29 replies to this topic

[WideWiiLover]

Review: 1894 VELUX Promotional House

http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5484.jpg

This old System set has a rather interesting story, (which I will get to in a minute) but it certainly brings back that old time town feeling, which most of us remember from when we were kids.

The Stats
Name: VELUX Promotional Set - House with Windows
Number: 1854
Theme: Classic Town
Year of Release: 1996
Pieces: 212
Figures: 2
Price: Free*

Links: Peeron and Instructions

*Now to the interesting story. I was randomly searching Peeron, and noticed that this set was in the town category. Now, I knew some people had had luck of getting free promotional LEGO sets, by emailing the sponsor, and asking kindly. So I did. And 7 days later this arrived in the mail, in a large brown padded envelope.

http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5476.jpg

Thanks Tom!

This set really is a great addition to your old style town, and gives some great tips, on how to use roofing elements, as a core design piece.

The Box
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5478.jpg
The Box is relatively medium sized, which is mostly to accommodate, the instruction book and the baseplate.
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http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5481.jpg
Nice shot of alternate models
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5485.jpg
You can tell this is a System set, because the back pain is full of rebuild options. I like this, because you can get some really good ideas from them, and honestly I wish they did this with the new City sets...It would show that designers aren't building for one shape and that’s it.

The Contents
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This set came with 2 Bags, one large and one small, the green 16x16 base plate, a sticker sheet, and the following extras floating about (It also came with a tray which is something you just don’t get as much now in City sets.)

The Instructions
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Here is some more alternate models on the back of the instruction book
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5504.jpg
Here we can see a random page. Piece Callouts are used spraingly which makes a nice change

The Pieces
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Large Bag
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5490.jpg
Small Bag
Some cool pieces are the blue windows of course, and the inclusion of a flag pole for a residential house.

The Figures
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5493.jpg
You get two minifigs in this set. A Boy (whom is now named Tim) and a girl, (whom is now named Gill) and they both work well with this set. Here we can also see the accessiores you get, which include 2 Coffee Mugs, and 2 Wine Glasses. Also included is a brown hair brush <not shown>

The House
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5494.jpg
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5495.jpg
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5496.jpg
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5497.jpg
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5498.jpg
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5499.jpg
A relativly simple build, uses very old techniques, of doing a lot at a time.

The Extras
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5506.jpg
This set came with quite a few extras, including plenty of red slopes, and an extra printed 3 tile, an extra yellow 1x1 stud, and an extra 1x1 brick.

The Complete Set
http://i1067.photobu...se/IMG_5503.jpg
Same shot as shown on Instruction book. Additional Photos can be found here.

Conclusions
Personally, I kinda like the old town feeling of this set, but it could still fit easily into the City designs of today. I also like how it is now giving me and idea on how to build something I have always wanted to build for a while.

Design: 9/10 Definitely unique idea, and well integrated with the brand, VELUX.
Build: 8/10 Simple, but fun build. Nice to have only bricks, and not prefabricated pieces like City is moving too
Playability: 8/10 Integrates well with old Town or new City, and has several re-configurable options that work well
Figures: 7/10 Nothing fancy, but nice to see the classic faces.
Price: 10/10 I would say it’s great for a Free set from VELUX. But there is not guarantee you will get a copy, as these are out of production, and may no longer be stocked. Some sellers do have it on Bricklink and eBay for about $30-60 so be wary for a free set, you might want to just ask VELUX.

Overall a solid 84%. Definitely a great set for classic towns.

WideWiiLover

All photos taken by myself

[Ricecracker]

Hi there! Welcome to Eurobricks! Please resize your photos to 800x600 or less, as per the site guidelines. Thanks.

So does Velux still have some of these sets? That's impressive. I may need to email them about that. Great review!

[WideWiiLover]

Ricecracker, on 12 April 2012 - 08:05 PM, said:

Hi there! Welcome to Eurobricks! Please resize your photos to 800x600 or less, as per the site guidelines. Thanks.

So does Velux still have some of these sets? That's impressive. I may need to email them about that. Great review!

Ok. I'll resize those photos, when i figure how to on Photobucket :)

Apparently so. I just sent an email to their Contact Us Address. And 7 days later a brown envelope arrived with that in it.
I guess they have so many, and when they run out they'll run out.

It's pretty cool too. :)

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I love this old fashion set!  

[prateek]

Pretty cool set! BTW, how do you go about contacting them? The only thing I can see is for inquiries about windows

[WideWiiLover]

prateek, on 12 April 2012 - 08:57 PM, said:

Pretty cool set! BTW, how do you go about contacting them? The only thing I can see is for inquiries about windows

I just used this link: http://www.velux.co....elux_gb/contact

Fill it out and see what happens. Best of Luck!

