reluctantprime
Top 100 Contributor
Share reluctantprime's profile
reluctantprime's Stats
reluctantprime's Stats
- 4.7Average Rating
- 1,438Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 27Review Count
- March 3, 2014First Review
- March 11, 2019Last Review
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
Posted:August 5, 2015
reluctantprime
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
3
/
5
This set falls short of Bazinga... :c(
" First off let me say that I've had this set since July 15th. I wrote a review that day and it never made it here. I'm disappointed as it was a thorough review and I'm going to give a modified short version now. I talked to customer service reps twice about my review not showing. I would caution anybody about writing a review on site before set is available for purchase.
I love Big Bang Theory. I really do. This set is kind of a let down. First off the price reflects the high cost of licensing. That I get and expected it. What I do not like is getting a piece count that is misleading. There are so many 1x1 tiles included in the count that I was very bummed. I like the coloring of the pieces and many of the mini builds could have been built with larger pieces and a reduce piece count. I would still have paid $59.99 for a lower piece count.
I know this is a LEGO Ideas piece and that designers wanted to stay as true to fan design as possible. Having said that there is some very lazy mini build work here where the books on the bookshelves appear to be floating as they are attached to one side. How did anyone see that as realistic? This design flaw could have been easily overcome by adding brown flat tiles under the "floating books." Granted one bookshelf is pretty much hidden by the couch and the other is small/hidden behind computer desk. I just think it is lazy.
I also think that there should have been a 4 to 6 stud extension of the baseplate pieces to accommodate the mini builds. The set looks squished and it would have been nice to have all the characters spread out a little.
The mini figures themselves are all decent representations. I cannot say they are great when you look at Bernadette's dress printing that doesn't go around to the back of her legs, Penny's expressions are horrible, and Leonard was given the most generic/dull colored wig of the bunch and it throws off the whole character design. I had to put a different wig on Leonard and know that Lego could have easily done the same. I did like the inclusion of Cinnamon though as that was a nice touch.
I would only recommended this set if your a fan, understand what your paying for, and do not mind making some alterations as the play ability is just not there.
"
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
Palace Cinema
(137)
Pet Shop
(171)
Detective’s Office
(191)
Ferrari F40
(107)From: Peoria
State:
Illinois
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
02
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
1
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
2
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
-1point
30of 61found this review helpful.
Imperial Shuttle Tydirium™
Imperial Shuttle Tydirium™
Posted:June 1, 2015
reluctantprime
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Oh yes...this is the shuttle I've been looking for
" Hello,
I got this set from my local TRU 2.5 weeks ago. I could not be happier with the build quality, included figures, building techniques, play factor, ability to hold all 5 included figures, and size.
I missed out on the last incarnation of this set and really that set was too big for my liking anyway. This set, with attached landing gear, is far superior and has become the corner stone of my small Star Wars Lego collection.
This is the best set of the summer Star Wars releases thus far in my humble opinion. I like being able to display set in landing position or take it for a quick spin around the room. The ratcheting pieces for wings work well. I like the fact that the wings are manually operated as opposed to crank system.
This is by far a great set for all ages. I enjoyed the build immensely. The only thing that would have made this set better would have been to include Luke instead of 2 troops. This is only a small nitpick. You will not be disappointed with this set.
Thanks for looking at my review.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Peoria
State:
Illinois
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
04
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+24points
26of 28found this review helpful.
The Kwik-E-Mart
The Kwik-E-Mart
Posted:May 1, 2015
reluctantprime
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Strange things are afoot at the Kwik E Mart...
" Hello Everyone,
Oh how I wish this set would have been released before the Simpsons House. This set is massive in scale and detail. I actually took apart my Simpsons house as the buildings were not in scale with one another. I prefer to display the Kwik E Mart with my figures. I wish I had never purchased the house.
The build quality and engineering that went into this set are very impressive. Could I have done without 50 stickers? Sure. Would it have been nice to include Eddie, Lou, Hans Moleman, etc, etc, etc instead of plain old Homer/Marge/Bart? Absolutely!! Alas the set if very very well made despite my grumblings.
The sheer amount of pieces in the roof is staggering and this is where you actually get a lot of heft from the set as a whole. Once together the set can be transported easily unlike the Simpson house.
I love the use of color and different pieces utilized for store items. My favorite parts of the set actually include the multiple mini builds like Squishee Machine, Arcade Games, ATM, and the Buzz Cola dispenser.
