Review: 41906 Pencil Holder
Posted by CapnRex101,
DOTS was announced recently and has received remarkable acclaim. 41906 Pencil Holder seems particularly interesting since this set contains an impressive collection of colourful pieces and the resultant model looks delightful, diverging from any previous LEGO products.
Find out more after the break...
Box and Contents
The packaging for DOTS is quite unusual, especially with the household accessories which provide useful sorting trays within a cardboard sleeve. I believe anyone could enjoy the pineapple pencil holder but its lavender and pale blue packaging seems more focused upon girls, presumably because that demographic is more traditionally associated with crafting products like this example.
Removing the cardboard sleeve reveals an embossed LEGO logo on the clear plastic lid. This looks superb and seven compartments are found inside, allowing you to separate the pieces for storage or travel. The tray feels slightly thinner than I had expected but remains fairly sturdy. I was also interested to find a copyright date of 2017 on the reverse, demonstrating the long development period that DOTS has experienced.
The Completed Model
Instructions for the pineapple pencil pot and its accompanying box, which resembles a watermelon slice, are provided. The consistent theming of fruit is brilliant and I like how the pineapple leaves are supported, incorporating an exclusive green wheel. However, these models look comparatively bland without any decoration, despite their bright colours.
Fortunately, an impressive selection of 1x1 tiles are included. Their variety is reasonably satisfying, appearing in eight different colours and two shapes, but other DOTS products offer more generous selections in my opinion. None of these 1x1 round tiles or 1x1 quarter circle tiles are entirely new in their respective colours but they could each prove very useful in such large quantities.
Small tiles are perfect for generating patterns and two 2x4 double wedge plates are also included to represent sunglasses! The packaging displays numerous possible faces which are fun and I like how eyes can be created using 1x1 quarter circle tiles, as demonstrated on the smaller box below. Printed eyes might have been useful and are available with 41904 Picture Holders, although they are not a necessity here.
Both containers feature removable lids, offering room to store stationery inside. The surfaces below these lids are predominantly covered with tiles but two exposed studs remain on each pot, providing welcome connection points for the lids. Space is certainly limited but these could look excellent when displayed on a desk and I am particularly satisfied with the contrasting white pieces inside the pencil pot.
Overall
Despite its relative simplicity, DOTS seems quite different to anything that LEGO has created before and I am enjoying 41906 Pencil Holder. The containers are simple but creating distinctive patterns is satisfying and the selection of tiles is adequate in my opinion. Of course, adding parts from your own collection or 41908 Extra Dots - Series 1 would further increase the fun.
However, this set lacks printed elements or tiles in unique colours and I believe older fans might find more of interest with other DOTS products. Furthermore, the price of £17.99 or $19.99 is reasonable but falls short of the exceptional value which 41904 Picture Holders offers. On that basis, I appreciate this pack but others may prove even better.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your opinion of the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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35 comments on this article
Moustache pineapple for the win.
"Space is certainly limited but these could like excellent when displayed on a...." You could place like with look but the review is well versed despite that, the boxes make excellent sorting plates for our personal collections (they are also compact enough they fit on travel bags). Do most of this line look like excellent parts packs to you?
I might have to pick this up, I am very impressed.
Great review! Thanks.
Besides the set and the pieces, I find the sorting tray very interesting. It definitely makes sense with a set of so many different pieces for customization. I wonder why LEGO Classic sets (the sets of standard bricks and simple pieces) don't get sorting trays.
I see nothing wrong with this set, space isn't a big issue. Would be nice with MOC pencils
Remove the plants and with some strategically placed tiles you can turn it into a Homer Simpson pencil holder.
LEGO cities everywhere just got a fruity upgrade to their pavements!
Farewell, light bley.
would have been cool to use them as penholders, if I didn't order a heap of panels for cheap on Bricklink...
@Agent00Z said:
"Besides the set and the pieces, I find the sorting tray very interesting. It definitely makes sense with a set of so many different pieces for customization. I wonder why LEGO Classic sets (the sets of standard bricks and simple pieces) don't get sorting trays."
