Review: 21338 A-Frame Cabin
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO Ideas has introduced several spectacular minifigure-scale structures, including 21310 Old Fishing Store and 21318 Tree House. The superb 21338 A-Frame Cabin shares evident similarities with those exceptional designs, exhibiting some beautiful details.
While certain features of the Ideas submission have been scaled back, the model maintains a rustic charm and the fantastic detail continues inside, where the furniture looks wonderful. Furthermore, the colourful trees introduce some exclusive elements, although the price of £159.99, $179.99 or €179.99 feels expensive initially.
Summary
21338 A-Frame Cabin, 2,082 pieces.
£159.99 / $179.99 / €179.99 | 7.7p/8.6c/8.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
21338 A-Frame Cabin maintains the high standard expected of LEGO Ideas
- Beautifully detailed, inside and out
- Attractive colour scheme
- Some rustic features
- Outstanding display value
- Bigger trees lack foliage
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Box and Contents
When the 18+ branding was introduced, it represented a stark contrast beside the likes of 21318 Tree House and its verdant packaging. Similar vibrancy could have been effective here, but the subdued colours actually suit 21338 A-Frame Cabin quite nicely. I like the green glow emanating from behind the cabin, balanced with the brown border.
Twenty bags, numbered between one and fifteen, are found inside. The two instruction manuals are interesting, as these move away from the now-standard renders, instead sketching the cabin in daytime and the evening. Presumably there is some flexibility in the design, as long as white remains the predominant colour. No stickers are included, as any decorated parts are printed!
Minifigures
Four minifigures are included and official images provide varied options for assembling different characters. Here they are shown as the minifigures appear in the instruction manual, beginning with a moustachioed hiker. Fittingly, the double-sided head originally appeared in 60202 People Pack - Outdoor Adventures, while this torso is new and looks superb.
The second character wears the Aran jumper introduced in 21310 Old Fishing Store, paired with dark green trousers. Her torso is brilliantly detailed and I like the chosen head too, which usually represents Freya McCloud in LEGO City sets. Moreover, this dark orange hair element has only appeared three times before.
An impressive selection of new or uncommon parts are shared among these minifigures, as the third includes a torso only featured twice before. The blonde hair, meanwhile, is nicely textured and was developed for Olly, one of the new Friends mini-dolls. I love how the pink band across the minifigure's jacket is integrated with matching pink sleeves.
The final minifigure introduces another unique torso, featuring an attractive pattern and different shades of blue. The accompanying satchel looks good too, alongside dual-moulded legs, which are becoming increasingly common. Considering these characters could have consisted entirely of existing pieces, I am delighted the designers managed to provide some new ones.
All four minifigures feature alternative expressions, including one which is rather noticeable from behind, unfortunately. A selection of accessories are also provided, although they are distributed throughout the cabin, other than the backpack and satchel.
The Completed Model
LEGO Ideas has become an unexpected source of excellent rural models, memorably including 21310 Old Fishing Store, 21318 Tree House and 21335 Motorised Lighthouse. As predicted, this model definitely evokes the qualities of its predecessors, capturing lovely architectural detail and surrounding the focal structure with stunning natural features.
The whole model measures 33cm across, excluding the span of the tree branches. The size is therefore comparable with 21310 Old Fishing Store, as shown below, which seems appropriate for a countryside cabin. Moreover, I think the building works nicely without a baseplate, instead relying exclusively on the trees and staircase to communicate the natural setting.
Those trees are loosely secured using blue Technic pins, so can be easily removed. Without the accompanying models, the building measures 21cm and 17cm deep. However, I much prefer to keep everything connected because the trees serve an important purpose, offering some colour and cleverly framing the cabin, albeit with suitable asymmetry, given the rural location.
When detached though, the trees can be combined into a single model. I expected these would look strange together, since the shorter tree obviously differs from its taller counterparts, but am pleasantly surprised, actually. Their composition is appealing and the colours look marvellous in combination, realistically transitioning between red, yellow and muted green shades.
