We have discussed preliminary images of the #10246 LEGO Creator Detective’s Office a few days ago (see: LEGO Modular Detective’s Office & More!), but while the set looked really exciting, we only had a couple of blurry photos. Since then the full press-release of the set became available, along with high resolution images and the designer video by Jamie Berard. So let’s take a look at this exciting addition of the LEGO Modular Buildings line! 🙂
The #10246 LEGO Creator Detective’s Office is the 10th set in the LEGO Modular Buildings series, and it does not disappoint! It is an interesting mish-mash of smaller buildings, indicating a shadier part of town, with a pool-hall, a barbershop, a detective agency and an apartment with a cookie smuggling operation (watch the designer video for details). While the previous LEGO Modular Buildings also had some fun play-features, this one is full of them – making this set kind of a crossover between complex large display models that appeal to adults, and play-sets that are geared towards kids. It reminds me of end scene of The LEGO Movie when father and son were able to reconcile their differences and play together.
Here are the official details of the #10246 LEGO Creator Detective’s Office: Discover a world of mystery and adventure with the LEGO Creator Expert Detective’s Office! Step through the open archway and into the barbershop, where seated customers are pampered in the reflection of a large wall mirror, while next door, competitors play pool and darts beneath the comforting whir of a rotating ceiling-fan. Venture to the first floor and you’ll find the detective’s office, his desk strewn with clues, a safe containing valuable evidence and a concealed wall compartment. Then visit the adjacent bathroom, featuring a classic pull-chain toilet, before taking the stairway to the well-equipped kitchen, from where you can access the roof terrace, complete with large water tower. This latest addition to the LEGO Modular Building series is packed with unsurpassed detail and hidden surprises. Easy-to-remove roof and ceilings provide access to the delightful interior, while the exterior of the building features a decorative roofline and a beautifully designed façade. Can you solve the smuggling mystery?
- Includes 6 minifigures with assorted accessories: Detective Ace Brickman, Al the barber, dart player, pool player, police woman and a mysterious lady in red.
- Features a pool-hall, barbershop, detective’s office, bathroom, kitchen, water tower and a cat
- Detective’s office features a desk, assorted clues, brick-built lamp, filing cabinet, fan, safe, painting, concealed wall compartment, newspaper, menu, wanted poster and a wall lamp
- Pool-hall features a hinged, rotatable ceiling-fan, pool table, printed dartboard, pool cues, pool balls and a drinking glass
- Barbershop features never-before-seen scissors and reflective mirror element, 2 wall lamps, barber’s chair, hinged cabinet, 2 mannequin heads and a broom
- Bathroom features a detailed pull-chain toilet
- Kitchen features a stove, barrel, table, cabinet, refrigerator, wall clock and a rolling pin
- Accessories include Ace Brickman’s brimmed hat, briefcase, magnifying glass and a police hat
- Special elements include never-before-seen scissors and reflective mirror element, printed dartboard, wanted poster, 1×1 round plate with hole in black, painter’s roller in black, designing element 1x2x2 in dark gray, 1×2 bricks in light blue, 1×3 tiles in brown and a 32×32 base plate in brown
- Detective’s Office measures over 10” (27cm) high, 9” (25cm) wide and 9” (25cm) deep
- Recommended for Ages 16+
- 2,262 pieces in total
I think this set is fantastic. While still fits perfectly with the previous LEGO Modular Buildings, it has also shaken up some of the previous and predictable patterns with some very interesting and creative ideas. I particularly like the color combinations; they don’t match, but at the same time they kind of do – like many buildings in real life.
Another aspect I really like is the back view of the buildings. Previous sets in the line usually have a little something going on; some windows, backdoor, garbage can, fire-escape and that sort of stuff. The #10243 LEGO Parisian Restaurant started to get away from this pattern with a porch that wraps around to the back, and an apartment and studio that are only accessible from the back. The LEGO Detective’s Office goes even further with more interesting details, patterns, and colors, that I think would look good even as the main façade. In fact I’m toying with the idea of turning this set around for my display. 🙄
The #10246 LEGO Detective’s Office is going to be available in January 2015, directly from LEGO via official LEGO stores and the Online LEGO Shop. Prices are as follows for different countries: US $159.99 – CA $199.99 – DE 149.99€ – UK £132.99 – DK 1399.00 DKK (Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit your local Online LEGO Shop for regional pricing). In the meantime you can check out the currently available LEGO Creator Modular Buildings at the Online LEGO Shop.
