REVIEW: Creator 5770 Lighthouse Island

[Algernon]

I like this set, but mostly the idea of it than the actual model. It's pretty good, but unfortunately Alien Conquest will absorb too many of my funds for me to shell out for this little set Still I like the look of it, and it's about time we got a lighthouse!

Great review

[Vindicare]

  On 5/8/2011 at 12:07 AM, Arigomi said:

The house is an odd number of studs wide so you can't use a 2 way slope to cap it off. The dimensions of the house itself are dictated by the unusual dimensions of the arched door. Conversely, it does allow for a roof that doesn't have the typical shape through the use of slope bricks with two different angles.

I suspect the 1x1 bricks with holes in them serve a different purpose in one of the alternate models where the yellow color is more important.

Ah, good point. I hadn't even thought of that. Well, I'll have to check into that more.

[Legoless]

A clever little set designed to inspire creative use of relatively limited parts in the hands of younger modellers.

There is nothing I dislike about this set- obviously AFOLs would like more of this or that, but this isn't an AFOL set- therefore I think it deserves top marks.

[otterlilly]

Thanks The Brickster for the great review! :thumbup: Actually I love your fishing boat as a background there - more pictures of the boat by any chance??

[Stardusty]

Great review!

This is the first time I comment on two reviews of the same set in less than a day.

It seems like a good deal.

Still, I wish baseplates were included instead of plates.

[ManitobaMoe]

I bought this set for my wife for mothers day as she loves the creator series but was shocked to find out that she could not build it due to the fact 65 pieces were missing. I know others like myself keep boxes sealed for the future and i would be devastated if this would have been one of those sealed boxes i kept. This will be a long letter to Lego for sure. I never complained about the odd missing piece but this is terrible

[Vindicare]

  On 5/8/2011 at 1:01 AM, Algernon said:

I like this set, but mostly the idea of it than the actual model. It's pretty good, but unfortunately Alien Conquest will absorb too many of my funds for me to shell out for this little set Still I like the look of it, and it's about time we got a lighthouse!

Great review

Well, I did some investigating and looked at the other instructions and the technic pieces in yellow are not necessary. They're buried under a roof in one of the other builds, and used inside on another. So, my original query as to them being yellow instead of white for the lighthouse tower still stands.

[ZO6]

Thanks for this review, Brickster! (I particularly like the image that you've put together that's made it to the front page)

I received a few of the smaller Paradisa sets when they first came out, but I've been strongly debating picking up some of the bigger ones off of Bricklink (Dolphin Point and Poolside Paradise I'm looking at you). This lighthouse set has luckily come along to help wet my appetite for some unique civilian based sets. To make things even better (though not for my wallet), I find the secondary models quite appealing as well. I plan on picking up multiples of this set so that I can not only have all the models built at once, but also upgrade the main lighthouse as you suggested. I agree that more accessories would have been nice, but I can forgive that seeing as this is a creator set and as always provides good bang for your buck.

[Legostein]

Hello!

A fantastic set, and a great review!

My favourite detail is the background of your excellent title image. But I guess it's not part of the set, unfortunately.

Cheers,

~ Christopher

[Sir E Fullner]

Great Review. I think that on my trip to Chicago I should get one of those.

[Blackknight112]

Thanks for this excelent review. I must say the creator line begins to be more appealing to me.

Edited May 8, 2011 by Blackknight112

[WesternOutlaw]

Thanks for the feedback all. I'm glad you like the review.

  On 5/8/2011 at 5:23 PM, otterlilly said:

Actually I love your fishing boat as a background there - more pictures of the boat by any chance??

Yes - The fishing boat is the Rita, part of my Creature From the Black Lagoon Collection. You can find some detailed images by clicking the link.

[WhiteFang]

Great review. I knew somehow or another, you will definitely like this Creator set, especially since we haven't seen one like way back in Classic Town era? This is definitely a lovely addition for a coastal layout and I will definitely going to acquire this too. Looks like the Creator charm has certainly done well to target onto those town aficionados.

