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Kanal-K1

REVIEW: 7641 City Life

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Hi mates, finally I got my nasty hands on 7641 City Life, within one week I will write down review here, but, first I will build 7198 Fighter Plane Attack, as planes takes less time, and I am actually totally outta time..

So, to give you bit fruit, First details of box at my community Brickdome.cz :tongue:

Sorry for terrible photos, actually I have broken my camera and those are made with handy only.. :cry_sad:

1.BEFORE I BOUGHT

This set has been my favourite vote of City 2009 line, so, as soon as there has been chance to get one, I did. Finally a real city building, after all those police and fire stations...

2. IMPRESS WHEN UNPACKED

5 numbered polybags, two instruction books (one for bus and station, second for bike shop and pizza house), big baseplates in polybag, sticker sheet. Common package style.

3. IMPRESS BY BUILDING

Total building time has been approx. 60 minutes netto. Most of the time takes the bus, as all other segments of the set are made using big panels, doors and windows, easy to build. There are totally 45 steps for book 1 and 19 steps for book 2. This set could be built by a child 6+.

4. IMPRESS WHEN BUILT - LOOKOUT

I was expecting bit better bus, as the shape is too sharp edged, and with lack of details. F.e. - rear view mirrors should have at least tile 1x2 trans clear included, driver should have some decorated tile in front and speed shaft. Buildings are nice, no

5. IMPRESS WHEN BUILT - PLAYABILITY

Playability of this set is reasonable. Many figs, including one kid, bus with two doors, pizza house with chimney, skate shop, all those things are offering enough playfun for the kids. What I miss a bit, are some animals and more tools, for example 6246 6 tools wheel should have been added for even more fun.

6. FINAL RESULT

RRP is 70 USD for USA market, what I find a reasonable price. Despite scent of juniorization still beeing there, TLC is finally going back to roots, to classic City themes. It is a fresh wind, after all those police and fire stations in last years. Thumbs up!

HERE BELOW PICTORIAL BUILD-UP REVIEW

First, I was stepping few days around the box, before I found time to build the set.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...big_picture.jpg

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Then, 2.4. I luckily got a while for me, immediately used to open the box and start with building :

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...isb_-_1_-_8.jpg

7641_misb_-_1_-_9.jpg

I opened first polybag to build a bus. Figs are common, but, finally we have here a new 6 x 1 x 4 trans black glass round shaped to both sides, which allows build a 6 stud vehicle without an ugly hole between front glass and sides...

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_10.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_11.jpg

Half an hour, and first pack is over. I built a bus stop station and bus on its own. Bus station is simple, but neat. You can find fire hydrant there, a flower pot, dust bin and a lamp. Stickers are used for a bus station sign on the roof and on the stand.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_12.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_13.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_14.jpg

The most wanted part of this set was for me a bus. Frankly speaking, when I built it, I am bit disappointed. I appreciate, that after so many years, we have a true City bus here again, but, in my opinion, bus is too simple. On the box, it looks better, than in reality.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_15.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_16.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_17.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_18.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_19.jpg

Polybag 3 has the bike shop inside. As an old dog, I immediately remembered 6699, which I got as a small kid in 1987. As main part of the shop is made with three big panels, iin 10 minutes it is built-up. Bit <insert that tiresome argument>, but, finally I have to admit, that this building is looking very nice. Trans clear panel looks even better, than some windows or whatsoever, there are details inside (skateboard stand, fence) and outside (lamp, bike). Kid minifig with para helmet (I call it, due to the shape similar to German WWII paratroopers) and standart mechanic fig are also always welcomed.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_20.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_21.jpg

Polybags 4 and 5 allows to build a pizza house with restaurant and roof. Although there are also big panels used, design is nice. Front side of pizza house is equipped with windows with opening glass in second floor and also at angled roof windows. Rear side is equipped well. In first floor there is a cash desk, and a perfect pizza chimney, that has a mechanism allowing pizza girl to open chimney glass doors without getting burned.. :tongue: In second floor there is a neat restaurant, allowing to sit for a while and eat pizza cake made downstairs.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_22.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_23.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_24.jpg

All parts of the set are built-up, right time for final resume and photo. 7641 was mine favourite City set for 2009. Although my expectations concerning the bus had been bit more loaded, I am happy having this set. After all FD´s, PD´s, hospitals, finally TLC came back to roots, to real City sets with City themes.

We will probably never see same sets, like in late 80´s and early 90´s, what I count as a Lego golden era. Bit if juniorization is still present, although the dark ages of City Jr.and Jack Stone are eagerly over. But, to be honest, if I will throw away AFOL glasses and forget some rear view mirror pictures from my childhood, I will give 10/10 to this set. My 4 years daughter loves all current City sets with same power and same effort, like I did 20 years ago, so, thumbs up, TLC!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Kanal-K1...sb_-_1_-_25.jpg

Edited by Rick
Pics too large. Converted to links...

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Thank you very much for these pics, Kanal-K1! :sweet:

This set is simply :wub: :wub: :wub: - next to 10184 Town Plan the best Town/City set ever! :oh: :oh: :oh:

There are only three things to criticise: the (very supposable) missing of a cashpoint in the bycicle/skateboard shop, the missing of a door in the bycicle/skateboard shop and the missing interior of the attic of the pizzeria. :cry_sad:

Otherwise it's simply perfect and contains everything a City fan can think of: excellent architecture, a great building which is bigger than one floor, much accsessory, nice interior, street lamps, an awesome designed bus (not too big and not too little) and a great minifig constellation with not only men but even a woman and a child!

