Review: 40697 Halloween Pumpkin
Posted by Huw,
40697 Halloween Pumpkin is currently a gift with purchase at LEGO.com, free when you spend over £110 / $120 / €120 or more.
Like the pumpkin in 3047 Halloween Bucket, the first set to contain orange bricks in any significant quantity, this one can be given a happy or more sinister face.
Summary
40697 Halloween Pumpkin, 254 pieces.
Smaller than I expected, but a fun seasonal set nevertheless.
- Changeable faces
- Light brick
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Unlike that one, though, this version is three-dimensional and the wealth of curved pieces introduced in the intervening years have been used to give it a nicely rounded appearance.
At about 8cm in diameter, the squash is perhaps not as large as I thought it was, judging by the picture on the box, so I've added a couple of goats to the picture below for scale.
The front face can be built in two different ways -- instructions for both are provided -- and it's attached with just two studs allowing it to be removed easily.
The floating ghost adds a whimsical touch.
The top assembly holding the light brick is not attached to the bottom part of the gourd, it rests on top, just like the piece you'd cut off a real one to facilitate it being hollowed out. It 'mates' with it, though, so it doesn't fall off.
The light is illuminated by pressing on the stalk. Light leakage is minimal, primarily restricted to around the top.
Overall, it's a pretty cool model and an excellent GWP whose availability coincides with the release of some interesting sets. So, place an order now to avoid disappointment!
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47 comments on this article
Is this the first GWP with a light brick?
Just made an order and can’t wait! ??
That ghost really needs a hand on top of his head.
@HJB2810 said:
"Is this the first GWP with a light brick?"
I wondered about that too, but surprisingly not. 40600 Disney 100 Years Celebration includes a light brick, as does 5002931 Disco Dance Floor, though I am unsure whether the latter was ever a gift-with-purchase.
The alt face looks high.
Great GWP but would have been incredible as a $10 set
Looks great! I have a few on the way, excited to build it and display for Halloween every year!
And the light brick is a nice touch too, overall a winner!
@LegoMKB said:
"Great GWP but would have been incredible as a $10 set"
Such is the case with many GWP it seems. I suppose that's why they're GWPs in the first place though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io8urO08-jg
Apparently this ghost has a fear of goats, judging by the lack of a smile in the one picture.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @HJB2810 said:
"Is this the first GWP with a light brick?"
I wondered about that too, but surprisingly not. 40600 Disney 100 Years Celebration includes a light brick, as does 5002931 Disco Dance Floor, though I am unsure whether the latter was ever a gift-with-purchase."
I haven't noticed 40600's amazing projector function before!
Perfect GWP. Sometimes getting multiple copies discourages me from making further purchases. In this case, the more the merrier!
3731 used to have B model instructions to turn two copies into a 3D jack-o-lantern while an individual set built a 2D version.
Should have been an actual set. I genuinely think the trend of GWP sets has been one of the worst decisions Lego has made in the last few years. I'm at least hoping the aftermarket for this won't be too bad, it's a very cute set that could have easily been sold as a Lego Shop exclusive to go along with 40721.
Does the alternate face remind anyone else of the Stay Puft marshmallow man?
I topped up my bricks and pieces order I was going to make today so I could reach the target for this. I needed more than what I was ordering anyway, I broke the order down so it wasn't so much all at once.
Not sure if I'll be able to get more than one, I was going to spread my orders out longer than this offer goes on.
It's a good gwp and it's nice to be in a position to qualify and be able to afford it for once.
I like a lot of GWP sets but this might be one of my favorites in recent memory. Such a solid design that makes for a great standalone decoration. The customizability is the icing on the cake.
Thematically, it reminds me fondly of 3047 (one of my childhood sets, and the first set to introduce orange bricks).
For those who are upset about it being a GWP, I don't think it has any exclusive parts—it ought to be easy enough to order the parts to build or customize your own.
Ghost should glow in the Dark
@shaase said:
"Ghost should glow in the Dark"
Ooh..glow in the dark bricks,now that’s an idea!
@Euroseb11 said:
" @shaase said:
"Ghost should glow in the Dark"
Ooh..glow in the dark bricks,now that’s an idea!"
76190 has one on the Iron Mongers unibeam! Ghost minifigs also are traditionally glow in the dark! \(^^)/
You want glow-in-the-dark parts? 80028
Lovely review; I appreciate the appropriate botanical pumpkin-related terminology.
@shaase said:
"Ghost should glow in the Dark"
Would be nice, but while some of the parts for it do come in White Glow (the current GITD color), others like the jumper plates used for the face or the 2x2 quarter circle tiles sadly don't. And chances are a GWP set like this didn't have the budget for recolors like that.
I am excited for my pumpkin set to arrive! Placed my order in the wee hours of the morning. Getting the Brite Bomber BrickHeadz, too. I ordered set 76781 Wednesday & Enid's Dorm Room and bricks from the PAB. My first set with minidolls.
The "happy" face looks somehow creepier than the "scary" one.
