On the way for a short teaser sequence which should in principle lead us very quickly to discover the next vehicle in the ICONS range, a Land Rover Defender in Classic version.

No date for the moment concerning the announcement of this 2023 novelty which should bear the reference 10317 and which the latest rumors predict us as a set of 2336 pieces which will be sold at the public price of 239.99 € from April 1st. . To be confirmed as soon as the product is officially announced, which should be soon.

We continue today with a quick overview of the content of the LEGO Indiana Jones set 77013 Escape from the Lost Tomb, a box of 600 pieces which will be available from April 1, 2023 at the retail price of €39.99. The scene in question here is inspired by the film Raiders of the Lost Ark released in 1981.

If you've seen the film recently, you'll find that everything here is summarized, symbolized and simplified in order to make it a reasonably priced children's toy. The underground Well of Souls is only made up of a few pieces of wall on one side, the two statues of Anubis are less impressive than those seen on screen and there are inevitably fewer snakes than in the cinema. LEGO does not really make an effort on the finish of the product and the gray Technic beams that keep the set upright remain visible from almost all angles.

This is a playset for young audiences and therefore the product has some features that allow you to vaguely replay the scene seen on the screen. Indiana Jones knocks down one of the two statues on the wall behind it and the wall collapses, a snake comes through a hole in the wall of the tomb via a rocking system and a mummy fixed to the ceiling of the rear cavity comes to frighten Marion Ravenwood. It's playable, difficult to say otherwise even if everything is more or less summarized in its simplest form.

The construction process is commensurate with the simplicity of this Well of Souls, with simple stacks of bricks for the wall, and there is little more than the assembly phase of the two statues of Anubis to add a little pepper to experience. The latter are identical and I find them rather convincing. It lacks one or two additional mummies in the back, the only figurine provided ensuring a satisfying nod to the scene of the film but it remains too symbolic for my taste.

The ark could have been stored in a container allowing it to be hidden while playing to take it out using the Indiana Jones and Sallah figurines, it sits here simply in the middle of the playset. Thinking about it, it is definitely the absence of the underground side of the tomb that breaks the dynamics of the product a little by depriving it of many additional playful possibilities. We will have to deal with it.

The sheet of stickers to stick on the different elements of the set is substantial with about twenty stickers, some of which do not hesitate to offer a few nods to the easter eggs from the movie or certain LEGO ranges. It's visually very well executed, we only rarely salute the work of the Billund graphic designers who nevertheless largely contribute to the successful aesthetics of many products.

Four minifigs are delivered in this box: Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood, Sallah and a very successful generic mummy. Again, don't be fooled by the slightly overambitious unofficial visuals about the quality of the pad printing: Indiana Jones' neck is very pale and no longer matches the color of the head and legs by Marion Ravenwood are much less well executed than announced with legs certainly injected in two shades to obtain the desired effect but on which the manufacturer has come to put a layer of too visible flesh color at the junction of the tear in the skirt.

These are technical defects that will probably be of little importance to most purchasers of the product, but they should still be noted. I'll say it again if you haven't read my review of the set 77012 Fighter Plane Chase : the Indiana Jones hat with integrated hair is also supplied here in two copies, you will have the right to lose one without having to pretend to notice the absence of the accessory as soon as you unpack it with customer service.

We can almost consider as "reasonable" the price of this box which today refers to the previous version of the same scene marketed in 2008 under the reference 7621 Indiana Jones and the Lost Tomb to the rank of a dated and somewhat crude prototype. This derivative product is however only a modest playset at 40 € more covered with stickers, difficult to expect more from LEGO in this price bracket. We still get four minifigs and some playful possibilities, that's always taken.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at March 24, 2023 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. 

LEGO today unveils a new reference in the LEGO Star Wars range: the set 75361 Spider Tank, a box of 526 pieces which will be available at the public price of €52.99 from August 1, 2023. This derivative product is directly inspired by the second episode of the third season of the series The Mandalorian, it features the robot-crab-spider seen in the Mines of Mandalore, Din Djarin with the Darksaber and its new blade, Grogu and Bo-Katan Kryze with more accomplished pad printing than the previous version of the character seen in the set 75316 Mandalorian Starfighter.

