Today we very quickly go around the contents of the LEGO ICONS set 10315 Tranquil Garden, a box of 1363 pieces that will be available from August 1, 2023 at the public price of 104.99 €.

I'm not drawing you a picture, LEGO is expanding its lifestyle range by surfing once again on the fascination for Japan, its codes and its emblematic places and after the miniature cherry tree of the LEGO set 10281 Bonsai Tree integrated into the Botanical Collection from the manufacturer, we are treated here to a peaceful garden with its pavilion housing the tea ceremony, its small arched bridge, its stream where some koi carp swim, its lotus flowers, its cherry trees, its rocks and its stone lanterns. Why not, the whole actually exudes calm and tranquility even if all these markers seem a bit piled up in a shoehorn in a rather small space.

If the theme inspires you, you will therefore find here something to relax by assembling a mini garden installed in a display in the shape of a pot and whose assembly begins with a few large plates to be covered with greenery and transparent pieces symbolizing the stream that crosses places.

For this step, the instructions temporarily switch to top view to simplify the installation of the many Tiles and to correctly place the few fish that circulate in these waters.

The small Japanese pavilion is assembled from the beginning of the process, it will then wait wisely on a corner of the table to be able to be integrated into the construction. We also leave a few holes in the greenery which will be used later to install the trees and we finally build the various plant elements which take place in the holes provided. I like the aesthetic simplicity of the pavilion but I know that the refined side of its architecture will inevitably disappoint some.

The black support to build is equipped with about ten feet equipped with tires which guarantee an appreciable stability to the unit, it could possibly be left aside to be able to integrate this small garden in a more substantial diorama.

It will be necessary to furnish a row of tenons all around the garden with for example a small low wall, but nothing impossible or too complicated. The many black pieces used cannibalize the product's inventory a bit, I would have liked more flowers even if it meant doing without this pot without much interest.

This product then leaves you the hand to organize as you see fit the vegetation installed around the pavilion and the stream: All the trees provided are equipped with the same support which is inserted into the available holes, it is up to you to distribute them as you wish with a large number of possible combinations to obtain a presentation adapted to your exhibition projects.

This possibility may seem trivial at first glance, but it quickly turns out to be interesting, for example to clear the view of the small pavilion or furnish your preferred viewing angle without hiding the rest of the model. We're not going to blame LEGO for providing us with a little modularity in one of its products, it's always taken to have the impression of presenting something unique and personalized on our shelves.

In my opinion, a minifigure in traditional Japanese dress is missing, perhaps to be installed on the stone stairs leading to the pavilion or on the small bridge, to give the whole thing a bit of character and make it easier to pass the pill of the retail price of the set set at €105.

I would also have fleshed out the two cherry trees which seem to me a bit stunted as they are with branches that are too visible from certain angles. The pavilion is minimalist but it is not a temple with a complex design and it will have to be done with this small traditional hut with a refined look. As it stands, I don't see myself spending more than €100 in this box, whatever its benefits on my mental health or on my zenitude.

Those who regretted that the nice project proposed on the platform LEGO Ideas in 2018 was not selected at the time after having collected the 10.000 supporters necessary for its passage in the review phase, so here we have something to console ourselves with even if the "official" version of this Japanese garden is in my opinion a little out of date. savings on certain finishing details.

Let's not forget that this is a purely decorative product intended for an adult clientele"passionate about gardens and mindfulness", according to LEGO, which probably does a little too much in terms of marketing, and which especially has its place on the shelves of stores in the Nature et Découvertes chain.

The most demanding LEGO fans in terms of ultra-detailed dioramas will, for example, have to turn to the Monkie Kid universe to obtain slightly more elaborate typical and folkloric constructions. Tastes and colors are not discussed, so it will be up to everyone to see if this composition awakens something in them.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at August 9, 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. 

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

Today we very quickly go around the content of the LEGO DREAMZzz set 71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny, a small box of 259 pieces currently in pre-order on the official online store and which will be available from August 1, 2023 at the retail price of €20.99.

Each universe needs its mascots to be able to sell toys to children and the "home" LEGO DREAMZzz license will be no exception to this rule with a small, almost affordable set that allows you to obtain an interpretation of the supercharged plush seen on the screen in the world of dreams.

Unfortunately, once again, the derivative product does not really pay homage to the version seen in the fifth episode of the animated series and we assemble here an animal with a robotic look much less cute than the fluffy stuffed animal that moves on all fours in the series.

The whole is therefore a very basic interpretation of the subject treated which nevertheless retains the shimmering colors, the face with childish features and some of the attributes of the animal. The construction can take a few fun poses and this product is as usual in this range an "evolving" model with two possibilities to choose from at the end of the instruction booklet: the rabbit can choose to put on a pair of gloves and rollerblades or turn into a bee with its wings, its stinger which replaces the rabbit's pink tail and a central platform which can accommodate Izzie's minifig.

