I’ve had the LEGO® Ideas Globe (21332) for quite some time. I bought it as part of my February 2022 haul. It was one of those sets that intrigued me from a build perspective. Incidentally, I love learning new techniques. The prospect of learning how to build a large sphere pulled me in. However, the set landed in my pile of shame for quite some time. It was only after poll on social media that I pulled it out. I asked viewers which set from my pile of shame they wanted to see reviewed first. I thought for sure the more recent A-Frame Cabin or the Bricklink Designer Program Venetian Houses would top the list. Interestingly, they did not, and the Globe came out the winner. Consequently, this week it’s time for the Globe (21332) review.
The Globe (21332) Summary
- NAME: The Globe
- SET #: 21332
- THEME: Ideas
- COST: $289.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 2585
- MINIFIGURES: None
- RELEASE DATE: February 1, 2022
The Globe (21332) Quick Review
- VALUE: 73% (Satisfactory price tag.)
- BUILD: 95% (Great set for learning new techniques.)
- MINIFIGURES: N/A
- ENTERTAINMENT: 95% (Great display piece for adult collectors.)
- OVERALL SCORE: 88% (Very good set.)
| What I liked | What I liked less (I’m nit picking here…) |
|---|---|
| You learn to build a sphere. You learn to build a solid arch. Detailing breaks up repetitive building. | There’s a fair amount of repetition. The gaps between plates are larger than expected. It’s not accurate enough to be an educational resource. |
THE GLOBE (21332) REVIEW
VALUE: 73%
Compared to LEGO® sets in general, The Globe is a good value. The set costs $289.99 in Canada and consists of 2585 pieces. Consequently, you get a cost/brick of about $0.11. Comparatively, the average for all sets reviewed at True North Bricks is just under $0.14/brick. However, Ideas tends to offer a better than average cost/brick. Our theme average is about $0.10/brick. So, in general the set is a pretty good value, but as an Ideas set, the cost/brick is only satisfactory. I rate The Globe at 81% in this category.
The Globe took me four hours and 32 minutes to assemble from start to finish. Consequently, the cost/minute of build time works out to $1.07 at full price. For a set this size, that is expensive in my experience. Comparatively, the Ideas theme normally averages around $0.74/minute while LEGO® sets in general are closer to $0.85/minute for me. You don’t get as much build time as I am accustomed to for this price, and I rate it at 64%. Averaging this with the cost/brick score gives an overall value rating of 73%.
BUILD: 95%
I documented the build process almost bag by bag in my series of short videos. You can see those on my YouTube playlist. Additionally, you can see a speed build in the embedded video directly below. Since I’ve covered the build in some detail, I’ll give the Coles notes version here. You begin the assembly process by constructing the stand the Globe will eventually sit in. This project had me hooked and interested already from this early stage. The arch that holds the Globe is a really neat structure. I imagined continuing the build to assemble a complete circle. If ever you need a large, ring structure, this set includes a nice technique. Think Stargate, or perhaps the outer ring of a UFO.
Watch my speed build of the Globe (21322) from YouTube below!
Next up, you build the equator of the globe. The Northern and Southern hemispheres build out from around it. The technique for building a large sphere is awesome. You could use it to build replicas of other planets, or something like the Death Star from Star Wars if you felt so inclined. The technique lends itself well to domes too if you only construct half the structure. In that case, you could create a large semi-spherical roof for something like an observatory. The structure employs Technic axles, connectors, pins, and plates to great effect.
For most of the process, you assemble the same two arched structures over and over. Specifically, bags 8-15 consist of this repetition. These structures form the surface of the globe. While this might sound exceptionally repetitive, I did not feel like it was. Granted, I did not build this set in one sitting. I spread it out over several days, building at most eight of these sections at a time. However, if you follow the instructions, you build four sections per bag. Subsequently, you add details to the completed sections and attach them to the globe before continuing. I found this was a pleasant way to break up the experience.
About half the build consists of repeating the same two structures shown above.
Each of the arched sections connects to the equator via a small Technic axle. Above, a ‘grey bar with mechanical claw’ (as it is known on BrickLink) connects the arch structure to a Technic car steering wheel at each pole. Yes, you read that correctly, a steering wheel. It is a great example of nice parts usage (NPU). The steering wheels top the central column built from Technic elements that runs vertically through the Globe’s mostly hollow core.
I am thoroughly impressed with the build techniques behind the LEGO® Ideas Globe. In fact, I am hard pressed to think of anything that I don’t really like about it. Perhaps my only complaint is the large gaps between the plates on the Globe’s surface. When I first started assembling the Northern Hemisphere, the amount of light that passed through the gaps surprised me. However, once the Globe is complete, the dark interior of the sphere makes the large gaps less noticeable. I don’t even know how you could build this set in any other way without significantly increasing the brick count and mass.
You build wheels into the interior of the Globe, but it is not immediately obvious why.
Another perplexing issue (though not a complaint) is the inclusion of tires and rims inside the Globe. I thought at first these might function as some kind of weight or counter balance. However, no matter how you turn the Globe, they do not cause the sphere to rotate back to any given position. I am not really sure what purpose they serve. Otherwise, this is a great build for learning new techniques. I give it 95%.
ENTERTAINMENT: 95%
The Globe is certainly not a play set. As such, I don’t recommend buying this for your kids unless they are really into building structures and learning the ins and outs of building with LEGO® elements. I would not say that the continents are super accurate either, so it does not make a good educational resource for learning countries and cities like a real globe would.
However, it still makes a really nice display piece. I plan to place mine on a shelf for a while. Despite not being super accurate, the continents remain recognizable. I also don’t think you could do better job at this scale. Additionally, I learned a lot from building the Globe. I like sets that teach me a number of new techniques that keep me imagining future possibilities.
Another really neat feature of the set involves the labels. Each is a printed tile, and each glows in the dark. This feature was advertised in the original press release. However, I had completely forgotten about it a year later when I actually built the set. I don’t know how often I will marvel at this build in complete darkness, but it’s still pretty cool. I can’t say that the Globe is my favorite set ever, or even in the top five. But I still like it a lot and give it 95% for entertainment.
OVERALL SCORE: 88%
If want to learn some new build techniques, the Globe is an excellent set to purchase. The value is not great but is still good. The build is a little repetitive, but designers made a good effort to break up the monotony. Plus, I found the techniques very interesting, and they kept me imagining other ways to employ them as I went. I also plan to keep this set on display. It looks quite nice. Overall, I am very satisfied with this purchase, and I think other technique-oriented builders will be too. What do you think about the LEGO® Ideas Globe (21332)? Let me know in the comments below or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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