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30666 3-in-1 Gift Animals LEGO Review - Creator, 2024



TL;DR:

  • Original Price:  $4.99
  • Pieces: 75
  • Minifigure(s): No
  • Sticker Sheet: No
  • Pros: Cute builds, useful piece/color combo
  • Cons: Missing instructions

Assembly: 

Build #1 - Dog

Build #2 - Bear Cub

Build #3 - Squirrel


  • Interesting Steps:
    • Dog - The use of 1x2 Technic bricks with two holes means that you can fit a 2x2 circle tile in (to round the belly's sides) between the leg attachment points. That said, this could also be accomplished with two 1x1 Technic bricks for the legs and then either a 1x2 Technic brick with one hole or else a 1x2 SNOT brick. That said, given that these 3-in-1 sets prioritize pieces that can be used in different ways for the different builds, it makes sense that they'd go with this solution, which provides four identical 1x2 bricks for use in other builds (for example, two side-by-side make up the bear cub's head).
  • Interesting Techniques:
    • For all the creativity that goes into most 3-in-1 sets, I found it surprising that two builds made use of much the same sub-build: the dog (print) and bear cub (digital) both have the same leg structure. The only difference is that the bear cub's legs don't have the 1x2 oval tiles on them, and the feet are different between the two animals. In a way, it almost shows the creativity of using the same build for different purposes.
  • Interesting Pieces:
    • 1x2 oval tiles. I really like the shape of these, and am always happy to get more. The only thing that would have been better would have been getting more than one in medium nougat.
  • Pain Points:
    • I've noticed a trend in the smaller 3-in-1 sets, to have only the main build given printed instructions (usually on a single folded sheet), with digital instructions (as described below) provided for the other builds. This is always frustrating to me, especially given that polybag sets make for good gifts for new builders or sets to bring along on trips. Paper instructions should always be the default, in my opinion.
  • My Modifications:  
    • The squirrel tail in the instruction is a bit lackluster, stumpy and too lumpish-looking. A simple change made it much better proportioned and also reduced the visible impact of the dark hole on the backside of the rock finger pieces: by stacking them with an offset, I extended the tail, and then anchored them in place (and in color) by using two of the 2x1x2/3 inverted curve pieces.


 

Apart from the lack of instructions, this is a cute little set. It has several useful pieces in tan and medium nougat and overall feels like a good value.

Score (out of 5 🧱):

  • Price: 🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱
  • Process: 🧱🧱🧱🧱
  • Presentation: 🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱
  • Play: 🧱🧱🧱
  • Pieces: 🧱🧱🧱🧱
  • Total: 🧱🧱🧱🧱

Lego Instructions: here

    NOTE: The above link only has the main build (dog), the alternate builds (bear cub and squirrel) aren't available through the normal channels. I was only able to find them after a web search and link modification:

Bear Cub: https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.additional.extra.pdf/30666_01_BI_Build_Alt.pdf

Squirrel: https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.additional.extra.pdf/30666_02_BI_Build_Alt.pdf

This highlights one of the problems with going digital: links break, apps stop working, and files get corrupted or lost. If all three instructions had been printed, this wouldn't be a problem, but by requiring users to go online, Lego potentially prevents them from building two of the three builds of this set. And unlike Vidiyo or Hidden Side, where an app is required for the extra play features, with this you're simply unable to do the second and third build without looking hard. It's particularly interesting that they're missing, given that the set is only a year old.

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