Today is the turn of the LEGO Marvel Spider-Man set 76129 Hydro-Man Attack (471 pieces - 39.99 €) to be the subject of a quick test. This is a real playset with a set of characters that can be staged in a rather complete setting and which even has some interesting features.

It's in the movie trailer: the clash between Mysterio and Hydro-Man takes place in the streets (or canals) of Venice where Peter Parker and MJ have come to have a good time. We are therefore entitled here to a construction more or less inspired by Venetian architecture with a bridge, a campanile, a gondola and .... a coffee machine. It's caricature to perfection even if one may wonder what the Japanese-style white portico is doing there, but it is a beautiful play space to build.

Two ejection functions are built into the construction: the first under the top of the bridge and the second under the bar terrace table. It suffices to push on the mechanism provided to cause the tilting or ejection of the parts. Nothing very sophisticated here, the two mechanisms are not equipped with springs, but it is enough to add a little interactivity to this playset.

As for the construction experience, aside from the stacking of pieces which leads to the final result, I note some very interesting techniques at the campanile level (see photo above) which deserve to be mentioned.

For the rest, the simplicity of construction has at least one advantage: it allows the surface of the playset to be extended simply by basing itself on what LEGO offers, namely a few gray foundations laid on blue pieces and then covered with elements. gray and Dark Tan. Even the youngest can easily add a few streets to the basic playset. Although the build can be moved without breaking everything, an additional blue baseplate (ref. 10714) can possibly help give a little more rigidity and context to the scene.

Venice obliges, LEGO provides us with a gondola but forgets to put in the box a gondolier in typical clothes. Left to do in the cliché, it was necessary to go to the end.

Not everyone's LEGO-style interpretation of Hydro-Man. The solution used by LEGO is based on a minifig plugged into a "modular" pyramidal base which allows the effect of the downpours moved by the character to be reproduced. The three levels of the base can be easily separated to place the minifig higher or lower. Why not, even if I imagined Hydro-Man more imposing.

This choice has at least the merit of allowing us to obtain an additional unseen minifigure even if this Hydro-Man like LEGO does not have much to do with the one seen in the trailers of the film. The designer has tried to create an interesting visual effect on the plinth with the help of a few stickers, but the end result lacks ambition.

The minifig endowment is very correct, even if we find the now usual Mysterio minifigure which is delivered identically in the three sets based on the film. None of the sets get the Jake Gyllenhall header and that's a shame.

Exclusive torso and head for Hydro-Man, that's always taken. The pad printing of the minifig is really very original, a pity that the legs were not entitled to the same treatment as the torso, even if they are intended to disappear in the intended base.

Head with two new faces and torso for the character of MJ (Michelle Jones) played by Zendaya, it's simple but sufficient. We even recognize the usual pout of the young girl on the face of the minifigure, it's nice work on the part of the graphic designer. The hair provided is not really faithful to that of the actress but we will do with it.

Unpublished torso and hat for Peter Parker (Tom Holland) whose face is also that of Ant-Man, a Hoth Rebel Trooper or even Lucian Bole. The hair delivered here in Dark Brown suit the character perfectly and it's always a good thing to be able to get some extra hair to have a “full” version of a character without their usual helmet or mask.

In summary, this set sold for € 39.99 offers plenty of fun with a nice construction, two mechanisms that allow you to eject minifigs and four characters. And a rat that eats pizza. Hydro-Man undoubtedly deserved better but the minifigure of the character is sufficiently successful to pass the pill. I say yes.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the June 16, 2019 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.

THE SET 76129 HYDRO-MAN ATTACK ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today we are talking about the concept again Action Battle with the LEGO Star Wars set 75241 Action Battle Echo Base Defense (504 pieces - 64.99 €), a box that pushes the initial idea a little further than the two other sets which offer the same type of content.

We can feel here the effort of the designers to try to encapsulate the promised gameplay in a context detailed enough to be immersive. The action takes place on Hoth and even if this box is sufficient on its own, it only asks to be joined by the contents of the set 75239 Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack (235 pieces - 29.99 €) to be able to at least have the generator which is at the center of the confrontation.

As usual, this is about knocking targets to eject a handful of minifigs, overturn a machine or topple an element of the scenery. The presence of an AT-AT obviously reinforces the playful potential of the set and gives some credibility to the concept. The construction is thought to slide on its front legs, like in the movie, and the mechanism is well thought out. Unfortunately, the machine is not designed to be able to stand upright without the presence of the white block flanked by a red target which slips between the legs and that's a bit of a shame.

