The long awaited and highly anticipated #76042 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes SHIELD Helicarrier is now available for LEGO VIP members! This is one of the most anticipated LEGO sets of the year that was shrouded in mystery for a long time and was only recently revealed. You can read the full press-release, see pictures, and the designer-video here: LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier Press-Release. The official release date is going to be March 1st, however if you are a LEGO VIP member you can get early access to the set from now on at LEGO stores or the Online LEGO Shop. 🙂
Here is the official description of the #76042 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes SHIELD Helicarrier: Take on the challenge of building this awesome LEGO model of The S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. Construct the flying aircraft carrier with 2 runways, microscale Quinjets, fighter jets and ground support vehicles. The set also comes with many of your favorite LEGO Marvel Super Heroes minifigures, plus 12 microfigures to display on deck and within the highly detailed interior. Includes 5 minifigures: Nick Fury, Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye and Maria Hill, plus an iconic S.H.I.E.L.D. eagle stand to display them on. Comes with 2,996 pieces. Price: $349.99 – BUY HERE
Please note that this is a LEGO Ultimate Collector Series set with collectors and advanced builders in mind. Which means a tremendous amount of detail and a great building experience for teen and adult LEGO builders (recommended age is 16+). The set can also be enhanced with lights and spinning rotors using LEGO Power Function elements (you will need #88000, #8883 and #8870 – they are listed here).
The LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier measures over 11” (29cm) high, 31” (80cm) long and 17” (45cm) wide. Each Quinjet measures over 1” (3cm) high, 2” (7cm) long and 2” (7cm)wide. Minifigure stand measures over 4” (12cm) high, and 2” (6cm deep) and 6” (16cm wide). You can see more pictures of the set here.
We have discussed The LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier extensively after the press-release , and plan to also write a full review in the near future. Preliminary feedback on the set has been positive overall. People like the addition of the microfigures (technically they are nanofigures as they are much smaller than standard LEGO microfigures). Usually LEGO Ultimate Collector Series sets are meant to be large and impressive display models. They rarely include minifigures, and they are not minifig-scale anyway. However adding microfigs adds quite a bit of fun and play value (if you choose to play with this behemoth).
When the LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier was first revealed, some people were surprised about the price – it appeared higher than the normal price/piece ratio. In response, LEGO fan Chris McVeigh put together an infographic comparing the LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier to other Ultimate Collector Series sets. The information is quite helpful to put the price, size, and piece-count of the sets into perspective. The cheapest of the large sets is the #10246 LEGO Creator Detective’s Office, however this is not surprising as the set doesn’t require a license. When comparing large licensed sets the LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier is not out of line after all. 🙄
I have already heard from many Marvel fans that for them the LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier is going to be a day-one purchase. For others it may take a bit to save up for a large set like this. if you have accumulated VIP Points this might be a good time to trade them in and reward yourself.
Again, the set is only available for LEGO VIP members right now. If you are not yet a LEGO VIP member I highly recommend you sign up. There is absolutely no downside to it. Membership is free and you will earn VIP points on all of your purchases (for example with the LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier you will earn 349 point). You can redeem your points for later purchases – VIP Points basically equal to a 5% discount, or 10% during Double VIP Points period. You may occasionally receive an email from LEGO when there is an exclusive new set that becomes available or when there is a special offer, but other than that they won’t bother you or spam you. I have been a member myself for years.
So what do you think? How do you like the LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier? Is this a must-have set for you? Are you planning to get it right away, save up for it for later, or are you going to pass? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉
And you might also like to check out the LEGO Super Heroes section for more news, reviews and discussions, or select from the following posts:
I like it, but I’m still thinking about the Lego DC and Marvel superheroes stuff. I also love the new Ninjago stuff revealed at toy fairs. Also, didn’t the NY Toy Fair just happen? Will you be posting about that soon?
Yeah, we will do a round-up on the NY Toy Fair in a couple of days. There is too much stuff to cover! 😛
It basically crashed the Brickset site, I read…
Although it’s been fixed, now… 😉
Yeah, that’s one of the reasons I’m waiting a bit. I do want to hear the opinion of you guys on the new sets and themes, and it is best to do that when all the craziness died down a bit. I have the post scheduled for this Friday. Usually a good day for discussions. 🙂
Great! Has the next wave of Bionicle been revealed? I am really looking forward to what sounds like full sized enemies.
Yes. I will probably write a full separate article about those as there is a lot to talk about. 🙂
Awesome!
I like the set except for the micro-minifigs…
Overall it looks nice, but a too much money for me to buy it.
I’m wondering how well this set will do. It’s amazing, but as you said, the price can be a deterrent for a lot of people. But this is an issue with pretty much any set that’s over $100, however this one doesn’t have the incredible play features of the SW Death Star, the beauty of the modulars, or the sheer awesomeness of the SW Super Star Destroyer. On the other hand it looks really good from the top. 🙂
I really want the mini mini figures as toys for a toy shop, but the price point is way too much for just those. I imagine they’d have a high bricklink price too.
Kim, I’m very sure that LEGO is going to utilize the nano-figures more. I have already heard rumors that the SW Echo Base (another large set coming this fall) is also going to have the nano-figures, and of course you can already get the non-printed ones in silver, gold and copper here: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=90398. They cost a buck or less.
As per usual Lego is favoring America and ignoring fans in Australia. We’ve been pushed back to not having it until March now and at a higher cost.
Stuart, the official release is in March. Right now it is just VIP early access. As far as the price, my heart goes out to LEGO fans in Australia. I know how much you guys pay. My understanding that this has to do with high import taxes. 🙁
Do the nanofigs have back printing? Since the Brickset review doesn’t mention any, I guess not… Possibly for the heads…
Not to my knowledge. Keep in mind that they are extremely tiny. It is really hard to conceptualize their size from pictures unless you have seen nanofigs in person. They are very-very small. I’m actually amazed that they were able to print on them as clearly as they did.
Cool!
Although I am not a Marvel-Fan more of a DC-Fan.
This is a good set to have.
Looking forward to it
I can’t believe this VIP early access isn’t available in the UK!!! Devastating!
It isn’t? That a shame! 🙁
If you read the Brickset review of it, Huw said that the UK VIP early release is Thursday the 19th. So you only have today to wait. 😉