Review: 21109 Exo-Suit, part 1
Posted by Huw,
Thanks to the LEGO CEE team, who sent out review copies on Friday, I now have the set in hand. I'll review it in two parts: this part will cover the box and contents, and part two, which I'll post later today, the build and the model.
Before I get on to the review, let's take a moment to consider what a momentous occasion the release of this set is. It's the first Cuusoo/Ideas set to be made that is not based on someone else's intellectual property, or a real life vehicle. It achieved its 10,000 supporters based solely on the coolness of the model, not because the supporters liked a movie or game or whatever.
I've known Pete Reid since about 2002 and consider him a good friend. Having a model immortalised in a LEGO set could not have happened to a nicer or more talented builder and I am very pleased for him.
I also like to think I'm good friends with Mark Stafford, the LEGO designer who turned Pete's model into the official model, too, so maybe I am not best placed to be reviewing the set objectively. But I'll try and do so...
The box
The 26x19 cm box is the usual Ideas/Cuusoo high-quality design. The front features the image picture we've seen already: the Exo-Suit, the turtle and the two minifigs.
The bottom corner shows the LEGO Ideas logo and states that this is set #007 (you can remind yourself of the other six here).
On the back a couple of surprises are revealed, things that I didn't know were included in the set: two yellow barrels and some sort of base, which I think is for primarily for the turtle to stand on.
I really like that the figures have been given names, Pete and Yve, (after Yvonne Doyle, yvd on flickr, Pete's girlfriend). What a lovely romantic gesture, to have your partner feature with you in a LEGO set!
Inside the box are four bags, a couple of loose parts and the instruction book.
The book is perfect bound like other Ideas sets but this seems to have sufficient glue in the spine to prevent it falling apart like the Ghostbusters one was prone to doing.
Also, like other Ideas sets instructions, it includes introductory pages containing information about the idea, the builder and the model. There's a photo of Pete and Mark in it and also a three-page story called 'The Exo-Suit Adventure' that provides some background to Pete and Yve and how they find the Exo-Suits.
The introductory pages are repeated in French and Spanish.
The 321-parts come in four bags. They are predominantly grey and small, as you'd expect for a Pete Reid model.
Now to get building... check back later for part two of the review.
Update 16:00 BST: the model is built and photographed, but I have a few commitments between now and 9pm so the second part won't appear until later this evening or tomorrow morning. Sorry to keep you waiting!
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40 comments on this article
Looks great so far!
I'm getting goosebumps just reading this review!
When does it come out!?
Awesome! And^ it comes out august first
That is fast!
I am seriously in love with this set the more I see the more I want. I am praying I can get it.
Really looking forward to this set! August 1st can't come soon enough.
That's it- I'm getting it. Wonderful review so far already!
EDIT: Don't you think you should still keep the first five CUUSOO sets as same? Instead of changing them to Ideas. After all, they were CUUSOO sets when they were released, and not Ideas...
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!!
I love Pete's (and Tim's) book, so seeing this set is fabulous! I can't wait to get my hands on it :-)
And it looks like there are 3 sets of green air tanks in those photos.... a spare, I guess?!
Need this at once! :D
Will there be early access to the set for lego VIP card holders?
I want it, good thing it comes out the same day as Guardians of the Galaxy in theaters (US).
@lego613master: Not really. LEGOshop.com lists a few of the "Cuusoo" sets as "Ideas" already. And besides, there are plenty of other examples where a set was released under a different theme name than what is listed in the database. None of the Designer Sets (http://brickset.com/sets/theme-Creator/subtheme-Designer-Set) or Inventor Sets (http://brickset.com/sets/theme-Creator/subtheme-Inventor-Set) were originally branded as LEGO Creator — LEGO Creator was a separate theme, and all three were in the "Make and Create" category, as was LEGO Technic. But eventually LEGO Creator basically absorbed the other two themes (and Technic became its own category).
