Review: 76251 Star-Lord's Helmet
Posted by CapnRex101,76251 Star-Lord's Helmet continues the series of Marvel sculptures produced recently, which have achieved mixed success. Thankfully, this example seems more impressive, including some unusual details, with stunning fidelity to Peter's onscreen mask.
The shape definitely seems accurate, comprising multiple interconnected panels. Additionally, this model's hollow construction means it doubles as a pencil pot, which is an interesting feature!
Summary
76251 Star-Lord's Helmet, 602 pieces.
£69.99 / $79.99 / €79.99 | 11.6p/13.3c/13.3c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Unfortunately, the expensive price blights an otherwise attractive model
- Accurate shape
- Complex detailing
- Unusual building techniques
- Some noticeable gaps
- Greatly overpriced
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Reference
Source - marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com
The Completed Model
While introduced just nine years ago, Star-Lord's helmet has appeared in numerous movies and become very recognisable. This recreation of the helmet is equally identifiable, incorporating the full breathing apparatus and accurate colours. Light and dark bluish grey are mixed with metallic gold, which provides a striking contrast for the vibrant red eyes.
Unusually among those selected for LEGO models, Star-Lord's helmet does not cover his whole head. Instead, the top remains open and I wonder whether some brick-built hair was considered for this set. Choosing to omit the hair offers another opportunity though, as this helmet is hollow and therefore serves as a quirky pencil pot! While probably incidental, the option is welcome.
Furthermore, I think the helmet looks splendid on display. The aforementioned colour scheme is very effective and the shape is near-perfect, considering the avoidance of specialised parts. The printed breathing apparatus seems realistic and the flanking panels sit neatly against the central 6x8x2 shell. Ideally, this structure would be flatter, although no suitable elements with shallower curves are available.
Decorated 3x3 tiles comprise the helmet's lenses, with hexagonal designs. This pattern is hardly noticeable onscreen, but I love the digitised texture. Also, gaps around the lenses are minimised by clever use of 1x2 curved wedge slopes and the distinct circular frames, so they appear nearly seamless when viewed from a distance.
Each tank is connected using a single ball joint, so they can be accidentally dislodged. Perhaps another attachment point could have reinforced the small pipes towards the back, although their odd orientation would doubtless have made this difficult. Otherwise, the texture across the sides of the helmet corresponds with the source material, with telephone elements nicely integrated.
The structure underneath is simpler than many LEGO helmets, consisting primarily of a box with studs on four sides! The construction feels sturdy though, which is obviously essential, given the hollow core. Additionally, the external panels are sufficiently detailed to disguise the basic design inside, so this helmet outwardly appears as intricate as any other.
Unfortunately, the metallic gold parts presented across the front are swapped for dark tan on the reverse. These should be the same colour and is especially disappointing because every visible piece on the back has previously appeared in drum-lacquered gold, although not for a couple of years in some cases. However, this set does introduce 3x3 curved quarter slopes in dark bluish grey, which could prove useful in future.
Overall
76251 Star-Lord's Helmet captures the required features of Peter Quill's onscreen mask, without need of stickers or specialised parts. The level of detail is excellent and I like the bright lenses in particular. The use of dark tan elements across the back, rather than metallic gold, is frustrating though. Sometimes these colours must be blended because studs on drum-lacquered elements cannot be covered, but that issue does not apply here.
The price of £69.99, $79.99 or €79.99 also feels absurdly expensive. While consistent with other recent helmets, this addition to the range is pretty insubstantial and any comparison with 76233 Nano Gauntlet, for example, is damning. The gauntlet is bigger, more visually appealing and far cheaper, so I cannot recommend this set, except following a significant discount.
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46 comments on this article
Agreed, lovely model but far too expensive!
Who?
That is a pretty expensive pencil holder.
cost .... arrrgghhh .... stickers .... arrrggghhh
(oh, it doesn't have stickers)
cost .... arrrgghhh .... cost .... arrrggghhh
Definitely one of the best sculpture series (low bar, though)
@Murdoch17 said:
"Who?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Quill_ (Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)
You're welcome.
