Review: 42621 Heartlake City Hospital
Posted by MeganL,
It took a while for Heartlake City to get in the medical business; the first hospital didn't debut in the Friends world until 41318 Heartlake Hospital in 2017. Fortunately, the second generation of Friends didn't have to wait seven years for a hospital (though it has been seven years since the first hospital).
The new cast of Friends are having their medical needs being addressed with 42621 Heartlake City Hospital. I remember the first hospital having many windows and almost as many stickers, but very few minidolls. I hope that the newer hospital has rectified that somewhat.
This set shows a rather momentous occasion - Autumn is receiving a prosthetic arm!
Summary
42621 Heartlake City Hospital, 1,045 pieces.
£89.99 / $109.99 / €99.99 | 8.6p/10.5c/9.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A satisfying update to Heartlake's City Hospital
- New prosthetic arm for Autumn
- Working elevator
- Therapy dog!
- Scratched clear panels
- Impractical helicopter
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Inside the box there are nine numbered bags, one 8 x 16 plate, a folder with two instruction book and a sticker sheet. While the sticker sheet is large, at least there aren't two stickers sheets like the predecessor!
Minidolls and animals
There are five minidolls in this set (more, if you consider the newborns). Of the primary characters, only Autumn is featured in this set. She's here with her mom, Mia. Autumn is dressed in a purple sleeveless shirt with a fun sunflower logo motif and khaki shorts. Mia is rocking her mom wardrobe with an orange cardigan (that's almost as bright as her hair) over a blue sweater and lime green pants.
Autumn is given an alternate expression in this set. It looks like she's not sure about her new arm.
The other minidolls in the set are all hospital employees. First is Alycia, wearing a short white lab coat over her scrubs and is wearing white gloves. Next is Brendan, who like Alycia, is wearing a name badge and is wearing only scrubs. Finally there's Mary Joy, who is wearing a blue smock over a white shirt.
There's not just one newborn in this set, but two! Eman and Jayson are making their debuts here. As it's difficult to photograph, I put one of the babies in the provided wheelchair for this set. I by no means suggest that babies should be transported this way!
Each baby has their own crib in the maternity ward, which can be removed from the main model. I love the little star mobiles over each crib.
Not all the hospital staff is human. First, there's a helper robot! Sadly, it doesn't come with a name, so no saying if it's a descendant of Zobo (I'd really love to see one!). The robot comes equipped with a balloon and baby bottle, so I think it has maternity ward duty. Rounding out the staff is the therapy dog, which also unfortunately isn't named.
The completed model
The first Heartlake Hospital had a rather laughable ambulance - the way the patients were transported was by being air-lifted! This set continues that trend - there is a fun but rather impractical helicopter provided for the facility.
Fortunately, this isn't intended for patient transport - rather it's to transport a doctor (who is also a pilot?) and supplies, which are stored in a compartment in the back.
Now on to the main model, a rather imposing building. Like the previous hospitals, this features very prominent windows. Unfortunately, I did notice that there were several large scratches in the rounded clear panels - the first time I've experienced that issue in a set.
The entrance has glass double doors, and is appropriately wheelchair accessible. There are nice flower boxes on each of the windows, and the outside lights are all solar-powered.
The other entrance is for the employee break area. How nice that the four-legged employees have their own entrance - also wheelchair accessible. Pickle will be able to visit! There's a tree off to the side with a memorial plaque (provided by a sticker) that indicates "Est. 2012", the first year of Friends.
Unlike the previous hospitals, this one has a working elevator! I like the choice that the designer has made to keep the mechanisms in view.
The elevator is accessed via the wheelchair ramp on the ground floor and there's a knob in the back that allows the worm gear to be turned to allow access to the upper floor. There's adequate room for the wheelchair here, though no railings provided. That's a bit of a hazardous drop!
I really like how the elevator enclosure hinges open to allow for easy access.
Behind the front doors is a reception area/gift shop, with a check in desk and some flowers on hand to take to the patients. Next to the reception area is a X-ray room, where it looks like Autumn has been a recent visitor - it may be her x-ray that's on the screen.
Autumn may not be the only patient at getting x-rayed today.