[Holodoc]

Thanks for a nice review and so many detailed closeup shots, Brickster!

The set now appeals a bit more than it used to, but one thing really is a thorn in my flesh:

Why did they used such blocky windows??? It's entirely rectangular. That may be authentic in some lighthouses, but all the ones I know are round.

They could have taken the good old "macaroni" brick 3063.

It was made in transparent as well (okay, last time it was used on the Santa Fe 9 years ago) and would have made a much smoother shape.

That one thing annoys me so much I'll refuse buying it (besides I don't want to include any marina themed set to my city due to lack of space...)

EDIT: I saw TLC used red and white macaroni bricks! Why, tell me why not transparent???

EDIT 2 : I had a closer look at the lighthouses I thought I knew. I have to admit that the glass section IS indeed made of straight glass, not rounded. The thing is they used lots of smaller windows to give the impression it was kind of curved.

But still I don't like it. Basta!

[Aanchir]

  On 5/9/2011 at 8:38 PM, Holodoc said:

Thanks for a nice review and so many detailed closeup shots, Brickster!

The set now appeals a bit more than it used to, but one thing really is a thorn in my flesh:

Why did they used such blocky windows??? It's entirely rectangular. That may be authentic in some lighthouses, but all the ones I know are round.

They could have taken the good old "macaroni" brick 3063.

It was made in transparent as well (okay, last time it was used on the Santa Fe 9 years ago) and would have made a much smoother shape.

That one thing annoys me so much I'll refuse buying it (besides I don't want to include any marina themed set to my city due to lack of space...)

EDIT: I saw TLC used red and white macaroni bricks! Why, tell me why not transparent???

EDIT 2 : I had a closer look at the lighthouses I thought I knew. I have to admit that the glass section IS indeed made of straight glass, not rounded. The thing is they used lots of smaller windows to give the impression it was kind of curved.

But still I don't like it. Basta!

Also, the original macaroni brick has been discontinued for over a year. The newer one has never appeared in a transparent color, and has interior supports that might have made it less versatile in a transparent color. Although admittedly it could possibly have helped create that crystalline look that a lot of lighthouse lenses have.

[Lego Sepia Frog]

COOL set, I can't wait to get that! Now if only it would come out in Canada

[WesternOutlaw]

  On 5/9/2011 at 7:30 AM, WhiteFang said:

Looks like the Creator charm has certainly done well to target onto those town aficionados.

Thanks WF, esp. for the front-page attention. Creator is certainly doing a fine job. This set is my favorite so far. I've got a small residential section in my Train Town just for the Creator Houses (including the Log Cabin). Now I need to somehow make room for the Marina/Harbor sets and this fantastic set.

  On 5/9/2011 at 8:38 PM, Holodoc said:

Thanks for a nice review and so many detailed closeup shots, Brickster!...

(besides I don't want to include any marina themed set to my city due to lack of space...)

Thanks H. I hear you! I was able to pick up a few of the sets over the weekend but have ZERO space in my Train Town to accomodate a Harbor. In fact, I removed a small patch of water (3-4 blue baseplates) several months ago to make space for the residential area I mentioned above and the Town Plan buildings. With all these great Marina/Harbor sets, I need a Water World by itself.

[tedbeard]

  On 5/7/2011 at 12:15 PM, Syn said:

great review! but the base plates are almost a deal breaker for me. i hate full size baseplates

Can we correct this error right away please. There are no baseplates in this set. There are several plates including the large blue ones used as the base of the model.

A baseplate is flexible, thinner than a plate and studs will not connect on the bottom.

[WesternOutlaw]

  On 5/10/2011 at 3:06 PM, tedbeard said:

Can we correct this error right away please. There are no baseplates in this set. There are several plates including the large blue ones used as the base of the model.

A baseplate is flexible, thinner than a plate and studs will not connect on the bottom.

Is this really an issue for you? Just for kicks, I Googled "LEGO Baseplate" and found various sizes displayed, not just roadplates and the large thin variety. I think the word baseplate is a generic term than can apply to any plate that one builds upon. I did mention the dimensions in my review and I think most understand that Syn is referring to these plates.

