Arctic Explorer - Male, Brown Jacket, Dark Tan Legs, Blue Hood
cty0488 · City
Arctic · Released in 2014 as part of the revived Arctic sub-theme within LEGO City, modernizing the classic 2000 Arctic line.
Figure ID
cty0488
Theme
City
Year Released
Released in 2014 as part of the revived Arctic sub-theme within LEGO City, modernizing the classic 2000 Arctic line.
Rarity
Common. This figure was mass-produced across several sets in the 2014 wave, making it widely available on the secondary market.
Head
Yellow skin tone with a smile, showing white teeth. Features a large, Medium Blue parka hood with a white 'fur' print trim.
Torso
Dark Brown puffy jacket/parka with a zipper, orange climbing harness straps, and blue belt. Includes white snow-stain printing at the waist. Dark brown arms with black hands.
Legs
Dark Tan unprinted legs, representing insulated cargo pants.
Accessories
Typically comes with an ice axe, walkie-talkie, or circular saw depending on the set. The hood (part 15494) is the primary character-defining accessory.
Color Scheme
Earth-toned palette (Dark Brown and Dark Tan) accented by safety orange straps and a high-contrast Medium Blue hood.
Printing Details
Standard City-level pad printing. The torso features front and back prints with crisp lines for the harness; however, the 'fur' on the hood can sometimes have slight alignment issues.
Variants
Several similar Arctic explorers exist with different head prints (sunglasses, stubble) or female faces (cty0482). This specific ID (cty0488) features the standard smiling male face.
Condition Notes
The white printing on the brown torso and the white fur on the blue hood are prone to scratching. Check for 'clutch power' on the legs, as these were heavily played with by children.
Estimated Value
Used: $2.00 - $4.00 USD. New: $5.00 - $7.00 USD. It is a 'budget' figure for collectors due to high circulation.
Price (New)
Originally included in sets ranging from $5.99 (Polybag) to $89.99 (Arctic Outpost).
Compatible Sets
Found in 60032 Arctic Snowmobile, 60034 Arctic Helicrane, 60036 Arctic Base Camp, and 30310 Arctic Scout polybag.
Character Background
Generic arctic researcher and explorer. These characters were tasked with finding 'Ice Crystals' containing prehistoric creatures (Silver/Trans-Blue boulders).
Design Notes
The 2014 wave introduced the new parka hood mold which was a significant upgrade over the older pointed hoods from the early 2000s.
Similar Minifigures
cty0482 (Female Arctic Explorer), cty0485 (Explorer with goggles), and the 2000-era Arctic figures like arc001.
Collectibility
Moderate. Great for army building or dioramas, but low individual investment value due to commonality.
History
Follows the lineage of the 2000 Arctic theme and preceded the 2018 and 2023 Arctic sub-themes which changed colors to orange and navy blue.
Interesting Facts
The brown color choice for the parka was intended to provide a 'rugged' look compared to the bright orange and blue uniforms of later Arctic waves.
Display Suggestions
Best displayed in a snowy landscape MOC or with a 60033 Arctic Ice Crawler. Pairs well with the LEGO Husky dog element.
Modification Potential
Excellent for custom survivalist or post-apocalyptic figures due to the realistic brown parka and dark tan legs.
Overall Assessment
A solid, classic City minifigure that holds up well. It is a staple of any LEGO City winter collection and represents a peak era for the Arctic sub-theme's realistic design.