The LEGO® Icons Botanical Collection has grown into one of my favorite themes. It started with the Bonsai Tree and Flower Bouquet. Since then, we have seen the addition of the Orchid and Succulents, as well as the Bird of Paradise (10289). We’re taking a closer look at the latter today. Each of these sets makes a beautiful display piece in your home. However, some offer neat build techniques applicable beyond the intended potted plants. Bird of Paradise is one such set, but we’ll delve into that a little later in the review.
NOTE: The LEGO® Group provided this set for review. However, the provision of products does not guarantee a favorable review. True North Bricks’ usual rating system applies (click here for more information).
Bird of Paradise (10289) Summary
- NAME: Bird of Paradise
- SET #: 10289
- THEME: Icons (Botanical Collection)
- COST: $139.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 1173
- MINIFIGURES: None
- RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2021
Bird of Paradise (10289) Quick Review
- VALUE: 66% (Satisfactory cost/brick, but not a lot of build time for the price.)
- BUILD: 90% (Simple design, but nice parts usage.)
- MINIFIGURES: N/A
- ENTERTAINMENT: 100% (This set really sparks my imagination.)
- OVERALL SCORE: 85% (Good set.)
Bird of Paradise Review
VALUE: 66%
Bird of Paradise is currently the most expensive set in the Botanicals Collection. While most other plant sets retail in the $70-$80 CAD range, this one costs $139.99 in Canada. However, it also has the largest piece count. While other Botanical sets sit in the 600-900 brick range, Bird of Paradise includes 1173 pieces. Consequently, the cost/brick is $0.119. That is a good value, generally speaking. In my experience, LEGO® sets average around $0.14/brick. Compared to other Icons sets, the value is not quite as good. The theme tends to provide a lot of bricks per kit, and Bird of Paradise scores on the lower end for the theme. Considering both these comparisons, I rate the cost/brick at 78%.
The Bird of Paradise took me an hour and 42 minutes to assemble. At full price, the cost/minute of build time works out to $1.37. That is not a lot of build time for the price. The assembly is fairly straight forward, so it doesn’t take too long. Sadly, I rate the build time value at 54%. Averaging this with the cost/brick gives an overall value rating of 66%.
BUILD: 90%
The Botanical Collection is wonderful for NPU (nice parts usage). Standard elements take on a whole new life representing plant parts. In building these sets, I always marvel at the clever use of LEGO® bricks. Bird of Paradise did not disappoint in that regard. As you assemble the base, Technic elements go in perpendicular to the plant stems. This allows the plants to stand upright as you insert Technic pins into the sideways bricks, and you assemble the plants up from there.
I also love the design of the leaves. They are also Technic pieces typically seen forming the body of car sets. Truthfully, seeing these leaves in the box art inspired me. I wanted this set primarily because of the broadleaf foliage techniques it teaches you… but more on that later.
The only aspect I do not like so much about this set is all the loose 1×1 round plates covering the Technic bricks in the pot. They look really nice and add a realistic, pebbly touch to the plant substrate. However, bump this set, or tip it too much when carrying it and they come spilling out. Again, it looks really neat, so this is not a major complaint.
ENTERTAINMENT: 100%
I was thrilled to get this set from the LEGO® Group, but I would have bought it anyway. As I said, those leaves represented both techniques I wanted to learn and parts I needed to learn them. I am in the process of taking apart my LEGO® city. It is a huge undertaking and will take a while. However, I plan to replace it with a scene that has some pretty dense vegetation in places. These large, frond-like leaves are perfect for that.
On top of that, I can see these being very useful in Minifigure photography. They look like huge bamboo trunks next to a minifig. Imagine the Lady Bug costume from series 21 standing among these. Add some neat lighting and you’ve got a great shot. While I didn’t get much build time, I got a lot of inspiration. I can use this design with minimal modification in my own projects, and I love that. My wife also likes it enough to have it in the living room 😉 I rate the entertainment at 100%.
OVERALL SCORE: 85%
The only negative about Bird of Paradise is the price. It really does not give advanced builders much build time for $140. Additionally, as an Icons set, you don’t get a great cost/brick. However, as a general LEGO® set, the cost/brick is not bad at all. I find the techniques simple but very interesting. I can see myself applying them in the near-ish future for a custom project. What do you think of the Bird of Paradise? Do like the Botanical Collection? Let us know in the comments below or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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