Review: 41256 Rainbow Caterbus
Posted by Huw,
41256 Rainbow Caterbus is the store-exclusive set in the Trolls: World Tour lineup. In the UK you'll find it in brand stores but not in Argos or Smyths. I'm not sure which of the US chains is carrying it.
I was immediately drawn to it by the colourful and fun-looking bus but, unfortunately, after building it, I was left feeling bitterly disappointed.
The set comes with two 'minifigures', Poppy and Cooper, and a bunch of brick-built characters.
Poppy is the same as in 41251 Poppy's Pod that I reviewed last week.
Cooper comprises three parts and shares a head mould with Poppy.
The legs/body and hat are dual-moulded so there is a very defined demarcation between the colours. Consequently, he, and Poppy for that matter, are both top-notch quality.
The tall figure in the middle is 'cloud guy', who uses a cloud-shaped Unikitty plate for a face and Harry Potter candlesticks for legs, appearing here in blue for the first time.
The three smaller figures are cloud babies.
As I said, the colourful caterpillar bus was what attracted me to this set initially but I should have looked more closely before buying because, unfortunately, its aesthetic is entirely reliant on stickers on both the roof and the underside. As you can see there are unsightly gaps of contrasting colours evident around them which I think are very ugly.
The roof can be removed to reveal two passenger and one driver's 'seats' in which the minifig characters can be placed standing upright.
The other structure in the set is a bus stop that doubles as a swing. The flower at the top is made from two piecs of one-plate-thick felt. Some of these new parts are in LEGO's published inventories, but not all.
The yellow bar on the right is also a feature of 41251 Poppy's Pod. I didn't know what it was when I reviewed it but it turns out Poppy uses it as a swing by hooking the top of her hair over it.
Verdict
It's a fun and very colourful set but one whose aesthetic is totally reliant on stickers. Using them to effectively change the colour of parts is unacceptable in my view, particularly when, as is the case here, you are left with ugly great lines of contrasting colours around them.
OK, so there isn't a 4-long version of the 8x8 bow top available, but the designers should have used some other pieces instead to create the striped pattern, which, had it been implemented properly, would have been very attractive.
I suspect this set has been confined to 'store exclusive' status due to being lacklustre compared to the others, so unless you're desperate to have a complete Trolls collection I suggest you steer clear, particularly as the two proper figures can be found in other Trolls sets.
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29 comments on this article
A Search result on Google says it's a Target exclusive.
(Blue Shell enters the chat)
They could have used the 2x8x2 curved parts instead of the 8x8x2 parts with stickers for the top/bottom curved parts, and then use technic pins to reinforce it.
That would have needed more parts in more colors however, and maybe it didn't look smooth enough.
Or maybe there are height issues for the tall character standing inside, the 8 long bow piece roof is hollow for the 6 in-between studs so there's a taller inside ceiling compared to using multiple 2x8x2.
I just base this of my experience with such parts via the 2019 Space Station.
I like this.
I want this.
There I said it.
Sorry everyone.
That tall dude vmcan serve as a giraffe with some different parts (heads and color).
The cut-open-heads look exactly like Ray Liotta's brains in "Hannibal". Scary stuff.
I loved making this set. I transformed the bus into a small piggy bank with just a few changes on the top. I never applied any of the stickers and I think it looks great! Plus I love the swing, much nicer than earlier swings in elves sets. I rate this an "A+" set!
Refreshers anyone?
The stickers are a bit daft, but I still really like this one. Perhaps down the line more appropriately coloured parts will become available, and I can swap them out at that time. Until then, I still think this is a fun looking model. I will pick it up when I see it. :D
That giraffe guy body will be perfect for making a "cursed minifigure."
The Harry Potter quidditch set had the same sticker problem. A large sticker was used to create a plaid pattern over the large panels at the base of each tower. However, the stickers don't quite cover the face of the panel, and the background color of the piece shows through. I liked the set, but didn't like that aspect with the stickers.
Dang! Glad I read this review, because this was the Trolls set I was most looking forward to getting at some point. I'll still probably get it (if the discount is big enough), but bummed that those are stickers. I agree: it's unacceptable to rely on stickers for basic color schemes.
Take away the minifig creatures this could have been called lego pride...
Nice colourful sets well detailed cant wait for my littlen to watch the movie,
Also cant wait to see the minions sets!
I'm with you, HUW. Death to all (most) stickers! I think they're cost effective for customizing certain parts, but I always prefer they be printed. In cases where the stickers are sort of "optional" they're totally fine, but in a situation where the build doesn't otherwise work without them, that shouldn't be acceptable. We never really know what informs these decisions, but it doesn't seem like the set is worth producing is if can't be done right.
Cloud people's awesome, the rest is passable.
I suspect most kids won't care much about the stickers, but it is really disappointing. I think they should have made the different stripes run horizontally instead of vertically.
Stickers to add detail seems fair, but I agree with you that stickers to change the color of a part is not what buyers expect. Better to change the deeign than go down that slippery slope.
The built figures and the build itself are very Unikitty-esque, I like them.
The troll minifigs, particularly the long necked one, are nightmare fuel.
I like the Caterbus, but they should have ditched the side build and made the Caterbus bigger. 8/10
Do the hair/hats have centred antistuds, so they can be worn by normal minifigs? I'd love to see how ridiculous that would look...
@TeriXeri said:
"They could have used the 2x8x2 curved parts instead of the 8x8x2 parts with stickers for the top/bottom curved parts, and then use technic pins to reinforce it.
That would have needed more parts in more colors however, and maybe it didn't look smooth enough.
Or maybe there are height issues for the tall character standing inside, the 8 long bow piece roof is hollow for the 6 in-between studs so there's a taller inside ceiling compared to using multiple 2x8x2.
I just base this of my experience with such parts via the 2019 Space Station."
These are both good points (the height in particular I can see being a problem given the tall hair of many of the characters). On the plus side, parts-wise I think both the pink and the azure for those parts is new so since they're stickers you could easily use them in MOCs even if they don't use all four colors.
Personally despite the stickers being a suboptimal solution I do like the design of this set, especially the nubby little legs/wheels. I doubt I'd get it though since I have no real attachment to the franchise.
Fair, honest review, giving the set a chance, yet not excusing flaws that detract from its strongest feature (the intended vibrant color striping of the bus).
@FlyerBeast yes, you can put Trolls hairpieces on minifig heads. I tried it, and now I know why Mandalorians never remove their helmets!
When I first saw this set it straddled the line between adorable and terrifying and I was on the fence about getting it. Thanks to this review though, I'm probably going to stay away. Using stickers to recolor parts is not acceptable, they should've gone with a different build.
I'm very definitely not their target audience.
@bookmum You do you and enjoy. :)
Bargain basement discounts in three, two, one...
Thank you for the heads up about the stickers. That is disappointing! It still has this sort of psychedelic pride feel that might keep me from staying away!
Those stickers are a definite turn off. I really had no interest in this set for myself. If I found it on deep clearance I might get it just for the parts.
I think it's a nice set but I don't see this theme doing well at all, just look at angry birds and unikitty, which are both pretty similar to this and flopped hard
Looks like a unicorn lost its lunch....