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LEGO Fairground Mixer – full review

(Written by William)

Simply put, LEGO sets like the #10244 LEGO Creator Fairground Mixer are the very reason why adults get into the LEGO hobby and why children become life-long fans. In short, this set is a masterpiece. Jamie Berard is known for LEGO Creator Expert sets like the #10243 LEGO Parisian Restaurant and the #10214 LEGO Tower Bridge, and he continues to impress with the #10244 LEGO Fairground Mixer. Not only does this set showcase functional attractions, but there is the added detail that everything can be folded up onto trucks and moved along. In fact, it’s just as fun packing things away as it is playing with it. So let’s take a closer look at all of the details and features that makes this set so interesting. 🙂

#10244 LEGO Fairground Mixer Coming

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER STRENGTH TEST

Standing next to the fence with two sizes of hammers is the strong man. He directs anyone with a ticket to try their luck at the game. By hitting the inverted dish you can trigger a catapult at the base of the machine. It cleverly uses a 1×2 modified plate with two clips on one side to fit around the long bar without running into it. However, each clip is close enough to make contact with the pin-sleeve which will propel it up the bar. Gravity pretty much does the rest of the work.

Created by MDKGraphicsEngine - Licensed to LEGO System A/S

The other point of interest is the two locking fingers piece at the top near the bell. This is what allows the assembly to be locked into place when you slide it underneath the smaller truck. Deep within the truck near its front is a horizontal clip. The clip and the two finger connection are not necessarily compatible, but they provide enough friction to secure the assembly in place while traveling, while also allowing easy removal without the strength test machine getting accidentally dismantled in the process.

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER DUNK TANK

Here’s a simple mechanism that looks rather complex. The whole thing works around two lift-arms; one swivels with the target forward and backward, while the other forms the seat and moves up and down. The seat delicately rests on the target’s lift-arm, and if the target moves too far forward or back, the seat falls. It’s actually amazing how simple all of this is and at the same time delivers a fabulous effect.

Created by MDKGraphicsEngine - Licensed to LEGO System A/S

As for an interesting LEGO building technique, look at the two sideways fences that make up the protective screen. Normally when building sideways you have to follow a five-plate-to-two-stud rule; which essentially means that for every five plates of thickness you can cover two studs of space. In this case, the middle of the tank is four studs wide which means that you would need to use ten plates worth of thickness. However, each fence is six plates high which means they cover a twelve plate area from left to right. The extra two plates unaccounted for come from the unique shape of the modified 1×2 plate with finger in place of one of the studs. It is set far enough back to allow one extra plate on each side. If this is a bit too much to follow, just trust me that the protective net is something special. Make sure to take some time to understand how it attaches. As long as you have that in mind, you’ll be able to use this technique in the future.

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER TICKET BOOTH

This little booth contains a register and a two-drawer unit. The top drawer is full of cash while the bottom has tickets. The signs are stickered and contrast well with the red and white vertical striping. Its coolest feature is the sign that folds down in front to make the whole booth a bit more portable in storage. Speaking of storage, you may wonder why the back of the ticket booth is so open. This is to allow the target on the dunk tank to fit inside to make packing both units on the truck possible.

#10244 LEGO FairGround Mixer Ticket Booth

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER SMALL TRUCK

Up to this point, everything mentioned fits on the smaller truck. The strength test fits in a slot underneath, while the tank and ticket booth rest on the bed of the truck. As for the fence with hammers, table with balls (this is for the dunk tank and I forgot to mention earlier), and the accessories for the juggler on stilts (who is more of a decorated minifigure than a full attraction), can now fit inside the dunk tank and ticket booth. The truck itself is a good six studs wide, so has a nice bit of bulk to it. Inside the cab there is a seat for the driver and not much else. Granted, you could fit a second minifigure in the cab, but it will take some creative arms-posing and patience.

#10244 LEGO Fairground Mixer Truck 2

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER BIG TRUCK

Before getting to the main attraction, you’ll need to build the big rig that pulls the ride around. This is a massive eight-stud-wide vehicle with two seats inside the cab. Just behind these two seats is a small bed with a TV at the foot of the bed. Small details like the brick-built doors and windshield-wipers give this truck an extremely personal touch. You may wonder about the back of the truck as it has these strange dips and curves. However, these will all be accounted for in the storage portion of the set. As for the size of the vehicle, it helps make the carnival-ride look smaller.

#10244 LEGO Fairground Mixer Truck

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER

This has got to be one of the favorite rides at the fair. When building it, you will see that it is divided into the base, the central seating and the decorative component. The base – for the most part – is a fancy gear-box, trailer, and stair unit. The fences that attach to this base are built later. The base also has an interesting handle that – as you later discover – locks the seats in place when stored.

