Review: LEGO Originals 853967 Wooden Minifigure

It is the derivative of the moment and as LEGO sent me a copy, I suggest you give you some very personal thoughts on the "set" LEGO Originals 853967 Wooden Minifigure (30 pieces - 119.99 €). Everything has already been said or seen about this product, so there is little to do with an encyclopedic "review".

As you know from the official announcement of the product, LEGO pays tribute here to the know-how of the brand's founder, Ole Kirk Kristiansen, who was a carpenter by trade before becoming the emperor of plastic toys. The product therefore comes down to an oak wood reproduction of the LEGO minifig, a bag of 29 pieces to put some accessories to build in his hands and a pretty box.

When unpacking, the packaging has its small effect: The minifig is carefully stored in its colored insert and you must be careful not to try to dislodge it without having first removed the transparent elastic that holds it in place at the level of the arms. For a 20cm tall wooden minifig I would have expected something heavier but it only weighs 340 grams.

Useful clarification: the box is not sealed, so it can be opened and closed without damaging the collector's packaging.

Good news, the texts of the small booklet that accompanies the figurine are in English and French. There you will find some information about the LEGO company, its first wooden toys, some facts on minifigs and several construction ideas making good use of the inventory provided in the bag of parts that accompanies the figure. The good idea would have been to provide a standard brick but made of wood in this bag ...

I am not a cabinetmaker nor a specialist in wood in all its forms, but it seems to me that the finish of the whole is very correct. The rounds are perfect, the angles are softened where they are also on the plastic minifigures and there is little more than the inner outline of the "fake" holes on the back of the legs which seems a little too raw to me.

Under the feet of the figurine we learn that this product is made in Vietnam with wood from forests managed in a "sustainable" way. I am well aware that Asia manufactures the majority of the products we consume today but in this specific case I expected that this luxury product presented as a limited edition and sold at an indecent price would indeed be made in Denmark. I am probably a little too naive.

Small disappointment by noting that the figurine remains desperately still. The arms, the legs and the head are glued to the torso and the possibilities of staging are in fact a little limited. One could also discuss LEGO's bias regarding the use of plastic hands instead of wooden elements. According to the manufacturer, this choice was necessary for reasons of strength of the thinnest parts of the hands and resistance of the wrists to rotation. Despite everything, I am not convinced by this mixture of materials, I would have preferred a figurine entirely made of wood, even with a warning stating that it is only intended for exhibition.

We all know that most of those who will spend $ 120 to treat themselves to this decorative item will not risk a lot of customization of the thing even if LEGO insists that it is up to everyone to make the character their own. daubing it with paint or dressing it in tailor-made clothes and accessories.

So I think that the majority of customers will not go beyond the stage of opening the bag of parts provided which allows to assemble some accessories to put in the hands of the character. As far as I'm concerned, I find that the figurine is sufficient on its own and that it doesn't really need additional plastic elements to be added to it in the hands.

In short, if the idea of ​​a wooden minifigure is not really innovative, many artists and other wood specialists have already tried it with more or less success, the "official" version of the product is mine. a little disappointing opinion by its lack of joints.

For those who would be tempted to cry conspiracy by invoking the fact that LEGO did not invent anything here, I would like to remind you that the minifig is a copyrighted product and that all those who have so far produced wooden versions of it in series to make a small ticket have blithely broken the most basic rules of intellectual property. It is legally and morally legitimate that LEGO is aware of these productions and finally decides to invest in a market that can prove to be juicy. Let's not reverse the roles.

In short, this wooden minifig sold in its pretty box is in my opinion a very important product for exposure to the WAF (female acceptance factor) but a little too expensive to make it really essential. It is therefore up to everyone to see if their interior (or their budget) will accommodate this luxury derivative.

As I said during the announcement, if you have people around you who are wondering what to get for Christmas, here is a product that will replace the pair of socks. The Simpsons usual. Recommend that they get together to gather the necessary budget to acquire this product and voila.

LEGO ORIGINALS 853967 WOODEN MINIFIGURE ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

THE OFFER IN BELGIUM >> THE OFFER IN SWITZERLAND >>

Note: The product presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual put into play. To participate in the raffle, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid the "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before November 15, 2019 next at 23pm. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

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.