≡ Menu

Brick Breakdown: LEGO Disney Princess sets

(Written by William)

In this Brick Breakdown series I review official LEGO sets, from the perspective of looking at interesting building techniques we can all learn from. Today we will be looking at two of the LEGO Disney Princess sets; #41051 LEGO Merida’s Highland Games and #41052 LEGO Ariel’s Magic Kiss. You can also check out the previously discussed LEGO techniques found in official LEGO sets at the end of this article. So let’s begin! 🙂

LEGO Disney Princess Review

Normally I like to talk about each LEGO set individually, however because these two LEGO Disney Princess sets use very similar building techniques but in different ways, they make excellent contrasting points on the same topic. So I figured I would put the two reviews together to get a more well-rounded look at some building techniques in these cute LEGO Disney Princess sets.

LEGO Disney Princess Sets Review

As far as the price of the two LEGO Disney Princess sets, they are only separated by $10, which allows a bit larger size and more detail for the #41052 LEGO Disney Princess Ariel’s Magical Kiss set. However it is not enough to make a major difference stylistically in how the two sets were put together. So pucker up and prepare for cookies in the face! 🙄

CREATING CONTEXT WITH LEGO

What we have in both of these LEGO Disney Princess sets is a well-known scene. Building a scene with LEGO requires a bit of context to help viewers understand what’s going on. For instance, if you have a skier but no snow, it’s a bit harder to put yourself into that scene. So let’s see what types of things are common to both of these LEGO Disney Princess sets – and where they differ – in presenting context.

#41051 LEGO Disney Princess

The major contextual element is always about where the event is taking place. In both of the LEGO Disney Princess sets we will find elements of a natural setting; each has a tree and a small landscape (one with a stream, while the other with a frog on a rock). Both of the sets also provide a location; a roughly castle-like structure where the mini-dolls spend their time.

#41052 LEGO Disney Princess

What differs in these two LEGO Disney Princess sets is what’s going on in the scene (which is often defined by who is present). In the #41051 Merida’s Highland Games Merida is alone, while in the #41052 Disney Princess set Ariel is with Prince Eric. So for Merida, the context is all about defining her character; she has outdoor skills and is more rough-and-tumble given the bow and arrow, plus the cookie-catapult.

#41051 LEGO Disney Princess Setting

Ariel’s set, on the other hand, is about creating a moment between two characters. When you are setting a scene between characters you need context for them to fit into. Therefore in this set you have a rowboat for two, a bench that can seat two, and dinner for two. In fact, the only singular activity in Ariel’s set is the spyglass on the tower, however there’s no reason Ariel and Eric can’t take turns.

#41052 LEGO Disney Princess Setting

So when you are designing your own LEGO models and need to provide context consider these two points: First, where is it located? This will give you an idea for how to decorate the setting. Second, who is in the model? Which will help you set the scene for your characters. The end result of paying attention to these details is a LEGO creation that can tell a story at a glance.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING WITH LEGO

You may notice that both of these LEGO Disney Princess sets use those large quarter cylinder walls. What is different is how the are applied in the model. Merida’s is not used for a sustainable build, while Ariel’s is.

#41051 LEGO Disney Princess Details

In general, large LEGO wall pieces don’t come across as being the most stable elements; they are thin and don’t have a lot of connection-points. This means that when we use them and want to build them up higher, we will need to build some support structures around them, otherwise we will run into stability issues.

#41052 LEGO Disney Princess Details

Ariel’s set has a play-area up top and there is a possibility to continue building higher. Merida’s – on the other hand – leaves an open air section with no support, but she gets to use the interior space for a table.

APPLYING WHAT YOU LEARN

Context is your friend when creating any type of LEGO display. As LEGO builders, our job is one part building and one part story-telling. We could find peace in just snapping pieces together, but most of the time we’re trying to build “something”. Even abstract art conveys a feeling or idea. This is where the use of context allows us to show what is going on in our LEGO creation.

Sustainable building is not something you always have to worry about, however if you plan to build large scale settings, it should be your number one concern. If you don’t spot the weak areas right at the beginning you’re going to have to do a lot of work later to compensate for it. Most of the time sustainability issues arise from a lack of sufficient support from below. Having a good foundation will spell the difference between a sturdy and tall tower and a moderately high and flimsy wall.

Shop LEGO Disney Princess Sets

So what do you think? How do you like The LEGO Disney Princess sets and the techniques we discussed here? Do you pay attention to the context of your LEGO creations and building in a sustainable way? Feel free to share your own experiences, tips or ask questions in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the other reviews in this series:

{ 28 comments… add one }
  • DX ZX KENDO NRG PWR JAY-MOUTH OF LIGHTNING (Seriously i have a mouth of lightning) :) February 4, 2014, 10:10 AM

    My sister wants these so bad….and so do I…Rapunzel’s castle is really cool. I actually think they look better as mini-dolls instead of minifgures.

    • admin February 4, 2014, 10:17 AM

      Funny you mention that, because I also really like these mini-dolls. I have Rapunzel already and she is very pretty. Beautiful hear-piece and it fits regular minifigs perfectly. I think as far as the Disney Princess line LEGO made the right choice with the mini-dolls. I plan to collect them all, and I also have some ideas for some MOCs with them. 😛

      • Brick Addict February 4, 2014, 11:09 AM

        in my opinion i think they would of been better as minifigures that way they fit into the rest of my lego collection but the castle is gonna look cool on a shelf especially for disney fans like me 🙂

  • ninja of stealth February 4, 2014, 12:00 PM

    yeah, if I got one I would get the Rapunzel castle, as for she is the best Disney princess. but I have other things that I want more badly so I don’t think I will be getting this.

