Today we quickly take a look at the contents of the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set 31156 Tropical Ukulele, a small box of 387 pieces sold available since January 1, 2024 at the public price of €29.99. The set seemed to appeal to fans when it first appeared online,  it does not disappoint “in real life” in my opinion.

The main construction of the set is assembled very quickly but it offers some nice construction sequences with interesting techniques. Without spoiling you and depriving you of the pleasure of discovering the few technical subtleties of the product, there is in particular a quite satisfying moment when it comes to tightening the four strings of this ukulele. For the rest, there are no major technical challenges and this little box remains an entertaining product which will keep you busy for a few hours, including disassembly and assembly of the secondary models.

The instrument is then installed on its sand-colored base garnished with tropical flowers, it is well in keeping with the theme and the whole thing becomes a beautiful decorative object to place on the corner of a shelf and the object can even possibly be used as a Very original display for a souvenir photo from a vacation in the tropics to slide under the ropes.

The two other constructions that it is possible to assemble with a smaller portion of the inventory provided are, as is often the case, a little less ambitious and should not create a dilemma for purchasers of the product when it comes to choosing. which model to turn to by discovering the three instruction booklets present in the box.

The surfboard planted on its sandy base also garnished with tropical flowers is successful but the whole thing deserves no better than being a secondary model. The dolphin with its island is rather cute but in my opinion there is no reason to hesitate here even if the dolphin is also a beautiful achievement that is quite convincing on a technical level.

As is often the case with boxes in this range, the two secondary models leave two very large handfuls of parts behind and that's a bit of a shame. The product is announced as a 3-in-1 and it is, but LEGO lacks a little ambition this time and does not even pretend to try to really extend the construction experience by offering three sequences truly accomplished.

I am a fan of the concept, but it must also be noted that even if all the products in the range are available on the same principle, some do better than others when it comes to putting the promising title of this range in practice.

The fact remains that the instrument which is the main model of the product is in my opinion frankly successful, it therefore deserves that we are interested in this box even if it only offers in reality a potential of obvious exposure and I can't see a young fan enjoying it due to very limited playability.

LEGO probably intends to explore all the possibilities in terms of lifestyle and the range is therefore this year making a foray into the world of products with a purely decorative vocation, some will undoubtedly consider that this is not its most important role within the company. the LEGO offer but you will have to make do with it.

The public price of this box, set at €29.99, is sufficiently contained not to make it an issue when it comes to purchasing decisions. It's up to everyone to see if the proposed ukulele deserves the honors in their portfolio, knowing that the instrument is very well designed and displays very successful lines and looks upon arrival.

If you plan to get the most out of the 3-in-1 concept of this LEGO Creator range, I advise you to assemble the secondary models first, you will in any case have to dismantle them to move on to the next construction and their use limited inventory of the set makes the operation frankly less laborious.

You can then end up building the instrument and keeping it on a shelf and at least feeling like you got your money's worth on all counts and got the full experience promised. This is always the case these days.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 22th January 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we are quickly interested in the contents of the LEGO DREAMZzz set 71475 Mr. Oz's Space Car, a small box of 350 pieces which will be available from January 1, 2024 at the public price of €29.99.

The product once again takes advantage of the concept of the LEGO DREAMZzz range with the possibility of assembling two variants by choosing one or the other of the possibilities presented in the last section of the pages of the instruction booklet. If some sets in the range only make very timid use of this feature, in my opinion this one makes good use of it with two rather interesting options on the theme of space.

The vehicle common to both versions is already successful and it is a good surprise even if it is not really faithful to the one seen in the animated series, it then becomes a choice of a flying car or a rover capable of moving on the most rugged terrain. The level of detail of these two constructions remains relatively modest and that is logical, but there is still plenty of fun to be had with two very accomplished products that make maximum use of the inventory provided.

For each of the two models, a secondary vehicle is offered with on one side a very simple but still usable rover and on the other a small space shuttle with a rather convincing appearance. Nothing inconsistent on arrival, and the youngest should find what they're looking for.

We're not going to lie, children love cars and they will be served here whatever their favorite version, knowing that it is also very easy to switch from one version to another between two fun sessions. This product is therefore in my opinion particularly neat, we see once again that the designers of the range are doing their best to try to make it attractive, especially in the absence of an external license. We stick a few stickers here and there on the different vehicles and spacecraft but nothing prohibitive and this product is almost a 3-in-1 with an intermediate construction which is sufficient in itself.

The supply of figurines is correct with two pretty golden versions for Mr. Oz and Albert. It is technically very well executed, the pad prints are neat and attractive. The only villain present in the box at least has the merit of being an original and new creature in the range, enough to expand the bestiary with a little variety. If you don't yet have at least one copy of young Jayden in his pajamas, you will find one in this box.

