Random set of the day: Rota-Beast
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 3591 Rota-Beast, released in 1998. It's one of 12 Znap sets produced that year. It contains 265 pieces, and its retail price was US$30.
It's owned by 82 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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25 comments on this article
Is K'nex still a thing?
If not, there's an empty spot in the market.
*hashtag*BringBackZnap ?
:P
^yes it is, it was bought in 2018 for $21 million dollars.
Even Lepin is like, Na, we’re good.
I want this.
Hard to believe Lego struggled in the 90's and early 2000's....
Seriously, this was one of LEGO's biggest blunders. The sets make my eyes hurt!
Our local Sam's Club had a large K'Nex set in a Sterlite tub for something like $30, which I got for Christmas that year. I found the components fiddly, hard to make simple structures, and in general, a pain in the rear. I think I may have messed with that set 2-3 times in close to ten years.
This also came out in 1998, same as the abomination that was yesterday’s RSOTD.
And I thought yesterday was bad...
I believe that the helicopter is losing some parts...
Also, that whole helicopter-and-6x6-flatbed-truck thing could be an interesting MOC if one were to make it using System elements rather than Znap.
From Town Jr to Znap, you're on a roll Huwbot. Gee, Lego's offerings in the late 90s were ... interesting.
There are many trials and errors in Lego's history but finally finding a way to sell children toys to adults was the real success for them. In my late 40's I still buy city sets, cmf's and of course Benny's space squad!
I saw a McDonald’s happy meal the other day that was higher quality...
That dinosaur is even worse than Jurassic World!
iunno guys, that plane looks pretty legit.
@MCLegoboy said:
"Is K'nex still a thing?
If not, there's an empty spot in the market.
*hashtag*BringBackZnap ?
:P"
At least in some countries, yes. My family lived in the Netherlands before, and there Knex was still quite present (my kids have still quite some). In Germany, OTOH, it plays a minor role...
k'nex was the updated version of the old wooden Tinkertoy. Yea LEGO was drowning and flailing their arms grasping in any direction they can. Can't hate them for trying!
The fact that all 3 above have nothing to do with bricks and yet you can still build designs, think, imagine and play, I say they are good in their own way.
Is there any compatibility with these sets and system pieces?
@Jackthenipper said:
"Is there any compatibility with these sets and system pieces?"
Yes, the Technic pins fit, and the spacing matches Lego beams/bricks. The holes would clutch with studs.
At the time I bought Znap sets that included the Technic 9V motor and flexible axles.
Someday, I'll need get some of those Znap parts and see how I can use them in MOCs...
Fantastic.
Wait. Hang on.
I meant arrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
(confession - I once owned a Znap set)
Who here even knew that Znap existed at the time? Pretty sure I didn't xD
I think maybe the local toy shop didn't put it with the rest of their Lego stock; so if they had it at all, it was somewhere else in the shop where I didn't even notice it. That or, you know, as a seven-year-old kid I only paid attention to the things I was specifically looking for, so I didn't even give these things a second thought.
Hm, still miss that old toy shop...
Why is it called "Rota Beast" instead of "Roto Beast"? Unless Lego was using "rota" as slang to refer to "rotor"! What a dumb name.
It's no wonder that Bionicle was able to save LEGO from financial trouble. Almost anything is better than this.
Bought a couple of the smaller 3571 when they were on sale in 1999/2000 just for the 9V motor. You couldn't get it any cheaper. Price-per-part-ratio for this set was half a good.
With ZNAP LEGO consequently used odd-stud distances (between the pinholes) throughout all pieces.
@Chouju_X_SPAM_ said:
"I want this."
I have this, and I still don't know what to do with it after 20 years.