Review: 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has created products for more than forty licensed themes since 1999, ranging from Star Wars and The Simpsons to Ferrari and Winnie the Pooh! Nevertheless, the announcement of 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 surprised many LEGO fans as certain aspects of the James Bond franchise seem poorly suited to the brand.
However, I am an enormous fan of James Bond so have been looking forward to building this set and to finding out whether its designer has been able to recreate the Aston Martin DB5's distinctive shape. Furthermore, the set includes an impressive range of functions, just like its onscreen counterpart, so I am hopeful that they have been integrated effectively.
Box and Contents
The box is slightly larger than that of previous Creator Expert vehicles, reflecting its higher piece count and price. I like the dark background for the model which features the traditional gun barrel imagery as well as the 007 and Aston Martin branding along the edge of the box. The reverse shows the vehicle's numerous functions, including a passenger ejector seat, concealed machine guns and a bullet proof screen that protects the rear windscreen.
Opening the box reveals twelve bags, numbered between one and four, along with a lovely instruction manual. This is designed to resemble the confidential documents which are frequently handled at MI6 and its cover looks like traditional manila paper, despite being made from the standard paper stock. I like the 'For Your Eyes Only' band printed across the manual and the secondary French language seems suitable for an international secret agent.
The first few pages of the instruction manual contain information about both the real Aston Martin DB5 and its modified counterpart from the James Bond films. The page spread below, for example, features a timeline of the movies in which the DB5 appeared, beginning with a prominent role in Goldfinger and continuing until 2015's SPECTRE.
A few more pages are dispersed throughout the manual which show cutaway images of the model, revealing the internal mechanisms for each hidden gadget. These technical diagrams remind me of those found in flagship Technic sets but they feel equally appropriate here, introducing each new section of the construction process.
Seventeen stickers are included, nearly half of which are used on the revolving number plates at the front and rear of the vehicle. Printed elements are usually preferable to stickers but these are easy to apply and serve an important purpose in the design of the model, adding details to certain areas where it would not otherwise be possible to do so.
Construction
The building process commences with the chassis, as one might imagine. This consists almost entirely of Technic bricks so feels reasonably sturdy and evidence of several functions quickly becomes apparent as a red connecting rod is linked to the gear lever and one of the exhausts rotates, controlling a light bluish grey liftarm inside the chassis. The true purpose of these moving parts only becomes apparent during the latter stages of construction.
A more substantial Technic mechanism is the focus of the next stage and will eventually form part of the ejector seat launch system. The designer has chosen to use a selection of colourful pieces here which is useful during construction but becomes slightly irritating upon completion of the model as some of those elements remain visible through the rear windscreen.
Fortunately, an impressive exterior conceals the vast majority of these Technic parts. I was somewhat surprised to discover that the 1x3 arch bricks which form the wheel arches are new in light bluish grey and these may prove popular among castle builders. Moreover, the 1x2 half bows laid along the top of the bodywork are extremely rare, having only previously appeared in 10261 Roller Coaster.
Constructing the interior of the vehicle feels more familiar as it is not dissimilar to past Creator Expert vehicles. The doors, on the other hand, are a little more complicated than most as they make further use of 1x2 half bows and brackets, to which the rearmost edges of the doors are attached. In addition, the section in front of the central console is fitted at an angle of about 45 degrees, using clips at the top and bottom. This is not a technique that I have encountered before.
Assembly of the Technic mechanism that connects the gear lever to the forward machine guns then resumes. Several metallic silver pieces form the bumper, most of which are new in this colour. Some people may be disappointed that more of the external bodywork is not constructed in silver, reflecting the appearance of the real car, but to do so would have required an unrealistic number of parts to be produced in a new colour.
The engine is simpler than those found inside previous models in this series but it looks good in relation to the source material, making clever use of hinges to depict the angled cylinder banks. The Aston Martin DB5's distinctive radiator grille slots neatly between two 1x3 arch bricks so is not held in place using any studs, although it still feels very sturdy. The headlights, meanwhile, are fitted with white droid arms and seem similarly fragile during the build but they become quite secure once it is complete.
A single 2x10x3 trans-black windscreen forms the rear window. This is placed sideways using four clips, two of which are hidden within the structure. The windows on either side are even more elaborate as these assemblies are angled to match the rear windscreen. A series of 1x1 slopes line up perfectly with two trans-black 1x4 panels and a couple of stickers are applied, thereby completing the curved window shape.
The boot is also deceptively complex, consisting of two sections which are joined by click hinges. The seam between these sections is almost invisible and matches the shape of the real car fairly closely. Moreover, the designer has left just enough space for the bulletproof screen to rise between the boot and the rear windscreen, using 1x4 half bows which line up perfectly with a row of 1x1 and 1x2 slopes.
Designing the roof of a Creator Expert car must be quite difficult as this area of the model is relatively unsupported. I expect this challenge was particularly significant here as a large section of the roof folds back for launching the passenger ejector seat. Nevertheless, the designer has found a creative solution as the angled front windscreen provides plenty of support at the corners of the roof, securing them with 1x1 clips.
The opening roof panel then rests upon the frame and is anchored to the ejector seat mechanism that was assembled during an earlier phase of construction. This defines the entire building experience as Technic assemblies are often left unfinished over several pages of the instruction manual, only for their purpose to become clear during the latter stages. Such close integration of Technic and System pieces differentiates the Aston Martin DB5 from its Creator Expert predecessors, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable experience!
The Completed Model
Several large scale vehicles have been released within the Creator Expert theme in recent years, all of which include an array of innovative building techniques and look marvellous on display. 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 continues this trend but is equally focused on the incorporation of many hidden functions, just like the modified vehicle that was introduced in 1964's Goldfinger.
This model measures 34cm in length so is considerably longer than a comparable sports car such as 10248 Ferrari F40. In reality, the cars are of a very similar length and I imagine the Aston Martin's scale has been increased to accommodate its numerous functions. This is slightly disappointing as it might have been nice to display the cars together, loosely recreating a scene from GoldenEye in which James Bond drives his Aston Martin DB5 alongside Xenia Onatopp's Ferrari F355.
Aston Martin cars have developed several signature design features during the last century, perhaps the most famous of which is the unique shape of the radiator grille. This is particularly apparent on the DB5 so is a vital aspect of this model and the designer has done reasonably well in my opinion, making ingenious use of the 1x3 arch bricks that were introduced with the Prince of Persia theme in 2010. The printed 1x2 tiles that form the grille look marvellous and I like the round headlights on either side of the vehicle.
Q Branch has equipped James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 with many gadgets to aid the agent in his activities. The revolving number plates at the front and rear of the vehicle fulfil a relatively simple role, allowing Bond to travel in the UK, France and Switzerland, but fitting a rotating number plate into such a small space must have been difficult. The designer has therefore made clever use of two light bluish grey chairs which provide space for a 1x1x3 brick, with stickers on all four sides, to revolve. The three longer registration numbers are shown in Goldfinger while 'JB-007' appears in promotional images.