    • BLProductions February 4, 2014, 2:29 PM

      Yep, Repunzel’s Castle is my favorite. But I want to much other things to get it. Particularly the MechDragon and Republic Gunship

      • admin February 4, 2014, 3:05 PM

        I actually got Repunzel in the polybag version as I’m also holding off for some bigger buys later this year. But I do want to get all the princesses – either from the smaller sets, or from BrickLink. 😛

      • ninja of stealth February 5, 2014, 11:45 AM

        definitely get the mechdragon! its awesome!!! and funny because I want the republic gunship too!

  • Xi ninja February 4, 2014, 2:53 PM

    They should make scenes from Frozen! That would be awesome!

    • Bohrok Tru February 5, 2014, 6:45 PM

      YES!!!! k, time to send an E-mail to the Lego designers!!!!!

  • Micho February 4, 2014, 4:50 PM

    Just one little detail I noticed… Merida is not alone, she’s with her brothers, so there’s something else going on here, but I don’t remember that part of the movie LOL.

    As far as the sets??? If you know me you know I loooove the LEGO mermaids, so I’ll be getting the two TLM sets eventually. BTW Anna, I lost your e-mail, I wanted to send you the pic of my mermaid collection.

    Last night I was looking through the LBLOGS (LEGO Blogs) and I noticed Wal-Mart is starting their spring clearance, so it was almost 10 but we went to 3 WMs and I wasn’t too disappointed, I was able to find 2 TLR Silver Mine Shootouts for $35 (50% off)… SCORE!!! keep a watchful eye out! There were some Galaxy squad sets at 50% off too.

    • admin February 4, 2014, 9:23 PM

      Nice find! I was at WM yesterday, but they didn’t have any sale – at least not in my area. I’m actually not looking for anything right now. Waiting for the Mixels, and the summer LEGO Movie sets. Oh, and still want to get the Chima Legend Beasts. Other than that just some little things here and there I can pick up from BrickLink. I actually sold quite a bit of LEGO this December because I was running out of room. Or rather, the LEGO was running me out of my room! 🙄

      Yeah, would love to see your mermaids! Just hit the little envelope icon at the top of the left-hand side-bar under the Subscription box. That’s my email address. 😉

      • Micho February 5, 2014, 1:05 AM

        Thanks… i emailed the picture 😀
        I had a very low sale winter… but last year i made my three biggest sales in the spring… hoping for a repeat

        • admin February 5, 2014, 10:09 AM

          Got it! Oh, my! All those mermaids! Very lovely setup. Nice selection for the hair pieces too! 😛

          • Micho February 6, 2014, 10:29 AM

            Thank you… I tried to keep true to what hairstyles mermaids may have LOL… no ponytails or up-dos etc…. just wild and free 😀

            • admin February 6, 2014, 1:09 PM

              You might also consider giving your ladies some of the new Disney Princess hairstyles and even some of the ones in LEGO Friends. They are very lovely. 🙂

              • Micho February 7, 2014, 2:45 PM

                I actually bought a bunch of friends mini-dolls jsut for that, but I felt that they looked a tad too bulky on the minifigure heads… maybe they grow on you like the Ironman helmet 😀

                • admin February 7, 2014, 3:54 PM

                  Yeah, not all of them look good on regular LEGO minfigs, but several of them do. And of course it is true vica-versa as well; some LEGO minifig hairpieces and headgear look great on Friends, while others look a little weird. So just need to try them all. Girls like to have choices, not to speak of mermaids. 😉

                  • Micho February 7, 2014, 4:59 PM

                    I totally agree, for example the Princess on Dragon Mountain looks OK with a Froends hairpiece

        • ninja of stealth February 5, 2014, 11:50 AM

          so micho, if you mind me asking, how many mermaids do you have? I bet you wont be able to beat me at two!!! (okay, I know, its pathetic. :roll:)

          • admin February 5, 2014, 11:52 AM

            According to the picture Micho sent me, he got at least 19 mermaids. Plus, the merman king. 😛

            • Micho February 5, 2014, 5:07 PM

              I actually have 22… I forgot I had another three pack of the standing long tailed ones from build a minifigure at a LEGO store, i saw it after I put them away, but theyre the same as the other 3… plus the king

              • ninja of stealth February 6, 2014, 12:27 PM

                22?!? my mermaid army (would you call it an army or two? 🙄 ) does not stand a chance. 😥

                • admin February 6, 2014, 1:16 PM

                  Mermaids don’t need an army, they can handle anything all by themselves. What Micho has is more like a secret mermaid gathering to plot enchanting all men. Of course Micho might have another idea, but I think he is also under their spell. 🙄

                  • Micho February 7, 2014, 5:02 PM

                    YUP! Ever since I saw The Little Mermaid when I was 8 LOL… what my idea is I want to et some muscular torsos and freestyle men’s hairpieces to make King’s Guards mermen with the tall standing tails. I need to make some money on bricklink before that though.

          • Micho February 5, 2014, 5:08 PM

            Lol

  • CrazyBricks February 5, 2014, 12:06 AM

    This has nothing to do with this post but I found a video on youtube
    that shows The Lego Movie Metalbeards Sea Cow set
    Since I don’t know how to post the video I will just give the name of the video

    The Lego Movie official B- Roll Footage #3 (HD) Will Arnett, Alison Brie

    • admin February 5, 2014, 10:08 AM

      Here is the link to the video you mentioned. It is a good video about how The LEGO Movie was created, and yes it includes the Sea Cow: http://youtu.be/VVXmq0XHAH4

    • ninja of stealth February 6, 2014, 12:28 PM

      I watched the video and it was interesting.

Leave a Comment