[Vindicare]

I know it's irrelevant to the topic, but, would you post a pic of the Log Cabin in your city? I'd like to see how well it fits in with the others.

[tedbeard]

  On 5/10/2011 at 3:50 PM, TheBrickster said:

Is this really an issue for you?

Yes, accuracy is a very big issue to me. Nomenclature for LEGO elements is already tricky enough without perpetuating errors that serve only to confuse people.

[WesternOutlaw]

  On 5/10/2011 at 5:21 PM, Legocrazy81 said:

I know it's irrelevant to the topic, but, would you post a pic of the Log Cabin in your city? I'd like to see how well it fits in with the others.

I believe I have LC, in my Train Town post. When I find the link, I'll add it to this post.

EDIT: here's a link to a single picture.

  On 5/10/2011 at 8:09 PM, tedbeard said:

Yes, accuracy is a very big issue to me. Nomenclature for LEGO elements is already tricky enough without perpetuating errors that serve only to confuse people.

I suppose that is your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it. In your previous post, you mention the word BASE and the word PLATE in the same sentence to describe the piece(s). I chose to combine the words to describe the blue plates that serve as the base, adding the dimensions for accuracy. Sure, you can look at it from the perspective of what LEGO calls their sets, but as the author, I like to think that "baseplate" used in this context makes sense to me. I must admit that I understand your opinion, but really have difficulty in taking it as constructive, as the purpose of this topic is not to define the word baseplate but rather share an early image review of the set with the LEGO community.

EDIT:

In fact, as I look back upon your description as well as the definition from Brickipedia:

"A baseplate is flexible, thinner than a plate and studs will not connect on the bottom".

I realize that this definition is in fact in error, at least based upon some of the older sets of which I still build upon. Take for example the 10x20 large green and yellow baseplates from the 70s found in numerous basic sets (see set 796 on Peeron); as well as the 8x16 System Baseplate (9279). If I recall correctly, these were hardly flexible, not thin (in fact three studs high), and allowed studs to connect on bottom. Dacta and Duplo have a few that do not fit your definition as well. For those that might call these pieces "bricks" because of their thickness, they are used as baseplates rather than bricks.

Train baseplates aren't exactly flexible and thin;

and many vignette builders may argue that the 8x8 brick is a "baseplate" or at least serves as one to build upon.

But again, if the piece is used as the first brick/foundation, I will continue to refer to it as a baseplate because it makes sense (at least to me).

[XimenaPaulina]

Excellent review The Brickster, the quality is top-notch as always (with your patented image borders)! I'm not really a big fan of the Creator product line but surprisingly I find this one to be a pretty good set which looks to be a nice addition to any coastal town layout. The lightbrick is definitely the perfect use for the lighthouse, though the light is not as strong as I'd like it to be (though completely understandable since it's simply a toy).

[I Scream Clone]

What a stellar review Brickster! Love the set as well, so many nice techniques used that appeal to me like the railings and seagull design. Its interesting to see such a large blue baseplate that isn't the old flexible style as well. This set may yet win me over, the creator line this year has some interesting innovations with the inclusion of figures and light and sound bricks too.

[tedbeard]

  On 5/11/2011 at 12:01 AM, TheBrickster said:

But again, if the piece is used as the first brick/foundation, I will continue to refer to it as a baseplate because it makes sense (at least to me).

Clearly this is insanely important to you. I was just offering a minor correction to improve the accuracy and usefulness of an otherwise fantastic review. You are entitled to your "opinion" but when people start searching bricklink for "baseplate" and cannot find the element you are describing they can thank you for changing the meaning of words.

If, in my opinion, there is no "dark tan" colour I should be permitted to call it "toffee" or whatever I wish in a review or article or discussion on a LEGO-related forum? I suppose so, but it would still be inaccurate and misleading for people.

A plate used as a base is not necessarily a baseplate. I'm sorry if such simple grammar is too advanced.