Sunday, April 23, 2017

Lepin 15019 Assembly Square 4002 Pcs Review


Hello friends and welcome to another Lepin modular set review. This time I will take a look on  Lepin set number 15019 which represent exact copy of Lego Assembly Square set number 10255.
This year Lego is celebrating 10th year for Modular Buildings line. Those over 2000 pieces sets are most definitely fan favorites. In October 2016 Lego announced set number 10255 Assembly Square.
This set contains pack of Easter eggs celebrating 10 years of these fantastic sets, and is the largest modular yet with 4,002 pieces. Now we will take a look at Lepin copy of this set.

Assembly Square contains 4002 pieces.
Build and Brick quality
For the first time as far as i know Lepin send bricks in numbered bags. Not exactly as a Lego with big number on each. Mine came with numbered bags with different parts so when i find first 10 and mixed it it was enough for first floor. For set with 4002 pieces this is definitely a big help for assembly. Other thing you will notice is the quality of the bricks. No blueish transparent pieces just nice and clear. More vulnerable to scratch then the Lego one but still it is improvement. What can i say ? You still know this is not a original one but for the price it is worth. Base plate was disappointment for me, plate 16*32 was not crafted well and i had a problems at beginning some bricks just jumped out. Later when more bricks hold this 2 base plates problem was gone. Anyway Lepin should work on this in future and if you have an original Lego base plates just use them.

Divided into the sections, you can see all separate rooms and floors.
Bakery
I like the idea of small bakery filled with very nice crafted cakes. In the corner there is an oven with some cupcakes inside. If you have problem with opening small doors you can use the mechanism from outside and remove cupcakes easily. On the wall is some fancy cakes on display. Real deal is huge wedding cake in the front window. Cake is build by round wheel hub, and also there are 1x1 round pieces on the top which represents bride and groom.Bakery windows are made using garage door panels, as the reference to Town Hall set. From the bakery, there is a passage to the Flower Shop.

Cakes and sweets everywhere.

Flower Shop
Small looking but detailed shop. On the wall behind cashier is removable section with pre-maded flower bouquet. By the entrance of the shop customer is greeting parrot. 

Parrot welcomes customers.
Coffee Shop
There are few seats indoor and outdoor for customer seating. Inside the coffee shop there is small bar table and clever build espresso machine. From the backside there is stairway to second level of this building. Reference to Cafe corner designers hide into the white-yellow marquise.
Coffee and cakes nice small coffee shop
Photography studio
 Not much things inside. But the real deal is old school camera. Only 20 pieces used to craft this nice looking camera with tripod. On the wall is rool of paper hanging at the top and creating studio backdrop wallpaper. On the wall is portrait of some old guy in a business suit. As far as i remember i thing i saw this picture also in Brick Bank director office.
Old guy on the wall, maybe brick bank manager ?
Dentist’s office
The Dentist’s office contain very simple front desk with a phone and magazines for patients. Exam area is full of nice build-ed things. The sink is made by new piece a 1x2 45 degree slope with tile. Drawers are hiding some dentist tools including a billy club. I do not want to imagine what a dentist needs to do with one of those. Exam chair is done very nicely but Lepin pieces does not hold the light properly and the connection is bit loose. You can fix it by replacing with original Lego pieces. Printed glass window says words "Prevent Yellowing". Long-time Bricks fans will get this reference.

Prevent yellowing ?
Music Shop
Shop contains 4 musical instruments inside. Drum kit looking great even only few parts are used to build it. On the wall there is a red electric guitar and a classic acoustic guitar. Saxophone completes last shop instrument but not the last one in set. Small desk for cash register.

Wonder if anybody playing stairway to heaven when testing new instruments.

The Dance Studio
As i mention before last musical instrument of this set is placed inside the dance studio. Well crafted, wonderfully designed upright piano with pedals. Otherwise room is just empty only few bars and reflective mirror on the wall. I can see in my head someone playing classical music on piano and girls practicing ballet.


Mirror is really reflecting even it feels like paper.
Apartment 
The best one for the end. The Loft Apartment. This room guys, oh my god, it is packed with so much details inside. This is place where Lego fan lives. Let me correct, this is place where Lepin fan lives. I will explain later. All over the room there is a micro version of Cafe Corner set, Market Street and Green Grocer set on the self. Small kitchen with microwave and tiny bathroom. For a such a small apartment there is no space for bed. Designers used instead clever pull-out couch that actually transforms into the bed. Sometimes i had a issue to pull it out with my hands. Near the window is placed train layout with some landscaping and train represents Horizon Express going around. On the second shelf there is a micro version of VW Camper Van and Mini Cooper. Eiffel Tower is displayed at the window. So back to Lepin fans. If you want to decorate your apartment those days with all those sets you have to be rich or get Lepin :-) because most of these sets are already retired. There is an acces point and skylight on the roof. Roof top patio contains some furniture, plants and grilling party area.