Pros:
-Excellent Build Quality
-Play/Function and Portability are higher
-Massive attention to detail
-Variety/Color of pieces used high
-Excellent Build Quality
-Play/Function and Portability are higher
-Massive attention to detail
-Variety/Color of pieces used high
Cons:
-Stickers
-Poor choice of included figures
-Jasper should have actually been a molded frozen mini figure instead of sticker
-Not in scale at all with Simpsons house
-Poor display area for Powersauce bar boxes (overuse of pieces/boxes)
-Roof garden lacking sufficient detail
-Stickers
-Poor choice of included figures
-Jasper should have actually been a molded frozen mini figure instead of sticker
-Not in scale at all with Simpsons house
-Poor display area for Powersauce bar boxes (overuse of pieces/boxes)
-Roof garden lacking sufficient detail
I would still purchase this set again over the Simpson house knowing what I know now. I was lucky enough to find Series 2 mini figures at my local Toys R Us last night 04.30.15. I now have Professor Frink, Comic Book Guy, Edna Krabappel, Willie, and Smithers displayed outside Kwik E Mart. These were the only figures from Series 2 I was looking for :c). Happy building to all.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
Parisian Restaurant
(262)
Pet Shop
(171)
Palace Cinema
(137)
Detective’s Office
(191)From: Peoria
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
days
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+21points
34of 47found this review helpful.
Detective’s Office
Detective’s Office
Posted:January 9, 2015
reluctantprime
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
I love how the Creator Team keeps changing it up.
" Hello,
Thank you for looking at my review. This is my fourth modular and the first one that I have purchased as soon as it was available. This is a very different modular than any others I have collected. I currently have the Cinema, Pet Shop, Parisian Restaurant, and now Detective Agency.
I love the use of colors and the new gimmicks associated with a story line. Granted I have very large hands and will not make use of the gimmicks at all, but I thought it was a playful way to add some whimsy to the set as a whole.
I love love love the use of the exposed brick pieces. I would love to see Lego do the Ghostbusters Fire Station using these brick pieces so that I had a home for Ecto-1.
I love the use of windows and allowance of natural light. This set has far more windows that any other modular I have.
I really like all the new elements as well including the scissors, mirror, and connector pieces to make the lamp posts.
I have to say my favorite part of the set is the pool hall and I greatly wish the space had been expanded a tad more to include a couple bar tables and maybe even an old jukebox or something like that. When you look at the set from the side it is very narrow and the designers could have easily gone back another six rows or so to make pool hall bigger. There is just too much exposed base plate from the back for my liking.
Probably the absolute best part of the set though is the fact that there are NO STICKERS!! It is wonderful to have every detailed element printed...especially the Detective window and the pool hall windows.
This is a very great set for the price. I'm not quite sure the $159.99 US is as justified as $159.99 US for the Parisian. I think this set should have fallen in at $149.99 US.
I hope you take the time to add this great piece to your Creator collection as there is enough there to keep experts and children alike interested.
I would rate my sets from favorite to least favorite as follows...
1. Pet Shop
2. Parisian Restaurant
3. Detective Agency
4. Palace Cinema
2. Parisian Restaurant
3. Detective Agency
4. Palace Cinema
Have a great day and happy building.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
The Tumbler
(114)
Parisian Restaurant
(262)
Pet Shop
(171)
Ghostbusters™ Ecto-1
(145)From: Peoria
State:
Illinois
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
days
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
-2points
2of 6found this review helpful.
The Tumbler
The Tumbler
Posted:September 29, 2014
reluctantprime
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
This is Lego Nirvana...The best model yet!
" I missed this set every time on Lego shop. I live 2 hours away from any Lego Store and wasn't going to spend what people were asking for this set on Ebay.
A week ago I found myself in the Lego Store in Schaumburg, Illinois. There was no Tumbler display or sets on the floor. I asked an associate if they had any Tumblers. He said let me check with the manager. They had (1) in the back that had been on hold the day before and someone did not come to get it. Woohoo...it went home with me.
I built this at my leisure over the span of 3 days. I was so taken aback by the mixture of building techniques that I wanted to savor the build as much as possible.
This is my favorite model ever. The level of detail and the sheer support system needed to make this model roll well was just a work of art. I couldn't wait to get to the suspension part of the build and was very satisfied overall.
This is not a build for small children as there are several small pieces, parts that hang on the model loosely/are very delicate, and there are stickers as well. My only complain would be the stickers as this set warranted printed bricks. The Tumbler schematic sticker was also a disappointment as I wish that had also been printed on the brick.
