Review

This month’s LEGO Store freebie is the Minifigure Factory. It seems to go along with last year’s Iconic VIP Set (click here to read my review). You have to spend $75 to get one, but is it worth the purchase? Well, ok, every LEGO purchase is worth it, and any time you get a freebie with it, that makes it even more worth it. But, let’s see how it holds up anyway.

DSC_0588web — LEGO Minifigure Factory box sleeve art.

SET SUMMARY

NAME: Minifigure Factory
SET #: 5005358
THEME: LEGO Store freebie
COST: $19.99 CAD (value)
BRICK COUNT: 86
MINIFIGURES: 1
OF INTEREST: 5 micro Minifigures
RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2018

DSC_0589web — LEGO Minifigure Factory box art.

SUMMARY REVIEW: 93%

VALUE: 100% (It was free, so you can’t complain there.)
BUILD: 80% (Nice, but not much to build, and it’s stuck to cardboard.)
MINIFIGURES: 100% (Nice Minifig, loads of accessories, great brick:fig).
ENTERTAINMENT: 90% (Nice enough set.)

DSC_0590web — The mostly cardboard LEGO Minifigure Factory.

VALUE: 100%
This set is free, so really, it gets 5/5 for value. LEGO has advertised this set as having a $19.99 value in Canada though. So, if one was to buy this set, with 86 pieces this set would cost you $0.23 per brick. That is not a very good value, and would earn 2.5/5 (50%). I think LEGO has overstated the value of this set a little, but again, it was free with purchase, so who am I to complain?

BUILD: 80%
There was not much to build in this kit. There is a little collection cart for the “Minifigures” being produced in this factory, and a little assembly line. Otherwise, everything you see is contained inside the cardboard box that the set comes in. Compared with last year’s Iconic VIP Set, you are not getting much here (though you did have to spend more to get the Iconic VIP Set). The assembly line slides on a track, and it is set up in such a way that the Minifigure image seen on the back wall changes as it slides along. I wish there had been more to build here. I also wish that the 6×12 plate that the whole thing is built on was not glued to the cardboard box. I like the detail on the assembly line, and I like how the micro-Minifigures are painted to represent past Minifigures. I give this set 8/10, taking off two marks for the gluing issue, and the heavy reliance on cardboard illustrations.

DSC_0595web — The “mechanism” for the sliding assembly line and changing Minifigure pictures in the LEGO Minifigure Factory,

MINIFIGURES: 100%
The Minifigure Factory comes with one character. He comes with a pretty standard hairpiece, and no double-sided face. He is wearing a yellow LEGO Store shirt with front and back print. His legs are plain black. As accessories, this kit comes with a magnifying glass, a paint brush, and 5 micro-Minifigures. With all of those accessories, this Minifigure earns a full 15/15 easily.

DSC_0591web — Front view of the LEGO employee in the Minifigure Factory.

With 86 parts, this kit has a brick to Minifigure ratio of 86:1, which is excellent. The Minifigure Factory earns 5/5 for its brick-to-fig ratio score. Combining that with the Minifigure design score means the Minifigure Factory earns a full 100% for its Minifigure score.

DSC_0592web — Rear view of the LEGO employee in the Minifigure Factory.

ENTERTAINMENT: 90%
This set took me 16 minutes to build. If this set was purchased, at $19.99 each minute of build time would have cost $1.25. Again, I think LEGO has over-valued the Minifigure Factory. I would give this set 1/5 (20%) if it had actually cost me $19.99. Thankfully it was free, so it gets 100% for build-time value.

DSC_0597web — The assembly line table slides along on a LEGO track, changing the Minifigure picture on the back wall.

In terms of my personal enjoyment of the Minifigure Factory, I would be lying if I said I had not hoped for something more. The Iconic VIP Set was so nice. Like the Iconic VIP Set, this one is not stand alone, unless you plan to keep it in the box. I will probably incorporate this set into my custom LEGO Store, but, like I said before, I wish there had been something more to it. I give the Minifigure Factory 4/5 (80%) for enjoyment. Averaging this score with the build-time value score gives this set a total entertainment rating of 90%.

DSC_0599web — While completely cardboard, the walls of the Minifigure factory have some nice decorations.

OVERALL: 93%

As a free set, this is a good one. But, I gave it such a high score because it was free. If this set had been up for purchase, I would have given it 70%. Don’t get me wrong, I do like it, but I don’t think it is worth the $19.99 that LEGO is saying it is worth. If you have $75 worth of LEGO on your wish list, this is a good time to go out and get it. This is a nice freebie, but I wouldn’t buy it if it was available for retail.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on this set in the comments below. Until next time,

-Tom