While LEGO has been releasing lots of large and exciting sets, there are many smaller ones also that are definitely worth your attention. We recently discussed the #31050 LEGO Creator Corner Deli (see: LEGO Creator Corner Deli Review), an inexpensive set packed with unique features, colors, and a very pleasing look. Today I would like to show you another small set in the LEGO Creator line that has an all around winning design; the #31048 LEGO Creator Lakeside Lodge. 🙂
LEGO fairly regularly releases small log cabin type houses and huts in the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 line (meaning you can build three different houses from one set). There was the #5766 LEGO Creator Log Cabin in 2011, the #31025 LEGO Creator Mountain Hut in 2014, and now the #31048 LEGO Creator Lakeside Lodge. All three sets are very nice, but this latest one has a super special feature in the form of an adorable brick-built moose. 😀
Here is the description of the set: Spend a cozy weekend at the 3-in-1 Lakeside Lodge! Build your own holiday retreat set in pleasant surroundings with a red, brown, green and blue color scheme, and a cozy interior with a stove, bed and a table. Chop wood for the campfire, do a spot of fishing from the balcony or just enjoy the peace and tranquility together with the friendly moose and the tiny frog. When you feel like a change, rebuild to create an observatory or a small cabin. Includes a male minifigure, plus a buildable moose and a frog. 368 pieces. Price: $29.99 – BUY HERE
All three models that you can build with this set look good, but my favorite is the log cabin. I particularly like that LEGO designers didn’t just stick the house on a baseplate, but built a nice rounded terrain around it with stacked plates representing land, a grassy area and the lake. You normally see such details in LEGO fan created models, so it is nice to see them in an official set. The interior is also nicely detailed with a stove, bed corner table, and more. But the two features that really won me over is the yellow flower piece used as a cracked egg in the kitchen, and the same yellow flowers used for making lily pads in the lake outside. What a simple but brilliant design! And of course there is the moose. In fact I have heard that a lot of people buy this set just for the moose!
The Lakeside Lodge measures over 3” (10cm) high, 6” (16cm) wide and 6” (16cm) deep, the Observatory measures over 4” (12cm) high, 5” (13cm) wide and 4” (12cm) deep, and the Small Cabin measures over 3” (10cm) high, 5” (13cm) wide and 5” (13cm) deep. So they are all quite substantial.
The size of any of these buildings would go well with the previous releases, and could even be added to the LEGO Winter Village series. Below is the video-review of the set by JANGBRiCKS, who will show you all three houses you can build with the set in detail.
All in all, this is a very nice set with lots of play-features, alternate models, good parts-selection, and a friendly moose – all for an inexpensive price. I know everybody is talking about the flashy licensed sets and printed-from-head-to-toe minifigures, but I think where LEGO really excels is in these generic smaller sets with no big name license behind them. They are just LEGO… and that’s not a bad thing at all… You can find the #31048 LEGO Creator Lakeside Lodge – along with other 3-in-1 LEGO Creator sets – at the LEGO Creator section of the Online LEGO Shop.
So what do you think? How do you like the LEGO Creator Lakeside Lodge? Do you have the set already? Or are you planning to get it? And what do you think of the moose and other details? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below! 😉
And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
I love this cabin series. These are good enough that they could be a theme on their own. Any idea when they plan to release the next cabin?
Yes, they are very nice. As far as when the next cabin comes out, my guess – based on previous patterns – is that it will be at least a couple of years. So 2018 or so.
I love this website, and I’ve been a reader for more years than I can remember. But recently, I’ve been seeing more and more set reviews by JangBricks, Amazon Listings, Deals on LEGO, upcoming sets, etc., and more about what LEGO puts out and less about the actual LEGO hobby itself. I’d like to give some constructive criticism.
I remember when almost every post here was something special from the community, like tips and guides, or it highlighted a really cool MOC, or even showed us some products from a clone brand. It catered less to LEGO collectors and more to LEGO enthusiasts. Now, it’s the other way around.
I understand that it is a challenge to make a well-written post every day, but I miss the times when I looked forward to the next entry on this site and the first thing I did every day was go on here. There are many things going on in the community that don’t get talked about because a deal on Amazon or a set review is highlighted instead. Besides that, LEGO techniques are always there, waiting to be discovered, and the builders out there pump out some of the most beautiful works of art never seen.