The bags are well numbered and each module was fitting. There were a couple sections where I thought I was going to run out of pieces only to find that there were between 2-6 pieces leftover in every module.
The wheel assembly is massive and very interesting. I tried to put the assembly together without the tries on, but found it was too hard to put tires on afterwards. A significant amount of force is needed and a little patient as you line up the different wheel sections with connectors. This was the most frustrating part of the build for me...for others maybe they had no issues at all.
I love the cockpit details and the use of pull of panels for roof access. This set sits proudly with others and has become the cornerstone of my collection. I highly recommend acquiring this set if within your means. It is a shame that it will not be available on the website for the rest of 2014. I would check your local Lego Stores and talk to a manager if needed. If I can walk into a busy metropolitan area on a Saturday and get this pulled out of a backroom for me then I think anyone can if they hit the store the right day.
Oh...one more thing. I should say that the store I went to purposefully pulled the Tumbler display because they were getting way too many requests for the set when it was not in stock. I would not expect to see this set just sitting out on the floor.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. You will not be disappointed with your purchase.
Happy Building!
"
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
MINI Cooper
(157)
Volkswagen T1 Camper Van
(405)
Ghostbusters™ Ecto-1
(145)
The Simpsons™ House
(121)From: Peoria
State:
Illinois
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
days
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+15points
40of 65found this review helpful.
MINI Cooper
MINI Cooper
Posted:August 1, 2014
reluctantprime
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Great Set For Those That Are Not Colorblind...
" I got this set early and was very impressed with the build...
This is a really great set. I had fun building it in two sittings. The pieces come packed in bags numbering 1-3 with multiple bags for each section. The build was very complex and satisfying yet overly difficult for me being color blind. The light greens and dark greens were very hard for me to tell apart and even harder to decipher when building. I found myself having to count pieces and look ahead in the manual several pages to make sure I was using the right ones. For those that are not color blind you should have no trouble. There are two manuals for this set.
Features of the set include opening bonnet/detailed engine, rear folding seats with adjustable headrests, opening boot, picnic basket set, and compartment for spare tire. The roof is detachable as well. All in all the set is well detailed and makes use of some stickers.
There are 4 different license plate sticker sets to choose from. There are stickers for the side pieces on front/rear windshield, and Mini Cooper badges on front/back/sides of car. The pinstripes are not stickers which was a nice plus.
I have the set displayed next to my Lego Camper Van and Mini is a tad shorter and a little wider than the Camper Van as they are not in the same scale...wish they would have been, but then the price of this set would have been less I imagine.
This is a great set and will display well in your collection. Thanks for reading my review as this was a great build despite my color blindness. The attention to detail is top notch!
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Peoria
State:
Illinois
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
02
days
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
9of 17found this review helpful.
The Simpsons™ House
The Simpsons™ House
Posted:March 3, 2014
reluctantprime
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
All I can say is wow...
" This is the first and probably one of the only sets that I would ever think of shelling out $200.00 for...it is that impressive. Out of all of the pieces only 2 were incorrect and insignificant within the build. I made do as the bathroom mirror piece was purple instead of silver and Lisa's book case had a smooth purple top shelf instead of one to build her boxes on. I may call Lego to see about replacements, but I'm just astonished that a set like this did not have more missing or wrong pieces.
The set comes labeled in building modules and I loved that. I took 3 days and built at my leisure, which meant that my cat would not be up on the dining room table in the middle of the night knocking pieces onto the floor as I only opened what was needed for each module.
I overall design is clever and comprehensive. My favorite rooms/areas of the set are Bart's room, the bathroom, and the garage work space. The amount of detail is amazing in those areas.
Things I did not like-
I love most everything about this set. The functionality and integration of a couple of key pieces could have been better though. The detachable roof is a great idea, but a hinge assembly would have been better to make the set as secure as possible. The other primary complaint I have is that there is a beautiful little piano build in the set that is ingenious, but the build does not fit in securely with the floor lay out thus I had to move the pegged pieces away from the wall to secure the piano. The only way to have fixed this design flaw would have been to redesign the back of the piano flush so that it rested up against the wall and could be secured with pegs in original location.
I look forward to more Simpsons sets and I truly hope that Bart's tree house is next as the house set looks unfinished without it.
I will have this set on display in my living room and will be playing with it when my 5 year old niece visits next week.
"
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Peoria
State:
Illinois
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
days
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+15points
18of 21found this review helpful.