A few days ago a cute HR-girl asked me about my hobby, and without hesitation I answered- Lego. She was a little surprised, but I saw that I received another + in her (my) profile. It was a lousy offer, so I refused. Anyway, I thought about how quickly I decided on my hobby.
I haven't asked myself this question for about 10 years, probably over time the line between profession and hobby is erased if you have gone into a profession that you like. And no, I'm not Lego-master, just one of the many cogs in the IT industry. But what gives me real pleasure is to fasten these magical Danish bricks together. So let's talk about Lego, and try to start with a review of the set that goes on sale in a week.
Back to the Future Time Machine, or rather back to the childhood. Lego definitely continues to pleasantly surprise and delight me with its line of sets for nostalgic and solvent adult buyers. It is difficult to find a modern mature man who would remain indifferent to the cult trilogy of Robert Zemeckis. Like many, I have seen this trilogy a million times, and will watch a million more times. And Lego product-managers understand this fact very well.
So let's take a look at the remake (yes, it's actually a remake, we'll discuss it later) of the legendary DMC DeLorean. Lego didn’t skimp on the marketing company and arranged a photoset for their new set against the backdrop of cinematic decorations and a real model.
Series: Creator Expert. Art. 10300. 1872 Pieces ( 3-4 hours of pleasant pastime for experienced assemblers). 2 unique minifigures with information stand. Recommended age 18+. height: over 11 cm, length: 35.5 cm, width: 19 cm. Available on sale April 1, 2022. Price $170.
A couple of years ago, these guys started packing all the cool adult sets from different series in neat black cardboard boxes. It's stylish, I don’t argue, it is for sale. Although it would be nice to see a more thematic design.
The main feature of the set (according to the creators) is 3 in 1. You can assemble one of 3 versions of DeLorean, like in the movie.
Lego variant looks as realistic as possible, in comparison with a real car. I think they couldn't have found a better option than DeLorean, with its clear geometric shapes.
First option- The classic model from the first part, using plutonium as fuel for time travel. As we remember, after moving to 1955, the main characters had some problems with buying plutonium, in general, just like in 1985, when Doc signed a contract with terrorists and was killed. So in this version there is a hook for capturing lightning.
Second option- DeLorian from 2015 (yes, 7 years ago we already should to live in the beautiful world of the future "back to the future", but something went wrong…). The wheels are transforming into anti-gravity engines. You can change their position using the rotary mechanism on the bottom of the model Mr. Fusion is installed on the trunk, which will provide the time machine with the necessary energy of 1.21Gw to break through the space-time continuum with just a banana peel (banana included).
Third option- version from 1885. Mr. Fusion is disabled by a lightning strike at the end of the second part of the franchise, gasoline not produced in 1885, therefore, we are forced to rebuild the DeLorean once again. Skeptics may argue - why the hell such a brilliant scientist as Doc could not make gasoline himself. Well, as we remember, the main characters were very limited in time, given the approaching Doc’s death. As a result, we get a modified look of the wheels and a very detailed construction on the hood.
In fact, we get one common basis, within which we change only some areas - the trunk, the type of wheels and the hood. The excellent design solution that preserves the original look of the model. If my dominant subpersonality was a child, I would buy 3 sets to have all 3 versions on the shelf. But so far I've not become a crypto millionaire, I'm not ready to pay $510 actually for 1 set with minor differences.
Of course I didn't forget about the minifigures. They are gorgeous! Very detailed, the characters in costumes from the 2nd part of the trilogy.
Absolutely exactly the faces have two emotions, but I did not find a photo with it. And an important point in which designers are often lazy- is printed legs. Thank God in this set they decided not to save on legs.
Some stuff- box of plutonium, the famous girly hoverboard. Two details with car number Out A Time from 1985 and a futuristic barcode from 2015. And the coolest thing is that flux capacitor is illuminated by the light brick – Great Scott! Oh, I forgot about the banana…
Now let's move on to some shortcomings that cannot but upset, given the cult character of the set and its importance not only for fans of the trilogy, but also for fans of Lego.
Stickers. Damn bunch of stickers. The photos clearly show that almost all the images on the details are not prints, but f***ing stickers. The whole dashboard inside the cabin is a bunch of stickers! Common, Danes! Why do you use prints in game series like Mario and Minecraft, and there will be two pages of stickers in the collector's set from the creator expert series?!
Watch this video from the official site. Even this successful, athletic, mature man with dexterous fingers could not stick them beautifully and right!
My God, he has three sets in the press release, I think they decided to show the salon of the model in which they achieved maximum success with stickers. In addition to trampling on the beautiful, this cute plastic loves to collect all the dust on itself and it is very difficult to keep it clean. By adding details with stickers, you exclude the possibility of rinsing it in water.
The second, subjective disadvantage of the set is that it is absolutely not new in terms of idea and creative component. Oh yes, we've already seen DeLorean performed by Lego in 2013 (art. 21103) . It was produced in the Cuusoo line, which is now renamed Ideas. Here it is:
Of course, production technologies and design solutions have stepped far ahead in 9 years. There are only 401 details in the old set (obviously it is less detailed) and it is inferior in scale.
By the way, its price at the time of release in 2013 was $35. The cost of one brick is $0.087 cents versus $0.091 in a new set (Thank you Lego! Almost 0% inflation in 9 years!). However, the unpacked DeLorean 2013 costs $200-$300 today.
Anyway these are absolutely identical sets in design and content. In the set of 2022, the creators didn’t add anything new except details. Doubt?
DeLorean 2013 has similarly 3 models: 1985/2015/1885. With exactly the same changes - wheels, Mr. Fusion and hood.
Two minifigures of Marty and Doc, though in clothes from the 1st part of the movie (the good news is that you can now have two versions of characters from different timelines). Accessories also copy each other. Two types of car numbers, skateboard (instead of hoverboard).
It is worth mentioning that the figures from this set could also be obtained by buying a couple of Dimensions sets.
By the way, pay attention to the date of the destination October 26, 1958 - there was no such data in the movie.
I couldn't find the information why the creators of this set made such a date. Maybe it's the designer's birthday?
And another interesting reference in the new set, on the dashboard we see 3 dates October 26, 1985 with a difference of 1 minute. At the very beginning, Doc sent his dog Einstein 1 minute back into the future. By the way, I think it was worth adding a dog figurine to this set.
That's all the disadvantages of this wonderful set. I’m sure that its technical implementation is on top. It should be in the collection of any Lego fan or at least a fan of the trilogy. Or even, in your set of long-term investments. Even opened, as soon as it is withdrawn from sale, its price will increase by 2-3 times. I’m sure that the unpacked set will reach the price of $1,000.
And a small bonus, for the most patient and attentive. In the animated promotional video for this set, the main characters move to the Middle Ages. In the background, we see a previously released set from the ideas series - Medieval Blacksmith 21325.
The scenery of the castle from an unknown set is also in the frame. It is quite possible that this is a set for the 90th anniversary of the LEGO company "Lion King's Castle". And it should be something grandiose, unlike the creator set, which looked too childish to me. Looking forward to it.