REVIEW: 4644 Marina

[RubeusHagrid]

Hi

I saw there were reviews of the smallest 3 Harbour sets, so I decided to do the larger ones. (4645 coming in a hour or two) This is my first review, so please forgive me if I do anything drastically wrong (Sorry about the backgrounds)

Set name: Marina

Set number: 4644

Theme: City

Subtheme: Harbour

Release date: 2011

Minifigs: 5

Pieces: 294

The Box

What's inside?

Two instruction books, not too badly bent, a DSS which was nice and flat inside the smaller instruction book

4 Numbered bags - each with a smaller bag inside, and one softer bag with two tan plates, the red 'straw' and the blue boat base.

Bag 1

Contents

Pieces of note (for me anyway)

The Minifigures

All have back printing, the diver and boat driver have the same torso

The Set

A rather nice diving flag which has stickers on both sides

The windsurfer - I like the concept of this, but the sail is always coming off, and the mast just flops if the mi ifig is not holding onto it.

The Quad Bike - is nice, but I think it would have been nicer if it had been orange and it had had a proper Coast Guard like from 2008. The torso is on PAB and I can see no obvious reason why, so maybe the theme will be making a comeback...

The Boat

The base is nice, and has only been in a couple of sets before. I really like the touch of there being enough diving gear and seats for 2. I am a bit disappointed that this will only just fit under the stairs, and by logic (as I don't have them yet) the other 3 boats won't either

Random Page

The Main Set

Instructions and stickers

Front Page of instructions

Contents of bag 3

Minifigure - that torso is new to me, but has been in a couple of other sets and is now on PAB.

This is what Bag 2 builds

Looking at the official pictures, it seems small and flimsy, In fact there is a lot more of it that there seems to be, of course it's not in the same league as 6543, but it is quite deep, as well as wide.

Bag 3

Contents

Random Page

Completed up to bag 4

There certainly is a lot more of this that there looks to be. The shop is much better that I imagined.

Bag 4

Contents

Random Page

And..........

Finished

One nice touch is the red, yellow and green flags that the 'lifeguard' can change depending on the safety of the water

Spare Parts (surprisingly few)

Parts List - it all fits on one page *gulp*

Police and Harbour Dioramas on the back pages

RATING

Design: 3/5 (should have had more moorings if it is a 'Marina')

Pieces: 5/5 (Plenty of new pieces)

Playability: 4/5 (it could have had another boat, similar to 4641)

Price: 3/5 (I got it for 20% off at TRU, but I think it should be £29.99, not £39.99, as it only has a few more pieces than the Power Boat Transporter)

Overall: 4/5

A nice set, that I definitely suggest you pick up if you are a town/city/harbour fan. Stay tuned for how it will fit into my layout...

I hope this review was helpful to you, I certainly enjoyed writing it and will have to do this more often.

Matthew

Edited May 15, 2011 by RubeusHagrid
Indexed

[jangofett]

Great review well done.

I think I will be ordering one tomorrow after seeing this.

cheers jango

[The Yellow Brick]

Thanks for the review RubeusHagrid This is my favorite set out of the harbour subtheme

I'm glad that lego didn't use real base plates in this set. Without them it's easier to place in a city (or blue baseplate)

The boat is a nice addition to the set and the café is just awesome.

However, underneath the life guard tower part looks quite plain. I wish lego would have included something down there.

Once again thanks for the review

[Fuzzylegobricks]

Wonderful review RubeusHagrid! The set looks like one I need to customize.

[RubeusHagrid]

Great review well done.

I think I will be ordering one tomorrow after seeing this.

cheers jango

Thanks for the review RubeusHagrid This is my favorite set out of the harbour subtheme

I'm glad that lego didn't use real base plates in this set. Without them it's easier to place in a city (or blue baseplate)

The boat is a nice addition to the set and the café is just awesome.

However, underneath the life guard tower part looks quite plain. I wish lego would have included something down there.

Once again thanks for the review

Wonderful review RubeusHagrid! The set looks like one I need to customize.

Thanks all!

Now I've finished the review I'm going to build it the other way around with the beach on the right and the shop on the left, to fit into my beach better.

Edited May 15, 2011 by RubeusHagrid

[Zorbas]

Very nice review RubeusHagrid, especially for a first one, thanks!

Although that the classic town Marina is still my favorite, I'm starting to change my views when it comes to this one, especially after seeing your review. The structure's design may look odd but it's colourful and there are lots of elements that prevent it from looking empty.

The new torsos look fantastic, especially the diver's one!

Thanks again for the review!

P.S

Could you replace the box photo with a smaller one, no larger than 800x600? I know it's just one but it will make your review look even better. A link to tutorials can be found in my signature.

