Thanks for your patience with this one, folks! 3 months in the making, but it's finally here. Starting on July 1st, we're kicking off the Summer Of Slug 2024 - stay tuned for another video on that topic and links to the Patreon, etc. 😊 I'm so looking forward to this summer (and a break from Orient Expedition)! We'll pick up with the gang's trek to China in 2025. Thanks everyone!
“We’ll pick up with the gang’s trek to China in 2025!” OOF. That’s a heck of a wait. I guess the Adventurers Gang is walking to China instead of taking a balloon (or it’s taking a while to source all the pieces for the final wave because they’re either rare and/or expensive). At least the Summer of Slug will help a couple of months pass by quickly!
@@DragonxFlutter It's a break for them, and for me! I always get a little burned out after a massive video like this. 😅 Shifting gears for a bit will be healthy, methinks!
Becomming an adult is not about giving up on childlike wonder and imagination. There are many definitions, I'm sure, but I think its mostly about maturing emotionally and able to handle responsibility, to become reliable and to find an enjoyable, or at least a honest way to give back to society. Maturing emotionally entails realizing that you're free to do what you want to do regardless of anyones judgement, which includes enjoying Lego.
Slugger, hearing you talk about the minutia of a set isn't "the price of admission", its the attraction itself! The details are why I love this channel
I actually think the exposed walls are pretty cool. As a kid I always loved seeing cross-section views, and while I never had THIS set, the kinds of exposed walls all over this set always gave me the impression that I was looking at a little slice of a much larger scene, kinda like what's explicitly done with the modern Great Pyramid icons set.
I quit collecting Lego a while back. It's too expensive for me & I don't have the space to display the models. But your videos make me so excited for Lego, it makes me live my Lego dreams through the screen. You even add some extra imagination & fascination for older sets, before my time. I had a really tough day today but seeing you uploaded this was a pleasant surprise, it's perfect to wind down to.
I actually wish LEGO still made "unfinished" and "ugly" sets like this. I wonder how much of the price increases are due to rising standards and harsher reviews driving them to sell only sets that are perfect from all angles? I also think sets like this spark more imagination. A set thats fully fleshed out feels more intended for display than play to me!
100% agree, especially about the "unfinished" nature doing more to spark imagination. Far too many sets these days feel like they're prioritizing display over play!
@@AlfwinThat’s largely because of the shift in the toy industry towards older collectors as the primary audience. Especially since geeky or “childish” hobbies aren’t stigmatized as much. And of course, adults are ultimately the ones with money.
@@blam320 Don't get me wrong, I love the elaborate "collector" sets (Lion Knights' Castle is awesome), but I don't see why we can't have both types of sets. I'm an adult, at least in theory (I'm 25), and my favorite LEGO sets are ones that are designed for play over display.
I think, that the worse "risen standard" is how everything has to be super stable today, as this actually really limits creativity and building methods. And it makes modifying stuff really hard as you often have to break down sets to their components to replace some parts.
SANGYE DORJE, FINALLY THE REAL HERO OF THE THEME APPEARS! I have absolutely no clue why but as a kid, despite having both Johnny and Kilroy, this guy was always the hero of my LEGO Adventures play sessions. Idk, maybe it was just cuz he had the cool backpack piece. On the topic of his name, while I understand the concern, and perhaps I'm biased on the subject but I think in his case it's fine. So often in kids shows scientist characters are called Einstein or Edison I think using a historical figures name for a character who's purely good is fine though of course my opinion as a Brit isn't ever gonna be the most important one here
I absolutely love the sliding door because I like to pretend it’s connected to the yetis hide out being the entrance, almost like the yeti guards the temple and roams underneath
24:50 interesting and super niche fact: the picture for the flintlock musket uses the updated reddish brown mold instead of the old brown piece, that's included in this set. This is most noticable on the groove at the end of the gun. As a retro Lego Pirates collector, this is one of the most telling give aways that the musket included in an ebay listing is indeed the wrong model.
Wait... what? Is that even possible? The cards were designed before Reddish Brown was a thing..! Tell me more - is there any way I can verify something like this? 😮
@@RRSlugger It's quite tricky. Sadly, I'm not an expert on this. Bricklink provides a comparing image of the two types of item no. 2561. Maybe it's another addition to the "new moulds, old colours" gallery that Orient Expedition so famously inherits. Perhaps it is a prototype? Though I've never seen a physical old brown musket in that variation. Hence my reasoning that any musket with that design must be reddish brown. I might be wrong though, since my collection mostly consists of early 90's sets.
haha I love that burning mountain alt build, it's so ridiculous but so creative at the same time. I love how "outside of the box" they had to think to make these alt builds back then for sets that clearly weren't designed around them. modern 3-in-1 creator sets are definitely much more impressive from a technical standpoint but there's just something so charming about seeing what they were able to do with these old sets using only the pieces they were given.
I really miss big baseplates like that. They were so useful for setting up dioramas. Those tiny little bits of floor from the side builds these days just don't cut it!
Put the president on hold, slugger just dropped a half hour video!! Even as a 9 year old I wasn't a fan of the burp and half uncovered mountain. The plane survived far longer before being broken up!
It boggles my mind that the white BURP is still set exclusive 20+ years later. What a useful part, and the BURP is still getting recolors to this day, but never white? Come on Lego designers! Bring it back!
Right?? It's so frustrating. The very last photo I took for this video was the one at 12:39 because I had to wait until all the other shots were complete so I could take the temple apart and get at this piece. It's the only one I have!
Gotta love this theme, I'm so glad it's "kinda" coming back. It seems the Explorers sets are following the Adventurers legacy, if mostly based around animals rather than myth, and the linchpin for me is the return of Johnny Thunder. I miss the mythology touch of Adventurers, but at least we are getting a lot of new animal minifigs from this line. BTW, seeing Lord Sam Sinister next to that biplane gives a theory about classic villains like him being inspired, if loosely, off of the Red Baron from WW1. I have no proof, but it feels pretty accurate to me.
the biplane set from the first Adventurers theme (Egypt) directly confirms you: Set 5928 "Bi-Wing Baron" featuring "Baron von Barron" as the villain. (It was also one of my first two lego sets, so it sticks out in my mind.)
