Review: 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda
Posted by CapnRex101,DREAMZzz already features a variety of animal-themed vehicles and the summer wave offers several more. 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda definitely looks fun, matching a panda's beefy proportions and equipped with bamboo-based armour!
However, while revisiting the concept of animal mechs offers a welcome opportunity for improvement, it similarly risks the DREAMZzz range becoming repetitive, which could be a problem.
Summary
71480 Logan the Mighty Panda, 342 pieces.
£24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99 | 7.3p/8.8c/8.8c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Logan the Mighty Panda looks great, with plenty of panda-inspired features
- Stocky panda-like proportions
- Excellent bamboo armour
- Well-articulated, overall
- No head movement
- Underwhelming second model
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Having been depicted as a small Dreamling in wave one, Logan has grown to a full minifigure this year. A similar figure appears in 71485 Mateo and Z-Blob the Knight Battle Mech, although this one includes a hair piece, rather than a hood. The torso and dual-moulded legs look superb and I like the 'M' on Logan's shirt, borrowed from his usual Waking World appearance.
The Never Witch summons nightmare creature versions of the heroes in DREAMZzz season two. Dogan is Logan's dark reflection, featuring the same unkempt hairstyle and similar facial expressions, especially with the angry design. Magenta, black and purple is an effective colour scheme, based on the Never Witch herself.
However, I find Dogan less eye-catching than the heroes' other 'dark doppelgängers'. The dual-moulded armour around his shoulders looks good, but compared with the other evil minifigures in the summer wave, this one is quite bland. Perhaps magenta highlights in the hair would help, or a more interesting weapon to mirror Logan's hockey stick.
As well as creating villainous equivalents to the heroes, the Never Witch has dispatched her ravens to steal their memories. This dual-moulded black and trans-pink raven looks fantastic and I hope it is later produced in realistic colours. The trans-clear dome underneath is another new element and contains Logan's memory of a mysterious windmill, printed on a 1x2 tile.
The Completed Model
The panda is a similar size to many existing mechs and brick-built characters, only measuring 15cm in height. However, its squat proportions are quite unusual and definitely evoke a panda. Black and white would obviously be a more suitable colour scheme, although blue and white is appropriately vibrant for the world of DREAMZzz and Logan is associated with shades of blue.
Despite its heavy limbs, the figure is quite well articulated. The shoulders and hips provide a wide range of motion and the adjustable feet and toes form a firm base, while the hands and fingers are moveable too. However, this model shares the same problem as numerous LEGO renditions of the Hulkbuster, as the dome-shaped head is static.
The decorated dome looks brilliant and dark azure Technic balls form rounded ears, matching hair around the panda's eyes. The whole assembly works well from the front, but the ears are mounted behind the 6x6 dome piece, so they tend to vanish when viewed from certain angles. Larger 3x3 tiles may have been a better choice.
As the set name suggests, the panda is actually Logan in animal form, rather than a typical mech. Nevertheless, you can place Logan inside for play and clips are available to store his hockey stick, which fits underneath the dome beside the minifigure. Once the head is lowered, the cockpit is completely hidden.
Pandas are famously associated with bamboo, which makes up the vast majority of their diet. Appropriately, therefore, this figure is equipped with a bamboo stud shooter and armour. I like the bright green colour choice for the weapon, resembling fresh bamboo, but its handle seems awkward to me. I would rather it was integrated with the arm, as shown in concept artwork.
Dark tan and olive green is used for the chest and shoulder armour, plus a few stickers to add texture. These panels complement the predominantly blue and white creature underneath and the flame yellowish orange ingots on the hands look good, resembling the segmented gauntlets worn by knights and samurai.
Two more stickers are applied on the legs, including one displaying Logan's 'M' symbol. The new 3x3 curved limb elements attached underneath look nice, matching the style of 2x2 limb pieces introduced a few years ago and used extensively on earlier DREAMZzz sets, but better suiting stockier characters.
Even though the ankle motion is somewhat limited by these bulky limbs, the articulated claws offer remarkable stability for walking or running poses. This design reminds me of 76247 The Hulkbuster: The Battle of Wakanda, which also relies on moveable toes to reinforce dynamic poses.
