Review: 40533 Cosmic Cardboard Adventures
Posted by Huw,
40533 Cosmic Cardboard Adventures is based on the winning entry of last year's LEGO Ideas Out of this World competition.
It'll be a gift with purchase at LEGO.com from next Monday, 16th May until the end of the month with orders exceeding $160 / €160 / £160.
It's a fun little model that's very faithful to bulldoozer's original submission.
Summary
40533 Cosmic Cardboard Adventures, 203 pieces.
A fun and quirky set that's faithful to the original competition winning entry
- Cool minifig torso
- Bonus 'teddy-mech'
- None
Here's the winning entry:
Parts are packed in two numbered bags and are accompanied by a small sticker sheet.
The main part of the model is very similar to the original submission: the 'rocket' itself is almost identical, other than the decorations.
However, rather than teddy fitting in the back of the box with the cat he now has his own mech, fashioned from household items like umbrellas, hairdryers and whisks. This replaces the proposed robot minifig and in my opinion is much more fun!
The room itself sits on a 12x12 base and all the details from then original are present and correct: stars and rocket on the wall, toy soldiers on the floor, and a flag in the corner, although the decoration on it is different: the proposed 'Pizza galaxy' was probably too similar to the name of a fast food chain in a certain Pixar film :-)
The design of the rocket incorporates the fun details of the original: sink plungers and drinks cans at the back to represent the engine thrusters, and of course space at the back for the astromech, aka the family cat!
The boy minifig is wearing a very cool shirt with a Classic Space ship on the front which returns from the Space Fan Collectable Minifigure.
Bulldozer's submission is a worthy winner, and it's resulted in a quirky and fun little model that would not have seen the light of day had it not been for LEGO Ideas and the competition.
With LEGO.com stocks depleted and the offer expiring before the June releases become available it may well prove tricky to find anything worth buying to acquire it, but if you do manage to spend enough you'll find it a very enjoyable gift with purchase.
It'll be available at LEGO.com from next Monday, 16th May until the end of the month with orders exceeding $160 / €160 / £160, which seems to be the new standard figure for desirable GWPs nowadays.
184 likes
84 comments on this article
Set is nice, but again overpriced threshold.
$160 is more than all the botanicals I want, even with two of them out of stock right now. :(
Guess it's time to figure out if I want a modular this month or not.
There's no way they made an exclusive torso for this gwp, I wonder what other sets it will show up in soon. I love it, I have $160 worth of sets I want to buy, but I'm going to wait until after my birthday to get any so I'll miss this :(
A surprise to be had, I will see if I can grab this little guy.
The torso is exclusive? I swear I bought that exact one a few months back from a third party seller.
Hm... maybe this'll be my impetus to buy a second City of Lanterns set to expand my original. Plus maybe the Sunflowers set for my mom's upcoming birthday, if it's even in stock!
Very charming set, putting aside the extortionate GWP threshold. I do want the light yellow plates, though.
All those printed Vita-Rush cans... but it'd be too much for 60290, which uses one such print for what appears to be a branded water bottle.
@Zackula said:
"There's no way they made an exclusive torso for this gwp, I wonder what other sets it will show up in soon. I love it, I have $160 worth of sets I want to buy, but I'm going to wait until after my birthday to get any so I'll miss this :("
It’s not exclusive, it’s from a CMF
I do like this, but it lacks a little of the charm of the original, mainly in the designs used on the 'boxes'. The chevrons spoil the 'This Side Up' box. The LEGO logo would have been excellent on a box. A pizza box would have looked great for the flag (although I suppose the nanny state can't imply that kids live on pizzas... Probably why Coke cans were swapped for carrot juice too!). The original immediately shouted 'cardboard boxes' - The Lego version doesn't quite so much.
All in all, still good, but could have been great, if not for a few pointless changes!
@Zackula said:
"There's no way they made an exclusive torso for this gwp, I wonder what other sets it will show up in soon. I love it, I have $160 worth of sets I want to buy, but I'm going to wait until after my birthday to get any so I'll miss this :("
I was mistaken, CapnRex101 pointed out that it's been used for CMF before.
@Zackula said:
"There's no way they made an exclusive torso for this gwp, I wonder what other sets it will show up in soon. I love it, I have $160 worth of sets I want to buy, but I'm going to wait until after my birthday to get any so I'll miss this :("
Review already mentions it's not exclusive.
Steep threshold, indeed, hopefully supplies last until payday.
@jkb said:
" @Zackula said:
"There's no way they made an exclusive torso for this gwp, I wonder what other sets it will show up in soon. I love it, I have $160 worth of sets I want to buy, but I'm going to wait until after my birthday to get any so I'll miss this :("
Review already mentions it's not exclusive.