@Onatu said:
"Should have been an actual set. I genuinely think the trend of GWP sets has been one of the worst decisions Lego has made in the last few years. I'm at least hoping the aftermarket for this won't be too bad, it's a very cute set that could have easily been sold as a Lego Shop exclusive to go along with 40721."
It's a reward for shoping on their site/It's a honeytrap to make you buy overpriced sets, instead of going to the retailers and their discounts.
Great little set, though I'd put in the negative column the fact that you can only have one face built at a time. Not a huge deal but certainly more inconvenient than being able to just swap them out.
That colour really stands out against that white!
Tell me you guys Photoshopped the name on the pictures of the box just to keep up your British superiority complex, right? ;-)
Fun little set, though I wonder if they couldn't have made it with two faces, so you'd just have to turn it around to get the other one.
If this were available at Lego B&M stores or online for $25, I would have easily bought this. It's a fun, well designed set. As a GWP, I barf; not going to spend $120 to get it. Would have sold more at a retail price than they will make from sales going for the GWP. Sad decision on their part.
@WizardOfOss said:
"Tell me you guys Photoshopped the name on the pictures of the box just to keep up your British superiority complex, right? ;-)"
Why, does it say “Creatour”?
@WizardOfOss said:
"Tell me you guys Photoshopped the name on the pictures of the box just to keep up your British superiority complex, right? ;-) "
I hadn't noticed that the set was given an 'international' name after all!
@Huw said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"Tell me you guys Photoshopped the name on the pictures of the box just to keep up your British superiority complex, right? ;-) "
I hadn't noticed that the set was given an 'international' name after all!"
You guys may have more influence over Lego than you ever imagined!
I wonder how many Muricans will now boycot this set just because of the name....
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Huw said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"Tell me you guys Photoshopped the name on the pictures of the box just to keep up your British superiority complex, right? ;-) "
I hadn't noticed that the set was given an 'international' name after all!"
You guys may have more influence over Lego than you ever imagined!
I wonder how many Muricans will now boycot this set just because of the name...."
I love this Jack-o-lantern, the Jack-o-reviewer, and glad he didn't jack the review with needless predilections about jack.... or jack-o-lanterns.
EDIT: This great JACK-O-LANTERN review convinced me to click through and buy some bricks. You're welcome, Jack!
I assume that the goats included in one of your photos don't come with this set -- are they Huw's answer to MeganL's sloths?
@BrickAnomie said:
"I assume that the goats included in one of your photos don't come with this set -- are they Huw's answer to MeganL's sloths?"
He started it. Megan followed.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Huw said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"Tell me you guys Photoshopped the name on the pictures of the box just to keep up your British superiority complex, right? ;-) "
I hadn't noticed that the set was given an 'international' name after all!"
You guys may have more influence over Lego than you ever imagined!
I wonder how many Muricans will now boycot this set just because of the name...."
Only the ones who don't know Jack Schitt....
@StyleCounselor said:
" @BrickAnomie said:
"I assume that the goats included in one of your photos don't come with this set -- are they Huw's answer to MeganL's sloths?"
He started it. Megan followed. "
You're refering to this?
https://brickset.com/article/57030/modifying-the-bonsai-tree
@watcher21 said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @BrickAnomie said:
"I assume that the goats included in one of your photos don't come with this set -- are they Huw's answer to MeganL's sloths?"
He started it. Megan followed. "
You're refering to this?
https://brickset.com/article/57030/modifying-the-bonsai-tree"
Yes I think that's where it started!
@Huw said:
" @watcher21 said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @BrickAnomie said:
"I assume that the goats included in one of your photos don't come with this set -- are they Huw's answer to MeganL's sloths?"
He started it. Megan followed. "
You're refering to this?
https://brickset.com/article/57030/modifying-the-bonsai-tree"
Yes I think that's where it started!"
A blast from the past. $800 worth of goats!
I'd be fine with a Goat with Purchase, but this is nice too.
@sjr60 said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @Huw said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"Tell me you guys Photoshopped the name on the pictures of the box just to keep up your British superiority complex, right? ;-) "
I hadn't noticed that the set was given an 'international' name after all!"
You guys may have more influence over Lego than you ever imagined!
I wonder how many Muricans will now boycot this set just because of the name...."
Only the ones who don't know Jack Schitt...."
I used to think I didn't know Jack Schitt, but Diogenes taught me that by not knowing him shows that perhaps I actually know him as well as anyone can.
This is exactly the kind of seasonal vignette I've been waiting for and would definitely pick up if it wasn't a GWP.
@b2_O said:
"The alt face looks high."
Well the punpkin is getting lit :P
Does anyone know if this is only available through spooky season? Is it limited edition? To get over the £110 mark I’m seeing if I can get friends to place Lego orders through me but they might be Christmas presents so I don’t know how soon I can pressure them into buying stuff :P
@wellmeaninglegomum said:
"Does anyone know if this is only available through spooky season? Is it limited edition? "
Only available until 14th Oct, and every chance it will run out before then!
I hate gwps, they should just have the set available to buy, and people who send enough just get it for free. There is no reason this isn’t a normal set, and it is in no way worth 120$ to get.