(Note: X-rayed sloth not included in this set.)
The X-ray room as a door that leads to the bathroom (because of course there's one). This one is pretty basic, but covers all the essentials.
Rounding the corner on the ground floor there's the employee break room. Even if this wasn't in the official description, the donut on the counter is a giveaway!
The employee break area has two parts - one for the humans with a comfy couch that invites interlopers of all kinds. The other is for the four-legged variety with a dog bed, ball, and some kibble and water. I expect the therapy dog spends a bit of time here.
(Note: interloping sloth not included in this set.)
The opposite wall of the break area includes all the standard accoutrements - a microwave, shelf for storing lunches, and some lockers. One of the lockers includes Guble Bubble - that's getting quite popular among this second generation of Friends.
Moving up a floor, there's an exam room and a maternity ward. The elevator provides direct access to the exam room, but there's no door to the maternity ward. Not sure how a minidoll is going to go visit the newborns!
Regardless, the stickered decorations in the ward are very cute. There is a doorway on the other side of the room that leads to a small staging area for baby supplies.
The exam room looks to be where all the action is for Autumn receiving her prosthetic arm. The computer display has the specs for her arm on the screen, and other charts are on the wall.
The prosthetic arm gets a lot of interest, though it won't fit everyone.
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(Note: prosthetic aspiring sloth not included in this set.)
The other side of the maternity ward leads through some double doors to an outdoor break area. It's quite nice, and has some pretty foliage - a nice place to take a quick break, or perhaps take the newborns outside for some fresh air.
The top level of the hospital is given over to some practicalities: some solar panels, a satellite/radio dish, as well as the helipad for the impractical helicopter. I particularly like the brick built heart sign with the EKG wave featured on it.
Overall thoughts
This is a very serviceable hospital for the new generation of residents in Heartlake City! There are a number of similarities between this set and the original 41318, not surprisingly (exam rooms, maternity wards, X-ray rooms). They both even have impractical helicopters! Fortunately, there are more minidolls in this set (five as opposed to three), and the working elevator is a huge plus. I love the helper robot and the therapy dog.
Comparing 41318 to this set, I think it shows how far Friends design has come over the last few years. 41318 was a good set, but it was a building with a lot of rooms (and a lot of stickers). The inclusion of a working elevator is a great add, provides a great building experience, and is something we would not have seen in 2017.
The very nature of a helicopter provides for a lot of play opportunities, especially with the increased number of minidolls and several exam rooms to choose from. This set is $20 more than 41318 was, but with more minidolls, the elevator and other additions, it's worth considering for the money.
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30 comments on this article
is this the first time that Lego added a friends baby?
It looks like it's a helicopter to transport organs, blood or medicine. Snake antivenom, for example, can be transported in small helicopters because few hospitals have them.
@BaconKing said:
"is this the first time that Lego added a friends baby?"
No, they've appeared in a few other sets including the previous hospital.
Excited for that new prosthetic arm piece! If they make it in more colors it could be used as clips that can attach to 1x1 stamp tiles (definitely didn't steal that idea from DuckBricks...)
@kyrodes said:
"It looks like it's a helicopter to transport organs, blood or medicine. Snake antivenom, for example, can be transported in small helicopters because few hospitals have them."
If that was the actual intent, it would be the funniest and most gory inclusion in Lego friends ever.
@DaLegoNerd1 said:
" @kyrodes said:
"It looks like it's a helicopter to transport organs, blood or medicine. Snake antivenom, for example, can be transported in small helicopters because few hospitals have them."
If that was the actual intent, it would be the funniest and most gory inclusion in Lego friends ever."
If that was the intent, Lego's heart is in the right place... flopping around on their desk Airplane-style.
"Unfortunately, I did notice that there were several large scratches in the rounded clear panels - the first time I've experienced that issue in a set"
Really ? It is a re-occuirng issue for me with all Lego sets i buy. Most of them have either large scratches or white spots on them. I ask for replacement parts from Lego and they often come with worse scratches. I am from Europe, maybe it's an EU issue ?
"It took a while for Heartlake City to get in the medical business"
Those are two words that don't belong together. Easy to see which side of the Atlantic you're on ;).
