Creative Ambush belongs to the series The Lego Movie and was my first set gifted to me by friends based on a mutual interest and enjoyment of The Lego Movie.

Key Statistics

Official Page: Lego Store
Brick Instructions: Link
Pieces: 473
Age group: 8-14
Date assembled: 18 January 2015
Assembly duration: 1-hour

Review

As the first lego set that I was assembling since my childhood days, this experience and subsequent review reflects a higher learning curve as i familiarized myself with the way Lego packages and presents the Lego sets. I can see how the separation of bricks/pieces into four sets of assembly modules and instructions helps to break down a complex design into the nuts and bolts building blocks. For the designated age-group, this is a key lesson for life: break large and complex problems into manageable smaller components.

Following the diagrams and instructions seemed fairly straightforward; I spent more time initially sorting the pieces out. Most if not all pieces were recognizable and familiar to me with 1 or 2 exceptions. Adding the stickers onto the designated pieces required a careful application to ensure a precise alignment and border. The four-part assembly created three final kits with four supporting and each unique mini-figures.

Bag #1 assembled the Micro Manager and the initial structure of the flying kebab cart (Kebab Bob). Bag #2 completed Kebab Bob whilst the final two bags provided pieces for the western saloon battle-craft. The only weakness in the battle-craft design is the vulnerable connections that make the wings. This design also makes the wings immobile. As a small to medium-sized model, this lack of moving parts and greater functionality is to be expected. Overall, given the model size and (lack of) complexity, this set was ideally placed as an initial Lego set to cut my teeth on.

The four characters that come with this set are:
– Rootbeer Belle
– Sudds Backwash
– Executive Ellen
– Kebab Bob

All three output designs are quite playable not withstanding the vulnerable wings of the saloon battle-craft. The base of the battle-craft is stable enough to allow it to be handheld – the most likely way to play fly the unit. In my opinion, Micro Manager is the Lego version of the Star Wars AT-ATs. The flexibility of the unit’s legs demonstrate how it moves about in a slightly clunky way. Finally, Kebab Bob’s cart is based on a simple roadster design where the wheels/tires can move but only on the one axis without offering the ability to turn left/right.

The most enjoyable part I found was assembling the sets. It reminded me of the way the characters in the various Lego games animatedly assembly their challenges, and also the way the kits assemble at the end of a level according to the number found throughout the journey. In this way, whilst I have not played with an actual lego set since childhood, the Lego games on PC/Mac/PS3 have helped to continue the ongoing love of all things Lego.

At 473 pieces the set build does appear slightly on the small side. It is amazing just how much can be crammed into the models to make them quite rightly jammed packed with detail. Given the number of pieces compared to RRP this set is great value.