@markisnot said:
"That is a pretty expensive pencil holder. "
Get yourself some expensive pencils to go in it.
@ShinyBidoof said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
"Who?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Quill_ (Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)
You're welcome."
You missed the joke...
What part is used for the mouthpiece – seems unusual?
@Murdoch17 said:
"Who?"
Come on, man. Super Mario? Legendary plumber hero?
Really loving these printed parts, and in fact, most of these parts. If you get bored with the helmet and/or Chris Pratt, this helmet is going to make an excellent parts-pack for spaceship-MOCs.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
"Who?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Quill_ (Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)
You're welcome."
You missed the joke..."
"Finally!"
@ShinyBidoof said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
"Who?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Quill_ (Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)
You're welcome."
its star lord, man legendary outlaw
Betcha the price wouldn't be so painful if they decided to add cool hair instead of making it a expensive pencil holder.
@Banners said:
"What part is used for the mouthpiece – seems unusual?"
https://brickset.com/parts/design-40995 with a lovely print.
"studs on drum-lacquered elements cannot be covered?" Is this true? I haven't heard this.
“Greatly overpriced” = the new normal.
As long as fans keep paying, the prices will keep rising.
The value for money that a child fan derives from LEGO comes from the amount of time they spend building and rebuilding. That’s very different for an adult fan. It’s almost impossible to say that any adult-aimed sets offer any value for money at all when they are built once and then used to attract dust out of the atmosphere for a few years. An antique vase fulfils the same purpose and equally cannot be said to offer value for money. So we need a new way to describe these sets, because zero play value and zero value for money is where we start. And fans ascribing a value for money that’s based on the number of pieces in a set, or the weight of the set, is merely a relative comparison of how one set differs from another, with no actual fixed point defined for where value begins or ends.
If you’re happy paying for these sets, then do so. If you’re not, then don’t. But let’s not pretend they offer any value over and above the pleasure we get from looking at them, showing them occasionally to friends, and then to selling them on at a later date to someone else who’s become captivated by the idea of owning and dusting the model themselves.
Discuss ;-)
@labrat said:
""studs on drum-lacquered elements cannot be covered?" Is this true? I haven't heard this. "
My understanding is that drum-lacquered parts cannot be built on, as the metallic finish on studs could be damaged if other pieces were attached to them. For example, 76191 Infinity Gauntlet could not be constructed completely from drum-lacquered parts, even if LEGO had wanted to. However, those elements can be used across the surface.
So Star-Lord's trying to steal DOTS' thunder, huh? That seems in-character.
I feel like this one, since it's really more of a mask than a helmet, needs his hair added. And yes, the price is silly. Very much a "we already know you're collecting these, so we can charge what we want" price.
Well, if you don't like the mask with no top and no hair, Google "Marvel Preview 4" to see what Peter looked like in his first appearance.
You're welcome.
I am very firmly in the "no-hair"-camp, and I am aware of how uncomfortable that phrasing is.
Though, perhaps not as uncomfortable as KEEPING CHRIS PRATT'S DECAPITATED BONCE ON MY DESK.
Might use the helmet as a lovely plant-holder. What are we thinking, cress? Chia? Maybe some oregano? Rocket? It's going to be delicious rocket, isn't it.
I remember the days when a Helmet was also an aircraft and came with a head to put it on : 70352: Jestro's Headquarters
I'm not huge into the helmet line of sets, but this is by far the best one I've seen thus far. A beautiful replica.
The inside structure just gave me a good (probably terrible) idea: a massive Giant Man brickheadz. Because they can, not because they should.
if it wasn't so overpriced, i'd get it and add T'Challa's hair - yay "what if?" star-lord! ^_^
Thank you for the photo with the pens. It really gave me a sense of scale that is otherwise missing from these photos.