"There were several large scratches in the rounded clear panels - the first time I've experienced that issue in a set"
I envy your past experiences then. Like @StormwolfX above, I too find it unfortunately all too common. LEGO really need to package such elements separately and better protected, preferably in their own cardboard so they don't come in contact with other parts in the bag. I'd be interested to know if James May ( @poshhammer) has any insider insight on this.
Love your reviews. I always enjoy playing "Spot-the-Sloth".
(Apologies for double-dipping, but I'm not sure where else to ask).
Speaking of whom, where did @poshhammer 's "What's Up With That?" articles go? I've just spotted I can't seem to find them on the homepage.
@BrickBob09 said:
"(Apologies for double-dipping, but I'm not sure where else to ask).
Speaking of whom, where did @poshhammer 's "What's Up With That?" articles go? I've just spotted I can't seem to find them on the homepage."
It shows up in the sidebar though... Maybe @Huw can help us here with an answer?
I think I've solved it. The WUWT articles are tagged as "Designer Insights", which is one of Huwbot's article tags along with RSOTD, Most Read articles/sets, etc.
Such articles are automatically removed from the homepage when the next one is published, to presumably prevent Huwbot taking over.
It may be worth to tweak it so human authored articles remain, or change the WUWT article tag, so they remain on the homepage and are able to be found by the news search function.
I always enjoy the sloth cameos!
@BrickBob09 said:
""There were several large scratches in the rounded clear panels - the first time I've experienced that issue in a set"
I envy your past experiences then. Like @StormwolfX above, I too find it unfortunately all too common. LEGO really need to package such elements separately and better protected, preferably in their own cardboard so they don't come in contact with other parts in the bag. I'd be interested to know if James May ( @poshhammer) has any insider insight on this."
I third this.
It's a rare occurrence where I have a set without scratches on clear pieces.
Windows, car windscreens, big dome pieces from the Friends Botanical Garden.
Definitely agree they need to be packaged on their own.
Wondering if and how that prosthetic arm piece will be used elsewhere.
@Ridgeheart said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @DaLegoNerd1 said:
" @kyrodes said:
"It looks like it's a helicopter to transport organs, blood or medicine. Snake antivenom, for example, can be transported in small helicopters because few hospitals have them."
If that was the actual intent, it would be the funniest and most gory inclusion in Lego friends ever."
If that was the intent, Lego's heart is in the right place... flopping around on their desk Airplane-style."
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/search.page?q=3062pb035"
honestly expecting that piece to come from 7199. Kali ma!
I was
@Ridgeheart said:
" @chrisaw said:
" @BrickBob09 said:
""There were several large scratches in the rounded clear panels - the first time I've experienced that issue in a set"
I envy your past experiences then. Like @StormwolfX above, I too find it unfortunately all too common. LEGO really need to package such elements separately and better protected, preferably in their own cardboard so they don't come in contact with other parts in the bag. I'd be interested to know if James May ( @poshhammer) has any insider insight on this."
I third this.
It's a rare occurrence where I have a set without scratches on clear pieces.
Windows, car windscreens, big dome pieces from the Friends Botanical Garden.
Definitely agree they need to be packaged on their own.
"
Unfortunately, you will see this more often. It didn't use to be the case quite so much back when transparent pieces were still cast in MABS, which isn't as prone to scratching. Polycarbonate is more pliable (and less prone to snap), meaning we can have cool elements that would not have been structurally sound when cast in MABS, but - well, scratches. PC scuffs and scratches.
Get yourself some spares from the PAB-walls, or put customer care on speed-dial."
I think you have it the other way around? PC is what they used to use, MABS is the newer material for transparent parts.
Heartlake City is still doing better than whatever town the Modulars are apart of, still no doctor or hospital! Closest thing they have is a vet.
@brick_me said:
"Heartlake City is still doing better than whatever town the Modulars are apart of, still no doctor or hospital! Closest thing they have is a vet. "
I mean, I think a dentist might be closer than a vet...
@brick_me said:
"Heartlake City is still doing better than whatever town the Modulars are apart of, still no doctor or hospital! Closest thing they have is a vet. "
And the vet doesn't like snakes.