The two "transformations" are well documented, they make the effort to try to reuse a large number of parts regardless of the version chosen and in this specific case it will be easy to switch from one to the other because the modifications are minimal and practically only concern yellow parts which contrast with the colors used for the rabbit.

The plush aspect is here visually completely set aside with points of articulation which remain clearly visible and limbs without texture, it will be necessary to do with this version of Bunchu or to afford the real plush which in my opinion will quickly end up arriving in the LEGO catalog.

The various elements of articulation remain once again gray, LEGO obviously does not intend to decline them in colors adapted to the context of their use. If we try to see the bright side of things, we can really enjoy this well-articulated construction and put it on a shelf in a funny position.

As for the figurines provided, we get a single minifig, that of Izzie in her "dream world" outfit with her shoulder pads borrowed from the Praetorian Guards of the LEGO Star Wars range, her sword, her very accomplished pad printing and her colored hair, a Grimspawn equipped with a net and the Bunchu plush in its original form. It's rather meager for 21 €, a second minifig would have been appreciated at this price.

In short, if we forget the reference creature seen in the animated series, this articulated rabbit on steroids remains acceptable and will delight those who will not have a point of comparison, but on arrival we will not find much of the animal as it is presented on the screen and some children may be a little disappointed.

The universe of the LEGO DREAMZzz series is not brick-based and the manufacturer is therefore forced to reimagine and simplify its content while its own "in-house" license is used. A bit paradoxical.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at August 4, 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. 

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

Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO Star Wars set 75363 The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter Microfighter, a small box of 88 pieces currently in pre-order on the official online store and which will be available at the retail price of €15.99 from August 1, 2023.

We are not going to get too excited about this product, it is a version Chibi of Din Djarin's new vessel for which the designer has done his best given the constraints of the format.

It is therefore necessarily a little coarse and very approximate but it is in the spirit of this range of more or less successful products which undoubtedly has its followers. We vaguely find the silhouette of the N-1 fighter, the reactors benefit from a little texture and all this gray is even embellished with a few yellow pieces which recall the patterns present on the version seen on the screen.

The designer could however have made the effort to respect the positioning of the cockpit which should be frankly set back from the wings, but this product is obviously not a model and the format requires "collecting" the whole construction.

Two Stud Shooters are built into the front of the ship in case anyone wants to play around with the thing and the two characters provided can be fitted into their respective locations. No canopy for the cockpit, it is symbolized here by a very small transparent element, nor a dome to protect Grogu who is very exposed at the rear. This is once again in the spirit of the range which likes to leave the pilots of the different machines or vessels in the open air.

For the rest, it's very quickly assembled, there are no stickers and the youngest will no doubt have a little fun with the ship before storing it in their toy box to keep only the two figurines finally added to their collection via this relatively accessible box for their pocket money.

The two minifigs provided are obviously not new, but those who just want to get the Mandalorian minifig, also available in this form in the set 75361 Spider Tank, and the usual Grogu figurine with its color differences between the head and the hands can do it here for 16 €. No additional hair for Din Djarin, we will have to do without.

We will especially remember that the sets of this range with a single character were usually sold at the public price of 9.99 €, it is not the inventory of 88 pieces that makes the price explode and it is therefore this pesky Grogu with a head greener than his hands who raises the bill by 6 € for this time. It is much too expensive for what it is, so we will wait for a reduction at Amazon or elsewhere.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 1er August 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. 

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

Today we are quickly interested in three small sets planned for August 1, 2023 in the LEGO Star Wars range: the references 75368 Darth Vader Mech (139 pieces), 75369 Boba Fett Mech (155 pieces) and 75370 Stormtrooper Mech (138 pieces). These three boxes will be sold at the public price of €15.99 each, they all allow you to obtain a minifig and a few parts to assemble a mech in the colors of the character concerned.

These products are intended for children, so there is no need to look here for a link between their content and the Star Wars license. LEGO has developed a certain fondness for mechs in recent years and the commercial success of those sold in the Marvel range will undoubtedly have motivated the manufacturer to decline the concept in the Star Wars universe. And we have to admit that it's very well executed given the initial idea and the limited inventory, each of the three characters here is entitled to armor that takes up the main attributes of their outfit.

Difficult on this scale to really go into detail, we are therefore satisfied with three fingers, somewhat rigid limbs and basic feet. Each of these mechs is based on the same architecture as the others with a never-before-seen meta-part that forms the backbone of the armor and a fixed skeleton for all four limbs. There are therefore only a few points of articulation at the level of the shoulders and hips and it is then a question of adding a few elements which will give a little volume and texture to the whole. Finally, the pretty Tile pad-printed visually associates the armor with its pilot.

The back of the Stormtrooper is a little bare and it's a shame, this mech does not benefit from the same level of finish as the other two. We could have hoped for a backpack with a few details, but it's probably the result of a compromise to stay within the budget imposed by the brand's marketing department.

