Random set of the day: Red Cross Helicopter
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 626 Red Cross Helicopter, released during 1978. It's one of 36 Town sets produced that year. It contains 37 pieces, and its retail price was US$5.5.
It's owned by 750 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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32 comments on this article
Do they have the cure for what that STAMP is doing to me?
Did not realize LEGO so willfully violated the Geneva Convention!
ah yes the sticker that breaks the geneva convention
What's this about the Geneva Convention?? Nice helicopter. Funnily enough it looks a lot better than those silly City ones with the same canopy piece over and over.
@Brickchap said:
"What's this about the Geneva Convention?? Nice helicopter. Funnily enough it looks a lot better than those silly City ones with the same canopy piece over and over."
According to the Geneva Convention, the Red Cross must be used only in specific cases (I don't remember which ones) but in all instances it was used in toys, movies, games and etc it was an illegal use.
Odd width building! 2x3 transparent slope! 1x3 transparent brick!
The late 1970's had some petty nice parts and ideas on how to build! (Well, except for the Red Cross symbol misusage.)
Put this in a videogame and you'd be committing a war crime!
@Murdoch17 said:
"Odd width building! 2x3 transparent slope! 1x3 transparent brick!
The late 1970's had some petty nice parts and ideas on how to build! (Well, except for the Red Cross symbol misusage.)"
Fits with the 2x3 plate for the rotor. An odd size, but really useful.
I always enjoy seeing those rotor and prop pieces show up; takes me back to an old BASIC set my brother and I had as kids.
Is it Saturday again already? Wow, that week went by _fast_.
@ao_ka:
I’m pretty sure the only signatories to the Geneva Convention are governments. If TLG ever founds a nation, or gets bought out by the Danish government, that could be an issue.
Dunno about the Red Cross sticker, but the Red Cross printed brick contraventions get cured with a dip in hydrogen peroxide.... Result - Beautifully whitened Pink Cross ambulances!
Unlike the Osprey, this one wasn’t cancelled last-minute. Not because of the Red Cross, but because it comes at the dawn on the minifig.
Bold.
@ao_ka said:
"According to the Geneva Convention, the Red Cross must be used only in specific cases (I don't remember which ones) but in all instances it was used in toys, movies, games and etc it was an illegal use."
Yep. In Doom for instance, the cross was originally red but was changed to green in recent rereleases.
Skipping the Geneva Convention for a moment; think the F.A.A. or Transport Canada would have an issue with its tail-section? I mean; it looks kinda' weak, all split up like that...
I have the set, It was one of my last "regular" Lego sets. I switched to technic sets around that time.
For a moment, I thought Vintage Set of the Week changed days.
that PPP tho
finally a set from the 70's which is not a "vintage set" on Saturday. Feeling "young" again ...
and I liked the set
This was my first set at all. Here everything startet. I can still remeber the good old Classic time. Small set, but for a 4 year old boy big enough.
I have its later sibling 6691. Loved it as a kid and still do. That one had printed pieces for the red cross though.
I actually don't understand the reasoning behind the symbol being "illegal" for use in toys. I think it is one of the most stupid decisions ever made. After all, doesn't playing with LEGO or Playmobil or whatever ambulances, helicopters or entire hospitals promote the "brand" and probably interest kids in later becoming Red Cross members, helpers, etc.?
I can understand the reasoning when it comes to video games, especially from the first person shooter genre, but harmless toys?
@AustinPowers I completely agree. In fact, I highly highly doubt the Geneva Convention made any reference to toys. It would have just meant don't go putting Red Crosses on any random object or use it for a product. (as in a specific logo like idk 'Red Cross Brand Bandages' or whatever.). Representations of ambulances, air ambulances, hospitals and medical staff is all fine and anyone who says otherwise is being very silly.
It's sad Lego doesn't put Red Crosses on their medical sets anymore. I'm curious what would happen for a vintage modular hospital, seeing as everything in an early 20th century setting would be have red crosses.
I also agree that putting Red Crosses on medical sets would encourage kids to learn about and get involved with the Red Cross and other humanitarian and medical organisations and programmes.
I mean the Osprey was supposed to be a positive set for kids (and adults) showcasing the benefit Ospreys have in search and rescue activities. (Lego has also done heaps of unofficial Osprey-like aircraft in City and Creator). But the German Peace Society had to stick their nose in (I looked them up and as far as I can tell their only achievement is cancelling the Osprey Lego set). They were formed in 1894 so having failed to do anything about the Anglo-German Arms Race, the First World War, the rise of Hitler/Nazism, and the Second World War, I think they really ought to have kept their opinions to themselves!
In real-world scenarios, keeping the red cross symbol exclusively for Red Cross vehicles, facilities and workers is an important way of keeping them safe in war-zones. If the red cross symbol can feature on any pharmacy, first-aid kit and medical vehicle then it ceases to mean anything, and ceases to be a respected and protective signal in the eyes of combatants.
I always wondered why this was the only set without a minifig in the Town wave that literally introduced the minifigure...
Wait, a Vintage Set of the Day????
For what it is it's shaped quite well. Just a bit weird, considering the time it came out. Maybe it was developed before the minifigure was and just released a bit late?
@Brickchap, the Ospray wasn't only cancelled by the German Peace Society. It was cancelled internally by Lego. The German Peace Society might have helped remind them it crossed their internal rules. We don't know. But it was an internal decision to not release it.
A slightly larger version of the red and yellow helicopter that I got at my McDonalds birthday party in the 90's lol.
@johleth said:
"A slightly larger version of the red and yellow helicopter that I got at my McDonalds birthday party in the 90's lol."
1644 or 2032?
@Binnekamp said:
" @johleth said:
"A slightly larger version of the red and yellow helicopter that I got at my McDonalds birthday party in the 90's lol."
1644 or 2032?"
It was 1644, got it in 1993 from my McDonalds birthday party.
This set is far, far older than I am, but I've still got memories of building it as a kid. I got it from my Dad/uncle's old Lego stash, and I especially remember building it on the kitchen floor one day when the power went out, forcing me to finish by a gas lamp...
@Atuin said:
"I always wondered why this was the only set without a minifig in the Town wave that literally introduced the minifigure..."
Apart from 622 or 642, or if we're REALLY nit-picking then any of the three roadplate sets.
Not that most of the vehicles could fit a minifig inside anyway, but see also the Star Wars Planets.
That was a childhood set I'd pretty much forgotten -- though after reading this article, I found I could dig up enough of the bits to make a reasonable facsimile.
@Brickchap said:
"
I mean the Osprey was supposed to be a positive set for kids (and adults) showcasing the benefit Ospreys have in search and rescue activities. (Lego has also done heaps of unofficial Osprey-like aircraft in City and Creator). But the German Peace Society had to stick their nose in (I looked them up and as far as I can tell their only achievement is cancelling the Osprey Lego set). They were formed in 1894 so having failed to do anything about the Anglo-German Arms Race, the First World War, the rise of Hitler/Nazism, and the Second World War, I think they really ought to have kept their opinions to themselves!"
No Osprey has been sold to a civilian operator; with their continuing ability to just randomly kill US Marines I doubt any ever will be sold to civilian operators.
@Al_S:
Hey, it’s been over four months since they had any fatalities!