The LEGO Botanical Collection has been an enormous success, with a great deal of grownup followers scooping these units off cabinets to brighten their houses and workplaces in a enjoyable and cheerful means. The LEGO Ideas Insect Collection was additionally successful, giving a little bit of selection to those comparable kinds of adult-oriented units. It solely made sense that the corporate would attempt to department out into a number of the extra elegant representatives from the animal kingdom. Speaking of “kingdom” they picked a wonderful candidate with the LEGO Icons 10331 Kingfisher. Join us as we swoop in for a better take a look at this 834-piece set, available February 1st, and retailing for US $49.99 | CAN $69.99 | UK £44.99.
The LEGO Group despatched The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for evaluate. Providing TBB with merchandise for evaluate ensures neither protection nor constructive evaluations.
Unboxing the elements and directions
The thumb-punch field is on the smaller aspect, and includes a darkish orange banner to match the colour of the Kingfisher’s chest. The again exhibits a picture of the chicken on show, however no footage of an actual kingfisher are included for comparability.
It was rumored that this set could be a part of the “Fauna Collection” and match the favored “Botanical Collection” fashion, with that phrasing on the field. However, it’s notably absent. An interview with the lead designer, Sven Franic (designer of PAC-MAN and the DeLorean), revealed that, whereas comparable units might or might not present up on cabinets sooner or later, an Icons line by that title is not going to seem. The title is already being utilized by the Art division with 31211 Macaw Parrots, and clearly the kinds are very completely different.
Inside the field are six numbered luggage. Bag 1 is the bottom; bag 2 is the water; bag 3 is the physique of the chicken; bag 4 is the suitable wing; bag 5 is the left wing and a number of the vegetation; and bag 6 is the pinnacle, the fish, and the remainder of the vegetation.
The first few pages of the directions characteristic the real-life footage we had been lacking from the field, in addition to the small print in regards to the topic inspiration and designer’s notes we’ve change into accustomed to from black-box units.
The build
As talked about earlier than, we begin with the plain: the bottom. This features a Technic core to provide the physique loads of stability on the stand. There are additionally a ton if SNOT (studs not on high) parts to connect the curved slopes that make it rounded. According to Sven, probably probably the most difficult part of all the design course of was determining how one can evenly distribute the burden on the bottom with the positioning of the chicken.
From there we add some further slopes to finish the curve, and fill it with a bunch of blue bricks that can each add help/weight, and provides the water it’s shade.
After that we add satin trans-blue tiles for the water and trans-clear parts for the splash. Here we discover a wonderful half recolor within the upturned roof tiles we’ve seen in units equivalent to 10315 Tranquil Garden. This is one among Sven’s favourite elements usages within the set as a result of it suits so nicely. If you don’t concentrate, you may get just a little misplaced with all these tiles and slopes, but it surely’s not too unhealthy… It’s then at this level the place we additionally add some olive Technic connectors for the bulrush/cattail stems.
Another enjoyable shade we see is the brand new red-orange that has proven up in most of the new space-themed units. The 1×2 plates included listed below are hidden contained in the mannequin and due to this fact not seen, but it surely’s nonetheless good to have them however. Below is a picture exhibiting the brand new orange between common and darkish orange parts.
Finally, it’s time to show our consideration to the chicken itself. We begin with the physique. Like the bottom, it has a little bit of a Technic core for stability. The wings will in the end be joined to the physique by way of the funky liftarm with bar (4).
On the flip aspect of the core, a pair of small armor pieces (new in darkish blue) comprise the tail. It’s not a lot, but it surely seems good on the completed mannequin. A large windscreen (new in darkish azure) kinds the again, becoming for the namesake. This and plenty of different parts are hooked up by way of bars by way of different parts with holes, versus the usual stud connection.
The physique is slotted completely onto the bottom, and the chest is full with a pair of the darkish orange slopes proven above within the comparability shot (new on this shade). These had been one other favourite elements utilization of Sven’s, as a result of they had been additionally fenders within the 10295 Porsche 911, which he loves. The ft are made up of tan horns slotted into bar holders, that are clipped to pneumatic-t parts which might be slotted into medium nougat posing parts – nice shade variants total.
Next up are the wings. Here we’ve got a beautiful association of elements, and an ideal marriage of colours. We build the higher physique of the wing after which every feather group from largest to smallest. (This is kind of satisfying, because it’s the one spot within the mannequin the place you see issues develop in a really logical means. Generally different elements of the mannequin solely make sense when they’re completed.) Here, one other recolor – the brand new palm leaf factor in sand blue – does an incredible job of accentuating the element of the feathers in movement.
With the feathers on the wings and the wings hooked up to the physique, the geometry is properly executed. It actually provides off the vibe of the chicken taking off from the water.
The ultimate part of the Kingfisher itself is, after all, the pinnacle. Various slopes are affixed to a core of brackets and SNOT bricks. Microphones make up the eyes, and a plate with a bar is about in the back of the mouth to carry the fish. Partially rubber tail parts kind the beak. There is an axle that can join the pinnacle to the physique, nonetheless, the orientation of the slopes round it doesn’t permit for a lot motion.
The fish doesn’t seem like a lot of a fish in any respect, besides that it’s made out of silver metallic parts. It’s laborious to seek out an excessive amount of fault right here, although, as a result of it’s actually not the main focus of this show piece, and so they actually couldn’t have finished way more with it.
Recently new fern items comprise a lot of the base of the foliage, together with the seaweed parts.
We cap the entire show off with some nice bulrushes/cattails. They do an excellent job of setting the scene, in addition to distracting from a number of the seen help items.
The accomplished mannequin
In our dialog with Sven, we discovered quite a bit in regards to the design course of and the way this set went by way of some key resolution phases. For instance, having the pose be flight versus perched was one resolution. Another was whether or not the chicken ought to be diving into the water or popping out of it. Color was yet one more consideration, and initially the design workforce did check out a brighter palette, as many kingfishers show vivid plumage. However, this was the one palette that may very well be simply recognizable throughout the globe, was extra acceptable for an grownup viewers, and, after all, was most achievable in LEGO.
It additionally simply so occurs that the colours and scale merely appeared to suit and fall into place. It’s as shut as they may make it to the precise dimension and nonetheless get every little thing they needed out of it. Ultimately, Sven and his workforce appear to have made the suitable decisions, as the important thing options of the chicken are on elegant show.
Conclusions and suggestions
I’m a giant fan of Kingfishers, so I used to be one of many these individuals most excited for this set. I might say that it actually suits the invoice for me (no pun supposed). While there are elements that may be adjusted barely, it’s not a mannequin that’s meant to be performed with in that means. The pose is ok although, and as most individuals will merely need to show it, it’s not lacking something.
There was some speak on the interwebs about individuals not liking the pinnacle. Personally, I believe it seems simply nice, however to every their very own. If you actually needed to do some customized alterations, you most likely may.
Overall, it’s a reasonably simple set to build, though you may get just a little misplaced when placing on the water tiles. As beforehand talked about, it’s not meant to be posed in different methods and moved round, so it truly is a show set versus a play set. I most likely wouldn’t suggest this for a younger viewers except they love birds, however in the event you’re an grownup that wants a enjoyable escape with the added bonus of a chic show piece, this one’s for you.
LEGO Icons 10331 Kingfisher will likely be available February 1st and retail for US $49.99 | CAN $69.99 | UK £44.99.
The LEGO Group despatched The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for evaluate. Providing TBB with merchandise for evaluate ensures neither protection nor constructive evaluations.
