Further to some excellent comprehensive reviews of this vintage set, I thought I'd add that this set, as well as the 8837 Pneumatic Excavator, can come with variant clear tubing instead of light grey tubes as well.

I own both vintage sets bought from eBay by sellers who owned each set from New - one 8042 came from Germany. I recall seeing both sets on eBay when I was looking to purchase them with either the black/dark grey and light grey Pneumatic tubing or with black/dark grey and clear tubes.

It appears that Lego initially issued both sets with light grey tubing then switched to clear tubes...

Hope that helps ????

Edit: Weds 2/9/20 Seems some ones found this unhelpful - I fail to see how informing everyone of variants in Lego "unhelpful?" Some folk can be rather cruel indeed...

CapnRex has given a really comprehensive review...but I thought I'd focus on all the griping concerning the visual asesthetics instead...

Visually, the designs in the Star Wars Universe are all about segueing into one another....from the Storm Troopers of Episodes IV, V, VI to the Clone Troopers of Episodes I, II and III...essentially, and I recall this from design books about the vehicles in the Prequels, that was a time of elegance, of craftsmanship...by the time of the Clone Wars, gone was the need for 'beauty' and the need for utlitarianism...and by the time of Empire...everything was long forgotten...

Episode VII follows on from this conceit: forget something visually appealling, its just there to do the job...and thats why Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle, the First Order Transporters and Snow Speeders are, to put it mildly: UGLY as hell...but they get the job done...

If you don't like it, don't buy them. If you find them interesting then buy them...

My only personal gripe was Captain Phasma having a blank head...a pity really, but I expect we'll see 'her' in future releases with a more accurate character print head...

Incidentally, I didn't think its worth £80, I lucked out and bought it for £69.99 for the Transporter and £79.99 for Ren's Shuttle, a grand total, with free delivery for £147.98...if you can nab them for far cheaper then I'd recommend either...as they are selling for far inflated prices both officially and on the secondary markets...

Its a solid build, extremely playable and chock full of features...

Further to the exemplary reviews others have posted I just thought of adding that unlike current Lego builds, which come in numbered bags and you build sections of a model per bag, this set, while it all comes in numbered bags, doesn't allow for modular building...essentially, its like 'old Lego' or 'Old Technic'...you have to unpack EVERYTHING and sift labouriously through ALL the components to build this set...I wondered if this was done on purpose to entail a more classically challenging Technic build or Lego simply missed the point...

I am currently building my set and do find it laboured. I wish Lego had put the correct components per section of the build in numbered bags.

I can't really say anymore than whats gone before, but having recently purchased a copy of this set off ebay I felt it needed a mini-figure. What to choose? I did reckon my spare classic 'Shell' Legoman with the Shell logo on his white top with blue pants and white cap would be perfect but then realised he's somewhere in storage...so I went for another figure I like very much..If you own 6541, 6512 or 6309 theres a guy like this:

http://brickset.com/minifigs/ovr010/Overalls-Red-with-Pocket-Red-Legs-Black-Male-Hair

I think he's perfect. If however, you fancy a bit of 'Classic Town Womens Lib', then the girl from 6380,

http://brickset.com/minifigs/ovr009/Overalls-Red-with-Pocket-Red-Legs-Black-Pigtails-Hair

is also perfect...in fact, I had thought about coupling her with this tow truck but couldn't find one at a reasonable price so opted for the male figure...

I must add, like many other collectors, I do find it strange Lego didn't include a mini-figure, and that, with any Town type set, no figure at all isn't very enticing...However, this is such a classic design that its a must have purchase and would complement nicely the vintage:

http://brickset.com/sets/6610-1/Gas-Pumps

Incidentally, 6610 is my favourite set of all time (luckily I own a mint out of box copy again)...given that it was my very first set as a child way back in 1981...How time flies...

Overall, 'Soldiers Outpost' is a great small set. It comes with 3 Lego figures, an Octopus and a Crab (that has a penchant for gems...), a Pirate Raft that features a slingshot for the cylindrical cannon 'balls', a spring fire cannon, treasure chest with 4 individually coloured gems, green bottle and fish.

The build itself was enjoyable, with parts coming in numbered bags, you build the raft first, the Outpost second. There seems to be new bricks in the outpost, a cube brick with slopes cut into it to symbolize rock and a lime green palm frond. The cannon is now metallic grey as opposed to the dull solid grey Pirate and Army cannons used to have.

The figures have detailing on both the front and back of their torsos, the bandana the Pirate wears, is also a newly moulded piece, and the facial expressions and facial hair detailing on both the capless officer and Pirate seem like new faces that haven't been duplicated in Lego before. The 'Shako' cap the Solider wears has paint detailing on the feather and a crest on the front of it too and you will all be pleased to know NO STICKERS are in this set! The flag is a tampo print! The Outpost is a sturdy small construction, squat too, it has the ability to connect to the larger 70412 'Soldiers Fort from the 2015 Pirates theme and while this is good, I do feel Lego have simply divided the few Pirates sets so as to make more bang for their buck so to speak...it feels as if this set needs something else to it really. This connectable feature is also present in sets 70409 'Shipwreck Defence' which can connect to 70411 'Treasure Island'.

My gripes are the price (see below), the crows nest of the Raft adds a cream square studless plate inside it and this doesn't help secure the figure when he is stood in it, so I suggest removing this altogether, its not needed. Perhaps it would have been better served with a map being printed onto this plate for the Pirate, as he does seem to be a castaway, or a survivor of a capsized Pirate ship...Maybe if he had been supplied a map, he may not have run into the Outpost in the firstplace?! I also did not like how the mast of the Raft is attached simply to a stud on the plate it rests on, as well as the Crows Nest resting precariously atop the Raft, it comes off too easily. I also felt that the set should have consisted of 4 figures, 2 Soldiers, 2 Pirates and featured the Pirates Of The Carribean sword holders that fit onto the figures.

You do get a few spare pieces, some that come to mind are another sword and pistol so you can arm the Officer with a cutlass and the Pirate with a Flintlock, as well as spare epaulettes in white and gold....

This is a very colourful and playable set, but its £18.00 cost is still, in my opinion, too dear, its more worth £10.00 in all honesty but as an all new Pirates themed, non - licenced set, its great to see more 'traditional' Lego Theme's back in toyshops and I would recommend you buy it.