Moreover, the bases are seamlessly integrated, with Technic pins lining up to connect them. The light bluish grey rock element provides an interesting texture, surrounded by more conventional wedge slopes and scattered foliage. The mushrooms are particularly fun, making ingenious use of sand green BB unit heads, which return from 10309 Succulents.
The dark orange canoe, introduced in 10292 The Friends Apartments in this colour, suggests a large body of water is nearby. Trans-light blue tiles and 1x1 teeth accordingly represent a gentle stream here, presumably linked to the bigger river or lake. These pieces provide an extra splash of colour, although the 2x4 Technic bricks supporting the trees do appear slightly out of place.
An otter stands on the edge of the stream, doubtless preparing to jump in. This adorable animal was just introduced in 60394 ATV and Otter Habitat and I am pleased to see another appearing so quickly. Two black columns provide helpful storage for the canoe, with a crate containing life jackets placed underneath.
The trees are assembled using standard leaves and reddish brown tail elements. This technique is quite simple and definitely effective, but is also surprisingly uncommon. Individually, the bigger trees could appear sparse, but together they look fantastic and their aforementioned colours are absolutely beautiful. The addition of sand green 6x5 limb elements and olive green leaves is also welcome, since each has only appeared once before.
A couple of birds are found in the trees, with more wildlife dwelling on the ground. A dark orange squirrel scurries past the cabin steps and a frog is hidden underneath, hardly visible through the gaps. The mushrooms and olive green 1x1 round tiles, representing moss, look nice and I quite like the smooth steps, although this combination of dark tan and light bluish grey supports looks odd.
Among various distinctive features from the Ideas project, integrating Mjölnir elements to create stone blocks was particularly creative. Thankfully, the feature remains intact and these hammers are offset using 1x1 bricks with studs on the side, which are then connected to 1x4 railings. The wooden steps are affixed to another railing element in the centre, as shown below.
The narrow gaps between the stone blocks appear realistic, with light bluish grey ingots and 1x1 brackets closing gaps on either side. The decking on top looks superb too. I like the chosen dark tan colour, contrasting with the medium nougat walls and reddish brown roof of the cabin, while the furnishings are also highly detailed. However, my favourite feature is the camping stove.
Brackets and bricks with studs on the side are combined to outstanding effect across the front of the building, yielding an uneven texture between wooden planks. Some are visibly recessed and others project slightly, which looks fantastic, in combination with a few exposed studs. I think the dark green window frames are attractive as well, matching the predominant earthy tones.
A new butterfly element was introduced in 2021, appearing without decoration, mostly in Friends and Disney sets. The bright light yellow version eventually received printing in 80110 Lunar New Year Display, while the flame yellowish orange butterfly, or moth, is currently exclusive. I like the occasional spots of colour provided by these insects, alongside an equally vibrant birdhouse.
The neighbouring tree features another moth, fluttering above the wood store. Beside the lovely brickwork at the base of the cabin, standard masonry bricks appear rudimentary. However, I like the pitched roof, with a lone fallen leaf on top. Additionally, the logs stacked inside look nice and take full advantage of the available round tiles, decorated with tree rings.
A-frame structures are characterised by their dramatic roof slopes. These panels are assembled using reddish brown tiles, punctuated by occasional studs. The original submission presented several angled elements to create a ramshackle finish, although I think the roofs appear equally impressive without such techniques, which are unsuitable for official sets.
Fortunately, a traditional combination of brackets and bricks with studs on the side can provide a similar effect, which continues from the front onto the back. Once again, the protruding wooden boards look splendid and I like the black chimney, which clearly stands out against the otherwise natural aesthetic of the exterior.
The back of the cabin also includes some more mundane, but important, features. I love the fuel can with Octan's classic red and green stripes, alongside a dark blue cylinder which could serve as a water butt or an outdoor water heater. Both are attached to intricate pipework. The shower is another impressive addition, while a shovel provides basic toilet facilities! The white 1x3 door between them may therefore represent a towel or toilet roll.
Even though the bathroom is outdoors, the interior is richly detailed. Each roof panel is readily removable for access, while the upper level can also be detached to place minifigures inside on the ground floor. The continued earthy colours are attractive, especially in combination with dark red and dark blue furnishings, with only accessories deviating from the natural colour scheme.
