It was the early nineties; the Lego nation was on its best economic bullrun in recent memory. With the increase in trade, came the need for better transportation of goods, particularly the movement of goods and products from one Town to another. Rail networks were already stretch thin and some towns are hampered by extremely hilly terrain which prohibits the building of rain networks

In an effort to satisfy the urgent need to facilitate trade as much as possible, The Lego Government (TLG) decided to embark on a massive logistic facility project. The project shall equip strategic Lego Towns with its own seaport where each seaport complex shall have 2 sections; a Launch and Load Seaport to deal with standard 4x8 stud containers and an Intercoastal Seaport for oversized containers or goods.

It was am immerse project to undertake; in some Towns it was the largest project the local LG has ever undertaken. The scale and number of bricks required dwarfed even the largest airport constructed at that time. The best designers and engineers TLG had at that time was recruited to facilitate this mammoth project.

But what good are ports when there are no ship to dock with? Hence for every seaport TLG  build, 2 large ships is included in the project; 1 a standard single cargo deck freighter while the other a 2 deck container ship.

Today in Lego City, a launch and load facility specializes in standard 4x8 containers has been in operation for almost 2 decades since 1991. The port is highly efficient and well equipped with its own pilot, gantry crane, docks, security and on-site container delivery and storage. Ships generally prefer to call at this port although a newer port was opened in 2007. It is the only port in the City equipped with a gantry crane that can load and offload containers with great speed. The massive gantry crane can be seen by every ship entering port and is now a famous landmark in Lego City.


Set name: Launch and Load Seaport
Set number: 6542
Theme: Classic Town
Sub-Theme: Nautica
Year Released: 1991
Number of Pieces: 1022
Price: Bought it for USD 180. Can go up to USD 500++ for a MISB set on Bricklink

Some Records this set has:
Largest Classic Town Set in terms of number of pieces
Largest City Set (excluding modular 5 digit buildings) in terms of number of pieces
First Classic Town set to break 1000 pieces.
Second Largest set in terms of number of pieces when it was released in 1991. The first is the Model Team set Whirl and Wheel Supertruck at 1063 pieces.
Second set to have more than 1000 pieces when released in 1991. The first is the Model Team set Whirl and Wheel Supertruck at 1063 pieces.


Links

Brickset:http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=6542-1
Peeron:http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/6542-1?withpics=yes
Bricklink: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?SetID=6542-1
My photobucket:http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/paanjang16/Lego%206542%20Launch%20and%20Load%20Seaport/
 

The box

The good old days when the Lego boxes are yellow and have a giant flap with a plastic tray inside. At the top right corner is the Nautica theme logo. The front picture shows the port busy with activity. Picture taken from Peeron.



Instructions

The front page of the instructions have the similar picture as the box.


A random page showing the installation of the claw onto the gantry crane. You might need sensitive fingers to let the rope through the wheels on the claw.


Another random page showing the build for the hull of the red ship. As you can see, the hull is made with common bricks and do not have any large segments unlike the ships from the pirate line.



Minifigure

In this massive set we get 7 minifigures, 2 of them with lift jacket. From the left; a police officer, the ship's captain, the pilot boat's captain, the ship's first mate and 3 dock workers in black, blue and red overalls. The pilot boat's captain is using the same torso as the ship's captain, but he is wearing a life jacket. Apparently you must know how to swim to be either a captain or a dock worker here!



Build Sequence

Below are the build sequence for the forklift, trailer, pilot ship, the large red ship and the gantry crane. I have skipped the build pictures for the individual containers and the dock as both do not require large amount of bricks compared to the other parts of the set.  

Forklift

We start of with the chassis of the forklift and proceed with the fork and cabin.


Trailer

In the instructions the prime mover is build first followed by the trailer. However for this review I am showing both at the same time to reduce the number of photos required.


The pilot boat starts with the bottom plates and bricks to create the hull. Later steps include the windows and the antenna at the top of the boat.


The red ship

The red ship have 18 steps in the instructions. Some of the steps will require lots of similar individual bricks to create the hull of the ship. Once the hull and cargo deck is complete, the build then move onto the superstructure of the ship. The final step is place the completed containers, minifigures and an antenna onto the ship.


