Review: 41177 The Precious Crystal Mine
Posted by MeganL,
The smallest set of the last Elves wave is 41177 The Precious Crystal Mine. I have found most of the Elves sets this year to be absolutely delightful. How does the smallest set compare to the rest of the wave?
The front of the box shows the mine with Farran and Naida on their adventure. The mouse (which does not seem to have a name) is staffing the shop. The back of the box shows the two elves with various features of the set, particularly the moving functions and Farran's discovery of the map. This set also introduces us to Floria, the baby earth dragon.
Inside the box are three numbered bags, an 8x16 base plate in pale blue, a blue slide, an instruction booklet and a small sticker sheet (only four stickers!). The blue slide is new but other than that there does not seem to be any other new parts with this set.
Neither of the mini-dolls are new to this set, but I still admire the lovely markings on both of them. Similarly, the mouse is not new, but still very cute. Floria, the baby earth dragon, is new and she is beyond adorable like most of the baby dragons.
The build starts with a small scene showing mining of the heart crystal complete with specs on a plate off to the side. There is a hammer intended to be used to shape the crystal; there's also a stud to allow the mouse to perch on in order to work their craft.
The main part of the mine is then started, first with a charming little sliding cache for what is described as a "diamond", but I think it looks rather like a fancy cookie that is found in holiday tins.
Blue plates are used to show that the mine building is next to a water way that includes some rail tracks. The tracks end at another hidden cache, this time concealing a map.
The mine continues construction with some nice translucent pieces used for crystal. Front of the sales stall takes shape with a sign showing the exchange/sale center as well as some stalagmites and a stalactite for details.
The build finishes with finishing the back of the mine set, including a cozy sleeping area for the mouse.
Finally, a platform for the top of the mine completes the set. There is a lever mechanism attached to the platform decorated rather flamboyantly with magenta leaves that allows the platform to be tilted toward the blue slide at one end of the set.
The reason for this? There is a mine cart that Farran and Naida can use to get around the mine.
The mine cart can be placed at the top of the platform.
By moving the lever (or rather, according to the box art, using Farran's earth power), the platform tilts enough to allow the mine cart to move down the slide and along the tracks in front of the mine. This action is quite smooth, easily reproducible and no mini-dolls were unseated during extensive testing.
At the end of the track, the mine cart dislodges the cover of the cache covering the map. What a nifty little function!
Overall thoughts
I think the Elves theme has been fantastic this year, and this set is no exception. While there are some of the sets I have not liked as much as others, I have enjoyed all of them. The theme allows for so much imagination and I love all the moving functions in the sets.
The Precious Crystal Mine is a fun little build with great colours and I really enjoy the mine cart play element. It is a tribute to the thoughtfulness of the designers that there are studs on the mine cart to allow for the mouse and/or baby dragon to go along for the ride. My only suggestion for improvement is not to include a BURP, but at least in this case the BURP is purple, which is better than grey.
This would be a good choice for a gift, but may be on the pricey side in cost per piece (273 pieces, $29.99, £24.99, 24.99€). Besides, who can resist the baby dragon?
It is getting close to the end of the year. What sets from this year would you like to see reviewed before the new waves come in January?
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15 comments on this article
Just seen this set is half price at Smyths at the moment.
I love them all! Shadow castle and Queen Dragon Rescue are on my kid's (.... my....) Christmas list :)
I have rather enjoyed the Elves theme. It will make it hard to stop collecting as it seems to continue on. Will look forward to seeing what they have to offer and decide from there. I really enjoy the various colours and a number of the play features included such as the one reviewed above. I'm not always a fan of tiny side builds such as tables and chairs included however displayed as multiple units in a scene they do fit in well.
This set is is beautiful. I am tempted to buy it for my daugther... she is a big fan of slides.
I think the Elves sets have been magnificent this year, and this is one I really want. Thanks for the review.
I'll admit, I would never buy any Elves set for myself (they are just too strongly marketed too young girls for me). But I personally think that they are some of the most well thought out, well designed sets Lego is making. I love the mouse home, and small accessories, which makes this set stand out among all others. There is not a single amount of space that hasn't gone to waste. Brilliant! I wonder if the Star Wars and City themes could take a few pointers from them. MakeLegoStarWarsGreatAgain MakeLegoCityGreatAgain
My Daughter really enjoys theses sets, and must admit have come to appreciate the quality of them myself even if I'm still not a fan of the mini doll she loves them and that's the main thing, Nadia's Adventure ship has been a favourite but Dragon Sanctuary has been her favourite of this years releases though.
My girls are huge fans of the Elves sets, especially the dragons. Hopefully the large castle will be on offer in time for Christmas. Will be interesting to see how the goblin sets appeal to them next year.
Just bought this for €14.99 in Smyths yesterday, terrific value at the moment for a nice little set.
Some of the Elves sets are really nice. I don't care about them being marketed for girls (I am a male AFOL) - so got myself the Treetop Hideaway, the Starlight Inn and now Ragana's Magic Shadow Castle...
To me the Starlight Inn could even make for a nice Winter Village set with a little change.
What reviews I would like to see?
It is already available since January, but I think 60130 Prison Island is worth a review by the brickset staff! It is much more than the usual Police sets, in my opinion really well thought out with lots of details and playfeatures. Great set, that should not be left unmentioned!
@Trikkyr - Dragon. Sanctuary is a favourite of mine as well, as you'll learn over the next several days :-)
Good review! I originally wasn't too excited about this set and planned to just get Floria and her egg from BrickLink or a vendor at a convention. But then I ended up getting this set at 20% off at Toys 'R' Us, and I'm glad I did! It looks much nicer than I expected due to the rounded contours of the top and bottom layers. The little mouse-house is brilliant, and I love that it has a picture of the two mouse brothers (the other of whom is imprisoned in the Queen Dragon's Rescue set)!
The mine cart function works brilliantly, and one unexpected surprise is that a mini-doll fits in the gap in the tracks… http://aanchir.tumblr.com/post/151893427296/
A disappointment in this set is that just like last year, Farran doesn't get a cloak like the other characters. Are boy Elves not allowed to dress up?
We just grabbed this set after the review and the fact it's currently Half Price at Smyth's :-D, we had looked at it on passing but always seemed a bit pricey for a smallish set even though she wanted the baby dragon and egg.
Just grabbed one myself - 50% off at Amazon! My first Elves set :-)
I bought my three year old daughter the water dragon set. It's brilliant! I can see 'her' getting quite a few of this theme over the years.