(Written by William)
When it comes to selecting sets by LEGO fan designers, I have a particular build style I like. Namely, I’m big on stalls and stall-like structures.
I initially picked up the #19010 LEGO BrickLink Designer Program Hot Shot Carnival game stall when Bricklink was first trying out this whole fan-funded limited series concept back in 2019. Then I bought another stall; the #910011 LEGO BrickLink Designer Program 1950s Diner set in 2023. So when the next opportunity came up earlier this year, I went with the most affordable set, the #910030 LEGO BrickLink Designer Program Snack Shack.
One of the biggest reasons I tend to pick the smaller sets is that I have never been disappointed with them. When they start getting larger, I’ve found more issues with the design or the building experience or both.
At $50 when I placed my order, the Snack Shack was one of the cheapest sets I backed during the crowdfunding stage of the program. And you can see why. There are only two minifigures, a couple of animals, and the stall itself. So, generally, it’s a tight build. Does this help or hinder the model? Let’s take a look at the build and see.
LEGO SNACK SHACK – THE BUILD
Just like the 1950s Diner, this is an eatery in a mobile building that was placed on a foundation. Unlike the diner, the Snack Shack is smaller in every way, yet has more play potential than the larger set.
The diner was concerned more with how it looked. For that reason, it had more color and a lot more tiles which made it hard to pose minifigures inside the model.
The Snack Shack still has all the details you’d expect from an expert-level model, but it devotes the entire shack to cooking. This means there is actually more space for cooking, which is how the designer was able to fit a very cleverly built deep fryer in such a small space.
The designer even gave thought to accessing the inside of the model. In the diner, you removed the roof but had to still deal with lots of really cramped spaces. In the Snack Shack, the back wall hinges down, then you can remove a cooking station easily since it is attached by jumper-plates. Additionally, there are plenty of studs left on the floor to position the employee anywhere in the kitchen. And between the fridge, the fryer, the ingredients on shelves, and the removable cooking station with sink, there’s a wide range of activities for the employee to do.
Meanwhile, on the outside of the shack, you have a small eating area where the customer can enjoy her food. And there is a garbage can for the rat and the seagull to fight over. Between the palm tree, the dock-like platform the shack is attached to, and the tan plates that make up the ground, it’s easy to get a sense that this shack is located on the beach.
The designer also crafted some small details like a detachable propane tank on the side. There’s also a forgotten coin located under the decking in front. Another nice detail is that the windows are dual-paned so one is a decorative lattice while the other is solid clear glass. It’s small touches like these that really give the impression that it’s a LEGO fan pouring their love into the model and not LEGO cutting a few corners to bring the price down.
LEGO SNACK SHACK – FINAL THOUGHTS
Given its size, this model might feel overpriced. As mentioned before, LEGO knows where to simplify in order to give builders a larger experience. But that’s the real difference between LEGO and fans. A fan loves to get the tiniest detail right. And every inch of this model is made to be right. In the video below, I will show you the set in more detail.
While the Snack Shack is no longer available through the BrickLink Designer Program, at the time of writing, it is still fairly affordable on the secondary market. I do recommend checking it out and seeing if it fits in your collection. It is a small set, but it is made with a level of detail that we typically only experience when spending hundreds of dollars on an expert-level set. So, it’s an expert experience in an affordable package, which is surprisingly rare.
Builders, in general – and I do include myself in this group – usually have trouble confining themselves to small designs. So, whenever I see a LEGO fan make something like this, I often find it more exciting than big sets.
Granted, as time goes on, this set will be really only for collectors. There are after all only 30,000 copies made worldwide and no secondary print run will be made. Hopefully, this does fit your budget and add to your stall-type needs.
What do you think? Do you have any of the LEGO BrickLink Designer Program sets? How do you like them? And which one is your favorite? And what do you think of the Snack Shack? Feel free to share your thoughts and own reviews in the comment section below!
And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
- BrickLink Designer Program Series 5 Finalists
- BrickLink Designer Program Pre-Order & More!
- Brick Breakdown: LEGO BrickLink Set – 1950s Diner
- Brick Breakdown: LEGO BrickLink Set – Modular LEGO Store
- Brick Breakdown: LEGO BrickLink Set – Aquarium
- Brick Breakdown: LEGO BrickLink Set – Fishing Boat
- Brick Breakdown: LEGO BrickLink Set – Castle in the Forest
- Brick Breakdown: LEGO BrickLink Set – Sheriff’s Safe
I like this set a lot. As far as I know, it’s based on an old Airstream trailer. Something I would have never expected to see in Lego as it is so round. The designer did a great job capturing the style! I haven’t had the chance to get it, but I hope the instructions will be available so others can build it.
There were also other aluminum trailer brands besides Airstream. I think that’s the only one that’s still in business and is well known, but there was also Avion, Streamline, Argyle, and a bunch of others I no longer remember. They were unique for sure.
The building instructions should be available for everyone.
You will have to go to Bricklink for them and go to the page about the set.
I believe they give you two options. A pdf that can be printed or if you use their app you can find the set and building instructions through it.
Apart from the stickers, everything should be fairly available part wise. Seaguls might be a bit pricey and I’m not certain how available the 3×3 rounded curved slopes that make up the top rounded section of the trailer are in terms of availability.
Generally, due to its size, this is one I’d recommend people try building with their collection.
Thank you, Will! I always find your reviews insightful. And especially when it comes to larger sets, they help me make a decision. I got really discouraged when I couldn’t get the sets I wanted in the first round, but I might try to get back to it the next time around.
I missed out on this too, but it’s a fantastic set. And I don’t think the price is out of line for what you get. And yeah, I rather stay with the smaller models too. Well, one thing is the price, and the other is the potential frustration with the larger ones. I think many people buy those as investments rather than actually building them.
Given the fact that I can’t stop building I have had the opportunity to build some of the bigger models in previous years.
I must admit, my experience with the larger models have tended to be more on the negative side. Small models seem to be where you get great quality while still getting a novel design.
Though the investment angle is nothing to sneeze at. With their limited production they are hands down made for reselling. For that reason I tend to buy two of anything I try. One I build and the other helps cover the cost of itself and the one I just built. ;D
I’m also a big fan of the smaller sets. Give us more of these instead of big castles. Or at least have half small/medium sets and then a few large sets. It would encourage more people to participate.