Baby is so cute.
Minifigures
Lepin really works on the quality last months. There is eight minifigures included in this set and cute little baby with white body clothes. There is also old school baby trolley in nice red color.

Totaly 8 minifigures, cute baby and doggie.

Pros:

- No missing parts, even quality of bricks very close to lego
- Huge set 48x32 studs.
- Lot of details, lot of play value
- Fitting well with other modular buildings, also good as inside corner building.
- Sorting parts into bags by number.
- Great improvement by mini figures quality

Cons:

- My favorite set was always Parisian restaurant. Now Assembly Square.
















 

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Modular buildings for your Lego or Lepin city


10 years anniversary for Lego modular buildings in 2017.

Hello my friends

This blog page is all about a passion that we share. I remember when I first discovered modular building sets and how exited i feel about them. My child dreams comes true when I imagine that I could build a nice looking Lego city with them. Bad news for me was, that most of the sets was already retired or the price for them is not acceptable anymore for me. There comes Lepin with copycats of Lego sets and makes my dream live again. First of all I do not praise Lepin and I strongly disagree with stealing ideas or copyrights from others. On the other side of me I still have greed to get those sets. This came to situation that i buys original Lego modular sets which was still available for reasonable price and start completing my collection with Lepin sets. On this page i will try to review all modular sets. I hope you will enjoy those reviews.

Modular buildings are here for 10 years already. Let’s take a look back at  list of all modular set release.

2007: 10182 Cafe Corner: 2,056 pieces
2007: 10190 Market Street: 1,248 pieces
2008: 10185 Green Grocer: 2,352 pieces
2009: 10197 Fire Brigade: 2,231 pieces
2010: 10211 Grand Emporium: 2,182 pieces
2011: 10218 Pet Shop: 2,032 pieces
2012: 10224 Town Hall: 2,766 pieces
2013: 10232 Palace Cinema: 2,196 pieces
2014: 10243 Parisian Restaurant: 2,469 pieces
2015: 10246 Detective’s Office: 2,262 pieces
2016: 10251 Brick Bank: 2,380 pieces
2017: 10255 Assembly Square: 4,002 pieces

             Market Street,  Cafe Corner,  Green Grocer          

Fire Brigade,  Grand Emporium,  Pet Shop Supermarket

Town Hall, Palace Cinema, Parisian Restaurant

Detective’s Office, Brick Bank, Assembly Square

 Dinner, Workshop, Bookstore


Thursday, April 6, 2017

Lepin 15009 Pet Shop Supermarket 2082 Pcs Review

Hello friends.
Last months i was a bit busy but now i have another Lepin set review. Let´s take a look on Lepin set number 15009 Pet Shop Supermarket. This set contains 2082 pieces and brings different and unique build techniques. I have to say that i enjoyed this build.



First if you look closer notice that this modular set contains 2 separate building units. You can easily split them and put between other modulars. This is cool feature.


Pet shop building
Lets start with this one. After you enter inside from the street you can notice small fish-tank, cashier register and cage for dog and cat. Few accessories on the wall and nice square floor. Not much space left because the building is only 16 studs wide. Some space is also used by stairs to the second floor.
Second floor contains small apartment with kitchen, fireplace and small table. Not much details here just one round clocks on the wall. Behind corner is an staircase to attic where is just place for a bed and small lamp. Bed is really nice build and i like the texture they used here.

 
 
 

Apartment building
Second building is 16 studs wide apartment building with 3 floors. Entrance is a little bit elevated and small staircase leads to entrance door. Red mailbox on left side and few flowers under the window.
When you enter you can see sofa, small old-school telephone and toilet. Toilet is nice crafted. Rounded staircase leads to second floor. Second floor is under "reconstruction". Looks like somebody wants to move soon or later here. One person is painting wall by white color. This idea is so smart to excuse empty interior. Third floor contains only boxes perhaps packed with stuff from new citizens.



Final verdict

Pros:
- Two separate buildings,
- Great set for display,
- Lot of space for custom apartment design

Cons:
 - Base plate should be more thinner to properly fit other modular
 - Still no numbered bags