This was actually my first set from the Orient Expedition theme, though I didn't get it until I received it as a late birthday gift in September of 2006, when someone my mom was friends with discovered a copy of it as unsold/leftover stock in what was a home improvement store. Over three years after its initial release. It is indeed surreal as to how much could fit on a 16x32 baseplate even if such is rare in white, as it would only appear in three other sets after this before being phased out in 2010. While the "Mata brown" Mongolian hat was never used outside of this subtheme, the black one Ngan Pa wears would also appear in the Fall of 2005 as part of Igor Karkaroff and a generic student in the original version of the "Durmstrang Ship" (4768) from Harry Potter, in the runup to the release of the film adaptation of "Goblet of Fire" on November 18 of that year. This was my only set containing the rope bridge element, even as it had appeared in eight other unique sets dating back to its origin as part of the "Forbidden Island" (6270) from the original wave of the "Pirates" theme from 1989. It also appeared in a set (6071) from the "Forestmen" faction of Castle in 1990, before returning to appear in a set (6273) from the Pirates theme the next year. Over the following seven years, it appeared in two other Pirates sets (6278 and 6281), and two sets (6552 and 6563) from the "Extreme Team" theme, before appearing in the "Amazon Ancient Ruins" set (5986) in 1999. The Temple of Mount Everest would've been the last appearance of the rope bridge element, though it would make one other appearance recolored in "sand yellow" in a set (6253) from the (somewhat brief) revival of the Pirates theme from 2009. But it hasn't appeared since then. The 1x4 Technic brick w/3 pin holes in the old light gray the bridge is attached to on the smaller rock piece first appeared in 1982 as part of a "Tow Truck" set (8846), and appeared in a total of 77 sets (including supplement packs). With its last appearance being in the first version of the Star Wars AT-AT Waler (4483) in June of 2003. This set was also re-released in a blue-colored box (instead of the original black one) in 2004 before the part was phased out in this color. On the temple itself, the 1x6 printed tile in tan at 7:18 made its only appearance in the first version of the "Shrieking Shack" (4756) from Harry Potter from Spring 2004 before being phased out. The 1x10 Technic brick w/9 pin holes in the old light gray first appeared in the Technic "Whirlwind Rescue" set (8856) from 1991, with this set and the concurrent first version of Jabba's Palace (4480) being its last appearance in that color. A similar story is true for the 4x6x2/3 trap door in the same color, being phased out at the same time. The yellow Technic "catches" the axes are attached to also make their final appearance here after a decade in use. While the elephant trunk/tail element in "medium orange" at 15:10 (though some refer to it as "tangerine") is exclusive, the other parts on the set in this color would appear in several bulk bricks kits through 2005, though not as widely distributed. The yellow flags on the temple's sides only appeared in three other sets (3538, 8813 and 8134) after this before being phased out in 2007. Also the last year that chrome parts were used in standard retail sets.
You know, it's funny. Even though this is a really barebones set, I remember being obsessed with it as a kid. I think what I really liked was the rope bridge feature, it's so cool. It's also something they revisited in Knights Kingdom, though I prefer it here. I don't think it'll ever beat any of the Egypt sets, because MAN those are great, but still. Also, I don't know where else to mention it and I better do it before I forget: remember how in the Lego Loco tie-in set, you had a little sort-of-but-not-really Tim from Time Cruisers? Well, in the intro of the actual PC game, the handcar is instead being driven by a sort-of-but-not-really Dr. Cyber! I genuinely wonder if they originally wanted to include him, but felt it might be out of place, so instead they opted for a character from the same series. While also making him distinct enough to not be mistaken for the real deal, of course :P
I always really liked this set. It is a little barebones in places, but I think the unusual layout on the baseplate, and elevating the temple and bridge well above it, help to sell it as a mountaintop structure. A building sitting right on the baseplate just wouldn't have the same effect. The flags, and even the open walls of the temple, help enhance that to me - it's up on a lonely peak, forever battered by the winds and barely offering any shelter. And of course four cool minifigs, a heaping of equipment (including the fairly rare snowshoes), and a biplane help too!
I’ve seen MOCs that place the temple on a separate peak from the entrance point which would justify the climb to the bridge perhaps. That’s always how my imagination had it as well.
Oof, that axe trap trigger is painful to behold! Personally, I read the set's design - with the rocks up against the two sides of the baseplate - as implying the mountain rises up quite a bit higher on both sides beyond what we see on that 16x32 space. I envision that just before the bridge, off that edge of the plate, is a narrow path on the same level, which then slopes down at a steep but walkable grade to the trail below -- and on the other side of that path, the face of the mountain looming high above. I don't see the LURP as a small hill standing on its own, but as just the base of the slope, with the bridge crossing a valley between two opposing mountainsides. tbh I think that's one of the strengths of the "unfinished" appearance of the set -- you can interpret it in a variety of different ways!
Good job Slugger, good job! Had this set when I was younger, it's all in pieces now. However, you did manage to remind me that I need to reacquire all the old Macro Polo Treasures, including the torso of the Golden Dragon, as sadly mine has a broken wing clip. Oh well. Anyways, I gotta go, I'm heading out to walk later and need to finish some things. Oh, and in other news, I finally got the pieces ordered to build my own MOT Blue Passenger Wagon, plus I found most of the expensive parts hiding in various Lego bins to rebuild my MOT Green Passenger Wagon. Now I just need a blue weighted brick for the Constitution's 9v equipped tender and it will be able to haul them alongside the other cars already hooked up behind the old ten wheeler. Rockatoa, Brickticks out!
For the baseplate, I always imagined that the white space between the 2x2 grey tiles and the edges of the mountaintop build on the opposite end represented a void, perhaps a swirling mist over a very deep crevasse, as depicted in the motion comic.
