Welcome to Pause Magazine's Lego '96 Page

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Exploriens is the new Space lineup for 1996. There are six new sets in the sub-theme and there should be an Exploriens Value Pack sometime this year:

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6815 - Hovertron	10k	96	28	1
6854 - Alien Fossilizer	14k	96	51	1
6856 - Planetary Decoder	14k	96	79	1
6899 - Nebula Outpost	26k	96	156	2
6958 - Android Base	28k	96	267	3
6982 - Explorien Starship	59k	96	652	3

Pirates get some great new sets this year, including a new big ship. Neat! Wasn't there already a set called Shipwreck Island?

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
1802 - Tidy Treasure	43k	96	21	1
6232 - Skeleton Crew	11k	96	27	2
6248 - Volcano Island	29k	96	119	2
6289 - Red Beard Runner	68k	96	691	7
6296 - Shipwreck Island	29k	96	216	4

The Imperial Guards have been replaced by the Imperial Armada. It makes sense, what with the Imperial Trading Post gone, there's not much left to guard, huh?

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6244 - Armada Sentry	17k	96	70	1
6280 - Armada Flagship	47k	96	280	3

Lords and Ladies! It's the event you've all been waiting for…the return of the Forestmen in the new Castle sub-theme, Dark Forest! There are three of these sets and they all look very nice. Notice the Dark Forest emblem at the top of the picture for 6046…

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
1804 - Crossbow Boat	42k	96	20	1
6024 - Bandit Ambush	19k	96	58	2
6046 - Hemlock Stronghold	50k	96	213	5
6079 - Dark Forest Fortress	63k	96	461	7

The Aquanauts get only a polybag and a Value Pack this year. The name of the polybag set below is from the U.K.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
1806 - Aquanaut Paravane	38k	96	13	1

Well, the Aquasharks finally get to even the score with a base and two new ships for '96. The base is built on a re-colored crater plate from the late '70s and early '80s space sets (with some other minor modifications). It's great to see this baseplate back again. And 6190 also includes the first blue BURP. Hmm…

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6135 - Spy Shark	18k	96	57	1
6190 - Shark's Crystal Cave	63k	96	253	2

Despite the fact that a lot of people feel there are way too many Race sets already, the new lineup sports some pretty nice, contemporary designs as well as some new pieces, such as the "racing slick" tires. Keep in mind that Baywatch is the most popular show in the world when you look at 6334…

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6334 - Wave Jump Racers	35k	96	175	4
6335 - Indy Transport	60k	96	385	3
6337 - Fast Track Finish	55k	96	329	6
6517 - Water Jet	12k	96	28	1
6546 - Slick Racer	11k	96	38	1

The Central Precinct HQ may be gone, but we get another really cool helicopter in 6545. And just in time, too…Jailbreak Joe strikes back with his tricky escape route out of 6598. Lego's gone funky on us with the lift-up canopy on the police car in 6625.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6545 - Search N' Rescue	39k	96	281	3
6598 - Metro PD Station	76k	96	540	8
6625 - Speed Trackers	18k	96	56	2

The generic Town lineup gets three kinda small additions for '96. Perhaps the smugglers…er, uh, transporters from Midnight Transport are hiding out at 6563.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6518 - Baja Buggy	12k	96	36	1
6563 - Gator Landing	35k	96	232	3
6581 - Dig N' Dump	22k	96	125	2

The Flight sub-theme retains none of the old sets (too bad the Century Skyway is gone), but it gets two new airplanes: One very modern and one biplane. The design of 6331 is quite a bit different than any other Lego plane…

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6331 - Patriot Jet	22k	96	153	2
6615 - Eagle Stunt Flyer	20k	96	71	1

Paradisa may be on its last legs, gaining only two new sets this year and keeping only Dolphin Point from last year. While 6404 is shown in the '96 in-box catalogs, 6418 is only shown in the Shop at Home catalog.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6404 - Carriage Ride	22k	96	?	2
6418 - Country Club	60k	96	171	5

It's a good year for boats as three new models are introduced. The sleek, black hull of 4002 is a welcome addition to the collection. All three models have a very contemporary look to them.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
4002 - Riptide Racer	27k	96	53	1
4012 - Wave Cops	31k	96	101	2
4022 - C26 Sea Cutter	43k	96	?	3

There's only one new Train set shown in the U.S. '96 catalog, but it's a big one. This set is a radical departure even from the sleekness of the Metro Liner. As shown in the illustration, the modular passenger compartments are put on to and removed from the train cars by way of a nifty loader vehicle. Would a Metro Station for this train include cryo-sleep chambers? One can only hope… In addition, two other Trains sets are shown in the European catalog, and they may or may not be available here.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
4532 - Manual Level Crossing	25k	96	?	1
4559 - Cargo Railway	80k	96	835	7
4565 - Frieght Train	93k	96	?	2

Here are a few of the new Technic sets for '96. Not pictured is a sporty little black & yellow go-cart set.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
8223 - Hydrofoil 7 & 8230 - Police Buggy	104k	96	?	0
8244 - Convert-ables	84k	96	276	0
8286 - 3 In 1 Car	70k	96	726	0
8412 - Nighthawk, 8422 - Shock Circuit Racer & 8440 - Formula Flash	102k	96	281, ? & 413	0
8480 - Space Shuttle	91k or 41k	96	1366	0

The only new Model Team set to appear in a new catalog (the mini Technic catalog) is a whopper. This is the largest Model Team set - and the largest Lego set ever, with 1,743 pieces!

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
5571 - Giant Truck	127k	96	1743	0

Wild West!

Also coming in '96 is another new theme: The Wild West. Unfortunately, this new lineup isn't pictured in the in-box catalogs (thanks to Huw Millington for these scans!). These sets are scheduled to be released on September 1st, and all seem like they're going to be fairly good-sized:

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6755 - Sheriff's Lock-Up	23k	96	170	4
6761 - Bandit's Secret Hideout	30k	96	237	5
6765 - Gold City Junction	30k	96	336	6
6769 - Fort Legoredo	64k	96	671	10

Time Cruisers!

There's also a Town sub-theme called Time Cruisers due out in August. This has got to be the most controversial theme Lego has produced. It is being referred to by some as the "Leftover Pieces" theme, although many people (this writer included) think it is quite cool. Scans of the Time Cruisers sets courtesy of Huw Millington.

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
6491 - Rocket Racer	23k	96	55	1
6493 - Flying Time Vessel	59k	96	234	2
6494 - Mystic Mountain Time Lab	67k	96	505	4

More Value Packs on the Way!

Consumer Affairs also says that Legomaniacs can look forward to some nice Value Packs for '96 as well. Here's what we know of so far:

Set Number & Name	Image Size	Year	Piece Count	Mini-Fig Count
1728 - Aquanauts Crystal Crawler	37k	96	92	1
1737 - Scorpion Detector	37k	96	196	2
1821 - Rally Racers	70k	96	192	2
1843 - Space and Castle Value Pack	34k	96	104	2
1853 - Time Cruisers Navigator	43k	96	152	2

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