Review: 21020 Trevi Fountain

[MOC82]

What I really love about this upcoming LEGO set (or is it already out?) is that there are so many transparent pieces, that is actually one of the main reasons I would want this set.

[Steve309]

What I really love about this upcoming LEGO set (or is it already out?) is that there are so many transparent pieces, that is actually one of the main reasons I would want this set.

Depends where you live. North America. August 1st it comes out. Rest of the world it's out already. (Not sure about South America though)

[rollermonkey]

Well, I got it and I built it...

And my opinion is unchanged.

It's not a very good set, IMO.

Some really repetitive portions, some questionable parts usage, overly abstracted, not even any interesting building techniques.

Almost all of the 125 trans-blue plates are added in 4 or 5 consecutive steps. Most of the back wall is layered 1x1 bricks, actually, so is the front. Oddly, on one of the layers 1x3 bricks are used, with only one stud connected to the layer below, then nothing connects to the part that sticks in towards the middle of the building. The sides of Oceanus' alcove aren't closed, beautiful bas reliefs are represented by SNOT tiles, really, the only use I might get out of it is as an overpriced parts pack for trans-clear and trans-blue. Sad, really, as I love the Architecture line apart from this set.

4/10

[Off the wall]

Thanks for the review, rollermonkey. I've heard the same from another AFOL. My wife bought this for me on Sunday during one of her frequent mall visits. It's on the shelf and, based on what I've read about it, I'm in no hurry to get started.

Between this and no news on the next modular, I'm starting to think my favorite lego products (architecture and modular buildings) are on the back burner at TLG.

[Herky]

rollermonkey, you hit the nail on the head, the set takes great pics, I will give them that, but the build stinks, too many 1's and 2's...instead of price per piece on this one, I think price per lego bump is a better way to gauge it. It should have been $15 less. Also you better build this on a flat surface or it doesn't stick together well. I tried to do it in front of the tv on the carpet while the ball game was on, big mistake.

So far, build wise, this is the worst set in the line. Looks...meh, 6 out of 10, build 2 out of 10, price point an easy 2 out of 10, there is nothing that suggests this should have been more than $35 to me, just not a good representative of the line as a whole.

I would give this set a total 5/10...below average to me and that is how I voted, bordering on poor due to cost and build. Box and booklet are cool though.

[Off the wall]

rollermonkey, you hit the nail on the head...

Agree. I also voted below average. If it's 'average', then what's 'below average'? In comparing it to the rest of the series, I had to go with below average.

[opn2]

Edited September 27, 2014 by opn2

[Off the wall]

Information leaks regarding the next modular building don't typically surface until the next year's retailer catalogs do, which is usually the end of August through September. I sincerely doubt it's 'on the back burner' - it's simply too early for the next one to be announced. For what it's worth, the popular rumor in the Town forum points toward it being a quote-unquote 'detective agency.' Make of that what you will.

Thanks. Appreciate the insight. Guess I was spoiled by getting the update in July last year. As far as the popular rumor goes, well, never mind.......

[Herky]

opn you said: While I'll agree with you that the price is excessive abroad, this set is pretty fairly priced when you compare it to other sets at MSRP. In fact, it's the 5th best set as far as price-per-piece at MSRP goes in the US. Yes, there are a lot of extremely common parts therein, but there are also several in new colors. Factor in the nicer box and manual and the price seems pretty fair from a North American standpoint. It's one thing to not take any interest in the part content, but when you consider that the only four sets with lesser price-per-piece ratios are two modular buildings and two sets of bulk bricks...

I disagree, if you have a set like this one with say 300 1x1 or 1x2's, then your pieces are smaller than other set...the only fair way to judge any set on price is by lego bump (well I call it that, by what I mean is the circle with lego on it, not sure if there is an official name). In any case, so say we have 900 lego bumps for Trevi, vs another set that has less pieces but more bumps then I would say Trevi has less value.

Keep in mind that other $50 sets in my mind are not great values either, White House at $50 was only 530 pieces and there are others. Also Willis Tower and the others in that vein are early versions and true not real impressive. I imagine if TLG did them over they would do in the style of Pisa vs their smaller stature.

I guess it comes down to opinion, which mine was that I didn't enjoy this build, and felt it too pricey, but I know the market is that way...I can deal with the price issue moreso than the long wait and tiring build. Pisa was more fun a build for me and it was just basically repetitive, this one was not repetitive but I didn't like it...maybe I need to go work on an assembly line I guess. Maybe it was the long wait and then this was it with no others coming in sight...I don't know, just didn't like it at all, but like many I am a completest so I have it and will keep it.

[rollermonkey]

I didn't even think to mention how flimsy the build is. I've never had an Architecture base frame just fall apart on me while I was trying to build it. They cheaped out by not going three plates thick for the base as I believe every other set in the line is. Couple that with the absolutely massive percentage of 1x1 bricks and plates, and I'd bet it is the least structurally sound build apart from the truly awful Burj... Which falls apart as soon as you look at it. I can't even display that one on a shelf without finding pieces falling off of it!