I always had the fantasy fix for this set is using blue and white tiles on the baseplate to simulate being above the clouds It would probably be more practical to just use scattered bricks and slopes to make smaller, less climbable peaks, and the main two are just the highest. Could also probably add a loose latter to smaller peak - that would suggest that there is a route up the mountain leading to it, justifying why one would climb that instead of straight to the temple
Not gonna lie, this video let me appreciate this set way more than I could have just looking at it indirectly online. I felt it was a shame how small it was compared to India and China, but the play features apparently pack the punch - and that first alternate build I dare say is even better, almost makes me wish I had two just to integrate it into the main build! As for Sanje Dorje, while he is most likely named after a real person, apparently both the names Sanje and Dorje are fairly common in Tibetan, especially Dorje (which means "indestructible", which is pretty cool)! I really love the fur hats and wish they were featured more. Really if I had any complaints about Orient Expedition at all it would be that there aren't enough sets that feature the locals to allow for some crowd building. We have a hero local and a villain local in each place, having some bystanders would help fill things out that much more. I'm really looking forward to China! Both for its great builds and unique parts, and it's more.... questionable aspects, like the villain haha.
Indeed! This set does have a lot to offer, but it does come at an aesthetic cost. I too am looking forward to China, but you're right - so far the Orient Expedition has been more hits than misses when it comes to getting the history and culture of each region correct. I have a bad feeling about that aspect in China... 😅
@@RRSlugger Well Jing Lee is cool at least. She was the only source of any kind of female Asian minifigures for a long time, for me, and her torso print helped many a former Ninja robber transform into a Chinese pirate for me.
This is a set that I define as iconic: in the sense that it immediately conveys what the entire Orient Expedition line revolves around and the pieces lend themselves excellently to recreating a Nepalese themed diorama. In general, I have noticed that in the last 15 years, Lego has no longer wanted to set its sets in real places in our world (albeit in fictional narrative contexts), preferring to opt either for "universal" city scenarios, or for specific dedicated lines to revisited mythological narratives (see Monkie Kid).
The line "providing an added kick to the affair" was just one of multiple highlights in this video. Beautifully written, narrated, shot and edited as always. 👏👏👏
Lego adventures has never really intrigued me. But that second alt build with the face is just too cute! I’ll has to resist getting a lot of bricklink just to build that.
The bending lance problem could be easily fixed by replacing the tan piece with a universal joint, and replacing the bar tile with a longer piece to compensate. So obvious a solution, I thought that's what the set did until you pointed it out.
Hmm, I'm trying to picture that solution in my head, but I'm not certain which parts you're talking about. Do you have a part number for that universal joint you're describing?
@@minerman60101 Oh, thanks! Hmm.. you know, I actually don't think that would work all that well - the force of the axes would likely cause the handle to go flying out all over the place. 🤔 I may need to test this, but I don't think I have that part in my collection...
These videos always make me wonder what it would be like if we had the same creativity of ‘80s - ‘00s Lego with the build QA of modern Lego, but without the intense fear of potentially offending one group or another. If you actually take the time to do some research, you _can_ make cool stuff like Adventures again; and the only people who’d be mad would be people against the idea of recording history and making it available to the world. To quote Johnny Thunder’s most likely inspiration: “It belongs in a museum!”
That's not the reason these kinda of sets aren't being made. These kinda of themes just don't sell well with the general public. Adventures, Pirates, and Castle are all themes that many AFOLs have nostalgia for, but the fact remains that they're niche and not money makers. I don't see trends changing anytime soon. 🤷
@@BoardGamesBricksHobbies There are many other reasons, such as cost of advertising, self competition, and only having so many set designers. To my layman observation, it likely takes far more money to market their in-house brands, even ones as big as Ninjago and Monkey Kid, than it does to advertise massive multi-media IP like Star Wars, Harry Potter, DC & Marvel, etc. That leads into self competition, because the average kid will naturally gravitate towards the bigger IP (Star Wars over Space, Harry Potter over Castle, Super Heroes over Adventurers), meaning that even more work has to be done to push the in-house IP. Finally, with only so many set designers on staff to spread around, the suits are more likely to bet on a sure thing than gamble on an underdog (which is economically understandable), meaning that they're more likely to assign set designers to a licensed IP instead of something in-house. Somehow, despite all this, the anomalous Lego City still persists even after all these years, and needs to act as a vehicle for new Space sets (and likely new Castle & Pirate sets, if I were to hazard a guess). The only way that I, as a casual observer, can see original Lego IP coming back, is a change in leadership to suits that push for dropping expensive licensed IP for cheaper in-house IP; though that would likely never happen, as the investors would riot.
I also had the immediate thought of expanding the left half with an 8x16, and you did it pretty perfectly. My other thought is to remove the pin from the rope bridge, and instead make it a challenge much the same as the shovel trick you suggested, where one could either attempt the challenge with luck and/or speed or stabilising the bridge with an external puzzle element.
I recently got this set along with elephant caravan and yetis hideout in a lego bin from a used bookstore for a very low price and every time i would pick up a piece when shifting through i was like "oh that has to be a unique part" again and again and it really just baffles me how much budget they poured into this line lol
Yes! One of my favorite sets as a kid, one of the best. A huge number of unique or rare pieces useful in mocs. Best part, it was a lot of value for a pretty low pricetag, which means I could afford it on my allowance!
Wow as a kid I don’t think I realized I could stop either of those traps. What I did realize was the opaque white plastic underneath the sword cause I certainly overused it. It’s always fun when I see just how many pieces in childhood sets were one offs the way unappreciated. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing but it’s interesting how liberal LEGO was even 20 years ago to just make things be this specialized. And I constantly lost the secret rock door
Wow, Chima yet again I might add remade an old set and made it way better than the original in every way. Sir Fangars Ice Fortress, is also an icy building with a rope bridge that has the climbers fall into the depths. This time with deadly spikes. And even a trap door in the main building area.
I found your channel a couple weeks ago and I've been binging your video backlog! I've really enjoyed what you create and you've given me such a nostalgia for the Lego sets I used to have as a kid in the 90s, even if I never owned any of the sets you've talked about! It's funny that you apologized for how much you enjoy talking about the minutia of set details, because I think they're some of the most interesting parts of the video. Learning about pieces and their rarity, exclusivity, or final appearances, along with history of the colors used throughout Lego are fascinating to me. I really appreciate those segments in all your set reviews.
