LEGO Ideas: 21110 Research Institute/Female Minifigure Set

[Kez]

The set itself is not bad but the figures imo are rather bland and boring (excluding the one with the lab coat). It's nice to see that the model is true to the original creation as the dinosaur was a great creation.

[just2good]

The set has been officially revealed on Alatariel's blog: http://alatarielatel...og-page_26.html

I have to say, it's a cute little set!

I have to say, I am disappointed how this came out. No new printing whatsoever (unless, is that lab coat a new print?). I was hoping we would get exclusive expressions and torsos, as the Cuusoo line usually has very detailed minifigures. At least the build is good.

[Sarah]

Thank you for sharing.

I wish they hadn't put lipstick on ALL the figures :( It doesn't look great.The frustrated/surprised side looks better because you can barely see it.

[Sir Brickalot]

Not bad, not bad. I think that lab coat print is in some of the City Arctic sets, so no new prints.

[CM4Sci]

Hmm. I like how they stayed really close to the original project. I also like how they made a change to the dinosaur skeleton's feet, that whole vignette looks the best.

It's only $20, what harm can it do?

-Sci

Edited June 26, 2014 by CM4S

[craiggrannell]

Looks like Lego did a good job with this (DINOSAUR!), even if as the creator says, make-up in the lab's not a smart idea (but Lego was hardly going to shift from its 'male default' and 'female must have make-up' stance—small steps and all that) and I'll grab a box when it comes out, having stupidly left it too late to get the Mars Curiosity Rover. (There was me thinking "oh, it'll be available for AGES yet…)

Edited June 26, 2014 by craiggrannell

[WhiteFang]

The set has been officially revealed on Alatariel's blog: http://alatarielatelier.blogspot.se/p/blog-page_26.html

I have to say, it's a cute little set!

Thank you for sharing. Somehow, I love the simple touch in the 3 different settings. I think it looks good as it is and it does not defer much from the original design.

[JGW3000]

I'd say that the chemistry vignette is a dead-ringer for the messy well-organized lab I have down the hall from me, at work. Minifig needs safety glasses, though. Great job from the designers and LEGO, and certainly getting at least one, for me, and one for my kids.

[CM4Sci]

Actually, a thought just came to mind. I don't mean to rail off topic, but..

Where's the Exo Suit? We've seen #008, and #007 is on sale. Where's #006?

-Sci

[just2good]

Actually, a thought just came to mind. I don't mean to rail off topic, but..

Where's the Exo Suit? We've seen #008, and #007 is on sale. Where's #006?

-Sci

It's supposedly still in production. GB was bumped up because it was meant to coincide with the anniversary of the movie.

[Tech Artist]

This is a neat little set that could build upon itself. Could easily see this being a bigger line with perhaps a modular museum and science lab. Also, waiting to see the 1st mod of the science lab in to Breaking Bad.

[jimmynick]

Thank you for showing us! I like the vignettes and they (TLG) really kept faithful to the original proposal. The set's great for having female minifigures in situations that are not stereotyped for women. The figures themselves are cool, especially the chemist!

[Yooha]

Yeah, new torso designs would have been good, but being close to the original concept is more important to me. Great set!

[jodawill]

Disclaimer: I am a male, so my opinions may not matter.

My thoughts:

• I love the astronomy tile. It could be useful in many types of builds, like classrooms or space ships.

• I'm surprised by how much they stuck to the original design. Personally, I was hoping they would expand on the original idea a bit, like perhaps adding more vignettes. (No mathematicians or physicists…)

• The minifigures are disappointing. The chemist's face has a nasty expression and the smock in the original was much better. I see no reason for an angry face on the paleontologist. Really, neither the paleontologist nor the astronomer are dressed in any way that says they're any kind of scientist. I know most scientist don't normally dress the part, but since this is a toy, it would be nice if, for example, the astronomer had a classic space logo on her shirt pocket.

• The dinosaur is well made and very clever, but seems very MOC-ish for an official set. I think if this were part of a real theme, they would have made a new mold for the dinosaur skeleton, similar to the horse skeleton.

