****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I was perusing Amazon when I just happened to stumble across this set. I haven't purchased anything LEGO since I was a kid, a decade and a half ago. However, as an outdoors enthusiast who loves to camp (and would love a camper in real life), I just couldn't resist the set. And, let me tell you, it blew me away.It looks like an RV. This isn't one of the blocky, square, thrown-together-in-eight-steps vehicles I remember from my childhood; this is a vehicle that you'd be excused for mistaking it as real at first glance. The lines are fluid and very RV-like, and the decals not only match the green and dark tan lines on the sides but look like they could very easily be the decals gracing a real-life RV. The hanging side mirrors are also a very clever touch. But, for all its realism, it hasn't lost any playability. I would have loved this set as a kid. The side swings open and the top pops off for ease of play, the canoe fits securely on the top, and I absolutely love the design of the double bed in the "back". The cab can easily be modded so that the driver is on the right side instead of the left, for our fellow LEGO fans across the pond. As you can see in the photo I've uploaded, all of the canoe paraphernalia (the oars and lifejackets) fit easily in the roof compartment. (My set came with three oars instead of the expected two, I suppose in case I lost or broke one.) The canoe itself is also extremely well manufactured -- a solid block of plastic, it's shaped like a canoe and is very sturdy, not flimsy at all, and could easily fit three minifigs instead of just the included two. Speaking of minifigs, the included couple is cute, with very attractive "outdoorsy" outfits and dynamic facial expressions.For all the pluses, however, there are a few negatives. The back is very plain, for example, and would have benefited greatly from a ladder or bicycle rack, like sets #7639 and #4435. I would have loved to see the top swing open as well, instead of clicking on. Also, even with the top removed and the side swung open, maneuvering minifigs around the vehicle can be challenging, especially in the front. To get a minifig in the driver's seat, I not only had to pop off the top of the camper but also remove the windshield. (But then, again, I have adult-sized hands instead of the child-sized ones this set was designed for.) I also would have liked to have seen two seats up front, so that both minifigs could sit in the cab, like in a real RV. Also, it's a bit of a nit-pick, but the front wheel wells are a third-tile higher than the back wheel wells. It might seem minor, but it's one of those things that you can't unsee once you realize it (which you do pretty quickly as you're putting the thing together yourself), and just breaks up a little that beautiful green line running down the side.All of those complaints are minor, however, and only downgrade the set from "perfect" to "still really great". I would still highly recommend this set for any camping, outdoors, or large vehicle fans of LEGO.
