Gardener
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Gardener's Stats
Gardener's Stats
- 5Average Rating
- 45Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 5Review Count
- September 4, 2017First Review
- January 31, 2019Last Review
Gardener's Reviews
Parisian Restaurant
Parisian Restaurant
Posted:January 31, 2019
Gardener
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Fabulous building
" This is only my second modular building and the difference from my usual Technic is a pleasant surprise. The architectural features that have been created from ordinary Lego components is amazing, the result being a tremendous looking building, with a wealth of interest.
While the build was easy, it was still very enjoyable, with the overall structure unfolding as the build progressed. As the top floor is an artists studio it would have been nice to have an artist mini figure and more mini figures in general would always be welcome, but none the less a great model for play and display. "
While the build was easy, it was still very enjoyable, with the overall structure unfolding as the build progressed. As the top floor is an artists studio it would have been nice to have an artist mini figure and more mini figures in general would always be welcome, but none the less a great model for play and display. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Kilmacolm
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
08
hrs
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:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
Posted:January 30, 2019
Gardener
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Awesome inventiveness
" I usually build Technic, so this, my first sortie into modular buildings, was a big leap of faith. However, it proved to be both enjoyable and rewarding. Some of the architectural inventiveness used by the designers was amazing and the finished item looks really good. The ease of delayering the buildings to get to each floor is pleasing, although I do question the playability aspect as the internal spaces are really quite tight, but as a display item it's certainly worthwhile. The piano in the ballet school is a masterpiece, as is the drum kit in the music shop, The eight mini figures are a definite plus to populate the square, although some different facial expressions - they are all identical - might have been good. The two clocks with different times showing was also a detail I found odd, and I have yet to fathom out what the designers were trying to convey with the jumble of bits and pieces on the table in the flat above the bakery, where they seem to have run out of ideas, but that's easily changed. However, none of this detracts from the overall result which is stunning.
After this one I would definitely get another modular building set. "
After this one I would definitely get another modular building set. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Kilmacolm
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
14
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
3
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
Rough Terrain Crane
Rough Terrain Crane
Posted:November 4, 2018
Gardener
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
A really big build
" This is a tremendous build and pleasantly time consuming. The actual build is quite simple in parts, but in others is very complex, but as always the build instructions are superb. The parts are split into 13 sections, each of which takes more or less one hour to construct, which lends itself to the build being spread over several sessions of one to two hours over several days. The finished item is BIG.
The particularly pleasing items are;
1. One motor drives;
a. cab rotation through 360 degrees in either direction
b. boom raising and lowering
c. boom extension
d. lifting hook raising and lowering
e. stabiliser deployment and retraction
All of this is enabled through a very clever gearbox via the selection of the appropriate action with easy to operate, but positive, switches.
2. The cable is wound neatly on the cable drum by means of sideways sliding cable guides, providing a very realistic appearance, unlike the 42009 Mobile Crane, where the cable drum looks a mess by comparison.
3. With the boom fully extended and upright (a full metre high - 20 centimetres higher than the 42009 boom) the cable, when fully wound out, ensures that the hook rests exactly on the ground. A very nice detail.
4. The manual steering is nicely positioned at the rear of the vehicle to both steer and propel the vehicle and, again, a very nice detail is the small rubber wheel provided as the steering wheel which enables very easy manoeuvrability of such a large vehicle.
The Lego designers really have added detail which makes a big difference to the "feel" of this model and have surpassed themselves with the superb multi function gearbox.
Some "nice to haves" would be;
a. a triple telescopic boom as with the 42009, rather than simply the two part boom. Although the latter is probably in keeping with the real thing, the action of the triple boom is very pleasing and perhaps a little "poetic licence" could be allowed?
b. infra red control of the on/off power from the battery box to the motor, particularly when operating cab rotation. I have added this facility which greatly improves operation, but I would not change the manual switching between functions, which is part of the magic of this model.
c. motor driven steering and drive with infra red control - I have yet to work on this idea. However, I do accept that with such a large, heavy model at least two large motors (perhaps more) would be needed for drive which would push up the price of an already expensive set. As it stands it is well worth the money.
The particularly pleasing items are;
1. One motor drives;
a. cab rotation through 360 degrees in either direction
b. boom raising and lowering
c. boom extension
d. lifting hook raising and lowering
e. stabiliser deployment and retraction
All of this is enabled through a very clever gearbox via the selection of the appropriate action with easy to operate, but positive, switches.
2. The cable is wound neatly on the cable drum by means of sideways sliding cable guides, providing a very realistic appearance, unlike the 42009 Mobile Crane, where the cable drum looks a mess by comparison.
3. With the boom fully extended and upright (a full metre high - 20 centimetres higher than the 42009 boom) the cable, when fully wound out, ensures that the hook rests exactly on the ground. A very nice detail.
4. The manual steering is nicely positioned at the rear of the vehicle to both steer and propel the vehicle and, again, a very nice detail is the small rubber wheel provided as the steering wheel which enables very easy manoeuvrability of such a large vehicle.
