Review: 40563 Tribute to LEGO House
Posted by Huw,
40563 Tribute to LEGO House, which comprises miniature versions of sets that have been available exclusively there, is one of the gifts with purchase that will be offered at LEGO.com during this weekend's VIP event and again a week after, over Black Friday/Cyber Monday.
The spend threshold, however, is eye-watering: you'll need to fork out at least £250 / $250 / €250 to acquire it!
So, with that in mind let's find out whether it's worth doing so.
Summary
40563 Tribute to LEGO House, 583 pieces.
Great mini-models of LEGO House exclusive sets
- The House, duck, and moulding machine are excellent
- Printed tiles
- Unobtainable for many
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Box and contents
It's certainly a hefty GWP: the box, which is styled like those of the larger models, is deeper and heavier than those of most free gifts.
The 583-pieces are packaged in bags numbered one to five, corresponding to each of the mini models.
A single manual provides instructions for all five which is perhaps a missed opportunity given how they could have been built concurrently had they had their own separate books.
The LEGO House
Several renditions of the LEGO house have been produced over the years, from the definitive 21037 LEGO House to the tiny 854015 LEGO House Magnet. This one sits somewhere in between in terms of size. It's just about big enough to be able to model the distinctively designed building reasonably accurately.
The models are mounted on black display bases incorporating a printed tile, some of which are unique to this set.
Tree of Creativity
The tree of creativity is in the centre of the main staircase of the building, towering up to the masterpiece gallery on the top floor. Among its branches are models depicting different product lines from LEGO's history, and it's topped with a crane that symbolises that the company's history is still under construction.
It's the weakest of the five models, simply because it's too small to be able to do the subject justice, although the mini yellow castle made from about 8 pieces is cute, as is the fire engine with just 6.
Dinosaurs
Three dinosaurs, one made from Duplo, one from System pieces and one from Technic, take centre stage in the masterpiece gallery.
The mini versions of the Duplo (red/yellow) and System (green) ones are similar in design, but I think there are too many colours used in the latter, so it looks a bit messy, but as brick-built minifig-scale dinosaurs go, they are all pretty good!
Wooden Duck
The pull-along duck has become a symbol of LEGO's earliest days when the company was making wooden toys. This miniature version is excellent and arguably the best model in the set.
The wheels rotate allowing it to be pulled along although, unlike 40501 The Wooden Duck, its beak does not open and close when you do so!
Brick Moulding Machine
This highly-detailed minifig-scale model of an ENGEL injection moulding machine is also excellent and, if it were available more readily, could be used in bulk to populate a model of a LEGO factory.
The only odd thing about it is that it appears to be operated using a mobile phone!
Verdict
The set is indeed a satisfying tribute to the LEGO House and the sets that have been available exclusively there. Three of the models are excellent: the House itself, the duck, and the moulding machine, and they'd all make great stand-alone pocket-money sets, of which there's something of a dearth nowadays.
It's unfortunate, then, that the only way to get hold of it is as a gift with purchase with very a high spend threshold during two weekends, which makes it almost as hard to acquire as the larger models upon which it's based.
But, if you're planning a big purchase it will be a very welcome sweetener, particularly when combined with the other VIP weekend or BFCM offers.
For example, if you buy 10307 Eiffel Tower when it's released on the 25th you should in theory receive three GWPs with it: this, 40564 Winter Elves Scene and 40579 Eiffel's Apartment, which might take the edge off the tower's high price a bit!
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34 comments on this article
YELLOW CASTLE!
A shame about the threshold as these are some very charming builds. Fortunately it doesn't look as though there are many exclusive pieces/prints beyond those named plates, so I can just build these from my parts collection once the instructions are uploaded.
One for completionists with deep pockets...
Otherwise, like so many too-high threshold GWPs, it's best to treat it as inspiration; I'll certainly be making some mini-dinosaurs!
