Review: 21034 London
Posted by Huw,Next year sees the release of three more Architecture Skyline sets: Sydney, Chicago and London, which is available exclusively in the new Leicester Square store ahead of more widespread availability in January.
We were sent one a few days ago by the LEGO community team to be able to bring you this review on the day the store opened.
The set builds five London landmarks: from left-to-right: the National Gallery, Nelson's Column, Big Ben, the London Eye and Tower Bridge.
Box and contents
The box is the standard high quality design used for all Architecture sets. It is the same size at last year's 21028 New York City.
464-pieces are contained within four unnumbered bags, plus there is four white flex-tubes loose in the box.
Construction
A lot of parts go into the construction of the base and subsequent tiling of it.
After 31 steps the base is complete and ready to accept the buildings. The new 1x1 quarter-circle tiles (6176433 in light grey) are used to good effect around Trafalgar Square outside the National Gallery.
I like how the Thames looks grey and murky: that is very realistic :-)
Tower Bridge is built first: it is a miniature masterpiece! It is remarkable how its likeness and details have been captured in so few pieces, including liberal use of various tooth elements. The light blue pieces used for the suspension chains are new in this set.
Next is the London Eye. The base is easily and quickly built but the outer rim and pods are a bit of a nuisance to get right. The pods are clipped to the flex-tube and obviously have to be equally spaced. There is a 1:1 diagram in the book but it is not that helpful. However, I have a tip that will help tremendously...
Once the first one has been positioned on the left, use a brick with a tile on top as a spacer when clipping subsequent ones on. It is exactly the right size and makes it much easier to add them accurately.
Also, I would recommend clipping the left one on slightly closer to the end than shown otherwise you will be left with a larger gap at the top than between others.
Finally, the National Gallery, Nelson's Column and Big Ben/Houses of Parliament are added using a handful of carefully chosen bricks, of which there is not much to mention.
The completed model
I think it looks great! The buildings have all been captured perfectly in such a small scale.
The clock face is printed on a 2x2 brick.
For a change, it also looks pretty good from the back.
Verdict
This is a great model of a great city and it is pretty much perfect. I have just one complaint: I find the the grey Technic pin used to join the tubes at the top of the London Eye a bit jarring: I know it is a colour-locked part but it would have looked so much better if it was white.
I believe it costs £44.99, so it is a premium price for a premium set. But, if you like the skyline sets, and/or London, you will love it. It was certainly held in high regard by everyone that saw it yesterday.
Thanks to LEGO for sending it to us. This review is an expression of my own opinions and not those of the LEGO group.
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24 comments on this article
I wouldn't say its overly expensive in the Skyline scheme of things.
It does look pretty big when built up with the eye behind it.
Looking forward to building it shortly.
You can buy 2 of the Items as big creator sets now, Perhaps a motorised London Eye could be a future set?
That quarter round tile is the coolest new part to come out.
Pretty nice set, I like how they put some buildings infront/behind each other this time around instead of all next to each other.
It does look fantastic, and we all got carried away by it yesterday what with the designer signing boxes and the 'one per customer' rule they had (has that been dropped now?). These sets are very expensive though.
Great review! The detail of the set is stunning!
Looks lovely. Wish I'd have been in London yesterday to get a signed copy.
This is for sale in London new store today and designers signing boxes.
Great parts in this set. But I think you skipped talking about the clock tower, or Big Ben.
There's not much to say about it, certainly not about its construction.
Must be a thrilling ride to go upside down at the top!
Isn't there a double technic pin (with axle hole in between) that comes in white? or can you put the LBG pins at the bottom? this might help with the aesthetics; but its a minor issue.
Since London came with grey murky waster; then Chicago should have come with green water so we can pretend its St. Patty's day
I really like the idea behind these, but they are just too expensive for what you are getting. Luckily these discount quickly on Amazon. The design of the Eye is great, though if the axle wasn't dead center my OCD may kick in.
Really loving these skyline sets. I only got New York and Berlin from the first wave. But I'll definitely have to pick up all three from this one! I'm glad they were able to find a way to incorporate the London Eye (thanks for the tip on how to space the pods). The techniques used for the National Gallery are cool too.
Can we get another article about London/Leicester? Oh yes its all very exciting.
Looks like a great skyline set. I unlike some am not as excited about the fact some of the models are in front of or behind some of the other models in the skyline. I will reserve further judgement to when I can see the sets in person. However all that said they look good and will likely continue on with the skyline architecture purchases.
^^^^ One of many MOCs happening to my Chicago skyline! Green water, AON center (wife's office), Soldier field, some Burnham buildings, the harbor. Some top-notch MOC'ers are really going to have a field day expanding Chicago!!!
^^ If you're enjoying them that much I'll see what we can do! :-)
I always wanted an Architecture set and like the idea of the Skyline line, but they always seem so expensive, but this will probably my first Architecture set.
@Huw I was just kidding. I realize it was an exciting time and always recognize all the effort you and the crew put into this site! Enjoy your weekend!
@Huw It's just that Big Ben wasn't referenced at all during the review, and it should be considering it was one of the 4 structures recreated.
@lippidp: That's actually more accurate that you might think - the pods on the real thing are constructed so they're actually on the outside of the wheel all the way round, just (of course) not upside-down, they self-level because of wheel bearings. It's not like a regular Ferris wheel, with gondolas. Just sayin' :)
Thanks for the spacing tip Huw.
Wifeys gonna love me, i got some1 in london poised to get me this when i know how much money i have left over after payday!
Oddly this rendition of Big Ben is more faithful to the original than the Big Ben 21013 set itself.
This set can go perfectly with the Brainiac UFO if you wanna recreate some Beyond Gotham scenes. ;)