shotgunmcos's Contributions

Parisian Restaurant

Posted:February 8, 2018

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

5 / 5

Nice enough to standalone

" Lots of reviews here already so pros and cons only

Pros
Value for money. Lots of small parts but the detail is superb
So many different pieces and building styles
Looks even better in person
4 different places to relax for a bite to eat in 1 model!
The fold down bed
The roof section with the art studio

Cons
Baseplate was a bit warped for my second modular in a row :-(
The hanging baskets are a great detail but flimsy and easy to knock off
The kitchen is great but so so hard for fat fingers to get into the fridge or presses
Too few minifigures. I feel there should be more so you can play simultaneous scenes

Overall fabulous Modular. Keep em coming! "

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Build Time:

06 hrs

Play Experience (Optional):

4 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

5 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Challenging

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

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Brick Bank

Posted:January 22, 2018

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

5 / 5

Detail, detail....

" I cannot add or subtract anything more from the 100+ review so far. I build the GBHQ a few months ago as my first "building" but this was my first Modular. To begin my baseplate was a little warped and looked like it was dropped on one edge which was not the best start.

Things got better after the fascinating tiling base. Interesting colours and patterns. There was lots of dark blue grey after that and although I spotted white and sand green in later bags, I got a little bored of the dark blue grey initially. Everything after bag 1 though just got better and better.

Layering the detail on that DBG first level was fun. The vault, the nooks and crannies all fun. The brighter second level brightened my mood. My wife was watching Netflix as I snapped all the window panes into the frames (no way to do this quietly!) but the result was great. I especially loved the half dome shaped roof skylight from the same windows and learned a building technic there.

The devil is in the detail and while my 13 year old (passive about LEGO) asked what is the point in all the interior detail when you won't see it 99.9% of the time (I half agreed), the finish detail on the exterior is exquisite. I like symmetry so the right hand roof edge being 1 stud wider (as its a corner building) irked me a little and first but I won't notice when there is another building next to it.

Overall I really enjoyed my first Modular build. I have AS, PR, PS and DO in the attic but I thought I'd start with the "least favorite" from the look only and just get beet from there. The Brick Bank is a great corner building but doesn't stand up as a display on its own like the GBHQ. It needs company "

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Purchased For: Self

Build Time:

07 hrs

Play Experience (Optional):

5 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

5 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Average

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

0points

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BB-8™

Posted:January 15, 2018

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

5 / 5

wee r r rrr er we oo

" My kids love we I make the BB8 sounds and swivel his head about. The elastic used to a simple put magical effect to bring life to this LEGO model. It was an easy but enjoyable build. I little repetitive but I liked working with the contrasting white and orange. Once I had the ball shape created for the body I couldn't help but to throw it up and down and catch for a while admiring how sturdy it is. A surprising lot of pieces go into the head.

The final result is compact but very cool. Something about making round object in LEGO is very satisfying. Very good model and great to play and display "

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Purchased For: Self

Build Time:

05 hrs

Play Experience (Optional):

4 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

5 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Average

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

0points

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First Order Special Forces TIE fighter™

Posted:November 26, 2017

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

4 / 5

She sleeps on the light side

" I really liked the look of this TIE when it first came out but could not justify the price. I waited for a bargain and duly got one. It's a simple build and took a shade over an hour. It's sturdy. I don't get the folk who say it's flimsy. Once the wings are clipped in properly you can whoosh to your hearts content!

I've had it for months but only built it a few days ago. It's my 2nd Star Wars Lego build. The first was the MF 75105 which occupied my bedside locker. That has now migrated to my wife's locker and the Tie sits on mine. I sleep on the dark side!

While the build is easy it's quite satisfying. The cockpit is really really sturdy and the printed parts look fab. You can fit 2 TIE pilots in and they look great too. The set as usual has a few extra pieces including 2 roller sKate pieces. Naturally I put the on the First Order Officer to the delight of my daughter :-)

Very nice set. Shame it's retired now and will probably become even more ridiculously expensivery. However if you can find one at €50 is its worth it. It looks great beside the 75101 MF, particularly if you, like me, are a fan of The Force Awakens. "

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Purchased For: Self

Build Time:

01 hrs

Build Time:

05 mins

Play Experience (Optional):

4 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

3 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Easy

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

0points

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LEGO® NASA Apollo Saturn V

Posted:June 17, 2017

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

5 / 5

Take your time..

" Build it slowly and enjoy the process. What a set! It's been said in all the other reviews. Exceptional value for money when so often it's the other way. It's a real treat to build. Lots of new techniques. The final rocket is suprisingly sturdy you can pick it up single handedly.
It's huge too. I'm scratching my head where to store it. It looks as impressive lying on the stands as it does standing up.

I actually want to take it apart and build it again I enjoyed it so much. Pure therapy for an AFOL. There is a bit of 2x and 4x but it's not tedious. I often wondered why I was building in such away until the final move that twists 2 pieces to lock everything into place. Some very clever techniques to strengthen this without filling the interior with Technic pins.

