Jurassic Park Chaos Effect: Trike Dozer

Year of release: 1998

Accessories:

-detachable lights section

-rotating capture crane pole with noose

-giant grappling claw

Description: this medium sized vehicle sports a total of four huge black wheels (like airplane size) between a bright green “platform”, which is enriched with protrusions and detailing to make it seem more elaborate and technical than it actually is. In the middle of the space between the wheels, there’s a white cockpit capable of holding one figure (including foot space, which may not fit all figures though). The inside of this cockpit, including the driver’s seat, is coloured in the same green as most of the vehicle. On top of the cockpit there’s a black framework with grids on each side and on the topside, to protect the human inside from any potential dinosaur attacks. At the back end of this “roof section”, there’s another black frame which supports a large lights section on the top of the vehicle. It consists of a network of a total of 18 round lamps supported by a frame, and two rectangular lights on top; the entire lights section is made of a transparent orange plastic.

On both the front part and the back part of the Trike Dozer an arm is attached, each with a different function. The one on the front is the vehicle’s main weapon and defence: it’s labelled a ‘giant grappling claw’. A green arm, held together by grey highlights including a button at the end which makes the whole contraption rotatable in a full circle, sticks out of the front, ending in a white “hand” with two grey “fingers” sticking out on either side. Pushing the red button in the middle of the white part, or better yet have a dinosaur figure push it, makes the “fingers” snap towards each other with force, closing the claw and trapping any creature unfortunate enough to get caught between it. The green arm on the back end of the vehicle is actually a crane, standing on a small green pole which is also rotatable 360 degrees. On first glance the crane is only about ten centimetres in length, but two smaller parts can be pulled out of it, making the total length about 30 centimetres. In this way it’s adjustable to various heights, making it easier to lift things over obstacles and keep them at safe enough distance from humans. At the end of the crane there’s a black hook, which holds a light green strip. This strip has holes on either side, making it form a noose when both ends are attached to the hook (adjusting to various sizes of whatever it needs to carry). In this way it’s easier to move dinosaurs around.

Analysis: this is an okay vehicle, but nothing special compared to most of Kenner’s earlier vehicles. However, it is more original qua design since it differs a lot from most other vehicles. The grappling claw is a new action feature and the bulldozer like look of the Trike Dozer also makes it stand out. The same goes for the odd combination of colours this truck sports, consisting of green, white and grey. It’s not the most appealing colour scheme, but certainly restrained by Chaos Effect standards.

The grappling claw is an interesting new option and makes for a very powerful weapon. It’s easy to picture: a dangerous hybrid monster prowls about, the Trike Dozer thunders out of the bushes and rams the monster, thus springing the claw’s mechanism and trapping the beast. In come the humans with their guns and stun sticks (or whatever they use to kill or sedate the animal), after which the crane arm lifts it up and transports it to its enclosure, or grave. It may seem a bit silly, such a weird arm sticking out of the vehicle, but it’s certainly a handy tool. Does it work though? For the most part. When the button is pushed the claw closes with force. However, because the “fingers” aren’t that big, it’s easy for dinosaur figures to slip away. It’s also not strong enough to lift larger dinosaurs off the ground. So the humans better sedate any animal the vehicle catches quickly, before it breaks loose…

The crane is a fine addition to this set, though less original. It’s basically the same thing we saw on the Mobile Command Center (of both this toy line and TLWS1), being both fully rotatable and extendable. However, the MCC used a small claw to carry its loads, while the Trike Dozer uses a noose. In both cases it doesn’t work all that well, since here too any creatures being transported easily slip loose. Still, the rotation and extension parts of the Trike Dozers’ crane work well, though the mechanism which is used to left the crane to various heights isn’t smooth to operate.

Overall, this is a fun addition to the toy line and Kenner’s range of vehicles, though not all of it’s action features work as well as one would hope. The vehicle’s look is decent enough, particularly the funky lights on top, but not overly appealing. 

 

Playability: adequate. The trapping arm mechanism works fine, though it’s only useful for smaller dinosaur figures, which slip through its grasp easily enough unfortunately. The same goes for the noose which can hold a dinosaur while it’s being moved around by the crane. The crane itself, being both rotatable and extendable (though neither very smoothly) works fine. Though it’s not specified as such, the removable lights can be called dino damage, adding to the range of playability options. The fact there’s room for only one figure takes something away though.

Realism: as a rather odd, almost over the top, dinosaur catching instrument this vehicle fits in perfectly with the rest of the bizarreness which makes up the Chaos Effect toy line. Its colours aren’t even all that extravagant, unlike most of the dinosaurs. Needless to say the Trike Dozer was never featured in any of the JP movies. However, as a maintenance bulldozer unit this vehicle doesn’t seem all that out of place with non Chaos Effect figures. It’s not hard to imagine this vehicle riding around the Command Compound closing fences and moving dinosaurs about.

Repaint: no. This vehicle was designed specifically for this toy line, and as such, it would not be repainted for any following lines either.

Overall rating: 6/10. It’s an adequate addition to the range of JP vehicles, but doesn’t offer anything really noteworthy. The colour scheme and action features aren’t remarkable, despite the strong grappling claw, but it’s still a welcome change from the usual variety of ‘track & trap’ jeeps seen in the previous toy lines. It’s one of the more common items in the Chaos Effect line, and shouldn’t prove all that hard to find, though in areas where this toy line wasn’t released it’s usually somewhat harder to get your hands on.