The LEGO® Group officially announced the January 2021 City sets. Included in this wave is the new iteration of roads. The internet is abuzz about this buildable streets. There is some controversy surrounding them with some collectors wanting the baseplates of old. I will reserve judgement for now and wait to build them. However, I do wonder how these roads will line up with the modular buildings and their sidewalks. On the plus side, this wave of City sets offers a lot of new Minifigure parts for collectors. There are a number that I plan to acquire. These sets hit store shelves on January 1, 2021.
60275 – Police Helicopter
- COST: $13.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 51
- MINIFIGURES: 2
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.274 (really expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 26-to-1 (excellent)
- COMMENTS: If there is one thing the City theme does not need, it is more helicopters. That is especially true for undetailed offerings like this. While AFOLs are not the target audience for sets like this, I still cringe every time I see one. I do not pretend to know how popular helicopters are in terms of sales. However, I feel this is a missed opportunity in a tired sub-theme.
60276 – Police Prisoner Transport
- COST: $39.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 244
- MINIFIGURES: 4
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.164 (satisfactory value)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 61-to-1 (excellent)
- COMMENTS: Sadly, this set offers very little that appeals to me. The builds do not look nice (especially that red car), and the Minifigures do not offer anything new. It is one of the better value sets in this wave though.
60277 – Police Patrol Boat
- COST: $79.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 276
- MINIFIGURES: 5 + shark
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.210 (really expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 95-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: The most interesting aspect of this set is that the boat floats. However, it does not make my wish list. The character assortment is uninteresting. Additionally, the shark is the standard one we have gotten for years. Including the newer hammerhead might make this set more interesting.
60279 – Fire Hazard Truck
- COST: $13.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 87
- MINIFIGURES: 1
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.160 (satisfactory value)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 87-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: Meh. Could have done without this offering.
60280 – Fire Ladder Truck
- COST: $39.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 88
- MINIFIGURES: 2
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.45 (astronomically expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 44-to-1 (excellent)
- COMMENTS: I have little to say about this set other than I am completely uninterested in it. The value is terrible, the build is not aesthetically pleasing, and the Minifigures do not appeal to me. In the set’s defense, I am fairly far removed from the target audience.
60281 – Fire Rescue Helicopter
- COST: $49.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 212
- MINIFIGURES: 3
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.235 (really expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 71-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: The January 2021 city sets have a chemical fire theme going on. As a science buff, I like the idea. However, it is not enough to make me want these sets. The most interesting aspect of this set is the new fire bricks, and the trans-green bricks. I feel like I have seen this helicopter before though. The design is not markedly different from its predecessors.
60282 – Fire Command Unit
- COST: $79.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 380
- MINIFIGURES: 4
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.210 (really expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 95-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: While this set does not make my personal wish list, it contains some interesting pieces. Close inspection reveals that the kit comes with new firefighter gear. Additionally, Fire Command Unit has a new flame brick. Finally, I like the little chemical fire in a lab storyline.
60283 – Holiday Camper Van
- COST: $24.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 190
- MINIFIGURES: 2 + baby
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.13 (average)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 95-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: I like the camper van sets. The last few offered continuity in terms of Minifigures and story. Subsequently, this one is no different. However, this particular design does not stray far from campers we have seen before. In fact, I have one almost exactly like this one. On the plus side, Holiday Camper Van is one of the better value sets in this wave. All the same, it is a pass for me.
60285 – Sports Car
- COST: $13.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 89
- MINIFIGURES: 1
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.157 (satisfactory value)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 89-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: Sports Car is a nice looking set. However, it does not make my wish list. I expect an offering like this inside a larger set, not stand alone. Though more expensive, I am inclined to stock my city with Speed Champions cars.
60286 – Beach Rescue ATV
- COST: $13.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 79
- MINIFIGURES: 1 + shark
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.177 (passable value)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 40-to-1 (excellent)
- COMMENTS: Uninteresting set in my opinion. We have seen this schtick before.
