Review: LEGO 40521 Mini Disney The Haunted Mansion

Today we quickly go around the contents of the LEGO set 40521 Mini Disney The Haunted Mansion, a box of 680 pieces available at the retail price of €39.99 since August 1, 2022. the US version of the haunted mansion and not the Phantom manor from Disneyland Paris. The set is therefore reserved for a clientele familiar with the place and does not necessarily target European fans even if we know that everything bearing the Disney logo generally sells very well, whatever the subject treated.

That being said, we are a little entitled to wonder where the 680 parts of the product really are when we see the mini-model of 12 cm long, 12 cm wide and 14 cm high, ski pole on the roof understood. They are however there and we are entitled to an inventory worthy of the best sets of the LEGO Architecture range with a slew of 1x1 elements. We also find here the main codes of the Architecture range and all those who are in need of monuments and other skylines to assemble this year should find what they are looking for.

It's hard to fault the model itself, we find here all the emblematic attributes of the place with the green arches, the columns of the entrance, the cornices or the four chimneys on the roof. The result obtained may seem a little simplistic, but the compact format of the construction inevitably imposed a simplification of the overall aesthetics. A little greenery around the building, or at least a tree, would have been welcome, but LEGO has chosen to stay within its usual codes with a simple black base.

I won't spoil the few interesting assembly techniques of the product, there are several good ideas even if we quickly realize that the construction is divided into a series of somewhat repetitive sequences, especially at the level of the walls of the building. . Everything is very quickly assembled, we will conclude on arrival that this product could have been offered under condition of purchase rather than sold at full price.

The number of stickers to stick to raise the level of finish of the mini-model is limited with five stickers to be installed on the different paintings of the main room. This interior space remains easily accessible by turning the model over and even if there is not much to manipulate there except perhaps the white micro-ghosts, it is always an opportunity to remember a possible visit to this ghost train.

LEGO provides a minifigure with this product, the tired-looking local butler. The presence of this park employee is appreciable, especially at 40 € the box, but the minifig does not really find its place alongside the construction. Nothing is planned to stage it on the black base even if there are still a few studs available at the front.

The pad printing of the figurine is successful but I might have extended the frock coat on the front of the legs to improve the finish. LEGO provides a fabric element that pretty much embodies the back of the garment but the color of the accessory doesn't perfectly match the torso and the effect visually falls a bit flat. No double face for the character, you have to be content with the single expression provided.

In short, this little by-product will no doubt easily find its place among fans who are already exhibiting the castle about twenty centimeters high from the set. 40478 Mini Disney Castle sold at the same price, we can begin to see the beginning of a collection of attractions that know how to be discreet in the living room of fans of the Disney universe who do not want to be burdened with too much plastic.

I see here those who hope to one day be able to install a mini Disney park on the chest of drawers, that will have to wait to see if LEGO intends to offer us other mini models of iconic attractions. In the meantime, this little box is a nice souvenir to bring back from a visit to the park that hosts the attraction and the euphoria of the moment will undoubtedly help to lower the price requested. With a clear head, it is immediately less obvious.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at September 15, 2022 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate.

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