Gantry Crane

The gantry crane build starts of with the rails that allow a trolley to move horizontally between the crane and the ship. Once the rails is complete, the pulley and gearing mechanism in the cab is built. This is followed by the 2 large legs on either side of the crane and the wheels to allow the crane to traverse the length of the dock.



Completed set

Forklift

The forklift in this set is a 4 stud vehicle with 4 large tires and a spring operated forklift. Both the doors on either side have stickers to show the "transport" logo which is still used today. The forklift also have warning signage at the front and front and rear lights. The lift can tilt back to better carry the container.


The picture below shows far the fork can be pressed. The fork can be pressed all the way down to lift up containers. The spring is strong enough to lift a standard 4x8 stud container.


Kontenas

There are 4 different types of 4x8 containers given in this set. We get 2 standard white containers with doors on one side as well as 3 other containers with various goods inside. The white containers have stickers to show the transport logo on its side, but this set being a 2nd hand set, only 1 container have the sticker still attached.


One of the containers carries a large V8 engine...


... another carries a small red tractor...


... and lastly we get a container with red, white and black bricks in various 2x2 bricks.


The container trailer

The prime mover is a simple 4-stud wide truck with square headlights and a cab. At the back there is fifth wheel to connect the trailer too.



The trailer meanwhile is also 4 stud wide. The top surface of the trailer is smooth to allow the container to rest on the trailer. Also, the 1x2 smooth grey plates that are slightly higher are used to hold the container in position so that the container does not slide off the trailer.


The great design consideration when TLG designed the trailer is to allow both the rear wheels to touch the ground even when the trailer is lifted or when it is going up the steep ramp of the dock. The rear wheels are mounted on a plate which is then inserted into a technic hole.


Below is a combo picture showing the the trailer with the landing gear in position and the trailer connected to the prime mover via the fifth wheel.



Pilot Boat

The pilot boat meanwhile is a 6 stud wide jet boat made of mostly blue bricks. It is supposed to have a large "PILOT" sticker on its side. Other details include the red and green antenna and horn. Like all brick-build ships in this era, rounded black plates are placed on the bottom of the ship to create the "hovering" illusion.


The controls of the pilot boat is simple; 1 steering wheel and 2 levers to control the boat. It has a holder for a radio and a loudhailer to warn incoming ships of danger. The pilot have to stand to operate this boat.


The mid-section of the ship can be opened to allow access into the hull. However the hull is devoid of anything and will require some modification to create some interior.


Red Ship

The red ship is a fully brick-built vessel which is 10 studs wide and 37 studs long. It cannot float unlike the 2007 container ship due to gaps between the bricks in the hull. There is a humongous sticker on either side of the ship that covers multiple bricks that is not shown. This is because as a 2nd hand set the sticker is long lost.  


The bow of the ship features a sticker showing the name of the ship "Atlantic" as well as a light and hook connected to a pulley. A simple lever operates the pulley. When not in use, the hook is placed next to the pulley.


The mid-section of the ship have space for 4 nos of 4x8 stud containers.


Removing the containers shows the raise portion plates on the floor of the container deck where the containers rest. A relatively simple and ingenious way to keep the containers in position yet easy enough for the removal of the containers.


As an added bonus, the 8 hinged doors can open to reveal a large cargo area below deck! I can imagine a variety of goods stored in the area. The containers need to be removed for the area to be accessed.


The stern of the ship holds the superstructure containing the smoke stack, bridge and a mast equipped with radar, lights and horns. Portside (left side) and Starboard (right side) is denoted by the red and green lights on the superstructure respectively. The bridge have large sloped windows so that the captain can have great visibility around the ship.


Looking from the rear, the smokestack runs almost the full height of the superstructure and have a red brick with a cargo sticker on either side. Under the bridge is an empty inaccessible compartment that is surrounded by windows. That area could have been the engine room(maybe that's where the blue V8 engine goes?) there but since TLG has more than 1000 parts already, they would have likely skip that portion.


The top of the bridge can be opened to allow the placement of minifigures into the bridge. Inside the bridge is a steering wheel and 2 computer panels. There is space for the captain and his 1st mate.


The red ship is much larger when compared to the pilot ship.