The other targets are used to bring down the Probe Droid, open the hangar door, and eject rebel soldiers or Snowtroopers. LEGO also only provides two missiles per team for three targets to be reached and it will therefore be necessary to interrupt the confrontation to recover an additional missile and start the assault again.

The two orientable cannons are perched on mounds of snow here and that changes everything. Exit the simple gray cones placed at the front, the missile launchers are finally more or less correctly placed. An AT-AT with a built-in gun would have been welcome, but you can't have it all.

The assortment in minifigs is very correct with three rebel soldiers equipped with the torso also available in the sets 75259 Snowspeeder et 75241 Action Battle Echo Base Defense and two Snowtroopers whose torso and legs are only available in the two sets Action Battle currently marketed but whose helmet dates from 2014.

In summary, this set defends the concept a little better Action Battle than the other boxes on the same theme and almost succeeds in convincing me of the interest of the thing.

It is in my opinion essential to invest in the set 75239 Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack to get a complete and really fun playset. By the way, the acquisition of this second set allows you to obtain two additional ammunition per team and therefore to have one missile per target, but you have to pay nearly 100 €.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the June 10, 2019 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.

THE SET 75241 ACTION BATTLE ECHO BASE DEFENSE ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Without transition, we take a quick look at the LEGO Creator Expert set 10266 NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander (1087 pieces - 94.99 €), a beautiful box that offers a detailed model of the LEM, already present in a micro version in the LEGO Ideas set 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V. marketed since 2017.

There is no real reason to prolong the suspense, this set is in my opinion rather successful and it will easily find its place among all enthusiasts of space conquest. The attention to detail, despite some approximations, is evident here with the end result an assembled product that could easily become a credible and usable educational tool in addition to being a pretty exhibition model.

The instruction booklet contains a few pages which quickly put the model in context, it is always a plus to discover the history of the Apollo 11 mission before proceeding to the assembly. A few facts are scattered throughout the pages of the booklet, it is a welcome educational distraction.

First, the descent stage is assembled onto which the ascent stage will then be clipped, which allows at the end of the mission to join the command module which remained in orbit. Each step of the assembly is an opportunity to learn a little more about the LEM, with for example the installation of the different oxidizer and fuel tanks in the form of two containers for the nitrogen peroxide and two other carboys containing Aérozine 50.

We also install the various compartments which contain the scientific equipment necessary for the mission and we stick in the passage some stickers which symbolize the thermal insulation material which covers the panels of the descent module.

Many golden elements dress the downstairs and the stickers are roughly the same color as these pieces. Visually, it's almost consistent even though the stickers are much more reflective than the gold pieces which have a matte appearance. I'm not a fan of the mix of colors between stickers and tinted parts, it's rarely convincing. In this specific case, the stickers win with their shiny rendering.

The landing gear with their jacks, their shock absorbers and the cups which come into contact with the lunar ground contribute to the high-end model effect of the model. The whole is sufficiently detailed to be convincing without giving in the overbidding of small parts which could possibly weaken the four "legs" of the machine.

Fundamentalists will inevitably find fault with many details that are not completely faithful to the original LEM, but I think the compromise proposed here is acceptable, at least with regard to the machine itself. After all, LEGO does not claim to market a 100% faithful model and we mainly buy here a construction toy simply based on an important event that took place 50 years ago.

When the descent stage is assembled, we then tackle the ascent module which is also designed to be both a detailed element of the overall model and a modular unit whose structure can be disassembled to discover the different spaces. and their function.

Here too, the attention to detail is impressive with several control panels in the form of stickers to stick and even the possibility of placing a minifigure in the main space of the module. Almost nothing has been forgotten: by turning over the descent stage, we find the central nozzle of the descent motor and the ascent stage is also equipped with a nozzle which simply slides into the center of the section. lower part of the model.

The LEM has here a real presentation base to assemble with the mention Apollo 11 Lunar Lander pad printed which gives the whole a little side "Lego space architecture"and which brilliantly stages the model. Once again, the attention to detail is evident with even a few footprints starting from the foot of the LEM ladder and leading to the flag planted on the lunar soil.

This 26x28 stud base is not based on a standard plate and is made up of many elements that add to the final inventory of the set. For once a large-scale LEGO set isn't doomed to be on display without a display stand, I'm not going to complain. The lunar ground in LEGO version with the four mini craters which accommodate the feet of the LEM is an accessory which beyond offering a nice scenario also makes it possible to easily move the machine.

