I tested for you: LEGO Creator Expert 10261 Roller Coaster

Many of you have long hoped for the arrival of roller coasters in the LEGO catalog. Your wish has finally been granted with the set Creator Expert 10261 Roller Coaster (4124 pieces - 349.99 €).

LEGO sent me a copy, I assembled it, I tried to find a place for it, I played with it for a long time and I therefore give you here my impressions, as usual, very subjective on this large box that many of you have already been able to offer since its effective availability on the LEGO Shop.

I have put two short videos in this article to give you a more precise idea of ​​how the merry-go-round works (and the noise of the mechanism). I won't get an Oscar for that, but it should be enough.

First observation, the assembly was not always a part of pleasure. Those who bought this set and who have already assembled it will agree that there are some really very repetitive and a bit boring phases (pillars, support bars).

Of the 4124 elements in the set, 530 round pieces (614301) are used for example to assemble the support pillars and 203 links (6044702) constitute the long chain which allows the wagons to climb the starting ramp. Those who bought the set 10260 Downtown Diner you will find here a sign of the same type to assemble, it is the fun moment of history.

LEGO has tried as often to distribute the sequences in question by inserting a few more fun steps, but nothing helps, we are a little bored. However, it is difficult to blame LEGO on this point, it is the subject that defines the assembly process and it is at this price that we can then enjoy this imposing toy.

In contrast, the Clutch Power (interlocking capacity) of the red rails really seems less "biting" than that of the usual parts. It is not uncommon that after a few tens of minutes of operation some of them slowly begin to detach from their supports due to vibrations. The difference is minimal, but sufficient to slow down or even derail the train of cars.

On the aesthetic level, I finally regret that this Roller Coaster, which if it existed in real life would offer only few sensations, did not benefit from a more thematic look. It's really very neutral and I'm not a fan of the choice of colors for the pillars and rails. It's obviously very personal and I tend to consider LEGO red as too vintage to my taste.

The purple rails of the set 70922 The Joker Manor offer in my opinion a much more modern rendering than the red used here. The dominant white of the structure also doesn't help make this Roller Coaster a really fun ride. Looks more like an old merry-go-round placed in a temporary seaside Luna Park than a big fat one (smiles to sensations.

Regarding the proposed circuit, it is difficult to do better by relying solely on the inertia of the train of three wagons and without climbing even higher. The train descends more or less quickly to the starting point depending on the slope and is content to take turns to the right.

Obviously, a Roller Coaster without looping and without changes of direction, it is of little interest for the regulars of strong sensations, but we will do with in the meantime rails with a curvature and an angle adapted to possibly one day be able to create a looping with a reasonable diameter and gain some speed in the turns.

The 17 green base plates of the merry-go-round do not completely cover the occupied surface, weakening the construction and making the Roller Coaster difficult to transport as is. If you have a few large baseplates, don't hesitate to assemble the merry-go-round on it, you'll thank me later. Otherwise, see the end of the second instruction booklet, LEGO shows how to move everything without taking too much risk.

However, don't be fooled by the two-part construction process of the Roller Coaster. Unfortunately, it is not enough to unhook the two halves of the merry-go-round to move it more easily: Many parts, including the drive chain and some rails, overlap the two modules and must be temporarily removed and then put back in place.

As often, LEGO delivers a set with manual functions and you have to rewind to get the train of cars to the top of the ramp. It's fun five minutes, but if you want to be able to watch your Roller Coaster in action while quietly eating your barbapapa, you'll have to go back to the checkout and purchase a Motor separately. Power Functions (ref. LEGO 8883- 8.90 €) and a standard AAA battery case (ref. LEGO 88000 - 13.99 €) or the version with rechargeable batteries (ref. LEGO 8878 - 59.99 €).

At this point, I'm not even saying it's a shame not to include these items in the box. It is simply unacceptable. The very principle of a merry-go-round is to be in action. Winding while watching the cars go up the starting ramp quickly becomes boring, especially as the train of cars is again ready to go up in a few seconds. Automation should no longer be optional, especially in 2018 and when LEGO sells us a Batmobile that can be controlled via a smartphone application or trains managed by a Bluetooth module ...

If you calculate the spacing correctly, the two three-car trains provided can run on the track at the same time without any problems. With or without minifigs installed in each wagon, they will manage to make a complete turn and will resume the starting ramp. As I said above, be careful to fit the rails well on their supports. The slightest deviation is enough to slow down or derail the train of wagons.

The structure of the ride is really solid, it's more the fact that something gets loose every now and then here or there that ends up being annoying. Before each session, I got into the habit of going around the arena to check that the circuit was in place. I then said to myself that I was doing maintenance like the teams of amusement parks do in real life ...

Too bad the ingenious tire-based drive mechanism placed in the first corner is not better integrated into the merry-go-round. It drives the train of wagons by friction until the first descent and even if the solution employed does its job, aesthetically I find these three appendages rather unsightly. A second sign could have concealed the entire mechanism.

To accompany the merry-go-round, LEGO provides a large handful of minifigs (11) and a few items that add a little life to the middle of the white pillars plugged into the green plates. Ticket booth, fruit juice stand, barbapapas saleswoman, etc ...
It's decorative, and these independent elements can easily be moved elsewhere, for example in the middle of the different rides at your fun fair. LEGO even thought of integrating a route that visitors must take to access the start area. In real life, this path would be bordered by barriers ...

For those wondering what integrating elements from the LEGO Boost 17101 Creative Toolbox set into this ride, the answer is simple: The Move hub and the motor are used to drive the chain when the sensor installed at the foot of the ramp detects the arrival of the train. Your tablet will also play typical fairground music.

LEGO does not mention the possible use of elements from the Bluetooth ecosystem Powered Up which will accompany the new LEGO CITY trains and the Batmobile in set 76112.

This Roller Coaster is obviously doomed to become the star of exhibitions where it will work in a loop as long as there are batteries, to the delight of children. If you want to set it up in your home, make sure you have the space and the inclination to watch it play on a loop.

In short, after the wow initially, I came to my senses and the set lost some of its splendor in my eyes. At 350 € a toy, like many of you, I take the time to assess the qualities, the faults and in this specific case the playability of the product.

By the way, LEGO could crack an alternative model for this type of large box. Building a second Roller Coaster with a slightly different circuit could have prolonged the fun even if the assortment of rails provided automatically limits the possibilities.

I am not sulking my pleasure, I am very happy to have been able to have this Roller Coaster in my hands. During the first few minutes, I admit that I took great pleasure in seeing it work. But I'm no fan of animated dioramas, and I wouldn't know what to do with such a merry-go-round, other than watching it dust on a piece of furniture and let time do its work on the white pillars which will inevitably turn yellow.

The 10261 Roller Coaster set is undoubtedly a beautiful demonstration of LEGO know-how, but in my opinion it lacks the little extra that would make it a really fun and spectacular toy. You can do better by purchasing The LEGO Batman Movie sets for the same budget. 70922 The Joker Manor (279.99 €) and Creator Pirate Rollercoaster (84.99 €), two rides themes which are obviously less interactive but also less neutral.

If you bought this set, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. There will probably be as many opinions as there are owners of the set, other readers can get a better idea of ​​the interest of the thing.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included in the game. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before June 10 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.