Review: 21347 Red London Telephone Box
Posted by CapnRex101,
21347 Red London Telephone Box was perhaps an unexpected success on LEGO Ideas, but the telephone box is certainly iconic and the LEGO Ideas submission designed by Bricked1980 was impressive. Thankfully, the revised design looks superb as well.
Beyond including the essential details from the celebrated K2 telephone box, there are various references to be found inside, as well as a light brick hidden in the roof. However, this model's greatest value is as an attractive display piece.
Summary
21347 Red London Telephone Box, 1,460 pieces.
£99.99 / $114.99 / €114.99 | 6.8p/7.9c/7.9c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
This model of the K2 telephone box is brilliantly designed, but lacks a 'wow' factor, for me
- Appealing model on display
- Remarkable level of detail
- Light brick works perfectly
- Lots of enjoyable references
- Mobile phone stand is poorly integrated
- Quite expensive
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The Completed Model
I think the telephone box would be an underwhelming display model on its own, but with the attached base introducing some more colour, it looks marvellous. The telephone box itself is 25cm tall and the base measures 19cm across, so the whole model has a good presence on display. Also, I imagine the telephone box would scale nicely beside Scala figures, but to my shame, I do not own any to show you!
The texture on the base really enhances the overall design, in my opinion, using various plates and tiles to create cobbles. The dark tan accents are particularly effective and the 1x2 rounded tiles look nice too. Moreover, the planter and the flowers inside provide a dash of vibrancy, with layered leaves, so these plants appear natural.
Matching planters are suspended from the lamppost and I like the consistency across the trio, but a subtler shade of blue may have been better. Otherwise, this lamppost closely resembles those seen along the streets of London, although I think the decoration on top could have been more elaborate, for complete accuracy to central London lampposts.
Two bollards are positioned between the lamppost and the railing, which is an odd location for them. However, these actually serve as a rudimentary mobile phone stand. I suppose this is a welcome option, but it feels like an afterthought to me, especially because the phone is harder to reach than it probably should be, tucked behind the lamppost and planter.
Also, a mobile phone hides one of the model's most appealing features. This ornate railing is really beautiful, topped with golden finials and accurately recreating Georgian and Edwardian railings, which are a common sight across the UK. The stickered street sign belongs in the City of Westminster though, inspired by the enamel signs synonymous with central London.
Even the back of the model is nicely finished, although this side is obviously not intended for display. The dark tan brickwork looks perfect and I like the arched drain, which adds an extra feature of interest along the railing. Moreover, you could thread a charging cable through here and connect to your mobile phone, but this would again be needlessly awkward.
The famous K2 telephone box was designed in 1924, exactly one hundred years ago. Its red colour and characteristic shape are immediately identifiable and the proportions of this LEGO version look good on the whole. The relative sizes of each window pane could be better though, more closely adhering to the LEGO Ideas submission, ideally.
On the other hand, the original design was much bigger, so I can understand LEGO's wish to reduce its size, even with certain compromises. The texture along the edges of the telephone box remains intact though, formed using 1x2 grille tiles. The shape of the roof looks perfect as well, while the printed crowns and 'telephone' signage correspond with the source material.
The door is connected to the frame using several Technic pins and includes a functional door handle, so it can be opened easily. This sounds strange, but I like how opening the door feels, with the panes of glass rattling slightly, much like on actual telephone boxes! Nevertheless, the door is sturdily constructed.
Black and white tiles decorate the floor inside. The pattern is more intricate in reality, featuring many more black tiles among the white ones, but this is a reasonable recreation of the original pattern, considering the scale. Furthermore, a dark bluish grey stopper is placed inside the door, preventing it from swinging inwards.
Parts are supplied to build two telephones. The first would have been appropriate when the K2 telephone was introduced in 1926, comprising a rotary phone on a shelf, which is connected to the stickered coin box in the middle. Two more shelves include a coin and a yellow phone book, which are welcome additions.
A total of sixteen stickers are included and all but the road sign are applied inside. This creates an opportunity for various references, such as initials and dates meaningful to the fan designer, as well as an image of 21327 Typewriter. However, my favourite references are the emergency telephone numbers, alluding to 10197 Fire Brigade and 10278 Police Station. Medical services are listed as 555, which DoonsterBuildsLego has rightly pointed out refers to 555 Hospital.
Alternatively, you can install a public telephone from the 1980s, featuring a combined coin box, keypad and handset. The boxy shape is realistic and I like the smooth finish, with tiles on each side. Two shelves remain as well, so there is still space for a printed coin and the yellow pages beside the telephone.