Each of these armors can still strike a pose quite easily using the limited but sufficient amplitude offered to the four limbs. it will therefore be possible to display the three constructions in a somewhat dynamic way on the corner of a shelf between two play sessions. Boba Fett and the Stormtrooper are equipped with a Stud Shooter integrated with a handgun fixed in the right hand. Well done, the Stud Shooter visually blends in with the rest of the assembly to give the impression of an oversized weapon. Darth Vader is equipped with a big saber with a red blade but he ignores the usual cape and the missile from Boba Fett's jetpack can be ejected by pushing on the bottom of the part slid into place.

Once the batched minifig is installed at the controls, only the top of the torso and the helmet remain visible. Some may regret that the "head" of the resulting robot is a bit small compared to the rest of the armor, but these are mechs and not robots per se. This difference in scale is therefore logical.

On the side of the three figurines provided in these boxes: The Stromtrooper wears the armor seen on Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in the set 75339 Death Star Trash Compactor, the helmet available in many sets since 2019 is plugged on the head with a female face also available in several boxes in the range since 2021.

The Darth Vader figurine is not new, the torso and the legs are available in many sets since 2020, the two-part helmet is the one seen in several boxes since 2015 and the head is the one seen in the sets 75347 Tie Bomber et 75352 Emperor's Throne Room Diorama.

The minifig of Boba Fett is on its new side, it has a torso, a head, a helmet and a pair of legs with new references. it obviously looks like other versions already on the market, it's all in the details. There is no guarantee that this variant with subtle modifications will remain definitively exclusive to this box, it may be available in other sets in the future.

These three boxes sold for €16 are therefore simple toys for children who only take advantage of the Star Wars license. If the LEGO mech concept was not the supposed commercial success, the manufacturer would probably have already given up, but it seems that these unpretentious little constructions appeal to the youngest and they will once again be served.

Leave them the pleasure of having fun with these small models accessible with their pocket money, LEGO markets enough very expensive products and intended for adults. We will not forget to discreetly steal Boba Fett's new minifig and replace it with a more common version. No mercy among collectors.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at July 25, 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. 

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

Today we are very quickly interested in the content of the LEGO DREAMZzz set 71459 Stable of the Dream Creatures, a box of 681 pieces currently in pre-order on the official online store at the public price of 84.99 € and which will be available from August 1st. The statement leaves no room for doubt, this product derived from the animated series, the first 10 episodes of which are online at Youtube, Netflix or even Prime Video is very expensive.

The main construction of the set is very quickly assembled, there is no complex technique or functionality but the small house whose interior spaces are easily accessible seems to me rather correct. It's colorful, there is enough furniture and accessories so that the whole thing doesn't seem too empty and the presence of stickers is relatively limited.

The title of the product evokes "The stable of dream creatures", we are still looking for the stable and the reason for the plural used for the word creature. On the other hand, there is a mill whose propeller is rotated manually by manipulating the wheel placed at the top of the house.

We also build a guardian deer of the forest and this is where we measure the gap between what appears on the screen in the animated series and the adaptation of this content in LEGO bricks. The plastic creature is immediately much less majestic and you have to be content with a deer with very stiff legs but with nicely stamped eyes.

The animal's head is articulated, the Ball joint clearly visible gray confirms this in case you didn't understand. For those who have not watched the episodes of the series already available, I remind you that the content seen on the screen is not based on bricks and there are only the minifigs which remind us that we are in the LEGO universe. The transition to physical content is therefore necessarily a little disappointing, both in terms of the volume of the constructions and their finish.

Like many sets in the range, this box offers a construction variant with a bifurcation during assembly in the pages of the instruction booklet. The variant present here is not of the level of that of the set 71456 Mrs. Castillo's Turtle Van with his food truck which becomes a turtle, it is simply a question of giving a pair of wings to the deer by recovering the blue branches of the tree planted in the garden. Not much to shout about the 2-in-1 concept this time around, but it's still a bit more building fun for younger kids.

The endowment of figurines here is rather substantial with Izzie, Zoey, Cooper, Mrs. Castillo, Z-Blob and two Champirêves. These are the stars of the set with a rather interesting look and potential use in other contexts. The pad prints are generally very successful with once again all the technical know-how of LEGO at the service of the handful of characters.

This box will probably not mark the history of the range, it lacks content for the price requested and the LEGO DREAMZzz universe only based on the confrontation between the heroes and the king of nightmares accompanied by his minions, so it lacks also here something to have fun by reproducing the events seen on the screen.

In the end, this set is only half of what it should have been and the marketing obviously went through this: it will be necessary to go back to the checkout so that the youngest can do something other than brush the stiff-legged deer, to grind grain, take tea or rake the garden.

This derivative product will inevitably end up being sold with a big reduction in its public price, the two blue mushrooms and the few interesting pieces delivered in this box will then become more accessible. In the meantime, no need to spend 85 € on this box, it's far too expensive for the content offered, as cute as it is.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at July 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. 

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