Steep threshold, indeed, hopefully supplies last until payday."
To be fair, the article did originally say the torso was exclusive but has been amended.
My only criticism would be Lego replacing the Plungers that served as the propulsion for the ship. I don't know the Plungers made more sense as there's likely at least one found in a household and goes well with a cardboard box space ship.
@shaase said:
"My only criticism would be Lego replacing the Plungers that served as the propulsion for the ship. I don't know the Plungers made more sense as there's likely at least one found in a household and goes well with a cardboard box space ship."
I don't understand this comment, there are plungers attached to the ship like the original model, just a different color of plunger head.
I want this to retroactively be considered the first chronological Lego Space set. Some future Blacktron retro set needs to have a photo of this kid on a wall.
Will the playground promo set be overlapping this promo set this month?
Ugh. Too bad this doesn't extend into June, and come with a tiny Optimus Prime model on his floor.
Wish they kept the Lego logo'd shipment box.
BEAR MECH BEAR MECH
Undeniably cute.
...but then I think back to the competition and what we could have had...
What happened to the fair GWP with the 2 kids?
A pass for me on this, not bothered, the threshold is extreme even if I was tempted.
Love it, but not so close to the heels of the Star Wars GWP promotion which had an equally high threshold. LEGO has already secured my LEGO budget for the month…!
Someone needs to let them know that $160 GWP thresholds are not sustainable! :)
Love it. It's very respectful of the original. But the obsecene 160 threshold should be a con.
@sjr60 said:
"I do like this, but it lacks a little of the charm of the original, mainly in the designs used on the 'boxes'. The chevrons spoil the 'This Side Up' box. The LEGO logo would have been excellent on a box. A pizza box would have looked great for the flag (although I suppose the nanny state can't imply that kids live on pizzas... Probably why Coke cans were swapped for carrot juice too!). The original immediately shouted 'cardboard boxes' - The Lego version doesn't quite so much.
All in all, still good, but could have been great, if not for a few pointless changes!"
I agree completely. There are too many pointless changes that ruined the original's charm. And I wanted this set to have the robot.
It's not faithful to the original at all.
Cool sticker on that flag. Does it fit on a 2x2 tile? You can use it that way as a lego set in a box for a toy shop or something or as a tv-screen. Who doesn’t like to see a good sci-fi movie
Story same as always - I like it, but not 160€ threshold like it.
Pretty ironic that it still contains the plastic bags! Seemed like an ideal way to launch it, like the plants from plants set.
Very cool, but why is the teddy strapped into a torture device?
@WesterBricks said:
" @shaase said:
"My only criticism would be Lego replacing the Plungers that served as the propulsion for the ship. I don't know the Plungers made more sense as there's likely at least one found in a household and goes well with a cardboard box space ship."
I don't understand this comment, there are plungers attached to the ship like the original model, just a different color of plunger head."
@shaase is correct, the original submission used the plunger element from the CMF janitor and Willie in the Simpsons CMF. This final release has replaced it with two separate elements to replicate the plunger.
Would be cooler were the box elements all tan.
Im very disappointed that this ends before the june 1st sets release. My budget is pretty tight right now, but it looks like ill have to choose either this or the sets i really want, but not both. Bummer.
bulldoozer*
double O
@brickdevil said:
" @WesterBricks said:
" @shaase said:
"My only criticism would be Lego replacing the Plungers that served as the propulsion for the ship. I don't know the Plungers made more sense as there's likely at least one found in a household and goes well with a cardboard box space ship."
I don't understand this comment, there are plungers attached to the ship like the original model, just a different color of plunger head."
@shaase is correct, the original submission used the plunger element from the CMF janitor and Willie in the Simpsons CMF. This final release has replaced it with two separate elements to replicate the plunger. "
I understand it is two separate parts to approximate a plunger. Their original comment implied there are no plungers in the model ("Plungers made more sense as there's likely at least one found in a household and goes well with a cardboard box space ship").
I love this! Except, as usual, there's not $160+ set I'm interested in at the moment, sigh...
I feel bad for the people that rush out and buy a big set they want as soon as it's available. Meanwhile, I've been patiently waiting on some larger sets so that when there's a GWP that comes along with an absurdly high threshold, I can simply pick up one of those sets I've been holding out on. I think it may be time for me to get the Home Alone house...or maybe a couple of those new City Space sets I've been wanting.
Shame there is no "Lego cardbox" sticker. Also no glowing small stars
alas blew my recent lego budget thanks to may the fourth, no cute gwp for me. crazy threshold, thanks but no thanks
This promo may suffer from folks committing so much money to BLDP Round 3 at the same time when those sets unfortunately don't qualify for the GWP...