The pearl silver alloy wheels are the only brand new element in this set and they look magnificent in relation to the source material, as indeed do the shuriken at the centre of each wheel. I also think the tyres have been well chosen and the metallic silver details around the side vents are excellent as well. However, the DB5's curved windscreen is a vital feature so I think that should have been represented more accurately, even if that meant creating another new component.
Bond damages Tilly Masterson's Ford Mustang using tyre scythes which extend from the centre of each wheel during Goldfinger. Unfortunately, the scythes on this model do not deploy from the axles automatically and you must instead remove the shuriken from the wheels, fitting the black telescopes which are kept inside the boot in their place. The shuriken are then replaced at the end of each telescope, as demonstrated below, producing an attractive result.
Each door opens smoothly on two hinged plates and their motion is restricted by a Technic liftarm inside, much like on a real car. Naturally, the steering wheel is located on the right hand side of the vehicle for UK driving and the height of the steering wheel is adjustable. A series of five printed dials surround the steering column, completing this area of the dashboard.
The door on the driver's side conceals another feature as a compartment opens to reveal a bright red radio telephone! This gadget is not shown on the Aston Martin DB5 in any of the James Bond movies, although it is present on the British agent's 1935 Bentley 3 1/2 Litre which appears at the beginning of From Russia with Love and was included on the Aston Martin vehicles in Goldfinger, despite not being shown on screen.
However, another of the Aston Martin's internal features is exhibited during Goldfinger as Bond tracks Auric Goldfinger's Rolls-Royce Phantom III using a radar scanner. This is hidden behind a dark bluish grey air conditioning vent and can be revealed by turning a black gear on the passenger side of the central console.
A prominent gear lever is also situated beside the driver and this features a red 1x1 round tile on top, representing the button which engages and fires the passenger ejector seat in the film. However, the gear lever on the LEGO model instead activates the twin machine guns which are concealed behind the vehicle's headlights.
During construction, I was somewhat concerned that the apparent complexity of the mechanism which links the gear lever to the machine guns would cause operational issues. In fact, it works perfectly as the headlights rotate downwards and the machine guns attached to the rear of the headlight assembly appear in their place. This has immediately become one of my favourite play features in any LEGO set.
The passenger ejector seat is probably the most famous of the DB5's many functions and I am pleased to report that it has been implemented perfectly on this model. Pulling the central section of the rear bumper will cause the roof panel above the passenger seat to retract, as demonstrated in the image below. The image on the back of the box led me to believe that this panel would need to be opened manually so I was pleasantly surprised upon completing the model.
Releasing the rear bumper will then activate the ejector seat, launching it several centimetres beyond the roof of the car. This height may seem underwhelming but corresponds precisely with the film as one of Goldfinger's henchmen is ejected from the car. The seat slides onto a red Technic axle which holds it in place until the liftarms beneath the seat spring upwards, propelling it through the open roof hatch.
The rear windscreen looks superb from low angles but reveals some unsightly Technic elements when viewed from a greater height. This is slightly disappointing as most mechanical details are hidden very well throughout the rest of the model and a couple of extra pieces may have concealed some of these. Even so, I am glad that the designer chose to use a translucent rear windscreen rather than an opaque one.
Bond's vehicles often come under attack so the front, side and rear windows are all resistant to bullets. However, James Bond can also deploy a metal screen which will provide additional protection to the rear of the vehicle during prolonged assaults. This is activated by rotating the innermost exhaust, just below the bumper. Twisting the exhaust is slightly tricky as it does not protrude very far but the screen works brilliantly, raising and lowering with a remarkably smooth motion.
The rear profile of the Aston Martin DB5 appears fairly simple upon first glance, consisting of a curved panel beneath the rear windscreen and a relatively flat tail section. I appreciate the designer's effort to replicate this shape, using 2x2 diagonal corner tiles, but am not entirely satisfied with the result as the gentle curve of the real vehicle looks rather abrupt here. On the other hand, I am not sure how it could have been improved without the creation of a specialised element and I love how the revolving number plate has been integrated.
Fortunately, the bulbous shape of the boot lid means that its interior is remarkably spacious. There is more than enough space to store the black telescope pieces which are used for the tyre scythes and you could place plenty of additional spy equipment in here if you wish, although no more is actually included in the set.
Overall
The Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most famous production cars ever created, due in no small part to its prominent role in the James Bond franchise, so feels like a worthy successor to such icons as the Ferrari F40 and the Volkswagen Beetle. However, this set represents a dramatic departure from previous Creator Expert vehicles, including a far wider range of functions and therefore relying more heavily upon Technic parts. I appreciate these changes but can imagine that some fans might be disappointed by the greater focus upon functions over form, despite the effective integration of the gadgets.
Unfortunately, I think this model reveals some limitations of the LEGO building system. It appears rather square from certain angles and the flowing bodywork of the real car is not captured accurately, particularly towards the rear. Replicating such complex shapes using LEGO bricks is extremely difficult at this scale, leading me to wonder whether a more angular Bond car such as the Lotus Esprit might have been a better subject.
Nevertheless, the functions in this set are fantastic and the model looks pretty good on the whole, taking its challenging curved form into consideration. The price of £129.99 or $149.99 is a little higher than would be ideal but is not entirely unreasonable in my opinion. I would therefore recommend 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 to fans of the famed secret agent, although I can imagine that it might not appeal to some Creator Expert collectors.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
It's available now from shop.LEGO.com priced at £129.99, $149.99 or 149.99€:
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148 comments on this article
I think that you forgot to discuss the price in your review...
That's because it wasn't known until half an hour ago. I suspect Chris will add his thoughts on that soon.
Update, from Chris: I have added my opinion of the price to the review and am honestly not dissatisfied with it. Before it was announced, I was estimating a cost of around £119.99 which would have been fair, in my view, so £129.99 is only slightly more expensive than I had hoped.
Looks awful, and as a Bond fan very disappointing.
Looking at that pic at the bottom with it next to the Ferrari F40, seeing how they captured the shape and form of the F40 but have failed with the DB5.
Understand it is not easy, but after seeing incredible MOCs in the past from amateur designers. I think they could have done much better, and look forward to seeing the alternate MOCs of this set.
Yeah, the gadgets are fantastic. The looks not so much. It's such a shame how so much thought and effort has gone into designing gadgets while the classic looks of the car have been ignored. Ultimately this car will be on display and it'll look like a funny LEGO car as opposed to a proper replica like the other LEGO cars.
Although it's instantly recognisable I'm very disappointed considering the price (I know licensing fees) that there are stickers and no minifig with this set. Will this put me off!? Hell no! Bond and Lego combined. Perfect! Love the working features.
@KernowBrick
It is instantly recognisable? From which angle?
@AussieSamurai I agree, comparing it to the F40 is kind of a slap in the face to esthetics.
This DB5 looks more like a thirsty catfish, rather than a sexy shark.
Honestly surprised they managed to get that many features in. Still wish they included a Sean Connery and Daniel Craig figure on a display stand
"It's available now from shop.LEGO.com priced at just £129.99 / $149.99 and 149.99€"
I think the word "just" is a bit ... unjustified.
Unfortunately no pic of new parts?
@parsom I find from 00.7 degrees from the front mainly. It's obvious what it is despite being awkward looking.