We could discuss the public price of this product and conclude that for €30 there is ultimately not much in the box, but the playability is increased tenfold by the possibility of assembling two convincing versions of the vehicle in addition to that of reference and in all cases this little box will quickly be available elsewhere than at LEGO at a more attractive price. So in my opinion there is no reason to ignore this little set which should please a fan of this universe.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 18th January 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we take a quick tour of the content of the LEGO Ideas set 21345 Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera, a box of 516 pieces available since the 1st at the public price of €79.99. The announcement of the official product based on the idea submitted in his time on the LEGO Ideas platform by Minibrick Productions has had an impact on a wide audience and not just among LEGO fans.

It's logical, we're talking here about an iconic device for an entire generation, both by its shape, recognizable among thousands, and by its function, taking instantly developed photos. In the 80s, this Polaroid camera was a delight at weddings, parties and vacations during which it was passed around in the hands of participants to create memories on glossy paper that could be consulted immediately.

The creator of the project which served as a reference for the official product had done his homework and the version redesigned by LEGO retains the good ideas. On the other hand, the manufacturer has dropped the photo ejection system via a side wheel to integrate a more fun and realistic mechanism into the device: It is here possible to eject the photo by simply pressing the red shutter button.

Inside the device, a movable section is pushed towards the bottom of the case when inserting the photo, it is blocked temporarily by a tooth and pressing the button puts pressure on the two elastics and releases this section to cause the photo to output. It's functional, you just have to get used to inserting the photo carefully and reaching the blocking point of the internal section which will then allow the photo to be pushed outwards.

You will see it if you follow me on social networks, I also tested the device with a photo printed on standard 160 gram photo paper, same observation, it works if you insert the photo flat at the right angle . If the need arises, it is possible to print a few photos at home in a format of 83 x 60 mm with more realistic images than those provided.

The three "photos" in flexible polypropylene delivered in the box highlight the LEGO House of Billund, the founder of the Polaroid brand and the sister of the creator of the reference project, it's cute but there are more original possibilities to make this product a real nice gadget capable of really impressing your friends. the three clichés supplied are printed on both sides, all you have to do is shake them vigorously after their ejection, as in the old days.

The device benefits from a nice finish on its front, but it is less obvious at the back. The visible studs on the black shell don't bother me, but the slightly rough adjustments that reveal the insides of the device are not the most beautiful effect. No one will display the object without highlighting its front side and even if the visible stenns on the back break the trompe-l'oeil effect of the product a little, it's not that serious.

The viewfinder is "functional" in the sense that the viewing tunnel is not obstructed, it is a simple, almost innocuous detail but which allows you to really simulate the use of the device. The product also benefits from numerous pad-printed elements, notably for the associated cartridge, I have scanned the small sheet of stickers provided and by elimination everything else is therefore printed directly on the parts.

The LEGO catalog is regularly expanded with “lifestyle” proposals in several ranges (ICONS, Creator, Ideas) and this product is also a decorative object which will end its career on a shelf. Paradoxically, it seems to me that its announcement aroused the interest of many fans, a large part of whom have not yet known the "real" version of the product dating from the 70s/80s but who are sensitive to the vintage side as well as the decorative potential of the object.

It remains to be verified that this enthusiasm will really translate into volume sales, knowing that the public price of the product set at €80 should not be a hindrance because this box is already available elsewhere than at LEGO (notably at Amazon) and that there will necessarily be temporary reductions which will allow you to acquire it for a little less.

I am generally won over by the proposition even if I do not intend to display a fake vintage camera, even one made from LEGO bricks, on my shelves. It is visually very faithful to the reference product, it is respectful of the initial idea and the presence of a function which allows you to imitate the operation of the device in a relatively realistic way is a real plus.

I already have too many other products on my long list of purchases planned at the start of the year to add this one but I must admit that I took pleasure in building this Polaroid with its ingenious mechanism and have a little fun with it, my parents had one during my younger years. The “nostalgia” effect worked, that’s the main thing.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 15th January 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we take a very quick tour of the content of the LEGO Marvel set 76281 X-Men X-Jet, a box of 359 pieces which will be available from January 1, 2024 at the surprising retail price of €84.99. Whatever the possible qualities of this product inspired by the new season of the animated series X-Men '97 which will soon be available on the Disney+ platform, the price announced has monopolized the attention of fans who are still wondering how LEGO and Disney have come to believe that this is the right price for this box.

We can risk trying to find an explanation despite the reduced inventory of the product and the presence of four characters, but it is difficult to justify the public price by the presence of some very large elements for the fuselage of the X-Jet knowing that the many patterns present inside the ship are only stickers. A pad printing effort could have made it possible to argue in favor of LEGO but this is not the case.

We cannot conclude either that this X-Jet is ultra-detailed even if the 30 cm long vessel is not unworthy given the scale chosen. The construction, however, remains a modest children's toy like the previous version of the set. 76022 X-Men vs. The Sentinel marketed in 2014, with some basic functionalities such as the opening of the front glass roof and a portion of the cabin which allow access to the various piloting and command stations with basic layout or even the presence of Spring-Shooters and Stud Shooters placed under the ship to ensure minimal playability of the product and that's it.