The Lego designers really have added detail which makes a big difference to the "feel" of this model and have surpassed themselves with the superb multi function gearbox.
Some "nice to haves" would be;
a. a triple telescopic boom as with the 42009, rather than simply the two part boom. Although the latter is probably in keeping with the real thing, the action of the triple boom is very pleasing and perhaps a little "poetic licence" could be allowed?
b. infra red control of the on/off power from the battery box to the motor, particularly when operating cab rotation. I have added this facility which greatly improves operation, but I would not change the manual switching between functions, which is part of the magic of this model.
c. motor driven steering and drive with infra red control - I have yet to work on this idea. However, I do accept that with such a large, heavy model at least two large motors (perhaps more) would be needed for drive which would push up the price of an already expensive set. As it stands it is well worth the money.
Initially I wasn't sure about buying this set, but am really pleased that I did as it's a great addition to my collection of Lego Technic, both for play and display.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
12
hrs
Build Time:
30
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+32points
34of 36found this review helpful.
Mack Anthem
Mack Anthem
Posted:February 11, 2018
Gardener
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Mack Anthem
" The 2017 Technic releases didn't appeal to me, (thank goodness that there was plenty in the Creator series to fill the gap) so I was very pleased when this came out at the beginning of 2018. I had to wait three weeks for it to arrive but it was worth it.
On opening the box I initially thought I would be disappointed at the size of this model based solely on the wheel size, the picture on the box is a great deal bigger than the model, but the end result is terrific.
I found the build to be very easy, but delightfully time consuming. There are a large number of small pieces to contend with, but the numbered bags deliver exactly what you need for each stage of the build (for the Mack Anthem anyway, probably not the rubbish truck), which is extremely helpful when trying to find a small part. Others have complained of missing parts, but there were no missing parts and all the right colour - as is usually the case in my experience.
This will make a great display model as the compactness of the build makes it look very realistic. I have built many Technic models and this one rates highly along with the mobile crane mark II, the crane truck, Volvo front loader and the tracked digger.
Much as I still like the old style of engine, especially the V8s, the new engine design turns out to be a great success despite my initial scepticism and clearly the old style engine would not have fitted in the available space.
I usually much prefer the model to be motorised, but I can understand the lack of motorisation as the torque required to turn the gears to raise and lower the load is obviously too much for even the biggest of the Technic motors, But I may still try and motorise the drive and steering with infra red control, although the compactness of the build may make hiding the motors difficult.
I would highly recommend this model and it marks a great start for Technic for 2018. "
On opening the box I initially thought I would be disappointed at the size of this model based solely on the wheel size, the picture on the box is a great deal bigger than the model, but the end result is terrific.
I found the build to be very easy, but delightfully time consuming. There are a large number of small pieces to contend with, but the numbered bags deliver exactly what you need for each stage of the build (for the Mack Anthem anyway, probably not the rubbish truck), which is extremely helpful when trying to find a small part. Others have complained of missing parts, but there were no missing parts and all the right colour - as is usually the case in my experience.
This will make a great display model as the compactness of the build makes it look very realistic. I have built many Technic models and this one rates highly along with the mobile crane mark II, the crane truck, Volvo front loader and the tracked digger.
Much as I still like the old style of engine, especially the V8s, the new engine design turns out to be a great success despite my initial scepticism and clearly the old style engine would not have fitted in the available space.
I usually much prefer the model to be motorised, but I can understand the lack of motorisation as the torque required to turn the gears to raise and lower the load is obviously too much for even the biggest of the Technic motors, But I may still try and motorise the drive and steering with infra red control, although the compactness of the build may make hiding the motors difficult.
I would highly recommend this model and it marks a great start for Technic for 2018. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
06
hrs
Build Time:
30
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+5points
6of 7found this review helpful.
Posted:September 4, 2017
Gardener
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
London bus
" I actually bought this for my wife, who loves London buses, but doesn't build Lego, so as I'm the Lego fan I built it. A relatively easy build, with the many seats inevitably slightly repetitive, but the finished article is worth the effort and very realistic when compared to the real thing, which we have travelled on many times.
It looks great and my wife is thrilled with it and shows it off to all her friends, who all admire it.
Certainly a brilliant collector's piece, but I do wonder how robust it would be for children playing with it.
I have populated the model with some Lego figures, consisting of a driver a conductor and a few passengers. This would be my one minor criticism, in that a few figures with the set would have been good.
But having said that, it's well worth the money and I would highly recommend it. "
It looks great and my wife is thrilled with it and shows it off to all her friends, who all admire it.
Certainly a brilliant collector's piece, but I do wonder how robust it would be for children playing with it.
I have populated the model with some Lego figures, consisting of a driver a conductor and a few passengers. This would be my one minor criticism, in that a few figures with the set would have been good.
But having said that, it's well worth the money and I would highly recommend it. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
04
hrs
Build Time:
30
mins
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+4points
4of 4found this review helpful.