There are fewer advertisements and references around the 1980s telephone. Even so, a poster showing 10258 London Bus is included, under one advertising LEGOLAND. Furthermore, I like the notice above the telephone, which appears quite natural inside a telephone box and makes reference to the LEGO Ideas platform.
A light brick is cleverly placed inside the roof, illuminating the telephone box, as shown below. The warm glow looks delightful and demonstrates how few gaps there are in the model, given the light only passes through the windows and a couple of tiny slits around the door hinge. The 'telephone' signs are not illuminated, sadly, but I think that would have required vinyl pieces to replace the printed 1x8 bricks.
The light on the ceiling is surprisingly elegant, comprising a trans-clear 2x2 dome and a 4x4 curved brick. Furthermore, viewing the telephone box from this angle reveals the tiled ceiling around the light fixture. The whole assembly is attached upside down, taking full advantage of the roof's depth for maximum detail.
Removing the curved top of the roof reveals the inverted structure underneath, which connects to four 4x4 arch plates inside. The button to activate the light brick blends perfectly into the roof and the entire telephone box is equally smooth. Only eight studs are completely exposed, at the corners immediately below the 'telephone' signage.
Overall
LEGO has a noticeable affinity for British culture and 21347 Red London Telephone Box adds another attractive icon to the range. This model looks splendid on display and includes superb detail, shared between the telephone box and its base. The wrought iron railings are especially appealing, complete with a City of Westminster road name.
However, the limited selection of available window frames means the windows are not entirely realistic. I also have some concerns about the price because £99.99, $114.99 or €114.99 feels quite expensive for a model of this kind, even though it contains almost 1500 pieces and a light brick. However, I am very pleased with the telephone box's execution, ensuring it looks lovely from all angles.
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62 comments on this article
I swear that I thought I saw this review earlier
I think that ambulance number is a reference to 555-1.
Looks good, better than I expected from the original release, which even then was quite good.
First official good use of a light brick? I normally find them clumsy to activate and really dim. (It is hard to have a light solution that is both safe enough for LEGO's lawyers and easy to use / bright.)
1/10 set
I gave 1 because it has some neat building techniques
@DoonsterBuildsLego said:
"I think that ambulance number is a reference to 555-1 .
Looks good, better than I expected from the original release, which even then was quite good."
Good point; thank you. I thought they had selected 555 because it is commonly used as part of phone numbers in film and television, but 555 Hospital makes more sense!
I still think this is just a really odd set. Doesn't feel like a subject matter that warrants a set over like, $60.
Also all I can think about is how they smell like urine (for obvious reasons) . . .
I really want to say that this is an instant purchase for me but there's something about the general 'look' of the door and window panes that puts me off - the frames are just too chunky to accurately represent the thin metal glazing bars of the original boxes and for me, this just alters the look of the box too much. A very reluctant pass, not a bad thing as it is quite expensive too...
I've traveled through time and space, just to prevent you from posting what you're about to. It DOESN'T look like the TARDIS. You're not going to MOC this into a TARDIS, not without basically just building a TARDIS from scratch. The TARDIS isn't a phonebooth. A phonebooth isn't a TARDIS. Stop it.
Alright, I've done my part, time to travel back to... oh, where'd it go? Dang, looks like we're both stuck here building our police-boxes from scratch.
This is not targetted to me, but the door handle irks me as inaccurate and I'm not sure why the door stopper couldn't be placed on top to keep the floor tiling intact. I do like how the roof is constructed with the light brick, that's about it.
They said it couldn't be done, but it has! A TARDIS MOD of this set was featured on Bricknerd: https://bricknerd.com/home/converting-a-red-telephone-box-into-a-blue-tardis-2-9-24
@Ridgeheart said:
"I've traveled through time and space, just to prevent you from posting what you're about to. It DOESN'T look like the TARDIS. You're not going to MOC this into a TARDIS, not without basically just building a TARDIS from scratch. The TARDIS isn't a phonebooth. A phonebooth isn't a TARDIS. Stop it.
Alright, I've done my part, time to travel back to... oh, where'd it go? Dang, looks like we're both stuck here building our police-boxes from scratch."
Tell that to Bricknerd....
Oh boy, I'm here before massive complains about making sets like this.
I won't buy it but at least it looks tasteful and there were much worse IDEAS ideas: Table Football or bts. :)
Is the door on really really strong hinges that needs your whole body-weight to get out of the thing? Or your hand slips and it smashes you in the face! It must be realistic after all.