^^ When have you ever read similar statements encouraging purchase with the word 'whopping' in them? :-)
@KernowBrick
Of course it is obvious what it is. It is Trabant.
I never liked the Ferrari until I saw it in this review next to the Aston Martin. It looks like a thing of beauty in comparison. Now I'm questioning my decision to have made this the only Creator Expert vehicle I never picked up.
This is a textbook example of function over form - the shaping isn't perfect but the play features make it a must buy! Who would've guessed that they would actually be able to implement pretty much all the gadgets from the film into the set? The only thing it's missing as you said is an automatic function for the tire shredder. The must buy status is with VIP points to offset the crazy price of course. At least the price is better than Unikitty's recent Party Time which is a price straight from hell.
"The price of £129.99 or $149.99 is a little higher"
A little? It is 25% higher than London Bus, which is 400 pcs more.
169.99€ in the Netherlands, apparently according to TLG the Dutch are all rich compared to the other EU countries and US.
Brickheadz, the latest Minidoll ranges and now this. Wow.
Over is the word that comes to mind.....Over-Ugly, Over-Functional and Over Priced. The ejector seat is Over engineered imo you don't need a whole tilting roof mechanism just a pop off panel and the whole rear end would have been improved design wise. The design of the car itself is over simplified it's longer and flatter than it should be, barely any attempt has been made a the curves, which we know they can do better, making it look like it's been rescued just too late from the car crusher at the scrapyard.
Terrible
I never cared for Creator Expert cars, but as a Technic fan this set is a maybe.
I'm thinking maybe there were licencing agreements that forced the designers to implement so many play features and therefore sacrifice its appearance. Some brands are quite strict on how Lego can depict them. Oh, wait. James Bond isn't owned by Disney. Nevermind.
Looks like an enjoyable build, but as a display piece it looks pretty poor.
I like the wheels.
Could you, please, post a picture of this model with white (or some other color) background? This grey on grey thing might present the model as a little bit dull and without character.
@Kostur
The car is supposed to 'blend' in with the background; it’s a spy's car XD
Anyways, great review as always of the set!
The main problem with this set is its scale. Had it been any smaller, the pack of the small bulges and curves of the real thing would have been negligible, as it’s just too small to matter. Bigger and those curves would’ve been possible. This scale, however, means you can’t do that.
I don’t think it looks that bad, I think it’s recognisable, and all the features packed in there are great, especially considering some of their complexity.
I probably won’t get it, mostly because I’m a broke student who needs to drive (and get the HP sets first), but I certainly don’t hate it.
Horrible design. Boxy and poorly coloured.
It looks more like the car Homer Simpson designed than an Aston Martin.
I have to say I was looking forward to this... but its disappointing. The review is great but if anything it makes the colour look worse.... almost old Light Grey, and it just looks dull, blocky and half hearted. They could only make it in LBG but its lifeless. As has been said the F-40 is great, that was a must buy for me, but this isn't great. Also even if it was is it worth £55 more than the F-40 even with inflation and Brexit panic tax?
It's like they were so worried about packing in the functions that they forgot to make it look like a DB5.
I still want it but feel like they’ve sacrificed making it look like a DB5 for the sake of putting in the James Bond Gadgets.
The more I look at it, the more I like it. But then I am both a James Bond fan and an Astor Martin Fan.
I really like the shapes, gives it a nice old fashioned vibe. I do find it a little hard to appreciate with grey on grey - but there is something really nice about it.
I have the F-40 and for me it is a bit bleh, possibly because I am not a massive fan of bling - hence the colour and shape of this vehicle really work for me.
Diversity is good !
I too thought that it looked like a Trabant, well the front third of it anyway. Probably because of its colour. The DB5 is such an iconic design and this model unfortunately misses the mark.
Mike Psiaki’s third car. F40 was superb. Beetle needed some mod. DB5 is beyond salvation. What a trend.
The name's Bland, James Bland.
The perfect dull car for James Bland to drive.
Hopefully the Lotus Esprit submarine car will be more interesting...
I'm not terribly familiar with the real car but the action features look really fun. I do wish it were silver but that would probably make it $200 instead of $150 and there would be just as much, if not more, complaining about it.
I am not a huge Bond fan so I probably won't get this, there is stuff that interests me more at or below this price range, but I certainly don't think it's a disaster like a bunch of the rest of these comments do.
The looks of the car and its functions are quite good, but I'm totally unhappy with the extra 20 euros that Benelux buyers have to pay; I would have expected an additional 10 euros as was the case with the London bus or the Beetle… That's yet another reason to go to Cologne to buy it (and many more reasonably prized sets)!
Nope. Truly great effort but the result is boxy and somewhat goofy. I guess that after the big mysterious pre-release buildup one would expect to find a lot more aesthetic detail in the final outcome.
But then again, a lot of us AFOLs often forget that TLG - as in this case - aims to please younger fans by giving them lots of playability. And the DB5 designer surely did not fail there: lots of clever functions.
Anyways, it's a pass for me.
The guys in these comments are so pessimistic. It looks fine!
This set has me crossing my fingers for a Creator Expert Batmobile. The 1989 model would look the best in my opinion, and I believe it’s possible as LEGO is clearly willing to incorporate licenses into the Creator Expert cars.
I'd rather the 42083 Bugatti Chiron even though it's twice as much.
@dbonyx, is it confirmed that this is Mike's design? Where did you get that information?
I like the blocky design of this car - actually lends it extra British-ness in my view. :-)
Another over priced piece of tat...
Honestly, I know it's not fantastic but people here are acting like it's the worst set LEGO's put out in years, which I just have to disagree with. Mine's in the mail and will look great next to all the other creator expert cars, IMO.
Also, regarding the scale, they've never really lined up. The Mini Cooper is massive compared to th rest and I'd argue the Routemaster Bus is too small compared to others.
Lol, at first when I saw the picture of the telephone receiver I thought it was an interior door handle. I would have been a little disappointed if it was. Every time I see a telephone used as a handle or greebling, I can't help seeing it as a telephone! I guess that's a disadvantage of being born long before cell phones were mainstream, haha.
I some how missed the reveal photos so this review was my first exposure to the set. The functions alone make it look brilliant in my opinion. I have never been a big fan of the Bond franchise, but something about a Lego car with a freaking working ejector seat screams a brilliant 60's kitsch to me that will go along nicely with the 60's VW camper. The engineering that went into this is brilliant, like a Technic set in a System shell!
Have we had confirmation that this was designed by Mike Psiaki? I’m slightly disappointed if so. I was really impressed with his mastery of Lego geometry in his approximation of the compound curves of the Beetle (even if that too really needed a specialised windscreen piece), but disappointed that greater efforts weren’t made to capture the graceful curves of the DB5.
All the complaint comments about it being blocky looking are ironic...its Lego!! But I digress we've become pampered over that last decade with Lego becoming less and less blocky looking which is why there are so many complaints.
Sorry for being monothematic, but I just noticed this update:
"Update, from Chris: I have added my opinion of the price to the review and am honestly not dissatisfied with it. Before it was announced, I was estimating a cost of around £119.99 which would have been fair, in my view, so £129.99 is only slightly more expensive than I had hoped."
