Review: 40338 Christmas Tree
Posted by Huw,
VIPs can get their hands on the Black Friday GWPs at LEGO.com this weekend, including the first of this year's Christmas-themed ones 40338 Christmas Tree.
It's a lot taller than I expected and has a cool train that rotates around the base
The train is on a turntable that can be rotated by twisting the top of the tree, which is connected to it through a hollow trunk. The bulk of the tree is anchored to the base at the sides using supports disguised as doors.
This cool functionality is well disguised and not apparent at first glance.
Here's a shot with a minifig for scale. It's around 8"/20cm.
Weighing in at nearly 400 pieces, this is a very nice gift with purchase, and perhaps the best Christmas tree LEGO has produced, so if you're planning to buy anything from LEGO.com, now would be a good time to do so.
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Thanks to LEGO for providing this set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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23 comments on this article
Could save me putting up a real tree this year, just pop this in my desk with some Santa figs and build some presents and bam sorted.
I understand that this GWP is bigger than other years, but having to spend €120 makes this GWP something for rich people. Not thinking about AFOLs only, but also in parents that in the past had to spend €55 and now €120.
I think this is not the way and probably it will be the first year I will not get this Christmas commemorative set.
You make a good point Lluis. In previous years buying the winter village set was enough to qualify for a GWP, but not this time.
Just ordered the Ideas Tree House to get this and the Buildable Brick
Shall be hoping it’s still in stock when the batmobile comes out.
I'm just bothered that I might have to buy the giant 89 Batmobile just to get the minifig-scaled 89 Batmobile, 'cause it's the minifig-scaled one that I really want!
@lluisgib, I understand that 120€ are too high considering the price required in the past years but this set is 400 pieces, and if I can recall right none of the past years GWP were this big ??
Hope that it’s still available next Friday with the batmobile
@superteo yes, I agree that the set is bigger but what I'm questioning is if it's reasonable to make a bigger GWP Xmas set and asking €120 to qualify. This blocks a lot of people to be able to get it.
I love the set but I'm still thinking if I want to spend that money to have one
Same as a lot of friends here.
120€ is way too much. Each year i bought the Winter Village set and got a Christmas gift. First, Winter Village sets became more expensive and now, we have to spend a lot more to get the "free" gift.
Ahaha.
Not for another Christmas tree. Not a chance.
I was OK to buy the Winter Village set at its full LEGO price to get a free gift ; now i will wait a discount to pay less for the set. LEGO still want 120€ for a gift? Make bigger and true creative gifts. It's just about imagination, right?
it's free, what's the point in complaining about it
Looks really nice, as for the price point that might also be related to the number of eBay/amz resellers buying regular sets to get the gifts, then returns them in stores?
This way it feels like a significant gift and might trigger that one big purchase at LEGO.com rather than discount retailer.
I save bigger purchases for double points or GWP items. Picked up Upside Down to get both the Christmas Tree and buildable brick.
I really like both the design, the looks, and the functionality. Great job LEGO!
Does anyone know what the second free seasonable gift will be for this year?
I would have considered a purchase to get that nice tree if the minifig in the bottom pic would have been included!
As it is, I can't get myself to try and deal with their probably still defective website and compromised VIP system anymore. I have suffered enough.
I'd quite like one but not for much more than like $15-20.
Thanks for the review Huw, I've been waiting and waiting for a reason to shell out $200 on Vader's Castle and this cool Christmas tree was the perfect motivation! Though the box for Vader's Castle, once wrapped, will certainly dwarf the tree! Happy Christmas Season to all!
This is tempting me to get iy bit no, I'll wait till December sales.
With alot of the GWP sets, if I didn't pull the trigger initially to get it, I just waited and snagged it on eBay.
Most (I know not all) can be had for roughly $20-$40- depending on what it is.
@lordskylark - There is a mini version of the Gingerbread House. I've been waiting to get the full size version till the mini one is available. I will be very disappointed if buying just that one set isn't enough to bag the freebie.
Oh my, this tree is beautiful.
Is no one going to mention the ornaments are hung wrong?