Christmas Build-Up: Day 24
Posted by TheBrickPal,
The season is almost over, but the memories of penguin owls and random tractors will last a lifetime. After a great day yesterday, 40253 Christmas Build-Up is deserving of ending on a high note and striking some spirits into even the most cynical.
This model is definitely not as good as Day 24’s Santa Claus last year, but you can definitely tell some effort was put in. However, there are a few minor things that detract from my enjoyment of the model as a whole - in particular, the multiple pom poms on the hat and brown splotches. Also, what is up with the gold studs at the back?
However, there are true highlights, like the white croissant mustache and even the in-scale, blue present. Also, it should be noted that he is at least standing on snow this time around. Last year, Santa oddly seemed to prefer grass.
Though, this year brings up a different problem: it is obvious that Santa is slouching more than usual. Perhaps he should consult the North Pole’s finest chiropractor? Whoever that may be...
Overall - 3.0 - not great, not horrible, just in the middle. It is a bit of a disappointment that the countdown had to end in a less-than-perfect way. Perhaps this model could have switched with Day 23’s tree?
Now, it is time for me to add up the scores from the past few weeks, and average them out to see if this set was truly worth the holiday hassle...
- Day 1: 3.5
- Day 2: 2.0
- Day 3: 4.5
- Day 4: 3.5
- Day 5: 4.0
- Day 6: 4.5
- Day 7: 2.0
- Day 8: 5.0
- Day 9: 4.0
- Day 10: 4.5
- Day 11: 3.5
- Day 12: 4.5
- Day 13: 3.0
- Day 14: 4.5
- Day 15: 5.0
- Day 16: 3.5
- Day 17: 5.0
- Day 18: 3.0
- Day 19: 1.0
- Day 20: 5.0
- Day 21: 4.0
- Day 22: 3.5
- Day 23: 5.0
- Day 24: 3.0
Overall, then - 3.7. Crazily enough, this set measures up exactly the same as last year’s 40222 Christmas Build-Up. Some are absolute duds, while other models exhibit sheer brilliance on behalf of the designer. It was a joy no matter what, and I really hope that LEGO tries a third time next year. I’ll be waiting! Thank you all for sticking with me.
Also, thanks to Chris for his Star Wars and City advent reviews, and Megan for Friends. I think we can agree that this was a good year for LEGO advent calendars!
Finally comes the time when all that is left to do is wish you all a Merry Christmas. You readers are the reason I keep coming back to help write and keep up-to-date this site that I love as much as you all do. It is a pleasure to serve alongside such great people as Huw and Chris, and I look forward to doing it all again within the next 365 days.
This year was huge for me, in both the LEGO community and real life. For LEGO, I have made some great new friends, built more, and learned more. Taking a journalism class also helped me grow my potential as a writer and assisted in showcasing my talent on Brickset. As I prepare for college next fall, I look back and realize what I have done for this site - especially this year - is a huge accomplishment. However, 2017 is but one page of a book, and I am confident that there will be growth in both myself and this site in the New Year. I hope you all will continue to join in for the ride!
Don’t forget, it’s you (yes, YOU) that helps make Brickset what it is. We’re a huge family full of passionate fans, and have so much to celebrate right now. More MOCs, more sets, more reviews, more movies, and more fun are all on the way. It’s an inspiring time. And even though there is so much hate and sadness in the world right now, everything is still awesome here. No matter our differences, we all come together for one thing: our love of the brick.
Okay, I’ll stop rambling now. I’m just grateful, that’s all. Cheers! I hope your gifts make that special rattling sound. :-)
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11 comments on this article
We'll always have the zombie mutant penguin owl. Merry Christmas everybody! :)
^and the Christmas bat!
Thanks for the work Brick Pal..
Has anyone worked out which of the models you can build to have the maximum amount built at once?
I thought today's was really good, right up until I attached the face and realised how creepy it looked. Pictures don't do that justice.
Nevertheless, it is a good effort on the part of the designer, and it feels a much more substantial build than any of the other days.
I really like the way the face was done, Nice building method, but it's quite prone RO gravity issues here... Silly Santa keeps spinning his head around!
I love the use of the croissant for the moustache, but I don't like the shape of his face - it's too triangular for me.
Good job with countdown! Merry Christmas!
Figuring that the two white triangles are supposed to be his hair and beard I did not like the studs showing on his beard.
Fortunately that is easily improved by adding 4 white cheeses to make a more 3 dimensional beard.
You can even change the style of beard by spinning the cheeses into different orientations.
Thanks for the review and Merry Christmas to you all.
I think its low rated. 4.0 from me.
Thanks for this years calendar. Next year, how about crowd rating?
I do like this model and it was nice in it being a more substantial build. I think the gold studs represent bells which Santa sometimes has on his clothing. Plus black would have been better than brown for his boots and belt.
Thank you very much for all the wonderful Advent Calendar reviews BrickPal, CapnRex and Megan. I really appreciate the work you put into this and this is always one of the highlights for me each year on Brickset.
Merry Christmas to everyone and a healthy and happy New Year (oh yeah, and also lots of new LEGO sets ;) )
Just like Paperballpark, I thought this was excellent right up until the face was attached. Now it looks creepy! :O
I have been building last year's set alongside this one, and I would say that the two are about even in the overall ratings for me. Considering that both were free, I would say that they are pretty great and I hope that we get another one next year (or some kind of replacement). Thanks to all the hard working Brickset staff. Have a Merry Christmas and keep up the good work.