8909 Team GB minifig review

  • 8909 Team GB minifig review

    Posted by Huw, 27 Jun 2012 14:33. Filed under Set review.

    Team GB! They hit the shops, a couple of weeks before they were supposed to, late last week. Many branches of John Lewis broke the 'embargo' on selling before July 1st but my branch refused to sell them to me. However, thanks to Brickset member richo I now have a set.

    It must be incredibly frustrating if you're not in the UK and you want to get hold of them, and I sympathise with you. Unfortunately my mini-review won't make you want them any less because, frankly, they are excellent.

    I'm not going to write huge descriptions because the photos below will show you all you need to know. Instead I'll just point out a few things that aren't obvious from looking at them:

     

    • The horse rider's helmet is the only new piece. It's slightly rubbery. The rider has a ponytail, of course :).
    • Some pieces appear in new colours, like the weights and the tennis racquet
    • Only the judo fighter has a printed back: the Team GB logo in black and a continuation of her black belt
    • The relay runner's competitor number is 1948, the year that the Olympics were last held in London

    I've photographed them without their medals so you can see the full detail of the torso printing, which is superb. 

    Team GB!Team GB!Team GB!Team GB!Team GB!Team GB!Team GB!Team GB!Team GB!


    LEGO has done a magnificent job with these, they are miniature works of art, almost. If you are outside the UK and you want to get hold of a set, you have two choices: you can resort to eBay or BrickLink and pay a bit of a premium for them, or you could post a message in the marketplace topic of the forum, hook up with someone in the UK and sort out a trade. There are, after all, plenty of sets around that are not available in the UK to barter with.


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Comments

Posted by jengafett in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 14:59

excellent photos! the boxer is my favourite, though it is quite dissapointing that it is a completely new hand piece, wish it could clip on :-(
I will probably end up getting all of them though!

Posted by Juno in United States, 27 Jun 2012 14:59

These look amazing! Great photos as always Huw!

Posted by PaulTR in United States, 27 Jun 2012 15:01

Neat figures! Pity they aren't availible in the US, but as the Brits have the big job of hosting the Olympics this year, it only seems right you chaps get them first :)

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 15:11

These look fantastic! I will certainly be getting these when I can. Nice review as always Huw and of course excellent photography.

Posted by cecilie in Norway, 27 Jun 2012 15:53

Looks like the horse rider's helmet is the same one used in the new Friends sets (the one with the horse stables), which is probably why it's rubbery, as the Friends' hairpieces are rubbery...

Posted by Savage_Steel in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 16:07

Don't worry folks, if you want minifigs from your country, just order them from me :) http://minifigs.me/london-olympics-2012-minifigures-of-team-gb/ Here's the Team GB ones I did (using the official strips)

Posted by Gregorovich in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 16:09

These are superb, I can't wait to get some. Favourites are the Archer and Gymnast for their hairpieces.

I'm intrigued by the Horse Rider's legs; are they white with black print or vice-versa? And are they printed on the inside-leg too? If so, I think that's the first of it's kind.

Posted by goldfish in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 16:13

Glad they got there safely Huw!

Posted by Clone-gunner-comanda-jedi in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 16:35

Why no packet or checklist image? also when will you be updating the Minifigures theme gallery with these?

Posted by brix in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 16:45

My favourite aspect of these figures is the mostly new hairpieces :) and i love new bases :)

Posted by YellowedWhitePieces in United States, 27 Jun 2012 17:29

It's seems strange that Lego isn't offering these worldwide. Yes, interest will be high in Great Britain, but there are serious collectors the world over who would jump all over this.

Posted by Nate the Great of LEGO in United States, 27 Jun 2012 17:51

@YellowedWhitePieces

That's the point of offering the Team GB Minifigures, people want them so Lego Group knows they'll sell and by making them UK only, they'll sell faster since they are exclusive.

