Review: 40681 Retro Food Truck
Posted by Huw,
40681 Retro Food Truck is likely to be a GWP from January 1st at LEGO.com so, given the number of new sets being released that day, it shouldn't prove too much of a challenge to acquire it, whatever the required spending threshold might be.
The 310-piece set is unnecessarily rated 18+ but it is much more detailed and parts-dense than similar vehicles in the City line.
Summary
40681 Retro Food Truck , 310 pieces.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A detailed and attractive vehicle that's perfect for vending in your modular street
- Distinctive French design
- Plenty of detail inside
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Parts are, disappointingly, still packed in 4 plastic bags.
Five stickers provide decoration for the model although all can be left off without undue detriment should you wish.
The point in the building at which bags one and two have been depleted is the best time to admire the details inside. I particularly like the fries standing in a red box, made using gold Wolverine claws!
There are supplies under the shelves and counter, and a large grill at the back. It's great to see that attention to detail, which probably would not be present if this was a regular City set.
There was some debate when the model was first seen as to which vehicle the designer took inspiration from. Whether it's a Citroën, Renault or Peugeot, its distinctive curved front is unmistakably French!
I think the light royal blue, red and white colour scheme looks excellent.
The left-hand side of the van is decorated with one of the stickers. It would look very plain without it.
A table at the back of the van folds down to allow customers to apply condiments to their grilled meat treats.
With sauce bottles removed, it folds up out of the way.
The canopy over the serving hatch also folds down neatly when it's time to close and drive off.
The roof lifts off to give access to the interior. Despite all the details packed in there, there's still room for the trader to stand inside.
Two of the stickers are used to decorate this neat sandwich board advertising the van's wares.
Judging by the sweat running down the street food trader's face, it's hot work in the van!
The female customer has a hearing aid and a torso that has been used ten times before. The belt looks a bit awkward: where's the rest of it -- under her waistband?
It's a well-designed, attractive and reasonably realistic model that will look great alongside your modular buildings -- what's not to like!
143 likes
46 comments on this article
"The belt looks a bit awkward: where's the rest of it -- under her waistband?"
Nothing weird about it, if you ask me. The rest of the belt is under her shirt which is only tucked into her trousers at the belt buckle.
Great GWP!
looks good as a parts pack tbh. do we know what other GWPs are happening on jan 1st?
Nothing weird about the belt. It's called 'French tuck'. Perfectly matching to the trucks French design (what I actually didn't know, so thanks for the info) :)
Oh, and just realized what the design team did...
A French food truck with a lady customer with a French tuck... :D brilliant.
Definitely inspired by the Citroën H Van, which is also popular as a food truck conversion.
Lovely. Such a great looking retro vehicle, I sincerely hope TLG continues to create GWP vehicles to compliment the Modulars. Nice colours, excellent detail and 6 studs wide.... Absolutely perfect!
Great little freebie, apart from the wheel arches being a bit of a mess (as with several current Speed Champs).
Threshold will govern if it's CNY sets or Modular on the 1st! Would be nice if the Year of the Dragon GWP also appeared alongside, but that's normally not until mid-Jan.
I love it, but I don't have any big purchases coming up, so I'll probably buy it off of someone.
@M4444M44 said:
"Definitely inspired by the Citroën H Van, which is also popular as a food truck conversion. "
I'd say it's more like a Renault Estafette or maybe a Peugeot D3/D4. The Citroën H has that very distinctive snout. If anything, it's closer to the Citroën TUB. But to be fair, vans from other countries had a similar design at the time, think about the Tempo Matador or Hanomag Kurier.
That said, I'd love to see a big Citroën H set as successor of the T2 camper van!
And regardless of what inspired it, this looks like a great little set! Too bad it's a GWP again....
It's a nice design, like something from the Town era, but then modernized into 6 wide but still very classic.
Using claws as french fries is a new one, instead of yellow crystals, and all 3 food items match the sticker as well.
Color wise it reminds me of 31077: Modular Sweet Surprises altho a lighter shade of blue.
Looks absolutely fire.
It's funny how only a few weeks ago, Brickset was posting an article about how this was spotted next to the Museum. With the review out already, doesn't that mean they had it all along and kept it for after the advent calendar craze?
Great looking set, although not as compatible with the modular as the Moving Truck was. I'll be getting it with the Museum: not going to get caught 3 times buying day one when there's a great GWP coming!
@WizardOfOss said:
" @M4444M44 said:
"Definitely inspired by the Citroën H Van, which is also popular as a food truck conversion. "
I'd say it's more like a Renault Estafette or maybe a Peugeot D3/D4. (...)"
And here we go again!
@Krutak said:
"Looks absolutely fire."
No no, that's CITY food vans which are always on fire.
@bananaworld said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @M4444M44 said:
"Definitely inspired by the Citroën H Van, which is also popular as a food truck conversion. "
I'd say it's more like a Renault Estafette or maybe a Peugeot D3/D4. (...)"
And here we go again!"
Obviously a stolen Ideas submission.
Lovely with so much detail on the inside, but the large opening on the driver's side looks really odd. If car doors and panels aren't available in light royal blue I'd rather have him seated in the middle.
Those wolverine fries are awesome, great part usage.
@Phoenixio said:
"It's funny how only a few weeks ago, Brickset was posting an article about how this was spotted next to the Museum. With the review out already, doesn't that mean they had it all along and kept it for after the advent calendar craze?"
No -- I only received it yesterday, which was when the review embargo was set for.
Just saying, the claws would look more like French fries if they were yellow and not gold.
Still, it looks great! If I get the Natural History Museum, I'll be glad to place this alongside!
