I finally got to exercise a perk of being a LEGO Store employee, and bring home a new set to build that will be put on display in the store. Fate had it so I would pick the 2013 version of the first LEGO set I got as a kid, ca. 1998. The two versions of this helicopter transporter are a decade and a half apart age-wise, but they have some striking similarities between the two of them.

The basic structures are the same, a rig pulling a swiveling trailer that hauls the helicopter. Both rigs have detachable roofs that allow the driver to go inside. They also have blue lights blazing on the roof, and the back end of the trailer. They also have the same dual smokestack layout behind the cab; although the 1998 version is shiny chrome. LEGO still uses the good ol’ red police megaphone, and the black walkie-talkies, fifteen years later.

The helicopters both feature dual rotors with blue accents on the rotors, as well as hinged windshields to put the pilot inside.

Even the outfits of the minifigures are comparable. The pilots have zip-up jumpsuits with one pocket on the right side, and helmets with movable visors. The drivers have their baseball caps and sunglasses, and a shiny badge on their left sides.

Of course the new police rig is far more detailed and larger than its counterpart, and it also comes with criminals in a getaway car and motorcycle.

A better Christmas present than I ever thought it would be…. If I can find the box for the old set, I’ll compare those too.