Really? Sorry guys, but when you are saying that £119.99 would be fair for a set with 1295 pcs (comparing with: London bus - £109.99 and 1686 pcs or VW Camper Van - £84.99 and 1334 pcs or Beetle - £74.99 and 1167 pcs) you just loosing your credibility...
@Bricklestick, I was also questioning that this was Mike's design, given his mastery of the Lego elements and vehicle design. I would recommend you read the review on New Elementary, which confirms that this is Mike's design. After reading it I understand the compromises required and am again so impressed with Mike's ability to integrate all the functions into this design. Yes, it's blocky, but given the constraints of functionality, size, and build-ability, it is an impressive accomplishment.
I’m sure they can only do so much at this scale. I’m not a designer so I know I couldn’t do a better job. The play features are brilliant. Those alone make me want to get the car. I think the front and side profile hit really well with the official car, as well as you can in Lego form. The rear sloping windshield and the angle of the back ruin the whole car for me. That alone would make me not want it. Also considering I’ve only seen a handful of Bond movies and unfortunately not Goldfinger, I’ll likely pass on this. I did have a streak of all the creator vehicles until the London bus, so now I’ll be down 2.
I will gladly pick this up as my first Expert Vehicle, mostly due to the license involved. That being said, 179.99$ CND is a bitter pill to swallow for a set which doesn't even include a Bond Minifigure to display alongside others. Woefully out of scale with Minifigures it may be, but seeing as how apparently the Bond license was to be included in LEGO Dimensions (according to some rumours), the fact that we missed out on getting a James Bond figure and then they chose not to include it here, is greatly disappointing. Especially seeing as how I doubt very much we'll even get Minifigure scaled Bond sets with this license now being owned by LEGO, there is still no word on if the next film is any closer to being shot, the last I heard personally, and on top of that Bond itself is a Secret Agent style theme which LEGO seems to do rather poorly with.
I do think this is a brilliantly put together model though, despite certain flaws inherent in the play system being used. LEGO as a whole is meant to be blocky, it's the Building Block System after all.
Wow, I'm really surprised how much hate this getting. It's not a perfect set, but far from cringe worthy.
It is a Mike Psiaki design, he was there today at the reveal event.
@parsom Two of the three previous models you mentioned had ludicrously generous price per part ratios. This set is expensive in relationship, certainly; it is above the 10 price units per part that is considered reasonable by most people, but not by THAT much. You are completely entitled to your dissatisfaction at the price, but to say that others are losing credibility because they are not "dissatisfied" is unfair. Chris did not say the price is great, he just said it didn't bother him too much.
No minifigure...
Great attempt, but there are only a couple of angles that it vaguely looks like a DB5. I showed my work colleagues and they also thought whilst it was a good attempt, from certain angles it can look like a Trabant! Price is also not good IMO, so with the square angles (LEGO is difficult to make curvy I know) unfortunately this will not be adorning my shelves.
@parsom - I am expressing an opinion on the value of the set. You are welcome to disagree with my assessment but calling my credibility into question is unnecessary as perceived value is entirely subjective. Hopefully my review provided enough information for you to reach your own conclusion, in which case it was successful!
Furthermore, comparing the price of this set to other Creator Expert vehicles is not entirely fair. The cost of this set takes two different license holders into account whereas most other vehicles in the series only have one associated license. In fact, 10258 London Bus does not, to my knowledge, have any associated license fees as it does not include any official branding, despite taking obvious inspiration from traditional Routemaster buses.
@Pino You're not as rich as us in Finland, we're expected to pay €179.95
As someone who doesn't care much about display value, this is a must-buy. I like sets for their functions, not their looks, so this is really amazing and therefore the first creator expert car I truly like.
I honestly think that if it didn’t have play features it wouldn’t be a Bind car, just an Aston Martin. It looks fine to me, and the play features are all authentic.
@Devilligan Hehehe, while I can respect you don't like the look of this model, it is so far away from being as bad as the Homer Simpson designed car it's not even funny.
Damn, that's ugly!
The 3-plate thick roof is what I can't get my head around. I see why (given the slope coming off the rear), but a 2-plate thick roof would help a lot with the sleekness / roof:window ratios, etc.
Also, why are there 4 studs exposed on the boot? Completely destroys the curvature off the roof? I can't see any functional reason to retain studs there (vs tiles).
Need to see it in person, but I would gladly de-feature it for a more representative display piece.
Kind of the whole "UCS shouldn't be a playset" debate, only for Creator Expert cars.
When I first heard about this set, I got so excited, then the leaked photos came out and my enthusiasm was dampened.
I can see that a lot of work has gone into designing this car, and there are clear limitations with using bricks to recreate such an iconic vehicle, but I'll be giving it a pass. It's just not for me.
I agree! Where are the minifigs? I loved the Taj Mahal minifigure, which is now collectible, and the surfer guy from the VW Beetle is so cute. ;-)
As others have said it utterly fails to capture the sleekness of the DB5, instead looking more like a sedate executive car. Apart from the front the overall shape reminds me much more of a Rolls-Royce than an Aston Martin. The functional gadgets are really neat (and IMO not really to blame for the lack of looks), but for a model focusing so much on function I REALLY miss working steering (a gripe I have with all the Creator Expert cars, especially having grown up with the Model Team ones). I suspect the reason for this is how the steering parts usually are mounted behind the wheels (rather than centered within then as on real cars) causing the wheels to move back and forth too much requiring unrealistically wide wheel arches, I really wish Lego could come up with a good solution to this problem.
The fact that this is 1.5 times more expensive in the US than other models in this line is incredibly disappointing.
I think it looks very nice, and the functions are incredible. I'd love to see a video review with the ejector seat in action. The machine guns, which although are activated by a neat function, look less than intimidating. Overall if I had a habit of purchasing Creator Expert cars I would pick this up. However, there are too many other minifigure based themes that appeal to me and my wallet more. As others have said I'd love to see a Speed Champions size car w/Sean Connery (best Bond ever!) minifigure.
Okay... 20 euro more expensive here than in Germany. I'll be there in a few weeks anyway, so I'll wait till then. If sold out by then? Well, no harm done. It's in no way a must have like the other vehicles in this series...
@Reventon.. Yessssss to Speed Champions Bond series.. I'd be all over that.
I actually think this one looks cool & all the gadgets are great, but I don't even have enough cash to get all the minfig scale sets that I want so...
Now that they have an Aston Martin license, they can do new models for Speed Champions. I'm looking forward to a minifig-scale Vantage or DB11. Or even better, a Valkyrie.
Thank you for the review, very helpful as always. Although I too think that compared to the source, it is rather blocky, I have no idea how could it be done any better. Just like you stated in the review, Lego, even though few, still has some limits. We can't just expect the designers to make it magically look exactly like the source material. If you want a perfect replica of the car, there are thousands of not-Lego options out there. And, if you are disappointed with this version, why don't you make a better one yourself? That's what Lego is all about after all, right?
I really like it......but so grey! British racing green would make it look amazing (tho not Bond accurate)
An image of the DB5 was leaked (by a double agent) of a “license to build”. But I don’t see it in any of the pictures. Is it just a thing for the revealing event, or is it in the box?