@bananaworld said:
"
One for completionists with deep pockets...
Otherwise, like so many too-high threshold GWPs, it's best to treat it as inspiration; I'll certainly be making some mini-dinosaurs!"
I wonder if it would be cheaper to get all the parts for this from Bricks and Pieces then use online instructions to make these.
If Lego sold this as a standalone set, I'd cheerfully hand over £40 for it. As a GWP, though, I just can't get it as there are no sets left that Lego make that I want to buy this year.
I'll wait for the instructions to appear online then Bricklink the pieces.
I really love the Wooden Duck!!!, an amazing recreation
Lego sure loves its wooden duck... maybe a bit too much at this point?
That minimum purchase limit is absolutely ridiculous. But I guess they have to get people to somehow buy the gigantic sets at their own store instead of literally anywhere else where the price is better, right?
Spend is $320CAD. Glad I held off on 10308. Should just make it wiping out my wishlist. Not a fan of the high spend, but this is a cannot miss set for me.
@mediAFOL said:
"YELLOW CASTLE!"
MEDIAFOL!
This AND 40564 Winter Elves Scene AND double VIP points is why I have waited until this weekend to buy 10304 Camaro and some other smaller sets -- and overnight the VIP Rewards center surprisingly added a an unannounced but greatly appreciated VIP $30 off coupon for 10304!
The "yes I will buy day one" and "there are no sets left that Lego make that I want to buy this year" folks who like this more than the GWPs earlier in the year -- or even made purchases with no GWP -- had the option to wait until now.
Lego does stuff like this every year, so exercise some patience and be rewarded.
@NathanR2015 said:
"If Lego sold this as a standalone set, I'd cheerfully hand over £40 for it. As a GWP, though, I just can't get it as there are no sets left that Lego make that I want to buy this year.
I'll wait for the instructions to appear online then Bricklink the pieces."
Really? Because I'd take it as a GWP with a £40 threshold at best. It's not bad, just not very interesting.
This is the kind of GWP that doesn't entice me. Other than the label for each model (which I can live without), what's exclusive?
If you are already planning a purchase over $250 then good for you, it's great you'll get these for free (after all free Lego is always good). However, if they expect this to persuade me to make a purchase over $250 then no, it doesn’t interest me enough. I see the pictures and the models are nothing to write home about (except the duck, that one is nice) and I can probably source the pieces individually (if I don't have them already) and wouldn't cost too much.
I don't mind spending 50 eddies for a GWP, not even 100, but 250 is way too much. No thanks, I'll just go pick up the real sets when I'm in Billund this december.
Lucky for me, I was already planning on getting 71411 this weekend!
Gawd...the threshold is just too high! But it use the special LEGO House box!
@yellowcastle said:
" @mediAFOL said:
"YELLOW CASTLE!"
MEDIAFOL!"
Genuinely laughed out loud.
This might work out for me. Now that supply issues seem to be clearing up, I've been waiting to order sets on my wish list, and only ordering up to the threshold (deferring other sets) for GWP to maximize return. Walmart has some amazing deals right now, too (11011 is down to 1.6c/pc at $25).
So aside from the printed tiles, are there any parts unique to this set?
Great GWP with a perfectly reasonable threshold. I really like the way they've been doing a sliding scale of GWPs lately, so it's a £65 threshold for the Baking Set, plus £105 for the Winter Elves, plus £80 for the House Tribute. Will get the Motorised Lighthouse, at double VIP points, and get 3 GWPs making use of it's whole price. I much prefer that to just getting 1 GWP for a threshold of around £80 and feeling that the rest of a £250 set's purchase price isn't being used in any way towards a GWP.
@mediAFOL said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @mediAFOL said:
"YELLOW CASTLE!"
MEDIAFOL!"
Genuinely laughed out loud."
Hmm... Now I'm thinking of theme specific AFOL terms.
Castle: MediAFOL
Space: SpacAFOL (SpacFOL?)