I like it. Won't buy it, but I like it.
Definitely one of those things where a nice MOC doesn’t equate to good set. It’s a shame, I like the model, but doubt it’ll do well
@Murdoch17 said:
"They said it couldn't be done, but it has! A TARDIS MOD of this set was featured on Bricknerd: https://bricknerd.com/home/converting-a-red-telephone-box-into-a-blue-tardis-2-9-24"
Maybe it’s just me, but changing the shape, color, and functions isn’t a MOD. It’s a MOC placed on another sets base.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"I've traveled through time and space, just to prevent you from posting what you're about to. It DOESN'T look like the TARDIS. You're not going to MOC this into a TARDIS, not without basically just building a TARDIS from scratch. The TARDIS isn't a phonebooth. A phonebooth isn't a TARDIS. Stop it.
Alright, I've done my part, time to travel back to... oh, where'd it go? Dang, looks like we're both stuck here building our police-boxes from scratch."
Tell that to Bricknerd...."
If I take 11966 , replace some parts, add some of my own and build 21322, I can't really call it a 11966 mod, can I?
@sipuss said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"I've traveled through time and space, just to prevent you from posting what you're about to. It DOESN'T look like the TARDIS. You're not going to MOC this into a TARDIS, not without basically just building a TARDIS from scratch. The TARDIS isn't a phonebooth. A phonebooth isn't a TARDIS. Stop it.
Alright, I've done my part, time to travel back to... oh, where'd it go? Dang, looks like we're both stuck here building our police-boxes from scratch."
Tell that to Bricknerd...."
If I take 11966 , replace some parts, add some of my own and build 21322, I can't really call it a 11966 mod, can I?"
Don't shoot the messenger - blame Bricknerd!
Ew london
I love the older interior.
Please be brief
No surprise to me that this was put into production - it will sell like hot cakes in the US and China. Regardless of your opinions on the UK, the worldwide appetite for the most 'traditional' elements of our culture remains enormous.
Not as good as 6613.
I read this reveiw while looking at the original idea, there are some improvements, I love the fence and the light brick, excellent.
But how did Lego make the telephone box 3 studs bigger yet somehow worse???? The larger windows and interior look better on the original.
I'd like to have the new base with the old telephone please.
@yellowcastle said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
"They said it couldn't be done, but it has! A TARDIS MOD of this set was featured on Bricknerd: https://bricknerd.com/home/converting-a-red-telephone-box-into-a-blue-tardis-2-9-24"
Maybe it’s just me, but changing the shape, color, and functions isn’t a MOD. It’s a MOC placed on another sets base.
"
Exactly. The original post should have finished at "They said it couldn't be done .."
I like this set, I look forward to building mine when I have it for my birthday.
Not a set for me, but I do quite like it! As mentioned before, the window frames don't quite look right, and once again Lego shows it can't do consistent colors (look at those Technic pins used for the hinges...), but other than that this seems pretty much as good as it gets. The phone stand feature is a (bad) joke though....
Absolutely delightful. This plus the Polaroid Camera the easiest immediate buys of the year so far!
The suggestion to use it as a mobile phone stand does seem totally crackers, and about as fitting as using the Tropical Ukulele as a phone stand. However, since I haven't seen any mention on the box or in the instruction, I'll just take it as an aberration of the lifestyle pictures photographer!
Gotta agree with the conclusion that its too expensive for what it is, and the mobile phone stand is 100% an un-needed afterthought in the design thats very poorly intergrated. Parts count and price per piece are no longer a good indicator of value when the set has a large number of small and single stud parts.
Forgetting that though, I do like the overall design, but I'll wait till its on sale before deciding if I'll pick it up.
@MVives said:
"First official good use of a light brick? I normally find them clumsy to activate and really dim. (It is hard to have a light solution that is both safe enough for LEGO's lawyers and easy to use / bright.)"
70751 has a brilliant use of light brick. Different but also nice is 70828. Even the blacksmith fire works great in 21325
The designer was on BBC News. Here is link
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-leicestershire-68243728
By this logic, isn't every Lego set a mobile phone holder in its own way?
I did vote for this one. Disappointed that the post box didn't make it through to the final design. Still I will be buying this.
@JtheMonk said:
"By this logic, isn't every Lego set a mobile phone holder in its own way?"
My 21344 Orient Express is an excellent "mobile" phone holder.
Would be cool to either have a blue version (Tardis. I know, there is a Dr Who model, I have it) ou a version where you get tio the Ministry of Magic!
