City
heat.
If
you love LEGO as much as we do, you might often find yourself itching
to create something new. However, 'builders block' happens to the
best of us, leaving us short on inspiration. If you find yourself in
need of a creative boost, check out DK's latest range of Build Your
Own Adventure books, featuring a few parts, a minifigure, and a whole
bunch of build ideas. We checked out the City edition.
This chunky hardback book from DK includes 99 LEGO parts to build a small fire and rescue truck. You also get a fireman minifigure, with the first few pages of the book given over to the instructions. Unlike the Brickmaster book that we previously reviewed, the parts included are designed to create just the one model, and rest of the book features ideas to build things using your pre-existing LEGO collection. So if this is your first ever LEGO purchase, you might be left feeling slightly disappointed.
But
anyway, the build itself. As far as we know, this small but well
detailed truck is exclusive to this book set, so if you like City
builds, and vehicles in general, it is a nice addition to any
collection in it's own right.
The
built itself took about 15 minutes, and the finished model looks
great with a roof that can be removed to fit in the figure, two
opening storage lockers on the side, and a roof rack for other
equipment. You also get a small piece of terrain; a barbecue. There's
a sausage to sit on top, and also a pretty effective fire piece which
gives the impression that things have gotten out of hand. We've all
been to barbecues like that. We think that the fireman figure has
been seen many times before, and so is nothing new, but the book
actually names him – Ed – giving the character a backstory and
adventure throughout the pages.
And
that is what the book is all about; a narrative, following Ed, where
he visits different parts of a LEGO city, prompting the builder to
create scenes, buildings and vehicles from those areas. At first we
found it all a little frustrating, as the models suggested look so
great, but require a whole bunch of specific bricks. However, each
page is designed to merely suggest what can be built, and how to go
about building it, offering tips and hints on various types of
construction.
If
you have a nice big vat of LEGO sitting about (as we're lucky enough
to have) you'll be in your element, as the Build Your Own Adventure
book suggests colours, types of bricks, and building methods to
create playgrounds, a cool little shower, a jetty, and a few
different vehicles. All the models and builds are fairly simple and
basic, with each requiring no more than 100 parts each.
Highlights
have to include the bed (complete with alarm clock), a kitchen
(complete with a great idea for a blender), and a burning tree!
Sounds random, but as you follow Ed on his adventure, tailing some
arsonist crooks, it'll all make sense.
So
although this should not be anyone's first LEGO buy, for a kid with a
pretty healthy collection of their own already, who also possesses a
desire to get creating their own stuff, this is a perfect inspiring
gift.
£17.99