MrBenn
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MrBenn's Stats
- Review Count6
- Helpfulness Votes280
- First ReviewAugust 8, 2014
- Last ReviewApril 30, 2016
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating3
MrBenn's Reviews
Assault on Hoth™
Assault on Hoth™
Overall:
1
/
5
Confusing LEGO Set...
Posted:April 30, 2016
MrBenn
From: England
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03hrs
Build Time:
50mins
Play Experience:
3
/
5
Value for Money:
1
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
" Having collected many of the previous 'UCS' Star Wars sets, the announcement of one being Hoth-based was very exciting as the snow planet hasn't produced many advanced models.
I will skip my initial impressions as I decided to purchase the product regardless, in order to build up my Hoth-scape as best as I can.
Unfortunately, I wish I hadn't bothered. There are so many things wrong with this set that I'm amazed it was allowed past the concept stage; and is one of the few LEGO sets I've purchased that doesn't improve on my impressions from the stock imagery.
To summarise:
- The minifigures are dreadful. I don't purchase 'UCS' sets purely for the characters, but when you're spending this much money on a product, you at least want the characters who featured in the scenes the set is based on. General Riekkan, Leia, C-3PO and R2-D2 are all missing; Riekkan and Leia in particular are absolutely crucial. Toryn Farr is a nice choice, but [1] her face print is generic-looking, and [2] her hair piece is entirely wrong. What's most astounding is that the perfect hair piece is currently available in other sets, such as the policewoman in Detective's Office.
The Wampa and Tauntaun however are excellent; I never got them first time round so I'm delighted with the quality of them.
The rebel snowtroopers are excellent and I doubt could be improved upon, but including just two Imperial snowtroopers is laughable for an 'assault'.
Luke looks amazing with a new double-sided face - one that's pleased-looking and the other that's bruised and tired. Han is good but doesn't have a hood piece, and the droids are exceptional; they're printing can't be bettered.
The Wampa and Tauntaun however are excellent; I never got them first time round so I'm delighted with the quality of them.
The rebel snowtroopers are excellent and I doubt could be improved upon, but including just two Imperial snowtroopers is laughable for an 'assault'.
Luke looks amazing with a new double-sided face - one that's pleased-looking and the other that's bruised and tired. Han is good but doesn't have a hood piece, and the droids are exceptional; they're printing can't be bettered.
- The challenge of the builds is far too inconsistent - many just look and assemble like regular play sets. This is unfortunate because each of the builds are actually nice in their own right and would make good smaller products (They're also very strong). In addition, few of the building techniques or elements are unique to this set, which is very disappointing as there was little reward for the time spent building it.
Granted, some of models require careful attention and are nice and fiddly, but it's the resulting design that underwhelms.
Granted, some of models require careful attention and are nice and fiddly, but it's the resulting design that underwhelms.
- The hangar entrance is surprisingly large, though there is still barely enough room to fit a Snowspeeder through (About one stud's gap all round). This doesn't bother me too much though as there is so much attention paid to the hangar door mechanism that I couldn't wait to finish it. The doors open through a convoluted Technic assembly that is completely exposed from the inside of the hangar. This could have been avoided with a 'draw-style' feature (like Death Star Final Duel) in which the doors simply slide apart, and the arms used to pull the doors could have folded down vertically to be hidden. Granted, nothing sophisticated, but the parts saved could have been used elsewhere and it would have looked more attractive.
- The lack of accuracy is very surprising and contradictory. In the instruction booklet, the designer says he included a look-out post because they're used on Yavin; even though he acknowledges one doesn't feature on Echo Base. The inside of the hangar looks nothing like that in the film, with minimal machinery to help move equipment.
You can the connect the Wampa cave, control console and Tauntaun feeding area to the sides of the hangar, but this just looks plain silly.
The ION cannon is a decent effort, but is so uncanny in scale that it doesn't look particularly threatening. The back of it is plain ugly too, like the hangar. And Toryn Farr of all people is supposed to sit inside it? What the... She's the one controlling it from the control room!