Posted by Goony in Denmark, 27 Jun 2012 18:18

A funny detail. I hope I don't offend anyone.
Of the three female figs the Judo Fighter and the Horse Rider have small lines indicating breasts.
The gymnast doesn't. That's very true to real life as gymnasts usually are small skinny girls.
I didn't expect Lego to be that detailed :-)

Posted by sarlacc98 in United Kingdom, 27 Jun 2012 19:48

They look nice. You Brits are lucky. I really want judo and boxer.

Posted by Andhe in United Kingdom, 28 Jun 2012 11:29

I keep telling myself I'm not bothered about these (being 'city' figures) but the lure of the Olympics and the exclusivity of the figs is tempting me (and the parts in new colours... Yes, I'm looking at you silver 3L bar).

Posted by Gregorovich in United Kingdom, 28 Jun 2012 11:55

I can confirm WHSmith's in Hamilton have these. Unfortunately, they are priced at £2.49:( However, I couldn't resist picking some up so I got the Gymnast, Horse Rider, Judo and Relay (which came to a total of £9.96!!). Only the Archer left for me to get.

Good luck to everyone in their search!

Posted by Doctor Leg O'Brick in United Kingdom, 28 Jun 2012 13:29

Anybody seen them in Birmingham yet?

Posted by Dashofdashing in United Kingdom, 28 Jun 2012 13:37

Well Toys R Us now has them in Tamworth,Birmingham Toys should of had their delivery now. They are up for sale as we speak. Bought 10 need Archer,Judo and. Tennis player with 3 releigh runner swaps and boxer swap!

Posted by Mickitat in Germany, 28 Jun 2012 13:47

I wondered why he had 1948 on him, thanks for clearing that up.

Posted by rainstorm26 in United States, 28 Jun 2012 20:18

Do these have double sided faces with crying on the other side when they get their buts kicked? :) Just kidding.

Posted by Konstantin in United States, 28 Jun 2012 23:23

I am actually surprised that the horse rider is a lady.

Posted by legover in United Kingdom, 29 Jun 2012 04:12

I got two (Weightlifter & Gymnast) from WHSmiths on Thursday. As there was no price on them and the other mini-figs set boxes around them were £1.99, that's what I expected them to be...... But no! As I had several other items, it wasn't untill I examined my receipt on leaving the shop that I realised they were charging £2.49 each. I'm sure there have been many other busy parents caught out by this subterfuge. I shall not be going there again.

Mini-figs looked nice.

Stew.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 29 Jun 2012 04:28

It's always 'buyer beware' in WHS when it comes to LEGO. We posted about the price hike last week: http://www.brickset.com/news/article/?ID=3515, but at the time we didn't know if all shops would be selling the Team GB figs at that price.

Posted by legover in United Kingdom, 29 Jun 2012 05:02

^ I've been a 'bit out of the loop' the the last few weeks so I'd not seen that article. The fact that the price was not shown really annoys me. Other Lego has always been over priced in WHS, but they have been selling the collectable mini-figs for the £1.99 RRP. As the Lego shop is listing them for £1.99, I will be going elsewhere for future purchases.

That'll teach me to keep up to date with my Brickset News. :-) Cheers Huw. Thanks for a great (informative) site.

Stew.

Posted by chr15rey in United Kingdom, 29 Jun 2012 16:58

Managed to get a brand new un-opened box from my Toys R Us, no sets for sale for profit, 2 sets for me, my mates are buying 1 set each.

On another note, managed to sort out my box of Series 7 Minifigs last night, one of the Aztec men didn't feel right, opened it up & he had no spear in the packet :( Emailed spares at Lego last night & they responded saying that the part was kit specific & spares were not availible, I rang them today & the man on the phone was the most helpfull bloke on earth, he looked on all his collegues desks for the spear but to no avail, instead he said he'd send me 2 minifigs out free of charge :) After 10 mins gropping in Tesco I found a complete Aztec man to complete the set :)

A big thumbs up to the help provided by Lego, if only all customer services could be like that

Posted by The Lego Train Station in United Kingdom, 30 Jun 2012 07:54

these look awesome, and if i can get all of one series, this will be that series. one low note though, are they made in china? cuz the standard series are aren't they?

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