Don't rush and spend silly money because greedy sellers have emptied the shelves to turn over a quick buck. Part of the wonder of this set is the sheer value for money. I'm sure it will be around for a while and on lots of Christmas wishlists. Both Kids and Adults alike. "

Images for this Review

(click to see full-size image)

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Purchased For: Self

Build Time:

06 hrs

Play Experience (Optional):

3 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

5 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Challenging

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

+33points

45of 57found this review helpful.

My First Garden

Posted:April 12, 2017

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

4 / 5

More Water Daddy!

" You don't often see review on small Duplo sets. I am an AFOL but have tiny little people who will probably be future AFOLs and shelling out thousands of Euros for an obsession like I do.

This little garden was an instant hit. My 2 year old (going on 12) loved the wheelbarrow and watering can. She asked for water in the can then watered the plants to make them grow. Sooo cute. It just so happens the little blond minifig girl a good lookalike for herself so she was delighted with this. No this minifig is called Zoe and is the Chief of all LEGO in the house :-)

She also instantly ripped the door I had just put on the house because she felt the rabbit needed a tunnel. She put the Carrots brick on the other end of the tunnel too.

She also loved the buzzy bees brick. She wanted "more bricks Daddy" so she could build a big tower and see if the bees could reach the top.

Zoe then pulled out the rest of her Duplo and dropped the bees. Minnie Mouse running around with Mickey mouse in the wheelbarrow became more fun....

I could this off the LEGO site at half price and its the best Tenner I've spent in the LEGO Shop to date! "

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Build Time:

02 mins

Play Experience (Optional):

4 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

3 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

+3points

4of 5found this review helpful.

First Order Stormtrooper™

Posted:March 4, 2017

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

3 / 5

Hands Up!!

" The pic surely says it all. I don't collect these buildable figs but saw a bargain for this and thought I could have fun positioning it all over the house in funny poses to the amusement of the Mrs and kids.

It's a simple build, a cool rep of a FO Troop Transporter and it can do yoga poses! "

Images for this Review

(click to see full-size image)

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder

Purchased For: Son

Build Time:

15 mins

Play Experience (Optional):

5 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

3 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

0points

2of 4found this review helpful.

Millennium Falcon™

Posted:February 6, 2017

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Expert LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

5 / 5

A hunk of garbage it isn't...

" This was my first Star Wars build. I’m usually a technic fan but the T1 Camper Van over Christmas brought me back to childhood. The Millennium Falcon 75105 did that even more emphatically. As a kid growing up in the 80’s it was all about the classic space LEGO and some city sets. LEGO was for play. While I love the build of the bigger technic models, once you have some initial fun with the mechanics (if any), it’s just about appreciating it aesthetically. Maybe I’ve just seen one too many cog and lift arms or maybe it’s the exquisite detail of the creator models over the pushing odd 200 pins into holes. I mean, I’ve deconstructed the 8880 Supercar to make space for a non technic set… sacrilege! I was kind of at pains with the dilemma since the T1 (and Wall-E which my son built).

The Millennium Falcon has settled it for me. My first “Swoosh” of a LEGO spaceship since those dear old days and the fact that it was a re-creation from a movie I enjoyed, even better. Even better still, the detail. The wonderful attention to detail that shows how proud TLG are of their product. The minifigs are brilliant. The printing on the torso, the choice of expressions. I got this set as I’ve never owned a MF, let alone any Star Wars set. I have all the main Force Awakens sets in the attic and this was my first choice to build as it contains the main characters from the movie (Rey, Finn, Chewie, Hans and BB8). It’s a bonus to get the 2 space gangsters (Kanjiklub and Tasu Leech). I had such fun thinking up the different scenes to play out. I put it to bed with the gangsters sneaking around by the bed only for Chewie to be standing there waiting with his bow and Hans doubling around behind them. Finn and Rey both fit in the cockpit but they are still armed. BB8 is perched on the swivel seat at the computer across from the chessboard hiding.

I love that some technic is used to both strengthen the foundation structure and add some functionality to it. The interior is spacious enough to put a lot more minifigs in and could actaully house quite a few. I actually hid one of my blue 1980s LEGO spacemen under the trap door as if he hopped aboard to stowaway in the brief scene with the Millenium Falcon in the last LEGO movie. (Did I mention I’m in my 30’s… just in case!). Its the first set I’ve built with the sping loaded cannons too and I love how both the ammo and clever mechanism for firing them is hidden. Kudos to the designer for this feature.

I hear what folk are saying about the complaints. I’ve never owned a previous version so I cannot comment on previous sets. I did read and watch just about every review of this set before I bought it. The little things like the standing height or lack of, beneath the ship is easily fixable with a few bricks from your stash. The “pizza slices” having gaps is a non issue for me. I really appreciate how LEGO managed to get the roundness of the ships bulk with so few pieces (most of the piece count goes to the interiors). I’ve no doubt they could do even better in a larger set and if a UCS version of this appears again I will buy it in a heartbeat. I also appreciate how the slices all open individually to reveal so much of the interior to play with. I think opening a large circle with just one hinged side would leave a huge hanging piece that would get in the way while playing. Apparently the secret trap door is hard to get to but isn’t that kind of the point! I also loved how I had 8 minifigs in various places in the ship and still had oodles of space and locations to put more (the hyperdrive, the removable gun platform, the very detailed chess area etc..).

