Hover Scout
The Hover Scout is a fictional vehicle in the LEGO Rock Raiders theme. It is depicted as a small floating vehicle used for reconnaissance. A Hover Scout model was released in a LEGO construction set in the summer of 1999. The Hover Scout appears in LEGO Rock Raiders books and comics, and is one of the vehicles that can be used in the theme's tie-in computer and PlayStation video games.
Design
The Hover Scout is a small craft consisting of a platform and a control panel. The platform uses a dark grey 6×6 "cross with dome" plate (part 30303), a part which was introduced in and heavily used by the LEGO Rock Raiders sets.[1] It has two neon green headlamps on the front and two neon orange tail lamps (or propulsion?). It has a control panel (part 2342) in dark turquoise, a colour for it exclusive to this set.[2]
The control panel (part 2342) appears in dark turquoise exclusively in the Hover Scout set. The control panel part was first introduced in 1986 and was used extensively in LEGOLAND Space sets. After appearing in six sets in 1999 (including the Hover Scout), it only appeared in two more sets through 2002 before being discontinued.[2] Though not released in any other sets, several dark turquoise control panels are used in the bridge of the LMS Explorer.
The Hover Scout was designed at LEGO Futura in Billund, Denmark.[3]: 32
Product release
A construction set featuring the Hover Scout was released in mid-1999. "The Hover Scout" (item 4910) contained 39 pieces and featured the minifigure Jet.
Depiction
In the story of the LEGO Rock Raiders theme, the Hover Scout is one of the vehicles used by the spacefaring Rock Raiders to search for power crystals underground. It is described as being a small craft that uses hover propulsion technology to float over rubble and debris. It can move at high speeds and is designed for long-distance reconnaissance.[4]: 72
In the comic book Rock Raiders: High Adventure Deep Underground,
In games
The Hover Scout is one of the vehicles that can be used in the LEGO Rock Raiders video games for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation.
Game information
LEGO Rock Raiders (Windows)
In the Windows version of LEGO Rock Raiders, the Hover Scout is classified as a Small Vehicle.[5] It costs one Energy Crystal to transport down one Hover Scout.[4]: 72 It transports down at the Teleport Pad.[4]: 62 Rock Raiders must be trained as Drivers to use this vehicle.[5]
The Hover Scout can travel across land and moves at a speed of 3 blocks per second.[5] This is the fastest default speed of any objects in the game; if upgrades objects are included, the Hover Scout's default speed is tied with the Small Transport Truck with an Engine upgrade and slower than only the Small Digger and itself with Engine upgrades. It can strafe[5] by pressing Z or X, an ability shared only with the Rock Raider, Tunnel Scout, and Granite Grinder.
Game files
In the game's configuration file, the Hover Scout is defined as Hoverboard[5] in the VehicleTypes {} section.[6]
Pre-release
The LEGO Rock Raiders instruction manual claims that Rock Raiders must be trained as Pilots to use the Hover Scout.[4]: 72 In the game it can only cross land, meaning that Rock Raiders must be trained as Drivers to use it instead.[5]
References
- ↑ "Sets which Contain Part 30303". BrickLink Reference Catalog. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sets which Contain Part 2342". BrickLink Reference Catalog. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023.
- ↑ Yeo, Matt (ed.) (October 1999). "Behind the Scenes: Rock Raiders". LEGO Adventures!. Issue 7. Egmont Fleetway Ltd. pp. 30–33. ISSN 1465-0738.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 McPhail, Jim (13 December 1999). LEGO Rock Raiders Instruction Manual (UK FRONT, BACK, I/F & I/B COVER). LEGO Media International. Serial no. IB2G-ROC3 2299598.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Main Lego Config File, line 2507–2526.
Hoverboard {}section. - ↑ Main Lego Config File, line 2016–2031.
VehicleTypes {}section.
- Data Design Interactive (25 September 1999). Main Lego Config File. LEGO Rock Raiders (Windows). LEGO Media International. File path: Rock Raiders\LegoRR1.wad\Lego.cfg.