Yes, I know how big a Lego brick is and could figure out the scale if I stared at photos long enough, but as the set is fully assembled and resembles a head, the scale isn't that obvious and my brain wants to assume it's actually head-sized...but with the pens included in that photo, I really got an immediate sense of how big the head really is.
@Ridgeheart said:
"I am very firmly in the "no-hair"-camp, and I am aware of how uncomfortable that phrasing is.
Though, perhaps not as uncomfortable as KEEPING CHRIS PRATT'S DECAPITATED BONCE ON MY DESK.
Might use the helmet as a lovely plant-holder. What are we thinking, cress? Chia? Maybe some oregano? Rocket? It's going to be delicious rocket, isn't it."
Or something from the Botanicals line?
Somebody help me, where does the Star-Lord helmet pencil-pot meme come from?
All black rather than a rainbow under the cladding is a nice surprise.
@560heliport said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"I am very firmly in the "no-hair"-camp, and I am aware of how uncomfortable that phrasing is.
Though, perhaps not as uncomfortable as KEEPING CHRIS PRATT'S DECAPITATED BONCE ON MY DESK.
Might use the helmet as a lovely plant-holder. What are we thinking, cress? Chia? Maybe some oregano? Rocket? It's going to be delicious rocket, isn't it."
Or something from the Botanicals line?"
I've come to like the Botanicals-sets more than I initially anticipated.
You could say that they grew on me.
@jsutton said:
"“they are built once and then used to attract dust out of the atmosphere for a few years"
I may be in the significant minority but I don't keep anything on display longer than a week or so. The enjoyment is all in the building for me, so once I've built something I dismantle it and either sell, or put in the loft if I think I'll enjoy building it again. I've built the Medieval Blacksmith 4 times now.
I do happen to agree on the helmets - they are not much fun to build, for me, so not worth the money. But for other sets, I definitely see value in the number of pieces.
@squiz18 said:
" @ShinyBidoof said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
"Who?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Quill_ (Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)
You're welcome."
its star lord, man legendary outlaw"
Korath: Oh, my. Star-Lord! I’m a huge fan of your work. What are you doing here?
T'Challa: That was not the reaction I was expecting.
Korath: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Stop! Show some respect. This is the Star-Lord, legendary outlaw! Steals from the powerful and gives to the powerless. Should we be bowing? I feel like we should be bowing. I mean, unless we should be kneeling.
T'Challa: Neither is necessary.
Korath: Please. You are a Lord!
T'Challa: It is not an official title. Nor is it one I am comfortable with.
Korath: Of course you would be humble. Classic Star-Lord.
@iwybs said:
"Somebody help me, where does the Star-Lord helmet pencil-pot meme come from?"
Pretty sure it came from Lego’s press release on the set with a photo of it as a pen holder.
Respectfully disagree with CapnRex about how good this is as a display piece. If you’re not familiar with the subject matter you might imagine that there had been a top to the helmet and the character got brained. This is what’s left.
@Ridgeheart said:
"I am very firmly in the "no-hair"-camp, and I am aware of how uncomfortable that phrasing is.
Though, perhaps not as uncomfortable as KEEPING CHRIS PRATT'S DECAPITATED BONCE ON MY DESK.
Might use the helmet as a lovely plant-holder. What are we thinking, cress? Chia? Maybe some oregano? Rocket? It's going to be delicious rocket, isn't it."
Might I suggest a lovely specimen of Iamis grooticus?
Thanks for the review! Like many sets I’ve added this to my ‘wanted’ list but realized it might well pass me by the time I get around to buying it… but I hadn’t thought of a pen holder! Somehow missed out on the Lego pic showing that. Now I need this for my work cube! I may have a few of those 4 color pens scattered around my desk as well that need a home…
It's nice to see them expand their line of desk accessories.
I have way too much Lego. Organizing project is going smoothly.
In the meantime, I am waiting for these new sets to go on sale. I no longer buy full price. Has to be 20% off or the comparable discount via awesome GWP.
