Review: 40290 60 Years of the LEGO Brick
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has released a tremendous selection of truly magnificent sets since the modern brick was created in 1958 and 40290 60 Years of the LEGO Brick includes miniature renditions of just four such models.
375 Castle, 928 Space Cruiser and Moonbase, 6285 Black Seas Barracuda and 6399 Airport Shuttle were selected. Each one is immediately recognisable and most represent a defining moment in LEGO's long history so I think they have been chosen very well. Hopefully these small vignettes will match the exceptional quality of the sets which have inspired them!
Box and Contents
All four models are displayed on the box. They are divided by white bands which looks rather stylish and matches the packaging for 4002016 50 Years on Track, suggesting that LEGO has settled upon a consistent design for sets celebrating their history. The classic logo appears in the bottom right corner, variants of which were in use from 1965 until 1972. It seems odd to include a logo that predates any of the sets included, although a later version would probably have looked too similar to the modern emblem in the top corner.
Images of the original sets are shown on the back of the box alongside black and white photos of a child playing with them, in an homage to classic box artwork. I was interested to find that sets which were released under different names in certain countries, or on more than one occasion, are labelled with two set numbers in official images. However, the actual box only includes the European numbers, even on those released in North America.
The box contains a single instruction manual and a numbered bag of pieces for each of the four models. These are constructed in chronological order of release which is a nice touch but I was disappointed to find no information about the original sets, or why they were selected for 40290 60 Years of the LEGO Brick, in the instruction booklet. This seems like a missed opportunity to me as not everyone will be familiar with the classic sets.
The Completed Model
The red 2x4 brick is undoubtedly the most well known of all LEGO elements so I am delighted to see one used as the mounting for a printed 2x4 tile marking the sixtieth anniversary of the brick. This tile also appears in the recent Building Bigger Thinking sets and it looks magnificent, featuring a lovely metallic gold finish surrounding a couple of 2x4 bricks.
1978 was a vital year in LEGO's development, introducing not only the modern minifigure but also the idea of diverse themes to appeal to different demographics. 375 Castle was released in the first wave of Castle sets and is definitely worthy of a place in 40290 60 Years of the LEGO Brick. Its bright colour scheme is instantly recognisable and the set represents a transitional period in LEGO's design history, maintaining a connection with earlier models such as Weetabix Castle while also feeling reasonably modern.
This is the largest of the four models included and looks marvellous. I love the rows of exposed studs along the ramparts which resemble battlements and the folding drawbridge is delightful, matching the original set perfectly. The gatehouse archway has been set back slightly which looks slightly strange, although I suppose the original gatehouse was also recessed in relation to the curtain walls at the front of the castle.
Red headlight bricks form the windows in the tallest tower at the rear of the model, loosely resembling the classic window elements. Additional headlight bricks are used in the walls and I like the yellow 1x1 slopes which match the original set very closely. Unfortunately, archways are absent from each of the towers at the side so they look rather plain and the rear gates are also somewhat disappointing as they cannot be opened.
However, this model does include the most important feature of all. Each walls is mounted on a hinge so you can open them to access the interior or change the configuration of the castle entirely. This function works very well and again matches 375 Castle exactly, right down to the positioning of the hinges! The tiled base around each of the four models is also quite attractive but would have been even better with printed tiles identifying the sets.
Classic Space has an enormous following among adult fans of LEGO and a set celebrating the history of the company would not be complete without an acknowledgement of the range. 928 Space Cruiser and Moonbase, perhaps better known as 497 Galaxy Explorer, is probably the most well known of all Classic Space sets and this rendition looks splendid, featuring both the iconic spacecraft and its base of operations.
The space cruiser is definitely the most immediately recognisable part of this model but the moonbase also includes a few notable features. I love the crater which is very reminiscent of the original moulded baseplates and the control station, with a tiny buggy trundling past, looks superb too. Four yellow 1x2 grilles represent the landing pad. A printed 6x6 tile would have been brilliant but this brick-built design is very charming.
Unfortunately, I think the Galaxy Explorer is the weaker element of this vignette. Its shape and colour scheme have been rendered reasonably well but the wings require considerable improvement as they are dominated by large engines. These are present in the original set but are not nearly as prominent so I would rather the designer had used light bluish grey 1x1 plates with side rings to form the engines along with larger wedge plates that would broaden the wingspan. Alternatively, the fuselage could have been slightly narrower.