The side compartments of the LEM contain the camera triggered by Armstrong when it came out and the laser reflector which then made it possible to measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon. These elements may seem anecdotal to some, but they also contribute to giving an educational value to the product and will serve above all as a starting point for some more detailed explanations of the unfolding of the Apollo 11 mission.

No one will play with this set and the camera will probably stay hidden in its storage space for a long time. As often with LEGO products, we know it's there and it's enough even if it can't be seen. The laser reflector, on the other hand, can easily find its place on the exhibition base, which is where it should be.

The two minifigs provided are presented as two astronauts, with no additional details on the identity of the characters. There can be no confusion here, it is obviously Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins having remained in orbit in the command module during the mission.

I personally find it unfortunate that a product celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing does not contain the third member of the Apollo 11 crew. He did not set foot on the moon but Collins did his part of the job and greatly contributed to the success of the mission. Even if it means offering a box that pays tribute to the event, an additional minifigure, even generic, would have been welcome.

From a technical point of view, the pad printing of the torso of the two characters is a bit lacking, there is an unpleasant blur effect on the NASA logo and on the various printed areas. The defect appears on both minifigs and even if their torso disappears under the helmet, it's a shame not to have a perfectly finished product.

Speaking of the helmet, it's a shame that LEGO has not made the effort to offer a fairly correct reproduction of the equipment of the two astronauts. The generic piece used here bears little resemblance to Armstrong and Aldrin's outfit. The shape of the golden canopy is also not consistent and I was hoping to get two less generic and flesh-colored heads for the two astronauts. The yellow heads provided are not up to the anniversary this product intends to celebrate. This box is not a simple LEGO CITY or Creator set, it deserved better than that in terms of minifigs.

In summary, I think this box is quite successful despite the few faults highlighted above. This is not a 100% faithful mockup of the LEM, but it is a product sufficiently advanced to make it convincing educationally and make it a perfect companion to the LEGO Ideas set 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V. on your shelves. The minifigs are a bit too generic for my taste, but we'll make do with it.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the June 9, 2019 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.

THE SET 10266 NASA APOLLO 11 LUNAR LANDER ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today we take a quick look at the LEGO Marvel set 76128 Molten Man Battle (294 pieces - 29.99 €), one of the three already available LEGO products from the film Spider-Man Far from Home which is expected in theaters in early July.

We at least know that Molten Man (Mark Raxton) is in the film, the two trailers already released confirm it. We do not know, however, if the creature will have really merged with a parking lot, a traffic light and a lamppost or if it is equipped with a rotating missile launcher as the LEGO version suggests ...

Good news, the figurine is really well articulated: shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, Ball Seals do their job and allow the construction to take many different poses with more or less correct stability depending on the angles.

As with most figures of this type, the joints are very visible. This is the price to pay so that the price of the set remains contained and that the character's mobility is not too hampered by decorative pieces.

The "molten lava" aspect is very well rendered and the three trans-orange antennas perfectly imitate the flows seen in the first trailer of the film. They are clipped and do not interfere with the handling of the figurine. Seen from the back, the figurine does not demerit and the finish is very correct even if this part of the character is logically the subject of a little less care.

A remark concerning Ball Seals and the inserts used for the joints: I find that some of them lack a bit of "bite" and some joints are a bit looser than others.

The face pad printed on the piece which is usually used as a shoulder for the figurines in the range Buildable Figures is technically well done even if I find the graphic design very "cartoon" of this piece a little out of step with the rest of the figurine.

We can also regret that the mixture of stickers, pad printed parts and tinted parts in the mass creates a certain visual inconsistency in the colors that dress the character. Continuity is not assured, for example, neither on the colors nor on the pattern, between the sticker on the chest and the piece placed in front of the right shoulder.

If the part Wedge 4x4 trans-orange is common and made the heyday of the Nexo Knights range, the version with an overlay of Gold on the different facets is for the moment exclusive to this box. I think that many MOCeurs will find it useful in other contexts.

Spider-Man comes here with the SHIELD follows seen in the trailers and the minifigure is rather successful. Too bad that the inversion of the base color between the torso and the legs creates a hue shift: the gray printed on the legs does not match perfectly with the tinted gray in the body of the torso and hips, it is even more visible at the crotch of the figurine.

Mysterio's minifigure is also very successful with an impeccable pad printing even if the central part of the torso should have been in Gold Judging by Jake Gyllenhall's outfit in the film's trailers. The aquarium which is plugged into the neutral head in Flat Silver does the job, but LEGO could have provided a spare head to have a version without a helmet.