The ground floor is completely open-plan and presents exceptional detail, beginning at the front door. The printed doormat looks perfect and makes shrewd use of a 2x4 tile from 10290 Pickup Truck, with slightly old-fashioned LEGO branding. The printed tile displayed above the door was produced for 21325 Medieval Blacksmith and also looks good, with a coat hook and an umbrella stand underneath.
Numerous accessories clutter the area beside the door, including a record cabinet with a record player on top. I like the disorganised storage of these records, which gives the entire room some character. Additionally, crystals are displayed on the sideboard, while the newspaper introduced with the recent Newspaper Kid Collectable Minifigure lies halfway beneath an armchair.
A typewriter is also found inside, featuring the printed 1x2 slope which has already appeared in two Modular Buildings. The typewriter itself is black, but I wonder whether the sand green table is intended to recall 21327 Typewriter. The articulated desk lamp is another fun addition, placed beside a houseplant on a chest of drawers. Every available space is packed with detail!
The kitchen is appropriate positioned, with the fuel can and water butt, or heater, directly outside the window. These are doubtless connected to the sink, which makes clever use of a pearl dark grey flintlock pistol for the tap, with the 2x2x1 inverted curved slope introduced last year forming the underside of the basin.
A black spoiler element represents the shroud above the hob, with various cooking accessories alongside. The cylindrical stove appears realistic and its curved flue pipe lines up correctly with the chimney pipe outside. Logs are conveniently stored beside the stove too. The whole kitchen looks fantastic, but I think my favourite detail is actually the red 1x2 ingot on the wall, depicting a fire blanket.
The fan designer, Andrea Lattanzio, is Italian. The famous Tricolore is accordingly hidden inside the base, underneath an 8x16 plate. Although this cannot really be reached after assembling the cabin, such secrets are always appreciated. An intriguing cardboard box is also provided, with a printed acorn hidden in the shadows.
2x2x2/3 brick with studs on the side are positioned at three corners of the cabin, reinforcing the walls and disguised as sideboards or the aforementioned chest of drawers. A candle and clock are found here, beside a printed dial which perhaps represents a barometer. The staircase is quite simple, but I think this specialised piece suits the traditional A-frame cabin. A red 1x1 plate presents a potential trip hazard for unsuspecting minifigures near the top!
Danger continues upstairs, since the stairwell is not protected by a balustrade. Nonetheless, the upper floor matches the detail of the ground floor, containing a double bed, a shelf and two sand green bedside cabinets, which again incorporate 2x2x2/3 brick with studs on the side. I love the colourful items on the shelf, including an eye-catching yellow car.
I have already mentioned the similarities between this model and 21318 Tree House, which are evidently intended because a minifigure-scale rendition of the earlier Ideas set is provided! The dark blue roofs of the elevated cabins are instantly recognisable, although there is only enough space for two cabins, rather than three. Even so, the design looks nice.
The bed makes effective use of 2x2 curved corner slopes, creating a lovely duvet. The wooden headboard looks good in tan, surrounded by continued trinkets. A painting hangs above the bed and is particularly neat, making reference to another of Andrea's popular Ideas projects, Santa's Cottage. While that project was not approved for production, a summer version of the cottage is immortalised here!
Overall
The classic 6592 Vacation Hideaway was released in 1990, representing an A-frame house with only 111 pieces. 21338 A-Frame Cabin lacks the delightful simplicity of its precursor, but looks absolutely incredible on display! This model is wonderfully detailed and I love the combination of rustic character and vibrant colours, although some prefer the genuinely ramshackle aesthetic of Andrea's creation.
I do think the taller trees look relatively sparse, particularly when separated from the smaller and bushier tree, but their foliage is attractive. Otherwise, I am very satisfied with the A-frame cabin and I think the price of £159.99, $179.99 or €179.99 represents fair value, compared with other Ideas sets considering the high level of detail throughout the model.
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75 comments on this article
So you’d give this set…an “A”?
