Review: 40054 Summer Scene

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

So the new seasonal beach scene has been out a few weeks. It looks like Lego is doing one of these Store/Shop exclusive seasonal scenes every few months. A few weeks ago, we had the Spring Scene, and in a few months we'll get the Fall Scene and the Thanksgiving Feast. I guess you could also count last Brick Friday's Christmas Scene as the winter set. But what about the good old summertime--is it represented well in Lego form? Read on!

Here's your usual oversized polybag. Not much to see here, except that you know up front that you're getting 40 pieces for 5 bucks (about 12 cents a piece). The build is actually simple enough that you could probably construct it just from looking at the package. (There's actually few enough pieces that you could build this while it's still inside the bag...as I did while waiting in line at the Lego Store for the monthly promotional build.)

Your standard one-sheet directions. By step 8, you're practically done with the build!

If you're a fan of sand-colored bricks, this set is for you. You get a lot of them in all shapes and sizes, including a number of cheese slopes. Other fun pieces include a yellow flag and hinges, and one of those old-style ladders that I haven't seen in forever.

I think many people will agree that one of the big drawbacks of this set is the minifigure. Since this is a beach scene, let's call him "Frankie." Compared to other beach figures we've seen, Frankie is pretty plain vanilla. He's got the same helmet hair that's been around since the 1980s. He's dressed somewhat oddly for the beach. At least in the United States, we tend to think of beachgoers as wearing little more than a swimsuit. This guy is dressed for a summer stroll on the boardwalk, not a stroll on the beach. The shirt is certainly interesting, but it'd be nice if he were wearing a tank top and/or shorts.

Plus, he's alone. Unlike the Springtime Scene or the other upcoming sets, Frankie is by himself. It would have been nice if he'd came with a female or child in a swimsuit. Sure, this probably would have driven up the price, but it would have given it a little more completeness.

Frankie comes with the clever-yet-annoying addition of a beach chair, made by cleverly combining the ladder, the hinges, the flag, and some clear pieces to give the illusion of the chair standing on legs.

The chair certainly looks nice when lying down, but this bottom view shows you that it can't plug into anything. If you want it sitting on your Lego beach, it needs to sit unsecured. The other problem...

...is that Frankie can't secure into it, at least on his back. He can lay on it, sure, but he falls off at the slightest bump. The best you can do is turn him over and plug his feet into the ladder. Even then, it's a bit awkward--usually, when someone reclines on their stomach, they're lying fairly flat.

As for the rest of the scene?

Well, it's not too bad. You get a little side scene with Frankie's umbrella (why he needs one since he's covered up, I don't know) and a crab. The sandcastle itself is the main draw of the set, and it doesn't look bad. The combination of cheese slopes and cones makes for a pretty sandcastle-like structure that will work well in any beach scene. I personally like that it includes a few darker-tan pieces, since buried sand tends to be wetter and therefore a deeper color.

The bucket and flag make nice sandcastle accessories, but again raises the question of why no child minifigure is included. I mean, adults can build sandcastles too, but a kid and a shovel would have made a nice touch. There's also two yellow 1x1 studs included, but I have no idea what those are supposed to represent. Any takers on that one?

The usual spare parts. If you like studs and cheese slopes, this set's for you.

So what's the final verdict?

Design: 7/10: I think it ranks a little bit higher because of the lovely sandcastle. The chair, although clever, has no meaningful use. If Lego wants to produce a different style of chair, they'll need to redesign the classic standard chair.

Parts: 5/10: It doesn't really have any phenomenal parts. If you like sand-colored pieces, then maybe this is for you. Otherwise, there's nothing terribly out of the ordinary, except for maybe the crab and the printed umbrella-top.

Build: 9/10: It's pretty easy to put together. Like I said, you can probably do it without even reading the directions.

Minfigs: 4/10: You only get one, and Frankie's a bit boring. He might have looked better with a more modern hairstyle and painted shorts instead of blue jeans. The shirt is interesting, but not the best choice for the beach.

Playability: 4/10: Another low score here. The playability's in the name: this is a scene, not a playset. Frankie's job is to literally sit there and not get sunburned. The upcoming Fall Scene apparently has a wheelbarrow and "leaves," so you'll at least be able to play "cleaning the yard." This? I guess you could have Frankie get pinched by the crab.

Price: 4/10: 5 bucks for 40 pieces (or 12 cents per brick) doesn't really impress, especially since the recent Springtime Scene came in at 9 cents per brick with 2 minifigures. It does seem to be on average for polybags these days--the recent Uruk-Hai and Iron Man polys have even fewer pieces for the same price. Still, I can't help but feel like a dollar cheaper would have made it a better value. If you want to take your chances, you could wait and see if your Lego Store will drop the price on clearance.

Conclusion: Summer Scene is an alright-looking set, but falls short without a second minifigure and the lousy chair. I'd recommend it only for completists who want a full set of seasons to go with the Springtime and upcoming Fall Scenes.