Hey, thank you! Welcome to the channel! Indeed, minor minutia and connecting the different threads of the larger LEGO tapestry is what we're all about here. 😊
This was one of my childhood sets. It's so cool to see it examined like this. I had been hotly anticipating this one, and it delivered! And it's great to see the alt builds in HD, the vertical temple buildcreally surprised me when I builtvitvyears ago :)
I think that the path of tiles leading to the bridge are supposed to interface with the board game, forming the last few squares before the challenge. That's how we always played it anyway!
I'd like to think that too, but it doesn't actually line up with the puzzle pieces - lands somewhere in the middle of the two lanes of traffic. 😭 So close, and yet so far!
As a kid I always imagined that there was supposed to be a deep ravine under the bridge that separated the heros from the temple and necessitated the use of the bridge. I guess the white baseplate kind of negates that though. Edit: And now I know why I thought that, it's depicted that way in the comic!
Very impressive set (and video!). I love that you include the alt builds and the board game. It really makes the set feel bigger than it actually is. Another great video!
I think that the size of the rope bridge part really limited the set, its long and narrow shape meant that the build had to be long, with the structures squished to the sides, and a large area of space going unused. But even with this piece, I think that the set could have been greatly improved by replacing the 16x32 baseplate with an 8x16 and a 16x16 on either end of the bridge, with a white 2x10 plate spanning the gap for stability. This way, the set looks more like the peaks of two different mountains, and it gives Johnny a reason to have to start where he does!
Wow Slugger, once again you've hit it out of the park. Your videos are very in depth and touch on all the aspects of these sets, and it is always a joy to watch. Have you considered making a video about how great the 2004 Toa Metru from the retired Bionicle theme are? I think you'd get a big kick out of them!
Your videos are always worth the wait! I love how thorough your video are and the extra work you do like that shot of the snow below the trapapalt The Lego Website alt builds feel like they're straight out of Lego Racers 2, i almost want to get this now just for that build lol
In my mind the reason Johnny can’t climb the right side of the temple is because the temple of mount Everest is on a mountain, the baseplate in my mind isn’t the actual ground and in fact is on a giant mountain. The left side he can only climb because there’s a path carved up the mountain! Just m 2 cents of owning the set
Thanks for the amazing video, slugger, was really looking forward to this one. I know you said it was a bit draining to make so thank you for your perseverance. It was worth the wait 💙
I adore the information and perspective you bring with each one of these, both on the real world subject matter here, and the point of view as a collector and person purchasing a product. 9:00 The trigger for that trap mechanism had me cringing a little hahaha. Also great to see a return to the board game! Even with its flaws, it sounds like it was a fun time. I love how the video ended with the Marco Polo track, that track really has that "movie credits song" feel, you know?
Thanks for your patience with this one, folks! 3 months in the making, but it's finally here.
Starting on July 1st, we're kicking off the Summer Of Slug 2024 - stay tuned for another video on that topic and links to the Patreon, etc. 😊
I'm so looking forward to this summer (and a break from Orient Expedition)! We'll pick up with the gang's trek to China in 2025. Thanks everyone!
Epic
Here's hoping the theme song makes a comeback! It's the summer of slug! doo doo doo It's the summer of slug...🎶
@@evilscientistrecords me too!
“We’ll pick up with the gang’s trek to China in 2025!”
OOF. That’s a heck of a wait. I guess the Adventurers Gang is walking to China instead of taking a balloon (or it’s taking a while to source all the pieces for the final wave because they’re either rare and/or expensive). At least the Summer of Slug will help a couple of months pass by quickly!
@@DragonxFlutter It's a break for them, and for me! I always get a little burned out after a massive video like this. 😅
Shifting gears for a bit will be healthy, methinks!
This slug made me realize that I don’t have to grow out of legos as I exit my teens.
He’s helping you skip your Dark Age by throwing you straight into the Lego Renaissance
Hey kid, I'm 41 and still play with lego.
What's Legos?
I wish I would have skipped my dark age. Good choice
Becomming an adult is not about giving up on childlike wonder and imagination. There are many definitions, I'm sure, but I think its mostly about maturing emotionally and able to handle responsibility, to become reliable and to find an enjoyable, or at least a honest way to give back to society. Maturing emotionally entails realizing that you're free to do what you want to do regardless of anyones judgement, which includes enjoying Lego.
Slugger, hearing you talk about the minutia of a set isn't "the price of admission", its the attraction itself! The details are why I love this channel
Hahaha, thank you!
It's my favorite thing too, always interested in the oddball pieces
@@RRSlugger I agree, I love the random trivia about rare pieces and colors and whatnot.
The price of admission is actually free, if you can believe it
Old Lego had an obsession with Biplanes and I love it.
It certainly did, didn't it? 😄
and Triplanes
They still do, they are just cool :D
I never knew all 3 maps literally connected the dots together! Its the little things on the little pieces 😄
That first alt build is seriously so good, it rivals the main build at least aesthetically
It really is! I was really surprised by it.
WE MAKING IT UP THE MOUNTAIN WITH THIS ONE! 🏔
I actually think the exposed walls are pretty cool. As a kid I always loved seeing cross-section views, and while I never had THIS set, the kinds of exposed walls all over this set always gave me the impression that I was looking at a little slice of a much larger scene, kinda like what's explicitly done with the modern Great Pyramid icons set.
It’s not quite the Summer of Slug!
_it’s not quite the summer of slug_
Slug Boy Summer. Sorry, I had to hahaha
I quit collecting Lego a while back. It's too expensive for me & I don't have the space to display the models. But your videos make me so excited for Lego, it makes me live my Lego dreams through the screen. You even add some extra imagination & fascination for older sets, before my time. I had a really tough day today but seeing you uploaded this was a pleasant surprise, it's perfect to wind down to.