[lightningtiger]

Nice review 'WideWiiLover' and how lucky can you get, they gave you one for free ?
I wonder if they'll send one to Oz ?
A wonder classic town feel set, back towards the end of getting regular releases of houses for your town.....only a small glazier's truck would have completed it for me.

[prateek]

WideWiiLover, on 12 April 2012 - 09:45 PM, said:

I just used this link: http://www.velux.co....elux_gb/contact

Fill it out and see what happens. Best of Luck!

So I'm assuming this is only for UK?

EDIT: Nevermind, I'll try the Canadian contact form and see what happens.
Also, how did you approach this situation? Did you just say, "hey I saw this set and I was wondering how to get it"?

Edited by prateek, 12 April 2012 - 11:03 PM.

[Piranha]

Thank you doing this review.

I have to say that this a surprising and interesting story. I decided to also give it a try, so I sent them an email (US Site). I hope they reply soon with good news because I would love to purchase one of these direct from them, if they have any left.

This set is pure nostalgic Town, I have always admired it myself.

[MadManMingo]

To great danish products with worldwide succes  

Never knew this set eksisted...

[BigRedGoat]

Macoco, on 13 April 2012 - 03:50 AM, said:

I have to say that this a surprising and interesting story. I decided to also give it a try, so I sent them an email (US Site). I hope they reply soon with good news because I would love to purchase one of these direct from them, if they have any left.

This set is pure nostalgic Town, I have always admired it myself.

I tried the US contact as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed cause I'm a sucker for classic town.

[Dazmundo]

I emailed the UK site and got this reply

Quote

Good morning,

Thank you for your email.

The VELUX lego sets are something we rarely have and in the past gave out to our customers as gifts. I am afraid you will not be able to get a set.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further assistance.

Kindest Regards,

Grant.

    

[lelee]

i got mine about 6 years ago by filling in a form on their website and sending them a couple of pound s for postage and £5.99 lol I would have happily paid about 10x that as it was the final piece in my classic town buildings. Its a prized piece and fits in well in "classic" Brickside bay ;-)

[Jeff Huntington]

I was able to get one in the U.S. about 12 years ago direct from the company for around $15, I think. It has extra red sloped roof pieces for building the alternate models, too.

[medib]

I too was unable to get a set.  From the Canada office, they said they only got a limited supply and don't have any left to give
away.

[Otherworld]

Wow, they were giving away this set as a gift? That's so nice from them! Luckily I found this set in my older brother's LEGO box some years ago  

Edited by Otherworld, 16 April 2012 - 03:27 AM.

[just2good]

Excellent review, 'WideWiiLover'!
A couple years ago, I was going on a major kick just to track this set down. It's definitely one of the best official LEGO houses. Your lucky to have got one for free.

[typo]

Great Set, Great Review...I love the Town sets...

I contacted the USA VELUX office about the set and received this response:

Thank you for choosing VELUX Roof Windows and Skylights.
VELUX's objective is to delight our customers by assisting them in a timely and efficient manner.

The Lego sets are no longer available.

If you need further assistance, our Customer Service Team is available at 1-800-88-VELUX.

With kind regards,

VELUX-America Customer Service

No gift set for me...

[1974]

And I contacted Velux.dk in Denmark. They don't have it anymore. Consider yourself a lucky man!  

(Hands up, how many EB members wrote a similar email to Velux.xxxx, haha?)

[L@go]

Alright, I admit it. I can reveal that there aren't any left in Norway, either :)

[1974]

BL is gonna explode, I tell ya  

[Piranha]

No VELUX House for me either unfortunately.

Quote

Thank you for choosing VELUX Roof Windows and Skylights.
VELUX's objective is to delight our customers by assisting them in a timely and efficient manner.

I am sorry but we do not have those available any longer.

If you need further assistance, our Customer Service Team is available at 1-800-88-VELUX.

With kind regards,

VELUX-America Customer Service

[Civic Bossman]

I bought mine from the Velux website a few years ago. Cost me about A$45 all up posted (from memory).

[Commander Adama]

They sold out :(

I wonder, do you think they might do this again next year? It could be once a year thing

[Stefano]

Quote

Dear Mr. ....

Thank you for your message and thank you for your interest in the Lego house /
Unfortunately, this is no longer available.

I hope you sufficient information. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or my colleagues.

Sincerely,

(translated with google translate)

Well the Dutch Velux doenst have them anymore :( too bad, i wanted one xD