[Ajax]

I love this little set, mainly because my City layout will be beach orientated, love the mini fig clothing and I have always liked Lego crabs plus you get another beach umbrella, yea! The Lego guy should really have a hat though, he is sitting in the sun.

Edited May 21, 2013 by Ajax

[timmyc1983]

Yeah i quite like the look of this too, particularly the sand castle. I have some elements on their way from BL to make a little beach in my town, so this would compliment well. And i don't have a crab yet (i only have a decorated tile 2 x 2 crab).

Any ideas on if this will be available in Australia? i assume not given it is definitely not summer here!!!

[lightningtiger]

Thanks for the review 'RL', nice sand castle.....pity the minifig wasn't better ?

I'll pass if I see it.....prefer the new coast guard sets instead.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Yeah i quite like the look of this too, particularly the sand castle. I have some elements on their way from BL to make a little beach in my town, so this would compliment well. And i don't have a crab yet (i only have a decorated tile 2 x 2 crab).

Any ideas on if this will be available in Australia? i assume not given it is definitely not summer here!!!

Timmy, it's on the Australia Shop Website, so I assume the stores have it too? I hadn't thought of what Aussies do--do you folks still get the Winter Village sets in December?

[escortmad79]

Lego stores have it, my wife got this & the spring set for me a few weeks back

[Kivi]

A cute little set, though some improvements could certainly be made. I agree that a child minifig playing in the sand (with the addition of a spade) would make it look even nicer.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

This isn't a bad little set to have, a decent 'tourist' minifig, over dressed for the beach, a crab, and a red bucket... Nice megablocks ortment of unique parts

[LAKAbricks]

One of my first thoughts were also, why on Earth is he wearing so much clothes? After all, LEGO has produced several sets with people at the beach with less clothes on, like Paradisa. - The chair is also not the best, as ReslpsaLoquitur points out. But nice with all the "sand" and the few accessoires. Not a need to have, but a nice to have. Especially if one wants to make a beach in the layout.

[Aanchir]

One of my first thoughts were also, why on Earth is he wearing so much clothes? After all, LEGO has produced several sets with people at the beach with less clothes on, like Paradisa. - The chair is also not the best, as ReslpsaLoquitur points out. But nice with all the "sand" and the few accessoires. Not a need to have, but a nice to have. Especially if one wants to make a beach in the layout.

Part of it is probably just that small, seasonal sets of this kind probably don't get the budget to put a lot of new parts into production, and this torso was still in production on account of being used in this recent set. Additionally, it is not out-of-the-ordinary for people to go to the beach for reasons other than to swim... beachcombing, partying, or just relaxing.

Additionally, a tropical-patterned shirt like this in real life might have short sleeves or at least have the sleeves rolled up. TLG has not demonstrated that they can print all the way around a minifigure arm with their current machines, though, so the options for minifigure outfits are usually "long-sleeved" and "sleeveless".

Likewise, he'd likely be wearing shorts, but the Chinese-made minifigure legs with shorts are usually from the Collectible Minifigures and thus not kept in production for long stretches of time. Thus, all that the budget for a set like this would likely allow would be "long pants" or "briefs".

Overall, with these factors in mind I don't think his outfit is too outlandish.

[LAKAbricks]

Part of it is probably just that small, seasonal sets of this kind probably don't get the budget to put a lot of new parts into production, and this torso was still in production on account of being used in this recent set. Additionally, it is not out-of-the-ordinary for people to go to the beach for reasons other than to swim... beachcombing, partying, or just relaxing.

... or build a sand castle and play with water.

Additionally, a tropical-patterned shirt like this in real life might have short sleeves or at least have the sleeves rolled up. TLG has not demonstrated that they can print all the way around a minifigure arm with their current machines, though, so the options for minifigure outfits are usually "long-sleeved" and "sleeveless".

A "sleeveless" all-plain blue, white or green shirt would do the trick for me. Just something that fits more with sun-bathing, sand castles and water. This minifigure seems more ready for a drink in the bar, looking for hot minifigure-chicks. But it's not included in the set

[Blondie-Wan]

I like the set, though more for the parts assortment than for the overall build, I'll admit. Still, I do think it has some sufficiently nice parts to warrant my attention, and the ones I want most are hardly given any notice in the review - for me, the crab and the umbrella-printed dish are practically reason enough alone for me to get the set, as both are pieces I'd like more of but don't get in other sets often enough to satisfy me. Having both together in a single $5 set is terrific, and I'llprobably get at least a couple copies of the set, largely because of them.

I also like the minifigure, even if I agree he's wearing a lot of clothes compared to most beachgoers I see (but then again, he could just be cautious about sun exposure). The torso is actually one of my favorite designs of recent years, as well; the only reason I'm not even more excited about the set because of that is because I've already gotten a couple, and it's not necessarily a design I need huge numbers of. It's still nice, though.

Edited May 27, 2013 by Blondie-Wan