Thank you so much! I'm humbled that my video helped lighten your day! I hope tomorrow is better. ❤
I actually wish LEGO still made "unfinished" and "ugly" sets like this. I wonder how much of the price increases are due to rising standards and harsher reviews driving them to sell only sets that are perfect from all angles? I also think sets like this spark more imagination. A set thats fully fleshed out feels more intended for display than play to me!
100% agree, especially about the "unfinished" nature doing more to spark imagination. Far too many sets these days feel like they're prioritizing display over play!
@@AlfwinThat’s largely because of the shift in the toy industry towards older collectors as the primary audience. Especially since geeky or “childish” hobbies aren’t stigmatized as much. And of course, adults are ultimately the ones with money.
@@blam320 Don't get me wrong, I love the elaborate "collector" sets (Lion Knights' Castle is awesome), but I don't see why we can't have both types of sets.
I'm an adult, at least in theory (I'm 25), and my favorite LEGO sets are ones that are designed for play over display.
I think, that the worse "risen standard" is how everything has to be super stable today, as this actually really limits creativity and building methods. And it makes modifying stuff really hard as you often have to break down sets to their components to replace some parts.
SANGYE DORJE, FINALLY THE REAL HERO OF THE THEME APPEARS!
I have absolutely no clue why but as a kid, despite having both Johnny and Kilroy, this guy was always the hero of my LEGO Adventures play sessions. Idk, maybe it was just cuz he had the cool backpack piece.
On the topic of his name, while I understand the concern, and perhaps I'm biased on the subject but I think in his case it's fine. So often in kids shows scientist characters are called Einstein or Edison I think using a historical figures name for a character who's purely good is fine though of course my opinion as a Brit isn't ever gonna be the most important one here
You know, that's a good point worth considering. It isn't a huge deal either way, but I felt it was worth pointing out. 👍
I absolutely love the sliding door because I like to pretend it’s connected to the yetis hide out being the entrance, almost like the yeti guards the temple and roams underneath
That's a cool idea! Those two sets go quite well with each other!
"bad; excrement"
Very subtle, Lego. Verrrry subtle.
24:50 interesting and super niche fact: the picture for the flintlock musket uses the updated reddish brown mold instead of the old brown piece, that's included in this set. This is most noticable on the groove at the end of the gun.
As a retro Lego Pirates collector, this is one of the most telling give aways that the musket included in an ebay listing is indeed the wrong model.
Wait... what? Is that even possible? The cards were designed before Reddish Brown was a thing..!
Tell me more - is there any way I can verify something like this? 😮
@@RRSlugger It's quite tricky. Sadly, I'm not an expert on this. Bricklink provides a comparing image of the two types of item no. 2561. Maybe it's another addition to the "new moulds, old colours" gallery that Orient Expedition so famously inherits. Perhaps it is a prototype? Though I've never seen a physical old brown musket in that variation. Hence my reasoning that any musket with that design must be reddish brown. I might be wrong though, since my collection mostly consists of early 90's sets.
@@Johann55555 I appreciate the heads up, nonetheless! It gives me something to look into!
haha I love that burning mountain alt build, it's so ridiculous but so creative at the same time.
I love how "outside of the box" they had to think to make these alt builds back then for sets that clearly weren't designed around them. modern 3-in-1 creator sets are definitely much more impressive from a technical standpoint but there's just something so charming about seeing what they were able to do with these old sets using only the pieces they were given.
I really miss big baseplates like that. They were so useful for setting up dioramas.
Those tiny little bits of floor from the side builds these days just don't cut it!
I couldn't agree more! 💯
Put the president on hold, slugger just dropped a half hour video!!
Even as a 9 year old I wasn't a fan of the burp and half uncovered mountain. The plane survived far longer before being broken up!
Listening to you talk about parts isn’t a cost to be paid. It’s why I’m here. Love your videos!
Thank you! ❤️
It boggles my mind that the white BURP is still set exclusive 20+ years later. What a useful part, and the BURP is still getting recolors to this day, but never white? Come on Lego designers! Bring it back!
Right?? It's so frustrating. The very last photo I took for this video was the one at 12:39 because I had to wait until all the other shots were complete so I could take the temple apart and get at this piece. It's the only one I have!
Especially surprising given they've been releasing a new "Frozen Ice Castle" set every 3-4 years.
Gotta love this theme, I'm so glad it's "kinda" coming back. It seems the Explorers sets are following the Adventurers legacy, if mostly based around animals rather than myth, and the linchpin for me is the return of Johnny Thunder. I miss the mythology touch of Adventurers, but at least we are getting a lot of new animal minifigs from this line.
BTW, seeing Lord Sam Sinister next to that biplane gives a theory about classic villains like him being inspired, if loosely, off of the Red Baron from WW1. I have no proof, but it feels pretty accurate to me.
the biplane set from the first Adventurers theme (Egypt) directly confirms you: Set 5928 "Bi-Wing Baron" featuring "Baron von Barron" as the villain. (It was also one of my first two lego sets, so it sticks out in my mind.)
Yeah! I'm not sure yet what to make of that new City explorers subtheme... 🤔
This was actually my first set from the Orient Expedition theme, though I didn't get it until I received it as a late birthday gift in September of 2006, when someone my mom was friends with discovered a copy of it as unsold/leftover stock in what was a home improvement store. Over three years after its initial release. It is indeed surreal as to how much could fit on a 16x32 baseplate even if such is rare in white, as it would only appear in three other sets after this before being phased out in 2010. While the "Mata brown" Mongolian hat was never used outside of this subtheme, the black one Ngan Pa wears would also appear in the Fall of 2005 as part of Igor Karkaroff and a generic student in the original version of the "Durmstrang Ship" (4768) from Harry Potter, in the runup to the release of the film adaptation of "Goblet of Fire" on November 18 of that year.
