67 replies to this topic

[paul_delahaye]

This was available at Legoland Windsor about 3 weeks ago, I nearly bought it from the big shop, if memory serves me correctly it was priced at £35 GBP

Paul

[drdavewatford]

Thanks, Rufus - excellent review of an average set.

I'm not sure if LEGO has a 'heritage' of producing half buildings such as this half house and the city corner; it probably does, but if not, perhaps it's in response to complaints about the price of sets. Certainly I expected it to cost more than the £29.99 that you paid for it.

I'm not quite sure what I'd do with a set like this if I bought it - it would look out of place in my street of modular buildings, and I don't have space to start up another LEGO town elsewhere !

Dr. D.

[Sandy]

Thanks for reviewing this set, Rufus!

I think it's outstanding that TLG has even produced a set like this. When was the last time the City-theme had a civilian house set? Yeah, in the 90's.

Sure, there have been Creator-houses and modular houses, but this is the first affordable minifig-including townhouse reminescent of those classic houses for at least a decade. It follows the modern way of building, but I'm sure kids love it, and I love it too. I for one will be getting this asap.

[brickzone]

Thanks for the review. It's interesting to see details on the construction. I would agree that it isn't particularly a purchase you'd make for either the build or the parts and that the colour-scheme is bland. However, I think the set as a whole is "cute" and a necessary addition to town for any collectors. I think the style is attractive for a kids set that holds some chance of being bought instead of just another police station, etc.

It's not an immediate purchase for me (though I did consider buying it two weekends ago to be the first to review it :). It's available at Smyths Toys in UK and Ireland, £30/€38 (you can also buy online and pay extra for delivery, only really worth it if you are buying a *lot* of stuff, it is the same charge up to 30 kg - £4.25 GB, £6 NI, €7 ROI). Apparently for Republic of Ireland it is exclusive to Smyths (presumably apart from S@H).

Edited by brickzone, 13 July 2010 - 10:05 AM.

[peterab]

I'm pretty keen on this set, and though the design is simple that's appropriate for a City set.

I quite like the funiture and other details and all the minifigs will be useful to me. Parts wise it's not outstanding but given the size of the set I think there are enough interesting bits to make it worthwhile.

[Robinson]

lol . Last picture is awesome :D

Review is very detailed, thank you. I wan't to expand my city with this set.

[just2good]

Thanks for the review!
Ever since I saw the first blurry pictures of this set, I have fell in love with. It's a nice addition to my city collection, and I can't wait 'til it comes in here in the US!

[Marckeyh]

Added to my wanted list...

Thanks for the nice review.

[LegolasAzazel]

I find this set rather disappointing. Mostly because i have created better with probably the same number of parts. "Will have to find the picture i took and post it in here"

For now let me discribe what i had created.

The house i created was wider, essentialy i created a two bedroom house. dimensions were 24 bricks wide by 8 bricks long and hight was roughtly the same as this family home. 6 bricks high per floor.

The door was centralized and windows either side, in one half i had the kitchen consisting of cuboards, cooker and a sink oh and i had a table and with two chairs, then the otherside i had a built in fireplace, a two seater soafer and an arm chair. I customized a flat screen tv to go upbove the fire place. was kind of proud of that. Upstairs we had three rooms, a hallway which had picture on the walls something i got from the old castle village sets. then to the left i had a bathroom which had shower and toilet. The otherside was the master bedroom which also featured funiture from the village set. the attick was made into the third bedroom... it was simple but good. something you could see as a set, where as this family home set seems a little bland. under developed. But with some nice pieces in it.

[Zorbas]

Such a GREAT review Rufus!!   Highly detailed, amazing pictures, what else can somebody ask for?

Although that the absence of the fourth wall is a definite plus, I don't really like the shape of the building. OK, there are many interior and exterior details but the whole structure looks a bit boring and looks just like the previous buildings shown on the box. A vertical "wall", lacking that extra ingredient that could turn it into a beauty. I really hope that TLG won't start a "catalogue display policy." (The type of buildings we see in LEGO catalogues showing City displays. They all look the same and boring and just fill the scenery.)

The female's minifig head on the other hand is excellent and very beautiful! Probably the best female head TLG has ever made IMO.   (Fell in love with a minifig, fell in love with her eyes... )

Thanks again for this amazing review Rufus!

[Antonio]

Outstanding revievv i really love that set and novv i love it even more nice revievv    
Keep the goodvvork

[ZO6]

Beautiful review, Rufus!  Those pics are delicious too.

Well now, it's about time TLC has put out another open back, system scale house!  This set is long overdue, but at least in my opinion it is very well executed.  This set honestly exceeds any expectations I had for a minifig house, I was certain we'd get something on a little 8x16 plate.  Sure the house is only around those dimensions, but because it is build on a 16x32 baseplate with all the extras it is elevated to something great.

The exterior details are icing on an already tasty cake.  The tree fort is very cute and a very welcome unexpected addition.  I personally don't mind the colour scheme, it is quite subtle and it doesn't bother me that it should blend in with the rest of my town.

The interior is nicely decorated, again with more details then I'd have anticipated.  The lack of washroom is not a big loss in my books, so overall I'm very happy with everything.

I look forward to picking up this set when it becomes available.  I hope TLC continues to release more civilian based sets.

Thanks again for the lovely review!

[Dfenz]

I picked this set up in a Smyths store here in Ireland. I voted the set as an average simply because the standard of the creator houses in recent years has spoiled us and I'm not a fan of the open buildings. As my wife said, that's a nice facade you got. That being said there are some interesting parts especially the 2x4 tiles.