£160? Again? Like I know everyone hates the UK currently, but 160 quid is almost 200 dollars. Imo, it should be £130/$160. With the current exchange rates
This is the one I voted for. But, man, that’s a high threshold to get this. Rats.
No cons? What about the lack of glow-in-the-dark stars? Also an abundance of tiny stickers, but that's a personal peeve. I would've liked if the spaceship was able to be converted into a bed.
The threshold is high but I have more than enough things to buy that as long as something is in stock I'll be able to get one or two.
It's really cute.
@Milo_Hilo_26 said:
"bulldoozer*
double O"
Must be a doozy of a dozer! :-P
@Mandalorian6285 said:
"what is that paintbrush piece on the floor with the green top? is it a clarinet or what?"
I think it's supposed to be the brush the kid used to paint the toy soldiers. There's a can of green paint, a brush with green paint on the tip, and 3 green soldiers
It 'looks' cool but that is only a first impression.
Some interesting parts but as a set not so much.
The price elasticity has gone out of these GWP's for me anyway.
Perhaps Lego should do some introspection by going back to the initial GWP's and the philosophy behind them.
Just spent a bunch on the Star Wars GWP thresholds. Tough to justify twice in a month. This should be the 2nd Christmas giveaway this year. Awesome set though.
No flaws? Wow! This is a cool idea, honestly, for one of the first times I can’t judge something off of PPP since there is none. The cat in the rocket makes total sense when you consider that it’s made of boxes. :P
Did @Huw get the green & blue 1x1 round plates on the nosecone the wrong way round or did Lego? :-p
It's a nice little set, but I probably won't get it due to the release being so soon after the Star Wars May 4th promotion.
It does appear far less cardboard-ey than the original, between the stickers and likely color limitations on hinge pieces, but it’s still pretty charming.
@Brickodillo said:
"Cool sticker on that flag. Does it fit on a 2x2 tile? You can use it that way as a lego set in a box for a toy shop or something or as a tv-screen. Who doesn’t like to see a good sci-fi movie"
@Huw - I don't think that anyone has mentioned it yet (and forgive me if someone has...), but that image on the flag looks like a direct reference to 493 Space Command Center (aka: 926 Command Centre). (...makes me want this set even more now!)
Reminds me of the "Awesome Express" episode from Futurama, and, for a different reason, the Rick and Morty episode where the family dog tries to takes over the world...
Also, too bad we didn't get a Benny helmet in Tan.
I’d love a line of smaller ideas sets at around £20 or so - this would be ideal.
What will people do with that once built? Where would you display it?
I miss the original square-headed robot and the USS Cardboard sign, but otherwise I think this is a charming set and I'm glad to see that enough things on my wishlist are still in stock that I shouldn't have much trouble reaching the threshhold. (That's assuming it doesn't go out of stock before the 17th, when I'll be trying to get my Ulysses satellite!)
@Huw others have pointed it out up thread but didn't tag you - the creator was bulldoozer with two I'd
I think it's cute but I'm not sure about spending that much to get it. There's a lot of upcoming sets I want though so I may end up getting it
@AndyB1 said:
"Did @Huw get the green & blue 1x1 round plates on the nosecone the wrong way round or did Lego? :-p "
Looking at the picture on the instruction manual LEGO did!
@DavoDestroyer said:
" @AndyB1 said:
"Did @Huw get the green & blue 1x1 round plates on the nosecone the wrong way round or did Lego? :-p "
Looking at the picture on the instruction manual LEGO did!"
I think this was a conscious decision to keep the green plate from blending in with the green soldiers on the floor next to it.
@empire0 said:
"What happened to the fair GWP with the 2 kids? "
Well they seem to have occasionally been double stacking GWPs lately, with one at around £85 and a second around £160 so here's hoping!
@PDelahanty said:
"I feel bad for the people that rush out and buy a big set they want as soon as it's available. Meanwhile, I've been patiently waiting on some larger sets so that when there's a GWP that comes along with an absurdly high threshold, I can simply pick up one of those sets I've been holding out on. I think it may be time for me to get the Home Alone house...or maybe a couple of those new City Space sets I've been wanting."
Not sure if this reply was directly to me (it does follow right after my comment re: not having $160 worth of sets I'm currently interested in). This used to be a good strategy, but the supply issues have been so bad, I've felt compelled to buy new sets right when they're launched. It took me 18 months to get the Gingerbread house because I decided to wait patiently. It was out of stock over and over again. And that's been my experience when I wait for a double-VIP weekend, or a really nice GWP--the stuff I want is out of stock.