This was my only set containing the rope bridge element, even as it had appeared in eight other unique sets dating back to its origin as part of the "Forbidden Island" (6270) from the original wave of the "Pirates" theme from 1989. It also appeared in a set (6071) from the "Forestmen" faction of Castle in 1990, before returning to appear in a set (6273) from the Pirates theme the next year. Over the following seven years, it appeared in two other Pirates sets (6278 and 6281), and two sets (6552 and 6563) from the "Extreme Team" theme, before appearing in the "Amazon Ancient Ruins" set (5986) in 1999. The Temple of Mount Everest would've been the last appearance of the rope bridge element, though it would make one other appearance recolored in "sand yellow" in a set (6253) from the (somewhat brief) revival of the Pirates theme from 2009. But it hasn't appeared since then. The 1x4 Technic brick w/3 pin holes in the old light gray the bridge is attached to on the smaller rock piece first appeared in 1982 as part of a "Tow Truck" set (8846), and appeared in a total of 77 sets (including supplement packs). With its last appearance being in the first version of the Star Wars AT-AT Waler (4483) in June of 2003. This set was also re-released in a blue-colored box (instead of the original black one) in 2004 before the part was phased out in this color.
On the temple itself, the 1x6 printed tile in tan at 7:18 made its only appearance in the first version of the "Shrieking Shack" (4756) from Harry Potter from Spring 2004 before being phased out. The 1x10 Technic brick w/9 pin holes in the old light gray first appeared in the Technic "Whirlwind Rescue" set (8856) from 1991, with this set and the concurrent first version of Jabba's Palace (4480) being its last appearance in that color. A similar story is true for the 4x6x2/3 trap door in the same color, being phased out at the same time. The yellow Technic "catches" the axes are attached to also make their final appearance here after a decade in use. While the elephant trunk/tail element in "medium orange" at 15:10 (though some refer to it as "tangerine") is exclusive, the other parts on the set in this color would appear in several bulk bricks kits through 2005, though not as widely distributed. The yellow flags on the temple's sides only appeared in three other sets (3538, 8813 and 8134) after this before being phased out in 2007. Also the last year that chrome parts were used in standard retail sets.
You know, it's funny. Even though this is a really barebones set, I remember being obsessed with it as a kid. I think what I really liked was the rope bridge feature, it's so cool. It's also something they revisited in Knights Kingdom, though I prefer it here. I don't think it'll ever beat any of the Egypt sets, because MAN those are great, but still.
Also, I don't know where else to mention it and I better do it before I forget: remember how in the Lego Loco tie-in set, you had a little sort-of-but-not-really Tim from Time Cruisers? Well, in the intro of the actual PC game, the handcar is instead being driven by a sort-of-but-not-really Dr. Cyber! I genuinely wonder if they originally wanted to include him, but felt it might be out of place, so instead they opted for a character from the same series. While also making him distinct enough to not be mistaken for the real deal, of course :P
Oh that's right! Good catch on that! 😮
I always really liked this set. It is a little barebones in places, but I think the unusual layout on the baseplate, and elevating the temple and bridge well above it, help to sell it as a mountaintop structure. A building sitting right on the baseplate just wouldn't have the same effect. The flags, and even the open walls of the temple, help enhance that to me - it's up on a lonely peak, forever battered by the winds and barely offering any shelter.
And of course four cool minifigs, a heaping of equipment (including the fairly rare snowshoes), and a biplane help too!
We had one of the golden swords growing up and that thing was chipped and scratched to the max!!! A well loved Lego piece!
We're back to orient expedition. Good to know you're still working on this series and looking forward to the final leg of the journey.
I’ve seen MOCs that place the temple on a separate peak from the entrance point which would justify the climb to the bridge perhaps. That’s always how my imagination had it as well.
While I’m commenting, shoutout to Ngan Pa, my favorite villain from the theme 🤘
Gotta say the Everest map print is my favourite of the trio, if only because of the compass design
Oof, that axe trap trigger is painful to behold!
Personally, I read the set's design - with the rocks up against the two sides of the baseplate - as implying the mountain rises up quite a bit higher on both sides beyond what we see on that 16x32 space. I envision that just before the bridge, off that edge of the plate, is a narrow path on the same level, which then slopes down at a steep but walkable grade to the trail below -- and on the other side of that path, the face of the mountain looming high above. I don't see the LURP as a small hill standing on its own, but as just the base of the slope, with the bridge crossing a valley between two opposing mountainsides.
tbh I think that's one of the strengths of the "unfinished" appearance of the set -- you can interpret it in a variety of different ways!
Good job Slugger, good job! Had this set when I was younger, it's all in pieces now. However, you did manage to remind me that I need to reacquire all the old Macro Polo Treasures, including the torso of the Golden Dragon, as sadly mine has a broken wing clip. Oh well. Anyways, I gotta go, I'm heading out to walk later and need to finish some things.
Oh, and in other news, I finally got the pieces ordered to build my own MOT Blue Passenger Wagon, plus I found most of the expensive parts hiding in various Lego bins to rebuild my MOT Green Passenger Wagon. Now I just need a blue weighted brick for the Constitution's 9v equipped tender and it will be able to haul them alongside the other cars already hooked up behind the old ten wheeler.
Rockatoa, Brickticks out!
Awesome! Good luck with the project!
Don’t know why I just got notified about this video now but what an absolute treat
For the baseplate, I always imagined that the white space between the 2x2 grey tiles and the edges of the mountaintop build on the opposite end represented a void, perhaps a swirling mist over a very deep crevasse, as depicted in the motion comic.
Oooo, I like this interpretation!
I always had the fantasy fix for this set is using blue and white tiles on the baseplate to simulate being above the clouds
It would probably be more practical to just use scattered bricks and slopes to make smaller, less climbable peaks, and the main two are just the highest.
Could also probably add a loose latter to smaller peak - that would suggest that there is a route up the mountain leading to it, justifying why one would climb that instead of straight to the temple
Indeed, with my little add-on, I tried to use a little rope to make that peak more climbable. 👍
25:03 Ah, may I introduce you to Trotsky's assassins lol
Not gonna lie, this video let me appreciate this set way more than I could have just looking at it indirectly online. I felt it was a shame how small it was compared to India and China, but the play features apparently pack the punch - and that first alternate build I dare say is even better, almost makes me wish I had two just to integrate it into the main build!
