Sunday 26 January 2014

Lego 71006 The Simpsons House Review ~ Part 1 ~ Downstairs


Lego set 71006 The Simpsons House is a fantastic set which is the first release in the Simpsons range. It is recommended for builders aged 12+ and has 2523 pieces, which makes it the biggest build we've ever done.


The box contains 22 numbered bags, a bag of base plates and 3 instruction booklets. 


Bags no.1 - 2 bags containing Homers car, Homer with briefcase, Bart with skateboard and all of the outside objects with the exception of the mailbox.


Bart and Homer are unique as aside from the head pieces, they also have 2 colour moulded arms, and in the case of Bart also legs. I have to say I was instantly a little disappointed as they look so tired and sad. The faces are actually very much like the Tracey Ullman show original faces, with overhanging upper lips.


The car is really nicely put together with a good solid feel and the way they've done the roof is really interesting. It's not a full roof - but as soon as you put Marge into the car you realise why! Opening boot and doors and space for 4 figures to sit inside. 

Bags no.2 - 3 bags which together build the garage with shelving, units, workbench and tools.


The garage has a construction using large pieces that's actually very true to the 'do-it-yourself' garages which are made from pre-formed blocks slotted together. It has a semi-faked 'up and over' garage door which works really well. There's a handle for easy opening and the roof is completely unattached and removable - as is every roof in the entire build.This is absolutely brilliant for playability.


The workbench has a really simple but effective vice and toolbox (doesn't open, boo) and there are a huge array of tools which are housed in a great little unit that has a cuboard, a deep box which is very cleverly made using windows and an ingenious shelving unit. The workbench and other unit sit on two shallow studs, so are very easily removed for play - as is EVERYTHING in the entire build. It really is designed for excellent access and playability.

Bags no. 3 - 3 bags containing the front aspect of the ground floor of the house, the mailbox and Ned Flanders.


It's a relatively standard house build, layer by layer. The bay windows are lovely, slightly different to the Vampyre House, but still using hinges to create the shape.


There are some gorgeous furniture pieces included in this build, the piano is lovely and the kitchen units fantastically coloured.


Included is a bag of kitchen equipment which I can only assume is Lego Friends, and contains 3 of everything - as well as tools and mixing bowl. Again, it extends the playability. My boys aren't interested in playing 'cooking', but they loved putting everything into the cupboards.

End of Book 1

Bags no.4 - 3 bags containing the ground floor rear aspect of the house and several items of furniture including the TV, kitchen stove, sofa, dining table and telephone table and Marge.


The dining chairs are a great 5 pieces construction that's simple but very effective and look particularly dashing in orange. The table is a bit clunky, but the chairs actually go underneath!


The TV is brilliant. It's an incredibly complicated design using loads of the 'snot bricks' (StudsNotOnTop) and it looks great.


The front and back of the house are hinged (disguised as a chimney breast) with a clip to hold them together when closed.


 And that's downstairs covered..... the review continues here - bedrooms and bathroom....

We got Early Access to The Simpsons House through the Lego VIP scheme, which anyone can join from the Lego Shop online. We bought and paid for it ourselves. All photo's were taken as we built, so some parts are not finished as you see them. The set goes on general release in February, is exclusive to The Lego Shop and The Lego Shop Online and costs £179.99 with free postage. Don't pay more!

73 comments:

  1. This looks amazing and I think the detail is great, I didn't think it was that big, but I guess lots of the detail bricks make the set so big..

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    1. The actual house closed up seems quite small, but I think they generally do, when you open it out though it's almost 70cm long with the garage - huge! :)

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  2. This is awesome, I need to come round and play with it!

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    1. It's still on the kitchen table at the moment - and it really is something no-one can walk past without having a little play! :D

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  3. It looks great! Will you be keeping it built permanently now? I guess it is too big to break it up and make it over and over again like some of the smaller sets? It really is very cool!

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    1. We'll leave it out for a while at least - I don't think the kids would be happy if we took it down yet. I can't imagine taking it apart, but we will have to or it'll fade in the sun and get dusty! :D

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  4. Wow that looks great - what a lot of pieces! It's a lot of money but for LEGO and Simpsons fans it definitely looks worth it.

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    1. Brick for brick it's actually a lot better value than buying several smaller sets. I think it's worth it - we'll definitely have it for longer than 3 take aways would last us!

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  5. There is so much attention to detail it's fab! I love the snot bricks - what a great idea. It is good that they put it in step by step sections/different bags as I'm sure that made it much easier to put together. Question is how long will it stay together now?

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    1. Well, it's still together at the moment! It's really quit sturdy, they've played with it under supervision a lot and only the TV aerial has suffered so far :D

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  6. I will have to make sure my son doesn't see this! He is a Simpsons fan but at 3 yo still a little too young for this!

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  7. Ooo we love LEGO but have never tried any actual kits that involve following a plan -this looks great!

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    1. It's addictive - be warned. This is our equivalent of a night on the town :D

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  8. Great post, we think the detail is amazing on this Lego set!

