Review: 41122 Adventure Camp Tree House
Posted by LostInTranslation,
Over the course of March, Brickset is celebrating Super Heroes Month, and in this set, Friends 41122 Adventure Camp Tree House, the mini-dolls are being proper little action heroes so I think a review of it fits in perfectly with our theme!
I loved 3065 Olivia’s Treehouse from back in 2012 but this time the tree house is a bit bigger than one you might find in a backyard! This set is part of an Adventure Camp sub-theme which also includes 41120 Adventure Camp Archery, 41121 Adventure Camp Rafting, 853556 Mini-doll Campsite Set and 30398 Adventure Camp Bridge.
41122 is the largest set in the range, with 726 parts and a price point of £59.99 / $ 79.99 / € 69.99.
Inside the box, there is one instruction book and only a small sticker sheet.
The set includes 3 mini-dolls, regulars Emma and Stephanie, and the Camp Instructor, Joy. All three girls are attired in very practical clothing, as they are going to be partaking in all kinds of fun activities at the camp.
Emma is wearing a magenta sleeveless hooded top with sand blue shorts and yellow trainers whilst Stephanie sports a khaki shirt and purple skirt.
Joy has the best outfit in my opinion with a purple zip-up top over a yellow t-shirt and khaki cropped trousers, teamed with snazzy purple and pink trainers. Joy’s hairpiece is also a new colour for the yellow Rapunzel hair element.
There is also a pink crash helmet for the dolls to don when taking part in extreme sports.
There are two animals included in the set, a very cute fox and an eagle who is apparently quite tame and is named Elvis. The fox uses the same mould as the Elves dark red Flamy (who is featured in the next set I will be reviewing...) and is not overly cutesy in my opinion and could be used in non-Friends models. Here’s a pic of Flamy and his new friend.
We begin the build with the base of the camp house, which is constructed on two 8x16 plates that are hinged and can also be securely clipped together. The walls are mainly reddish-brown to create a log cabin effect but also include accents of medium dark flesh and lavender – the lavender pillars and fence pieces add a nice contrast to the muted natural colours.
Inside, large reddish-brown arch pieces are used to support the floor of the next level and give the impression of timber beams which I think is a nice feature befitting the lodge style of the building.
This being a Friends set, there are lots of furnishing details added inside, including a lamp made from a medium azure bowl, a magenta sofa, a book about eagles, a map and a small kitchen area including a sink, fridge and stove. It looks like the girls enjoy al fresco dining at the picnic table outside on the decking area!
A set of stairs lead up to the next floor, but the mini-dolls can also use the purple slide to descend if they wish. I dislike the use of slides in buildings (see also Arendelle Castle Celebration) as they seem too outlandish, particularly in an otherwise fairly realistic setting such as this, but I can see that they do add another play feature that kids probably like.
A tree is growing out the second level, built up with dark and reddish brown arches and slopes around a stack of 2x2 round bricks, which is very sturdy and robust, so it should stand up to a lot of play without toppling over. This level also includes the sleeping area, with basic beds and a simple hinged roof. If by any chance you are in need of 1x2 flame yellowish orange cheese slopes, then this is the set for you! A whopping 42 of them are used to decorate the roof section here.
The next level is reached by climbing up a flexible vine element (new in green) and includes an observation platform under the shade of the tree’s boughs, in which Elvis likes to perch. There is also a cool tyre swing here, which I was sceptical about initially as I wasn’t sure a mini-doll would actually be able to use it, but happily I was wrong! Look at Steph swing!
Back on the first floor, there is a small platform for accessing the slide which also features a ladder up to the wobbly bridge challenge. I really like how everything connects together and that access flows from one area to another as it makes it much easier to play out a story in the scene and makes the set feel really coherent.
Across the medium azure stream from the camp house there is a rocky outcrop with a waterfall. A light bley BURP is partly camouflaged with green and trans. light blue bricks to soften the grey expanse, with flowers strategically scattered around too, providing a lovely bright detail.
I like that the waterfall is not just a 1x2x5 brick as is so often the case but is a good height and I think has an almost MOC level of detail to it. It’s also cool that the rocky area has a cave passing through it, as that could lead to some imaginative story lines for a kid to play out – I’m thinking of a Famous Five type search for hidden treasure or the like.
The top of the crag can be reached either via the bridge or by ascending the climbing wall, which has a mix of foot- and hand-holds for the mini-dolls to use, and at the summit there is prize for the girl to complete the obstacle course in the fastest time – a huge trophy!