The stabiliser at the rear could also be improved as it appears too large in relation to the wings. A 1x3 plate would have been more appropriate. I like the engines underneath though and the trans-yellow canopy looks fantastic, as ever. This model is probably the most disappointing aspect of the entire set which is a great shame given the popularity of 928 Space Cruiser and Moonbase, although the moonbase itself is actually very impressive.
Pirates became to the latest addition to LEGO's growing selection of different themes in 1989, bringing with them an array of new facial expressions for minifigures! 6285 Black Seas Barracuda, also known as the Dark Shark, was the largest Pirates set released in that first year and remains perhaps the most popular LEGO pirate ship ever created so it is certainly deserving of a place in this set. Its bright colour scheme works beautifully in miniature scale and I am very satisfied with the level of detail included.
The vessel's red and white striped sails are immediately recognisable and I like the angled bowsprit as well as the combination of black and yellow pieces at the bow. The masts look good too but are rather wobbly, using Technic pins with little friction to secure them to the deck and causing the sails to swing freely. On the other hand, I love the black and white 'Jolly Roger' flags at the top of each mast and the red gun ports on either flank are wonderful.
Even more detail is found towards the stern as yellow accents are used alongside black pieces, just as on the original model. Technic bricks represent the windows on Captain Redbeard's cabin which works perfectly and I like the 1x1 round plates that support the taffrail, resembling the classic conical spindles. The curved slope at the stern looks quite plain so I wonder whether this could have been printed with a pair of windows, although the consistent use of undecorated elements feels delightfully traditional.
6285 Black Seas Barracuda did not feature a base but I am glad that one has been included here. The medium azure plates look great surrounded by a black frame and they lend a lovely splash of colour to a display of all four models. This might therefore be a perfect little vignette were it not for the structure of the masts which could certainly have been improved.
The most recent of the four models is a miniature version of 6399 Airport Shuttle. This set was released in 1990 and is particularly notable for being part of the Monorail series which lasted for just a few years but made an indelible impression upon many LEGO fans. Its vivid red, yellow and white colours are incredibly striking on the original set and I think they look even more impressive when scaled down.
The station platform is relatively simple, featuring a curved shelter with a white sign on top and a railing. I like the angled staircase which leads down to ground level and the burger stand beneath the platform is instantly recognisable, despite consisting of just two pieces! There is also a yellow panel depicting a barrier but the tables and chairs in front of the burger stand are absent, unfortunately.
Three carriages make up the monorail train. The central section housed the motor in the original set while the forward and rear carriages, which swap depending on the direction of the train, include blue-tinted windows for the passengers. Excellent though the train looks, my favourite part of this model is the red 1x1 round tile representing the directional controller. There are also red and green signals on either side but I was disappointed to find that the train is fixed to the rail so cannot slide back and forth, even over a short distance.
Overall
More than 14,000 sets have been released since the modern LEGO brick was created in 1958 and choosing just four to represent products released across six decades presents an almost impossible challenge. Fortunately, I think this is a tremendous selection. All four sets are indisputably iconic and their designs are very varied so these miniature models look brilliant when displayed together in my opinion.
On an individual basis, however, some of these models leave a little to be desired. The spacecraft from 928 Space Cruiser and Moonbase could certainly be improved and the wobbly masts on this rendition of 6285 Black Seas Barracuda are also somewhat frustrating. Nevertheless, this is a tremendous little set and it is certainly worth adding to your collection, particularly if you have a considerable interest in LEGO's history!
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
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49 comments on this article
Looks great! Just wish it didn't cost so much to get it.
Very nice review! Shame it's a GWP I'll never get my hands on...
There should be a booklet with some info on the chosen sets and it's a shame it's a punch open box. If the GWP 24-in-1 seasonal sets can have thicker card closable boxes then this set should of too. Mine is on the way
Nice review! I wonder if that mini Black Seas Barracuda fits inside the Ship In a Bottle's bottle...
And, being FREE, the price is right!
Pretty dire set
'Here you go, Lego fans; some shoddy mini representations of sets you will never own'.
Great review! I appreciate the inclusion of opinions here, as some reviews tend to just be summaries of parts and instruction milestones.