Thank you for the review. Personally, I cannot get over the back part of the model. Surly, curves are a bit challenging, but one can do a much better job. Also, the proportions are just not right to a point where it is, IMHO, not capturing the essence of the car anymore. Being a James Bond fan I am a bit sad that they did a poor job translating the DB5 into the LEGO world. I mean look at the original ( http://jamesbond.wikia.com/wiki/Aston_Martin_DB5 ) and than claim that it is recognizable. Really?
Terrible, biased, shilled review.
Don't know much about cars or James Bond but hopefully the fans like this set.
@Altho1979 They give it to you as if it were a giveaway when you buy the set. It looks like there's a unique serial number on the bottom.
I have to say I was skeptical when I saw the leaked photos, but this build does look a LOT better in person. Given the medium they are working in and the fact that they included almost all the gadgets, I would say it turned out very well. From certain angles I would say they actually captured the look of the DB5 quite well.
A Speedchampion set would have been an instant buy for me. This set not.
In my better half's opinion (not a Lego fan and the holder of my Lego purchase strings) "It looks like a beige Square thingy from the 70's" I pointed out that some had likened it to a Lada, "Spot on!" Was her response.
I'm afraid for me it just doesn't cut it, I expected better :(
I like it, but not enough to buy it.
Brickset is risking its credibility by recommending this set for purchase, which is clearly an attempt to remain on Lego's good side, or otherwise a shameful attempt to maximise commission.
Just out of interest, when was the last time a Brickset reviewer failed to recommend a set provided free by the Lego community team?
wanting a perfect car replica at the expense of spy functions kind of feels like missing the point of james bond imo
i also don't see what people are getting at with the proportions and shaping and whatnot. lego is a primarily rectangular medium, so of course the shaping isn't going to be exact with a car with subtle curves. and it's certainly not unrecognizable; looking at it with comparison to photos of the base material, it seems instantly recognizable, down to small vents that i would have expected to be prints or stickers on a lesser set.
@aleydita
exactly.
@aleydita & AnonGoeth..
I think you two should post opinion pieces about why you think this set sucks on your blog then see if 12,000+ readers all agree with your assessment =)
@aleydita, @AnonGoeth, @parsom et. al.
You are welcome to to disagree with our assessment but we do not appreciate comments that call the integrity of the reviewer into question.
Chris' views on the set are generally in alignment with those in reviews on other reputable sites, such as New Elementary and Brothers Brick -- others who have actually built the set and not just seen pictures.
I have to wonder why there's all the negativity around this set. Whatever it is, nobody is forcing you to buy it and while you might be disappointed that this year's Creator Expert car doesn't appeal to you, or you think it's too expensive, that's no reason to question our rectitude.
As a Bond fan I'm rather disappointed in general--just because there's so much more Lego could do with the license. Ergo minifigure based sets, but I can understand the reasoning for going this way--at least at first?
That said, judging the set only, this is much nicer than I expected, especially compared to the leaked images. Is it boxy? Yes, but whatever--special features are what transforms an ordinary car into a Bond car, and this set has all the features needed to do that.
I'm laughing at all the commenters who are using the "word of the day" which seems to be credibility, to bash the reviewer. How can someone call another out for their "credibility" without providing any kind of basis for that opinion; it strains their credibility as well.
@aleydita I have seen a number of brickset reviews where they question part of a set, the price and so on. Look at the last review for Voltron, the verdict was "so unless you are a huge Voltron fan or have an unlimited LEGO budget, I suspect you'll look to spend your money elsewhere."
I mean you also have to remember we are all fans of Lego, how many times do you build a set and not like it? I can see why many people have problems with this set but the build and functions could really trun people around. In any case people can have different opinions without it meaning they lying for personal gain!
@Huw, you listed fan sites that were also provided with the set for free. I'm sorry, but your site's credibility has suffered with this article, as - I'm sure - have theirs if they also recommended it to their readers. Compare such recommendations to other fan sites who have given a massive thumbs down (Hoth Bricks for one). Building it might be a joyful experience but that has to be tempered by the abomination of the final model. A side by side view like that shown on Hoth Bricks betrays just how bad this set is.
@kinto, I forgot I'm not allowed an opinion unless it portrays Brickset and/or TLG in the best possible light. Get a grip.
For those saying people are overreacting; I've yet to find a website or Facebookpage which posts an article about the car and then has positive reactions. Even the non-LEGO fans on car blogs are taking the piss out of this thing with reactions from saying it looks like Trabant, a crashed DB5 or a car being in pain. Surely LEGO should've tested the waters a bit more with this?
@CapnRex101: Thanks for posting this so quickly! One (important) issue: it looks like the white balance is somewhat off in the photos. The model looks too blue, at least compared to the official photos. How does it look in person?
Definitely a mixed bag here IMO. The play features are superbly done, but the looks, while not as bad as I initially thought they would be, are not perfect by any means. The price also seems rather high compared to other Creator Expert vehicles.
The negative comments on this are hilarious. Y'all need to chill out. It'll be a nice set to add to my vehicle collection. Thanks for the review guys!
Hate the front headlights.
As for websites that receive a free product to review I always take it with a grain of salt like movie critics. Granted not paying for something does automatically alter one's opinion. You don't quite feel the same disappointment (only speculation) if you've actually thrown down hard earned cash. But this is the reason why these websites come in handy. These reviews are mainly useful for the pics/videos not the commentary for me personally. I also use more than one source to make a sound purchase decision.
@aleydita,
So because you, personally, don't like it, that means anyone who does lacks credibility? The world does not revolve around you, friend.
Love James Bond and the set has awesome features. I wish the shape of the famed car was better though. Loved the review and Chris' opinions. Keep up the great work you do!
How dare someone like something I don't like! Where has all the credibility gone!
@Graysmith - yes, that's exactly what I said. For the record, there's a lot of recent Lego sets that I don't like, most of them Brickheadz, but I accept that whether or not you can assess such a set as worthy of recommendation is subjective.
This set can, however, be directly compared to the source material. It's terribad. And let's face it, I'm not a lone voice here. This is a set that lives or dies on how it recreates a real world object. It was a difficult job that should have been abandoned when it was realised that this was the best they could do (or rather, were prepared to do given the cost of new moulds, etc.) Seriously, stickers to emulate a curved windscreen on a Creater Expert set. What next?
@CapnRex101 - in response to your email, it's not hubris at all, just an opinion. Brickset's credibility has been shot following this article's recommendation of a clearly awful set. Again, opinion, not stating a fact. And while I accept your Indoraptor Rampage review did suggest people bypass the set, it seems to me that was purely based on the price/piece of it rather than the design itself. If price per piece is the only criteria you will decide to not recommend a set, you might as well just give every set a 5 out of 5 rating. Voltron wasn't recommended because, as Huw alluded to, he had no idea of the source material and didn't feel able to recommend it based on that fact alone.
'Classified' should be translated by 'Top secret' or 'Secret défense' in French, because 'Classifié' sounds odd…
After going to some other sites to see comparisons between this model and the actual car, the model does look rather poor. Even though I'm a fan of the older Bond films and I've purchased some of the large creator vehicles in the past, this is a pass for me.