I think it looks fantastic, I'll likely pick up a copy. I wonder what it looks like next to the Treehouse though - would it be possible to see it please, if you have the time and a copy of the latter set to hand?
@blogzilly said:
"So you’d give this set…an “A”?"
Canceled. Get this guy off the site.
just need to have Steamboat Willie along the stream next to this....
I like the trees. I think I'm going to buy some parts to build them.
@Jack_Rizzo said:
"I think it looks fantastic, I'll likely pick up a copy. I wonder what it looks like next to the Treehouse though - would it be possible to see it please, if you have the time and a copy of the latter set to hand?"
Jay covers it in his review:
https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-21338-a-frame-cabin/
I don’t get the critique of the trees. They’re fairly accurate for thick forests, where leaf cover is generally limited to treetops.
I like the new instruction books and the Easter egg of past Ideas dotted about the set. Still not persuaded to buy it though, it's just not rustic enough, it looks too seamless in construction. And the trees look weird.
I like Andrea's other model.
I’ll likely try to build some of the trees from the original submission to go with this but otherwise the cabin itself is great.
@SillyTwig said:
" @Jack_Rizzo said:
"I think it looks fantastic, I'll likely pick up a copy. I wonder what it looks like next to the Treehouse though - would it be possible to see it please, if you have the time and a copy of the latter set to hand?"
Jay covers it in his review:
https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-21338-a-frame-cabin/"
Amazing, thanks for the link!
I wonder if the little yellow car upstairs is supposed to represent 21307 Caterham Seven 620R.
My favorite part is still the brickwork underneath the house. It looks gorgeous.
It would be great if Lego released a tree set like those two side builds. Either way, the set looks fantastic! It reminds of the vacations I had as a kid in mountain cabins.
Lovely looking set. I certainly don't miss the fragile, ramshackle look of the proposal—if you want something more like that you're free to half-attach most of the tiles like the original project did. But the sturdier look of this feels more like a house I'd actually enjoy staying in.
This isn't worth more than 150€.
LEGO completely stripped all character out of the submission we voted for, and made it uglier with the awful colour scheme (LEGO designers should probably design circus tents since they apparently are obsessed with bright colours) and the pathetically barren tree builds.
Yet another set ruined by the Ideas team.
This looks like it's going to be a real joy to build. I plan to buy it just as soon as the Pizza Delivery Truck GWP becomes available. Although I suspect the A Frame Cabin will mysteriously become out of stock just as that promotion goes live...
@djcbs said:
"This isn't worth more than 150€.
LEGO completely stripped all character out of the submission we voted for, and made it uglier with the awful colour scheme (LEGO designers should probably design circus tents since they apparently are obsessed with bright colours) and the pathetically barren tree builds.
Yet another set ruined by the Ideas team."
How has the colour scheme changed apart from the trees? The pictures here are on a light background, and are shot with more lighting than the Ideas submission (a common thing when people want to make their submissions look more dark and moody).
I don't know what people actually expected when this passed review, but tiles not fully pushed down and fragile trees were not going to be part of the official model. The alternative is that they don't actually make the set.
In some ways I think the Ideas platform creates these problems, in order to get votes people submit things that will appeal to AFOLs voting but that wouldn't ever get made into an official set (and deliberately modify the tone of their photos to make them more moody). And people get way too attached to the fan model submissions and forget that they are IDEAS not actual sets just waiting to be put into production.
Not a bad looking set, but not as nice as the original A-Frame Cabin Ideas entry IMO.
The more I think about it ... the more I prefer the version of the set that's more worn-down and weathered. This feels a bit too artificial and like "glamping" - ie: camping but with all the amenities and luxuries you want. Hey if that's your thing, whatever, but I personally grew up with some pretty spartan camping trips so this set just feels kinda fake to me.
That being said, I could see myself getting this set, stripping out the glamping elements, and rebuilding it to be a bit more hardcore wilderness survival. Just maybe not for that price, maybe on sale.
@Paperdaisy said:
"I don't know what people actually expected when this passed review, but tiles not fully pushed down and fragile trees were not going to be part of the official model. The alternative is that they don't actually make the set."
