Base Ace review
Posted by Huw,
Six years ago we highlighted a LEGO compatible 3D platform system called Base Ace that, incidentally, is made just down the road from where I live.
Just before Christmas Brickset member Josh over in the USA contacted me to remind him what it was called, because he had read the article back in the day and wanted to buy some for his kids.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Josh bought some and kindly offered to write a short review about the product and how his kids get on with it.
I’m a longtime lurker and have enjoyed reading Brickset reviews for years. So here is my attempt at chinning the high bar and providing an update on a truly innovative product.
A few years ago Brickset featured an article on “Base Ace” a indie product aimed at kid LEGO fans. The product immediately impressed me and seemed like the perfect fit for my ADHD kids.
You see, while my 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter like LEGO they haven’t got to the stage yet at where they can follow even the simplest LEGO instructions. But I’m trying to squelch my inner Will Farrell and let them just use them for any creative play they see fit Bottom line: there should be no wrong way to “LEGO”
Every time I pull out the kids lego tote, at the beginning of a play session the kids want a “house” or “castle” to play with their figures. Their play revolves around the minifigures or minidolls, and making small abstract transportation vehicles for them. Anyway, they typically ask me to build a house which I’m happy to oblige but by the time I have even the goofiest skeleton frame of a shelter erected the kids have lost interest
Enter Base Ace! This innovative solution solved my conundrum and offers instant access to both a shelter and an adventure launching space-age fortress for their favourite figures. After a few play sessions it’s clear to me this will be the go-to avenue to foster my kids love of LEGO for years to come.
Packaging was higher quality than I expected. I’ve purchased indie products before and sometimes they come bagged or in a basic brown corrugated box. This product comes with attractive packaging art, so I’m guessing this is actually in store shelves across the pond.
Upon opening the box it’s obvious it is packaged with care. It’s made mostly of solid wood which was a surprise to me but I quickly figured out this was an asset so the kids could be as rough as they wanted. Assembly was a breeze. The actual LEGO-compatible elements are mounted with double-sided adhesive tape. This tape is high quality, so I’m positive the platforms will never come loose even with the roughest of play.
Within 15 minutes of opening the package the kids had jumped in adding their abstract creations to every platform
If I were to give any feedback to the Base Ace team it would be to create a neutral house or cabin. This sci-fi look is great for my son, but my daughter would love more down to earth based dwellings.
So, just like you, I’m a huge AFOL who can’t wait for the next creator piece of my bustling downtown. But I don’t want to force my kids to blow a few thousand a year on plastic crack. I would rather have them just enjoy LEGO for what it’s intended to be, a kids' toy. If you find yourself in a similar position Base Ace is the solution you are looking for. Rugged and functional this innovative product will grant your kids hours of play for years to come.
International shipping could have been a headache but Base Ace team Brian and Mark were great to work with
Wishing their team a prosperous future and can’t wait to see what they come up with next!
The product can be purchased at BaseAce.co.uk.
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37 comments on this article
Neat! This reminds me of the old Palitoy Death Star playset for Kenner Star Wars figures.
Having looked at the site and the other version as well have to say these are fab, TLG should take a long hard look, these are exactly the sort of thing that instantly transforms the play dynamic for children of the right age.
This product makes me wish I was a kid again
"But I don’t want to force my kids to blow a few thousand a year on plastic crack."
Never, in the entire history of this hobby, has there been a more apt description of it.
Great review. I've just ordered a whole bunch of stuff from them. The accessories look great too - rotating displays, sound modules, bridges etc.
When I was younger, one of my favourite pieces was a large preformed boat hull for exactly this reason, it offered instant play possibilitys, and a solid base to build off of. In that regard it seems this product is very successful and seems ideal for younger children who want to play with lego rather than just build with it.
If they added one that was CITY based i.e. for vehicles/town/garage style that would be a fantastic addition
Mixing a non-LEGO product with LEGO.. urgghh, I can’t now unsee!
In a similar vein, have a search for "Strictly Briks", specifically their "stackable" products.
I bought a set of the rainbow-coloured ones for my nephews (aged 3 & 5) and it transformed what they could build quickly!
"Eurgh, but it's not real LEGO and will break all my real LEGO bricks and contaminate them in disgusting ways!"