As for Sanje Dorje, while he is most likely named after a real person, apparently both the names Sanje and Dorje are fairly common in Tibetan, especially Dorje (which means "indestructible", which is pretty cool)! I really love the fur hats and wish they were featured more. Really if I had any complaints about Orient Expedition at all it would be that there aren't enough sets that feature the locals to allow for some crowd building. We have a hero local and a villain local in each place, having some bystanders would help fill things out that much more.
I'm really looking forward to China! Both for its great builds and unique parts, and it's more.... questionable aspects, like the villain haha.
Indeed! This set does have a lot to offer, but it does come at an aesthetic cost.
I too am looking forward to China, but you're right - so far the Orient Expedition has been more hits than misses when it comes to getting the history and culture of each region correct. I have a bad feeling about that aspect in China... 😅
@@RRSlugger Well Jing Lee is cool at least. She was the only source of any kind of female Asian minifigures for a long time, for me, and her torso print helped many a former Ninja robber transform into a Chinese pirate for me.
This is a set that I define as iconic: in the sense that it immediately conveys what the entire Orient Expedition line revolves around and the pieces lend themselves excellently to recreating a Nepalese themed diorama.
In general, I have noticed that in the last 15 years, Lego has no longer wanted to set its sets in real places in our world (albeit in fictional narrative contexts), preferring to opt either for "universal" city scenarios, or for specific dedicated lines to revisited mythological narratives (see Monkie Kid).
Yeah that ax trap using old brown hurt even more
Despite its cosmetic shortcomings this is my second favourite adventurers orient set because of its exclusive snow pieces
The line "providing an added kick to the affair" was just one of multiple highlights in this video.
Beautifully written, narrated, shot and edited as always.
👏👏👏
Thank you! ❤️
Lego adventures has never really intrigued me. But that second alt build with the face is just too cute! I’ll has to resist getting a lot of bricklink just to build that.
Those features are amazing, and I’m so so glad you captured the alt build as well. I’m really surprised how good they are
Indeed! That first one is a strong contender, for sure!
21:47 while it is illegal with that generation of pieces it is completely legal with their modern counterparts
Cool! Good to know!
The bending lance problem could be easily fixed by replacing the tan piece with a universal joint, and replacing the bar tile with a longer piece to compensate. So obvious a solution, I thought that's what the set did until you pointed it out.
Hmm, I'm trying to picture that solution in my head, but I'm not certain which parts you're talking about. Do you have a part number for that universal joint you're describing?
@@RRSlugger 62520c01 is the current version of the piece
@@minerman60101 Oh, thanks! Hmm.. you know, I actually don't think that would work all that well - the force of the axes would likely cause the handle to go flying out all over the place. 🤔
I may need to test this, but I don't think I have that part in my collection...
These videos always make me wonder what it would be like if we had the same creativity of ‘80s - ‘00s Lego with the build QA of modern Lego, but without the intense fear of potentially offending one group or another. If you actually take the time to do some research, you _can_ make cool stuff like Adventures again; and the only people who’d be mad would be people against the idea of recording history and making it available to the world. To quote Johnny Thunder’s most likely inspiration: “It belongs in a museum!”
That's not the reason these kinda of sets aren't being made. These kinda of themes just don't sell well with the general public. Adventures, Pirates, and Castle are all themes that many AFOLs have nostalgia for, but the fact remains that they're niche and not money makers. I don't see trends changing anytime soon. 🤷
@@BoardGamesBricksHobbies There are many other reasons, such as cost of advertising, self competition, and only having so many set designers.
To my layman observation, it likely takes far more money to market their in-house brands, even ones as big as Ninjago and Monkey Kid, than it does to advertise massive multi-media IP like Star Wars, Harry Potter, DC & Marvel, etc. That leads into self competition, because the average kid will naturally gravitate towards the bigger IP (Star Wars over Space, Harry Potter over Castle, Super Heroes over Adventurers), meaning that even more work has to be done to push the in-house IP. Finally, with only so many set designers on staff to spread around, the suits are more likely to bet on a sure thing than gamble on an underdog (which is economically understandable), meaning that they're more likely to assign set designers to a licensed IP instead of something in-house.
Somehow, despite all this, the anomalous Lego City still persists even after all these years, and needs to act as a vehicle for new Space sets (and likely new Castle & Pirate sets, if I were to hazard a guess).
The only way that I, as a casual observer, can see original Lego IP coming back, is a change in leadership to suits that push for dropping expensive licensed IP for cheaper in-house IP; though that would likely never happen, as the investors would riot.
I also had the immediate thought of expanding the left half with an 8x16, and you did it pretty perfectly. My other thought is to remove the pin from the rope bridge, and instead make it a challenge much the same as the shovel trick you suggested, where one could either attempt the challenge with luck and/or speed or stabilising the bridge with an external puzzle element.
This was my favorite set from my childhood! Absolutely love it.
I recently got this set along with elephant caravan and yetis hideout in a lego bin from a used bookstore for a very low price and every time i would pick up a piece when shifting through i was like "oh that has to be a unique part" again and again and it really just baffles me how much budget they poured into this line lol
Yes! One of my favorite sets as a kid, one of the best. A huge number of unique or rare pieces useful in mocs. Best part, it was a lot of value for a pretty low pricetag, which means I could afford it on my allowance!
I remember seeing the commercial for this kit as a kid and wanting it for that cool axe trap part alone.
Wow as a kid I don’t think I realized I could stop either of those traps. What I did realize was the opaque white plastic underneath the sword cause I certainly overused it. It’s always fun when I see just how many pieces in childhood sets were one offs the way unappreciated. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing but it’s interesting how liberal LEGO was even 20 years ago to just make things be this specialized. And I constantly lost the secret rock door
Wow, Chima yet again I might add remade an old set and made it way better than the original in every way. Sir Fangars Ice Fortress, is also an icy building with a rope bridge that has the climbers fall into the depths. This time with deadly spikes. And even a trap door in the main building area.
