NickC
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NickC's Stats
NickC's Stats
- 5Average Rating
- 5Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 2Review Count
- December 27, 2015First Review
- December 26, 2016Last Review
NickC's Reviews
Posted:December 26, 2016
NickC
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Intricate and unexpectedly challenging
" I am a veteran Lego builder, and I have assembled some truly complex Technic models. Having established that, I can say that this was the most difficult but rewarding set I have ever put together.
I have a young daughter and I wanted to get her something that would be akin to a dollhouse but still a good challenge to assemble. The model has a good deal of symmetry to it, so it's nice as a team build (e.g. I put together my side, you do yours). I have to credit the designers, because it is packaged and designed in such a way to cut down on what would have been some really tedious organization. The set is organized as 14 component bags and certain internal structural elements are colored bright yellow for the sole purpose of making things easier to count or to ensure that larger constructs like the turrets are oriented properly.
With a set this big, there are unfortunately a lot of repetitive things. There are a lot of embellishments that require layering out tiny 1x1 elements, for instance the highest spire and the small white bricks underneath all the ledges.
Still, these embellishments contribute enormously to the detail of a truly beautiful set. The ballroom is quite majestic and the kitchen area looks organic like Micky could go in and make a midnight snack. And of course the most fun thing is that it is basically a museum of all the Disney movies with numerous references to all the films.
It would be nice if it was designed a little deeper so the rooms would be large enough that our figurines could actually stand and live in the rooms. As it stands, it's beautiful to look at, but the tight quarters makes it harder to play in.
Still, this is a majestic set, and the completed model is something to truly marvel at.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: New York
From:
United States
State:
New York
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Daughter
Build Time:
12
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
24 Hours Race Car
24 Hours Race Car
Posted:December 27, 2015
NickC
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Simply Amazing
" I am 32 and bought this for myself on a whim. I used to love Lego models but for whatever reason I lost interest around age 15. But as life goes on, I now have a daughter (age 4), and I saw this while shopping for a Duplo set for her. I told myself, she and I can do it together. Besides, if you average out our ages, we're the perfect team to build something this complex.
First a history lesson on Legos in the ealry 90s. The Technic sets back then worked great, but they were kind of rickety and had horrid aesthetics. I gravitated towards the Model Team series, which were beautiful models. For most of them, the only things that really worked were the steering gear, but that was a big deal!
Flash forward to December 2015. I wanted to see if I could still do it, so I ordered it online. In terms of the building experience, it's a lot more user friendly, with sizer pictures on every page so you know how long of a piece you need. We didn't always have the colored red and blue studs, and that's another feature that makes the build so much more enjoyable compared to 1992!
As far as the model, it's truly awesome. As an adult, I have to question certain things. Like why go to the headache of including moving pistons when the hatch would be closed whenever you'd be able to see them moving? Answer: Because you still know they're moving even if you can't see them. And why include a realistic suspension when you're only driving it along a flat floor in your home? Answer: Because you might still need it, terrain changes are unpredictable. And why have the option to motorize the doors when almost no car does that in real life? Answer: Because it's cool, duh.
These and other things, like the steering wheel in the cabin that doesn't do anything and the decals on the wheels that say "Firm Gripp," are what makes it so cool--it has all sorts of details and features that a boy would find cool. And while a 4-year-old might not be able to build it, mine hasn't been able to destroy it either. It's an extremely sturdy construct, a substantial improvement over the past 2 decades!
I am not reporting my build time. Despite the car's appearance, it's not a race to build it. Set aside a day, take your time, do it right, take a break to eat lunch, and the time will fly by.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: New York
State:
New York
From:
United States
Age:
25-34
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
01
days
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:
+4points
5of 6found this review helpful.