@Lyichir said:
" @brick_me said:
"Heartlake City is still doing better than whatever town the Modulars are apart of, still no doctor or hospital! Closest thing they have is a vet. "
I mean, I think a dentist might be closer than a vet..."
Ahh yes, forgot about him, good catch.
@StormwolfX said:
""Unfortunately, I did notice that there were several large scratches in the rounded clear panels - the first time I've experienced that issue in a set"
Really ? It is a re-occuirng issue for me with all Lego sets i buy. Most of them have either large scratches or white spots on them. I ask for replacement parts from Lego and they often come with worse scratches. I am from Europe, maybe it's an EU issue ?"
I wanted to say the same thing. @MeganL must be the luckiest person, because with my sets, ever since LEGO switched to the new material for transparent pieces, basically EVERY large transparent piece I got has/had very prominent scratches.
I was able to polish some of them out with polishing compound, but I don't think that I as a customer of a brand where "only the best is good enough" should be required to do so - especially at the prices LEGO is asking!
This, apart from the general milkiness and cheap off-brand look of the new material is my main gripe about it.
I had the same problem with pieces from BlueBrixx, but there I pay only about a third per piece on average, so I can be a little bit more lenient when it comes to quality issues.
@BrickBob09 said:
""It took a while for Heartlake City to get in the medical business"
Those are two words that don't belong together. Easy to see which side of the Atlantic you're on ;)"
Funny, the exact same thought occurred to me.
Treating patients is a profession, not a business. I'm so glad I live in a country where getting professional medical treatment when necessary is not exclusive to those who are rich.
I feel a bit unsure about Autumn getting a prosthetic. I don't follow the story of the show or comics, so I don't know if it's something she's wanted, but the impression I've got from the sets is that she is living a happy and fulfilling life without it and it's never been an issue, so for a major set to essentially be centralised around changing that feels a bit odd.
Wondered where the mother of the twins was, but realised it's perhaps Mary Joy (instead of her being an employee) judging by her smock and hospital slippers. She is seen caring for the babies in most of the promo shots and is sat in a wheelchair holding one of the babies also.
The elevator is a neat function.
Ah yes, glass walls. No privacy is needed at a hospital, so checks out.
@classicstylecastle said:
"Wondered where the mother of the twins was, but realised it's perhaps Mary Joy (instead of her being an employee) judging by her smock and hospital slippers. She is seen caring for the babies in most of the promo shots and is sat in a wheelchair holding one of the babies also."
I'm pretty sure this is the case, i.e. Mary Joy is the mother of the twins.
The elevator core piece is one of the most innovative parts LEGO has added to City and Friends buildings in the last 2 years, such a great way to have a compact design, without needing an additional floor on top for any sort of winch/rope mechanics.
60366: Ski and Climbing Centre even includes a long rope piece and winch, but its used for the rock climbing wall right next to the elevator.
"Impractical Helicopter"
Found my new band name
Once again Lego does hospital WITH NO PLACE FOR PATIENTS
Still the first Heartlake hospital was the best one.
Solar panels on City and Friends buildings: They're always tiny, and that makes them feel like greenwashing. There isn't the roof-space to fit *many* elements, but at least they could be a *larger* element, like the 30292 3x8 banner (precedent: Space and ISS sets). Too big for a sticker (for the target age group), but if they're a ubiquitous feature amortized across sets, then TLG could afford to print them.
True, PV panels aren't a play feature (e.g. doors, elevators, furniture), but rather an aesthetic feature (e.g. lamp posts, antennas, pictorial signage). I suppose their impractical scale has the same root cause as cars that seat one person, aircraft with notional aerodynamics, and buildings with implied staircases, so if kids accept *those*, they're unlikely to ask "don't solar panels usually come in large groups?"
In the catalog of "environmentally-conscious architectural features," I suppose a ground-source heat pump and rain-permeable pavement can't easily be depicted. :) But huge expanses of window? They should definitely be fritted to avoid bird strikes. :)
I prefer the windows from the older Friends hospital sets where they had the Venetian blind stickers.