I'm shocked that people actually expected Lego to put out an official set that would include the direction to not fully push a piece down. Go build an MOC or mod the set if you really want that. It's a stupid building technique that some MOCers have latched onto as a shtick for authenticity. The cabin as released is a much nicer build and probably $50 cheaper than if the set had been built with the submission's piece count
It's OK but not worth the price
This is a nice set. It looks great next to the tree house- especially with the autumn foliage.
Lego Friends 41338 - Andrea's Summer Cabin
Heh, a local poet used to live in such cabin, now there is a museum. Crazy to think how much such structure can fit.
Lovely review, think I'm convinced of buying the set.
@elangab said:
"Lego Friends 41338 - Andrea's Summer Cabin"
I've seen sets with bright colors disparagingly compared to Friends before but this is the most absurd one yet. No pink, no azure, just some fall leaves a couple lighter browns so that you can actually see the detail that's been put into the set more clearly, and suddenly it's being labeled a Friends set. How on earth does a fan of Lego become so absurdly intolerant of color?
To me this looks like one of those CenterParcs huts. Far too sterile versus the original submission.
I know that some things like the trees were never going to look exactly like the ones from the original proposal, but these stray way too far from it for me. There's not even a faint resemblance.
As for the cabin itself, removing the ramshackle look kills all of the charm imho. This looks like a Disney-theme park reimagined version to me.
Love it. I even really like the divisive trees! Could be a day 1 purchase if additional GWPs surface.
Will need a few to make a Finlake holiday village though!
@Lyichir said:
" @elangab said:
"Lego Friends 41338 - Andrea's Summer Cabin"
I've seen sets with bright colors disparagingly compared to Friends before but this is the most absurd one yet. No pink, no azure, just some fall leaves a couple lighter browns so that you can actually see the detail that's been put into the set more clearly, and suddenly it's being labeled a Friends set. How on earth does a fan of Lego become so absurdly intolerant of color?"
That you see it in a bad way it's 100% on you, please don't assume everybody hates "Friends" because you do. I find this will be a nice addition to any Lego Friends layout, and while I don't have plans to purchase it, I'm sure my kids will be happy to populate it with their "Friends" mini dolls. It's a charming set, and on spot with many of the "Friends" sub-themes.
There you go, the Old Fishing Store shows they could've easily have done the ramshackled look for the A-frame, with mismatched and misplaced board but still securely connected.
And given us the two figures from the original submission.
Lost some of the charm.
But ,with that said, if you've never seen the original submission, this is a very nicely detailed set inside and out. Chock full of great details and mini-builds throughout.
Maybe they didn't want to do another distressed look like the Fishing Store.
Still lovely to have on display.
Fantastic set inside and out, the abundance of details certainly reminds of 21318: Tree House. I actually think this is the very first official building with fully tiled walls (and roofs!), such a lovely building technique.
If I was to change something I'd probably replace the large windowpanes with https://brickset.com/parts/design-60608 which I think would suit this better.
@elangab said:
" @Lyichir said:
" @elangab said:
"Lego Friends 41338 - Andrea's Summer Cabin"
I've seen sets with bright colors disparagingly compared to Friends before but this is the most absurd one yet. No pink, no azure, just some fall leaves a couple lighter browns so that you can actually see the detail that's been put into the set more clearly, and suddenly it's being labeled a Friends set. How on earth does a fan of Lego become so absurdly intolerant of color?"
That you see it in a bad way it's 100% on you, please don't assume everybody hates "Friends" because you do. I find this will be a nice addition to any Lego Friends layout, and while I don't have plans to purchase it, I'm sure my kids will be happy to populate it with their "Friends" mini dolls. It's a charming set, and on spot with many of the "Friends" sub-themes."
My apologies then. I certainly don't hate Friends or see it in a bad way, but I'm perhaps a bit too jaded by the AFOL community usually only comparing things to Friends as a pejorative. I saw it a lot with some of the past few Modular releases, where any use of bright or pastel colors got compared to Friends as if those colors never exist in real-life cities. When I saw your comment, I mistakenly assumed it was more of the same.
