Set Review - #21039 - Shanghai, China - LEGO Architecture

I don't review too many of the Architecture themed sets, but here are a few I've done in the past if you are interested:

#21023 - Flatrion Building, New York
#21031 - Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

This review is of one of the Architecture skyline series within the Architecture theme.  These skylines were started in 2016 with New York City, Berlin, and Venice.  2017 had Chicago, London, and Sydney.  2018 brought this set and will have Las Vegas which was delayed due to it's inclusion of the Mandalay Bay resort and casino and a forced redesign after tragic events that happened there a few months back.

This set is the first in Asia and my guess is it is an attempt to garner support from the huge market in Asia and China.  It was released in the US on 1 January 2018.  It contains 597 parts and retails in the US for $59.99.  That works out to $0.10 per piece.  I purchased the set for $47.99 from Walmart which works out to $0.08 per piece.  As of the writing of this post (early April 2018), the set is on sale for 20% off at Amazon.com and Walmart in the US.

Onto the review... The box looks much like the other Architecture sets.  Set on the front and then description of buildings on the back.  It opens the same way as the others too.

The contents are 6 bags, an instruction booklet, and 2 flex rods not in bags.  The instruction booklet has some great pictures of the actual city and some descriptions of each of the buildings.  After the English version it goes through the same in Spanish and French.  I'm kind of a fan of the unmarked bags.  You have to find the pieces versus opening bag 1 and then 2 and so forth.  It makes it more of a challenge to build.

The first part of the build is the base.  I am a fan of how it's built.  Some of the past Architecture builds I have done have just had a rectangular base.  I like how this one has a rounded part and isn't symmetrical.  

The part of the build includes the Chenghuang Miao Temple, Longhua Temple and Pagoda, Radisson Blu Hotel (in the back), Bund area, and the Oriental Pearl.  The first 2 older buildings would be really awesome to build on their own in a larger scale, but I can't see LEGO building them.  The Bund area is designed pretty well considering how small of a scale it is shrunk down to.  The Radisson in the back isn't all that exciting.  I'm not as familiar with the city, but I would think they could have picked a better building.  

The buildings on the right side are much more impressive in my opinion.  The Oriental Pearl is definitely an interesting design and the LEGO designers did a good job scaling it down.  The World Financial Center is another good build and if anything the brick color is great.  The final building is the Shanghai Tower.  The use of the Technic 3x3 half beam curves and the flex tubes to create the curved shape is an ingenious technique.

Here's the final set.  I think it looks great.  I do think it's overpriced at the retail price so grab it at 20% off from Amazon.com or Walmart if you can.  If you're a fan of the Architecture theme or the skylines, I would definitely add it to your collection.  It's a great build and it comes with some great pieces to use elsewhere too.  What are your thoughts?

Set Review - #21309 - NASA Apollo Saturn V - LEGO Ideas

The seventeenth LEGO Ideas set (has it been that many already) was released in the USA on 2 June 2017.  The NASA Apollo Saturn V has 1,969 pieces (after the year 1969 when the USA reached the moon).  Priced at $199.99 it works out to be $0.061 per piece (which is great).  It has been sold out multiple times since it was released.  I'm lucky to have snagged one before it was sold out again.  Onto the set review...

Here is the box.  The front shows the completed set with the NASA logo.  The back shows the different stages of the rocket along with a pictorial timeline from launch to moon landing.  

The set contains 12 parts bags and a thick instruction booklet.  Like other Ideas sets, the instruction booklet has information about the set design process and the Apollo Saturn V itself.  

Bag 1 starts off with the S-1C Stage (I had to go to the instruction booklet... I didn't actually know that off the top of my nugget).  For those of you who aren't space buffs, that's the bottom stage of the Saturn 5 with the giant rockets that lift the whole thing off the launch pad.  The use of SNOT techniques starts off with this stage.  It's pretty impressive that they didn't have to use all giant BURPs.  This part was probably the most fragile of the build.  It fell apart multiple times during the build.  Thankfully it held together and the rest of the build was pretty solid after that.  

Bag 2 added more to the S-1C stage.  One of the best parts of this build (in my opinion) was the printed bricks (curved slopes).  I couldn't imagine having to apply stickers to this entire set in all of the places it would have been required.  The printed curved slopes definitely make the set look more realistic and make it look sharper.

Bag 3 continues with the stage and making the outside round.  Besides curved slopes that say "U - S - A" there are also American flag curved slopes.

Bag 4 continues to round out the S-1C stage.

Bag 5 finalizes the rounding out of the stage.  The use of 1x2 white grill tiles to make it rounded is an interesting building technique.  That part gets a bit repetitive, but it helps add realism to the actual rocket.

Bag 6 adds the 5 F-1 engines with the use of the barrel pieces.  If you look at this set you can see where a brown version was used as a look out post for a Pirates set.  Interesting use of the same piece in black for a rocket.

Bag 7 is the S-II stage.  The build starts off the same way as the last stage with an inner shell.

Bag 8 continues on the S-II stage.  I am a huge fan of the 1x6 white printed tiles.  Thank you LEGO for not using stickers here.  

Build 9 finishes out the outer shell of the stage.  4 steps to finish out each side.  

Bag 10 completes the stage and the picture here shows it attached to the S-1C stage.

Bag 11 is the S-IVB stage.  You can see the J-2 engine in the picture of it alone and then the other picture is of it attached to the rest of the model.  It's definitely getting tall and harder to photograph (for a non-pro like me).

Bag 12 has numerous items.  Pictured here is the Lunar Module on the surface of the moon along with 4 astronaut figures.  It's pretty impressive the amount of detail the builder crammed in despite the size.  The 1x2 printed American flag tile is great that it is not a sticker, but I can see myself losing it someday based on how it is attached.  

Huge fan of the use of the gold colored pieces!

Here is the Command Service Module after landing in the ocean.  It has the flotation raft and balloons out (are those the technical terms?).  This part is a simple build and once again I'm glad there are not stickers. 

The last part is the instrument unit (on the bottom, but it's the top in the picture), The covering for the lunar module, service module, and command module, and then the tip called the launch escape system.  This part of the build was pretty easy, but the instruction booklet does a good job of showing how the actual rocket was set up.

Here's the full rocket (only I'm a bad photographer so you miss the very tip).  It comes with 3 stands so you can set the rocket on its side.  This also allows you to take the stages apart and display them separately.  To be fair, the design is sturdy enough that you can set it down on the bottom stage and it will not come apart (unless you knock it on the floor).

The verdict... AWESOME!  I highly recommend this set.  It was a great build with some nice detail and interesting building techniques.  The types of pieces used are pretty good too if you would want to take it apart.  The no stickers is a real bonus too.  The downside... it went on sale in the US, was sold out, was back in stock, and has been sold out for over a month again as of the posting of this review.  LEGO has not said whether they will add more to inventory or if it is done.  If you haven't purchased one and you want one, pick it up before it sells out again.  I'm glad I caught it when I did.  If LEGO doesn't release additional inventory, my guess is this set will jump up pretty quick on the secondary market.  

Site update - 5 Aug 2017

Sorry it's been a while since an update.  Between changes at work and home along with filling BrickLink orders, I haven't had a chance to post anything in a while.  

I have received set 21309, the LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V, and plan to do a review.  I will post it soon.  

As for progress towards supporting Brick Dreams, we're at just under $70.  Thank you all for your support of this great cause.

I've received a bunch of Batman Movie and Series 17 Collectible Minifigures that I'll be adding to the store soon.  I haven't ordered any of the Ninjago movie minifigs yet, but intend to soon.  

Thanks for following and happy building!