Of the 4 vignettes, the castle and pirate ship look the best imho. The space ship is good, but the monorail doesn't strike me as instantly recognizable. I think that the tram seems to blend in too much with the track for me to make out the visible difference between the two, at first glance.
Nice review and so happy that mine is set for delivery tomorrow, along w/Saturn V (finally!!) which turned out to not be on Backorder after all :)
@ DragonLord56 i
Yes, it does, but without tops of the masts:
https://goo.gl/images/VzEsHF
@parsom
Thank you! I can't wait to get them both!
Interestingly, in LEGO Worlds, a downloadable model celebrating 60 years was added. It is a large red 2x4 featuring mini models of the same four sets.
Splendid review! I'm definitely going to put the Micro Black Seas Barracuda in the Ship in a Bottle! :)
I think asking for prints is against the sentiment of the set; having models with basic single-color parts is perfectly in spirit.
The only negative point I see is the cheap box.
It's really a shame that such a fine collection of mini-builds celebrating 60 years of Lego is packed in the cheapest possible box whereas a GwP set like 40253 Christmas Build-Up, which to me is pure crap, gets a super nice flip-top box.
All cool, but the monorail set never stood out to me and this mini ones is sort of a mess. Love the old castle though.
Nice review again thank you. I was already in haste to receive it, along with 75189, but now I'm so impressed and impatient to put my hands on it, and begin the build. Looking at the pictures of the review and box art, I have a question : does anybody knows why the parts count is not present on French versions of Lego sets? I always see it in your reviews and even on French L @S, but I have never received a set with the parts number quoted on the box. Is it so in other countries too? And if so, why? Thank you.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/LEGO-Classic-Bricks-on-a-Roll-10715-60th-Anniversary-Limited-Edition/867645281
Not sure if you see this one. Walmart exclusive and first 15,000 gets a booklet.
The microscale Galaxy Explorer model that came with the "Great Lego Sets" book looks much better than this one, but is unfortunately a larger scale, being about twice as long as this one.
Pretty sure I saw that someone had put the mini Black Seas Barracuda inside the Ship in a Bottle rather than the default ship, and it looked fantastic!
Selecting four sets from a 12 year period seems an odd way to celebrate 60 years. What about the other 48 years?
A lovely set, hope to get it soon.
I think that the 4 sets represent in this tribute will dramatically increase in price on the aftermarket. I guess it will be quite popular to make a display of the anniversary set along with the real sets. Mini versions alongside the actual ones.
Not my cup of coffee.
Hm can I put this ship in the bottle instead of the "leviathan"?
Nice review! Can see the temptation of printed pieces, but I tend to agree that you'd lose the classic look.
Will have to pass this one by, but I'm happy they released it.
I got mine yesterday. I love the art work on the box, just don't like the cheap box. Castle and ship are great, spaceship is ok, and the shuttle is kind of blah. Overall though, I'm glad I got it.
I echo the sentiment above, only two distinct time periods of TLG's 60-year history are actually represented here, as the Castle and Galaxy Explorer were released at about the same time (the start of the mini-action-figure era), and so were the BSB and Shuttle (the high-water mark of LEGO System IMO). This set is aimed squarely at us middle-age AFOL's who grew up with these sets rather than a true celebration of the complete history of LEGO.
That said, these four might arguably be the all-time most popular LEGO sets, so I'm happy to have this little trip down memory lane...
@Brick't
It is a legal requirement for the piece count to be on the boxes sold in the US. That same legal requirement is not present in most other countries, and because Lego wants consumers to judge the overall product value by the size and design of the set rather than the piece count if it was not a legal requirement to have the piece count on the US boxes I don't think they would do it.
put together a cart at the US shop, subtotal $155. the dragster was added to my cart, but not the 60th anniversary set. sold out already? (haven't actually placed the order . . . yet)
Dear Brickmiser thank you for taking time to answer me! It was nothing but simple curiosity... Thank you.