@lego613master, we had that discussion in the forum and the consensus was to change them.
> I really like that the figures have been given names
I didn't notice there are even names until seeing recent news, did the original project page already hint Peter himeself or he changed his mind (for Miss Yve)? I wasn't quite sure if that means the faces are newly printed (I guess not).
The next Research ladies don't seem to own names, though they just reuse faces from The LEGO Movie and Crown Queen. Maybe it would be revealed when more Ideas sets come out.
im gettin this set! watch out people in newmarket! my dad promised me i could be at mastermind 10 mins earlier so ill be the first one in to get it! Haa
Great part one review Huw, the Exo-Suit is quickly becoming my most anticipated set of the year!
I'm looking forward to part 2.
great! looking forward to the part 2.
This looks fantastic! Just countin down the days...
This set keeps getting better and better!
I can't wait to get this, as I've said before, but how big is the "base"?
Well, not only has Pete had TWO of his models made into a LEGO set, he and his girlfriend are immortalized as minifigures! Pete must be having the best time right now!
Oh, and great review Huw! Can't wait to see the rest! I love the inclusion of the barrels, now it has something to throw around and destroy!!! :)
What suprises me most is the use of the old half bushes. Until about 7-8 years ago the half bushes had 4 inside edges, of which two were somewhat smaller. The recent version have inside edges that are almost similar in shape (2 are somewhat rounder, the other 2 are a bit more angular). I assume that the pic in the box is a render, but I am curious what the actual half bushes in the set look like. I assume these are the new ones, as i can tell on the pic of the actual parts.
Looking forward to part 2! Can't wait to get my hands on one.
Dumb question... " It's the first Cuusoo/Ideas set to be made that is not based on someone else's intellectual property, or a real life vehicle" Do we know this yet? Is this coming out before Research institute? I haven't heard dates on either, but I thought I had read somewhere August for RI.
"..but I have a few commitments between now and 9pm so the second part won't appear until later this evening or tomorrow morning. Sorry to keep you waiting!"
What on earth (or in space) could be more important than this? :-)
@tamamahm: I am pretty sure this is coming out before Research Institute, since the boxes list this as "LEGO Ideas 007" and Research Institute as "LEGO Ideas 008".
inb4 James Bond jokes
@tamamahm - I concur with Aanchir. Also note Exo-Suit is numbered 21109 while Research Institute is designated 21110 (and is also not yet released). So while 21110 was announced first, 21109 will apparently be released first.
Don't want to come off as a shill, but to tide you over until part 2, you can read my review over at ToysNBricks.com !
I hadn't realized Yve was named after Pete's girlfriend, what a great way to honor the creator and his significant other! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your thoughts, Huw!
I realise Yve is named after Pete's partner, but could the Minifigs name also be a reference to Wall-E's Girlfriend EVE?
Space has taken the show this year for me with my favorite set being benny spaceship and the exo suit being a lose seond
*Chant* PART 2! PART 2! PART 2!
top 10 fav sets!
* Lego Cuusoo BTTF Time Machine
* Lego Cuusoo Mars Rover
* Lego Chima Ice Mammoth
* Lego Chima Rogons Rock Flinger
* Lego Ideas Research Institude
* Lego Minecraft The Nether Micro World
* Lego Movie Bennys Spaceship!
* Lego Minecraft The Ender Dragon(M Scale!)
* Lego Minecraft The Mine(M Scale, i have pics of all Minecraft Minifig Scale Sets!, Uncopyrighted)
* Fav Is...... Lego Ideas Exo Suit!
Super Excited, getting to the LEGO store early to pick one up! :D
Yep, this is definitely a first day buy, especially since it is a single production run.
Thanks @Aanchir and @legogeek !
I had not noticed the numbering.
I guess perhaps they could always be released at the same time, but even in such a case the numbering still would make this one first.
I just couldn't wait for this set to be public realeased :D
yeah, i must say this looks great :-D
Cool green space man/woman