The yellow pages were only introduced in the UK in 1966, although the Americans had it from 1886.
@daniellesa said:
"The yellow pages were only introduced in the UK in 1966, although the Americans had it from 1886."
Wow! Did you know that offhand or did you look it up? I know some pretty obscure facts, but this takes the cake.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @daniellesa said:
"The yellow pages were only introduced in the UK in 1966, although the Americans had it from 1886."
Wow! Did you know that offhand or did you look it up? I know some pretty obscure facts, but this takes the cake."
She went to the school of Cliff Claven.
@daniellesa said:
"The yellow pages were only introduced in the UK in 1966, although the Americans had it from 1886."
@Murdoch17 : Actually, we had telephone directories in the UK from 1880. The Telephone Company of London published the first one on the 15 January 1880.
daniellesa is refering to the company Yell, who first published the Yellow Pages in the UK in 1966, but the yellow pages were published by the General Post Office before that.
@MVives said:
"First official good use of a light brick? I normally find them clumsy to activate and really dim. (It is hard to have a light solution that is both safe enough for LEGO's lawyers and easy to use / bright.)"
I think it's about time they create a light brick that is switch on/off and not just push-on. I figure it is because of the desire not to have folks change batteries but, really, it would be nice to leave on...even to take pictures or mood lighting.
I just get that Ian Moss song playing in my head every time I see this.
I like the stickers!
@winbrant said:
" @MVives said:
"First official good use of a light brick? I normally find them clumsy to activate and really dim. (It is hard to have a light solution that is both safe enough for LEGO's lawyers and easy to use / bright.)"
I think it's about time they create a light brick that is switch on/off and not just push-on. I figure it is because of the desire not to have folks change batteries but, really, it would be nice to leave on...even to take pictures or mood lighting."
It’s about time LEGO get into the lighting market.
lame, who would want an extra large extra expensive telephone booth
@winbrant said:
" @MVives said:
"First official good use of a light brick? I normally find them clumsy to activate and really dim. (It is hard to have a light solution that is both safe enough for LEGO's lawyers and easy to use / bright.)"
I think it's about time they create a light brick that is switch on/off and not just push-on. I figure it is because of the desire not to have folks change batteries but, really, it would be nice to leave on...even to take pictures or mood lighting."
I agree with this entirely! Having to hold the light on has always bugged me. If there is a concern about battery life, it should be simple to have the light only stay on for 30-60 seconds then automatically turn itself off.
@daniellesa said:
"The yellow pages were only introduced in the UK in 1966, although the Americans had it from 1886."
That's because they only would've used it to wipe their bums. We know what they use these booths for.
I've heard most English bed-wetting types call it 'going to the tardis.'
If I end up with this Manglophile set, I'm definitely adding yellow tiles to the floor and a couple decorations https://brickset.com/parts/design-53119 .
I thought the addition of an outhouse to 10325 was amusing. But, Lego has really gone too far! What set will they do next. 'Pavement Just Outside of Pub'??!! Maybe Lego can mold a specialized piece to represent discarded cigs or a used condom. I don't think a plain trans-neon-yellow stud will quite capture the look.
"Also, I imagine the telephone box would scale nicely beside Scala figures, but to my shame, I do not own any to show you!" So that's why this set doesn't have the "advertisements" that some people where talking about when this set was announced. My Dad swiped them all!
@MartyMcFly said:
"The designer was on BBC News. Here is link
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-leicestershire-68243728
"
I'm happy for the fan designer. He's had a few entries on Ideas that have proven quite popular. I especially like the use of color in his buildings.
I do like this set, but there are a lot of other sets that I like as well. I can't buy everything I want, but a sale or nice GWP may be just what's needed to motivate me to purchase the telephone box.
@extracool said:
"lame, who would want an extra large extra expensive telephone booth
"
Boy are you in for a surprise when you learn about the breadth of human interests!
Well, now that this excellent London phone box has been created, I'm hoping for a classic London Underground Train next (red 1938 stock of course) and then maybe a Piccadilly Circus Architecture set (with lights), for good measure!
Got to agree with the conclusion really. I like the set - but I don't think I'll be getting it, it's a little too expensive and too niche to be a priority. Maybe if I see it at a discount.
I also don't think it's the best work from Bricked1980, but I'm glad to see one of theirs get picked! The railings in particular are great, and the light brick is very well implemented.
I imagine the Leicester Square shop will sell these by the hundred to affluent tourists though!
Oh I am sure there are some fans with Scala figures who will give this a go.