Pirates: PirAFOL
Paradisa: ParAFOL
Ninjago: NinjAFOL
Star Wars: StAFOL (Or Star WAFOL)
Indiana Jones: IndianAFOL
Trains: TrAFOL
Will it be available in the US as a GWP?
@joshnike said:
"Will it be available in the US as a GWP?"
Wondering the same thing!
By Modeltrainman in United States, 15 Nov 2022 14:54
@joshnike said:
"Will it be available in the US as a GWP?"
Wondering the same thing!
thought i heard yes , why price says $250
I just spent $200 to get 5007622 (and finish my nephews' Christmas shopping, among other things), so this doesn't really entice me. I do like the duck, the dinos, and the molding machines, though.
is this for online only?..or can you get it at the Lego store as well?
There's something weirdly unsettling about this.
"Here's an unobtainable set ... about a whole bunch of other sets that were also basically unobtainable, unless you skip groceries from a month to throw hundreds of dollars at scalpers on eBay or Brinklink."
This is not an attitude I care to support.
@Zordboy said:
"There's something weirdly unsettling about this.
"Here's an unobtainable set ... about a whole bunch of other sets that were also basically unobtainable, unless you skip groceries from a month to throw hundreds of dollars at scalpers on eBay or Brinklink."
This is not an attitude I care to support."
nothing new, most know save up black friday,
they even raised prices by 20%,
you can look around alot places hav old prices...
alt sets most likely 40% 50% off..
@Binnekamp said:
"Lego sure loves its wooden duck... maybe a bit too much at this point?"
Seriously. They are releasing like 3 wooden ducks a year
I think this is a great piece, and the qualifying purchase seems to be fair. The only problem is, not sure if my country is getting it because lego stores here are "Certified" instead of the official LEGO partners.
Sometimes I think people forget how fortunate they are to have an official lego store rather than a certified one. Cause we having the certified stores means we cannot stack promos!
See people complaining about the qualifying purchase of $250 US in reference. This is like an almost 600 piece GWP. Too cheap it will run out quickly and people starts complaining again lmao.
Maybe you can call me biased, but I agreed on the fact that some sets are way too expensive for what they are (*Erm hem* Foosball and hulkbuster) and some sets I question their existence (*Erm hem* Jazz Quartet and Black Panther bust)
@SG_BRICKCOLLECTOR27 said:
"See people complaining about the qualifying purchase of $250 US in reference. This is like an almost 600 piece GWP."
I don't think Lego do themselves any favours with the way they market multiple GWPs. The £250 threshold is, of course, for a minimum of 2 gifts (955 pieces) plus the Baking Set (if your £250 includes certain themes). But all that ever gets moaned about is, 'Outrageous £250 threshold for the House Tribute GWP', whereas I think a £250 threshold for a bundle of 3 pretty decent GWPs isn't at all bad.
@sjr60:
Thanks! I think, You are right. We can not see this set alone, but have to look at it as a package together with 2x VIP points and 40564 Winter Elves Scene.
Of course this package does not make this offer a bargain, but far more reasonable.
Lego is becoming the next Fortnite. Making eachother go nuts with unobtainable loot. They should start making vouchers. I just got the obnoxious Halloween Cat/Witch, would rather have a choice.
My shopping cart is up to $289 and not seeing this set as a GPW. (Do see winter elves and cinch bucket). Sold out?
> The only odd thing about it is that it appears to be operated using a mobile phone!
Actually if you look at the photo of the real machine on page 5 it is a blue and white touchscreen control panel. Reverse color scheme but it’s actually pretty close!
This the first set I’ve built (well building… in the middle of the tree (bleh… so much 1x1) in 30 years.
I’m a huge naval history nerd, so once I saw THAT set I had to have one… although by then they were sold out. Happened to check on black Friday and lo and behold, back in stock.
The main event arrives tomorrow, so figured this was a good warmup.