stevesheriw
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stevesheriw's Stats
- 4.8Average Rating
- 1,102Helpfulness Votes
- 1Featured Reviews
- 83Review Count
- September 3, 2012First Review
- January 1, 2019Last Review
Ferris Wheel
Ferris Wheel
Posted:June 4, 2015
stevesheriw
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
An excellent family build
" Upon seeing the designer video, I knew we had to build the Ferris Wheel. This is certainly one of the best sets this year, if not the best set. Indeed there is repetition in the build, as would be expected in a model such as this. However, with two younger sons who wanted to build it with me,this turned out to be a positive aspect of the build. If you have able and willing family members, building this will be an enjoyable experience. For example, there are 12 gondolas, which are identical except the color scheme. I build 4, one son builds 4, and the other one builds 4. There are some interesting new techniques in assembling this. Fans of geometry and/or the technic Lego parts will really enjoy and appreciate the design.
Be aware that you need a decent amount of space to build this and display it. It is quite large and far exceeds the size of the average Lego set. It is even larger than the modular buildings. We built this over 4 days. You start with the base, then build the wheel, and then finish with the gondolas. The selection and variety of parts is good, and I feel the value is good for something this size. The box is fairly heavy with the large amount of parts.
The 10 minifigures mainly are a mix and match of previously available parts, however some of the prints are new. Some people could see the Ferris Wheel as a way to display their favorite minifigures in their collections. Yet, the star of the show is the wheel itself. It is very colorful as you would expect one from the carnival to be in real life. There are some nice details at the base including the operator booth, the ice cream stand, and the trees using new parts. Besides the moving wheel function, there is also a lever which raises and lowers the platform beneath the wheel.
Obviously, a lot of thought and time went into the design of this. I believe the Ferris Wheel sets the bar very high for future Lego sets of this nature. Definitely a good purchase.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
06
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+2points
2of 2found this review helpful.
Raptor Rampage
Raptor Rampage
Posted:May 25, 2015
Overall:
4
/
5
Lots of nice features
" We purchased this set for my son, who really enjoys dinosaurs. The main build is the vet truck, and there are also two velociraptors, and a motorcycle.
Three minifigures are included. The ACU figure has attachable body armor. If you remove it, the printing underneath is very detailed. Owen also has very detailed printing, and brandishes a small knife. Then, you have Claire, who appears to be in a lab coat.
The two raptors are the highlight of the set. They are each uniquely colored,and the arms, legs, and mouth all move. The head can also be swiveled from side to side, making these very posable. Camera headgear can be attached to them.
The motorcycle is nice, and has a dark green shell.
Most of the build is dedicated to the truck. All of the stickers are for this part of the set. It is fairly large for a Lego vehicle, however a raptor cannot fit in the lab section. There is room in the cab for one driver. On top of the lab unit, a swiveling shooter feature can be mounted. Presumably, this is some type of tranquilizer gun meant for a large dinosaur. This can be removed and stored in the vehicle. There is one apparent weakness to the set, and that is the wheels. We are having trouble keeping them just the right length. If you push the wheels in too far, they will lock, and the vehicle will not move. If you try to loosen them, it will not take much to pull a wheel off. There is very little wiggle room to get the wheels and the technic grey parts meant to be the hubcaps just right. This has greatly frustrated my son. Otherwise, the set is a fun build, and has a lot of play features, including two nice dinosaurs.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Son
Build Time:
45
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
3
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
3of 5found this review helpful.
Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Posted:April 18, 2015
Overall:
4
/
5
Classic pirate elements
" Treasure Island is a good stand alone starter set if you are interested in pirates. It is not a large set, however is fairly affordable.
The minifigs are excellent, with a bluecoat soldier, a pirate princess, and another pirate. The set is not really a solid build, but a collection of small builds which include the island, a small boat, and round tub for the pirates to paddle in.