Created by MDKGraphicsEngine - Licensed to LEGO System A/S

Looking at the central unit, there is a tremendous amount of hinge-work to form a triangular core. As for the arms that hold the seats, the yellow seating area is solid while the red and blue areas use hinges to swivel into place. The red and blue seats then lock into place with clips and bars that are ingeniously hidden. And as for the seats themselves, two of each color are fixed to the axle they attach to, while the other two are loosely put in place and simply rest in between modified tiles with bars without being attached. The spinning action comes from a hidden axle under each bar that connects with the vertical axle via small gears. These are in turn powered by wheels that are right next to the center of the machine. This means when the center turns, the wheels inadvertently rotate the axles which turn the outer axles and thus move the seats.

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER ACCESSORIES

The fence with the garbage can does connect into the Fairground Mixer, but it feels more like an accessory that helps complete the ride’s final look. In order to store this bit of safety equipment, you will build a rack that the fences will get loaded onto. As for minifigures, you get a whopping twelve. Many are kids to enjoy the attractions. One has a teddy bear, while others have either food or a ticket. Inside the garbage can are green cherries, which is a little odd. After all, no one is eating cherries. There are also stilts with little pointed feet for the juggler. He also gets three juggling-pins made from ice-cream cone pieces and normal cone bricks. He also has a brick-built hat with clip so it looks like he’s in mid-juggle. 😀

#10244 LEGO Fairground Mixer Minifigs

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER ACCENTING

Apart from the numerous round tiles that look like lights, you also get a good deal of stickers. Whether it is mud-flaps, signs on the trucks, signs on the ticket booth, or words on the dunk tank, there is a lot of stickering to do. Even the license plates are stickers. Make sure you have a steady hand before tackling this set. An interesting choice was the cones on the fences and bars on the Fairground Mixer. All are the very rare glow-in-the-dark color. This, of course, extends the fun, whether it is during the day or at night.

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER INSTRUCTIONS

You get three books of instructions. After building the set you may want to keep them in easy reach; they outline how to pack everything up on the trucks which is not hard, but may take some practice. The instructions also show you how to motorize the Fairground Mixer. It recommends using a small motor, which is not included in the set. You will need to search for LEGO Power Functions to find the right pieces. Thankfully, what you need is outlined in the instructions to help those who may not be familiar with the LEGO Power Functions elements.

Created by MDKGraphicsEngine - Licensed to LEGO System A/S

LEGO FAIRGROUND MIXER CONCLUSIONS

The #10244 LEGO Creator Fairground Mixer is an amazing set without a doubt. It gives you a fantastic ride along with other small attractions that really fill up the space nicely. If it has any drawbacks it would be that you may want a bigger ride to complement the setup. This means finding the long retired #10196 LEGO Grand Carousel or the #4957 LEGO Creator Ferris Wheel – which might be something you want to look into. Problem is, these aren’t cheap sets on the secondary market. Another thing you might consider to expand your carnival setting is adding some of the LEGO Collectible Minifigures; there are all sorts of clowns and people in costumes you might like to add to your fairground.

In conclusion I would say that buying one copy of this set is a must for any LEGO City fan. Secondary copies will give you a good deal of LEGO Technic elements as well as nice parts for detailing. If you are a collector, this is an excellent display set and a good candidate to hold onto for selling later. There’s just enough hard-to-find pieces that make it difficult to build it from spare parts that you already have, while it’s also a clever enough design to give it a high demand later down the line. It is available at LEGO stores and at the Online LEGO Shop. It’s well worth getting mixed up in this Mixer.

Shop for LEGO Fairground Mixer

So what do you think? How do you like the LEGO Fairground Mixer? Is this a set that you are considering getting, or do you already have it? Feel free to share your thoughts on it in the comment section below! 😉

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{ 27 comments… add one }
  • Lloydguy June 16, 2014, 10:26 AM

    First comment! I really like the new face and the glow in the dark pieces.

  • Inventrious June 16, 2014, 11:30 AM

    I hope LEGO makes more carnival related rides (A roller coaster would be awesome!)… I really enjoy this set along with the balloon cart 😀

  • Kim June 16, 2014, 12:29 PM

    Want this set so bad! Don’t know when I”ll be able to get it, hopefully by the end of the year!

    • admin June 16, 2014, 12:48 PM

      Kim, since this is a Craetor set I don’t think it will sell out before Santa can get it for you. 😉

  • Jake June 16, 2014, 12:53 PM

    Cool

  • BLProductions June 16, 2014, 3:04 PM

    This set is awesome! 🙂 I didn’t know Jamie Berard designed both the Parisian Restaurant and Tower Bridge (my 2 favorite Advanced Models sets). I love how everything fits perfectly onto the two trucks, it’s amazing.
    That truck driver guy has a weird torso, Plumber Joe’s head, and Luke Skywalker’s hair. Odd combination. 😀
    Also, you are forgetting the 1×1 round tiles are also the White Glow color.