The shield generator has a fun explosion feature that activates through a simple see-saw, but in the movie it has FOUR discs, not three...
Then there is the Wampa cave, which includes another poorly thought out feature for Luke attempting to use the Force to grab his lightsaber. It's designed to 'flick up' on a tiny ramp, but you have to be so precise that it's no fun at all.
Also the minifigures don't sit properly in the Snowspeeder, they just lay there awkwardly.
You can the connect the Wampa cave, control console and Tauntaun feeding area to the sides of the hangar, but this just looks plain silly.
The ION cannon is a decent effort, but is so uncanny in scale that it doesn't look particularly threatening. The back of it is plain ugly too, like the hangar. And Toryn Farr of all people is supposed to sit inside it? What the... She's the one controlling it from the control room!
The shield generator has a fun explosion feature that activates through a simple see-saw, but in the movie it has FOUR discs, not three...
Then there is the Wampa cave, which includes another poorly thought out feature for Luke attempting to use the Force to grab his lightsaber. It's designed to 'flick up' on a tiny ramp, but you have to be so precise that it's no fun at all.
Also the minifigures don't sit properly in the Snowspeeder, they just lay there awkwardly.
- This set is dreadful value for money. Fans can make all the excuses they want regarding licensing and the costs of production, but £219.99 is taking the Michael. For this kind of money, there are so many other LEGO sets that not only have more elements, but are much more rewarding to build and display. As of yet, I'm not entirely sure how I'll even display this model, but you need so much more to make it a decent looking 'assault'. Conversely, 'Ewok Village' can be customised however you like and looks fantastic on its own right.
I don't think there is any one reason why this set is so disappointing, but all I do know is that LEGO should have focused entirely on Echo Base itself rather than trying to recreate a battle.
If they're already selling a Hoth 'battle pack' with Han, some troopers and a cannon, and have previously sold an AT-AT and Snowspeeder, then why not just sell this product's trench and ION cannon in separate set too?
A 'UCS' Echo Base should have featured roughly four/five larger builds that contribute to a single or multiple display pieces; the BACTA tank room, the communications room and the hangar. Add the Snowspeeder and Wampa cave, and you're done.
My recommendation would be to save your money and go for the 'Ewok Village', which is a vastly superior minifigure scale display piece.
"
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+199points
210of 221found this review helpful.
Brick Bank
Brick Bank
Overall:
4
/
5
Improvement over Detective Office
Posted:January 2, 2016
MrBenn
From: England
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
06hrs
Build Time:
20mins
Play Experience:
5
/
5
Value for Money:
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
" Even though the Parisian Restaurant was released 2 years ago now, I still believe that the model set a new standard for what a modular can, and arguably should, be. The Detective Office focused too much on play features and cramped details for my liking, but this new Brick Bank goes some way in a return to form.
For starters, It's £12 cheaper and has just over 100 more pieces. Granted, the number of bricks is only way to calculate value, but it's nice to see these buildings being made more affordable, as they're not cheap to begin with.
There is then the matter of theme. I think a bank is a very interesting addition to this series as it's something that nearly every town will offer; it doesn't have the US-centricity of Detective Office, which feels very out of place with the more european buildings offered to date.
I thoroughly building this model, if only for the ease of access. As I previously mentioned, the Detective Office was very fiddly both before and after assembly, yet it didn't enhance the appearance of the model.
On the other hand, the architecture of Brick Bank is fantastic. You get a lot more involvement in the smaller details of the pillars and brick work, which gives the building a lovely textured effect. New elements do help, but on the whole it still has that Creator feel about it when you're left surprised and educated.
The first floor is much simpler to assemble, but is still very effective because it uses traditional and instantly recognisable elements. I love how the skylight is a reworking of the front window from Pet Shop; it's such a nice design.
Next door to Brick Bank is a laundromat called Soap 'n' Suds. Similarly to real life it is cramped and unassuming, but features very nice architecture again. The 3D effect on the sign is beautiful, the awning is sweet, and I love the terraced roofing and window.