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    1. It really is, they've surpassed themselves, it's far bigger than I imagined it would be. Thanks for commenting :)

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  9. Oh my. Now that is just awe inspiring. Well done you for building this amazing house! I could never do that, and I am so admire you for having the patience and ability to do this!

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    1. Thank you, but honestly, the last bag was the one that took us the longest because we didn't want to have to finish it :D

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  10. I saw that Lego were doing Simpsons now....my little ones would absolutely love this!

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    1. Ours do - it's not been left alone for more than half an hour :D

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  11. Wow, that's a lot of bricks...
    I love Lego, they were always and always will be my fav play toy... even now in my 30s ;-)

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  12. Looks ok - and great review btw - but I honestly think branded Lego restricts imaginative play. We've always bought the non branded stuff, and tbh if they are kits we build then put the book away and add the Lego to the numerous boxes of the stuff. Lego is designed to be creative, multipurpose etc and yet by selling their soul to the branded market Lego have stifled the creativity they sought to promote. Big thumbs down Lego.

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    1. I see your pint, but I disagree because we do the same. 90% of our Lego gets built and then added to the general pile. The books are all put into a folder, so we have them, but last week some of the brilliant bits from Lord Of The Rings were forming a cliff for Batman (bad guy) and the Teenage Mutant Turtles to have some sort of battle. There was flying and ninja-ing and ski-ing and masses of magination :)

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    2. And thank you for your comments re. the review! :)

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  13. Omg my daughter would destroy it in minutes and I would cry.

    It's awesome

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    1. Hahahaha.....our youngest is a real wreckeriser - but so far it is still in one piece! High shelves and trays are the answer :D

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  14. Omg my daughter would destroy it in minutes and I would cry.

    It's awesome

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  15. OMG - I thought some of our sets were huge - well done on completing it though

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    1. Thank you, but it really wasn't a challenge - it was an absolute pleasure :D

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  16. Wow - ee! I always joke that the only things I can build in lego are houses - but this is beyond my skills set. Well done you guys for finishing it - it looks amazing!

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    1. Hahaha....it's a bit better than what I can mange without instructions too! :D

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  17. Oh my goodness this is absolutely amazing! We only have Cinderella and a farm so far. Knew you could do it though, you're the brick castle! Hope you're recovering well :)

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    1. I am - thanks Charly, loads better. Cinderella Lego I have not yet encountered :D

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  18. This is amazing! Z doesn't like the Simpsons so I don't think we'll buy it but it's amazing to see just what you can build with Lego.

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    1. It is astounding - they're really getting incredibly ingenious :D

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  19. My word, that is amazing! I am loving the detail!

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    1. It's amazing isn't it? It's still on the kitchen table and every time go past someone has rearranged everything again :D

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  20. LEGO sets are so great. My youngest used to love the Star Wars and Harry Potter ones.

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    1. We have far more than our fair hare of Star Wars sets - my 16 yo even saved up and bought himself a Millennium Falcon!

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  21. Blimey, how amazing is this! Love it.

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    1. I love it. It's just fabulous. I wish I'd had access to it when I was a girl - best dolls house ever!

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  22. WOW! Now all you need is a Spiderpig to go with it :)

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    1. Hahaha....I'm doubting it'll be one of the characters in the minifigure sets!

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  23. Oh my goodness that is huge! Well done for finishing it!

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  24. I'm not a Simpsons fan, but this Lego set looks amazing, loving the vice on that workbench!

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    1. I love the vice, it's so simple and effective. One of the winter Village houses has a really intricate vice with loads of parts on an anvil!

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  25. 'Snot bricks' *sniggers* Like the use of technical terms...
    This looked soooo cool - and something to keep them occupied for hours (which is always good)

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    1. Hehehe....I genuinely couldn't think of a better way to describe them, so I went with the technical term :D

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  26. What a brilliant pice of engineering !

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    1. It really is, the design that's gone into this is fantastic. When I look at my poor efforts to make my son a house... :D

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  27. Wow wow wow. That is an epic building project but it looks properly amazing. *bows to the Queen of LEGO*

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    1. Hahahaha.....that's very kind of you, but I'm sure I don't deserve it! :D *Curtsies to the Queen of Cooking With Kids* :p

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  28. That looks fabulous!! And so many pieces - well done on putting it all together!! And what fun it must be to play with - your boys must be loving it!!

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    1. The boys are having the best time! But the teenagers all play with it too - you can't resist touching it and moving things :D

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  29. Look at all those packets!! You definitely have more patience than I do! :) x

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  30. Never mind the kids - my husband would LOVE this haha x

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    1. We do let the kids play with it - honest! And it's the longest any model has ever stayed intact! :D

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  31. OMG This looks great - my dad would love this for Father' Day - we have always called him Homer, after he went bald at 24 (blaming us kids for his hair falling out!)

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    1. Hahaha - awww your poor Dad! That's far too early to go bald :D

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  32. Haha this is so cute! Forget the kids I would love to play with it.

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    1. No-one can resist it - it was on the kitchen table for a week or 2 and EVERYONE rearranged the furniture when they came into the house. It's on the side now, but it still is arranged differently every time I see it :)

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  33. The box contains 20 numbered bags

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