The ship does not even have landing gear, it rests on its cabin and yet it would only have needed a few additional parts to make it gain a little height on our shelves. LEGO, on the other hand, did not forget to add a large sheet of graphically successful stickers but still just as annoying, especially at this price.

The supply of figurines is interesting without being overwhelming in substance and it is especially disappointing in terms of form: the Wolverine minifig seems at first glance very similar to that seen in the boxes of the 2nd series of collectible characters from the universe Marvel Studios (LEGO Marvel Studios reference 71039 Collectible Minifigures Series 2), but the version delivered in this box is economical with less pad printing on the arms and the side of the legs. It does not escape the usual problems of printing a light color, yellow here, on a dark support, the blue of the legs.

The figurine is therefore not completely connected from head to toe, which is frankly a shame. The Cyclops figurine is passable, it suffers like some Captain America figurines from the usual defect linked to light-colored faces pad-printed on a dark head, it's too pale.

The Malicia (Rogue) figurine is graphically very correct with a very pretty torso but hair that lacks white areas if we compare the LEGO version to the reference character. The small drip of ink visible on both sides of the head of the copy I received annoys me.

Finally, we get Magneto in an unusual outfit which is nevertheless more or less consistent with what we have already seen of the characters in the new season of the animated series. LEGO, however, seems to have forced a little too much on the pink and to have forgotten to integrate some shadows to give a little relief.

We cannot invoke here the usual excuse of "very preliminary artworks provided by the rights holders", Hasbro for its part unveiled its derivative products with a action figure of Magneto much more faithful to the version that should appear on screen. To be checked at the time of broadcast but this Magneto with straight hair seems quite irrelevant to me.

Those who want to complete their squad of mutants can add here the Beast and Storm figurines available in the 2nd series of collectible characters from the Marvel Studios universe and possibly replace the Wolverine minifig delivered in this box with the more advanced version as well. available in stamped boxes 71039 Collectible Minifigures Series 2.

We cannot decently say that this set lives up to the highly anticipated return of the X-Men at LEGO, it does not stand out on anything notable, is content with the minimum service charged at full price and it is even disappointing on several points techniques. You really have to be an unconditional and impatient fan to fall for it without at least waiting for this box to be available at a more reasonable price elsewhere. Sorry for not being more enthusiastic at the start of the year but the contents of this box are not capable of provoking blind amazement in me even if I am a fan of the subject covered.

To end on a positive note, don't hesitate to discover Chloé's informed opinion on this product (she has an X-Men t-shirt so she knows), her very personal analysis is worth a look. Be careful, if secondary education is an academic level for you, move on.

@hothbricks

Still no Batman… 😭 llegollegosetllegocollectionllegosetllegotiktokllegotokllegominifiguresllegomarvelmmarvelmmarvelcomicsxxmenxxmen92xxmen1992ttoyshhumourllegotiktokerhhotgirlggirladviceggirltalkggirltoknailsoftiktok

♬ original sound - hothbricks.com

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 11th January 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

And one more ! Another year has passed in your company and I definitely haven't gotten tired of it since 2010. I'm not going to be very original this year, you know that there are subjects that are close to my heart and formulas that I repeats regularly, it's not out of laziness, it's just that I consider them important and that I allow myself to bring them forward once a year.

So thank you like every year to all those who came, stayed, returned, to those who contributed via their comments, to those who helped other readers as well as to those who shared their good tips or their experiences, good or bad, with the others. I say it once again, without you and without all these interactions, this space would be very sad and without much interest and would ultimately be just another site. The word “community” is often used pretentiously, I think it belongs here.

In 2024, I hope that you will continue to come here regularly to pick out what interests you around our common passion. For my part, I will continue to try to give you ever more very personal opinions and as many more or less relevant remarks that you will obviously be free to contradict or criticize. I will also continue to try to obtain more and more products to put into play on the site and to offer all of the sets that LEGO is willing to send me via the LAN endowment and the various review offers that I receive throughout. throughout the year. Those who know me know that this sharing is important to me, it allows me to make some people happy throughout the year and nothing replaces the satisfaction of receiving a kind message of thanks from those who make me trust and who were lucky.

The usual remark that everyone who has been around for a long time probably knows by heart: don't sacrifice anything for a box of LEGO. Don't go into debt to buy LEGO. Plastic cannot be eaten and it does not sell for as much as some people would like you to believe, especially when urgent action is required. If personal constraints force you to put this passion aside temporarily, don't worry, nothing is permanent and you may be able to come back to it later. We will always be there to welcome you.

Take care of yourself and yours, enjoy your family and friends, the way you live your passion for LEGO should not isolate you, on the contrary it should allow you to meet other fans for share. I have the impression that this is my case, this site being the origin or the cause of some of my most beautiful encounters in recent years.

With these words, I wish you all an excellent year 2024 with or without all the LEGO products you dream of but above all with the health and love of those around you.