Review: LEGO Marvel 76165 Iron Man Helmet

Today we are very quickly interested in the fourth "collector" helmet available at LEGO after the three models inspired by the Star Wars universe already launched last May: the LEGO Marvel set 76165 Iron Man Helmet (480 pieces - 59.99 €).

Not everything was perfect for each of the three previous models, but overall it could be estimated that the designers had so far done their best to try to come up with rather faithful reproductions of the accessories seen on the screen.

We could also hope that these same designers had really been able to take this new and interesting format into their own hands in order to push the realism even further on future products. This is apparently not the case, the Iron Man helmet in version Mark III marketed since the beginning of August is far from convincing.

Regarding the statement in the official product description: "... LEGO sets for adults allow you to escape for a moment from the hustle and bustle of the world and rediscover the pleasure of creative building ...", with 480 pieces in the box, you will only escape the hustle and bustle of the world here for an hour of assembly.

For reference, the version Mark III Tony Stark's helmet seen on the screen, that's it and I'm not inventing anything, the photo is even on the back of the box:

You don't have to be a specialist to quickly understand that the LEGO interpretation is far from paying homage to the movie version. It is not one detail in particular that makes this new reproduction a failed product, it is rather its overall appearance.

There are, however, some good ideas in this box, with some very original assembly techniques, a colorful inventory to break up the monotony a little by assembling the inside of the helmet before moving on and a nice set of golden pieces. But that's not enough to make it a successful product worthy of joining the three Star Wars helmets on a discerning collector's shelf.

If we avoid looking too closely, we can say that this LEGO version does not demerit despite the few aesthetic approximations that we will put on the account of the LEGO concept. When detailing the product, you quickly realize that little or nothing is going well and that you have the impression of buying a hastily cobbled together prototype that was collecting dust on the desk of an inexperienced designer.

The front face of the helmet is too flat, the chin gives the impression that Tony Stark has lost his dentures, the cheeks are empty and the designer probably intended to sell us the "shadow" effect to justify his creative choice, the transition between the edge of the golden visor and the frame of the helmet on the sides is very coarse and the two modules which are provided to narrow the two sides of the jaw are equipped with Ball Seals gray that remain visible from almost any angle. Oddly, the sides and back of the helmet are almost believable, as if the designer had applied at first but panicked when he got to the point where he had to figure out how to finalize the front end.

If everything had been perfect or almost, I would obviously have taken the time to bitch about the two stickers that are used for the eyes, but I don't even make the effort, it's useless. I do not put a layer on the different color variants of the parts either. Dark Red, I wouldn't want to be accused of doing too much.

It is difficult to find extenuating circumstances for the designer, who nevertheless explains to us in the first pages of the French version of the instructions than "...we managed to achieve the smooth and powerful side of the typical Iron Man welding helmet.. ", even if the product only uses 480 pieces, including the base. The three helmets in the LEGO Star Wars range were however more opulent with 625 pieces for the set. 75277 Boba Fett Helmet, 647 pieces for the set 75276 Stormtrooper Helmet and even 724 pieces for the set 75274 Tie Fighter Pilot Helmet.

I do not know if the reduced inventory of this new model yet sold at the same retail price of € 59.99 as the other three is the result of a particular restriction or simply a deliberate choice because the designer will have considered that the product was "finished" as is, but there was probably a way to add a large handful of elements to at least fill the cheeks and avoid serving us a petty and failed trompe-l'oeil effect.

If this helmet is indeed a passable exhibition product that will vaguely illusion from afar, it is in any case not a high-end product that deserves to be served in a pretty (and too big) black box stamped 18+ .

Neither its overall appearance nor its finish allow it in my opinion to claim to integrate this new collection for adult fans which had started well with the first three references based on the Star Wars universe.

Hopefully the next products based on the same concept will be more convincing. If you absolutely want to add this helmet to your collection, at least wait until it is offered at a more interesting price than the 60 € requested by LEGO. You will feel like you haven't paid too much for it for what it really has to offer.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at September 9, 2020 next at 23pm.

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.