PaleoCollector
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The set includes the vehicle itself, a capture claw attachment, and an Einiosaurus figure. It’s a bit of an oddity as far as Mattel’s vehicle sets go, because, if I’m not mistaken, this is the first time since the 2019 Dino Rivals line that a vehicle has not included a human figure packed in. While I believe the vehicle is more than good enough to stand on its own, it’s still a bit disappointing that we don’t get another snack for our dinosaurs!
The Einiosaurus included with the set is a repaint of the Jurassic World Dominion version. As such, the sculpt and articulations are exactly the same. It’s a wonderful sculpt, and I know it’s one that quite a few people missed out on. So, it’s great that there is a new opportunity for those folks to add this unique genus to their collections! The new paint scheme is very nice, and a bit more naturalistic than the original. The face and frill markings are especially nice and vibrant. However, my particular figure does have slightly misplaced eyes. If you have the original, I think the two look excellent together, and could easily be a mated pair.
The star of the show is, of course, the Mission Mayhem Truck. Having played around with it for a while now, I can say this is easily at the top of my list of favorite Jurassic vehicles.
The sculpting is fantastic, and features a lot of great detail. While it’s not based on any particular real world vehicle that I’m aware of, it very much feels like it could be.
The body of the vehicle looks heavily armored, with lots of riveted metal panels. Several equipment components can be seen sculpted into the rear section, as well as a fuel tank on the right. Large gouges are sculpted throughout the vehicle body to emulate dinosaur claw marks. There are bars across the windshield, which adds to the armored aesthetic. There are other excellent details which add to the believability as well, such as the rear view mirrors, little footman’s loops on the front of the hood, and floodlights along the roof.
The interior of the vehicle is not nearly as detailed as the outside, but the seats and steering wheel look realistic enough, and there are some small buttons sculpted into the center console.
The coloration is earthy and realistic. It very much reminds me of the Hunter vehicles from The Lost World. Smaller details, such as the headlights, and mirror surfaces, are handled via stickers. However, the taillights are molded from a translucent red plastic. This is an excellent touch, and one I would love to see applied to all vehicles in the future.
My only nitpick is the Jurassic logo on the side of the vehicle. I would have much rather had a more fitting in-universe logo, such as InGen, Biosyn, or the DPW logos.
Unfortunately, there are no opening doors on this one. Instead, the entire roof of the vehicle pops off to allow the insertion of two human figures. There is a small hatch on the rear of the roof which can be opened to allow a third human to stand as a lookout, and/or gunner.
The wheels not only look nice and realistic, but they also have some great suspension. (This actually plays a part in the action feature, but more on that in a bit.)
The vehicle is nice and weighty, and feels very strongly constructed. (Which is good, because the action feature demands durability!)
The vehicle includes a dinosaur capture claw very similar to what is seen on the “snagger” Humvee in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. These are capable of being snapped on and off the front of the vehicle, which is great for storage, as well as diversity of play and display. The claws are manually opened, and have a heavy spring for a secure grip of the targeted dinosaur. I greatly appreciate the gripping power of the arms, but I do wish there were a way to keep them open for display and photography.
The main action feature is genius, and a ton of fun! It reminds me of something straight out of the early 90’s, and I mean that in the best way possible! Pressing a button on the side of the vehicle causes a spring loaded lever mechanism on the bottom to pop out, flipping the vehicle over! (This will often cause the roof and passengers to go flying as well, so be careful!)
The aforementioned suspension plays a key role here. There is a safety feature that prevents the mechanism from activating unless the rear wheels are supporting the weight of the vehicle. As I said, it’s pretty ingenious! The only nitpick I have is the actual activation button. The button is recessed a bit far in the side of the vehicle, so it’s a bit more obvious than I would have liked. (Mine looks to be a bit more recessed than most too, which is unfortunate.)
The “Mission Mayhem” Truck Set is everything I want from a Jurassic vehicle! It’s realistic enough to be believable in our own world, yet still fits the Jurassic aesthetic beautifully. And, best of all, are its fun and innovative action features. The included Einiosaurus is a welcome bonus, but this truck is more than good enough to stand on its own. I foresee this one becoming a favorite vehicle of many, many collectors out there. Believe me when I say, you do not want to miss this one!
Rex
Keys2benz 
DK
A. Haney