Review: 42678 Pet Accessories Van
Posted by MeganL,
We've had one set with a few cats, another set with a lot of dogs, so it looks like the Friends team is paying plenty of attention to pets this year! It's not at all surprising then, that there's another set dedicated to pets - or perhaps their owners - in 42678 Pet Accessories Van.
This set seems to be a natural complement to the other pet-themed sets - after all, the pet owners need to go shopping. Or in this case, the shopping can come to them.
Summary
42678 Pet Accessories Van, 237 pieces.
£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 | 7.6p / 8.4c / 8.4c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Another fun play set at an attractive price point
- Two minidolls and three animals
- First Friends frog
- Nice moving function for the tail
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Inside the box there are three numbered bags, two instruction books, and a sticker sheet. Since it's a smaller set, it's fitting that the sticker sheet is also small.
Minidolls and animals
There are two minidolls in this set - both from the regular crew. Nova looks like she's just come in from cycling, as her jacket looks like a cycling one. It's quite colourful with yellow and pink sleeves with purple accents. Aliya looks like she's still ready for her tennis match as she was at the dog treats bakery.
The torsos have some nice rear printing, especially Nova's jacket with a spaceship on the back.
The set is diversifying the pet population. Dogs are represented by Dango, Zac's pug. Pluto, looking as traumatized as ever, is here for the cats. I wonder if Pluto is just always surprised, or is just reflecting the general horror of having to wear a hat?
Finally, there's Hopper the frog. I think this is Hopper's first appearance in a set.
The competed model
There are two small builds - first is a menu showing all the different accessories available. It seems clear the dogs from the bakery did their shopping here for their headwear.
As has been a trend over the last year or so, there's a brick-built mascot for the van, too - this time in the shape of a dog bone.
The star of the set is of course its namesake, the van. The van has a bonus of having some doggy features, such as a big black nose on the grill, and a pink tongue. The headlights serve as eyes. There are even floppy ears on the side!
Large icons on the side with stickers show that the clientele is targeted to be the same species as what the van resembles. This set is giving me vibes of 41301 Puppy Parade from 2017.
Appropriately, the rear of the van has a tail. A worm gear in the bottom of the vehicle allows the tail to "wag" as the van moves.
Enough of the van, the title of the set is, after all, "Pet Accessories". Lifting up the side panel of the van shows that indeed the van is filled with many accessories for the Friends pets.
The van is clearly a storage area while the accessories are in transit. Inside is a space for the proprietor with a small register. It's where visitors can hang out.
(Note: sloth proprietor not included in this set.)
It's a nice feature that the accessories counters can be listed out for maximum play. There's enough room in the van to allow Dango to assume selling duties.
There's a nice variety of accessories. I think we know where Sage got their fedora from in 42677 Dog Treats Bakery.
Overall thoughts
This is another win for the Friends team at a lower price point. Three animals, two minidolls, and a pretty decent vehicle for $20!
I really like that the van itself has space for the accessory display so it's a play set that can be used on the go. The dog features detailing is really fun! I like the tail wagging feature on the van, too.
The Friends team is doing a great job with the smaller sets this year - dogs, cats, frogs and axolotls.
41 likes
12 comments on this article
I feel reminded of Scooby-Doo. And Dumb And Dumber...
Wouldn't those "ears" interfere with the use of the side mirrors? Wouldn't care to back this puppy up without modifying them a little--fortunately, that shouldn't be difficult. The rest of the doggy-detailing of the van is quite cute!
The frog is nicer than I expected. I'd replace one of the hats with a high-class dog treat, though.
This looks like the kind of vendor that would attend a pet show or be found near a dog park!
Thank you for the fun review, MeganL!
I am very interested in those accessories…would you be willing to disclose what spares there were to this set?
I saw the review on new elementary, im surprised the worm gear function didnt get a pic! its such a weird piece, a technic gear box shifter I think. super funky orange colour. fun feature tho, I love when lego finds uses for hyper specific parts like that and throws them into random small sets like this.
I do like how the Technic gear-shifter causes the van to wag its tail. I have... questions about that bone-mascot. Is it there to teach children about their own mortality? "Hello kids! I am inside of you! I am legion! There have ALWAYS BEEN SO MANY OF ME INSIDE OF YOU!!"
It does serve as a very effective distraction from this set's real danger, well played.
Just how sustainable is this as a business, though? Is there really that large of a market for people buying hats for their pets? I have to wonder.
This reminds me of the Dumb and Dumber car!
Frog? Gonna have to wait for that to land on OPAB (and then for it to ship from PABS), because I'm not paying that much just for a frog. But this is a Friends frog, so it can wear hats, yes? Does that make it Michigan J. Frog?
@PurpleDave said:
"Frog? Gonna have to wait for that to land on OPAB (and then for it to ship from PABS), because I'm not paying that much just for a frog. But this is a Friends frog, so it can wear hats, yes? Does that make it Michigan J. Frog?"
Everybody do the Michigan Raaaaaaaaaaaaag!
close enough. Welcome back 75902 Mystery Machine
@PurpleDave said:
"Frog? Gonna have to wait for that to land on OPAB (and then for it to ship from PABS), because I'm not paying that much just for a frog. But this is a Friends frog, so it can wear hats, yes? Does that make it Michigan J. Frog?"
No, this is clearly just a normal frog. Putting a hat on it will not convince anyone that it's anything otherwise. Do you want to end up in a loony bin?
@TheOtherMike said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"Frog? Gonna have to wait for that to land on OPAB (and then for it to ship from PABS), because I'm not paying that much just for a frog. But this is a Friends frog, so it can wear hats, yes? Does that make it Michigan J. Frog?"
No, this is clearly just a normal frog. Putting a hat on it will not convince anyone that it's anything otherwise. Do you want to end up in a loony bin?"
But he was just singing before you got here!