Round one of the Bricklink Designer program happened back in the summer of 2021. The sets that I ordered finally got delivered in March 2022. I believe Europe got their deliveries first and then North America. This set is #910028-1: Pursuit of Flight. It was designed by JK Brickworks which is made up of Jason Allemann and Kristal. The set contains 541 pieces and retailed for $54.99 in the US. This works out to $0.102 per piece. The program only allowed between 5,000 and 10,000 copies of the set to be produced so you’ll only find this one on BrickLink or other secondary sales locations. Another option is to piece out the set using the instructions available online and building it yourself. I’m not sure how much that would cost, but it could save you some if you have a lot of the parts on hand or if you substitute colors and pieces with parts in your inventory or that you can pick up used.
The box is white with BrickLink’s logo. The front and back both have the logo while the front only lists the standard LEGO lettering with set number, age range (18+), piece count, the warning not to swallow tiny pieces, and the set name with designer. The back just gives another picture of the set with a different view and different planes attached. You’ll note on the bottom of the picture I took of the back is the BrickLink seal. I guess they are concerned about people opening the set and then re-closing it and trying to sell it off as new. Not a problem with this sticker.
The side of the box as you lift open the cover says “Bricklink Designer Program” and “2021 Invitational.”
Here’s how the set was packed. Instead of instructions in the form of a booklet, you get a card. The card gives you the option to scan a QR code which lets you download an app to view 3D instructions. I used the app instructions. They weren’t too bad, but it took some getting used to after building with paper booklets for so many years. I liked the ability to pivot the model on the screen to see other sides. To improve it, I would add in the ability to tell colors apart better; Multiple shades of blue and brown/red in this set were a challenge to pick out. I’m glad the set wasn’t much larger. Also, I would add in the ability to line up Technic pins like in the paper instructions to verify that you have the right size.
The card provided a link to go and download a .pdf version of the instructions. I tried the link, but it didn’t work. However, if you go to Bricklink and the Designer Program page, you can go to the page for each individual model and download the instructions there. You can still use a screen, or you can print them (if you have a lot of ink and paper).
This set contains four parts bags numbered one through three with two bags labeled number three. Bag one contains a teal brick separator to add to your collection.
Bag one builds the main base with the majority of the Technic parts. The brick section is fairly simple to put together with mostly studs on top. The Technic build just required that you watch how pieces were lined up and how long the various axles were. Overall, not too bad though.
The second bag adds a top to the box section that you built with bag one. The top has a microscale village with some buildings, roads, and trees. Using clear antenna pieces and some white plates and tiles, you add in some clouds. The last section you add in is the last of the Technic pieces. The longer axles were slightly hard to install as the pieces they attach to weren’t set in place below or at least one isn’t. I had to fish for that one, get the axle installed, and then I could attach the second one. Not a huge deal, just something to pay attention to if you build this one.
The last part of the build is assembling the aircraft in bag three. This set comes with five different designs, but you could easily add your own as desired. For this one, you get a triplane, a biplane, two single wing aircraft (one with the wing below the fuselage and one with the wing above the fuselage), and then a small version of the Wright Flyer. The triplane and biplane both come with a minifigure head with a flight cap to have it look like there’s a pilot (although it’s too small of a plane to fit the rest of the minifigure). The other three do not have pilots. You can interchange them as desired to “fly” them on the set. While the original Wright Flyer didn’t do a whole lot of maneuvering, it’s a fun concept to add that aircraft in.
Overall, I like the set and think it’s something out of the ordinary that we haven’t seen before in the Ideas line or elsewhere. The price is a bit steep considering what you’re getting, but it is a “low production” run set so that’s what you get. I’m curious to know if anyone built this on their own with their own parts or parts sourced from Bricklink or elsewhere. I’m looking forward to more of the Bricklink Designer Program sets.
Happy building!