Some of the classic pirate features include a parrot, a treasure map, a treasure chest with some gems, and a cannon that actually fires 1x1 round bricks as projectiles. A crocodile is also included to give the island an element of danger. There is another play feature which allows the skull to be raised in order to reveal the treasure. No doubt children will enjoy playing with the various features and minifigs in the set. It would no doubt be even better when combined with the Shipwreck defense set and perhaps the Brick Bounty. Anyone who is a fan of pirates should enjoy this.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Son
Build Time:
30
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
-1point
0of 1found this review helpful.
LEGO® Pirates Chess Set
LEGO® Pirates Chess Set
Posted:March 23, 2015
Overall:
5
/
5
A potentially useful set
" I was excited to hear that Lego had produced a new chess set for a popular theme and decided to purchase it in hopes of teaching my sons the game of chess.
This set does seem to have a very good value due to the 20 minifigures in addition to a fair number of pieces. In fact, the chess set has even more parts than the Brick Bounty ship from this wave! There are plenty of figures, weapons, bricks, and it is especially nice that there are 8 of the 16x16 plates in it. Even those who are not interested in using it as a chess set will appreciate the army builder potential with all of the minifigs in addition to the plates and other offerings that that can be used for making other creations. It seems like money well spent.
As for using the set for its intended purpose of playing chess, there are pros and cons. The pawns are excellent on both sides. I do wish the bluecoats had hats, but they are fairly uniform in appearance. I would probably rather have used the governer or admiral pieces from this series as the king. The hat on the king seems better suited for the 8 pawns. For the most part, the minifigure choices are good. As for the brick built pieces, it seems like there are some hits and misses here. The towers on the bluecoat side make excellent rooks. On the pirates side, I would have used a crows nest set up to counter that and maybe moved the parrots to either the knight or bishop position. The biggest weakness to me is the pirate knight. It appears to either be a skull or tiki head, not sure which one. The bishop pieces are maps and weapons between the two sides. Between the bishops and knights, I think they could have been a little more creative with the designs. It might also be a bit confusing remembering which is which when actually playing the game. I will probably modify the set a little bit, but in the overall sense, it is definitely worth having for a variety of reasons. You can play chess, or you can have a well staffed pirate ship and/or soldier fort. Get this one while you can.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Son
Build Time:
01
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+4points
6of 8found this review helpful.
The Brick Bounty
The Brick Bounty
Posted:March 21, 2015
stevesheriw
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Fun and adventure
" At last, a new pirate ship is available from Lego! It has a lot of play features, and has many of the classic elements a pirate theme should have.
The minifigures are really good. You get three bluecoats in a small boat of their own. Two of them are soldiers, one of which has a hat. The third, labeled as the admiral looks a lot like George Washington. In fact, he and the bluecoats in the small boat looks a lot like the famed crossing of the Delaware.
On the pirate's side, you get a peg legged captain with a hook for a hand. There is another pirate with a tricorne hat, a pirate cook with unique printing, and a pirate boy. There are plenty of accessories in the way of guns, swords, a telescope, and a pan.
A sawfish comes with this set. Its mouth can open and close.
The ship itself is quite colorful with lots of red and brown on the hull. There are also some nice pearl gold pieces to add detail. The size seems considerable, especially once you attach the two masts to the ship. It seems to hold together well. Lots of play features are included. There are three cannons, a removable deck to access the main cabin, and a crane feature with a hook. You also have a retractable plank to send someone to the sawfish. A hidden compartment makes excellent use of space, and my son discovered it by accident while playing with the ship. Of course, you have the customary bilge rat included. There are plenty of places to stand minifigures on the deck, and even a crows nest is located high up for a lookout. There are a few cons. The cannons cannot be maneuvered when they are set on the deck, and the cannonholes cannot be covered while they are in there. Also, the crane does not extend all of the way to the bottom of the deck. Overall, this is a nice ship, and excellent for playing or display. There is some nice detail in places such as the rudder, the skeleton in front (legs are provided in the set if you want the full skeleton), a treasure chest, a map, a sextant, the ship's wheel, and an anchor that can be raised and lowered. I can easily recommend this set for those interested in the theme, especially if this is your first ship.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Son
Build Time:
01
hrs
Build Time:
30
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+2points
2of 2found this review helpful.
