Lego 4429 Helicopter Rescue is a good upgrade from the last hospital set, which was oddly built on a raised plate. At 425 pieces, this system feels like a mid sized hospital with a fair sized helicopter as one of the main components. It includes 4 figures, including one victim, a female paramedic, helicopter pilot and doctor.
The first aspect you will be building is the ambulance. It’s a traditional 4 stud wide vehicle type and features a rear panel to insert one of the two gurneys that accompany this set. The victim is shown holding a banana of all things, so optionally you can place him on the stretcher inside of the ambulance (maybe he had an allergic reaction like myself to the banana).
After completing that portion, you will then move on to the helicopter. This piece includes one of the larger canopies. As demonstrated in the photo, the only way to insert the figure is through removing the canopy and then replacing it. The interior is quite plain outside of the steering wheel to control the helicopter. Much of the room inside is devoted to storing the other stretcher piece. The helicopter here has a generic “action oriented” type of feeling and is placed above the garage.
Probably the only notable moving part outside of the helicopter blades is the rear panel to store the stretcher. Quite surprisingly, there are no tool boxes or gadgets for helping patients while they get airlifted to the hospital.
The hospital itself is split into two separate bags. One part focuses on the first floor while the second part focuses on the second floor and long window section as well as a few extra components. The first floor itself is pretty simple, having a nice garage and lobby with two seats (but no clerk).
The second floor has a minor operating room or diagnosis area with two beds, and a small computer and perhaps a dialysis machine. There’s a regular door similar to the one on the first floor where those being air lifted can be quickly transferred to the operating area.
Overall, this set is a good component to any city. Lego rarely produces hospitals and I felt that the previous one, while long overdue, was a structural disaster. This hospital, although plain, can easily fit into any city. It’s not a terribly huge set, outside of the lengthy helicopter and is reasonable for the price.
Considering that Lego in 2012/2013 has just produced the most epic fire station in their history, I feel that a hospital of similar proportions is in line in the next year or two. While writing this review, I felt that there was very little I could say beyond what the pictures provided. The set suffices a specific need but demands more attention in a future set. Having visited a hospital almost on a daily basis this past year, I felt that this set does not do a typical hospital justice in the lack of details and general size. Although there isn’t much to add the way a fire station could via more vehicles (except perhaps a paramedic car), the set really needs more levels and should be built up more vertically. Where are the stereotypical horrible cafeteria? Or patients’ private rooms? The helicopter part feels as though takes up far too much space and that this building acts more like an above average clinic.
At any rate, I sincerely hope that Lego produces something more worthy as an addition to the city. For the price, this serves a purpose but it’s somewhat disappointing after you consider how Lego has produced highly satisfying police and fire stations. Even the parking garage this year is amazing by comparison. There definitely is room for improvement.