One of my favourite micro builds is in fact the tree on the pavement. It uses the relatively new plant piece that has more stalks than the older version, and allows for a very effective drooped effect of the branches and leaves.
Other great inclusions are the Elves fence piece in black, the printed windows for both the bank AND the laundromat (no stickers!) and the micro-figure that is used for the mural above the entrance. There is also the obligatory frog, too!
The interior of the Brick Bank is very well designed, featuring a cashiers desk (with door windows for separation glass; wow!), a working vault, bullion, receptionist or accountant, and an office above the laundromat. The latter is also realistic with four machines and accessories.
The architecture is the standout feature of this model - as it should be - but I am just disappointed at how the play features, in my opinion, waste elements that could have been used to make the building taller.
This is the model's only real flaw; it's far too short. To put this into perspective, it's actually shorter than the Parisian Restaurant, and that model is by far the best scaled modular to date. How on earth could a grand old bank be so unimposing?
The culprit is surely the 'money laundering' storyline. I'm no cynic, I love fun LEGO features as much as anyone else, but common sense tells me that far too many elements are wasted on this robbery feature that could have been put towards the architecture.
Essentially, the feature allows you to place a minifigure down the central airduct on the roof, which in turn connects to the 'out of use' laundromat machine on one side of the duct and the bank vault on the other. The idea is that the character can enter through one passage, break into the vault and escape with the money through another.
This is a very clever, fun feature and works a lot better in person that words can - I just wish there was greater focus on the building's aesthetic.
In short, the model is a joy to build and very pleasing to look at. It features a wealth of small details that your minifigures can interact with, and I like the fact it has a more neutral appearance than Detective Office. Displaying it with other modular buildings isn't that satisfying because of the height, and that's my only issue.
For the price however, it is still another exceptional value Creator product and a worthy addition to your town.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+10points
13of 16found this review helpful.
Detective’s Office
Detective’s Office
Overall:
3
/
5
Interesting, but not essential
Posted:September 29, 2015
MrBenn
From: England
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
06hrs
Build Time:
30mins
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
" The arrival of any modular building has now become something of a big event, especially if you have been collecting these models over the past ten years. They have transcended from a niche market for AFOLs to something that the whole family can appreciate - either as a strictly 'hands off' piece or play toy. Luckily, I work with both sets of customers and the reception is becoming incredible.
However in my opinion, the Detective's Office simply doesn't step up to the mark that has been set by previous products (namely, Pet Shop and Parisian Restaurant). A lot of this stems from a balancing act of design and playability.
The best modular buildings to date have managed to balance two important ingredients, architecture and story telling. These are the very things that make the buildings what they are; environments and situations that we can associate with - designed with the usual Creator flair.
But the Detective's Office makes a lot of compromises, most of which are found in the interior of the building. I won't deny that the exterior looks very accurate and timely, but the first and second floors lack any common sense. We are not told of their purpose, only that this is some sort of space that may be rented or shared. The bathroom, kitchen and corridor give nothing away other than means to transport the candy, and even this is a stretch.
This is really disappointing, because while the interiors of these products have always (rightly) taken a back seat, they should at least have the same logic that the outer of the building has.
For a brief example, the narrative of the Pet Shop is that a family is moving into a house next door to the shop. The floors are empty - save for a cheeky paint canister and storage boxes - but the stairs and doors work. In comparison, the Detective Office does an excellent job of decorating the office and ground floor, but the rest of the building has almost no connection to the narrative, and therefore feels wasted.
I should point out that the ground floor is in fact very nice, and there are some excellent micro-builds in the gentleman's club and barber shop. However, I can't help but imagine that the product would have been much better if 'either' one or the other made up for the ground floor, while the rest of the build, like the Pet Shop, was split between the detective's living area and office, and the same for the barber/club owner.
The model comes with a fantastic assortment of pieces, some of which are new for this year and include a unique mirror piece and printed elements. There are some excellent techniques in the roof work and the signage.
