Over the past couple weeks, I got around to assembling a few Lego sets I’ve had around the house for quite a while.
First up was the Mini, set number 10242. This was a really enjoyable build, with some super cute details like a picnic basket complete with tiny bread and cheese. Like the reviewer above, I think the steering wheel is kind of too big for the rest of the car, but overall, it’s a great set.
Next up, I repaired the VW Bus, set number 10220. This set was a birthday present from my wife, then girlfriend, three years ago. I put it together on my birthday weekend, and set it on the sideboard in the dining room for the night. I woke up to discover our three-month-old kittens knocked it over during the night, shattering it all over the floor. I gathered up all the pieces and put them in a box, which sat on a shelf in my office until about a week ago when I decided to put it back together. I took apart almost everything that was still together and built it back up. When I finished, I discovered I was missing a piece. Luckily it wasn’t a set-specific piece and I ordered a few on eBay. This is a great set, with a ton of fun little details inside the van. Totally worth whatever the asking price is these days.
Most recently, I put together the Ferrari F40, set number 10248. My wife’s parents got this for me as a Christmas or birthday present a few years ago. Like pretty much all the Creator Expert sets, this one was a fun build. I was especially impressed with how the set created the angled section of the car behind the doors. The actual F40 is pretty angular, so it lends itself well to a Lego set I think.
The yellow truck is set number 4404, also known as Land Busters. I’ve had this set assembled for a while, but brought it to my house from my parent’s recently. This set came out in 2003, but I’m not sure when it was retired. I got it when I was a kid and I remember my mom being annoyed that my dad bought it for me. At close to 800 pieces, it was beyond my ability as an eight year old. I finally got around to finishing it like 10 years later. It’s apparently considered a decent, but maybe underwhelming set, mainly due to a non-functional steering wheel.
I finally got around to using a Lego gift card my parents got me last year. I a month or so ago that Lego was re-releasing the Apollo Saturn V, identical to the original set, but with a new set number. I regretted not getting this during the original run, especially after I saw the completed set at my uncle’s house. To say it’s enormous is an understatement. It looks just like the real thing, and the building techniques are very interesting. 10/10, absolutely worth the price.
During this storm of Lego, I’ve learned that retired sets are often worth multiples of their original price, even in used condition. It makes me feel a bit more at ease about buying Lego sets, because there isn’t really such a thing as a cheap Lego set. Not that I ever plan to sell any, knowing they increase in value over time makes me feel a little better.