Review: 60250 Mail Plane
Posted by CapnRex101,Several years have passed since previous postal vehicles have appeared within the enduring City theme. 60250 Mail Plane shares multiple design features with earlier models, although its yellow and white colours seem distinctive and I like the angular fuselage shape.
The postal service emblem has been altered too, hence this minifigure includes an exclusive torso which is delightful. The accompanying bird also appears interesting. Hopefully they will result in an enjoyable addition to the City range.
Minifigure
One postal worker is provided and looks superb, sporting an appropriate red uniform that resembles another minifigure from 60100 Airport Starter Set. This example is new though, featuring an updated postal service symbol on the torso. The metallic silver zip and reflective panels appear rather familiar though, when compared with the 2016 character.
Unfortunately, the aforementioned postal service emblem does not appear across the dark red cap. I appreciate these complementary colours though and the head looks reasonable, including a nice pair of tinted sunglasses which could prove very useful during flight. No accessories are provided with this minifigure but the necessary letters appear elsewhere in this set, thankfully.
The Completed Model
An attractive post box accompanies the aircraft. Its design is exceptionally simple, although the red colour scheme seems appropriate and I love the white bird placed on top. This component has only appeared in four previous sets and looks absolutely adorable here. Moreover, I like the printed letter tiles which are found inside the box.
Light aircraft appear quite commonly within the City theme and this vehicle conforms to numerous established trends. The aircraft measures 16cm in length so feels quite substantial and the angular components which form its fuselage appear familiar, somewhat resembling 7732 Air Mail from 2008. However, the propeller position, skids and wing configuration each appear distinctive.
60250 Mail Plane is shown serving a snow-covered environment on its packaging and the high wing design therefore seems particularly suitable. This corresponds with many authentic aircraft, including the S-1B2 Arctic Tern that also features a similar nose propeller. As usual, that propeller can spin and two red skids are located beneath the fuselage. They have not appeared in this colour before and look great, despite the presence of blue Technic pins.
Opening storage compartments are situated below the wings and can hold several letters. The cockpit is similarly accessible by removing the roof, thereby revealing a black steering wheel inside. Additional detail would certainly have been welcome but there is ample space for a minifigure. Furthermore, I like the light bluish grey wings that contrast with the fuselage but still appear sufficiently consistent.
The black band which decorates the fuselage looks superb too, complementing the yellow and white designs. I think the shape of the tail could have been improved though since the horizontal stabiliser appears excessively simplistic. The vertical stabiliser, by contrast, is perfectly printed with the postal service symbol and the identification number which pleasantly surprised me because I had expected stickers here!
Overall
Several smaller City sets have proven excellent during recent years and 60250 Mail Plane is another enjoyable creation. This aeroplane certainly looks impressive, due in particular to the aforementioned black stripes which run along either flank. The printed vertical stabiliser is significant too, substantially improving the detail and resultant realism of this model.
The rectilinear design might not inspire universal praise but that feels quite appropriate in my opinion. Such angular shaping appears most reminiscent of older aircraft and I can envisage the LEGO postal service using such a vehicle when delivering to remote areas, beyond the reach of any modern trucks. Moreover, I think the price of £8.99 or $9.99 represents good value, especially for play.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your opinion of the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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31 comments on this article
Can you show us a picture of the underside just to confirm it's a male plane.
Dang, you beat me to the joke.
@benredstar said:
"Can you show us a picture of the underside just to confirm it's a male plane."
Good one, Amigo.
This model appears more retro in design, being equally at home with 1980-90s Lego Town themed sets.
Love the simplicity of this model. Also always fun to get “snow-themed” stuff from City.
The roof sure is handled awkwardly
I'm excited about these smaller City sets.
A blast from the past, to put it generously.
This was a most impressive and enjoyable review. It was substantial and significant as well as pleasantly surprising. It was just perfectly written.
This is so retro so I have to admit but... but I need to get all of the spare ones from the shelves.
I LOVE IT!
It's like the single engine version of 3178 by the same airplane manufacturer... I love these small City sets.
@Rimefang said:
"This model appears more retro in design, being equally at home with 1980-90s Lego Town themed sets. "
Absolutely. It jumped out as like something from my childhood.
This can actually well into people Winter Villages displays as well Artic Expedition dioromas.
Printed pieces?
I'm on this like, well, like a broke AFOL on a new Lego set.
It's a great set by itself, but I love that it can easily fit into the Winter Village (like the snow-plough or the rescue chopper from a couple of years ago).
Excited to pick up this little inexpensive set to add to my Winter Village.
Was expecting stickers but am so happy to learn it is printed!
Also, love the inclusion of the bird. Thanks LEGO!!!
I really love this little plane. I've waited for a while for TLG to make another small aircraft that I was interested in, and this one takes it. I'm most likely going to buy at least two, maybe three. I am quite impressed with the printed tailfin, as LEGO rarely incorporates specialized printed elements in small sets such as this (minifig components excepted), and this is a pleasing addition. The little bird is also a nice touch. The aircraft could easily also be modified to have conventional wheeled landing gear, or even be fitted with bush-style tires. Overall, this set gets 10/10 from me, and the price point makes it even more appealing.
Am I the only one who thinks this plane , especially undercarriage, is ugly and juniorised?
@Lukasz64 said:
"Am I the only one who thinks this plane , especially undercarriage, is ugly and juniorised?"
So far, yes
@Lukasz64 said:
"Am I the only one who thinks this plane , especially undercarriage, is ugly and juniorised?"
You do not stand alone, my friend.
I like it!
@Lukasz64
It’s not ugly or juniorised!
Great looking set, seems easy enough to add some wheels to it when not in the winter season :)
Also the bird could be seen as a mail pigeon but otherwise still nice to get in a small set like this.
Via Xtra and City/Friends Playmats I've gained a lot of red mailboxes but this is the first mail set in a while that LEGO has made.
Printed tail piece is a nice bonus, and the figure looks fine as well.
I see they are channeling early 90's.
I'd love to see that cap molded with an integrated headset "crusher cap" style for pilots!
@Lucasz64 @AddictedToStyrene @Unusual_User_Name
This plane is not meant to be ugly or juniorized, it is simply a simple, small $10 aircraft. I'm not sure why there is such a big negative here. I personally find the design to be a bit nostalgic and quite aesthetically pleasing.
7732 Air Mail has been on my wanted list forever, but this is a Day 1 purchase for sure!
I ran across this set today at Walmart and looked it over, wish I would have picked it up!
Anyone else seeing the new post logo as that of Postman Pat?
Love the review, and love the set. Built mine this morning. One day I'll build my city in which it belongs.
9.99 for a snow plane (a bit varied from ones in the past), printed tail, new torso, and a small bird is not bad at all to me. It looks a bit basic, especially with that prop, but all in all, not bad. Will probably get one when Amazon winds up selling them at a discount during its run.
The smallest of the city sets (non-4+ sets) are some of my favourite every year, even though I am in my mid-thirties and not its target demographic whatsoever. I love that all these types of sets will fit in with an older-style city aesthetic - since this set and all the sets like it are made to Lego's classic scale, and not horrendously oversized as most modern sets are. Most sets aren't even consistently scaled to one another anymore!
I think my favourite thing about this set is that Lego has finally gotten over their phobia of studs-on-the-outside!
This is a terrific little set and a good value for the money. My 10-year-old son and I both enjoyed building it. Highly recommend it!