Review: Bricktober Buildings 2015
Posted by HearItWow,
The Toys R Us Bricktober buildings should now be available at a retail location near you in the United States and Canada at a retail price of around $20.
Are they worth the money? Who is the market for these things anyway, and why would you give them a second look?
Toys R Us made some significant changes in its Bricktober promotion for 2015. There were four buildings, released one per week once again, but the quality increased significantly from 2014.
That may not be enough to sway those who dislike these sets. They remain an odd size, somewhere between Architecture and the Mini Modulars, and they have next to no play value once assembled, apart from the fleeting joy of moving the small cars around.
Those who loved the 2014 sets however, will want to own the 2015 versions. There remains an incredible amount of detail packed into three of the four sets, along with some innovative building techniques and a few rare parts.
Box and Contents
All four sets are in the same size cardboard box, with a picture of the set on the front, the four sets connected on the back, and a detail of one of the cars on the top. The set's week is highlighted on a side flap.
Each set includes a stapled set of instructions, folded to fit into the box, along with three unnumbered bags of parts and, for the hotel and Toys R Us store, a sticker sheet.
The number of parts you get varies by set. The hotel has 203. The train station has 180, the bakery has 234 and the Toys R Us has 164. Across the four sets it averages out to 195 pieces, or around 10 cents a brick at US $19.99. The value for money is here, although the parts included are very small, save for a pair of 4 x 10 black plates that make up the base of each building.
Each of this year's buildings is wider than the 2014 sets. They connect with last year's sets and still form a continuous profile in any order, though the new sets look a lot more impressive and less cartoonish.
Despite the greater width, 2015 Bricktober mini modulars fit perfectly with the 2014 sets.
The Build
Each build starts with two small vehicles mounted on a trans clear 1 x 2 plate to hold everything together and keep the stud wheels off the ground. It's interesting to see how many variations LEGO have developed on the basic form of these cars over the last two years, and the trans clear plate bases can be pulled off for a better look when displaying the sets.
The meat of the builds is the buildings, and three of this year's four are winners. Each build takes between 20 and 30 minutes, with a good amount of time spent filling out the first-floor detail, similar to LEGO Architecture sets.
40141-1: Bricktober Hotel
This is the largest of the four buildings and the first corner modular in the series. The color selection is quite nice, with trans blue blocks sitting alongside grey masonry profile bricks. There is extensive landscaping around the side of the building, as well as an outdoor patio.
The "Hotel" sign on the front is a sticker, and it is the only sticker included with this set.
40142-1: Bricktober Train Station
The design falls short here, as the train cannot escape its tracks unless you use it on the far end of a layout, which forces you to place it around a corner if you incorporate the Bricktober Hotel. This is a huge design flaw in the set that detracts from its appeal.
One saving grace for this set is the use of part 6088585, the Minifigure Roller Skate in black as the wheels for the train. This is a very uncommon part that has only been available with the Roller Derby Girl or Disco Diva minifigures, the SHIELD Helicarrier, 2015 Winter Toy Shop re-issue and First Order TIE Fighter. Four are included for the build and I had an extra left over. Currently this is the simplest, least-expensive option to get this part.
Minifigure roller skates used for train wheels could make this set worth your investment.
40143-1: Bricktober Bakery
The best of this year's sets, it includes 3 masonry profile bricks in sand green and 12 modified bricks with groove in sand blue, a part previously seen in this year's Valentine's Day Dinner vignette and the Modular Pet Shop. There are also two tan 1 x 2 plates with 3 teeth, a part primarily found in Mixels and Chima sets, and 36 trans clear 1x1 plates.
The use of color and the roof design make this set a winner, and the details extend to the umbrella seating out front and a couple of cakes on display inside the bakery.
Lots of hard-to-find parts make this set a standout, including three sand green mortar profile bricks around the back.
40144-1: Bricktober Toys R Us Store
This is the least impressive of the sets, both in piece count and design. While it is faithful to the look of a freestanding Toys R Us store, it is little more than a large box saved from the dregs of architecture by a contrasting white box around the back and a protruding yellow entrance enabled with jumper plates. Both the Toys R Us sign and the truck lettering are stickers.
Details include a loading dock on the back, represented by a dark grey profile brick.
Overall
The larger size and added detail will delight fans of the 2014 sets, but will likely fail to win any converts. The Bricktober modulars remain an odd size with limited play value. Parts hunters may want to consider the train station and the bakery for their hard-to-find pieces.
Collectors looking for some great display pieces for a small space should snap these up, as the full set is quite impressive on a shelf, which brings us back to the question of who these sets are meant for.
It's easy to imagine adults enjoying the builds, which may be too frustrating for small hands with the high number of tiny pieces that make up each building. Display value is also more the domain of AFOLs than children, though there is some value in having a selection of unusual parts for younger builders.
By design these have more in common with the Architecture series and the Denmark-only promotional sets, such as Billund Airport and LEGO House. If you are a fan of those sets, then you will welcome this year's Bricktober collection. Builders who work in micro scale may also find inspiration here.
