Number: 21110
Theme: LEGO Ideas
Release Date: August 2014
Piece Count: 165
Minifig Count: 3
Age Rating: 10+
Cost: US $19.99 - CA $24.99 - DE 19,99 € - UK 15.99 £
Cost per piece: US $0.121 - CA $0.151 - DE 0.121 € - UK 0.097 £
From LEGO.com:
The Research Institute set is # 008 in the LEGO Ideas (formerly CUUSSO) line.Explore the world and beyond at the Research Institute!
The Research Institute has everything that you need to explore the world below, around and above us! Created by real-life geoscientist, Ellen Kooijman (alias:Alatariel), and selected by LEGO® Ideas members (formerly known as CUUSOO), this collection of scenes depicts three varied professions within the world of natural science. Help the paleontologist study the origin of dinosaurs with the magnifying glass, map the skies with the astronomer and her telescope, and assist the chemist as she carries out experiments in her lab. This set also includes building instructions, as well as a booklet containing information about the creator and an introduction to each of the professions featured in the set. There’s a whole world of exciting professions out there to explore – build and role play them to see if they suit you! Includes 3 minifigures: paleontologist, astronomer and a chemist.
• Includes paleontologist, astronomer and chemist minifigures
• Features paleontology, astronomy, and chemistry scenes on a 6x6 baseplate
• Paleontology scene features a dinosaur skeleton, microscope and a magnifying glass
• Astronomy scene features a telescope and a sky chart
• Chemistry scene features a cabinet, tools, bottles and flasks
• Discover new stars and planets through the telescope
• Study the dinosaur skeleton up close
• Concoct new formulas in the chemist’s lab
• Gives a great insight into the world of natural science
• Build the model voted for by LEGO® Ideas members
• Includes building instructions and booklet with information about the creator and professions featured in the set
• Each scene measures over 1” (5cm) high, 1” (4cm) wide and 1” (4cm) deep
The front of the box:
The glossy box shows three female minifigures in their work environment.
The back of the box:
The back features artwork showing each scientist with their corresponding equipment.
Minifigure view:
Contents:
The LEGO Ideas Boxes are nicer than the standard sets and are great for holding your booklet and pieces after you have built it.
You have 3 bags of elements and one instruction booklet. A brick separator is included.
I like the quality of the LEGO Ideas instruction booklets and they give you a little biography about the creator.
Also there is a blurb about each scientist and their field of work.
The instructions do feature the "pick list":
You receive 3 minifigures in this set. (left to right) Chemist, Paleontologist, and Astronomer.
The figures do have alternate expressions and some minor printing on the back of their tops.
The Build:
My 9-year-old built the set. She really loves the dinosaur skeleton. Each vignette was easy for her to build on her own. There are no stickers in this set. There are 165 pieces, but many are small so you get a lot of ‘spare parts’.
Bag #1 - Chemist
Here is the work station of the chemist. You do receive syringes, mugs (in the cabinet) and bottles and beakers:
Here you can see the extra parts.
Bag #2 - Paleontologist
I love the dinosaur skelton model. You also have a microscope to inspect some bones.
Spare parts:
Bag #3 - Astronomer
The astronomer has a blackboard (printed) and a high-powered telescope.
Spare parts:
Here is a view with all the ladies and their equipment:
Ratings
Design: 10/10 – The overall design is very nice and they include some nice features for each scientist. The dinosaur is fabulous!
Build: 8/10 – The dinosaur is the most complicated to build, but overall it is a fairly simple build.
Minifigures: 8/10 – It is nice that each scientist has different colored hair. The shirt for the chemist is nice with the ID tag. The astronomer looks a bit like a flight attendant from the 1980s with the scarf around her neck.
Playability: 10/10 – There is a lot of playability with the 3 vignettes. My child loved playing with it and played “museum” for a bit with the dinosaur.
Parts: 9/10 – I like how a brick separator was included. The printed piece for the blackboard is nice. There are many small parts. You do end up with 24 spare parts.
Price: 8/10 – We are at about 12 cents apiece for the US price of $19.99, which is not a great ratio, especially since many elements are very small. However, if you add in the spare parts, the per piece ratio drops to $10.6 cents.
Overall rating: 9/10 I really like this set and hopes it encourages girls to play with LEGO and who knows, it may encourage a few to pursue science!
Currently the set is sold out at Ship @ Home. You may be able to find it at your local LEGO Brand Store.