Edited August 7, 2014 by rollermonkey

[Herky]

well, this just shot my cost theory altogether, a very interesting look at the price per piece issue, good read, but I still wasn't happy with the build or really the price either, I maintain the cost of producing a 1x1 is lower than larger pieces, so if you have say a 4x4 this is a good 10 cent piece, a 1x1 is more a 2 cent piece. However, the math then is off, since 16 1x1's at 2 cents apiece to equal the space of a 4x4 is 32 cents so I guess I am overvaluing...a 1x1 should be 1 cent. To me the more 1x1's you end up with, or even 2x1's just feels like it should cost less. Not saying I am right, just saying that is how it seems and Trevi has a lot of these types of pieces.

http://www.wired.com/2014/08/lego-cost/

[Off the wall]

I've simplified things a bit. I just look at the finished product and it's either great, meh, or sucks. Death Star, large Eiffel Tower, green grocer......great.

Taj Mahal, palace cinema.....meh

Trevi fountain, parisian restaurant, sandcrawer.......suck.

This is my new scientific, highly researched and indisputable ratings system.

[rollermonkey]

You must be talking about the old Sandcrawler, because the new one is far from suck.

[Herky]

I think the sandcrawler and I know this is a bit off topic, but if you really love SW, then you love it, but if you stand back and do not care about the line, it looks like a big brown trapezoid that is movable, so I get what both of you are saying, it's a matter of personal taste.

I have never seen the large Eiffel or Taj Mahal in person, I have yet to build my Sydney...and I still haven't picked up the Parisian, my fave modular is a tie between Green Grocer and Fire Brigade, fave architect is Robie House followed by Fallingwater, but I really like Pisa for some reason, it's not imaginative or that hard a build, but the lean part is cool and it just looks neat on the shelf. Rockefeller is by far my lowest followed by Trevi. I love the style of Farnsworth but wish it was as big as Fallingwater.

All that said, again, it's opinion...nothing new on Architecture news front sad to say

[rollermonkey]

Yeah, I figure this thread will be on page 3 by the time we get any news or rumors.

[Off the wall]

Maybe an idea will take on a life of its own. Like modular buildings and the detective agency rumor. The rumor itself has now been used to support the rumor.

I think lego has done a great job with most of the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. Especially Robie House and the imperial hotel.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Off the wall

[Herky]

I went back and really looked at my Trevi. I still hate the tedious build, but when I look at it from a distance, I am warming to it. I think the finished product looks good, but I also think if they had gone twice the pieces and doubled the size, we are talking a great build and great piece. The horses for example and the 3 statues could have had more detail, also the water could have been better as well as the façade if it was just a bit bigger.

Course I think the early "statue" sets of Sears Tower, Space Needle, etc could have been pushed to the same size, but they were early and TLG had no idea if the line would even sell.

Edited August 12, 2014 by Herky

[ummester]

Why don't they make water effects with smooth tiles and slopes, to better represent the texture?

[talos]

I got my Trevi Fountain set, and decided to make a small change. I think it looks better this way. I have never seen it in person, but from all the photos I have looked through, this seems better...to me..to each his own, maybe. Any opinions?

[Off the wall]

Your version looks better. Nice work.

[johsuth12]

Now that we know that Flatiron Building and the Lincoln Memorial buildings are in the pipeline for next year, would one of them be out for 1st January like Eifel Tower was this year?

[Gongoro73]

Has anyone tried to include the fountain into a city/modular layout? It looks like the in minifig scale could fit it well...

[Sven F]

@Gongoro: I had the same idea, but not sure if it works. I guess if you know what it is, then it's most definitely out of place and scale, but if you don't know Trevi and think of it as a generic park fountain (like you have in southern Spain), then it might work. It's really not so much a memorable landmark nor is it so accurately depicted in LEGO form that it would be unmistakeable.

This is not the best placement, but is the best I could do in my current limited space. The fountain has no back, so it would be better suited against a wall. Maybe it could do without some elements and a bit of modification.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Sven F

[Gongoro73]

Hi, Sven. Thank you very much for your reply/picture. As you said, if you think of Trevi Fountain, it's obviously out of scale. But I was thinking more of a generic fountain placed against a wall in a square I have planned for my city. It doesn't look that bad to me, I think that it could work with little MOD, maybe making it taller.

So, another set in my wishlist...

Thanks again for your help, have a nice day!

[Zusammengebaut]

I put the Eiffel tower in my City - but the Trevi Fountain looks fine with the modulars, too. May be a little bit too small... (like other architecture sets, too)

But, of course: The "Trevi Fountain" (in german Trevi Brunnen) is one of the finest LEGO Architecture Sets, so far.

The build is very enjoyable. And when you use lights at night, it is magic.

My new review in german language - but with international images.