Review: 75929 Carnotaurus Gyrosphere Escape
Posted by CapnRex101,75929 Carnotaurus Gyrosphere Escape contains 577 pieces so is one of the largest sets from the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom range and it has the potential to be particularly popular. Not only does the set feature a brand new dinosaur which looks fantastic but three of the most prominent characters from the movie are also included.
The Gyrosphere is also very appealing and the UK price of £59.99 seems quite reasonable to me given the inclusion of a Carnotaurus! $79.99 in the US compares less favourably with the rest of the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom range but I still have high expectations for this set.
Minifigures
Owen Grady appears in five Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom sets and this version is unique, sporting a loose-fitting sand blue shirt which has been slashed across the front. The claw marks look fairly realistic and make a welcome change from the more common jacketed minifigure while the legs feature a brown belt and are identical to those in other sets.
The hair piece is cast in medium nougat and includes impressive textured detail. I like the matching sideburns and stubble printed on the head, both of which are accurate to Owen's appearance in the movie. The smiling and angry expressions look good too, although it would have been nice to see some variation as this design is found in all of the new sets containing Owen. He is armed with a tranquiliser gun.
The minifigures in the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom sets represent an improvement over those from the 2015 range and Claire Dearing is a clear example of that trend. Her double-sided head conveys more emotion than the figure from 75917 Raptor Rampage, featuring a kind smile as well as a frightened visage which suits the impending threat of a hungry Carnotaurus!
Furthermore, the dark orange hair piece looks perfect in relation to the source material and is very rare in this colour, having appeared once before with the Tennis Player from the third series of Collectable Minifigures. The olive green jacket printed on both sides of Claire's torso is similarly faithful to the movie and could easily be used elsewhere as it looks fairly generic.
Franklin Webb is exclusive to this set at the moment and seems to occupy a major role within the film based on what we have seen during trailers. His torso is brand new and features a dark blue jacket with a striped shirt underneath, both of which look superb. The hair piece has also been well chosen from those that are currently available, although a slightly longer style might have been even better.
However, the head is definitely the highlight of this minifigure from my perspective. It is pleasing to see another character with a flesh skin tone, especially since its bespectacled design is quite different to those that have been used previously. One side looks rather severe while the other appears almost comically terrified and even includes a tiny gap between Franklin's two front teeth, just like in the film!
LEGO has introduced two new dinosaur genera in this wave, the largest of which is the Carnotaurus. This enormous creature measures just under 28cm from nose to tail so is about the same size as the Tyrannosaurus rex or the Indominus rex. It is therefore a lot larger than a real Carnotaurus would have been and looks bigger than that in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom as well, most notably in relation to the T. rex which is shown towering over the Carnotaurus during trailers for the upcoming movie.
This scaling issue makes it a bit difficult to either play with the figures or display them together which is unfortunate. The Carnotaurus should probably be roughly the same size as the Indoraptor from 75930 Indoraptor Rampage at Lockwood Estate and I think that would have been more appealing. Even so, I do like the dinosaur in this form as well.
The head is particularly impressive and has been designed specifically for the Carnotaurus so includes distinctive horns above each eye. I love the earthy medium nougat and reddish brown colours as well as the blotches that run all the way along either side of the animal. The fenestra of his skull are also visible which is wonderful and I like the opening jaw. There is not enough space to consume a whole minifigure though.
Even more printed detail adorns the legs, the body and the tail. The latter of those pieces were created for the Indominus rex in 75919 Indominus rex Breakout so include rows of tiny ridges along the back of the figure while the legs are also shared with the T. rex. I am very satisfied with this design and the Carnotaurus as a whole but still wonder whether a smaller scale version would have been more suitable.
The Carnotaurus is accompanied by a Baby Dino which includes remarkable detail given its tiny size. This dark orange example is really intended to represent a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex but it can pass for a Carnotaurus too in my opinion, not least because its colour scheme is reasonably close to that of the adult dinosaur.
Reddish brown and dark brown streaks are printed across the infant's back while his eyes feature some striking yellow highlights. Such intricate printing is impressive given the small scale of this figure and its feet, which are fused together, will fit neatly onto a single stud.
The Completed Model
This truck feels very familiar, borrowing design elements from the vehicle in 75917 Raptor Rampage. Its large size and high ground clearance are tremendous for play but the elevation of the chassis looks quite awkward to me, especially as so much of the Technic frame is visible underneath. However, I think the truck and trailer look good together, using the same balloon tyres and a consistent colour scheme.
Dark blue stripes run along either side of the model and this accent colour is consistent across the whole Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom range. The black bullbar is covered with lights and I like the large door mirrors which are taken directly from 2015's 75917 Raptor Rampage. You can angle the mirrors individually and the doors do open to access the cab which is always a welcome detail.
The cab is extremely spacious so there is enough room to seat, or even stand, two minifigures inside. A steering wheel is included and you can clip their accessories to either side of the vehicle. The hatch on the roof does not have a cover which is a shame but I like how it looks with a figure in position, as shown below. They can wield a tranquiliser gun or use the offset stud shooter, although I was disappointed to find that the latter weapon cannot rotate.
Black dominates the box on the back of the truck, presenting a lovely contrast against the rest of the vehicle. I love the ribbed roof design which looks very realistic and the stickered Jurassic World logos are a great detail, both of which feature some claw marks. It would have been nice to see doors on the back but the open design looks alright in my opinion.
Unfortunately, the interior seems very sparsely furnished for what is supposed to be a mobile command centre. The removable roof is ideal for play and there is plenty of room to place figures inside, although that has resulted in the actual command centre consisting of just one computer monitor, a lever and some drawers that contain a bright light blue syringe and a bone. There are also two clips for more accessories.