@WizardOfOss said:
" @M4444M44 said:
"Definitely inspired by the Citroën H Van, which is also popular as a food truck conversion. "
I'd say it's more like a Renault Estafette or maybe a Peugeot D3/D4. The Citroën H has that very distinctive snout. If anything, it's closer to the Citroën TUB. But to be fair, vans from other countries had a similar design at the time, think about the Tempo Matador or Hanomag Kurier.
That said, I'd love to see a big Citroën H set as successor of the T2 camper van!
And regardless of what inspired it, this looks like a great little set! Too bad it's a GWP again...."
Exactly, the same issue with the 4x4 Ambulance.
@AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"Just saying, the claws would look more like French fries if they were yellow and not gold."
Depends on how the fries are cooked, I guess.
You've never seen a french tuck? Bizarre.
Preparing to press the purchase button. I am getting this and the museum and one more thing.
Having never been to France, do they even eat hot dogs there? Brats, sure. Hot dogs? :)
@graymattr said:
"Having never been to France, do they even eat hot dogs there? Brats, sure. Hot dogs? :)"
Just ask for a chaud chien!
See, those three years of French at school weren't for nothing!
@rick77:
There is nothing not-weird about tucking your shirt into your belt buckle and nothing else.
@kaoszvan:
And just proving my point…
@MrClassic:
If you think that large opening looks weird, the 1969 Ford F-250 Good Humor ice cream truck that I modeled my MOC after has a solid panel on the driver’s side, and an open stairway on the “passenger” side. The roof also hinges open and has tie-downs so the driver never has to crouch to reach customers when on duty, but the only way to exit from the driver’s side would be to cut a hole or break a window.
@AverageChimaEnjoyer:
I’d say tan or dark-tan would work better, depending on how long they’ve been in the fry vat. Yellow looks cartoony. Pearl-gold is currently available, dark-tan is in one set that retired two years ago, and the other colors haven’t been used yet. Gold makes the most sense in terms of parts budget.
@TheOtherMike:
I prefer mine cooked in fry grease over molten metal, thankyouverymuch.
@SolidState:
Yes, the French tuck _is_ bizarre.
@rick77 said:
""The belt looks a bit awkward: where's the rest of it -- under her waistband?"
Nothing weird about it, if you ask me. The rest of the belt is under her shirt which is only tucked into her trousers at the belt buckle"
The "french tuck" still looks awkward, even if it isn't "weird" - or even "not unusual"!
Many things that may be seen every day can still appear awkward to an observer: that is simply one person's aesthetic opinion, with which these reviews are always going to be replete, otherwise they'd hardly be worth reading!
And to think I told myself no LEGO spending in January...hmm
Looks nice enough but I'd rather be able to buy this as a regular City set. I'm definitely not going to buy some overpriced set at retail in order to get this. Maybe on the aftermarket someday.
@Huw said:
"Parts are, disappointingly, still packed in 4 plastic bags."
I'm glad that they are using up what they have left rather than wastefully throwing their remaining stock of plastic bags away!
Best GWP ever, in my opinion!
But where is the hotdog-man himself?! As it is my favorite CMF of all times, I do really miss this guy with the truck making an absolute advertisement ?? having said that, I can put him next to the truck myself of course ??
@AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"Just saying, the claws would look more like French fries if they were yellow and not gold.
Still, it looks great! If I get the Natural History Museum, I'll be glad to place this alongside!"
Cooking term: 'GBD' = 'golden-brown and delicious.' Commonly applied to all things coming out of a fryer, especially pomme frites.
@sgllama:
No, the French tuck still looks weird. It’s like wearing jeans backwards and/or inside-out, or purposefully misaligning the buttons on a suit coat just because you’re trying to be different and kick off a fashion trend, and you can’t think of anything that doesn’t involve screwing stuff up.
Great set! Love everything about it and can`t wait to get one or two.., three of it!
Love the set, wish for what it takes to get one that they have printed parts instead in them.
Great GWP!!!
@TheOtherMike said:
" @AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"Just saying, the claws would look more like French fries if they were yellow and not gold."
Depends on how the fries are cooked, I guess."
I think they look more like churros!
@Maxbricks14
"Best GWP ever, in my opinion!"
Wait till you see the new line-up of microscale Ninjago City GWP's. Those will make LEGO Millions in sales.
It would be great if it is 8 wide
Hmm... New Year in Aus, new sets available, but no GWPs. Hope that's not the same worldwide!
@gsom7 said:
"It would be great if it is 8 wide"
Why would it be 8 wide? The cars in modulars are 6, and these types of food vans are small IRL. The scale is spot on.
Nice article. The only flaw I notice is the bluetooth headset of the girl at the kiosk. It goes little with the retro style of modular buildings.
I really don’t get why LEGO is not selling this as a nice separate set in retailshops. Is it also because they have no label to fit this in?
Some GWP deserve there own spot.
Let’s all go to the lobby!
-the first thing I think of upon seeing that sandwich board.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @M4444M44 said:
"Definitely inspired by the Citroën H Van, which is also popular as a food truck conversion. "
I'd say it's more like a Renault Estafette or maybe a Peugeot D3/D4. The Citroën H has that very distinctive snout. If anything, it's closer to the Citroën TUB. But to be fair, vans from other countries had a similar design at the time, think about the Tempo Matador or Hanomag Kurier.
That said, I'd love to see a big Citroën H set as successor of the T2 camper van!
And regardless of what inspired it, this looks like a great little set! Too bad it's a GWP again...."
Or a 'Morris J' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Commercial_J-type
I like that the little personified foods on the sign actually look like the builds in the set instead of being more generic.