Personally, I'm a huge fan and find them to be a great value. I'm hoping to see this line continue in 2016.
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33 comments on this article
These might be fun if it weren't for all the hoops you have to jump through to MAYBE get them. Either you spend $75 in TRU prices (never worth it) each week ($300 total?!) to get them - likely no one ever does this - or you have to hurry to TRU before scalpers buy them up, and then you pay an average price. Repeat this 4 weeks in a row.
This might be a worthwhile hassle if they were more impressive than they are. As it is, a tiny city is neat, but no where near worth overpaying at TRU, overpaying from scalpers, or making a special trip to TRU once a week.
I'm not really sure who the target collector is. If these were, say, mini Super Heroes locations or something I could see fans going nuts over them. But making CITY hard to get? Strange move.
I'm sure most of us people in the know wait until the after to just buy these outright. I got lucky yesterday and they still had a week three set so I was able to get all four.
I guess they're aiming at some combination of kids who like City sets and AFOLs who like architecture...but really, I think the main reason they do it this way is because generic models don't carry licensing costs. A comparable Superheroes or other licensed set would probably cost TRU more, maybe limiting them to 1 or 2 sets. If the idea is to drag people into the store for four consecutive weeks, they need to create something that's cheap to produce and desirable as a complete set.
I would've thought they'd opt for vehicles or something more action-oriented for kids, but I guess whatever research (or guesswork) they did indicated that mini-buildings are an attractive option.
Yup. They are really cute in a row, but have little play value for kids. I, too, am surprised that TRU does not offer a promo that is desired by more LEGO purchasers, especially kids. And it really is hard to collect these sets because our local TRUs in the Raleigh NC area this year only got a few of sets each week...usually 18-24 per store. I could not find any left over when the promotion ended. So yes, it is too darn hard to collect these cute little sets. I have already sold two spare sets of all four that I purchased as extras for other folks who could not make it to the store four times. A tough one.
@yuffie don't give up hope just yet.
The TRU where I work (UK) has these in the stock room but are still 'off sale', no one can tell me what the promotion is or when the restriction will be lifted, but hope to find out soon. They price check at £14.99 but unfortunately cannot be put on shelves or purchased.... yet.
I imagine making the Hotel a corner building was intended to allow you to connect it to last year's buildings, so you'd hit the corner as you hit the next year. But as you said, the train station is hugely misplaced and I had to put mine on the corner in order for it to make any visual sense. Of course, then you have a train running right next to a hotel, so I can't imagine it's very quiet for the guests.
Note that the hotel's airplane is identical to the mini-airplanes in the 2013 Advent Calendar. In fact, a lot of the mini vehicles from the City Advent Calendars--which are intended as toys for the figures--would work well as vehicles for the micro city.
They are cute but I will not pay the TRU markup to get them. I would get them all if they sold them outright.
@JordanMenace interesting that these are already in the UK. Maybe they will debut at Brick NEC 2015.
The train reminds me of the tram in Las Vegas that runs between a few of the resorts. But you don't really need a train station for that.
@JordanMenace - are you able to let us know which branch? Please be Manchester!!!! I got last years and would love to add to them.
I wouldn't mind them as free parts with their overpriced LEGO. But I wouldn't under ANY circumstances pay $20 for something so small and blah...
I love these little sets, but just wish it was easier to get hold of them. I was lucky this past weekend; my local TRU only had the train station available on the shelf but on asking at the front desk was able to get the bakery and hotel. They were already sold out of the TRU store, which I figure I can get on Amazon at a minimal mark-up (much less hassle than trying to find it at another TRU store).
Nice review!
For those interested, I just sent a set of 4 from the US to the UK for 25USD shipping. No insurance or tracking, but they should make it in 2-4 weeks. It would be great if TRU would sell them elsewhere.....sigh!
Too small for my liking.
Really like these sets; HATE the scam TRU tries to put you through if you just want to buy the sets separately. The Hotel was my clear favorite this year (imagine swimming in the side pool); and hope these keep going next year.
Regarding the odd placement of the train tracks: mirror the build so the tracks run off the right hand side of the base instead of the left?
My local TRU (Cambridge, England) had the first three weeks of these on the shelves yesterday. No price ticket or any other info though.
I don't understand why so many people are upset over a free set? We are all Lego collectors, and we will be buying sets anyway. Yes, you have to spend $75, but with a small amount of effort, you can get a great deal. First, have a TRU credit card. You will get 10%off if used on Thursdays. Second, use a discount coupon that TRU send in the mail or sometimes puts in the newspaper. The first week I went I purchased the new Star Wars Lego of Kylo Ren's ship. It retailed for 119.00. But after I used my TRU credit card and a 20% off coupon, my purchase was only about $87 with tax. That means I saved $32 on the Star Wars set and got the Bricktober set for free. I went back each Thursday and did the same with other coupons on sets that I wanted to add to my collection. By the time the fourth week came, I was also able to use a $20 TRU rewards code that had come in an email.