It's really very good quality and I've used their bley stackers extensively to build the base structure of several skyscrapers. Believe it or not, other companies make decent highly sophisticated interlocking brick systems too.
They look very good... There's also a void in the road plate market that they could maybe fill!
I saw this on Amazon awhile back.
Was tempted to get it for a Space Police display.
Just realized, when you display it upside down, can be modded for a Cloud City playset!
Gonna' get it now.
I picked up there Solar powered turntable display, It's perfect, sat on my desk with Hercules CMF and Pegasus currently.
I did have Wrecking Ball on there recently too,
@Rimefang said:
"Neat! This reminds me of the old Palitoy Death Star playset for Kenner Star Wars figures. "
I was thinking the same thing! I still have mine!
When are we going to get a review of the ninjago city gardens?
For kids it looks (and cost) great!
I preffer My Lego builds...made out of Lego xD
But those turntables... how much Lego is 200g?
@thatsaltyninja said:
"When are we going to get a review of the ninjago city gardens?"
Huw said their copy is stuck in customs right now and that'll begin work on the review as soon as it arrives
CapnRex101 has the set now is working on it. It's obviously not a build or review that can be rushed!
@Shropshire said:
"Having looked at the site and the other version as well have to say these are fab, TLG should take a long hard look, these are exactly the sort of thing that instantly transforms the play dynamic for children of the right age.
"
It would be great if TLG did a partnership as IKEA once did with LEGO.
I thought I remembered seeing this on Amazon, but now I can't find it.
Does anyone have a link?
There is plenty on Amazon.co.uk, https://amzn.to/3svFv0q , but I can't see it on .com.
I want to get some wooden plates and make my own version of the 10188 Death Star like this
Base Ace seems great if you/your kids are into sci-fi or superheroes. But if, like me, you’re mostly into Castle and fantasy, it doesn’t fit the look.
Lego has moved to ever more intricate sets with ever more pieces and this review highlights why fewer pieces is often the way to go. You get to the play so much faster. For many of us the build *is* the play but for kids... not so much.
I think I would have loved this as a kid.
Reminds me of the death star play set.
Sorry @aztecwarrior, we don't allow discussion, and especially not links, to clone brands that produce similar products to LEGO: only those that complement it, like this.
Dang, you could make a pretty cool Batcave out of those "EVO" modules.
Products like this I feel highlight was TLG lost by discontinuing the large, molded baseplated.
Nice review and never really thought of it as that kind of outlet (for younger kids being more interested in the ships/vehicles than building a base) so I can see its usefulness, and that it is sturdy is also a nice feature.
I do find it interesting that Amazon will allow whatever Chinese garbage is available to be seen on .com but this is not found, which is infinitely better in that it really makes no bones about what it is and not ripping off LEGO (unless the manufacturers just do not want to sell it on amazon.com because of logistics or something like that)
For some reason this is the kind of product I had in my head when Ikea said they were partnering with LEGO. I'll have to consider this down the road for my kids. Thanks for the review.
Does anybody else have the words “I saw the sign, and it opened up my mind” stuck in their heads after reading the title of this article?
No? Just me?
I love how you're letting your kids do LEGO their own way. :)
If you had two of the products, could you make different things, or are the two ways the only way to put them together?
My five year old daughter is great with the 5+ sets. When we get something more sophisticated, she builds the figures and I build the rest as she drifts off in boredom. Once it comes to "play," she loves it and I get bored. Her play is more like home making and babysitting. I try to introduce super villains and they are instantly stopped and jailed. Then it's more feeding dog and setting the table.
"There should be no wrong way to LEGO"
Love that. I will try to remember it, best I can, as my boy gets older.
It's the same in my house.
My 6 year old boy loves the minifigure and side builds, gets all excited for the "big" build (as do I) but disappears about 20 minutes into it, playing with the aforementioned constructions.
"Can I play with it yet?" or "Is it done?" are just two of the inevitable phrases 10 minutes later.
So I've ordered Kit 3 with expansion set.
Hopefully this solves the issue.
For another 10 minutes.
@legoDad42 said:
"I saw this on Amazon awhile back.
Was tempted to get it for a Space Police display. "
Paint it white to contrast with the black baseplates and that sounds like a cool idea!
With the Brexit, what about custom fees & taxes for imported items from UK to EU ?