Review: MinifigForLife Shops
Posted by Huw,
Our friends over at MinifigForLife have sent us some samples of a new range of product they've just launched: Shops.
Ever wanted to build your own shop in your LEGO town? Unable to make it look like the shop you want? Use our range of shop-related custom printed accessories to help identify the shops in your town!
Eight different shop kits are available:
- Cafe
- Butchers
- Fish & Chips
- Florist
- Toy Shop
- Burger Bar
- Ice Cream Parlour
- Coffee Shop
Each shop has four custom parts, which can be bought together or separately: minfiig apron, awning, printed door and shop sign. When you buy them together you'll also receive a shop-related accessory. Here's what's in the florist pack:
Once folded carefully the awning, from the butcher's, looks like this:
There's an instructional video on YouTube that shows how to fold it, which I didn't know about when I attempted it, but luckily I got it right.
In my opinion the best part is the minfig apron which looks absolutely fantastic. They are very well engineered and fit the figure perfectly.
The butcher looks splendid in his red and white striped one:
Here's the butcher, ice cream maker, cup cake baker and the fish and chip shop man with the accessories that come in the packs (note the minifig is not included in the kit, you put the apron on one of your own)
The MinifigForLife (MfL) team has put together a small example to showcase the parts:
Verdict
I think they are a great idea that's been very well executed. Like all MfL parts, the printing is faultless and the cloth/vinyl parts are high quality and robust.
The aprons are my favourite part and to be honest it's a wonder LEGO hasn't produced anything like it. They really give a figure personalty and clearly indicate his or her trade.
The shop kits are available from minifigforlife.com for £7.20 each or you can buy the individual parts separately. For example, the 1x8 bricks are 70p, the aprons £1.50. Or, you can buy all eight kits for £49.99, a saving of £7.60. Worldwide shipping is available.
The items reviewed were provided by MInifigForLife but the review is my own opinion.
46 likes
16 comments on this article
cool
The aprons are a great idea! I'd like a pack of just stripey aprons in different colours, without logos/emblems on them.
This is actually really cool!
seems like a great way to add some flair to your lego city.
Superb, absolutely superb, keep up the good work chaps!
This is really nice! How LEGO haven't gotten around to releasing aprons like these is mind-boggling actually.
The material for the awnings must be pretty ridged to hold its' shape w/o support or structure like that. I think these look amazing and can't wait to nag the wife until she lets me order some! And I think those aprons are great too and can't wait to get the flourist apron since it's perfect for the flower shop clerk from Assembly Square.
Thank you all for the comments, and thanks @huw for the review. For anyone interested in aprons that are plain, they are available on the site. If you want your own design , then use the contact form on site to get in touch.
This is the best non official LEGO product (for LEGO use) ever. Looks like excellent quality.
Those do look good. Quality looks good and designs are worthwhile. I do like the cloth awning, but I think I will stick with brick built.
Decals are the hardest part to make things for my city. But I make do.
I saw this for not a long time ago, very nice idea, i really like the apron.
I have been looking for chef's aprons for years. I tried modifying a cape and it passed as okay but not as nice as these. There is one apron that LEGO makes for Friends in an obscure polybag but it will not fit a minifig. Love these. Will be making some purchases. Thanks for featuring this store!
Thanks for showing this.
I will definitely consider some of these.
However, the butcher sign is way too limited (jj smith and sons) they could have at least tried 'Legoify' it.
The same goes with the florist sign, even though I have a European/French Lego city it's still way too limited in its uses.
The aprons look a bit too much like capes. I think custom printed aprons would have been way better.
But I love that crumbed fish tile.
Does anyone remember the 2x2 printed tile from Paradisa that had a blue bordered plate with a crab on it? I would really like to see that piece return.
Wow, I'm amazed Lego hasn't tried aprons before; these look great! Love the awnings too.
Very cool! A great idea.
I have a feeling that these could be useful in some Sudrian MOC's that I have planned. (in case you don't know: Sudrian means from the Island of Sodor, referring to the T&F series.)