Overall, unlike other buildings to date, I only enjoyed about the first half of the build. It is an interesting display piece, but doesn't have the lust factor of buildings before it due to the cramped nature of the two businesses and wasteful use of bricks for the interior. I sincerely hope that the company focuses more on that strong balance between narrative and architecture, rather than smaller play features.
"
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+2points
2of 2found this review helpful.
Ferris Wheel
Ferris Wheel
Overall:
5
/
5
A Perfect Creator Model
Posted:May 13, 2015
MrBenn
From: England
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Build Time:
06hrs
Build Time:
30mins
Play Experience:
5
/
5
Value for Money:
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
" As soon as I saw the designer video for this product, I just knew that I had to buy it. Unlike the Fairground Mixer, the artwork actually does this model justice, too.
And boy what a model it is. The wheel itself wasn't particularly challenging (it was expectedly repetitive however), but the ground work and platform area did require some extra care and attention that would frustrate a younger builder.
The functionality is very impressive, with a realistic platform below the wheel that can be raised and lowered with the flick of a lever. In real life, these have the dual purpose of creating ground clearance for the wheel to turn and to prevent visitors from boarding the gondolas at the wrong time. It works like a dream, and is very discretely implemented.
Also discreet is the Power Functions area, which has been sectioned off well in case you want to add a motor and battery box. This is a real pleasure, because the battery box doesn't stick out too much like a sore thumb. And if you wanted, you could even stack some green bricks beside it to disguise it as a grass mound.
I also really like the mechanism that spins the main wheel. It's driven by two small car wheels with tyres that are used to 'buffer' the rotation, and this creates a very smooth, gliding motion that has absolutely no stuttering. It's actually quite soothing to just sit and turn the crank! Ahhhh...
Also noteworthy is the colour scheme. It's almost a polar opposite to the Fairground Mixer, and I think all the better for it. The mixer was a typical carnival attraction that you would expect to look bright and garish (In a good way), but static structures like this can have a more timeless appeal. The colours of this ferris wheel, to me at least, look relaxing but fun at the same time. And indeed, a ferris wheel will be relaxing to some visitors, and perhaps a little 'too' exciting (scary!) for those who don't like heights...
10 minifigures are included, and while Creator sets generally use the most basic off-the-shelf parts you can imagine, this set actually offers a few nice surprises, include two torsos that have previously only been available in Junior sets. This is excellent - I've always had my eye on those tops!
Is it worth £149.99? Absolutely. The scale of the model AND the number of bricks justify the price-tag, which is pretty uncommon for LEGO these days. It's also evidence of just how important the Creator line is, particularly the joy it can bring outside of highly specific licensed themes. In addition, the model is far more inspiring than the aforementioned and has only spurred my family on to dream of an entire theme using techniques like those included in this model. It's pure innocent fun.
But one thing I will reiterate is that this model really is a monster - read the dimensions carefully before buying!
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+20points
21of 22found this review helpful.
Santa's Workshop
Santa's Workshop
Overall:
3
/
5
Posted:October 2, 2014
MrBenn
From: England
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
04hrs
Build Time:
30mins
Play Experience:
1
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
" The Winter Village series has become a staple event on the LEGO Creator calendar, much like the modular buildings, vehicles and, hopefully, any future 'fairground' attractions. After patiently waiting for this instalment and building the model, it would be fair to say that I'm just a touch disappointed.
I would however just like to highlight what I believe the product's greatest strength is; it's a fantastic example of 'Creator'. Interesting and very imaginative building techniques are scattered throughout the entire build, and this is something unique to Creator Expert products. You always leave the model more educated and proud of the design than any other LEGO product category. The Santa's Workshop certainly has some wonderful details that go beyond earlier Winter Village products.
But unfortunately, this is offset by the lacklustre scenario. While the build is often engrossing, the completed model seems disjointed and not very well thought out.
- Why are there only four reindeer and not eight? Granted, repetitiveness is something to be avoided, but you only have to build Tower Bridge to appreciate repetition of micro builds. The point of the reindeer is that they each have distinct personalities, which is integral to the original story.