This set is already in pre-order on the official online store, LEGO undoubtedly wishes to seduce the fans while they still have the content of the episode concerned in mind:

LEGO STAR WARS 75361 SPIDER TANK ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

(The link to the shop redirects to the version of the official shop for your country of connection)

Today we take a quick tour of the content of the LEGO Indiana Jones set 77012 Fighter Plane Chase, a box of 387 pieces which will be available from April 1, 2023 at the retail price of €34.99. This spin-off features the chase seen onscreen in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade with a Citroën 11 Légère Cabriolet on one side and a Luftwaffe Pilatus P-2 fighter on the other.

The scene concerned, even if it lasts only one minute on the screen, has become cult for a whole generation of fans, so it is not surprising to see it immortalized in LEGO version. The more observant will have noticed, however, that LEGO has strongly anonymized both the vehicle and the plane by ridding the first of its emblematic chevrons of the Citroën brand on the grille and the second of its military signage on the fuselage, the wings and the derivative. The manufacturer does not even take the risk of leaving a red zone on the fin to stick a little more to the aesthetics of the device seen on the screen, you never know.

The content of this derivative product intended for the youngest is obviously very quickly assembled. The Citroën 11 in 8 studs wide is rather well executed and the association with the vehicle seen on the screen seems obvious at first glance. The level of detail makes it a credible exhibition vehicle and there is even enough room to store a large trunk containing a handgun and an umbrella and also slip a suitcase.

The spare wheel placed on the trunk lid is symbolic in the absence of pad printing or a dedicated sticker, the doors flanked by stickers do not open and an effort on the windshield would have been appreciated. The wheel arches are not new, they are also used since this year in LEGO CITY sets 60357 Stunt Truck & Ring of Fire Challenge et 10312 Jazz Club.

The plane seems a little rougher to me, even if the LEGO version ultimately embodies the flying machine seen in the film rather well. This will be enough for young audiences with the added bonus of shooting at the vehicle thanks to the two Stud Shooters placed on the wings. These may eventually be removed by adult collectors who want to stage the chase on the corner of one of their shelves. For the rest, there are no moving parts on this aircraft apart from the forward propeller, the landing gear is fixed and the canopy is not clipped to the fuselage.

There is as often a large handful of stickers to stick in this box with enough to dress the doors of the car, the wings and the canopy of the plane and LEGO adds a nod to the film with a sign indicating the presence of a tunnel. The sticker on a transparent background to be placed on the canopy leaves some traces of glue visible after application, it's up to you to decide whether to put it in place or not.

The official visuals on the back of the product box make it clear, the two wings of the plane can be easily removed if you have the time or the desire to build the tunnel that goes with it and LEGO has even provided for the sparks that fly when the plane slides inside the latter.

I tinkered with a support with some transparent parts so that the plane is not simply placed on the ground, LEGO could have cracked a solution allowing to store and display the contents of the set properly between two play sessions. The manufacturer may pretend to address a very young audience with this type of simplistic product, it is obvious that a nostalgic adult clientele is also in the sights. A little consideration vis-à-vis these customers would be welcome.

Three minifigs are delivered in this box, Indiana Jones, Henry Jones Sr. and the pilot of the plane. The pad prints are generally very successful, the faces are expressive and the new Indiana Jones hat with its integrated hair is even delivered in two copies in the box.

LEGO on the other hand does not make much effort for the hat of Professor Henry Jones and is content to use a version of the pith helmet similar to that already seen in the sets marketed in 2008/2009. Even if many will be satisfied with this accessory, it is enough to watch the film to see that it is not really fitting with the cloth headgear worn by Sean Connery.

The pilot of the plane may on his side seem a little generic but the figurine remains generally faithful to what we see on the screen of the pilot who ends his career at the exit of a tunnel. Indiana Jones' shirt and that of his father are a little pale, the official visuals are as often far too optimistic.

In short, whatever the faults of the product, I think that the vast majority of fans of the Indiana Jones saga are anyway so enthusiastic about this return of the franchise to the LEGO catalog that indulgence will be in order. The builds are a bit sketchy and there are a lot of stickers, but it's still better than nothing.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at March 23, 2023 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. 

NEW LEGO INDIANA JONES ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

(The link to the shop redirects to the version of the official shop for your country of connection)