Mini-review: 40052 Springtime Scene

 

  • Mini-review: 40052 Springtime Scene

    Posted by Huw, 07 Feb 2013 10:00. Filed under Set review.

    40052 Springtime sceneSpring is in the air...

    Actually it's still freezing in the UK at the moment, but LEGO brand stores have put this set, 'Springtime scene', out on the shelves to remind us that, hopefully, warmer weather is just around the corner.

    40052 is the latest in the 40000 series of sets that are normally exclusively sold in LEGO brand stores and shop.LEGO.com. They are usually seasonally themed, designed for specific shops (e.g. in New York), or for special in-store offers.

    This one is unusual in that it's the first seasonal one to contain minifigs.

    For a polybag set, it has a lot of pieces, 88 of them, including quite a few substantial ones. Consequently it commands a higher price than you'd perhaps expect for a polybag: £6.99.

    As you can see from the photo above, it consists of three sub-models: a bench, a fountain and a tree. It contains 18 (plus 2 spares) of the 'Bracelet upper part' (1 x 1 flowery-piece) which is used on the flower stems and on the tree. The tree also has cherries hanging from it, which I believe is the first time I've seen that in an official model.

    As I've said before, and will now demonstrate, the 1 x 1 flowery piece is for connecting certain pieces stud-to-stud:

    Useful building technique Useful building technique

    (Who'd have thought you might learn a useful building technique whilst reading Brickset!)

    The minifigs feature some of the more useful and attractive generic torsos that have been made over the last few years but, really, would the woman be wearing an all-orange trouser-suit? I think she'd have looked better in jeans.

    40052 Springtime scene

    My only criticism of the set is that it would have been preferable to have had a larger base plate, say a 16 x 16, and for everything to fit on it rather than being three separate parts.

    In summary, this is a neat little set, but its relatively high price probably pushes it above the impulse buy threshold for the casual buyer, particularly when there are much cooler sets (Kai's Power Mech for example) to be had for about the same amount of money.

    It's definitely one that true LEGO aficionados will appreciate though. With 40054 Summer Scene and 40057 Fall Scene sets due out later this year, together they'll all make a neat display.


    11 comments, latest one posted 3 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by Andr3a88 in Italy, 07 Feb 2013 11:23

Probably you forgot that the Zombie Car (40076) was the first set of the 40000 series that include a minifig ;)

Posted by Joefish in United Kingdom, 07 Feb 2013 11:56

One wonders if, perhaps, a Winter Scene might follow at some point? Or perhaps I miss-read 'Fall Scene' and it's actually an accessory to the thespian minifig involving Ophelia, a willow tree and a muddy Danish river.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 07 Feb 2013 12:03

^^ I didn't consider that to be a 'seasonal' set as such.

Posted by shinpi in France, 07 Feb 2013 13:05

I got it for almost half-price at my local Lego store because of a price tag issue… I wouldn't have bought it otherwise, but now I actually kind of like the tree… ;)

Posted by DaveBey in United States, 07 Feb 2013 13:28

I hope this set is available in the United States soon! When I saw your review, I immediately went to shop.LEGO.com and searched for it with no luck.

Posted by Odeinoichus in Canada, 07 Feb 2013 14:00

I'd like this little beauty too, probably only available online though, unless TRU is now suddenly allowed to stock exclusive polybags of this type from LEGO in Canada, since The LEGO Store in Canada is pretty much relegated to about three provinces and isn't as numerous as it is in other countries. As far as I am aware, please correct me if I am wrong and The LEGO Store is only a store found in very few areas, much like it is here.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 07 Feb 2013 14:17

Give it time, it's only been available here for a few days.

Posted by caperberry in United Kingdom, 07 Feb 2013 14:32

Ooh, I did NOT know that technique!! Cool.

Posted by rosney in United States, 07 Feb 2013 14:35

We already had a winter scene last xmas right? Summer at the beach and yeah, a fall scene would rock.

Posted by dougts in United States, 07 Feb 2013 14:49

i feel like these sets are getting MUCH better of late

Posted by Clan Stonebraker in United States, 07 Feb 2013 16:16

@ Odeinoichus Lego stores were once very scarce, they now seem to be popping up like Starbucks, one across the street from each other. An exaggeration of course, well not for the Starbucks, but they've had tremendous growth in the states, and from what I've been seeing, in the UK. We actually have two in the Seattle area which seems surprising.

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