I think a part of it may be how they're intended to be used. For Classic sets, having the parts mixed together can encourage the kind of free-form building the theme is designed for. For these, on the other hand, the emphasis is more on customization and re-customization of the included models. For that it's probably more helpful to be able to store and sort the different kinds of tiles separately, especially considering how similar in size and shape the various small tiles are.
That said, who knows? If these sets are successful perhaps Lego will consider adding sorting trays to other sorts of themes.
Remind me to grab some extra brick separators...
@Lordmoral said:
"You could place like with look "
Wait wat?
Who uses lego as item holders?!
Anyway thanks for review.
Yes, I definitely want this.
The vibrant coral 1x1 quarter tiles have been on PAB walls in the UK for a little while now.
@bananaworld said:
"LEGO cities everywhere just got a fruity upgrade to their pavements!
Farewell, light bley."
Now people can add a bit of Gaudi Mosaics to their City art , especially coral and teal are a lovely combination (loved it in the Pop-Up Party Bus set as well)
@lordofdragonss said:
"Who uses lego as item holders?!
Anyway thanks for review."
I have used a LEGO pencil pot for over 3 years, so, at least I do!
Many parts I see could be useful.
Tbh really into this set for its parts and case, and OMG do I love the boat steering wheel in green that is going to be such an interesting part to use in some mocs
If I get this set, the first thing I'm going to do is start making a bunch of crazy hats for the pineapple with the faces to match.
Comparisons with Clikits were fun and all but screw them, this is another story. It's System, it's vibrant, appealing and quite gender-neutral too. In a time when LEGO has entered the all-ages mainstream I have confidence that this could sell well, and I really expect it does.
I wonder if that tray and lid are food-grade plastic - would be perfect for keeping and refrigerating grab-on-the-go all-in-one dinner/lunch/breakfast meals.
If you've had any exposure to building with lots of small LEGO parts, you can appreciate TLG including a sorting/storage tray system here.
I'd think it would be better that the inside of the pencil holder was black to help hide the inevitable marking up of the bricks from storing pencils and uncapped pens point-side down.
I still use the the bed of my 8110 Unimog for my stationery. Works perfectly. ..The truck has been long disassembled though.
That's a ton of quarter tiles!
@namekuji for some reason I find that hilarious.
@CCC said:
"I wonder why these are DOTS sets. After all, this one is not that different to the other pencil pot sets we have had in the past. And not really that close to the jewellery side of DOTS. Given the general DOTS marketing seems to be aimed heavily at girls, it seems to cut down on the market for these sets.
"
Lego is expanding INTO a market that they weren't in before. It's not like they're trying to sell ice cubes to Eskimos.
If it's not for you then don't buy it. Just as a motorcycle workshop wouldn't expect you to by an oil pump gasket for a 1978 Yamaha RD350 if you came to them and said your front door lock needs replacing.
I like it, I realise it’s not to everyone’s taste but I still think this will do well. Relatively low price point and aimed at inspiring creativity and on the brackets some great printed tiles. From an adult point of view the 1x1 tiles will help with the moc I have in mind so really looking forward to the whole range.
Imho this is so much more what LEGO ist about and what it is meant for than all those recent IP desasters and exclusives combined.
LEGO should be fun, creative, and above all accessible. The Dots line of products ticks those boxes perfectly for me.
Am i the only one that doesn't think these sets are that great? In my moc experience quarter tiles and circle tiles are not the most used, I initially was excited but seeing little to no square tiles at all in any of the sets is a pretty big bummer. And the price per piece is really bad... figuring 1x1 tiles are common and even more common as extras... they tend to go for a penny or even less each... and these sets will make them cheaper... new prints and new colored pieces is a plus..
@lordofdragonss said:
"Who uses lego as item holders?!
Anyway thanks for review."