So as long as there is a collective abstained purchase at this ridiculous price point , then let the deep discounting commence on this about 4-6months in.
I suppose a few years ago, a licenced set of 602 pieces would have been about £59.99. Inflation has probably increased the overhead costs a bit, so I reckon 11p/part for a licenced set is the new norm.
That's fine until your pens inevitably leak
@CapnRex101 said:
" @labrat said:
""studs on drum-lacquered elements cannot be covered?" Is this true? I haven't heard this. "
My understanding is that drum-lacquered parts cannot be built on, as the metallic finish on studs could be damaged if other pieces were attached to them. For example, 76191 Infinity Gauntlet could not be constructed completely from drum-lacquered parts, even if LEGO had wanted to. However, those elements can be used across the surface."
8634 straight up has 1x8 bricks that form the walls of the car. Also, a fun fact about 8634 is the instructions tell you to sticker over a print. The 1x8s were only ever in 8634, but drum laq silver studs used to be common. In my experience, standard stud and tube connections with these parts have not caused much of any damage to the finish. The real risk of damage to drum-laq parts is putting them loose in a container with other bricks which can cause some minor scuffs.
@Norikins:
8634 is probably directly responsible for some of the rules regarding drum-lacquered parts. And the _real_ risk is cleaning drum-lacquered parts. We did a show where the Pere Marquette (the basis for the Polar Express engine) was parked maybe 100’ away and would fire up periodically. This covered our layout in authentic train soot, which does _NOT_ just rinse off (I tried a wet wipe, and it just smeared the stuff and made it even harder to remove). Some of my cars had silver drum-lacquered parts. I disassembled each car and soaked the pieces in warm, soapy water before scrubbing them clean with an unused soft-bristled toothbrush, which worked fine on most of the parts, but stripped most of the silver paint off of the drum-lacquered parts.
@Norikins said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
" @labrat said:
""studs on drum-lacquered elements cannot be covered?" Is this true? I haven't heard this. "
My understanding is that drum-lacquered parts cannot be built on, as the metallic finish on studs could be damaged if other pieces were attached to them. For example, 76191 Infinity Gauntlet could not be constructed completely from drum-lacquered parts, even if LEGO had wanted to. However, those elements can be used across the surface."
8634 straight up has 1x8 bricks that form the walls of the car. Also, a fun fact about 8634 is the instructions tell you to sticker over a print. The 1x8s were only ever in 8634 , but drum laq silver studs used to be common. In my experience, standard stud and tube connections with these parts have not caused much of any damage to the finish. The real risk of damage to drum-laq parts is putting them loose in a container with other bricks which can cause some minor scuffs. "
Okay, but how do they hold up today? I remember the chromed swords, knives and crowns from the nineties, and simply equipping those onto minifigs would cause the chrome to wear out pretty quickly.
I understand that these are different processes (and these days, I'm a lot more careful with my bricks and pieces), but I am genuinely curious to see what the pieces of that turbocar look like, today, if you (still) own one and are willing to take it apart to see what, if anything, time and clutch have done to those studs.
@Ridgeheart:
That might explain why the chromed battle crown has such weak clutch, if they’re trying to prevent it from flaking in the split anti-stud.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @labrat said:
""studs on drum-lacquered elements cannot be covered?" Is this true? I haven't heard this. "
My understanding is that drum-lacquered parts cannot be built on, as the metallic finish on studs could be damaged if other pieces were attached to them. For example, 76191 Infinity Gauntlet could not be constructed completely from drum-lacquered parts, even if LEGO had wanted to. However, those elements can be used across the surface."
Thanks Captain!
Is it too difficult to manufacture new molds in order to make perfect replicas of movie items?
@Givememorebricks said:
" Is it too difficult to manufacture new molds in order to make perfect replicas of movie items?"
Yes. It’s company policy that they want some aspect of the brick to show through. Making photorealistic replicas would violate that design aesthetic.