So what do you think? How do you like the LEGO Creator Detective’s Office set? Are you planning to get when it becomes available? Have you been collecting the LEGO Modular Buildings, or is this going to be your first one? Feel free to share in the comment section below! 😉
And you might also like to check out the LEGO Modular Houses section for more news, reviews and discussions, or select from the following posts:
I’m so getting this the very first day it comes out! Fantastic design!
Dear Santa:
Please… OH PLEASE, bring this Detective’s Office Creator Set when you come down my chimney this year!
I’ve really been pretty good!
Your Friend Rob from SillyBrickPics™
I can’t wait to get this! And your positive it’s $159.99?
I get all press-releases directly from LEGO, so yes, those are the official prices. 😉
I’m totally getting this ASAP, which will probably be about mid-Janurary. Hopefully, it won’t be sold out in those first 2-3 weeks. XD I was already sold but the designer video sold me even further. It’s so cool!!!! I can’t wait to make the “seedy” side of town LOL
Did you see the UCS Helicarrier in the letter “G” of design?
Yep! That is going to be a monster set, rumored to be released in March. I think the price was aroudn $350 or something. 🙄
I think I will have to get this one. ….even if I cannot purchase regular colored heads for my minifigures. Double sigh… The hair just does not work with lemon heads. I am an adult and I want adult head colors. :0)
Barbara, you can always switch the heads to flesh-colors ones. They are readily available on BrickLink. 😉
Yeah a lot of sellers have the classic face in flesh color. http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=638&colorID=90
Does anybody else think that the minifigure with the spikey black hair kinda looks like Jamie? It’s probably just the hair, but I feel like he put that minifigure in so he could more easily make a sig fig.
Maybe, although that hairpiece has been available for quite some time. 😛
This set is just too good. I can’t stop thinking about it (even though this is the first time I’ve thought about it in three hours). 😛 I’ve already built 300+ pieces of it on LDD, and I hope to use the designer video to get more. And yes, yes! Black “1×1 round plate w/ hole”s! Times 4! 😀 I guess that paves the way for a Dalek (sp) in the possible DW Ideas set. I see that LEGO is also putting marvelous use to the donut pieces, expanding their color range to Red. Ahh, just so much to love! However, my brother called it, so I cannot get it; and the Parisian Restaurant has my name all over it, so I will be getting that. OK, I better stop now, before I get too riled up. 😉
Update on the LDD building: I figured out how to attach the POOL sign, and I’ve built the entire Detective’s Office section of the building. Very, very cool. 🙂 My biggest problem is that the desk and chairs move between the pictures. I’m not sure why. 😕 Anyways, I have 574 pieces of it. But I should be able to build a lot more soon. 😉
That’s awesome! So what holds up the POOL sign? I even stopped the video because there is a good angle in there, but besides the clip I couldn’t figure out the rest. 😕
Well, I used the video to solidify my guess, and I’m 100% sure it’s right. So, the main black hinge that attaches the sign to the building, as you know. Now it took some thinking, but it suddenly clicked as a “Lamp holder” piece ( http://brickset.com/parts/4632575 ), with a “1×1 round tile” on the stud side. On top of the hinge the stud faces down, on the bottom the stud faces up. It’s ingenious, because at the same time the square part keeps the sign from pivoting, the other part holds the two halves together! 😀 I feel like the modulars are the only sets LEGO designers go over the top on nowadays. 😐
That’s brilliant! 😀
I’m getting this set for sure. It is so awesome, and it has a cat! I buy all sets that have a cat :-).
=D
LOL! 😆
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsJ6urBQ6DY
Nicely done stop-motion build! Thanks for sharing! 🙂