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I've always loved Ghostbusters, and I've always loved LEGO. When the two were first brought together in 2014 with the minifigure scale Ecto-1 and a year later with the huge Firehouse HQ, I was ecstatic - both sets are all time favourites of mine. /1
#thread #LEGO #Review
#thread #LEGO #Review
So here we are in the darkest year of modern times, and our misery is alleviated by the new 'UCS' scale Ecto-1. I say UCS because it has a similar quality to those incredibly detailed Star Wars sets, and a similar price tag. It's a hyper-realistic set, as you can see... /2
At 2352 pieces, it's a long way from being a record setter, but for a model with wheels this might be a record (not counting the Technic mega sets). It's 47cm long when complete, meaning from a distance it looks more like a moulded plastic toy than a LEGO set. /3
The instruction manual is designed to echo those Haines manuals that every dad seemed to own in the 1990s, which is a sweet touch, though once again the shininess of the paper caused me problems as I built (please fix, @LEGO_Group!) /4
Opening the box you're presented with the usual huge amount of plastic bags filled with pure joy - I've always equated bags of new LEGO with jewels of gems, the colour, shininess and lovely rustling sound a genuine pleasure for an autistic guy like me. /5
Sadly there's a sheet of stickers - ever a problem for LEGO fans, though in this case I was grateful the rust spots were stickers, as it makes them optional - I wanted a fresh, 1984 Ecto-1, not a rusted 2020 Oklahoma one! /6
The door plate logos were printed on though - so that's something. The base of the model, as is usual, focused on Technic based strength and durability. The chassis is solid and robust. /7
As I built, the play features started to take shape. I had purposely avoided reading about these features as I enjoy guessing how they'll work as I build. The use of Technic mechanics makes the early build extremely satisfying. Here's the front steering mechanism. /8
The interior is nice, though the black upholstery is a bit samey and hard to differentiate - black lego is always something of a detail eraser as the subtleties are lost, but I guess that's the source material's fault! /9
As I built the shell started to take shape, and the pleasing curves began to appear. The doors have an ingenious double hinge mechanism making them very robust. /10
The work that goes on behind the scenes is extremely complex, and often not actually used until much later in the build. I love this in a LEGO build! Look at the colours under the white body of the car! /11
The front of the vehicle is arguably the most iconic part, and LEGO have done an excellent job of it. The radiator grill is made of dozens of silver roller-skate elements. Compare with the real thing below: /12
The rear portion of the car contains loads of little details, the instruments and technology of the ghostbusters, presumably all linked in some way to the apparatus on the roof. /13
The rear door is openable and is simply perfect, getting the 'bulge' of the original just right. /14
The windshield element is *huge* but suits the car so well. Putting it in place was perhaps the most satisfying moment of the build. The roof brace there holds the vertical shaft that allows you to turn the front wheels via a light on the roof - a wonderful detail. /15
Roof on, and strange colourful apparatus in place and it's looking stunning. Just the blue lights left to put in place. The instruction booklet outlines the purpose of some of this machinery, which is a nice touch. /16
And there we go - after around 4 hours of build time, it's complete. As you can see, you have to look very closely to identify it as a LEGO set! It's about the same size as my plastic Real Ghostbusters toy from the 80s... /17
So, as LEGO models go, I'd say this meets the high standard of the Star Wars Ultimate Collector Sets, and I wonder if we'll see more licenced hyper-detailed sets like this in future. It was possibly my second favourite ever build (after the joy that is Assembly Square). /18
So, in all a genuinely amazing experience. Its something that any Ghostbusters fan basically needs to have in their life, and LEGO fans are in for a tremendous build whether they like the source material or not. /19
#LEGO #Review #Thread
#LEGO #Review #Thread
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