The firefighter provided in this set is a generic character delivered with the face of Erik Killmonger, the Shocker or even Taidu Sefla (Rogue One).

In short, this little box sold for € 30 will make everyone happy: Young fans will find a real villain to assemble and stage. Collectors will have on hand a never-before-seen Spider-Man in a highly successful outfit and a copy of Mysterio, which is identical in all three boxes based on the film. The MOCeurs will have a starting inventory to possibly create a Balrog ...

I say yes, the set 76128 Molten Man Battle is a product with balanced and playable content sold at a reasonable price. It's also a product that, judging by the trailers already released, is a bit more derived from the movie it was inspired by than many other LEGO Marvel sets released so far.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the June 6, 2019 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.

THE MOLTEN MAN BATTLE SET 76128 ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today we are interested in the LEGO Star Wars set 75238 Action Battle Endor Assault (193 pieces - € 29.99), one of the three boxes that this year is launching the new fun concept "Action Battle"in which we therefore find the two projectile launchers which allow targeting the opponent's targets and trigger the ejection of an opposing character.

This box features the planet Endor, with the ewok Wicket on one side and a Scout Trooper on the other. To enhance the battlefield, LEGO delivers two constructions that put us (a little) in the mood with a monitoring station perched on a tree and a support for the Speeder Bike provided. Each of these elements hides an ejection mechanism that kicks in when the missile hits the red or blue target.

I said it already in my test of the set 75239 Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack, the principle of this real layer of interactivity added to a construction toy is interesting in theory. In practice, I find it here to be infinitely sad.

The treehouse is rather successful, we find all the attributes of the constructions that made the success of the excellent set 10236 Ewok Village released in 2013. Wicket can stand in front of the guardrail while waiting to be ejected by the Scout Trooper missile. It's funny. Once.

To get revenge, Wicket can then go and unseat the Scout Trooper who walks casually in the forest on his Speeder Bike. This is not the best interpretation by LEGO of the machine, far from it, but the designer undoubtedly wanted to obtain a construction easily embedded on the provided support. If Wicket's missile hits the target, the mount in question tips over and the Speeder Bike falls.

The two guns are still very basic, and LEGO makes no particular effort to integrate these large gray pieces. At a minimum, it would have been fashionable to offer the same piece in a brown color to match the ambiance of the set. After all, the launch of a new concept must be accompanied by efforts on the presentation of the thing. Dreaming a little, an AT-ST integrating the missile launcher and a tree with the cannon hidden in the trunk would have been even more attractive. But as we are already at 30 € in the state, I dare not imagine the public price of a more bushy set.

The more I "play" with these sets Action Battle, the more it seems to me that the various mechanisms which react to the impact of the missile are too simple to be really convincing. There is no chain reaction or combined effects (for example the tree which opens in two and the minifigure which is ejected) and that is a pity.

The Tiles Pad printed used to identify the two opposing camps in this box are identical to those delivered in the sets 75239 Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack et 75241 Action Battle Echo Base Defense. LEGO does not leave much room for the eventual scalability of the set and those who consider that it is still possible to flesh out the thing by inventing other mechanisms will have to look to the aftermarket for a few copies of both. pad printed targets, just to obtain an aesthetically coherent playset.

On the minifig side, the Scout Trooper is brand new, at least when it comes to the helmet, torso and legs. The minifigure is very successful and with this superb new helmet molded in two colors, it gives a big boost to the many previous versions. The character's head is the one already available in more than a hundred sets marketed so far. The outfit is generally consistent with those of the soldiers seen on the screen even if this time it lacks a few white areas on the arms to reproduce the various protections.

The Wicket minifigure is identical to the one delivered in the set 10236 Ewok Village marketed in 2013. The pad printing of the bear's face is really very successful.

I did not dare to put my son to work to observe his reaction to the contents of this box. I'm not abusing his patience, I will need him on other issues. As far as I'm concerned, I think it's way too expensive for a set that features an interesting idea but which saves money.

What could have been fun and amusing here becomes almost out of date, especially since this box whose action takes place on Endor is not the extension of a larger set as is the case for the reference 75239 Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack which enhances the content of the set 75241 Action Battle Echo Base Defense which we will talk about in the next few days.

It's without me, and I hope the new Scout Trooper delivered here will make an appearance in a somewhat more convincing future set.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the June 3, 2019 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.

THE SET 75238 ACTION BATTLE ENDOR ASSAULT ON THE LEGO SHOP >>