Like other DREAMZzz sets, Logan the Mighty Panda can be partly reassembled into another form. I find this design less appealing than the upright panda, although the option is welcome, completely changing the appearance of the model, without needing a complete reconstruction.
Instead, the hinges for the head are moved to the panda's back and the handheld stud shooter also becomes back-mounted, while the legs turn around. Sadly, much of the armour is covered with the panda in this four-legged stance, but the limbs remain fully articulated, so you can pose the animal bounding into battle.
The panda appears quite menacing from the front, as though preparing to charge, rather like 71719 Zane's Mino Creature. Again, the shoulder and wrist armour looks superb and there is still space for a minifigure inside, albeit leaning forward awkwardly, hidden behind a 3x4 slope with ridge texture.
This definitely feels like the secondary model, not least because the support for the multi-stud shooter uses an odd mix of colours. Also, I suspect this weapon would be able to turn if it was part of the primary model, serving as a turret. Regardless, it looks reasonable and shoots over the panda's head comfortably.
With the panda's chest now facing the ground, the structure behind is completely exposed and lacks detail, compared with the front of the torso. However, I like how the legs are reversed for the four-legged creature, as they still appear relatively natural in this position.
Overall
Although certainly not perfect, 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda is an enjoyable set. The panda itself appears fittingly bulky and I love the bamboo-based armour and stud shooter, preserving the panda theming throughout! The articulation is also fairly comprehensive, thanks in particular to the stabilising claws on the feet.
The alternative design is inferior because much of the detail on the primary model is hidden. I like the idea of switching configurations, but like several other DREAMZzz sets, compromises with the secondary design are obvious. Even so, the primary model is splendid and I think the price of £24.99, $29.99 or €29.99 is fair, so this is a great entry in the DREAMZzz range.
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17 comments on this article
As far as LEGO mechs go, I find this set to be one of the more interesting ones.
That raven looks pretty cool, and I like the dome piece too.
Should have got new piece for face. Those tiny ears do not work.
Also the second build is just bad with gaping holes under the head
Apart from the movement of the stud shooter, is the 2nd model just the 1st one pushed over? A double sided stud shooter would have been cool, and could serve as a mad battle axe!
I know Dogan is the evil version, but I think he really needed dual molded legs. Then again, maybe the evil thing to do is wear a shorts in the front underwear in the back combo.
Regarding the actual set, it looks fine. I love the armor, but the mech itself doesn't interest me. That raven looks spectacular though! Hopefully we see it in city colors!
I have a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very important question about this set.
How well, if at all, does the new red panda seen in 71481 and 60424 fit inside the cockpit
Place your bets, what buildable figure character was that new mask/shoulder piece created for?
This is definitely the Dreamzzz set that I'm least excited for this wave. Not to mention Logan is literally THE MOST annoying character in the show.
The raven is the only thing I like about this set.
@PhantomBricks said:
"I know Dogan is the evil version, but I think he really needed dual molded legs. Then again, maybe the evil thing to do is wear a shorts in the front underwear in the back combo.
Regarding the actual set, it looks fine. I love the armor, but the mech itself doesn't interest me. That raven looks spectacular though! Hopefully we see it in city colors!"
It's probably a loincloth
I'm getting some Chima vibes from this set.
@AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
" @PhantomBricks said:
"I know Dogan is the evil version, but I think he really needed dual molded legs. Then again, maybe the evil thing to do is wear a shorts in the front underwear in the back combo.
Regarding the actual set, it looks fine. I love the armor, but the mech itself doesn't interest me. That raven looks spectacular though! Hopefully we see it in city colors!"
It's probably a loincloth "
This is, and I intend this as a compliment, the worst possible response to that post.
This doesn’t look anything like Wolverine. And where’s Deadpool?
This is like a reverse situation of that weird 2020 wave of Lego Marvel sets where it had that van and that Bike set that looked like they were quick recolor designs of Ninjago or Nexo Knight sets.
I like Lego mechs but this one is silly. I think it’s the dome printed face that I hate. Should be brick built. Raven is awesome
One of the better mechs for sure.
@Andrusi said:
"I have a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very important question about this set.
How well, if at all, does the new red panda seen in 71481 and 60424 fit inside the cockpit"
Panda-ception!