[RubeusHagrid]

P.S

Could you replace the box photo with a smaller one, no larger than 800x600? I know it's just one but it will make your review look even better. A link to tutorials can be found in my signature.

Done

[CMP]

However, underneath the life guard tower part looks quite plain. I wish lego would have included something down there.

I think that's where the quad goes.

Nice review. It's better than I expected. Not a Town fan, but it is very nice with plenty of new elements.

[Gregorovich]

Thanks for the great review, RubeusHagrid! Other than the picture of the female, the photography is crystal-clear. Well done!

I like this set a lot more than when I first saw it. The surf shop and cafe are both nice (would it be possible to get more photos of their interiors? Thanks!), but I think they lack a few things (food in the cafe, some more items in the shop). The boat is nice, though, and the minifigures are great. I was pleasantly surprised that they included two brand new torsos, and I like that they've put the rare-ish black PoP hair in. I wish that the Coastguard actually looked like one, though, and I feel that the female fig is just too common (the usual female face, the old ponytail in brown, blue legs and a common-ish torso?).

It has it's faults, but overall is a very nice set. Thanks again for the review!

[Tamamono]

Great review, RubeusHagrid! It's good to see City branching into a Harbor theme instead of continuing with just Fire and Police like usual. This is a set that I'll most likely be buying at some point or another, although I'm not too fond of the raft.

The set looks like one I need to customize.

Yeah, it gives us a very nice building block of a marina, but, like most City buildings, it needs a bit of fixing up.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Great review and beautiful set!

I like the boat for diving

[lightningtiger]

Thanks 'RubeusHagrid' for this review, man I have been waiting for this one to be reviewed.

A really nice playset, though the surf shop sign seems to be in the wrong place and they forgot fishing rods since they have diving gear with surf boards !

I wonder how this might tie in the harbour set with the grain ship ?

Anyway, I too will buy when on sale....hello, mid-year toy sale early release - fingers crossed Kmart again !

Now I wait for the next review, Brick On 'RubeusHagrid' !

[XimenaPaulina]

Thanks for this review RubeusHagrid! I've the updated the FP to include this one.

[jonwil]

This set is better than I thought.

Still not good enough to make me want it though :)

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Great review 'RH'. Can't wait to order one on of these.

[ZO6]

Thank you very much for this review, RubeusHagrid!

While this set is certainly no Sail N' Fly Marina, it's definitely something that our Lego towns have been craving for a long time. I was initially pretty disappointed with the set but it has really grown on me. I nearly bought a copy today but I ended up picking up some other exclusives instead. I find the colour scheme of the marina quite pleasing, and while some will cry 'juniorization' in terms of pieces used the set will undoubtably integrate perfectly with any modern Town sets.

Oh, and is it just me or is the windsurfer dude (the second from the left) ridiculously creepy looking?

...actually all three on the left are pretty sketchy characters

[LEGO AFOL]

The diver looks like the series one diver.

I like the colour of the boat.

[dr_spock]

Thanks for the review. It is a nice looking set.

[Vindicare]

For the windsail, you said you had trouble with it staying in place or something to that effect... I was looking at mine today and noticed a little slot on the top part of the mast for the top of the sail to sit in and keep it up and sturdy.

[Legoist]

Thanks for the review!

Overall the set doesn't look too bad but... 50e for 300 pieces = FAIL.

All these sets of the marina subtheme share the same features: they have a nice cool look overall, but to me they are too quick to build and don't offer much in terms of bricks.

[RubeusHagrid]

Other than the picture of the female, the photography is crystal-clear.

(would it be possible to get more photos of their interiors? Thanks!)

I'll get you some more photos. I almost forgot the female minifigure as it was in a different bag, and I forgot to put my camera on macro

For the windsail, you said you had trouble with it staying in place or something to that effect... I was looking at mine today and noticed a little slot on the top part of the mast for the top of the sail to sit in and keep it up and sturdy.

No, It just pops out of there for me

[RubeusHagrid]

OK, I'm doing 4645 now, so stay tuned...

[tomie satoshi]

cool classy set, though stickers on both sides of the flag... stupid solution couse TLG had some flags printed with same colour schemes...

[RubeusHagrid]

(would it be possible to get more photos of their interiors? Thanks!)

As Promised:

Overall, I think the shop had potential, but is far too empty, and I don't know what that little room to the right of the 4x4 is for... It could have been a changing room if it had had 4 walls and a door.

I'm working on 4645 as we speak

Matthew

[lightningtiger]

Looking at these extra shots, I agree the shop is empty and that space there could of being made into a change room or toilet or shower block which you do find down at the beach.

When we all get these sets I wonder what changes we'll do to them....for me I'll leave it as is designed, but New Mannum might get a dock down by the river !