Review: 40639 Bird's Nest
Posted by Huw,
LEGO's design team seem to have a thing for birds this year, what with Creator sets 31143 Birdhouse and 31136 Exotic Parrot, an alternate model of a cockatiel in 31133 White Rabbit and also 40639 Bird's Nest, the first in this year's seasonal collection that'll be released next month.
Summary
40639 Bird's Nest, 232 pieces.
£10.99 / $12.99 / €12.99 | 4.7p/5.6c/5.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A charming model at a pocket-money price
- Lovely bright plumage on the birds
- Detailed nest
- Chicks are slightly crude
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
This one consists of an adult bird and two chicks sitting on a nest that's been built on the branch of a pink-blossomed tree. Three decorated eggs provide a splash of colour -- and a link to Easter -- to what is already a bright and cheerful model.
The adult bird is posed in a seated position and attaches to the corner of the nest with a turntable. The nest itself is nicely detailed, with foliage and twigs poking out the sides.
The orange and grey plumage suggest that it's based on an orange-headed thrush, which is common in India and Southeast Asia.
It's relatively simply constructed, mostly studs-up with a couple of SNOT additions to the front and sides to improve its shape.
The chicks of the species do appear to be more yellowy than their parents, but they too have grey/brown back and wings. Their diminutive size has precluded the inclusion of a lot of detail, so I guess these are a reasonable approximation, although I'm not overly keen on the 2x2 tiles on the sides of their heads.
I am sure it must be difficult for designers to come up with something new every year for the seasonal sets, but they've done so once again and delivered a charming model that bodes well for others in the series.
It'll be available at LEGO.com from 1st February, priced at £10.99 / $12.99 / €12.99.
113 likes
19 comments on this article
Put a bird on it!
Great set.
No mention of the trans. orange dish under the bird's eyes? That looks a bit weird.
I wonder if the bird's colorscheme is a reference to 31111 Cyber Drone and 4508 Titan XP again (the former referenced the latter). Orange dbgrey and sand blue (with even flat silver!) is such a specific combination. Especially for a bird...
@Binnekamp said:
"Great set.
No mention of the trans. orange dish under the bird's eyes? That looks a bit weird.
I wonder if the bird's colorscheme is a reference to 31111 Cyber Drone and 4508 Titan XP again (the former referenced the latter). Orange dbgrey and sand blue (with even flat silver!) is such a specific combination. Especially for a bird..."
I figured it was because the designer could be from Asia where they are common.
An egg a day is okay.
That is a cute set. Colorful and detailed! But that light grey piece on the branch is out of place—nasty!
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"An egg a day is okay."
Have you seen current egg prices here in the USA recently? (not sure about the rest of the world) An egg a day will send you to the poorhouse very quickly!
Beautiful plumage.
@ForestMenOfEndor said:
"Put a bird on it!"
But can you pickle that?
No Valentine's Day set this year, hmm... I suppose the Creator Heart is it.
@fulcrumbop said:
"No Valentine's Day set this year, hmm... I suppose the Creator Heart is it."
The numbering of 40638 for a floral heart released the month before Valentine's Day and 40639 for decorated eggs released the month (plus another week this year) before Easter makes that pretty clear.
Lovely set, hopefully not sold out as fast as the 40523 : Easter Rabbits Display, for some reason has been sold out a very long time in Europe.
@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"That is a cute set. Colorful and detailed! But that light grey piece on the branch is out of place—nasty! "
I only just realised that!
They look worried. Probably because someone put 3 coloured bombs in their nest.
Negative: Chicks are slightly crude
"Nice pair of tits!"
Negative: Chicks are slightly crude
By itself. I guess.....
Combine with Birdhouse... Looks alot better.....
So many birds coming out now I'm gettig those now too.
The gray connector in the foliage/twigs sticks out a bit. Shame it's not brown
I was hoping for a norwegian blue!
@kingalbino said:
"I was hoping for a norwegian blue!"
31136... aww, beautiful plumage!
Edit: Apologies to AustinGerman, just saw yer comment above.
Selling birds is all well and good. But, what I really want to do is roam the countryside and breathe in the clean cold air of the Yukon!...
I love the way they did the one chick's open mouth.
@Murdoch17: My brother actually raises hens, so my mom gets her eggs for free.