I'll also say that I've seen many online communities disintegrate due to "sponsored" content and I hope that doesn't happen here.
My goodness, guys... Huw and his team provide this service for FREE. And for you to attack their own personal opinions on a LEGO SET is just plain ridiculous.
Thank you for this in depth review.
Is that the same as Facebook providing their service for free? My point was exactly that - that I didn't believe the recommendation was a personal opinion.
As always I enjoyed the review & your insights.
For me it just seems a tad retrograde compared to other recent Creator vehicles as if it could be an earlier branch in the evolutionary tree. It's not awful but it just looks like it could have been designed a few years ago to my eye. It just needs a little finessing in areas like the lack of luggage in the boot or the door linings looking blocky. It's those finishing touches that would have helped to justify the price. May be we have just become spoilt by Creator vehicles like the Mini & the Beetle.
@aleydita,
There's a massive difference between disliking the set and attacking people. Don't confuse the two as being the same thing. Don't bunch those people in with you. You've crossed a line that the vast majority of people who dislike this set haven't and wouldn't.
Moan, moan, moan, wine moan blah blah blah blah, you lot love a good winge. Depressing.
@Graysmith
And how can you possibly know that? Have you surveyed everyone? Maybe I just said what many people were thinking? Criticism of Brickset is never taken well here, too many rabid fan boy defenders, so no surprise people tend to toe the line.
This was a pretty easy pass for me until I looked at all the features. Now I'm definitely on the fence. Not that I can afford it this year anyway...
I think the review addresses the issues quite well. The build isn't the prettiest, but it has cool features that make it feel like a "Bond" car. The price is a little high, but not egregious to the reviewer. On top of that, the reviewer states that they can understand why non-Bond fans may be disappointed, particularly with the price.
What are you soapboxing about @aleydita? Did they modify the review since you posted?
Personally I can get over the LEGO car not being perfect if the gadgets and functions are good. The instruction book looks really cool too. Seems to hit the Bond vibe. I can't spend $150 on any LEGO set right now but if I could, this might 3 or 4 on the list. Throw in a Bond and a Bond girl mini fig with prop, then this would move up to 1, and make the price feel a lot better.
@aleydita, the Beetle had stickers to form the curved windows. You attacking people and their integrity shows us all about your integrity. I picked mine up this morning and saw a built one in the store. I think it looks great and will start building it soon. I have my opinion and you can have yours but if you really think that Brickset is biased in order to stay in the good graces of TLG, leave. No one is forcing you to come here and read the reviews so you can rant about it. Now I will expect your response shortly and I will promptly forget it as you cannot accept any criticism. Would hate to live in your sad world.
Jeez, how thick and self-absorbed do you have to be to think that because you don't like a set any positive review must be dishonest shilling? Good review CapnRex, sorry that Brickset still has such a horribly toxic community. Then again, what else is new…
The aesthetics of the DB5 I find are disappointing... I'll give this one a miss.
There is an issue that TLG need to address... the consistent pricing of product in €uroland countries... the disparity in € RRP pricing between different countries for the same product is far too large... and it's not a foreign exchange rate problem.
Nice review, Chris. I don’t generally buy Creator cars and agree that the overall end product could be more like the original, however, 1) it is LEGO and 2) those extra features may be too fun to miss. I imagine this is a fun build.
I was hyped about this set since I saw the first teaser. Often it is better to have no expectations and be happily surprised... I understand it is a difficult shaped car but I am not impressed. The sides of the car look bit flat and bland and the corners around the headlights could have used a little more roundness. Next to the Ferrari, it does not look very good at all...
From the photos it kinda looks like an oversized Speed Champions car...
As a Creator car collector, I might still get it if I find it on discount. Especially, if it is indeed a pmiaki set. Huge fan. It does not show on his list yet:
https://brickset.com/sets/list-9961
Well, a second lego car set in a few weeks that really seems to be divisive... It's true that when you get a set offered, even if it's not a masterpiece you might be more inclined to tolerate its defaults than when you have bought it with your hard earned money. But till today I have always been able to make myself a clear idea of a set (with reviews articles and videos) which help me make my own choices when it was needed. I have never been deceived by a set that I have purchased. I mean there are the sets I know I want, those I don't want and those I'm not sure. Then I read and watch reviews and make my own opinion about it, whatever the reviewer says or thinks. That's not one's opinion which will make mine. I just need a closer look to help me make up my mind. And I will never consider that a set is bad because I don't like it. I just can thank the people who have took time to share their experience, time and opinions to help me to decide if it's worth my money or not. This James Bond's AM is not perfect considering its shapes, but I love all the action features hidden in it and good designed, but I know that I won't buy it. Whatever Cap'n says or recommends. But I can't say that it's a bad set. Thanks for the review and pictures (and your personal opinion) this time again.
Perhaps it's just the lighting of the photos, but there seems to be quite a range of LBG shades in the set, which doesn't do it any favours! Perhaps LEGO are going for an authentic 'weathered' look...
As easy pass for me; for £130 I'd kind of expected that they'd create a new (and accurately shaped) windscreen element.
The thing I like the least about this is the angle of the grille, but the mechanisms are outstanding, very impressive work.
@aleydita..
I didn't say you can't have an opinion. Actually I suggested you expound on it at length by actually *writing your own* review. Maybe on your MySpace blog or wherever all your fanboys go to absorb your delightful insights. Tell the world in ALL CAPS that you for one are NOT UNDER THE EVIL THUMB OF BIG LEGO!
[EDIT: tiny plastic -C shaped hand without a thumb..]
@aleydita, you’re beyond ignorant and incredibly disrespectful. You have no business being here with that attitude.
I'm not sure what is with all of the frustration of this set. Sure in some ways it does look a little bit blocky, but it's Lego. The gadgets that it appears to have at least makes this set playable and worthwhile. I will admit the price seems a little high compared to the piece count and price to the London bus. I like the James Bond movies, but again, Brickset is here to give you all a chance to review it and make your own call. No need to bash others and demoralize them. IMO, I give this set a good chance because it is somewhat decent and playable.
@legowerba What is sadder is that aleydita maybe does not live in a sad world. He/she may be like a lot of people online that come onto places like this and add that toxic element. It's easy to behave like an ass with the anonymity provided by the internet.
When I saw the packaging pictures online I didn't like it. I thought oooh it doesn't look good. 30 minutes later I was in a store looking at it with a much different outlook. It looks much better in the flesh than in pictures.
This set is disappointing, the only saving grace - there is no Sean Connery Minidoll.
Well, this conversation turned ugly quickly.
Last summer, when I still worked at an LBR store and the London Bus came out, I said to a coworker that I'd love to see a DB5. This is a classic example of "be careful what you wish for", as, in my opinion, this set does the actual DB5 no favors whatsoever. I understand the designers are limited by the medium, but if you can't design a set that flatters the source material, don't use that source material. I think the F40 is a superb rendition of the Ferrari, and the picture of the DB5 next to the F40 only serves to take away from the DB5's already questionable shape.