[Rufus]

Amazing response, thanks everyone for the feedback!  It seems to have provoked some extremes - kind of a love-it-or-hate-it set.

@lightningtiger - sorry couldn't quote you for some reason - I like your bathroom idea. Been racking my brains trying to create a Lego loo to go in there!

TheBrickster, on 13 July 2010 - 01:56 AM, said:

This quaint little home really has some Classic Town charm.
In looking at your rating, I think 73% is a low overall rating.  Maybe if you added an additional factor, "Classic Town Charm" and rate PARTS a little higher, it would boost the score to the 80s.  I think it deserves much higher.

Thanks Brickster, and for the frontpage !  I quite agree with you:  if looked at from the classic town perspective, this set deserves a higher rating, but with the overall average I was trying to be as objective as possible - an impossible task, especially given the extreme responses this thread has drawn!

Svelte, on 13 July 2010 - 02:25 AM, said:

If they'd expanded the Apple Tree House with its lovely dark blue roof and tan windows, given it figs and a proper interior, and included some of the play features like the treehouse, I probably would be a zillion more times thrilled.
...
Rather than worrying about Ginger's genetic heritage, I'd be more concerned about getting an architect for LEGO City who wasn't colour-blind. I like the idea of a modular system, I really do, but the expression needs refinement.

Mmmm... a dark blue roof would have been nice.  Quite with you on the Apple Tree House, but I guess they're going for the playability factor rather than style.  I hope we'll see a nice variety of colours, if they continue the mini-modular theme; perhaps the 'boring' colours are to prevent too much of a clash if the different sets are combined.

The genetics comment was meant to be a lighthearted throwaway; I didn't expect to provoke a debate!  

Brickenhead-town-dweller, on 13 July 2010 - 03:20 AM, said:

White? Black surely. Hate to be a pedant but in your otherwise great review that stuck out like a Megablok minifigure.

D'Oh!  Thanks - I've fixed it.

Cardinal Brick, on 13 July 2010 - 07:06 AM, said:

Can I ask where you got it from as I've yet to see it about yet?

As far as I'm aware it's only available from Smyths Toys (UK and Eire) so far.

Anio, on 13 July 2010 - 07:17 AM, said:

But I totaly disagree with Rufus.
IMO, this is a very very poor set.
...
PS : the overall mark as an average of the previous criterions doesn't make sens.
IMO, the overall mark must be used by the reviewer to valuate his final feeling on the model.

Fair point.  The advantage of these online reviews is to get a variety of opinions in response to the reviewer's thoughts.  Personally, I try to be objective on the scores, and put my feelings in the text; also I try to put myself in the place of all target audiences, not just that of an AFOL.  It's not always successful!  

[The Green Brick Giant]

I have been thinking this is a horribly ugly building, and it is.  However if it's part of a mini line of cheap CC type building than I'm all for it.  Plus I was thinking the set had more pieces and would be $60, but it shouldn't be more than $40-$50 which isn't too bad.

[Friction]

This set looks awesome and I can't wait to get my hands on one as soon as it becomes available. Thanks for the review btw.

[feanor]

What a great review Rufus!!!

I am not a City specialist as I buy almost exclusively Space but I think if I ever wanted to feel like 10 years old again, I would choose this set.

I think the concept is great! A classic City set in every aspect but strongly influenced by the experience Lego has gathered from the Creator Houses and the Modular Houses. It was a necessary addition to City. I hope we will soon see more styles of City houses, maybe a block of flats or something?  

[Superkalle]

Absolutely great review. Detailed and initated.
However, the set itself is a bit of a letdown. Too plain.

Regarding the mom, whats with the pouting stomach? Is she pregnant? A first for Lego?

[Bujimuji]

Great review,Rufus!I like this set,but i won't buy it.

[Rick]

Superkalle, on 14 July 2010 - 01:08 PM, said:

Regarding the mom, whats with the pouting stomach? Is she pregnant? A first for Lego?

I think it's to accentuate an area a little higher up...

[Superkalle]

Rick, on 14 July 2010 - 01:34 PM, said:

I think it's to accentuate an area a little higher up...

Aha

But with some imagination it could be a pouting stomach....maybe she's just fat . That'd be kind of cool actually - Minifigs which look like people that exist in our society. We allready have super soldiers from brickforge, our ideal people from TLG. But what about fat people, mental cases, pregnant women, bagladies....that sort of thing.  

[Dfenz]

Superkalle, on 14 July 2010 - 06:18 PM, said:

Aha

But with some imagination it could be a pouting stomach....maybe she's just fat . That'd be kind of cool actually - Minifigs which look like people that exist in our society. We allready have super soldiers from brickforge, our ideal people from TLG. But what about fat people, mental cases, pregnant women, bagladies....that sort of thing.  

There's another thread for collectible minifig suggestions. I'd second pregnant women and bagladies!!

[greg3]

Cool looking set! My little town needs smallish houses like this as I think the creator/modular buildings are just too big!! (more realistic I know, but in my "reliving my childhood" world, Lego buildings shouldn't have back walls!!!)

[Asilla]

Hi.

Great review. This set is very nice looking and I think I'll put it on my wish list,
I like houses and family, like the dog too but there is no cat   I love cat's.

[Wout]

Thank you for the nice review with many pics.

The building is not that great, but nice enough for a new official cityhouse.
The assecoires are nice (love the gardenchair), the family is very nice, although the fathers head is used too many in the last 5 years.
If this set will only be around 38 euro I would be very happy.

A great addition to Lego City