I enjoy these little sets, and have been able to get 3 out of the 4 already (with a hopeful opportunity to pick up the 4th today) but I would much rather see them create another set of actual mini mods. There have been enough new modulars released that they could create another group-of-4 mini mod LEGO exclusive set. If these TRU sets are all we'll get in the meantime I guess it's better than nothing.
@Legobub should write a whole article on strategic savings at TRU. I had no idea about the credit card.
I *am* in the Rewards program, but I haven't mastered how it works yet. The website isn't very user-friendly, and apparently it takes over two weeks for your points to translate into an actual rewards certificate. I have about 400 points that have been "pending" for weeks now.
^Another thing to watch for at TRU is clearance. I hit the $75 threshold with 70809 Lord Business evil Lair ($55 on clearance), and 21205 Battle towers ($21 on clearance). Sure TRU is generally overpriced but occasionally there are deals, add in a fun little free set and it turns into a great deal.
Of course I did have to go back the day after the promotion ended to try and buy the other mini sets. I'm missing the Train Station- but from the look of it I can probably build it from parts I have on hand. My train will have to have orange wheels though since I've got a few extras from Friends sets.
^Yes, I sometimes forget how lucky I am. Four Toys'r'us stores within 20 minutes of my house. I'm a stay at home dad with one kid at school all day and the other at preschool for 3 hours a day, so I actually have time to go check for deals without kids. Also I have a weekend job with cash tips to spend on Lego. And to top it off my wife supports my hobby with only a medium amount of eye rolls.
Sorry going off topic and bragging a bit, it's sort of a rare oppurtunity for me.
I have never seen these for sale after the fact in Canada. Either they're all given away before the week is up or I'm just not paying attention. The sets don't interest me enough to track down either way, micro-scale builds just aren't as interesting to me as the free polybags each week or Minifigure scaled items.
Wish these 2015 sets would be available in Norway as the 2014 ones was.... Kinda annoying they`re not.
A TRU in San Diego, CA, USA today had lots of sets 2 & 3 on the shelf. I talked to the manager about set 4 as I noticed there was a new promotion going on. He checked and said set 4 was available but, not on the shelf yet. He gave me one from under the counter. I got set one through their promotion. Paid regular price for sets 2,3 & 4 minus a 10% military discount. So, i think i scored this year. In 2014 I had to get set 1 from e-bay.
@Legobub21
It's not really upsetment over a free set, just indifference toward them because of all the steps involved to get them (if they were even intriguing in the first place). I find it kind of funny that your "solution" involves 2 MORE steps to an already exhausting affair, one of which effects your credit score and personal privacy, no less!
I kind of like the Train Station; it has a quaint look about it. But these do seem oddly placed.
"save for a pair of 4 x 10 black plates that make up the base of each building."
Not quite. Only the TRU model is that way. The hotel and bakery are on a pair of 4x8, and the train station is on a 4x8 & a 6x8, which seems odd since that's the same size as the pair of 4x10. Regardless, I like them a lot except for TRU, but I got one of those just for completeness sake.
While I think we can all agree that Toys R Us has higher retail prices than most all other establishments out there (including Lego brand stores) this does not prohibit me from making purchases at Toys R Us. All the locations in the Denver area, have a best price match guarantee that they will always meet provided I pull up a legitimate online price from a local competitor (i.e. Target/WalMart/The Lego Store/etc.). Additionally, Toys R Us also has a rewards program, while not as generous as The Lego Store... is still worthwhile. For every $125 you spend you gain a $5 off coupon/credit... and you can "bank" up to $200 worth or use individually whenever you've been awarded one.
Personally, I think these little modulars are pretty cool little models. Don't really think they are worth $20 each however... but I did manage to get two complete sets by purchasing some sets I'd been holding off on so I got them for "free" although I did actually outright purchase 3. I too, hope they continue this program next year!!
These were available at Brick 2015 today at the NEC in the UK. Free with a £45 spend. I bought the Vader and Greivous contractions for £50 (Vader was reduced to £19.99), picked up the Bakery set, and they also threw in the 5003034 Hulk and The Force Awakens C3-P0 polybags for free as well. I walked away one very happy LEGO fan.
I love these sets, I got all four last year, I definitely had to jump through some hoops and make a few trips to the toy store. this year I found buying these sets to be a lot easier, at least in Southern California, the TRU stores are allowing us to buy these sets individually wothout making a purchase of 75$ or more, further more, the second store I went to for the week two kit, sold me the final three sets in one swoop, the manager gave the go ahead and had to ring me up personally and actually was also the employer to pull the last two weeks sets out for me. Hats off to my SoCal TRU shops. I now have all 8 bricktober buildings on display, I plan on re-building my mini-modular set to go with these even though they don't line up perfectly, they still look good together
A few more pictures would be helpful. Especially shots of the backs of these buildings.
I'd like to know who designed these and those from last year too.