@Lyichir said:
" @elangab said:
" @Lyichir said:
" @elangab said:
"Lego Friends 41338 - Andrea's Summer Cabin"
I've seen sets with bright colors disparagingly compared to Friends before but this is the most absurd one yet. No pink, no azure, just some fall leaves a couple lighter browns so that you can actually see the detail that's been put into the set more clearly, and suddenly it's being labeled a Friends set. How on earth does a fan of Lego become so absurdly intolerant of color?"
That you see it in a bad way it's 100% on you, please don't assume everybody hates "Friends" because you do. I find this will be a nice addition to any Lego Friends layout, and while I don't have plans to purchase it, I'm sure my kids will be happy to populate it with their "Friends" mini dolls. It's a charming set, and on spot with many of the "Friends" sub-themes."
My apologies then. I certainly don't hate Friends or see it in a bad way, but I'm perhaps a bit too jaded by the AFOL community usually only comparing things to Friends as a pejorative. I saw it a lot with some of the past few Modular releases, where any use of bright or pastel colors got compared to Friends as if those colors never exist in real-life cities. When I saw your comment, I mistakenly assumed it was more of the same."
All is good my friend :)
I actually find them ("Friends") to be much better than "City" in the last few years! While I agree some of the "Friends" sets can get a bit too "bright/pastel", for the most part it's nice. The A cabin is charming, but something about it just makes it "Friends Modular" more than anything (at least for me), and I'm saying it in the most positive way.
That red-leafead tree is gorgeous.
I genuinely think I enjoy the side-builds more than the main build.
I really do enjoy the fact that minifig- and minidoll-hairstyles are used interchangeably as of late, but Ollie's hair on a minifig makes that minifig look like Street Fighter's "Luke", and I suddenly loathe that poor minifig from the very pit of my stomach. It's not you, mini-man. It's your hair. Escape my rage, change your hair.
I wonder if people would have been happier if some spare tiles in suitable colours (dark brown maybe, or some printed wooden plank tiles) had been included. Then people could have attached them in a haphazard way on the exposed studs for a more worn, patched look if they wanted to.
The tiles are cheap enough on Bricklink if you want to do that. Of course there is the no added cost option of copying the designer and just not pushing all the tiles down.
@MaxA said:
"I don’t get the critique of the trees. They’re fairly accurate for thick forests, where leaf cover is generally limited to treetops."
Totally agree! Much more realistic than the originals. (Not that Lego has to be realistic.) It seems like the "realism" that people desire for trees is something that is perceived and not at all what you actually see in the real world. AFOL perception of evergreen trees has always baffled me. I get that the overall shape of an evergreen tree is typically conical, however, people seem to think it's because the branches slope downwards. The vast majority of evergreen trees, though, actually have branches that either lay flat or slope slightly upwards. The conical shape is because the length of the branches at the top are shorter than those at the bottom. Yet AFOL after AFOL continue to build "evergreen trees" with downward sloping branches, believing them to be more realistic.
Not really a fan of it. Quite ugly. Just screams 80’s murder house to me. I do like the trees though.
This looks like a fun set to build and inspires one to add on to it. Like adding to the stream, creating a lake or maybe a river for the canoe. I might need to add an outhouse, my minifigs are from the suburbs.
I really like the trees and how they can be connected together in a grouping. For those wanting the delipidated look of the original, just misapply the tiles to the roof and the walls. Great set can't wait to add to my collection and a neighbor for my tree house.
"A red 1x1 plate awaits unsuspecting minifigures near the top!"
Is there something insidious about red 1x1 plates that I'm not aware of? Should I start removing them from my collection, or at least quarantining them??
@BovineBrick said:
""A red 1x1 plate awaits unsuspecting minifigures near the top!"
Is there something insidious about red 1x1 plates that I'm not aware of? Should I start removing them from my collection, or at least quarantining them??"
Sorry, I was alluding to minifigures potentially tripping over the 1x1 plate on the stairs. Any colour could be lethal but perhaps reddish brown most of all, camouflaged against the staircase!