Here's the thing about how this conversation thread has evolved - there are actually parts of @aleydita's comments that I have to begrudgingly agree with. While I would never call into question the integrity of @CapnRex101 or @Huw, the universal favorable reviews of this set across fan websites honestly surprised me. It seems that there is so much fascination with the gadgetry that the degree of verisimilitude, or lack thereof, has been overlooked. (Ironically this seemed to be an issue in the latter Brosnan Bond films...) At the end of the day, I want my display models to have a accuracy to the source, and don't really care about play features - if I want play features, I'll buy Ninjago City. While I don't agree with the accusatory tone that @aleydita had, I also am baffled by the groupthink on the comments that I've seen defending this set - I'm a Lego fan through and through, and have been my whole life; I am NOT, however, an apologist, and I think this is one of the most disappointing sets in recent memory. Don't believe me? Check out Lego's Facebook post about the set from this morning, and read the comments - and then take note of the fact that the only comments that Lego responded to are the positive ones. There's a lot of disappointment that's been shown, and given the importance of customer feedback to the brand that I saw firsthand over 4 years, I'm very surprised by the lack of addressing the fact that there are a lot of disappointed people.
I understand that there's only so much that can be done given the physical constraints of the System. I don't think anyone from Brickset or any other website is shilling product so that they can keep getting freebies. However, the more I look at it, the less impressed I am, and with a zillion new elements that have been produced recently, the fact that they weren't able to have a finished model closer to the source is a deal-breaker. It's a DB5 first, a Bond car second.
....I'll wait for the price drop lol
@MrJackson That was a very eloquent post that kept as neutral a tone as possible, giving credence to both sides of this very ugly division on the set, while still giving your opinion that you don't like the set. Here is the thing though: This is a Bond car and appearance (or verisimilitude as you put it) is certainly important, but if they kept to a minimum or even omitted all the gadgets, it wouldn't be a bond car. All the major fans of the source material would probably be crying foul at the lack of play features and we would probably have a totally different ugly argument going on right now.
So disappointing after all the hype, this is so damn ugly and so poorly executed, I think Lego should never use the designers of this abomination ever again. Did anyone actually looked it the prototype before approving it for release? AS an avid Lego and 007 fan I am angry that Lego did such terrible job on this model.
I've looked at a lot of DB5 MOCs online in the last couple of days, and I actually haven't found a single one that does a better job with the shape of the car in many ways without also doing a worse job in a lot of other ways. All things considered, then, this is as good a DB5 model as I've ever seen in Lego. The DB5 is just Really Hard to do well in Lego because it has So Many Subtle Compound Curves. The fact that the set is no worse, overall, than any fan build aesthetically, while also packing all the play features so cleanly, makes it a very impressive model in my opinion.
However, I agree with the general opinion that it really doesn't look very much like the real car in a lot of important ways, like the too-shallow grooves between the headlights and the hood, the too-flat radiator grille, the too-slablike sides, and the too-blocky rear window area. I think the price per part isn't bad by the standards of most themes, but the absolute price of the set in dollars is still high enough that I'm not sure I would buy it even if I decided its virtues definitely outweighed its obvious aesthetic shortcomings.
If anyone can point out a large-scale DB5 MOC that is definitely better, especially one that packs Bond features, please post a link in the comments. I'd love to see it.
I'll accept being the villain of the piece if It means Brickset reviewers will think twice before recommending such a truly awful set again.
Talking about toxic, have you seen the Brickset forum lately?
@aleydita The truly sad part of all this is that Chris probably is thinking twice about the quality of this set. And not because of guilt at being a shill (which I don't believe the people who run this site are in any way), but because of your incessant negativity that naturally would make anyone second guess themselves. However, I'm betting he has extremely thick skin and your attacks on him and this site have been taken for what they truly are.
I wish everyone would get a grip. Suggesting that his recommendation may be less than genuine after he himself pointed out several pretty serious flaws, the same flaws that have caused other fan sites to refuse such a recommendation, hardly makes my opinion somehow a personal attack. The site's integrity has suffered with this recommendation and the reviewer is responsible for that. If he takes that critique personally then so be it. Huw attempting to deflect the criticism by showing that other respected sites have also recommended it, ignored the fact that they too also had good reason to stay on Lego's good side.
I could have suggested that the recommendation would have carried more weight had the review been written in crayon. That would be puerile. A bit like everyone having a go at me for having the temerity of calling out Brickset's choice to put monetary concerns ahead of journalistic integrity.
I simply cannot believe that this article's recommendation is anything other than an attempt to appease Lego. Or, as I said, to put monetary concerns front and centre. Either is equally damaging.
Not to prolong this thread unnecessarily, but can you please post some links to all these other reviews that absolutely refuse to even conditionally recommend the set? I have read several other reviews (all in English) that have said essentially the same thing: this set has a lot of flaws as a visual representation of a DB5 and it's a little pricy, but it also has a lot of really cool gadget features, so you may or may not like it depending on what matters most to you; and yes, we got a free kit from Lego, but no, that doesn't mean we're going to say we like it if we don't. Hoth Bricks (in French) is the only review I've read that entirely condemns the set. Internet commenters who haven't built it don't count.
So, for reference, here are the reviews I've read - Brickset, Brothers Brick, New Elementary, Hoth Bricks. Which other fan sites have you read that refuse to recommend the DB5? Please list them so that we can all understand where you're coming from. You probably have a valid point, but we would all be better served if you had simply stated it civilly in the first place instead of repeatedly calling names, then failing to provide support for those claims of yours which are not personal opinions.
I do have to ask, though, if the only reviews you consider legitimate (free of pecuniary concerns) are those based on sets personally purchased by the reviewer. Brickset reviews do tend to be mostly positive, yes, and it is not common for Huw, CapnRex101, iso3200, or any other Brickset reviewer to flatly tell the reader to pass on the kit in question. I have also wondered from time to time how much the act of receiving a free set influences the final opinion in the review, and I observe that Brickset tries rather more scrupulously than some other fan sites to stay on the good side of Lego as a trusted Registered Lego Fan Media. If behaving like a courteous, positive, upbeat RLFM makes Brickset a "corporate shill," so be it - better that than a site that makes a living by spreading poorly sourced clickbait rumors and complaining loudly, as some other formerly influential Lego fan sites have become.
As for bias in reviews, one gets used to a reviewer's style and seeks out reviews from multiple sources to form a balanced opinion of whether one will, one's self, like a product. My local newspaper's movie critic generally gives every Marvel movie three or four stars and writes of them in glowing colors. Manohla Dargis and AO Scott of the New York Times generally pan them, or write dry, sarcastic pieces that grudgingly point out that they're not ALL bad. Between both reviews, plus a few more, I can generally form a pretty good estimate of whether or not I'll like the movie. I don't accuse my local reviewer of being a corporate shill because he liked "Avengers: Age of Ultron" while praising Manohla Dargis and AO Scott as journalists with integrity because they didn't.
If you truly CANNOT believe that CapnRex1010's carefully balanced, but generally positive, verdict about the DB5 is anything other than a conscious attempt to appease Lego or put the financial health of Brickset front and center by maintaining good ties with Lego, that suggests you consider the set to be so bad that no rational person could possibly find anything good about it. I don't personally feel such an intense dislike for the DB5 set, but there's no accounting for taste.
