Random set of the day: Hydro Crystallisation Station
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 6199 Hydro Crystallisation Station, released in 1998. It's one of 11 Aquazone sets produced that year. It contains 482 pieces and 5 minifigs, and its retail price was US$90.
It's owned by 564 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
71 likes
17 comments on this article
Exactly what are they crystallizing here, and why does it need to be underwater? How illegal is this operation?
@MCLegoboy said:
"Exactly what are they crystallizing here, and why does it need to be underwater? How illegal is this operation?"
They’re mining illicit ABS.
I actually quite liked the design of these aquanauts, and I thought their villainous factions -- the Stingrays -- were a worthy successor to the Aquasharks. The previous theme had, by and large, human protagonists with human enemies, but with this range, they were leaning a little more into the sci-fi/fantasy type stuff, and I liked it.
I never really understood the difference between the Hydronauts and the Aquanauts. I mean, the color scheme changed slightly to incorporate trans green instead of trans blue. Do they do something different with the crystals they’re all trying to get?
Good lord this set was expensive. I understand it had a lot of larger, more specialized pieces, but still. Yikes!
Recently traded mine off for Technic sets
Thought this was a featured set!
Personally I rprefer the Divers theme, but I understand need for factions and clashes for play value.
The less cooler aquanauts.
Green Glazing- so nice!
The Scala clothing from 1998 didn't really impress me, but this, while not perfect either, is miles cooler. The cavernous part beneath "the control center" is very interesting. The problem with this set are the large elements vs. the piece count: a raised baseplate, 2 giant dome panels, BURPs and some others.
I have found a time lapse video of it on UTube (by The Brick Stop), the baseplate is impressive! I was too curious to discover a bit more about this one.
LEGO really needs to do more underwater themes like this. Aquazone, Aquariders and Atlantis were all amazing, and we haven't had an underwater theme like this in quite a while.
These were incredibly expensive back when released at around 18 cents per part in USD. That said, they invariably made their way to many a clearance sale, and as a result I drafted quite a sizable number of Hydronauts as my first division of Space Marines to bring Order to the Galaxy.
You know this works way better as a sci-fi prison complex than some sort of research centre. With that bulky sub as the prisoner transport. Fun imagining that this is where my plucky band of rebels have to stage a breakout
Only source of those trans-green 1/4 domes, great for use in creating Space Police II headquarters MOCs...other than that there's not a lot to this one outside of the submarine.
I love underwater themes almost as much as Classic Space. I have got the similar 6195 (even built currently). Love those printed raised baseplates, chrome pieces, colour scheme, magnets and especially all those octagonal bricks.