Parrots
Posted by Huw,
I am a big fan of brick-built animals, particularly Creator ones, so I was delighted to see that in addition to 31044 Park Animals, another one has been released this year: 30472, a Parrot.
I have just received one from Germany so I thought I would take the opportunity to build the previous ones and line them up in my aviary for a photo-shoot.
The first Creator parrot was 7270, produced in 2005. It was available as part of a co-promotion with Duracell batteries in mainland Europe. Two other sets, 7268 Spider and 7269 Scorpion, were also available.
I believe they were packaged in boxes, but with a printed polybag inside them, because the ones I have are definitely polybags but the ones listed at BrickLink are boxed.
It's pretty basic, isn't it, but then that's probably because the designers did not have all the small slopes, curves and joints that we now take for granted available to them.
There's very little articulation: the wings go up and down on click-hinges, that's all.
The printed 1x1 round tile eye piece was not available in 2005 but the bird looks so much better with them so I've given mine a transplant.
I have absolutely no idea what species of parrot this is based on: I can't see anything like it in Google images. If you know, let us know in the comments.
The next one to be produced was polybag 30021, in 2010, a scarlet Macaw. It was widely available, including in one of the UK newspaper promotions that year.
I think it looks fantastic, very colourful and realistic. Once again I have upgraded the eyes, which were trans light blue 1x1 round tiles, which improves its appearance no end.
The tail feathers are hinged; the wings are attached by Technic half-pins so can be swivelled but not splayed.
Last year's main Creator animal set, 31031 Rainforest Animals, featured a parrot as its main build. It was, in my opinion, was one of the best sets of the year. The bird has a hilarious defecation mechanism, the likes of which hasn't been seen before or since! Read our review to find out more!
This blue and yellow macaw, set 40131, was June 2015's Monthly Mini Model Build in brand stores. It was designed by none other than our favourite antipodean designer Mel Caddick. Its ball-jointed wings and hinged tail feathers facilitate a variety of poses.
Now we come to the latest parrot, 30472. I'm not sure if I like it or not: The eyes are too big in my opinion and its plumage not as attractive as some of the others.
It is however well articulated so can flap its wings and ruffle its tail feathers.
I can't find any birds that match the colours of the plumage exactly, so I suspect some artistic licence has been applied. Nevertheless it captures the appearance of one quite well
I'm not sure where it can be purchased, although judging by the number for sale on BrickLink, their low price, and the sellers' locations it must be widely available in USA and Canada.
So, which is your favourite? Mine is Rainforest Animals, but I do like the blue and yellow Macaw: it's a great likeness of the real bird created using just a handful of pieces.
That concludes the tour of my aviary; I hope you've enjoyed it!
26 likes
20 comments on this article
30472 is the calendar coupon giveaway for Q1 2016.
OK, thank you.
Good idea to add the new eyes. It would be nice to se a standard-sized set based around a scarlet or blue and yellow macaw in the future... I think I agree with you in the case of favourite ones, although I also think that the 30021 (with your update) looks equally good as the blue and yellow one. :-)
There's an incredible parrot build in 4101: Wild Collection from 2003. The set includes a 3x1 pink brick specifically for its head plumage. It deserves to be on this list!
4101 was an outstanding, groundbreaking set, wasn't it, although that particular parrot is not that impressive: it has no wings for starters.
You're right, it probably should have been included along with the one in 4401 Little Creations, I guess.
Lucky I didn't call it a 'definitive guide to Creator parrots...' :-)
I like these retrospective kinds of articles! They're interesting and highlight sets I would likely have never otherwise seen. I really enjoy seeing how a concept has developed over the years as pieces available have become more conducive to creating more organic shapes. And Rainforest Animals is probably one of my favorite purchases because the parrot in it is magnificent.
Well it certainly isn't the Norwegian Blue, lovely plummage that...
@Huw, I am really curious to know what kind of storage methode and/or space you have. I just can not seems to 'just grab' alternative sets or sets of the same theme because of limited storage space.
That blue and yellow macaw is really good! I might have to bricklink that!
I'm too beginning to like those brick built animals more and more and I used your eponymous tag many times. Very helpful. Rainforest animals rule!
But I'd like to see bigger ones... and not necessarily "cute".
@kmvk83, storage is a problem for all of us with this hobby isn't it! It grows to take all available space, however much you have. Maybe it would make for an interesting series of articles.
For this article I had the Rainforest Animals still built (although I used a photo for the review for this article) and of course have just built the new polybag. I don't own the blue and yellow macaw so built it from spare parts and reconstructed the other two that had been parted out years ago.
Rainforest Animals was awesome, I think I still have all the parts somewhere still. :D
Not thrilled by any of the smaller ones.
Despite being named "parrot" 7270 has virtually no resemblance with a parrot being defined as: "Characteristic features of parrots include a strong, curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. 7270 is closer to being a duck!
The same goes with 4401-1: Little Creations. I do not have the manual but the blue bird on the cover bears no resemblance to a parrot - but the fish looks like a fish!
@Huw: yes! Articles about storage would be really useful! I really appreciate all of the new types of articles that you've been doing!
Great article, thanks, and really nice to see how the designs have evolved over the ages. Do you have enough perches to do a shot of them all lined up next to each other?
I was looking at the other parrot build in 4101 - with wings - looks somewhat more like a Kakapo.
There's another bird earlier on in the book for that set, also green and red, kind of like a Lory but perhaps not (feet might just pass the "zygodactyl" test, but posture not so upright and tail is a bit too long and thin).
@bok2, you are right, that one isn't much like a parrot, is it...
@luckyruss, I could probably construct one but if I put them in a cage together they tend to squabble :)
I believe the correct name is blue and gold macaw not yellow but what's in a name. Really like these being a big bird fan myself with 3 of my own actual parrots along side the rainforest parrot which I love and the smaller birds from my advent calendar entry. Not sure on the latest version of a parrot, would have liked to have seen some different colours and smaller eyes as mentioned above.
Rainforest is a recent buy for me and the parrot is my favourite build
I got the small parrot polybag at the Lego store using the coupon on the 2016 calendar.