Review: 40491 Year of the Tiger
Posted by Huw,
LEGO has been producing year of the {zodiac animal} sets since 2013 and in 2015 established a standard for them which has endured since.
The first one, 40148 Year of the Sheep, was slightly different, but subsequent ones are all the same size and style which makes them highly collectable and attractive when displayed together.
The latest one is 40491 Year of the Tiger which is currently a gift with purchase at LEGO.com. Like the others, it was designed by Mel Caddick who has ensured their consistency over time.
Summary
40491 Year of the Tiger, 193 pieces.
Another collectable and cute rendition of a Chinese zodiac animal.
- Matches the other zodiac animals
- Flip-top box
- Lacks a crucial anatomical feature
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The flip-top box, which is not as sturdy as those used for Architecture sets until recently, is designed to be opened easily because inside there's a small envelope which can be filled with money before gifting the set, which I understand is customary in China during the new year celebrations.
The thick card envelope itself is lavishly decorated with gold on front and rear.
There is nothing new or noteworthy among the 193 parts, which are packaged in three unnumbered bags, and there are no stickers. The only decorated elements are the eyes, which are printed.
It does not take long to construct the feline, which has the same cartoonish style as the earlier zodiac animals. I am certain that getting the head right must be the hardest part of designing these animals, particularly when you're aiming for consistency with the others. I think Mel has done a great job.
None of the limbs move, and the head is fixed. The tail can be adjusted, and the ears tweaked a bit, but that's as far as poseability goes.
More of a concern is that a certain crucial anatomical feature is absent from the rear of the animal, and it's not easy to retro-fit one. If you don't know what I'm talking about take a look at this review!
The cat sits on a 8x8 round base decorated with gold pieces and foliage, which matches those in earlier sets.
Here's the complete lineup of the sets in this series. As you can see the current style of animal was established after the first one, 40148 Year of the Sheep, which came with a square base. For this photo I've replaced it with one that matches the others.
So, we have a goat (or sheep), monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox and tiger. Next year is rabbit, then it's dragon, snake and horse to complete the 12-year cycle.
40491 Year of the Tiger is currently free with purchases exceeding £85/€85/€85 at LEGO.com until the 27th January, while stocks last. If you have any of the previous ones you'll want to add the tiger to your collection.
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29 comments on this article
Interesting and a bit of a letdown that so little is poseable, last year's Ox could be adjusted in multiple ways. I expected that at least the head would rotate!
That's neat, that's neat, that's neat, that's neat....
I wonder how it looks next to the Creator 3 in 1 Tiger.
"Don't talk to me or my son again."
Thanks for posting your whole little collection. They look so good together! My local Indigo Bookshop here in Canada was selling them for $13.00 each a couple of weeks ago. It was easier to get one that way than spending the $110.00 with the current low stock levels on LEGO.com. It's a cute little set for the tigers in your life, and perhaps that is because it is lacking a certain body part!
I don't know, that negative point may be a deal breaker haha
Very neat! I’d wonder, given that these are an annual thing and they’ve been consistent for so long, how far in advance Mel planned them. There are definitely some new (to 2015) parts in here so they clearly aren’t the same models as the originals, but I’d imagine there was at least a bit of planning. Very nice set either way!
Lol about the „crucial anatomical feature“!!!!
I was initially surprised about the lack of moving head or limbs, until I looked at the part count compared to the other models in this line - The other sets have up to 168 pieces - this has 25 more than that - I presume this allows for the stripes, and increasing the part count significantly may have exceeded the element allowance for the set.
"and it's not easy to retro-fit one" LOL!!!!
buy at walmart 10$
Happy to have received this in record shipping time (ordered as soon as available, got it three days later) but holding on as a New Year's gift for my little tiger, who at 11 is hopefully not too cool for it yet.
I know they do the same base every year but for some reason the photography makes it look like it's sitting on a plate of food. Or maybe I'm just in a new year food mood!
@JMaster said:
"I wonder how it looks next to the Creator 3 in 1 Tiger.
"Don't talk to me or my son again.""
Wanted to do this with that exact caption, but figured it's probably better off in the box since I have no real interest in this line
I almost lost my coffee when I read the summary box. That's why it works at the top! :)
So going on a tangent ... today my Cincinnati Bengals are playing in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2016. We haven't won a playoff game since 1991. I am certainly hoping that 2022 is "the year of the tiger," and that today reverses our decades-old trend. Who Dey?!!!
Just curious why set 10250 year of the snake is not in the line up? I see it has a different style but hasn’t the year of the snake been done already or is it excluded because it was a regional exclusive?
The lack of a certain anatomical feature is unacceptable, clearly an oversight from LEGO's QA department. I'm sure they are already looking into this major issue. Expect a product recall announcement soon and release of a new (corrected) version in the summer ;)
@MasterT said:
"Just curious why set 10250 year of the snake is not in the line up? I see it has a different style but hasn’t the year of the snake been done already or is it excluded because it was a regional exclusive? "
I do not consider it to be one of the current series of CNY Yot* sets and I suspect neither does LEGO. I have it, but MISB.
As a Water Tiger myself, I had to have this set.
So I have delayed my first order this year to get it last Monday.
The parcel is somewhere between the Czech Republic and my home.
It looks good from the front, but he looks like he has a large racing stripe painted down his back.
Imagine getting money with your new set, but the box has been opened...
@Huw said:
" @MasterT said:
"Just curious why set 10250 year of the snake is not in the line up? I see it has a different style but hasn’t the year of the snake been done already or is it excluded because it was a regional exclusive? "
I do not consider it to be one of the current series of CNY Yot* sets and I suspect neither does LEGO. I have it, but MISB."
Only three years to wait, which is plenty of time to make a MOC! I hope they get it right, snakes aren't considered evil in Chinese culture; in fact, they are respected as humans' progenitors
Thought it was but never really noticed, its a 4 in 1 set..
I love this set, it's full of personality. My favourite one since the rooster
Maybe in 5 years they will remake the sheep to match the other ones. They can even making a goat.
@sjr60 said:
"That's neat, that's neat, that's neat, that's neat...."
That’s niche, that’s niche, that’s niche, that’s niche….
@Lightbrick said:
" @sjr60 said:
"That's neat, that's neat, that's neat, that's neat...."
That’s niche, that’s niche, that’s niche, that’s niche…."
Alright, that's right, that's right, that's right...
@mfg3000 said:
"Thanks for posting your whole little collection. They look so good together! My local Indigo Bookshop here in Canada was selling them for $13.00 each a couple of weeks ago. It was easier to get one that way than spending the $110.00 with the current low stock levels on LEGO.com. It's a cute little set for the tigers in your life, and perhaps that is because it is lacking a certain body part!"
Our local Chapters never received stock...seems they yanked their $80 GWP promo what with low stock levels.
Ended up getting mine at Mastermind free with an $80 LEGO purchase, though LEGO picking were slim.
@aid1977 said:
" @Lightbrick said:
" @sjr60 said:
"That's neat, that's neat, that's neat, that's neat...."
That’s niche, that’s niche, that’s niche, that’s niche…."
Alright, that's right, that's right, that's right... "
Just a bit of a pity that its hips don't swing anywhere, let alone out of bounds!
Are these already sold out?
This was a nice and relaxing little build. Looks great, too!