I would like to see someone convert this into the cabin in the Johnny Depp movie “Secret Window”, based on a short story by Stephen King.
This is neat set, I say, helping myself to another ear of corn from the steaming bowl.
The flag: YAY!
Bravissimo, Andrea.
I would rather go without all the interior detail and pay 100€ less for just the cabin and trees.
@legoDad42 said:
"There you go, the Old Fishing Store shows they could've easily have done the ramshackled look for the A-frame, with mismatched and misplaced board but still securely connected.
And given us the two figures from the original submission.
Lost some of the charm.
But ,with that said, if you've never seen the original submission, this is a very nicely detailed set inside and out. Chock full of great details and mini-builds throughout.
Maybe they didn't want to do another distressed look like the Fishing Store.
Still lovely to have on display. "
Folks could indeed use the Old Fishing Store as a guide to make this build look more "ramshackle" as many people seem to want. It wouldn't be very hard to do, even with just the pieces included in the set. That said, I built my OFS "clean" with nicely uniform, smooth tiles, and I like the final Ideas A-Frame more than the submission. Same for the Treehouse, Blacksmith and Lighthouse (although we don't have that one). Potato/potato.
The only thing that I do not like is the fact that there is only one bed and there are four minifigures? Where do the other two sleep? Or do they sleep together?
Otherwise, a very interesting set. I am really thinking about buying it.
Many thanks for the review, I was waiting for it to get a better decision about it!!
@Jack_Rizzo said:
" @SillyTwig said:
" @Jack_Rizzo said:
"I think it looks fantastic, I'll likely pick up a copy. I wonder what it looks like next to the Treehouse though - would it be possible to see it please, if you have the time and a copy of the latter set to hand?"
Jay covers it in his review:
https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-21338-a-frame-cabin/"
Amazing, thanks for the link!"
I like what he did with the treehouse! The leaves on those look great! I might have to give that a go for mine!
This is just one of those Ideas sets: Looking at it, I will always see the original submission in front of my eyes. And this is a great set, but I still thing that the original is better.
Using that flintlock pistol as a tap is genius.
@HeriSanmi said:
"The only thing that I do not like is the fact that there is only one bed and there are four minifigures? Where do the other two sleep? Or do they sleep together?
Otherwise, a very interesting set. I am really thinking about buying it.
Many thanks for the review, I was waiting for it to get a better decision about it!!"
Being a cabin in the woods, two of the minifigures take it in turns to keep watch while the other two try to sleep. Someone's got to guard against the giant spider! And plague-riddled squirrel! And poisonous frog! And rabid otter! And the Hitchcockian birds!!!
@Quinnly said:
" @blogzilly said:
"So you’d give this set…an “A”?"
Canceled. Get this guy off the site."
But they didn't do anything wrong. They were... framed.
Very nice and a few good part usage. I'll see about interesting building technique when I review the instructions. Of course all Lego rendition of Ideas are Disneyed version of the original (and, most of the time, we eventually get used to it). As much as I like it, it has very little to do with 'Space' either real or Classic, so I might not have any place to fit this - still not fully written off but slim chances.
I like the trees, they are more of the meleze (larch) type than the regular (and expected) pine trees.
This will go well with 60394.
Came out better than I expected. Just need a reduction in price in a sale now. Its quite nice.
Curious about the Octan fuel can, as isn't that typically a gas setup so I'd kind of expect a rounder composition. Maybe some remote places do use petroleum and not gas, but doesn't' that need a generator?
the picture frame actually is the Blue Cottage https://www.flickr.com/photos/norton74/50946160451/in/dateposted/
Thanks for including pics of the interior with the other roof piece removed. All of the official pics were from the opposite side only!
The only item I’m bummed that is missing from the orig submission is the bear.
Day 1 purchase for me.
Best set since Fishing Store. No sets has come close in the last few years except for maybe the Black Pather bust.
@Paperdaisy said:
"
How has the colour scheme changed apart from the trees? The pictures here are on a light background, and are shot with more lighting than the Ideas submission (a common thing when people want to make their submissions look more dark and moody).