60287 – Tractor
- COST: $24.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 148
- MINIFIGURES: 2
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.169 (satisfactory)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 74-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: Tractor is a nice looking set with an interesting design. I do not know if it makes my wish list, but it is not my least favorite offering from this wave either. However, it needs a farm set to accompany it.
60288 – Race Buggy Transporter
- COST: $24.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 210
- MINIFIGURES: 2
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.119 (good)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 105-to-1 (average)
- COMMENTS: This set does not make my wish list, but the buggy is interesting. I cannot remember a City vehicle coming with turning wheels before. Additionally, Race Buggy Transport is a good value.
60289 – Airshow Jet Transporter
- COST: $39.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 281
- MINIFIGURES: 2
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.142 (average)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 140-to-1 (average)
- COMMENTS: While I find this set uninteresting, it is one of the few sets in this wave to come at a decent value. Interestingly, the pilot has a new oxygen mask piece.
60290 – Skate Park
- COST: $49.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 195
- MINIFIGURES: 4
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.256 (really expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 49-to-1 (excellent)
- COMMENTS: This set contains a great Minifigure selection. The story featuring a Vitarush employee doing a promotion at a skate park is wonderful. Additionally, the skate park features a trickster in a wheelchair. While the set is expensive in terms of the cost-per-brick, the number of Minifigures included is excellent. I might pick this one up when it goes on sale.
60291 – Family House
- COST: $79.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 388
- MINIFIGURES: 4
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.206 (really expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 97-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: This set contains more new, fun Minifigure prints. I love the Ninjago hoodie. Additionally, there is a re-color of Parker’s hat and hairpiece from Hidden Side. Incidentally, this is the second recolor we get of this piece. The first came in the 2020 Chinese New Year Temple Fair set. While not at the top of my list, I am inclined to pick this set up when the first sales come around. Interestingly, I normally expect sets like this from Creator 3-in-1, not City. I do not remember any house sets in the City theme in recent years. It is an interesting addition to the January 2021 City sets.
60292 – Town Center
- COST: $139.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 790
- MINIFIGURES: 8 + baby
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.177 (average for City theme, passable overall)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 99-to-1 (very good)
- COMMENTS: This set is mostly an assemblage of undetailed buildings and the new roads. However, it piques my interest for a number of reasons. First, the set has a few new Minifigure designs. Among them is a blind man with a guide dog. Additionally, you can see a dojo above the pizza restaurant. The sign on this dojo is almost a mirror image of the Mortal Kombat logo. Finally, this set comes with a lot of reusable parts. From all the January 2021 City sets, this one makes my wish list.
60304 – Road Plates
- COST: $24.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 112
- MINIFIGURES: none
- COST-PER-BRICK: $0.223 (very expensive)
- BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: n/a
- COMMENTS: As mentioned earlier, I will reserve judgement on these until I have actually built some. From what I can see in the pictures, there are plusses and minuses to this design. The cost is a little more than the old baseplates. However, you get some fun addons like signs and traffic lights. I am still concerned about the compatibility of these roads with sets built on regular baseplates. These roads are markedly higher than a baseplate.
I always look forward to the announcement of new City sets. There is often inspirational material I can modify for my own city. Additionally, this theme is great for Minifigures. Consequently, there are a few sets in this wave that interest me. I like that I see lots of new Minifigure pieces. Additionally, I like the chemical fire sub-theme, but it would be better with a large chemical plant set. A chemical plant offers something new to a tired fire sub-theme. Therefore, it is a missed opportunity to not provide one. This is especially true since many of the other sets in this wave have a “been there, done that” feel to them. The police sets are particularly boring this time around. What are your thoughts on the January 2021 City sets? Comment below or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
p.s. for more January 2021 set news, click here.
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I’m kind of excited about the new road system. It looks like the parts could be useful for building things other than roads. But I hope the older style baseplates will still be available in some way for people who want them.
I am intrigued by the new roads… But feel like have to see them in person to be sure. I too hope both are available moving forward.