I greatly enjoy how many traps here have the potential to fling minifigs
Indeed! Back when minifigures were seen as toys and not investments or display pieces. 😅
12:20 What do you mean "the price to pay"? That's what I'm here for 😄
This is one of my favorite sets of the adventure line
I found your channel a couple weeks ago and I've been binging your video backlog! I've really enjoyed what you create and you've given me such a nostalgia for the Lego sets I used to have as a kid in the 90s, even if I never owned any of the sets you've talked about! It's funny that you apologized for how much you enjoy talking about the minutia of set details, because I think they're some of the most interesting parts of the video. Learning about pieces and their rarity, exclusivity, or final appearances, along with history of the colors used throughout Lego are fascinating to me. I really appreciate those segments in all your set reviews.
Hey, thank you! Welcome to the channel! Indeed, minor minutia and connecting the different threads of the larger LEGO tapestry is what we're all about here. 😊
6:42 Wow that was underwhelming. 😂
Very nice video with a lot of research. Looking forward the the Summer of Slug!
This was one of my childhood sets. It's so cool to see it examined like this. I had been hotly anticipating this one, and it delivered! And it's great to see the alt builds in HD, the vertical temple buildcreally surprised me when I builtvitvyears ago :)
Patience is rewarded. Thanks a lot for this video. Good luck with the Summer of Slug!
Thank you! 😊
I think that the path of tiles leading to the bridge are supposed to interface with the board game, forming the last few squares before the challenge. That's how we always played it anyway!
I'd like to think that too, but it doesn't actually line up with the puzzle pieces - lands somewhere in the middle of the two lanes of traffic. 😭
So close, and yet so far!
As a kid I always imagined that there was supposed to be a deep ravine under the bridge that separated the heros from the temple and necessitated the use of the bridge. I guess the white baseplate kind of negates that though.
Edit: And now I know why I thought that, it's depicted that way in the comic!
It was cool to hear the Lego Western theme from Jamie’s channel. Nice touch.
RR slugger has blessed my feed once again
It was worth waiting. Your videos are always coming with great balance of humor and nerdy funfacts ❤
I LOVE that Yeti face on alternate build!
this was one of my first lego sets and might be my favourite from the theme.
I feel so nostalgic for your music
It is truly a joyous occasion when we reach one of these big (well in this case big-ish) ones
I have been waiting for this one!
Very impressive set (and video!). I love that you include the alt builds and the board game. It really makes the set feel bigger than it actually is. Another great video!
That's a great way to put it! Thanks! 😊
I’ve actually started collecting these sets because of you, thank you, this set is an amazing set
using the snowshoes to gum up the axe trap is a fun use of elements
"Over 20 years later" ooofff, I'm getting old
Quality video as usual 😄
Great video!
Oooh, that music blackscreen end was NICE
Thanks, Ellie!
I think that the size of the rope bridge part really limited the set, its long and narrow shape meant that the build had to be long, with the structures squished to the sides, and a large area of space going unused.
But even with this piece, I think that the set could have been greatly improved by replacing the 16x32 baseplate with an 8x16 and a 16x16 on either end of the bridge, with a white 2x10 plate spanning the gap for stability. This way, the set looks more like the peaks of two different mountains, and it gives Johnny a reason to have to start where he does!
Agreed! Separating the baseplates from each other might have led to stability issues, but it certainly would have sold the illusion better!
another banger video from sluggo! 😎👍🐌💎
Wow Slugger, once again you've hit it out of the park. Your videos are very in depth and touch on all the aspects of these sets, and it is always a joy to watch. Have you considered making a video about how great the 2004 Toa Metru from the retired Bionicle theme are? I think you'd get a big kick out of them!
Never heard of them! I'll have to check them out!
This comment is comedy gold.
one of my absolute best lego youtubers
thank you for that sweet trip to nostalgia land 💛❤💙💚
Your videos are always worth the wait! I love how thorough your video are and the extra work you do like that shot of the snow below the trapapalt
The Lego Website alt builds feel like they're straight out of Lego Racers 2, i almost want to get this now just for that build lol
love this set
"oh man... such a big sandwhich... what video would i watch th- OH MY GOD ITS ANOTHER ORIENT EXPEDITION VIDEO"
In my mind the reason Johnny can’t climb the right side of the temple is because the temple of mount Everest is on a mountain, the baseplate in my mind isn’t the actual ground and in fact is on a giant mountain. The left side he can only climb because there’s a path carved up the mountain! Just m 2 cents of owning the set
Thanks for the amazing video, slugger, was really looking forward to this one. I know you said it was a bit draining to make so thank you for your perseverance. It was worth the wait 💙
Thank you! Yeah, I've found that once a video breaks the ~12 minute mark, it ceases to be fun to make. 😅
Love your videos I really hope to see all the series! The Dragon castle was my dream as a kid, I have bought the Dragon itself now!
thank you for more great photo/videography. these reviews get better and better!
Thank you! ❤️
amazing as always, slug! just in time for johnny thunder thursday :D
Absolutely a top video. I will probably have to buy Everest as well. Greetings from Switzerland and thank you.
This set has a looooot of nostalgia for me, and now I'm wondering how one could fill the set out some in the classic style.
banger of a video, in the classic slug fashion
Waiting for this video has been my Everest ❤
Wonderful video! Really enjoyed the vibes on this one...! Even a fairly mediocre set manages to get so much appreciation and insight from you...!
It’s finally here
An enjoyable video that was a easy listen to wind down to a slugs pace.
I adore the information and perspective you bring with each one of these, both on the real world subject matter here, and the point of view as a collector and person purchasing a product.
9:00 The trigger for that trap mechanism had me cringing a little hahaha.
Also great to see a return to the board game! Even with its flaws, it sounds like it was a fun time.
I love how the video ended with the Marco Polo track, that track really has that "movie credits song" feel, you know?
Thank you! Yeah, I'm really proud of that Marco Polo track - I think I try to show it off whenever I can, haha. 😆
It is here! My bff had this, might still have.
I love your videos, and now have more parts to look at for ICE PLANT MOCs. Set exclusive white rock.
This series has a complete hold over me
I first saw this set on LGR Thrifts a number of years ago