    • admin June 16, 2014, 3:08 PM

      Yeah, Jamie is really on the roll with some amazing LEGO sets. I love glow-in-the-dark LEGO! I wish they would make even more! Oddly, in Europe (I don’t know if it is all countries or just some of them) it is not allowed, so for example in the LEGO Monster Fighters sets they got the LEGO ghosts in plain white or milky white, instead of glow-in-the-dark. I feel sorry for them. 😕

      • BLProductions June 17, 2014, 12:16 PM

        hm, didn’t know they didn’t allow glow-in-the-dark there, that kinda takes some of the coolness away. 😕

        Also, forgot to mention, my brothers and I built our own fair. It has four spinning rides (one from each bro), one of which is a custom Mixer, since it fits onto one truck, Dunk Tank and all. We added a lot of cool games too. Plumber Joe had a game where you try to un-plug the Plumber Van’s toilet to win! Sorry, I just had to say that. 😉

        • admin June 17, 2014, 12:50 PM

          LOL! Any pictures? Would love to see that! 😀

          • BLProductions June 17, 2014, 2:10 PM

            I have one, but it’s still on my camera, and I don’t have a way to get it onto a viewable space. I could post it on Google+ if my dad shows me how, but I don’t know if that’ll work. 😕

            • admin June 17, 2014, 2:44 PM

              Sure, G+ would work. If you upload it let me know. 😉

  • Chris June 16, 2014, 4:38 PM

    Also if you buy this set before June 22nd in the US from The Lego Store you will get the Balloon Vendor who is also the perfect compliment to this set!

    • admin June 16, 2014, 4:47 PM

      Chris, yes, that’s a very good point. Thanks for mentioning! 🙂

  • Superweapon June 16, 2014, 7:17 PM

    I think the green cherries represent barf.

    • admin June 17, 2014, 10:45 AM

      Oh… that’s an interesting idea… 😯

      • Jonathan June 19, 2014, 3:34 PM

        I thought that too!

  • laura kelly July 23, 2014, 5:13 AM

    Awesome post…

    Hey guys..!!

    Must be Check this latest android kids Fair Ground game..!! Lot’s of fun in this game.!

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameimax.KidsFairGround

  • Challum Brown January 25, 2015, 2:32 PM

    Does anyone know what power function piece you need for this?

    • admin January 25, 2015, 2:48 PM

      Challum, you will need a battery box (#88000 or #8878), and the M-motor (#8883). In the third booklet for the set there are instructions on how to motorize it with the above mentioned parts. You can get the parts at the following link at the Online LEGO Shop: LEGO Power Functions
      icon

  • MRP July 1, 2015, 3:41 PM

    Have recently started buying some Lego again, went for a small Creator set at first (31023), then decided to be unreasonable (in regard to the size of my flat) and get this. Am absolutely loving building the first phase, can’t wait for the big lorry! I’m in awe at how well-designed it all is; fully functional, yet folds up neatly to hit the road. All the little quirky details, like the sick face, ice creams and wacky hammers, are really fun.

    • admin July 1, 2015, 7:06 PM

      Yeah, the LEGO Creator Expert Builder sets are specifically for adults. The intricacy of the building process is just as enjoyable as the final model. You chose a fantastic set! 🙂

  • Red Spider August 21, 2015, 4:45 PM

    how much is power functions

    • admin August 21, 2015, 8:28 PM

      It depends on which one you get. There is a regular battery-box or rechargeable battery-box, and there are also different size motors. You can see and buy all the components at the Online LEGO Shop: LEGO Power Functions
      icon

      • Red Spider December 31, 2015, 12:51 PM

        Hey, I got the fairground set yesterday and I saw that I could get both the battery box and the actual motor for around $20 USD, I think that one was like 7.99 and the other one was like 12.99 (I forgot if the battery box was 7.99 or 12.99 and vice versa for the battery box) I also like the tip you gave us for the hammer game fitting on the bottom of the truck using that clip

        • admin December 31, 2015, 12:55 PM

          Nice! I think you will really enjoy the motorized version of the set. 🙂

  • Shaun middleton January 4, 2016, 5:41 AM

    Just finished building this over the Christmas Holiday. Loved every minute of it. What a fantastic & cleverly designed set.

    • admin January 4, 2016, 9:23 AM

      Shaun, I’m glad you enjoy it. It is really a fun set all around. 🙂

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