Set Review - Hot Wheels Fig Rig

Last year I remember reading something about Hot Wheels coming out with a new vehicle that was compatible with LEGO minifigs.  I was rather excited and then promptly forgot about it.  A few weeks ago I read about it again and went into a frenzy trying to find one.  I was afraid that the run was over and I had missed out.  Imagine my relief and joy when I found not 1 but 3 at my local Target.  Then Mrs. DagsBricks picked up a couple more "for fun".  I may hold them for resale, not sure.

The Fig Rig is so named for it's many ways for a minifig to be attached.  The engine is 2 studs and in the bed are two studs.  These studs are made of plastic so as not to permanently deform your ABS treasures.  On the sides of the cab are some bars for gripping.  The rear spoiler is actually three different bars that can be attached to.  These bars are all metal but given the nature of clips, shouldn't deform your parts.  In fact the grip might be a bit loose.  TLG's standard for a bar diameter is 3.18mm.  The bars on this rig feel more like an oval that has diameters of 3.12mm and 3.25mm; a little tight at this angle, a bit loose at that angle.

Finally (lest you should miss it) is an anti-stud on the bottom.  You could turn the Fig Rig into a rockin' headgear for your minifig.  This anti-stud is hexagonal shaped.  While it will grip a stud it doesn't seem to have very good clutch.  It is plastic so it shouldn't deform your studs... too terribly.  the inside pitch of the walls is what contributes to the poor clutch.  Perhaps Mattel has less exacting machine standards than LEGO does.  Or the plastic that they use needs more help coming out of the mold.  At least the anti-stud is well centered so that even without much clutch it balances well.

"How ya feelin', Kev?"  "Ouch?"  "Sorry, it was you or Mr. Chrome Red."

Spacing of all the studs on the Rig is not ideal.  The engine and bed studs are about a half stud in height difference and a third stud in length.  They could be connected with clips on a bar for analog distances but not with plates.

"This engineering is neither Danish nor German."

Of course minifigs aren't the only thing that can attach to the Fig Rig.  Anything with a clip can grip the bars.  Turn your pickup into a plane, tank, or even a duck!

"Vat da kvack?"

Note: Do not confuse this with the Mig Rig which appears to be a red herring.  The Mig Rig doesn't seem to have any of the features as its rhyming counterpart.