Those grill pieces provide some nice texture on that hut

So much play potential in this set. Not a lot of Blacktron potential. That plane could be recoloured into either Blacktron easily, and few modifications later, might make a decent spaceship.

Real imaginative with the name on this one. Can't just call it Lake Vacation, Wilderness Travels, or Camping Adventures? Something other than just a list?

Wow, what a beautiful set I've somehow never seen. That's a complete package if you throw a fish in there.

Reminds me of the Icon A5.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICON_A5

Or the ATOL 495. Or the SeaMax M-22.

Actually this configuration is quite common.

This is one of the first sets I purchased as I moved out of my “dark ages.”

I like it.

Exactly what it says on the box.

Could a plane even fly with an engine mounted that high above the COG?

Oh man, I don't think I've ever seen this set before! It's beautiful. Thanks, Huwbot!

I was going to say that I don't remember this set, but looking at the set entry, I see that it was a promo with various airlines, which explains that, considering I've never been on on an airline flight in my life. Shame, I've always loved seaplanes, so I would have loved this set. The plane seems to have been modeled after a Lake Amphibian/Buccaneer.

What a gorgeous little set. I loved these airline exclusives, but it's a shame they were so hard to track down.

@PurpleDave said:
"Could a plane even fly with an engine mounted that high above the COG?"

Center of gravity on a plane is concerned with the longitudinal axis (forward and aft). Many aircrafts have their engines on top of the wing on a high wing configuration (CL-215/CL-415 for example and many military transport aircraft). For private use, the most common (non-experimental) brand is/was Lake Buccaneer and Lake Renegade. Lately a few companies have come up with new designs around the same idea (these planes are often called 'pushers') - the most common(liked) seems to be the Icon5 (if you have the money for it).

Whadja catch in this here blue styrofoam, Stan?

Dunno Earl, but it's pulling mighty hard.

@NatureBricks said:
"Now-a-days that would be bad guys hut with a bad guy jet ski and a police plane."

And it would cost $40

@Lego_lord said:
" @NatureBricks said:
"Now-a-days that would be bad guys hut with a bad guy jet ski and a police plane."

And it would cost $40"

And it would have 500 parts

@ElephantKnight said:
"So much play potential in this set. Not a lot of Blacktron potential. That plane could be recoloured into either Blacktron easily, and few modifications later, might make a decent spaceship."

You telling me Blacktron footsoldiers don't need to occasionally go just chill out by a lake? You gotta give your dudes holiday time, they can't be always on :D

This is a perfect example of how important is the artwork on the box and instructions. Without this moody background of mountains this would be a Grey rectangle with a plane. But that setting makes it a whole story, adventure in the pristine wilderness, it's like a hike to the woods from the comfort of kids carpet. Lovely.

What a charming set. The plane is unique and looks cool, I like that it's not juniorised and could theoretically come from any era (eg I could put that plane in my 1930s layout and it wouldn't necessarily look out of place, the same as someone else could have it in a futuristic layout). In general the set has a timelessness about it which I really like, its peaceful, tranquil, what Lego ought to be!

The hut is really nice, it's tiny but it still looks good like the accents using grille bricks. The fireplace is cool and the boat is simple but effective.

Thesedays Lego would hike up the price to like $45 AU (probably $50 AU knowing them), make the plane almost completely one piece and also supermodern so it only works in a 2020s world, they'd add a drone/quadcopter and kid with a mobile phone because, you know, gotta enjoy the outdoors kids...
The hut would probably be bigger but even more empty and just be made of panel pieces, while the boat would just be some 1 piece juniors piece.

They'd also throw in some 'diverse' character to prove how wonderful and contemporary Lego is (despite the fact that the 1996 set is clearly for anyone and the minifigs are just regular people, who could just as easily be considered female if so desired), whereas now Lego would make sure they included 2 females otherwise it would be sexist and make sure they both have distinctive body shapes (because they are totally not conforming to stereotypes by giving all female characters tiny waists...)

@ambr, I never knew about that site, but it seems super useful!

Ah, this set is so charming. Ever since I found out about its existence years ago it stuck with me. That hut is a rare sight (although larger outdoor huts have appeared in creator last decade), and the plane gives a sense of travel away from it all. Only 6552 Rocky River Retreat comes close in cosiness and being so classic.
City really needs more outdoor sets that aren't Forest/Swamp/Mountain police or Great Vehicles.

Hmm... what's the story here. Tiny hut in the middle of nowhere. Bloke on the water scooter with a large bag but looking around nervously.
Is the plane dropping 'special' packages, boat retrieves them, tiny hut is actually secret entrance to a crime lair.

@iwybs said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"Could a plane even fly with an engine mounted that high above the COG?"

The downward pitching moment caused by the thrust line not intersecting with the center of gravity is easily countered by suitable sizing and location of the horizontal stabilizer. That's the entire purpose of the horizontal stabilizer, in fact: to counter pitching moments from the wings and the engines."

That may be true in theory, but not true if my uhh.... "experiments" in Kerbal Space Program have anything to say about that.

*Many Kerbals have died to bring us this information.

@Brickchap said:
"What a charming set. The plane is unique and looks cool, I like that it's not juniorised and could theoretically come from any era (eg I could put that plane in my 1930s layout and it wouldn't necessarily look out of place, the same as someone else could have it in a futuristic layout). In general the set has a timelessness about it which I really like, its peaceful, tranquil, what Lego ought to be!

The hut is really nice, it's tiny but it still looks good like the accents using grille bricks. The fireplace is cool and the boat is simple but effective.

Thesedays Lego would hike up the price to like $45 AU (probably $50 AU knowing them), make the plane almost completely one piece and also supermodern so it only works in a 2020s world, they'd add a drone/quadcopter and kid with a mobile phone because, you know, gotta enjoy the outdoors kids...
The hut would probably be bigger but even more empty and just be made of panel pieces, while the boat would just be some 1 piece juniors piece.

They'd also throw in some 'diverse' character to prove how wonderful and contemporary Lego is (despite the fact that the 1996 set is clearly for anyone and the minifigs are just regular people, who could just as easily be considered female if so desired), whereas now Lego would make sure they included 2 females otherwise it would be sexist and make sure they both have distinctive body shapes (because they are totally not conforming to stereotypes by giving all female characters tiny waists...)"

You had me for the first three paragraphs then completely lost me there. Complaining about putting representation in things isn't exactly a great look and, given how unprompted it is, comes across as bizarrely petty

@FlyerBeast
Lego are supposed to be toys, not accurate reflections of current socioeconomic realities.
Timeless design, like in this set, is achieved by not basing expectations toward the user/observer on the understanding of contemporary setting which is dynamic, but on basic, easily relatable ideas and their symbolic depictions in shape and function.

That's why I think Lego peaked in and around '90s. Their simplistic design was perfect for conveying such symbolism which was just a basis for the imaginative initiative of the user.

They're all wearing the same (very cool) sunglasses; *something* suspicious is going on...

@bookmum said:
"Hmm... what's the story here. Tiny hut in the middle of nowhere. Bloke on the water scooter with a large bag but looking around nervously.
Is the plane dropping 'special' packages, boat retrieves them, tiny hut is actually secret entrance to a crime lair."

Once upon a time LEGO didn't need confilct/crime to develop beautiful toys...