I really love this set and find it quite difficult to fault. The mini-dolls have interesting outfits and the animals are appropriate for the set. I was a bit disappointed that the brown bear didn’t make an appearance in the set but fortunately he is present in one of the other Camp sets. There are so many play features included here that will keep children occupied for ages inventing adventurous stories for the intrepid Friends.
One of the most pleasing aspects has to be how self-contained and robust the set is – no extraneous mini-builds, everything all connected together in a solid and secure way. I love the concept of the sub-theme and definitely can’t wait to get the other Camp sets to build up a bigger scene, maybe adding in some more azure and green plates to make a bigger river and meadow area.
Whilst not something I had seen in pictures and immediately wanted, I think this may be an early contender for one of my favourite sets of the year in terms of its excellent design and playability.
What do you think? Do you like this Adventure Camp sub-theme? What other sub-themes would you like to see Friends cover in future?
Many thanks to LEGO for sending me this set for review. I know it's obvious but I'm obliged to tell you that this review is an expression of my views and opinions and not The LEGO Group's or anyone else's.
19 likes
13 comments on this article
Nice review. Are any of the pieces printed or are they all stickers.
Good review! Even though they're not on my wish list, I love the way the LEGO Friends Adventure Camp sets promote a love of action, physical activity, and the outdoors (much like the Jungle Rescue sets two years ago). On some levels they remind me of sets I grew up with like http://brickset.com/sets/6552-1/Rocky-River-Retreat and http://brickset.com/sets/6584-1/Extreme-Team-Challenge, but less vehicle-heavy. They also remind me of the many summer camp experiences I had growing up. My main regret about this Adventure Camp series is that it's not bigger, but it still gets a lot of mileage out of just three or four sets.
The figures and animals in this set are great designs. The house/cabin feels suitably rustic, with a color scheme dominated by earth tones, and there's a lot of play value what with all the climbing equipment. The waterfall and treetop canopy are very scenic. The parts value may not be that great in USD, but this set definitely makes quite a statement both on account of its beauty and its size!
The use of the old book element suggests to me that these sets' designs were finalized before the new book from Nexo Knights and Elves were available. Bit of a shame since I love the new book pieces. But hopefully in the future we'll see more of that new book style in themes like Friends and/or City.
Thanks for another nice review of a Friends set! The tyre swing is absolutely awesome, I can't wait to borrow this idea for my own MOC's!
Nice review! I had wondered if these Adventure sets would be overly similar to the Jungle sets from a couple years ago, and it doesn't look like they are. Love the Friends outfits! Like you I share the dislike of the slide in this set - I think the inclusion of that is what reminded me of the Jungle theme, where it was included but felt a bit more appropriate. I love the promotion of the outdoor activities in this theme. But where's Elvis?
@Rainstorm26 - the 1x1 tree knot tiles are printed, I think the rest are all stickers.
@Aanchir - I think actually the number of sets is just right. I tried to think of other activities that could be represented and drew a blank (I'm not an outdoorsy type though!). Also, I think maybe Lego learned from Jungle that too single-minded a theme doesn't sell so well. I know I only bought one or two jungle sets because they all looked very samey.
If I was to buy a Friends set this is one of them. I have to many other things on the wish list and have yet to buy any. I really like the sub theme and looks like a great play set for anyone that would like that feature.
Nice review! I like your point about how well integrated all the different parts are; a lot of sets look very bitty but this feels like a whole environment. I would've loved this when I was a kid, and if I were going to buy a Friends set now, this would be the one.
The waterfall reminds me of the one in 31025 Mountain Hut: http://brickset.com/sets/31025-1/Mountain-Hut I like the way they're starting to put more detail into landscapes - there might be some BURPs involved in the structure, but details like the waterfall and flowers help to bring it alive.
i do like the overall look of this one too, quite like the rafting set too so far in 2016 i only have the party sets, would love this one to add to the 41 friends sets our household has...
great review
I don't do a whole lot of Friends sets. This is probably my favorite... and this has none of my many problems with the line as a whole, plus it looks really amazing. I want more LEGO sets like this!
The realism of play and well-constructed design make this set a winner. All young folks need to spend significant time outside, and this set promotes that type of play. And it allows the gals to focus on something besides shopping and how they look. Wow! The Friends need to know outdoor survival skills and to appreciate Mother Nature. Looks like a winner!
I think Joy is a great figure, but the regulars really don't like sleeves, do they? Even when wearing a fleece hoodie?
Nice review, thanks! I especially like those tree knot round plates, gives a nice rustic feel to it.
I don't mind the slide myself, it could be post of the adventure or race. And it's a great colour ;)
Why are the JANGBRiCKS video reviews never provided? I thought they were to be embedded in each set review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aFrIYsXONc