The parcel has been delivered a few minutes ago, opened with my daughter, with inside 75189 and this 60th anniversary "free" set... I've looked at the pictures on the box and saw that the boy on old Lego promotional pictures had the same haircut I had when I was a kid, and played with this yellow castle :) how many hours spent on battles and stories, with this set and the grey one... A deep plunge back in the past. I still have all the minifigs, stickers are a bit scratched for most of them but I have found the whole sticker sheet - a copy - on eBay. I 'm pretty sure a few parts are missing, but finding yellow bricks isn't difficult. And I don't have the instructions anymore but I took the decision : yellow castle will rise from its ashes before long! Pick a brick and BrickLink for missing parts, free pdf instructions and it will soon be on display again, next to the Grey and El Dorado Fortress, which are both complete.
@denn - I see the same thing. I had ordered the Diner on Sunday and got the anniversary set, but when I placed another order for Ship in a Bottle and other sets today, I only got the dragster. I was thinking maybe the anniversary set was 'one per customer', so I tried ordering from a different computer and not using my VIP login, and still would only get the dragster. So I'm guessing they did run out of the anniversary set, at least temporarily. Maybe someone from Brickset can research this for us.
It looks like the set is sold out, at least in Canada. I haven't made any purchases recently, and went to make a large order, but all I get is the dragster from January. Looks like the ad has been pulled from the store as well. :(
Sold out in USA too. :(
Under stocked like everything special they release.
@iriz: The Christmas Build-Up probably gets a more reusable box because it is a set that's designed to be built in stages, and then possibly reused the next year. Whereas this is presumably expected to be something people build once and display. The box design is informed by the product's intended use rather than its value as a collectible.
That said, I agree a nicer box and instruction booklet (like those of the Classic Spaceman/Pirate/Knight sets) would be… nicer. Typing that out though I guess it goes without saying.
@ Denn Just got off the phone with SaH(USA) They said that the last of their stock of the 60th anniversary set went this morning. They did say the stores might have some left.
I like it, but I wish that there was a more varied color-scheme. Three of the four models are heavy on yellow & red and although I understand this is representative of the original sets, my eyes would like some more variety.
@Starkthunder thanks for checking! i was going to use it as an excuse for an online order
Cool - now re-release these sets in their original mini-figure scale Lego!
I mean, who wouldn't want a new yellow castle, delicate knight masks and all?
very disappointed this sold out so quickly
Whew, glad I jumped on this day one and didn't wait. I guess it was worth the butt chewing I got for spending the money sooner than planned. :o)
I almost ordered sets multiple times to get this but something always came up. Now it is sold out. You win some, you lose some. I can’t say I’m not surprised it sold out quickly. The promo has been active for 5 days. And his is a large freebie. Of course it was going to sell out quickly.
But it saved me some money until double points then since the dragster isn’t a worthy substitute. I would literally accept no Lego over a free dragster...
Looks awesome, hope it is $39.99 or less, though.
I love how there are so many people complaining about a free set. I paid $125 Canadian for about 1000 pieces of LEGO to receive this 400+ piece set for free. I know that they are mostly small pieces, but still, I will never complain about a free set. This is by far one of the best free sets that LEGO has ever offered and I think it is a shame that so many people are complaining about all different aspects of this set.
Is it perfect? No. Is it meant to rival the originals? No. Is it indicative of 60 years of LEGO? No. It presents four very iconic LEGO sets that have become some of the most sought after sets. I feel privileged to have received this for free as LEGO could have easily released this for $30-40 Canadian.
Such an awesome set. I was very fortunate to get in 3 orders before they sold out. I wonder what sets they will have for the anniversary when my son is my age? Cheers everyone.
Good review. I think all four look really neat, now I only have to find a good set or sets that make up a €125 to get this.
Because so many people are asking this: Yes, it is possible to put the Black Seas Barracuda model in the Ship in a Bottle set, but only if you take off the flags (and the telescope pieces the flags are attacked to), otherwise it's too tall to fit in the bottle. You'll also want to remove the jumper pieces (or replace them with ordinary 1x2 plates) in the bottle that is meant to hold the Leviathan in place, or it won't centered in the bottle (since the Barracuda has a wider base than the Leviathan).
It's cute... But it will be better, if they'd re-released those sets instead!
I'm dying to see one day, a re-edition of all these wonderful 70s-80s-90s sets
And mostly the Airport Shuttle Set that is a big MISS in my life (was craving watching hours this set in front of the shelves) being too young to be able to buy it and too expensive for my parents at that time.
I just learned today that it was sold out when I went to order online and it wasn't available. It's not at my local store either. So disappointed! :(