- The elves' machine for packing/making presents is a separate build, and not part of a 'workshop' at all. If the machine featured some playability - say a moving conveyor belt - then I could appreciate it being a separate model, but it's so disappointing to not see it placed inside the building. Instead, you get a small workbench that takes up an entire room.
- The christmas tree is pathetically small. Come on LEGO, really? This is santa's home we're talking about, and we're supposed to believe that he has a smaller tree than the one in the Winter Village Toy Shop? At this scale it adds nothing to the environment.
- Where is Ms. Clause's kitchen? Again, it's a poor oversight that those lovely looking cookies haven't been baked inside the building.
The minifigures that come included are decent, but it is the parts selection that really stands out. I don't personally collect parts, but those that do will find this set to be a real treat, given how many gold and 'brick' effect ones there are in rare shapes.
In short, I feel the problem with this set is that it lacks focus. The building experience was A+, but that doesn't mean a whole lot when the model itself is awkward to display. This is in complete contrast to the Market Village, which focused on a single scenario and used smaller builds to its advantage. As a result, it not strongly evokes a time and place, but has playability and is easy to display.
With this Workshop, I believe the designer(s) should have placed their efforts into either a home OR a workshop - not a mishmash between the two.
I don't have a problem with the 'fantasy' nature though - to me it is more festive. And the price point is definitely an improvement over previous years, so thank you for bringing it down!
Consider carefully before buying.
"
My Product Recommendations
Winter Village Market
(68)Share:
+4points
4of 4found this review helpful.
Jungle Rescue Base
Jungle Rescue Base
Overall:
2
/
5
Disappointing product for a niece
Posted:August 8, 2014
MrBenn
From: England
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
35-44
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Friend or Family Member's Child
Build Time:
01hrs
Play Experience:
3
/
5
Value for Money:
2
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
" The Jungle Rescue Base was purchased as a gift for my niece, who had just turned 7. She already owned some LEGO and particularly enjoys the Creator and even City products!
I wish I could say that this was a perfect treat, but after less than two weeks the product has been almost entirely broken down and re-used for other creations. This can of course be a positive activity - particularly those models that encourage some reimagining - but the rescue base was simply disappointing to both build and play with.
As far as the challenge element goes, I would consider a minimum age of 7 quite high. There are many larger and very specific components that seem to be uncreative solutions for design problems. Little N had a lot more fun using the pink slide, tiles and vines for a fantasy fairground ride!
This leads onto the product's playability, which is staggered by a focus on presentation. The design seems more concerned with how the model appears rather than packing in quality play features. This to me was completely disappointing as the design is so gender specific that it is borderline ghastly; even Little N, through her own assessment, thought the same. "Why do they (the Friends characters) have yellow radios?"
The 'tree' build leads to some sort of GPS/satellite system that is able to track stranded animals. The characters can then either fall down a slide or climb up/down the vines to rescue them. If the slide is indeed the main play feature of this section, then it only goes to show how out of touch the Friends range is compared to other LEGO themes.
On land, the characters can nurse injured animals, relax in the shelter and use the lavatory and shower cubicle. Again, because this is a 'girls' product, the latter facilities must include hot and cold taps, an oven and a porcelain lavatory. It's generalisations like this that surely defeat the adventure of being in a jungle. Afterall, how can a child have some fun when there isn't a hint of danger to work around?
Little N has purchased a few smaller Friends sets in the past, yet even when the characters are replaced with normal minifigures, she prefers these models because they are more relatable. Her favourite is the 'Sports Car' because it reminds her of family holidays, with the map and picnic bench.
It was only after I purchased this set that I spotted the Creator 'Mountain Hut', but neglected to do an exchange as it seemed to offer less playability. Had I known now the differences between the two products, I would have gone for the hut and built a small scene with Little N using parts from her collection, as it would seem to encourage more imaginative play.
In short, I obviously felt just a bit sad that the product wasn't enjoyed as it was designed to be, but at least the parts are there to be reused.
"
My Product Recommendations
Emma’s Sports Car
(6)
Mia's Lemonade Stand
(10)
Small Cottage
(19)Share:
-7points
30of 67found this review helpful.