Gantry Crane

The gantry crane is unique where it mimics the type of cranes used at container terminals around the world.  


The claw of the gantry crane has rubber grippers on either side to "grab" the container. This piece is unique as it only appears in yellow color in this set and a "crane accessories" pack (5078-1). The red version can only be found in a limited number of railway sets.


A ship weight is used to ensure that the gantry crane does not tip over when it is loading containers. On either side are warning stickers showing the maximum clearance height and the legs of the crane. Red ladder pieces protect the 4 wheels which allow the crane to traverse the length of the dock.


The control cabin is located at the very top of the gantry crane. Under the operator's seat are 2 knobs; 1 to control the horizontal position of the claw while the other the claw's vertical position.


I have made a simple video to show how the gantry crane loads and unloads containers from the ship to a waiting trailer and vice versa.

Lego 6542 Launch and Load Seaport gantry crane in operation

Dock

The dock is huge; so huge that I have problems taking a good picture of the entire set without having those dreaded studio lines. The background piece of paper is A1 size and yet the dock is longer than it! Anyway the dock is full of features that can be found in a real dock such:-
1) Ship bumpers, denoted by the 1x8 smooth plate on the side of the dock. This is to protect the dock should the ship ram it.
2) A guardhouse for security
3) Rails for the gantry crane to traverse the dock.
4) Stoppers at either end of the gantry crane rails to prevent the gantry crane from going further than it should go.
5) Warning signs and gates to prevent vehicles and Legomen from going off the dock
6) Hooks on the dock so that the ship can tie and secure their ship to the dock.


A close up of the rail stoppers. At the entrance to the dock with the gantry crane are 2 warning signs to warn the dock users that the dock is narrow.


The guard house is a simple structure with a chair on a turntable and a small computer screen. The roof have a siren and a long red antenna. A boom gate is operated with a telephone dial.


The boom gate is operated with a telephone dial and have red lights. Opposite the guard house is a small traffic light to control incoming traffic.


At the intersection of the dock are warning signs and directional arrows to guide vehicles around the dock. Smooth plates are used to over the joints between the large harbor base plates.


Another view of the dock, this time buzzing with activity!

Continuation from the 1st post. I didn't know that each post have a 20,000 letter/word/something   limit

Anyway, the review is finally complete!!! This is a humongous set to review!


Conclusion

Design: The designers of this set obviously have done some homework and have paid a visit to an actual container terminal. This is because alot of the features mimics the operation of an actual container terminal such as the pilot boat, the gantry crane and the dock itself. The ships which are brick-built with common bricks and have internal storage compartments is another plus. The use of the raised platform from the Railway line as a dock is great as it provides a harbor which is solid and strong. Score: 9/10

Playability: This set excels in playability due to the sheer number of vehicles and stuff to do. The standard design of the containers which is similar to other Lego Town and Lego Railway sets at that time allows one to load the containers onto the ship and ship it across the "carpet" to another port! Score: 10/10

Parts: This is the only set that have the grabber claw in yellow color. Other notable pieces include the raised platforms, 2 pairs of the red gantry crane legs and lots of red bricks from the red ship. Score: 9/10

Minifigures: The variety of minifigures provided is sufficient for this set, with the dock workers having different colored torsos and the captain sporting an admiral torso. Score: 8/10

Conclusion: It is obvious TLG wanted this set to be a flagship Classic Town set for the year 1991; its large, have 7 minifigures and broke the 1000 piece barrier, the first for any Classic Town set. They also ensure it is true to the source material, in this case a container terminal that is typically found all over the world. The only downside is that some of the stickers cover over multiple bricks. However, overall this is a great set worthy of remake as a legend set. Score: 9/10

HOLY..... Paanjang-san! tHIS IS a super AWESOME review!! *applauds*

The set would make a great addition to your vintage lego city..... Are you displaying it anywhere? I'm curious to know how you're doing it without having it being a dust collector. Maybe a custom glass display or something.

You really set the bar for review standards up a few notches

Yeah .... you can double ditto that Tuan! The last time when I wanted to review the Insectoids, I went back to check Paanjang-san's review for some tips and yeah....... I was LITERALLY SWEATING NON STOP......