T-16 Skyhopper™
T-16 Skyhopper™
Posted:January 31, 2015
stevesheriw
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Nice ship model
" Although the T-16 is never witnessed in action, it is legendary in the lore of Star Wars as it is mentioned in A New Hope and Luke is shown playing with a model of it.
The build is easy and there are some interesting techniques used to hold the ship together. It is fairly stable and is highly playable for children. The new spring loaded missiles are included. The wings can move up and down, and the cockpit can be accessed from either side by lifting up the panels. There are a few stickers, but applying them was not too difficult.
Two minifigures and a rat are provided. The rat of course is meant to symbolize the legendary "womp rat" that Luke once bullseyed with this ship in Beggar's Canyon. The pilot in this set could easily resemble Luke, and it is your call whether or not it is or if it is another character. Yet, the minifigure that will probably excite the avid Star Wars fan the most is the Tusken Raider. For the first time ever, he has a molded head, and it looks good! This is the only set you can find him currently, therefore I can imagine this would help convince some people to buy the set as well.
It might be slightly expensive for what you get, but it is a nice ship and minifigs to have and enhance a Star Wars collection. Kids will enjoy the play features, and adults will enjoy the nostalgia dating back to the 1970's.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
Mos Eisley Cantina™
(29)From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
30
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+2points
3of 4found this review helpful.
High-speed Passenger Train
High-speed Passenger Train
Posted:January 29, 2015
Overall:
5
/
5
Fun for the family
" I purchased this train prior to Christmas and set it up around the tree on Christmas Eve ready to go so the boys could discover it in the morning. The build is easy and the instructions are fairly straight forward.
The track is a decent length, although I do recommend purchasing some more track on the future to allow for flexibility. There was an issue with the train hitting the loading platform. I found that relocating the platform to the inside of the loop solved that problem. Three minifigs are included. You have a train operator, and two passengers, one of which is identified as a member of the press. A bicycle is also included.
Of course, the main feature is the motorized train itself. Wiring the battery box, the motor, and the receiver was fairly easy. I recommend purchasing the light assembly, which is compatible with this train. I liked it before, but it is even better with the lights. The train can move in several speeds, although it does tend to derail at the faster speeds. If you need to stop the train, it is better to hit the red button rather than to try and slow it down to a stop. The other two cars are easy to assemble, and have seats inside to place some minifigs. I like the sleek modern look of the train. It could be a Japanese bullet train or one of the European ones. There are some stickers to apply, but they are not too bad. I do wish there was another way to get another "middle" car without having to purchase another set.
Overall, this is good for the whole family, because the kids enjoy using the power functions, and it can really add to a town or city scene. Supervision is recommended with the younger kids, as it does not come cheap. Make sure you have some spare AAA batteries and a small screwdriver, and you will be ready to go.
"
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Son
Build Time:
03
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+130points
147of 164found this review helpful.
Witch-king Battle
Witch-king Battle
Posted:November 16, 2014
Overall:
5
/
5
Top notch minifigures
" For those who are fans of both the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies, this set is an absolute must. The minifigures sell this set, and all three are desirable to add to your collection. Elrond has a new version, and he appears battle ready with a cape and printed armor. The Witch King is ghostly in appearance with nice printing, a tattered cape, a specially molded crown, and a head that can glow in the dark. Then you have Galadriel. She has a glittering cape, and a specially printed headpeace.
The build is secondary next to the minifigures, but it does have a play feature, can attach to the rest of Dol Guldur, and it has some nice parts. There are six masonry bricks, a complete skeleton, and some nice greys and browns. It seems inexpensive given the ratio of minifigures, therefore it is easy to recommend.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
Dol Guldur Battle
(21)From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
20
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
Mos Eisley Cantina™
Mos Eisley Cantina™
Posted:September 1, 2014
Overall:
5
/
5
A classic scene
" This set reminds me of the late 1970's when the first Star Wars movie came out and everyone wanted the action figures and vehicles to reenact scenes from the movie.