Just please try to be nice about it, and don't throw out unverifiable accusations about ulterior motives. A previous comment said that "You've crossed a line that the vast majority of people who dislike this set haven't and wouldn't." The commenter was not saying that the vast majority of people don't dislike the set. He was just saying that the vast majority of people who do dislike the set wouldn't attack the character of a reviewer. Though the data might not support it, I think that's a reasonable (if optimistic) assumption about human nature.
Worst model from Lego. Disgusting and ugly. I certainly do not buy it. I was looking forward to another car from Lego Expert, but I'm totally disappointed. The designer was probably pretty drugged when he launched it into the world.
@imatheso - I did state my opinion civilly. I didn't call anyone any names (I've been called a few though). So you've read four reviews and only one of those failed to recommend it. It kinda proves my point, though there are others. I'm on my phone right now so difficult to copy and paste links, but they're there.
If I was a lone voice saying just how poor this set is, fair enough, I could understand the vitriol aimed at me. But I'm not. A good 80% of comments here, on other fan sites/blogs, and on Lego's Facebook page are almost entirely critical. Yet I'm supposed to believe that all the fan sites who pre-received a free set so they could have a review ready to go for launch day, all somehow found enough positives to recommend the set to their readers. It doesn't seem credible, it's not credible, and I don't care whether that's a popular opinion or not.
For the record, I haven't personally attacked anyone. And if people think the fact that the site is free to use somehow absolves them of trying to use a dodgy recommendation to persuade people to buy the set using commission-earing links, think again. Facebook, Google, Twitter - they're all "free" in that they monetise your usage of the site. Brickset, in that regard, is no different. Not on the same scale, sure, but it's the same thing.
This 'review' is, in my opinion, essentially an advertorial that isn't marked as such. And it cheapens the site. Certainly, I will pay far less heed to Brickset's reviews going forward.
Had the review said something like "the negatives out-weight the positives so it's difficult to recommend, but if you intend to purchase anyway, please use these links." then I don't think anyone would have had a problem.
If @aleydita, or anyone else, genuinely believes this review to be dishonest, that is their view. I cannot prove the veracity of my opinion, nor can it be disproved.
Ultimately, I like 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 and have stated that in my review. You are welcome to disagree but I do object to the questioning of my integrity, or the integrity of Brickset and other LEGO fan media websites.
I don't really know why I'm continuing this conversation and defending the integrity of this review, but let's take points from its verdict one by one to see whether it's all positive:
"some fans might be disappointed by the greater focus upon functions over form"
Negative
"Unfortunately, I think this model reveals some limitations of the LEGO building system... the flowing bodywork of the real car is not captured accurately"
Negative
"Nevertheless, the functions in this set are fantastic and the model looks pretty good on the whole, taking its challenging curved form into consideration."
Positive, but with reservations
"The price of £129.99 or $149.99 is a little higher than would be ideal "
Negative
"I would therefore recommend 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 to fans of the famed secret agent, although I can imagine that it might not appeal to some Creator Expert collectors."
Positive but acknowledging that it's not a set that everyone will like.
I'm failing to see why some people are reading this a positive review and a recommended purchase.
Now let's discuss the good and bad of the set, not the review, otherwise I will end commenting.
@Huw - so you acknowledge there's just one positive - a qualified one at that - yet the set is still recommended to fans of the source subject. Had there not been that one qualified positive, would you still have recommended this to fans? How bad does a set have to be before you're willing to say "actually, this set has few redeeming features so it's difficult to recommend, even to fans of whatever it is."
Am I reading your last sentence correctly; are you seriously suggesting that despite the recommendation, this is a negative review? There goes all your credibility if so.
@CapnRex101 - you're objecting on behalf of other fan sites? Seriously?
Someone senior in LEGO should have had the courage or authority to pull the plug on this, regardless of the licence cost. I'm sure the designer tried to do the best job possible, but replicating the distinctive shape was always going to be critical, failure to replicate it should have been a show stopper. Something so critical should have been POC'ed BEFORE acquiring the licence...
@aleydita: I apologise for confusing some uncivil comments that explicitly called names with comments by you, which only implicitly called names by explicitly questioning if the review has ulterior motives. Nevertheless, we should all, everywhere, be more civil and not call anybody names, nor bandy about suspicions of ulterior motives too freely. It would be a shame if Brickset comments were to need moderation to ensure a courteous, topical conversation.
@aleydita - No, I object to your suggestion that Brickset and other LEGO fan websites are being disingenuous by publishing a positive review of this set.
At any rate...
As a Bond and car guy, I think I will wait for the mini version that will surely be a GWP. Just like the Bug, Bus, Mini and double decker bus. The only one that did not get a mini version, is the F40, which also happens to be the only one of these I own.
LEGO, please bring on the Speed Champions 007 subtheme!!! I really need an 2cv and a Renault 11 taxi that can split in half.
like the features but not appealing enough aesthetically to warrant spending the $$--and gotta say, while i like the Bond flicks, i think it strays too far from the "kid friendly" ideals of TLG. sure there's violence in Star Wars and the super hero stuff. but Bond's got lots of boozing & womanizing, especially in the classic films. not exactly kid's role model material!
poor money grab on TLG's part, IMO.
Geez, the negativity. The idea that if someone actually likes the set they're just a corporate shill and under the thumb of Big Lego that has no credibility whatsoever.
I like this set. I am neither a Bond fan nor a car person, so it's probably inaccurate, I'll take everyone else's word for that. But I like how it looks. $150 is high though, so this will be a pass from me, for now at least.
I beleive that this set attempts to capture an icon, and does a decent job of it. I also beleive that aleditya should stop commenting and accept that about two people agree with him. This is getting out of hand.
Dear CapnRex101 - thank you for taking the time and trouble on this and all the many other excellent detailed reviews.
Your review - unlike Lego’s very poor attempt to recreate the DB5 - is greatly appreciated.
I believe your comment “...It appears rather square from certain angles and the flowing bodywork of the real car is not captured accurately...” together with several other very honest - less than glowing remarks - were more than justified. (I can of course also see why the last paragraph of your review then went on to ruffle some feathers!)
I struggle to find one angle or view that actually comes even close to a representation of this iconic Aston. Ok maybe the air vents - but that front makes me think of a Mini Moke and it may well have been harder to the make the rear look less like an Aston if that was actually the intention!
When I look at the excellent latest incarnation of the VW Beetle (a vehicle also hard to describe as ‘boxy’) or the superb Caterham - it is then very clear to see just how very poor a job this particular Lego Designer made of this set.
If Lego want to produce fun cars for us to build and enjoy - fine. But please don’t try and justify an unacceptably higher price by adding a couple of vehicle stickers and calling it Iconic. This set is many things - but sadly a model of an Iconic Aston Martin isn’t one of them!
The question most troubling me about this set however is who exactly at Aston Martin was responsible for signing off on this abomination? I’m guessing he isn’t employed in their design department!
Won’t be buying...shame!