I also appreciate the numbered bags. Part of me would prefer the old school enjoyment of knowling the whole 1,329 pieces for an epic challenging building session (and its still an option if you dare..). However the simple instructions and the numbered bags really suited my limited time (building it when the kids were in bed and getting suit and lunch ready etc..). I built bags 1-7 night 1 and the next night finished it off. I also loved how you get a minifig per bag. It really broke up the building process and made me stop to appreciate the detail of the minifig on its own before I sorted that bags’ pieces to build. I’m learning more about building technics which is great for projects I have in mind for years down the road. I personally had no problem attaching the 4 points of the cockpit. It just needs a little patience and making sure you lift up the model and check that pieces are all connected crisply after each page. If X number of pieces are not firmly pressed together the extra fedw mms of space will make the alignment more difficult.

The Stickers are a necessary evil with the look of sets these days. I see them on my son’s, nieces and nephews sets (We are a LEGO mad extended family). Even on the Friends sets with so many colours, tehre are still stickers. I personally don’t have the patient to use a tweezer to meticulously apply them so its mildly annoying if I don’t line them up. For cirlular ones with holes in this set I was afraid I’d rip them if I had to lift them up for a second go. I actually think the stickers on the interior really add to the set in a positive way and while I appreciate that TLG can print everything, I only wish the antennae was a printed piece..

Overall I’m delighted I picked up this set. I enjoyed building it even more than I thought I would. The minifigs are superb and you get your money’s worth as its good for display and play! "

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Expert LEGO builder

Purchased For: Self

Build Time:

04 hrs

Build Time:

20 mins

Play Experience (Optional):

5 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

4 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Average

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

-1point

1of 3found this review helpful.

Volkswagen T1 Camper Van

Posted:January 15, 2017

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Expert LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

5 / 5

Get One!

" I'll hardly add more to the previous 297 reviews so a few pics instead. Got this on 20% off black Friday discount along with some cashed VIP points. It was a sweet deal. Thank you LEGO. My first non technic build since I was a kid and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My only request would be a steering mech just to boost the playabikity of these models. Plenty of room under carriage. I'll MOC one for this set once I figure out a suitably obscure HOG cog... "

Images for this Review

(click to see full-size image)

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Expert LEGO builder

Purchased For: Self

Build Time:

04 hrs

Build Time:

20 mins

Play Experience (Optional):

4 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

5 / 5

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

+30points

40of 50found this review helpful.

24 Hours Race Car

Posted:December 14, 2016

shotgunmcos

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Expert LEGO builder

Top 1000 Contributor

Overall:

5 / 5

Get it if you can find it!

" Its been a long time since LEGO was a constant wish. I actually wanted the 42056 Technic Porsche as I love the big Technic cars but as it was my first set in over 20 years I couldn't justify the price! I saw the 24hr Le Mans Race Car for under €90 and though it was just as big and might be fun to build. I wasn't gone on the pics of it and I'm not a fan of Le Mans. So, I expected a rather average but fun substitute. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the big box and sorted the pieces.

So many types of pieces I've never used before. The green colour was cool and the whopping 45+ panels assured me that this would be a big car.

I found the build quite straightforward, 4.5-5 hours in a single sitting. It didn't have the complexity of pneumatic builds and the instructions are now so detailed you get a book with just a few pieces per step. I found I actually missed the challenge of really figuring our how to put the step together. As a result I found myself rushing through it to get it done.

The new cogs, liftarms, beams etc are just so much smoother than the good old 8865, 8868 and 8880 sitting on my shelf.

Anyway I got the car together and was immediately impressed with the size of it for just 1300 ish parts. It was wider and longer than the 8070 for example! The white black and green was a good colour choice and while I was torn about the stickers, I put them on anyway. I think it looks better for them.

The functionality is good, HOG steering and its smooth and the usual big technic car things like V8 engine etc. I do really like how literally the back half of the car opens. That was cool.

It sat on the shelf beside the 8070 for weeks and I took it down to play with it every so often. I like it much more than I thought but the BEST bit about this set is the B model. For something different I downloaded the instructions and printed them off.

The B model SUV build is quicker than the car and you have a lot of parts left over but its still a good size. I motorized it and actually prefer it to the A model. Its very robust, the technic movement of the front lights is brilliant and it immediately puts MOC ideas in your head.

Overall I got a lot more than I thought I was going to get. It was a bargain at <€90. Great set! It re-ignited my love of LEGO and I've now got a half dozen of the bigger creator and technic sets in my attic waiting to be built. "

I would recommend this to a friend!

From: Ireland

Age: 35-44 years old

Customer Type: LEGO Fan

Building Experience: Expert LEGO builder

Purchased For: Self

Build Time:

05 hrs

Play Experience (Optional):

5 / 5

Value for Money (Optional):

5 / 5

Level of Difficulty:

Average

Very Easy

Very Challenging

I would recommend this to a friend!

Share:

+3points

3of 3found this review helpful.