I hope you post more about stuff from the community. While it is important to know about the sets and products made by TLG, LEGO is more than just collecting: it’s a hobby.
Enkeybo, thank you for your feedback, and for taking the time to share your thoughts. Yes, the beginning of the year always tends to lean towards news and reviews because so many new sets get released, and most of our readers do want to hear about them. We try to keep a balance between reviewing new stuff, and other topics like techniques and featured creations, but it is definitely a challenge this time of the year.
Once the major themes and most outstanding new sets are reviewed and the Toy Fairs are over, we can get back to a more normal schedule of highlighting the work of LEGO fans, techniques, etc. I myself have a list of topics I would like to cover this month including greebling, building tree-houses, modifying official sets and more. I actually much prefer writing those articles as I’m not a collector but a free-builder myself. 🙂
Also, you are always welcome to send in your own articles about something that inspired you or would like to share, or let us know about a creation or technique that you think we should feature. I always try to fulfill requests and pay attention to suggestions. In addition there are some articles we published this month that you may have missed and are not related to new sets or sales. Below is a list with links. I hope you find them interesting:
On January 6th William wrote an article about the tax consequences of selling LEGO: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/selling-lego-what-does-it-mean-for-taxes/
On January 8th we published an article on using large specialized LEGO pieces in creative ways: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/using-large-specialized-lego-elements/
On January 16th we shared an interesting and thought-provoking brick-film: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/a-fixed-system-a-lego-short-film/
On January 18th William continued his Brick Breakdown series by featuring unique building techniques in official LEGO sets – this time the Doctor Who set: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/brick-breakdown-lego-ideas-doctor-who/
On January 21st we discussed building flowering trees taking advantage of some new LEGO elements: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/how-to-make-a-lego-flowering-tree-tutorial/
On January 25th we discussed the future of LEGO Digital Designer, and some alternatives that could be used: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/lego-digital-designer-the-end-is-near/
On January 26th we posted a couple of videos with insights from Jamie Berard about the LEGO Modular Buildings and working for LEGO in general: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/interviews-with-lego-designer-jamie-berard/
On January 29th one of our readers shared his idea about a new Technic wheel hub he designed: http://thebrickblogger.com/2016/01/idea-for-lego-technic-planetary-wheel-hub/
Thank you for responding. I’m glad that you have an option for readers to submit articles and I’ll definitely think about that in the future. It’s good to know there’s more building and hobby related stuff around the corner, and that you enjoy the LEGO hobby-related content as much as I do. I’ll be sure to read every one of those articles you recommended.
Enkeybo, thanks again for sharing, and feel free to keep us posted on what you think. 🙂
Speaking of submitting articles, do you think I should write up a Part 3 to my new parts series? It’s a little late now, but it feels like I left it hanging with Part 2. I haven’t been able to write anything recently, and I won’t be able to until next week (I have an essay due this week), but I think the new parts are worth writing about. 😕
On the topic of today’s article, I like Lakeside Lodge, especially that moose, and I think it would go well with my Mountain Hut, but I may have to pass in favor of Technic this year. 🙁
Sure, if you would like to submit part 3, that is fine with me. I don’t think it would be late. Keep in mind that most of us are way ahead in news, new sets, new parts, etc. Most regular LEGO fans are still not aware of all the sets and new parts that were released last year. 😉
If the delay would lead to better part images, it might be a blessing in disguise…
Yes, that definitely helps! 😀
Ok, I’ll write it up next week. 🙂
@Håkan Unfortunately, I could wait until April and we’d still not have better part images. LEGO is being exceptionally mean this year, by not adding most new parts to their replacement parts inventories. Part 3 will have to pick from the 12 new parts LEGO has added to the inventories, many of which are unexciting. 😕
The Lakeside Lodge is my favorite set yet, and I have both of the older cabins. I love the colors and the details. I modified Build 1 to have the Build 2 rooftop telescope, and added a bunkbed, and my son and I have had a great time moving our minifig family around the set. So cool!
I like the moose