The box is attached using Technic pins so can be removed easily, leaving behind the cab and a flatbed area. This configuration looks awkward but gives a much clearer view of the pearl silver 1x1 round plates representing suspension springs above each tyre. I like these details and the curved tanks between the wheels look good but the ground clearance is extremely high so minifigures standing beside the truck look ridiculous.
A trailer is also included and can be attached to the truck via a ball joint. The Gyrosphere fits onto the trailer very neatly and I like the hazard warning stripe stickers underneath as well as the lights on each side. Pushing the red button on the back of the trailer will launch the Gyrosphere and it works very well, rolling down two 1x4 slopes that ensure the sphere remains upright when it touches the ground.
The rest of the trailer is relatively plain, featuring a small communications dish on top and two storage containers. These open to reveal some more bones and an egg which has presumably been taken from the Carnotaurus' nest, hence the truck is now under attack from an angry dinosaur!
Gyrospheres were introduced in the 2015 Jurassic World theme but this version is unique as it includes printed cracks in the glass and some rust. These rolling vehicles are a lot of fun to play with and look marvellous in relation to the movies, featuring sand blue rings on the sides of the Gyrosphere and a seat for a minifigure which consistently remains upright as the vehicle rolls along the ground.
Accessing the minifigure is fairly easy, requiring you to remove the 6x6 dishes from either side before separating the sphere into two halves, as demonstrated below. I am a little surprised that these parts have not been used in any other sets beyond the Jurassic World line as they include plenty of attachment points so seem reasonably adaptable.
The Gyrosphere can also be launched from its docking station which has become overgrown since the park was abandoned following the events of the last film. LEGO has often attempted to integrate man-made structures with nature and I think this is one of the most successful examples yet, making good use of the newest foliage pieces alongside others which have been around for over two decades.
Much like on its trailer, the Gyrosphere slots into the docking station perfectly and can be launched by pushing a red plunger on the back of the model. I like the shallow angle of the roof above the vehicle and the dark red highlights at the edges are particularly attractive, giving the impression of paintwork that has become worn due to a lack of a maintenance.
Removing the Gyrosphere reveals a few unsightly Technic bricks, some of which look very colourful in relation to their surroundings. The yellow and black hazard stripes look good though and it is pleasing to see so many of the bright green leaf elements introduced in January. A total of fifteen such pieces are included along with three of the new red flowers.
However, my favourite part of this model is the Gyrosphere sign which looks exactly like that from the first Jurassic World film, albeit with a minifigure sitting in the sphere rather than a person! I love subtle details like this and the two stickers that make up the sign underneath line up beautifully. There is also a nest filled with dinosaur eggs which looks superb and the dark azure remnants of the queue barriers behind the sign are a great inclusion too.
Two tree-like structures stand above the Gyrosphere station. The leaves look alright but the tree trunks are incredibly simple, consisting primarily of dark brown Technic supports with reddish brown slopes scattered at the base. I expected more detail in a set like this, although the trees are very sturdy which is vital as five trans-neon orange round bricks are held in the canopy. These can be released through a trapdoor, loosely recreating the volcanic eruption shown in trailers for the movie.
All of the detail has been focused on the front of the model and this becomes very apparent when it is viewed from behind. The blue Technic liftarms look totally out of place and the hollow supports for the tree are similarly unattractive. While it would be wonderful to see a consistent level of detail across the whole set, I do not mind most of the smaller pieces being used at the front as it is that side which will be on display.
Overall
I had high expectations for 75929 Carnotaurus Gyrosphere Escape and they have, on the whole, been met. More detailed trees may have improved the appearance of the set and I do not like the enormous ground clearance beneath the truck, although these design choices have been made to facilitate play which is of the utmost importance in a set like this.
The Carnotaurus is not absolutely perfect either but its head sculpt looks brilliant and I love both the minifigures and the Gyrosphere. $79.99 in the US feels quite expensive for a set of this size but the UK price of £59.99 seems reasonable when compared with other Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom sets. On that basis I would recommend 75929 Carnotaurus Gyrosphere Escape, especially to younger LEGO fans.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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14 comments on this article
Great review! Only thing missing is the obligatory dino-eats-minfig picture but otherwise I'm leaning towards getting this set :P
Wow, for once we get the bad price. Good set, but a little too expensive.
How many people do you think are going to use the first half of the Gyrosphere sign on Mediterranean restaurant MOCs?
Excellent review! Besides the price it looks like an amazing set.
p.s. -The modern ponytail element appeared in dark orange on the tennis player from CMF series 3. I’m not sure why it doesn’t show that in the database.
I got the feeling the two trees are not meant to be real trees but disguised structure where people boarded the spheres. The curved fence with azure top looks like it is where a queue of people would line up. Although I couldn't say what the technic parts at back are supposed to represent.
Lego now needs to use these spheres in a Star Wars UCS Republic LAAT Gunship.
Great review! That Carnotaurus is so awesome, and I also like the Gyrosphere launch station. We need a visitor center though!
@chrismajor2124 - I must be kinder to my minifigures than Huw!
@Galadhrim99 - Thanks, the article has been updated.
I really enjoy the design of the dinosaurs in this range of sets.
I am really tempted to buy them just to get my hands on those dinosaurus.
Picked up this set day 1 and my son was delighted. Great play options, build and of course dinosaurs. Been waiting for this review and it doesn’t disappoint, confirming all the aspects we’ve found. A bit pricey in Oz at $119 but have seen it scattered around cheaper in quite a few places.
Far too pricey, but the Carnotaurus will pop up cheap enough by himself eventually.
Looks fun. I’ll definitely be BrickLinking that gyrosphere build
This cost is horrible and hence will be the last JWFK set that I buy. That Carno is worth it.
I don't know why they reused that ugly truck. I think it is supposed to be an Unimog but that high chassis looks so cheap.