Lego Classic: Sometimes The Basics Are Best
Written: Jul 10 '02 (Updated Jan 08 '04)
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Pros: Nice assortment of elements, great for boosting your stock
Cons: Extremely hard to find, small pieces present a choking hazard.
The Bottom Line: Lego lovers of all ages will simply flip over the assortment in this collection. The only thing that could make this better would be a nice plastic, Lego storage case.
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| Freak369's Full Review: LEGO - Classic |
There are only a handful of basic Lego building sets that are still available, unfortunately, this isn’t one of them. Every couple of years Lego repackages the basic sets to keep them looking fresh as well as rotating the pieces that are included with the set. The Lego Classic Building Set is simply an awesome collection of elements that can be used to create whatever your imagination can conjure up.
While this set is no longer produced by Lego, there are still a tremendous number of them floating around at online toy merchants as well as in backstock at toy stores. This would be a great find for a Lego lover since it offers a virtual wealth of “stock” pieces. “Stock” pieces are simply Lego elements that have a lot of capabilities. Smaller 15x15 base plates, window frames, door panels and wheel assemblies are just a few of the treasures in this set.
The Lego Classic Building Set
First off, this shouldn’t be confused with the Classic Set With Building Table [set 1194]. The Lego Classic Building Setset comes with 480 pieces and no table or building structure. The Classic Set With Building Table contains 400 pieces and comes with a red storage container, two “side buckets” and two sliding green base plates. Since the names of the sets are similar they could be confused by online toy vendors or appear as incorrectly listed items.
The box states that this is suitable for children between the ages of 5 – 10 however older sets have the ׁ+” [3 and older] listing. Since there are small pieces that could present a chocking hazard, you should look over the pieces first before allowing a younger child to dive in. Some boxes may also display the recommended age as 3 – 7, but the bottom line is that each child is different so don’t follow what a box says when it comes to toys for your kids.
Some of the more unique pieces in this set are the green doorframes that can be used for a number of different applications. The yellow rails / arches are also pieces that have unlimited uses. The bulk of the set consists of the basic bricks that are most commonly used 2x2, 2 x 6 and 1x1. As a quick explanation a 2x2 brick has two nubs across and two nubs down, and a 2x4 has two nubs across and four numbs down.
In case you are still confused, click this link to see a 2x2 brick:
http://shop.lego.com/images/products/TYPE10/LEGO-US-2057/set384x288us003453.jpg
Click this link to see a 2x4 brick:
http://shop.lego.com/images/products/TYPE09/LEGO-US-2057/set192x144us003458.jpg
These smaller pieces allow a child to really get creative and add a tremendous amount of detail to whatever they are constructing. This assortment is balanced with wheels, axels, clear window panels, flowers, hinged door panels and odd striped pieces. On the top of the box is a complete run down of the elements that are included in the set so you and your child can see if this would be something they would like to add to their collection.
I really like this set but for kids that have some experience building things with Lego’s I’d suggest the Special Value 1200-Piece Tub [set # 3303 which gives you three times the number of pieces for almost the same price [$19.99]. This contains more basic pieces that come bagged inside a sturdy plastic bucket that can be used for storage. This is a little hard to find but much like the Lego 1200 Piece Blue Tub it can still be found at some online toy merchants.
There are enough pieces provided to create houses [not that big, but still, a domicile], automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, various animals, a flower garden … almost anything your child can imagine can be created with this set. As you’ll read in the rest of the review of this product, there aren’t any instructions provided with this set. Most universal sets released by Lego were lacking instructions for a very good reason. They tend to limit what a child will build. If you hand a child a box of crayons and blank piece of paper you have no idea what they’ll draw – but hand them a coloring book and a box of crayons and you might get a little creativity [like a blue Tigger] but overall they’ll try to stay inside the lines, color everything the way it should be and get bored with it. By omitting the instructions, Lego has allowed the child to have unlimited building potential. Combine this set with a few other basic or universal sets and the sky is the limit.
As far as this being a unisex toy, it’s a split decision. If this were a defined set [one that is part of a series and included instructions and had a specific end result] then it could be called a boy set [Bionicle, Adventurers, Rock Raiders] or a girl set [Belville, Lego Friend, Click It]. From my point of view, this would make a great gift for a little boy or girl who has expressed an interest in Lego or has outgrown the Duplo Line.
Instructions
There really aren’t any instructions that come with this set. Since it is considered “universal” it leaves the door wide open for children to explore and learn about basic construction principals. Keeping the box is a good idea since it gives you plenty of illustrations to work with and can provide some basic ideas of construction. Some of the creations on the box include animals, small house, helicopter, dog, tree and people created from bricks – these are not Lego figures but rather people that are built from the Lego elements. There are no Lego figures included with this set so please be sure and tell your child that before you invest in the set.
There are tons of Lego books that you can purchase to help kids along the imagination road. Some deal with basic structure and how to make them as strong as possible. Other focus on famous places, events and historical scenes. These show you what you need before you get started, how long it should take to build and proper storage of the constructed unit. The books range from basic to technically advanced and while there’s no age recommendation on them, most are suitable for children who have outgrown the Duplo line. Check out your local library or chain bookstore to see some of the hundreds of titles.
Who Would Love This
Kids who are just starting to get into Lego’s would more than likely fall in love with this set. It offers a wide range of pieces, sizes and styles to be creative without being overwhelmed. This would be a great transitional set between the Duplo line of large chunky styled blocks and the smaller, more detailed Lego series. The reason this is a good bridge between the two is that it doesn’t just throw a child into the smaller bricks and pieces, it still has a “small kid” feel to it without it being a baby toy – something the box illustrations clearly help to reinforce.
Even thought this set isn’t sold at the Lego site anymore, there are a ton of building diagrams and instructions at the Lego World Shop. Visit it at www.lego.com or you can see what some other ingenious Lego addicts have built and submitted to the site at www.lego.com/build/gallery. No matter what your child chooses to build, this set is a cornerstone in the Lego catalog of products. Regardless of which basic universal set you choose, it will be a wise investment in your childs playtime adventures.
The Stats
Set Name: Lego Classic Building Set
Family Set: Classic
Lego Set: 4216
Number of Pieces: 480
Age Recommendation: 5 - 10
Ease Of Assembly: Depends on your imagination.
Time Of Assembly: Unlimited
Cost: Retail price: $20.00 - $30.00
As always, thanks for the read!
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2004Freak369
Other great basic Lego sets ...
Classic Set With Building Table
Lego 1200 Piece Blue Tub
Lego Classic Building Set
Lego Creator Board Game
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $19.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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