Mos Eisley Cantina offers that experience. The value of the set overall seems really good since you have a vehicle, a structural build, a large creature, and 8 minifigures.
The vehicle is Lukes landspeeder. It has two seats for minifigs. There is a small compartment below the top engine. It is not large enough for the lightsabers, however can fit smaller things. The color is nice, although there are some stickers that take extra care to attach just right.
The large creature is a dewback, which is the mount for the stormtrooper. It is fairly a decent size mold, and is likely the major element missing from the Droid Escape set.
The building itself is hinged and is full of light and dark tan parts. There is a nice dome and some arches to go along with it. There is a bar area along with a place for the band to perform. There is another area with two seats and yet another small area with seats. The entrance has a sliding door feature. The band performer's area and one of the seating areas can be pushed out for easy access. The push out feature is a trough with a bone in it (for the dewback). A large tan dome can be hinged upward to allow access in from the top. The whole cantina can be folded in to make it fairly compact. There is also a vaporator build which can attach to the cantina.
The set is generous with minifigures. For the mains, you have Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Han Solo. You get two lightsabers for Luke and Obi Wan. Han of course has a blaster which he will need. Greedo is included with a specially molded head. He looks fairly detailed and has a blaster to reenact the confrontation with Han. New to Lego are three identical Bith musicians who make up the Modal Nodes group. There are small instrument builds for two of them while the third presumable operates a contraption in the cantina. They have nice details as well. Then, you have a sandtrooper. Half of me really enjoys the detail on this guy while the other half almost wishes it was a generic stormtrooper to set up in other locations. The minifig selection is good. I figured Lego had to choose between adding three Bith musicians or providing us with the bartender, Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan--the ones who wanted to pick a fight with Luke.
Definitely, this is a nice set, and possibly the best of the wave. I like the minifigs and the colors especially. It does look like a nice desert scene, and like many, I am tempted to buy another one of these sets to expand the cantina and the band. I highly recommend at least one set.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
01
hrs
Build Time:
30
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+2points
4of 6found this review helpful.
Imperial Star Destroyer™
Imperial Star Destroyer™
Posted:August 1, 2014
Overall:
5
/
5
Good and structurally sound model
" I was thrilled to discover that a new star destroyer model came out this year. For those of us who have missed the past renditions of this ship, this is finally the chance to build and display one. The Star Destroyer is easily recognizable as it appears in all three original trilogy movies.
There are six minifigures in the set: Darth Vader needs no introduction. This is my first time to get him as he does not really appear in inexpensive sets (apart from the watch). He is accompanied by two stormtroopers of new design. They look good and go with this set well. There are two officers and a navy trooper. All have nice printings and represent the empire well. So far, this is the only set with the new printings for these particular minifigures.
The ship itself features a lot of technic pieces. These are crucial in making it structurally strong enough for display as well as for play. There was a good mix of large, medium, and small parts. It seemed fairly decent for value. There is a new piece representing the hologram of the emperor which looks good. Be prepared for stickers. Most of them are used to create computer screens and interior decor. Only one sticker is for the exterior, which represents the bridge. The entire ship opens up to reveal an interior with enough space for a substantial number of minifigures. There is some detail on the interior, but most of it is just open space for play features. You have a couple of seats, the hologram area,a weapon rack, and a mouse droid. There is also a display screen area.
On the outside, the set is largely grey. It is not really a colorful set, but it is faithful to the look of the ship. A handle is provided to lift the ship, although it can also be held safely from the bottom. There are a couple of projectiles as well as guns which can rotate for play functions. Lego did a good job of making this set a combination of a display set as well as having good playability for kids.
This is my first purchase of a large Star Wars set, and I am pleased with the build and completed subject. What Star Wars fan would not want to have a Star Destroyer?
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Fort Worth
State:
Texas
From:
United States
Age:
35-44
years old
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
04
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+3points
3of 3found this review helpful.