(Written by William)

“It’s a great day for an adventure, isn’t it, Gromit?” The #21371 LEGO Ideas Wallace & Gromit set was inspired by Sébastien Esnault, the fan designer behind the original idea, also known as Pidelium in the LEGO Ideas community. The model was selected as the grand prize winner in the LEGO Ideas ’90s Throwback – the Next Chapter’ challenge, and was turned into an official LEGO set by LEGO Model Designers Tom Gerardin and Ellen Bowley. The set will be available starting October 1st at the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.

The set features the famous duo riding their retro motobike, as seen in the award-winning film Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave. The 1,038-piece set measures over 9 in. (23 cm) high, 9 in. (23 cm) long, and 7 in. (18 cm).

I think this was a fantastic choice for the winning model. Wallace & Gromit managed to create international appeal with a unique style for the time period. With everything going edgy and extreme, Nick Park’s characters had a signature style that did not rush anything, but was packed with imagination. The Claymation style of animation felt like it hit a masterclass with these iconic characters. But can these two window washers clear away a hundred bucks from your wallet? Let’s see what you get.

LEGO WALLACE & GROMIT – MORE SCULPTURE THAN VEHICLE

I’ve built quite a few LEGO vehicles over the years, including various types of bikes. However, the build experience of the motorbike in this set felt remarkably different than any of the previous bikes I have built. I believe this is because the motorcycle in this set is not really built to be a vehicle. Rather, the intended design is to be a sculpture first. So, what does this really mean?

Generally, the focus is on appearance. This means durability is a secondary concern in the design for the bike. There are plenty of parts to reinforce the design, but much of this is external connections rather than a solid internal frame.

Another key factor is that the bike loses a bit on functionality as well. This is not a big loss since a motorcycle really only has front steering, something you don’t get in this model. Though LEGO designers were able to create a small storage compartment in the back to hide some little treats relevant to Wallace & Gromit.

In the end, the bike looks great and can roll around, but it is not really designed for play. Having all the structural supports on the outside means you only need a bit of separation, and the outer shell can fail, causing a larger breakdown than you may want.

LEGO WALLACE & GROMIT – BUILT FOR SURPRISES

Throughout the model you will find hidden Easter eggs. Most of these little surprises are nothing you can show off. Rather, these are all for the builder to enjoy.

To give an example of some of the parts that are a bit more visible, include the three items hidden in the bike’s storage compartment. There are crackers, a ball of yarn, and a diamond. Otherwise, if you look carefully, you can maybe spot a teacup, saucers, and spoons hidden amongst the greebling inside the bike’s engine.

As for other surprises, the instructions do a great job at pointing them out. Just know if something doesn’t look entirely stable or a bit out of place, chances are you are about to find one of these hidden treats.

LEGO WALLACE & GROMIT – PARTS AND STICKERS

This set comes with a sticker sheet. Fortunately, for those who don’t like stickers, there are not that many. They do include the “Wall 1” for the front and back of the bike. The gauge on top of the bike, and the packet of crackers. Beyond these, there are printed elements as well. This includes a rounded 2×4 tile with Wallace’s mouth, some cheese printing on a slope hidden in someone’s tummy, and the glint on the dome elements that make up the eyes for the two characters.

Beyond these parts, I am impressed with all the various curved elements found in the model. One element that I think LEGO fans will truly love is the quarter-round 1×1 bricks. This will make rounding out any sharp edge easy, and it is how LEGO designers managed to make Wallace’s feet as rounded as they are.

LEGO WALLACE & GROMIT – SPECIAL FEATURES

One feature that even surprised the LEGO team was that when they were able to get hands-on experience with the original model for Wallace and Gromit is that the LEGO model ended up being extremely close to the original. This was not at all done on purpose. Rather, the fan designer based the scale on the tires he was using for the bike. It was just a happy accident that the end result was truer to the source material than anyone expected.

As for how the sculptures can be posed, there is a good range on some elements and some major restrictions as well. Starting with Gromit, he is built into the side car. This means he does not have any lower half and can’t be taken out unless you create your own version of his lower half. However, he can twist in place, his arms can be moved up and down, and his wrists and neck can also rotate. Additionally, you can reposition both his ears and move the goggles on his head a bit to get a few different looks as well.

Moving on to Wallace, most of his mobility comes in the form of his arms and head. Even though his hips are attached by ball-joints and his ankles can turn, the structure of his legs is fixed in such a way that you can’t really stand him up on his own. Additionally, the locking hinges that are used to attach him to the bike may also look unsightly if he is detached.

Wallace’s arms are much more mobile. The elbows are fixed, but his shoulders are able to swivel up and down, his forearms can rotate, and his wrists are connected using a ball-joint. As for his fingers, there is some mobility and twisting of his thumbs, but due to the parts used for fingers, they are locked into a curved angle.

As for Wallace’s head, his neck can be rotated and there is a locking finger-hinge that will allow you to tilt his head forward and back. Given the limitations of the rest of his joints, this is a pretty good compromise and will allow for plenty of posing configurations.

LEGO WALLACE & GROMIT – FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, this set is an amazing tribute to Wallace and Gromit. The fan designer went above and beyond to really capture that Claymation aesthetic in LEGO bricks. Also, having the various Easter eggs throughout the model makes everything feel very personal to the builder, which reinforces the nostalgia.

Price-wise, $99.99 doesn’t seem too high. I think those who aren’t fans won’t see the value, but those who grew up and remember Wallace & Gromit will get their money’s worth out of the model.

As far as building the set, it feels quite unique. Having to imitate a distinct art style means that you will have a building experience that feels special. I do want to point out a couple of areas that some fans might not like. The backside of Wallace’s head, right under his helmet, practically looks unfinished. It’s not a structural mistake; rather, given how much work went into making everything feel so smooth, it looks as though LEGO designers forgot to add just one or two more parts. Another issue fans may want to change is the ends of Wallace’s fingers. They just end in holes. I’m not sure there is an ideal way to fix this. Perhaps if you stick a bulb element with a bar in the end, it may soften the look. But it could also awkwardly elongate the fingers. Honestly, it doesn’t look bad while he is holding the bike’s handles. But if you do plan to position his arm in a wave, it may become very obvious he has nightmare fingertips.

With that said, this is a well-priced model for fans of Wallace & Gromit. It has a unique building experience, and the finished model could be a stunt double for the original model. I would say if you are on the fence about this set, go and watch any of the films. If they fail to charm you, then you should probably skip this set. But if you find yourself wanting the services of the best window washers around, then this is the set you need, possibly with some cheese and crackers. In the video below, I discuss the set in a bit more detail.

What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Ideas Wallace & Gromit set? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

• LEGO Ideas Downton Abbey Coming Soon!
• LEGO Ideas La Catrina: Unique Set with Rich History!
• LEGO Ideas E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
• LEGO Ideas Peanuts: Snoopy’s Doghouse Review
• LEGO Ideas Tintin Moon Rocket Press-Release