[TheLegoDr]

I think they went with these figures, just to have figures. They probably didn't want to put a lot of money into new prints to keep the cost down since it isn't a large set. They are just using what is in production for female heads. But I agree, new safety specs would be good. And the chemist should be wearing gloves, which would mean a new element ID basically to create that same torso with yellow hands vs with glove colored hands. So they probably just thought it would cut some costs/corners to do it this way.

But if it is $20, then it will be an easy purchase and probably sell out quickly. Personally I'm surprised Mars Rover sold so well. I had no intention on buying one, but I'm not surprised it sold out of its initial run and never was re-ordered. It doesn't have the pop culture appeal like BTTF and Ghostbusters. And with this price on the new set, it will meet a lot of needs for people making a quick purchase.

[autorazr]

Those minifigs, wtf! I was gonna make this my first "ideas" set purchase, I figured, new yellow flesh minifig parts for custom stuff yay! but now I know its not really worth it.

[Blakstone]

While I was hoping for some new minifig prints, this is still a good deal for $20. I am trying to determine if I have any use for the constellation print. It might work in the tarot reader's apartment.

[parksroad]

Love all the microbuilds, especially the dinosaur skeleton. I prefer it brick-built, but I'm old-fashioned I guess. Will definitely be picking up a couple of these.

[emilstorm]

It is probably a matter of piece count, but I think they should have put tiles on all the floors or none. Apart from that it looks pretty good

[just2good]

The lab torso is new. From the review:

The chemist comes with a newly printed torso depicting a lab coat that is opened and an access/ID card around the neck.

[Blakstone]

The review is wrong. It was introduced this year with the Arctic Base Camp. http://brickset.com/...t-#40-60036-#41

So it is a new this year print but not exclusive to this set. Still I am some what likely to buy the Research Institute but I won't be getting the Arctic Base Case.

<EDIT> Just2Good and Alatariel are correct. The chemist has a new print.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Blakstone

[just2good]

The review is wrong. It was introduced this year with the Arctic Base Camp. http://brickset.com/...t-#40-60036-#41

So it is a new this year print but not exclusive to this set. Still I am some what likely to buy the Research Institute but I won't be getting the Arctic Base Case.

Nope, that isn't the same one. The Arctic one has the logo, and a turtle neck, with no hips.

Also, the face is new, but pretty lazy, as the alternate face is old. It's a switch up on this face.

[Al CZ]

Where is problem ? Not it is a awesome set as Ecto 1, but Friends isn't minifigs - this is useable to city. Back years ago (in last decade ?) was City VERY masculine and in all sets are a male figures only. World without females.... It was very strange.... and unrealistic. I probably don't buy this set,maybe only as part of biggest order, but i think it a realistic set with female scientist - or teachers :))) you can use it in you own modular school/university, no ?

[Sarah]

I think they went with these figures, just to have figures. They probably didn't want to put a lot of money into new prints to keep the cost down since it isn't a large set. They are just using what is in production for female heads. But I agree, new safety specs would be good. And the chemist should be wearing gloves, which would mean a new element ID basically to create that same torso with yellow hands vs with glove colored hands. So they probably just thought it would cut some costs/corners to do it this way.

But if it is $20, then it will be an easy purchase and probably sell out quickly. Personally I'm surprised Mars Rover sold so well. I had no intention on buying one, but I'm not surprised it sold out of its initial run and never was re-ordered. It doesn't have the pop culture appeal like BTTF and Ghostbusters. And with this price on the new set, it will meet a lot of needs for people making a quick purchase.

I'm not thrilled at the figures but I'm still planning to buy 2-3 if I can get my hands on them before they sell out!

[Faefrost]

My only complaint is with the minifigs. are they so grossly overstocked on those grey coated flight attendant torso's and the blue sweat jacket with necklace that we have to see them in virtually every single set? They have some other fantastic female torso's out there. So why these same 2 over and over?