@Ridgeheart said:
"I've traveled through time and space, just to prevent you from posting what you're about to. It DOESN'T look like the TARDIS. You're not going to MOC this into a TARDIS, not without basically just building a TARDIS from scratch. The TARDIS isn't a phonebooth. A phonebooth isn't a TARDIS. Stop it.
Alright, I've done my part, time to travel back to... oh, where'd it go? Dang, looks like we're both stuck here building our police-boxes from scratch."
Apparently all you need to do to get your own TARDIS is to have the Doctor visit you in his, and then hit it on the side with a huge toy mallet (maybe 76209 would work as well) .
Voila, instant duplicate - and fully functional too.
;-)
The timeline... it's collapsing! The stars are dying! But maybe it's not too late - maybe I can still prevent all of this from happening! I must travel back... TO YESTERDAY!
BRB.
Oh good, he's finally gone, I thought he'd never leave. Hi, it's me, Yesterday's Ridgeheart. Phew, crisis narrowly averted, hey?
I'm sorry, what? You... you didn't heed my warnings? What is wrong with you?! You did this! YOU WANTED THIS!
I like the original telephone on the shelf, and the shiny 80s style metal push-button keypad is OK, but I'd much rather have seen the longer-lived 60s / 70s style big chunky solid box with a dial. then again, they'd have had to have brought back Old Dark Grey to do that justice!
@CapnRex101 said:
" @DoonsterBuildsLego said:
"I think that ambulance number is a reference to 555-1 .
Looks good, better than I expected from the original release, which even then was quite good."
Good point; thank you. I thought they had selected 555 because it is commonly used as part of phone numbers in film and television, but 555 Hospital makes more sense!"
I hope that LEGO were thinking of 555 Hospital, as using 'phone numbers containing 555 in films & TV is very much a feature of Hollywood and US productions, which doesn't fit with the idea that LEGO have an affinity for UK culture[1]!
[1] for the curious, UK OFCOM has allocated a number of different numbers for use in film/TV, which include realistic city codes (e.g. London and Tyneside) so that you don't get pulled out of the story by an obviously fake-sounding number. Plus a long tradition of some productions using real numbers and providing on the other end recorded message relevant to the plot.
@Brick_Belt said:
"I still think this is just a really odd set. Doesn't feel like a subject matter that warrants a set over like, $60.
Also all I can think about is how they smell like urine (for obvious reasons) . . ."
Unfortunately, the new LEGO urine brick made the price point too high so it had to be dropped.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"I've traveled through time and space, just to prevent you from posting what you're about to. It DOESN'T look like the TARDIS. You're not going to MOC this into a TARDIS, not without basically just building a TARDIS from scratch. The TARDIS isn't a phonebooth. A phonebooth isn't a TARDIS. Stop it.
Alright, I've done my part, time to travel back to... oh, where'd it go? Dang, looks like we're both stuck here building our police-boxes from scratch."
Tell that to Bricknerd...."
We don’t need to, as even the article says that it’s built a new thing from scratch rather than modding the original telephone box, exactly as Ridgeheart says
Would have loved a 2010s version with escort ads ^^
@Modok said:
" @Brick_Belt said:
"I still think this is just a really odd set. Doesn't feel like a subject matter that warrants a set over like, $60.
Also all I can think about is how they smell like urine (for obvious reasons) . . ."
Unfortunately, the new LEGO urine brick made the price point too high so it had to be dropped."
Brickforge used to do their splat/spill piece in trans yellow. They seem to have stopped doing that colour now though.
@CCC said:
" @Modok said:
" @Brick_Belt said:
"I still think this is just a really odd set. Doesn't feel like a subject matter that warrants a set over like, $60.
Also all I can think about is how they smell like urine (for obvious reasons) . . ."
Unfortunately, the new LEGO urine brick made the price point too high so it had to be dropped."
Brickforge used to do their splat/spill piece in trans yellow. They seem to have stopped doing that colour now though. "
It's available in lime. You know, just in case you and your falafel ended up disagreeing.
This would go great as a display peace next to the old Creator Expert Mini.
I don't know if the scales Quite match up, But they would look fantastic together regardless.
@TJDeets16 said:
"This would go great as a display peace next to the old Creator Expert Mini.
I don't know if the scales Quite match up, But they would look fantastic together regardless."
RacingBrick shows this in his video. Mini's a bit on the small side but not a mile away!
https://youtu.be/povFPSYDaMA?si=0HRozBkYkt0ksLy0