GumbyKitty
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GumbyKitty's Stats
- 4Average Rating
- 103Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 3Review Count
- November 2, 2020First Review
- January 15, 2021Last Review
GumbyKitty's Reviews
Posted:January 15, 2021
GumbyKitty
Age:
55-64
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
3
/
5
I wish I could recommend this set
" I have all the modular buildings. I build them like any adult would, to display. These, after all, are (according to Lego) 18+ models and NOT toys.
On the plus side the central façade is the most beautiful since at least the Palace Theatre. Love it, love it. This section also has a fascinating decorative front to the top of the building, like so many of the very best. If this was the set, I'd rate it a top tier modular.
There are two very large negatives.
Firstly, this is the third of the past four modulars to feature garish "Friends" colours, this time the worst of the lot, a dreadful purple (the Deli and Bookshop: "the Baby Pet Shop", feature a hideous teal).
Secondly, this is the third modular to feature a puerile "kiddy" play feature, after the Detective's Office and Brick Bank. Not only is it more puerile than any "cops and robbers" Lego City set for 5-year-olds, but, as with the other two, the building is massively compromised to accommodate the play feature.
To build the play feature they needed a place to rob, a place from where the robbery takes place, and a place to store the stolen goods. Strangely they did not store the goods in that second place. The result is two side buildings that are so narrow and dysfunctional that:
1. The poor lady serving in the donut shop has to climb over the counter to get behind it - too narrow to provide an access.
2. The poor thief has no access to his apartment other than a fire ladder that doesn't reach the ground. Imagine that getting planning approval!
3. The whole tiny building to the right is unusable. "
On the plus side the central façade is the most beautiful since at least the Palace Theatre. Love it, love it. This section also has a fascinating decorative front to the top of the building, like so many of the very best. If this was the set, I'd rate it a top tier modular.
There are two very large negatives.
Firstly, this is the third of the past four modulars to feature garish "Friends" colours, this time the worst of the lot, a dreadful purple (the Deli and Bookshop: "the Baby Pet Shop", feature a hideous teal).
Secondly, this is the third modular to feature a puerile "kiddy" play feature, after the Detective's Office and Brick Bank. Not only is it more puerile than any "cops and robbers" Lego City set for 5-year-olds, but, as with the other two, the building is massively compromised to accommodate the play feature.
To build the play feature they needed a place to rob, a place from where the robbery takes place, and a place to store the stolen goods. Strangely they did not store the goods in that second place. The result is two side buildings that are so narrow and dysfunctional that:
1. The poor lady serving in the donut shop has to climb over the counter to get behind it - too narrow to provide an access.
2. The poor thief has no access to his apartment other than a fire ladder that doesn't reach the ground. Imagine that getting planning approval!
3. The whole tiny building to the right is unusable. "
From: SANDRINGHAM
From:
Australia
Age:
55-64
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
04
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
3
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Share:
-21points
22of 65found this review helpful.
Posted:November 3, 2020
GumbyKitty
Age:
55-64
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Another good Winter Village set
" I have all the Winter Village sets - they make a wonderful collection especially now that Lego has produced white base plates. This is a middle-ranker, and is the third in the fantasy sub-genre, the other two Santa's Workshop and Gingerbread House being among the finest Lego sets period.
While any criticism is only relative, my problems are several. First, I love Lego boxes and have a huge collection but this one's awful black presentation is the worst Lego presentation I have ever seen. It also omits the invaluable list of pieces included. The inappropriate black follows through to the booklet, which is on glossy black paper making it difficult to read and poor to handle. As for the set, the four elves have the same green body - how more interesting were they when they first appeared for Santa's Workshop, in stripy blue on light blue, ink blue on red, jeans and Christmas red on green. Every one of them looks better than this generic green. As per normal, the roof is tricky and comes apart easily. The lights are a bit garish compared to the just-so-perfect lights in the legendary Santa's Workshop.
The best feature is the triple-bed and the way it tosses the elves out at wakey-wakey time (triggered by the clock - how clever!)
One more thing - this set is definitely suitable for anyone above 12. Lego has changed from giving meaningful age guidelines to "marketing for adults" which is their Coke-zero moment. Presumably the black goes with it. "
While any criticism is only relative, my problems are several. First, I love Lego boxes and have a huge collection but this one's awful black presentation is the worst Lego presentation I have ever seen. It also omits the invaluable list of pieces included. The inappropriate black follows through to the booklet, which is on glossy black paper making it difficult to read and poor to handle. As for the set, the four elves have the same green body - how more interesting were they when they first appeared for Santa's Workshop, in stripy blue on light blue, ink blue on red, jeans and Christmas red on green. Every one of them looks better than this generic green. As per normal, the roof is tricky and comes apart easily. The lights are a bit garish compared to the just-so-perfect lights in the legendary Santa's Workshop.
The best feature is the triple-bed and the way it tosses the elves out at wakey-wakey time (triggered by the clock - how clever!)
One more thing - this set is definitely suitable for anyone above 12. Lego has changed from giving meaningful age guidelines to "marketing for adults" which is their Coke-zero moment. Presumably the black goes with it. "
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: SANDRINGHAM
From:
Australia
Age:
55-64
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+56points
71of 86found this review helpful.
Posted:November 2, 2020
GumbyKitty
Age:
55-64
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Wonderful Set
" I built this a year ago and, setting it up along with my other Winter Village sets, felt impressed to share my feelings. This is a worthy rival to Santa's Workshop for the title of cutest, quirkiest Lego set ever. It is just so beautiful and delightful. I particularly love the frosting and lollies on the roof, the coloured frosted windows, the candy-cone window and door frames. The light brick is activated by pressing the smoke in the chimney, so clever! If only the Sydney Opera House (from about 6 years ago) had such a fine finish to the line along the top of its roof - well, it's given me some ideas.
Two minor flaws - we all would have preferred a moulded gingerbread baby instead of just providing a printed 1x2 tile, and, as per normal with the Winter Village collection, the roof doesn't quite fit together (this time the middle part is incredibly weakly attached - so many of these sets have roof problems, it's almost a characteristic).
I am glad I bought two copies of Mr Gingerbread Man from the collection several years ago, because he is nicer looking than the moustachioed one included with this set. Mrs. Gingerbread Man is a gas with her pink icing, such a clever touch, one of many, many in this highly imaginative set.
(all I need now is a witch and have Hansel and Gretel!) "
Two minor flaws - we all would have preferred a moulded gingerbread baby instead of just providing a printed 1x2 tile, and, as per normal with the Winter Village collection, the roof doesn't quite fit together (this time the middle part is incredibly weakly attached - so many of these sets have roof problems, it's almost a characteristic).
I am glad I bought two copies of Mr Gingerbread Man from the collection several years ago, because he is nicer looking than the moustachioed one included with this set. Mrs. Gingerbread Man is a gas with her pink icing, such a clever touch, one of many, many in this highly imaginative set.
(all I need now is a witch and have Hansel and Gretel!) "
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: SANDRINGHAM
From:
Australia
Age:
55-64
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Advanced LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+10points
10of 10found this review helpful.