Set Review: 21027 Berlin
Saturday, July 8th, 2017 at 9:02pm by Andrew, BZPower News Manager [Source: Zatth]
Another set from the first wave of skyline Architecture models, 21027 Berlin is a miniature representation of the city with so much history and presence. BZPower Forum Assistant Zatth is back again to take a look at this set as well, and is now ready to share his thoughts on it with you all. So let's go check out his review and see how it stacks up!
Debates about the grammatical accuracy of Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" quotation abound, so why don't we take the city apart brick-by-brick and find out, via the magic of LEGO, if we too shall be Berliners one build at a time?
Presentation
From the design of the box to the instruction manual, these are the first things you see before building the set.
The Architecture sets continue to dazzle with beautiful boxes and instruction manuals. And, with Berlin being so varied, I think this is a time when it's useful to have the box in the background, or the manual for anyone who wants to learn more about the buildings or how you built them.
Building
Half the fun is had building the set. How fun is it to build and how easy or challenging is it?
THIS SET WAS SO MUCH FUN TO BUILD! :D Seriously, the variety of the buildings was awesome. First off, you start with a traditional bricks build that isn't super innovative for the Reichstag, but it does the job of showing you how much detail can be packed in a few bricks, while still making the whole appear like an actual building. It sets the tone for what the Architecture cityscapes can do, without being too heavy a start.
Next, the Deutsche Bahn Tower is also pretty uneventful in being bricks stacked on each other with some minor SNOT building... until you get to the placement of it. See, one jutting stud as you build the baseplate foundation turns out to be there to hold the building, which is otherwise connected by a pin that could leave it spinning. A very minor addition, but one that shows the kind of planning that can go into stabilizing a build as small as this.
Next, the GINORMOUS Berlin TV Tower spire which is also a fun build, in that it's mostly Technic pieces and upside down dishes. Monotonous? Maybe. Fun? Yes.
Finally, the Brandenburg Gate is like a palette cleanser, returning to a minimalist style that packs in a lot of detail. And as you finish it, you turn to look at all that you've built and are blown away by how fun and varied it all was! Huzzah!
Set Design
Now that the set is complete, we can critique how it looks from every angle. New or interesting pieces can also be examined here.
Really, the only new pieces on here are the Berlin Wall prints and the SNOT-like baseplate pieces.
What this set lacks in original pieces it makes up in breadth of colors and pieces. From transparent domes, to cheese wedges of many colors, to printed tiles, to golden microfigs. The Berlin cityscape demands variety in its buildings and building style, and will leave you with a good assortment of pieces to expand on your collection.
Playability
The other half of the fun is in playing with the set. How well does the set function and is it enjoyable to play with?
This set also can't be played with much, but the 'Get-ability' for it, in my opinion, is quite high. The building is ridiculously fun, and not too hard to construct. The different pieces, and the make-up of the final set, give the sense of a proud accomplishment. AND LOOK AT THOSE MINI BERLIN WALL PIECES! SUCH A BRILLIANT ADDITION.
Final Thoughts
Once it's all said and done, how does the set stack up? Should I get it?
Pros
What's to like?
- Good variety of pieces
- Awesome building styles for each model
- BERLIN WALL SEGMENTS AS PRINTED PLATES
Cons
What's not to like?
- Smaller Architecture set
- Breadth of style and wide assortment of pieces in small quantities may not be your cup of tea
I loved this set. I loved the breadth in building, and the amount of pieces, small as the quantities were, in their variety. I'd suggest getting this set, but if you're inclined to go for another one that's more your taste, it might be as varied as this one but be a better fit for you.
We greatly appreciate LEGO for sending BZPower this set and also thank Pablo for taking the time to review it. Of course we'd love to hear your thoughts as well as any questions you might have in the Talkback! Don't go too far though, we'll be back with more LEGO news and set reviews soon!
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