[Review] 71396 Bowser Jr.'s Clown Car

[Darkdragon]

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Set information

Set Name: Bowser Jr.'s Clown Car Expansion Set

Set Number: 71396

Number of Pieces: 84

Theme: LEGO Super Mario

Year Release: 01/2022

Prices: £8.99 / $9.99 / 9.99€ (Euro prices may vary)

@Lego US https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/bowser-jr-s-clown-car-expansion-set-71396

@Brickset https://brickset.com/sets/71396-1/Bowser-Jr-s-Clown-Car

Box & Contents

Small but colorful box. Pretty standard for the price range. 

This set has three numbered bags, but if you're building with a kiddo it is really only two builds. Just something to keep in mind if you like to work intandem.

The booklet that is included with the set is not instructions but a small catalog for the rest of the current sets. You will need the app to follow instructions, that's how it is meant to be used.  For most sets, however, you can find the PDF instructions over at LEGO Service.

The Build

It's a small, simple, cute set. Hopefully nobody is expecting any major revelations on builds here. I really love the dark orange windup key element, first seen way back in 2012 CMF series 6 Clockwork Robot.

Bag 1 - Bob-om

You might not even need instructions for this build, it's very straight forward but very cute. I love the little flame on top.

Bag 2 - Clown Car Part 1

Lots of white in this bag! This is the start of the Clown Car itself with a breakaway bottom, which looks like a back in my photo.

Bag 3 - Clown Car Part 2

And here we have the face of the clown and it really looks like the Clown Car you're use to seeing. It can be set down, the propeller will slide up a bit so it can sit flat, a pretty clever design. 

Characters

This is the full completed set. A nice addition to your LEGO Super Mario world.

Play Features

There is really not a lot that can be done with just this set other than collecting the unique "characters" it provides. Both the characters have barcodes though so your Luigi and your Mario can interact with them. 

Conclusion

This is a cute set but on it's own it isn't a lot of use, I think it will be fun when playing the home built levels to have a big water (blue), acid (purple) or fire (red) area for the car to fly over. 

Score

Design: 8/10
The design is spot on to my memory of the characters while staying in the sizes they need to be. I really like the thought put into letting the car set flat and fly with the propeller out by having a sliding mechanism.

Parts: 7/10
The parts are alright. There's nothing that would make me buy the set just for parts, personally. 

Build: 7/10
It's a small set and a simple build, not bad though.

Playability: 6/10
The nature of this set is that it's really not playable at all on it's own. Definitely the least playable LEGO set I can think of.

Price: 8/10
The price is not too bad at all. It is licensed though so there's always a bit of an upcharge there. This size set in City is generally $7.99. 

Overall: 36/50

[Redhead1982]

Thanks for the review. It's really small set with not much to say about. Hovewer I see it as a quick (and cheap) way to update your Mario play time.

[MKJoshA]

Thanks for the review! Even among the cheaper sets of the Mario wave this one seems lack-luster.