Duplo rather than system, used every day as stands for cellphones and tablets for several years.
https://forum.brickset.com/discussion/comment/553143Comment_553143
@Lyonel_McBaseplate_11 said:
"Comparisons with Clikits were fun and all but screw them, this is another story. It's System, it's vibrant, appealing and quite gender-neutral too. In a time when LEGO has entered the all-ages mainstream I have confidence that this could sell well, and I really expect it does."
I am a strong proponent of this, unfortunately so long as toy isles remain segregated into blue and pink, I do not believe the dream of a "gender-neutral" toy is possible.
For example: Hasbro produced the Nerf "Rebelle" line so that they could be in the girls isle. Why not just put tough looking girls on regular Nerf blaster packaging? It's because society has made it okay for girls to like "boy" things but not the other way around. Before GIJOE, any attempt to make a doll for boys failed, but then they called it an "action figure"and it was a success.
You might say "but girls and boys like different things"! However, think about this: from birth boys are usually given tactile and learning toys while girls are given dolls and jewelry. Society has always had a clear impact on impressionable youth.
@LofElle said:
"Am i the only one that doesn't think these sets are that great? In my moc experience quarter tiles and circle tiles are not the most used, I initially was excited but seeing little to no square tiles at all in any of the sets is a pretty big bummer. And the price per piece is really bad... figuring 1x1 tiles are common and even more common as extras... they tend to go for a penny or even less each... and these sets will make them cheaper... new prints and new colored pieces is a plus.. "
Wait, so you're bummed that there's no 1x1 squares but 1x1 tiles are too common to be worth it? Which one is it?
I personally think that these are a great idea, it gives it tiles that are rarely seen in sets and in rare colors and in pretty large numbers. I'd argue that quartercircle tiles aren't the most used because they aren't really widely available (until now).
Quarter tiles are a lot more interesting for mosaics, compared to squares or round 1x1, quarter tiles can be placed in 4 different directions instead of 1.
While they are targeted mostly at girls I think these sets are going to be pretty popular overall, once you're done building whatever the sets offer they have a lot of parts in fairly large quantities to use for custom builds, I'm looking forward to see what this line has to offer down the line.
@lordofdragonss said:
"Who uses lego as item holders?!
Anyway thanks for review."
My brother plays the drums and I created a MOC drumstick holder for him.
@speedorz4ever said:
" @lordofdragonss said:
"Who uses lego as item holders?!
Anyway thanks for review."
I have used a LEGO pencil pot for over 3 years, so, at least I do! "
I have the 40154 but as all people I know I moc it to place it as a regular house of my city
@fakespacesquid said:
" @LofElle said:
"Am i the only one that doesn't think these sets are that great? In my moc experience quarter tiles and circle tiles are not the most used, I initially was excited but seeing little to no square tiles at all in any of the sets is a pretty big bummer. And the price per piece is really bad... figuring 1x1 tiles are common and even more common as extras... they tend to go for a penny or even less each... and these sets will make them cheaper... new prints and new colored pieces is a plus.. "
Wait, so you're bummed that there's no 1x1 squares but 1x1 tiles are too common to be worth it? Which one is it?
I personally think that these are a great idea, it gives it tiles that are rarely seen in sets and in rare colors and in pretty large numbers. I'd argue that quartercircle tiles aren't the most used because they aren't really widely available (until now). "
Me too
Can competitors made a pencil holder? yes
Could you build a pencil holder with any classic or creator set? also yes
Can Chinese competitors release a bag with 100 1x1 tiles for 1€? yes (maybe not some printed, but with stickers)
Could you buy some suitable stickers in a press kiosk? yes
Could you print yourself a sticker sheet? yes
What is Lego competitive advantage or defendible trademark issues? only some rubber bands with studs
Future of this serie? For me, no more than 2 years in market
In Spain LEGO is promoting dots using gossip magazines. why? are twenty or thrity years old women dots target?
All sets of the serie together cost less than a police station or a big friends set. Worth it all the effort?