Minimum $160 to earn? Ouch!
The cardboard robot was the only reason I would have looked into getting this set, so its absence is a huge disappointment to me. I wouldn't be very surprised if that head mold was retired, though, since its last use was in CMF Series 11. That still doesn't mean they couldn't have made a cardboard robot figure some other way with a different head, though. The teddy mech doesn't have the same charm to me and looks less plausible for something a kid cobbled together.
The cardboard robot was the only reason I would have looked into getting this set, so its absence is a huge disappointment to me. I wouldn't be very surprised if that head mold was retired, though, since its last use was in CMF Series 11. That still doesn't mean they couldn't have made a cardboard robot figure some other way with a different head, though. The teddy mech doesn't have the same charm to me and looks less plausible for something a kid cobbled together.
I guess I will echo others here and say it’s cute but too high of a threshold just after May 4th.
I guess this will bring about higher aftermarket prices for those that want it only.
The cardboard boxes have too much bley now compared to dark tan so doesn’t really give the image it is cardboard boxes. I don’t particularly love the bear mech, but I guess it is something instead of just standing the bear I side the back. I would have liked the robot. I would have been more inclined to try to get this if the robot was around. But I’m assuming the head mold is outdated enough they didn’t want to put it back into rotation.
I think I will have to pass. Lego got enough of my money this month.
For those complaining that this is too different from the original design...are you serious? These are almost identical except for some trivial differences. Compared to the usual differences that ideas sets have versus the Lego overhaul this is as close to the original that I've ever seen. It might appear more different than it actually is because of there is a huge difference in the lighting and saturation of the photographs, but the sets themselves are incredibly similar.
Love it. The only thing I miss here and should have been included are printed/stickered tiles with the brown LEGO cardboard boxes and glow-in-the-dark stars.
Would’ve preferred the Benny helmet or neo-Classic space helmet piece instead of the standard motorcycle helmet, but still a very nice little set regardless.
@Zackula said:
"There's no way they made an exclusive torso for this gwp, I wonder what other sets it will show up in soon. I love it, I have $160 worth of sets I want to buy, but I'm going to wait until after my birthday to get any so I'll miss this :("
As mentioned, the torso comes from a Collectable Minifigure :)
@BulbaNerd4000 said:
"BEAR MECH BEAR MECH"
BULBA NERD BULBA NERD
@yellowcastle said:
"This promo may suffer from folks committing so much money to BLDP Round 3 at the same time when those sets unfortunately don't qualify for the GWP..."
Do they not? Damn, there goes my idea.
Hmmm...so "Vita Rush", an 'energy drink' equals ROCKET THUSTERS...get the F.D.A. immediately (I will contact Health Canada:))...still, good set; not crazy on the 'price point'...but, question: is this going to be in stores? I ask as I'm going to visit a friend near Calgary, so we will get there, but more important: hopefully we'll get up to Edmonton and see the new flagship store...hopefully:)
$160 and nothing exclusive in this gwp set (other than stickers)? No thanks.
@brick_r said:
"Hmmm...so "Vita Rush", an 'energy drink' equals ROCKET THUSTERS...get the F.D.A. immediately (I will contact Health Canada:))...still, good set; not crazy on the 'price point'...but, question: is this going to be in stores? I ask as I'm going to visit a friend near Calgary, so we will get there, but more important: hopefully we'll get up to Edmonton and see the new flagship store...hopefully:)"
"Onward to Calgary!" Is your friend named 'Horse.'
It was a cute set, though a terrible shame something more classic didn't come out of the competition.
But with switching the helmet out, taking out the LEGO shipping box design, changing the plungers to bright colours instead of more realistic ones, and taking teddy out of the back - they've stripped the original of quite a bit of its charm. The teddy mech is clever, but it just seems like the work of a slightly older, more cynical kid, than the one you get the impression of from the original submission. And the price boundary is nuts.
Yeah i like it but Lego’s spend-reward price excludes me from buying it, not so ‘VIP’.
Oh sorry i didn’t look properly, that has paled compared to the original design. If something is worth doing….
Spaceman Spiff meets Commander Keen?
The $160 threshold belongs in the negative column. Otherwise, great review.
I can't figure it out, what is he holding in his left hand?
@asherkobin said:
"I can't figure it out, what is he holding in his left hand?"
It's a roll of duct tape :)
160 USD is a bit outrageous, especially now hearing about the upcoming GWP of the redo of the forestman's hideout that's coming up rumored to be in June that will also be a threshold of 160 USD for that GWP. (granted if that is out with all of the June releases coming out it may be a bit more palatable.
Its cute, funny full of ideas, and could be a nice present, but... it is overpriced, as usual.