Review: 40701 Ballerina & Nutcracker Scene
Posted by Huw,
40701 Ballerina & Nutcracker Scene is the first of two gifts with purchase that'll be offered at LEGO.com from the 6th to the 12th of December, free when you spend over $150 / €150 / £135.
Summary
40701 Ballerina & Nutcracker Scene, 244 pieces.
A Christmas GWP that's a bit different to the usual seasonal fare
- Simple but effective mechanism inside
- Gold embellishments
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The Nutcracker is a ballet set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree in a child's imagination and this little model encapsulates that wonderfully.
The dancer is mounted on a splat-gear mechanism that's operated using a lever at the back. Moving it from side-to-side causes the ballerina to sweep across the stage and turn as she does so.
She's carrying the nutcracker doll -- a dark tan microfigure -- gifted to her during the ballet.
It's hard to see in the pictures above, but behind the tree the black panels in the 1x2x3 window frames are covered with stickers showing stars and the moon. The frames also add interest to the back of the model.
It's a charming little model which incorporates a simple but clever mechanism, and it makes a nice change from the fare usually served up in the pre-Christmas GWPs.
I hope there's still something you want to buy at LEGO.com so you can acquire it...
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29 comments on this article
Always love to see more vignette-type sets! The light azure(?) gears look out of place to me, but I'm not sure what color would be better.
The (dark red) microfigure isn't very convincing as a nutcracker to me, but I still enjoy its inclusion. Thanks for the review, Huw!
I love this! Just the sort of thing to give to my ballet-dancing niece when she passes her next ballet exam.
None!!!???!!!
Where is the nutcracker? A generic mini doesn't suffice.
Call it what it is... ballerina and leave off the hyperbole.
What? No sound brick included? Missed opportunity... :(
Easy pass for me. A negative for me - the ballerina isn't even as good as the existing one from CMF S15, with her printed hair and legs.
@shedjed said:
"Where is the nutcracker? A generic mini doesn't suffice."
What would you expect at minifig-scale? A new element? They are never produced for GWPs like this.
could have also included 71034-1
Meh...
I've been wondering when this would turn up! Hope it won't have a very large purchase requirement, what with the new Modular on New Year's and all, but I do like it quite a bit.
A print for the nutcracker would have been nice (to add face/outfit details), but otherwise it's a nice concept for a GWP.
@Lyichir said:
"A print for the nutcracker would have been nice (to add face/outfit details), but otherwise it's a nice concept for a GWP."
When Lyichir is a little negative, you know there's a problem.
Seriously, I will get this, because I get all the holiday vignettes. But, it's not terribly exciting. I suppose it's better than the rattlin' snowglobe of 2016, 40223.
If that microdoll were actually printed, this would be the best Christmas Promo since 40410 Charles Dickens Tribute
@Huw said:
" @shedjed said:
"Where is the nutcracker? A generic mini doesn't suffice."
What would you expect at minifig-scale? A new element? They are never produced for GWPs like this."
Oh for sure! Just don't advertise it as a nutcracker! Just a ballerina. Same price same pieces.
@shedjed said:
" @Huw said:
" @shedjed said:
"Where is the nutcracker? A generic mini doesn't suffice."
What would you expect at minifig-scale? A new element? They are never produced for GWPs like this."
Oh for sure! Just don't advertise it as a nutcracker! Just a ballerina. Same price same pieces."
Yeah, and none of these Jurassic World sets have planets in them! False advertising!
@shedjed said:
" @Huw said:
" @shedjed said:
"Where is the nutcracker? A generic mini doesn't suffice."
What would you expect at minifig-scale? A new element? They are never produced for GWPs like this."
Oh for sure! Just don't advertise it as a nutcracker! Just a ballerina. Same price same pieces."
Do you not understand the toy nutcracker is part of the story? Or are you just being obtuse?
That's cute, I'd love to have that one. Not sure I have any spending left this year, so maybe secondary market.
Ah yes a dark tan microfigure
@CDM said:
" @shedjed said:
" @Huw said:
" @shedjed said:
"Where is the nutcracker? A generic mini doesn't suffice."
What would you expect at minifig-scale? A new element? They are never produced for GWPs like this."
Oh for sure! Just don't advertise it as a nutcracker! Just a ballerina. Same price same pieces."
Do you not understand the toy nutcracker is part of the story? Or are you just being obtuse? "
Obtuse. But only toward you.
Easy pass on the Christmas GWPs. They are impossible to get rid of. Especially when they arrive after Christmas
@Huw:
Dark-red, not dark-tan for the nanofig.
@StyleCounselor:
I believe those are “ice pancakes”:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_ice
@shedjed said:
" @CDM said:
" @shedjed said:
" @Huw said:
" @shedjed said:
"Where is the nutcracker? A generic mini doesn't suffice."
What would you expect at minifig-scale? A new element? They are never produced for GWPs like this."
Oh for sure! Just don't advertise it as a nutcracker! Just a ballerina. Same price same pieces."
Do you not understand the toy nutcracker is part of the story? Or are you just being obtuse? "
Obtuse. But only toward you."
And toward the set.
How to upgrade:
1. Get a white nanofigure
2. Get a bunch of 71047-8 for the rats
3. Battle!
@PurpleDave said:
" @Huw:
Dark-red, not dark-tan for the nanofig.
@StyleCounselor:
I believe those are “ice pancakes”:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_ice"
The hardest and most difficult to catch of all Frisbees- oops, I mean flying discs.
@StyleCounselor said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Huw:
Dark-red, not dark-tan for the nanofig.
@StyleCounselor:
I believe those are “ice pancakes”:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_ice"
The hardest and most difficult to catch of all Frisbees- oops, I mean flying discs."
Certainly if it’s the 10’ variety. Try catching one of those without losing a tooth or two!
I'm not sure about this. So many sets I have left on my list are all on back order, I have some season gwps, but I missed out on 40292 and I really wanted 40489, but it never came to be, another insiders double points is coming and I don't know if I can persuade to receive another set for whatever threshold this meets.
We'll see....
I like th concept but the background is a bit too busy to be aesthetically pleasing.
is it me or are sand green windows the best window color this side of the botanical garden
Is it usual for GWPs to not include pre-orders? I would have tried to get this but the next biggish set I am after is the Red 5 and even that needs lots of additional spend to meet the threshold… I guess there’s always eBay….
I wonder what became of the small figure play pieces from the board games? They could always be printed with more detail than these trophy microfigures.
And anyway, I think a brick-built larger nutcracker, made from 1x1 bricks like the toy soldier from the last advent calendar, would have been better, in the backdrop.