Excellent work, TLG! Go on with more sets like this one! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Klaus-Dieter

Edited by Klaus-Dieter

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is this the set with the bus and the building? if it is, im looking forward to the rest of the review :thumbup:

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I didn't think this was going to come out until July/August :oh: ! Where did you find it? This is by far my favorite city set of 2009!

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I look forward to seeing pictures and reading your review. This set has a Classic Town feel to it with the bicycle and shop. Looks very promising.

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I think this set is one of the bests Town related I've ever seen and it's going to become a real classical! :wub:

I'm very interested on it (much more now I've seen some interior details! :cry_happy: ) and I already have a lot of plans for MOCing this lovely pizzeria so thank you very much, man! I look forward for the rest of the review :wink::thumbup:

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I suspect a lot of these sets that are appearing are sets that have been taken (possibly stolen) from LEGO set packaging plants in Czechoslovakia

To anyone who has this set, if you could get some good close up pictures of the bus, that would be good. Also, pictures/details of whatever piece is being used for the windscreen on the bus and whatever piece is being used for the glass thing on the bus stop, that would be great.

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POST TO BE DELETED BY ANYONE WHO CAN.

Edited by Kanal-K1

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This is definitely a very AWESOME set!! As Tinn-Man stated, I am also curious where you got your "nasty" hands on this set. Have you heard or do you have information that claims some sets mentioned for August release will be coming out sooner? I am sure we are all interested. Please reveal some news if you have it. From the looks of your pics, the set itself looks like the preliminary pics. I am happy to see that TLG did leave this set alone. Sometimes they have a tendancy to take a preliminary design and make changes that ruins the set. I am certainly looking forward to your review. I can't wait to see some possible new pieces.

Model On!!

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Pictorial review moved to first post, this one to be deleted by anyone who can..

Edited by Kanal-K1

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Wow! This is one of the set's I'm really looking forward to. Can't wait to see that review :thumbup: Now if only I could get my hands on this set :tongue:

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Pictorial review is over, time to go to bed :tongue: . Sorry for poor photos, hard to get better with a handy only, and standard digital camera has been destroyed by my daughter. Waiting until she grows a bit, before I buy new one.. :tongue:

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Thank you so much for that great review, Kanal. Even though you're the one that owns the set so early, it's always a treat for the rest of us to get some clear pictures of everything in a new kit. :wink:

As for the set itself, I only have one thing to say, and it's the same thing that so many others have already said as well: :wub: (times infinity) Yes, I feel that this set may be a contender for the best set of the year, despite it's relatively small size compared to many of the other kits in 2009.

I mean, sure, it's not perfect, but very few sets are. And as it stands, there's very little to complain about. You get two classic town style buildings with a modern twist, a great, reasonably scaled bus and bus stop, and five figures, including a female and a CHILD! :oh3: This set is so incredibly amazing, especially considering that just 10 years ago, getting a kit like this from TLC was not even a remote possibility. Look how much times have changed, and look at how far lego has dug itself out of the gigantic hole that was the Dark Ages. I'd say that they're at ground level now, and beyond that! :cry_happy:

Yes, 2009 is indeed a great year to be a lego fan, no matter what age you are. :thumbup:

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this set is too bare for my liking but it comes with good pieces for me its 7/10

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THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH! :cry_happy::sweet: :sweet:

As I've already said, this beatiful set is going to become a System City Classic. I was badly waiting for that review. I've planified a large MOD of this set and I needed all the details and thanks to you I have them (5 months early!) :wink:

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Again thank you very much for the - now complete - review of this awesome set, Kanal-K1! :sweet:

Like already said this is next to 10184 Town Plan simply the best Town/City set ever! :wub: :wub: :wub:

Some annotations to this brilliant set:

Bus:

+ excellent design :oh:

+ perfect size (not too little but even not too big) :thumbup:

Skate & Bicycle Shop:

- no cashpoint :sad:

- no door

+ two head-gears

+ lovely architecture :wub:

+ child minifigure :wub:

One thing to say: I'd have prefered to see a seperate skate shop (with more head-gears, different colored skateboards and some torsos to buy) and a seperate bicycle shop (with more tools and minium one additional bicycle). :sad:

Pizzeria:

- only two pizzas

- a glas window in the oven :sick:

- oven for only one pizza :sad:

- no interior in the attic :sad:

+ excellent architecture :thumbup:

+ 2,5 floors big :wub:

+ very nice interior :wub:

+ female minifigure :wub:

I will for more than 100 % buy this awesome set! :classic:

Great job, TLG! More civilian houses and sets on! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Klaus-Dieter

Edited by Klaus-Dieter

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Does anyone know how much this set will be in USD? I checked the picture thread, and it was one of the only ones missing a price. If it is $50 or under, this will be one of the best City sets ever...

Thanks.

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Does anyone know how much this set will be in USD? I checked the picture thread, and it was one of the only ones missing a price. If it is $50 or under, this will be one of the best City sets ever...

Thanks.

RRP is 70 USD in USA. check at Toywiz.com

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RRP is 70 USD in USA. check at Toywiz.com

I doubt it would be that high. Usually Toywiz has the prices way over the retail level.

I hope it's not that high. :look:

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I don't remember exactly where but at this forum we readed some time ago the reference price for Europe would be 50€, what could be considerated as a correct price I think :wink: Sorry if I can't calculate it in USD (don't know the US normal prices...)

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