” is classified as a discount. Return the item, and you don’t get the VIP “cash” back, just what you actually forked over in payment. There’s no legal way to monetize those points such that you’d have a Benjamin in your hand tax-free.]]

Well, the prohibition is about something of value. Moreover, most state require that any sweepstakes require a free method to enter.