(Written by William)
When I had the opportunity to request a specific set for review, the #21357 LEGO Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. was one of the sets at the top of my list. I’ve found that many of the large character models that LEGO makes often have rather interesting techniques. And this being a LEGO Ideas product made me doubly interested. LEGO sets originally designed by fans and submitted to the LEGO Ideas platform often push the limits of what is possible with the brick.
I would have probably bought this set myself except for one factor: the $69.99 price tag. There are other character models in this price range, but they seem to be denser and full of parts. Luxo has more of a skeletal frame and only 613 parts. So, where does the price come from? Does it really have a mechanism that can justify the cost? Let’s dig into the model and see if the price makes sense.
LEGO PIXAR LUXO JR. – THE COST
There are several factors that will drive up the price of a LEGO set. The first is whether or not it is attached to a license. Well, I must admit Disney’s Pixar line is a rather good intellectual property, so it checks that box.
The next factor that will add to the bottom line is whether or not there are new molds in the set. I’d say the two parts that make up the lamp shade, the two parts that make up the bulb, and the six rounded slopes that form the ball all qualify. Not only that, but each of these parts is quite large. That brings us to another factor: more plastic means more cost.
Luxo Jr. is mostly white, which is one of the cheaper colors, so there should be no price increase using new or rare colors. Another factor is whether there are any unique printed parts. In the case of Luxo Jr., the dishes for the ball are printed, and they are big pieces, so that probably adds to the cost.
And the original fan designer also takes a cut, so that adds to the price of LEGO Ideas sets. Throw in some world trade conditions that are uncertain, and LEGO is probably adding an extra charge for that as well.
LEGO PIXAR LUXO JR. – THE FEATURES
First up, Luxo Jr. does not light up. There is no light brick inside the bulb. Rather, LEGO designers focused on crafting a nostalgic building experience. Any portion of the model that looks substantial has secrets built into their structure. These little details aren’t meant for showing off since they would expose parts of the model that aren’t very pretty. Also, they aren’t very intricate in nature. For instance, you may have a stack of plates in certain colors that sort of represent famous Pixar characters throughout the years. It is actually fortunate that the instructions spell out many of these characters. As it is, I’m still scratching my head over several of those that are probably something but weren’t mentioned by name.
As for the features, the points of articulation are nice. The base has a joint that allows Luxo Jr. to rotate. This is made with a large ball-joint so the little guy won’t go spinning on its base. Moving further up, there are two rubber bands hidden inside hoses to look like springs in the lamp’s neck. These in turn are connected to a series of two brick-built arms that help support the mount for the head of the lamp.
The rubber bands provide constant tension, which keeps the lamp upright. This may seem weird since you can press down on the top of the lamp to move these joints. But that’s where the fun is. If you are quick to release the lamp after pressing this section down, Luxo Jr. will do his iconic hop!
Finally, the last point of articulation is the lampshade. It is mounted to a ball-joint, which surprisingly makes the character extremely expressive. Even without a face, a small tilt of the shade speaks volumes.
As far as the ball goes, you have two major options. The first is to leave it round and let it roll all over the place. LEGO designers really did create an amazing sphere in a relatively small package. But with a bit of disassembly, you can remove two sides of the ball and attach one side to a square platform and let Luxo Jr. stand on the ball. Sure, he may be in the process of smashing the ball flat, but that was part of the initial short.
LEGO PIXAR LUXO JR. – FINAL THOUGHTS
I admit this set is adorable. And it was a fun build and play with. Collectors will like the fact that it has enough unique elements that it can’t easily be recreated. And everyone will appreciate that there are no stickers in this model.
With all that said, the obstacle is the price. Personally, I am a big Pixar fan. When I heard they were releasing collections of their shorts, I picked them up on day one. For a fan like me, I would say the price is worth it. However, if you sort of just like Pixar and you’re more about a great LEGO experience, I think you’ll have one, it just may not be a $70 one. In the video below, I discuss the set in a bit more detail.
It pains me to say it, since I think this model is amazing, but people who are planning to get this set mostly for the building experience should probably wait for it to go on sale. Hopefully it will, as it is very charming and worth adding to your collection. If you want to check it out, it’s available at the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Pixar Lamp? Do you have the set already? And how do you like the techniques used in the set? Feel free to share your thoughts and own reviews in the comment section below!
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