LucasSteuber
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LucasSteuber's Stats
LucasSteuber's Stats
- 4.1Average Rating
- 11Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 12Review Count
- October 13, 2014First Review
- October 16, 2014Last Review
Empire State Building
Empire State Building
Posted:October 16, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
2
/
5
Low detail, repetitive
" The Empire State building is an iconic piece of architecture that, while obviously having a distinctive form to it, also has a lot of small and important details that distinguish it not only from the other Manhattan structures but also are historically significant in terms of the architecture of the period.
This model captures very little of it. If you're looking for a paperweight that kind of resembles the building and you want to be able to assemble it in 30 minutes, sure, this is for you. For me, though, every aspect of this model was generally repetitive, visually uninteresting, and fundamentally disappointing to the whole point of the original building - which was supposed to be a grandiose, detailed, and somewhat arrogant monument to the US economy and steel industry. This is an underwhelming model that is both more expensive and less detailed than an equivalent facsimile purchased at a tourist shop in Manhattan.
I hate to be so critical, because I love LEGO and I love the architecture line, but I'd start somewhere else if you want to begin your collection, and unless you have a real interest in this building I'd probably leave it out altogether.
"
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Build Time:
02
hrs
Level of Difficulty:
Very Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
Share:
+3points
3of 3found this review helpful.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower
Posted:October 16, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Excellent
" This set is VERY highly recommended. I'm really impressed with how true to the real thing this model is, especially considering its size, and it relies entirely on traditional LEGO bricks rather than sets like the Space Needle, which I didn't like as much because of the (admittedly minor) complaint that a rod needed to be bent.
Another point is that this looks very "finished" and solid when built. The flat pieces along the sides of the structural supports are a great touch. From a distance it's actually hard to tell that this is even a LEGO model instead of cast pewter or similar, and it's always a great conversation starter in my office.
This would be a great first choice for anyone wanting to start building the Architecture sets, and a great addition to any experienced builder's collection.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
02
hrs
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
United Nations Headquarters
United Nations Headquarters
Posted:October 16, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Accurate and detailed
" This is one of my favorite entries in the Architecture line. There's a nice variety in each of the subsections that it doesn't end up feeling repetitive, although of course the main building itself has a fair number of the same elements. The only real complaint I would have is a little ridiculous, in that I'm not sure I like the white levers being used for flagpoles around the exterior. There's probably no better way to do it at the micro scale like this, but inevitably one of them seems to tilt a little bit and drive me nuts until I get up and go fix it.
Then again, maybe that's MY problem, not LEGO's. Definitely a recommended set!
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
hrs
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+2points
2of 2found this review helpful.
Imperial Hotel
Imperial Hotel
Posted:October 14, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Larger than expected, great build
" I have a general rule of not spending over $100 on Architecture sets (although I blow that rule frequently in other themes), so fortunately this was a present from my wife. Awesome! It's much bigger than I expected, very classy in appearance and elegance of construction, and doesn't suffer from some of the repetition I've complained about with other sets in this line. I wholeheartedly recommend this set, particularly if you have any interest or travel experience related to the Imperial Hotel.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
05
hrs
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Posted:October 14, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
So creative!
" It's a bit odd to share that this is my favorite entry in the Architecture series - perhaps because many of my previous reviews have complained about the repetition necessary in other sets like Big Ben and the White House and (most egregiously) the Burj Khalifa.
That said - even though much of this building is repetitive - I was blown away by the simple and creative way that the LEGO designers incorporated the tower's tilt without compromising any of the clean look of the base of the structure or its center of balance. This was a VERY impressive model from a simple planning and elegance standpoint, and it serves as a great reminder of how brilliant this team can be. Of course the packaging, manual, and accompanying history are classy as always. If this is your introduction to the Architecture series, I wholeheartedly encourage you - you're in for a treat unlike any other LEGO series.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
02
hrs
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye
Posted:October 13, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Creative and very true to life
" This is a difficult building to execute - not only architecturally to begin with, but also difficult to model. I thought that the LEGO team did an excellent job of representing the original structure and an admirable job of incorporating the really distinctive nature of it - meaning the contrast between hard corners/lines and more organic curves and the open nature of much of the structure.
There a few complaints I have that have nothing to do with LEGO. I sometimes feel like this architect's buildings are a bit too simple/modern, and the all white/clear motif can get a bit tiring to build in terms of repetition. That said, I'm definitely glad that I have it; it offers a good start into the "artsy" types of architecture sets before dropping the money necessary for Fallingwater, etc.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
04
hrs
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
Big Ben
Big Ben
Posted:October 13, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Very accurate
" The pro of this set is that it's immediately identifiable and looks precisely like the building that it represents. The con is that it's relatively repetitive to build, quite small, and a bit limited (wouldn't it be cool if it also included the parliament building - or if that structure was available as a modular addon). I'm glad I have it, it's a neat thing to add to my architecture skyline, but if it was the first one that I purchased I think I'd be a bit disappointed. I'd pick up one of the more technically impressive models first, like the Trevi Fountain, Tower of Pisa, Sydney Opera House, etc., unless you have a special interest in Big Ben.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
01
hrs
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+2points
3of 4found this review helpful.
Sydney Opera House™
Sydney Opera House™
Posted:October 13, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Fantastic
" I own (I think) every LEGO architecture released, and this is probably tied with the Leaning Tower of Pisa in terms of the sheer creativity that the designers employed. I'm shocked that so much detail in terms of curves and angles are incorporated in this model given its small size. It's obviously a pretty unique structure, but to capture it so accurately and elegantly with (relatively) few pieces is a true work of art. I enjoy both owning this piece to look at it as well as owning it as a great example of what can be accomplished within the LEGO medium with a bit of creativity and a small number of tools. That's the whole idea, right? To see how you can defy the conventions of the brick system and make something that appears truly novel and organic? The designers nailed it on this one. Very impressive.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
02
hrs
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate
Posted:October 13, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Quick but fun
" The Brandenburg gate holds special significance to me and my wife (both onetime residents of Germany), so I was very happy to have this set. It's immediately recognizable as what it is, which is nice. That said, the colors and uniform nature of the building made it a bit of a repetitive build. Overall I'd say this is a good conversation/display piece but won't constitute a particularly thrilling or creative two hours.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
01
hrs
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
The White House
The White House
Posted:October 13, 2014
LucasSteuber
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
3
/
5
Not bad, not my favorite
" As a bit of a LEGO fanatic, I hate even to criticize, but there were a few things about this set that I wasn't happy with. The bushes in front of the building, for one, are a bit unconvincing and feel random. In terms of the general design, there was nothing that really stood out to me as particularly creative, and the build became pretty repetitive.
That said, I think the building itself in real life is pretty uniform and not exactly amazing to look at (other than the obvious historical significance), so this criticism isn't really leveled at LEGO per se. It feels like the sort of addition to the series that was obligatory due to the prominence of the structure but not otherwise a really great subject for a model.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Portland
State:
Oregon
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Educator
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
hrs
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.