Review: 40220 London Bus
Posted by MeganL,40220 London Bus is currently available as a giveaway with qualifying purchases of $75 or more in the U.S. and Canada. It was met with a lot of enthusiasm when the news was first announced.
The set comes in a small box that has a thumb insert opening. I personally don't like these opening mechanisms as I don't like destroying the box. Unfortunately even using a knife I haven't found a very elegant way of opening the box.
Inside are found two unnumbered bags, a 2x12 plate, an instruction booklet and a small sticker sheet. The presence of a sticker sheet in a small Creator sheet was somewhat a surprise to me.
Most of the parts in this set should be found in most collectors' inventories, however there is a newish piece in this set - the 1x2/2x4 angle plate in red that is used in order to set the base for the front grill and headlights. This piece is only found in this set as well as a Mighty Micro set.
Windows abound in this model with the liberal use of 1x2 clear pieces. The scale of this model is a decent size to allow for some details, such as the 1x1 grey plate for the back step for the bus entrance and the 1x1 red and clear round pieces showing the headlights and tail lights.
Much of the charm of the model is brought by the stickers, particularly those along each side of the bus. The front and rear of the bus use stickers that show the route designation, plus there's a license plate for the back of the bus.
Each side of the bus feature advertisements. The passenger side's ad is a tourist promotion for London, especially Big Ben, which is featured along with the words "Now's the time to visit". On the driver's side there's a promotion for the movie "The Brick Separator" that shows a scene from the movie of a terrified minifig fleeing a large green monster. This movie is one of the movies playing at 10232 Palace Cinema.
Overall thoughts
This is a very nice set for a giveaway. I particularly like how the stickers reference other sets, in this case 10253 Big Ben and 10232 Palace Cinema. It's too bad that the scale doesn't fit with the modulars, but that would require many more pieces and be too big for a giveaway. The scale is sort of an in between size; too big to display next to the Tower Bridge or Big Ben and too small for the modulars. However, it's a great little set and will be going on display in my office.
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26 comments on this article
Can't wait for mine! Pretty lucky ... Live in the UK but I have a US shipping address here as a visiting military member.
Not to be a downer but I am not the most exited person as I was with the Big Ben.
The Big Ben pictured is 21013 not 10253 so maybe the connection to the recent Big Ben is not as strong as we thought.
Anyone know when we will get it in uk
I was told in Manchester Lego store that it's probably available next month, although she wasn't certain.
The 1x2-2x4 angle plate in red that you mentioned has been used in sets for the past 5 years. It's only now that there's a different design ID for it, but as far as I know it's still the same piece.
I personally can't wait to get this set in a possible future promotion. Hopefully, we dont have to wait that long for it.
Westminister? Really?
The 211 does indeed go via Westminster (https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/211/) So that's a nice touch I suppose?
But really. Westminister? Grrr.
^Maybe to use up all the 'Westminister' stock and hopefully we get the 'Westminster' stock :)
^^ maybe to respark interest after a while
jhs8swd says:
"Westminister? Really?"
---
I think that's the "London i"
This review could have really used an editor to correct some very awkward sentence structures, spelling and grammar mistakes.
Looks cute.
Nice review! But they should skip the numberplates on this one, they`re just as big as the windows, haha... ;)
Absolutely loving this and can't wait to get hold of one.
I believe what Jang said in his review: it's nice to get back to that more classic, Lego look. The build is something I love, and it looks terrific next to the 2013 Mini Volkswagen T1 Camper Van.
I'll wait until it's availave in Europe for buying the Xerion.
@62bricks GENIOUS!!
Is this supposed to be a remake of 760-2 (384-1) London Bus '75/73? I picked up the old one a couple years back and the stickers haven't been used yet. I kind of like the older version, I think because the windows are a tiny bit more detailed.
Can't wait for mine to come.
Definitely my favorite giveaway of the year along with the Fountain. Arguably the best LEGO Routemaster design by far as well. I built mine after completing Big Ben as a little "reward". Love the references to the Palace Cinema as well as the Architecture Big Ben.
maybe it is west"mini"ster - as it is a mini model?
;)
I want this its naff its not available in the country it was born in!
I need an eye test I though it belatedly said 'Now is the time to Vote!'.
I expected a grinning micro statuette of Nigel Farage on board (holding a pint).
Brickset: Where people are united by creativity and fun.
Brexit: Where people are divided by a lack of imagination and misery.
Welp, with this AND double VIP points, it looks like LEGO has my wallet for the weekend...
Don't quote me yet, but I'm sure the 1x2/2x4 plate was in the 2011 Star Wars Nightsister set, in the build of the larger pod. I'm not sure, but I think it was introduced in that colour in that set.
@MeganL the 1x2/2x4 angle plate in red is in fact not unique to this set - it has appeared in many others ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=93274&in=S&colorID=5&ov=Y )
Sadly Lego's inventory's are not always that accurate... ;)
Nice little review anyways!
I usually go with one of the two ways for opening boxes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz7JMaoBXm0
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkwX0BtFuNI