I don't know what people actually expected when this passed review, but tiles not fully pushed down and fragile trees were not going to be part of the official model. The alternative is that they don't actually make the set.
In some ways I think the Ideas platform creates these problems, in order to get votes people submit things that will appeal to AFOLs voting but that wouldn't ever get made into an official set (and deliberately modify the tone of their photos to make them more moody). And people get way too attached to the fan model submissions and forget that they are IDEAS not actual sets just waiting to be put into production."
Since you're apparently awful at spot the differences:
- The trees went from dark red, dark orange and olive green, to a horrid hodgepodge of colours including bright orange, bright red and sand green. It's not a difference in lighting. It's a difference in actual colours chosen.
- The printed wooden planks went from matching the colour of the cabin to tan (likely to cheapen out).
- The windows went from white to green for some weird reason.
We expected LEGO designers to do their job and find creative alternatives to not fully pushed down bricks and "fragile trees" (as if fragile build have EVER been something LEGO actually cares about...). Although I would even argue that, considering Ideas sets aren't really aimed at children, there should be absolutely no issue with a build with not fully pressed down tiles. This is a display piece. And if you want to press things down, you can.
You are right about one thing, though.
The Ideas program does create this issue. LEGO shouldn't allow people to submit their builds AT ALL. They should only allow people to submit Ideas in text form. That way, no fan would ever have their expectations ruined by LEGO's designers.
The reason LEGO doesn't do that is because it's easier for their designers to leave the creative part to the fans. That way they just have to come along, pick up someone else's better job and ruin it with their "personal touch". It's easier to copy someone else's idea if it's already build. Providing only the "Idea" would require Ideas designers to then use their imagination. And we can't have that at LEGO, can we? No no.
@giberaltor said:
" @Quinnly said:
" @blogzilly said:
"So you’d give this set…an “A”?"
Canceled. Get this guy off the site."
But they didn't do anything wrong. They were... framed."
I can't believe I didn't think of that...
I live in the Pacific Northwest, in British Columbia. This looks like a lot of cabins I have seen/ have stayed in. Furthermore, those sparse trees are actually pretty commonplace when you get to certain ares or elevations, so they look pretty realistic to me. I think this set is stunning.
i do want to say that i find the comparison to the old fishing store strange; if this cabin had been made ramshackle in the same way it would've looked much less like the original submission. i don't quite know how to put it into words but just. the old fishing store is weathered in a way i would expect an old fishing store to be weathered in, but not in the way i would see an old cabin weathered in. doing a cursory search, that kind of extreme weathering isn't really... how it goes. the reason the designer did the tiles the way they did was because that was perhaps the best way to represent the kind of unevenness you'd see in an old cabin, and it's not gonna fly in a lego set. they tried their best to replicate it with the uneven heights of the tiles on the front and back (and also with the scattered studded tiles on the roof) but it's a hard needle to thread.
and it's a horse beaten to death by this point but the colors of the cabin are exactly the same as the original proposal (besides white window frames turned dark green, which is a darker color) so where is this idea that lego bleached this set to unrecognizability coming from? the trees, which have leaves in real colors leaves come in?
i also don't really see how glamorous your camping can be in a cabin where you shower completely exposed to the elements but maybe that's just me
Experience the slow life in the LEGO Ideas A-Frame Cabin (official video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFMXdd9luqQ
Many people on here have never seen trees in real life, it seems. I live in the boreal forest in eastern Canada and I can attest that both the colour and the design are better on the set than on the submission.
Honestly, this is such an improvement over the original submission for me. I like the colours and happiness it exudes.
@eiffel006 said:
"Many people on here have never seen trees in real life, it seems. I live in the boreal forest in eastern Canada and I can attest that both the colour and the design are better on the set than on the submission. "
I live in the Spessart, one of Germany's largest forested areas, and we have lots of trees like those in the original submission.
That sand green leafed tree in the final set looks a bit like the pine trees we have, but for it to match the foliage would need to be dark green instead. That yellow tree next to it though, I have never seen anything like it ever.
It's not just the tress that lack detail but also the house. The original design had a lot more depth to it, but the final version is pretty nice too. If I ever find it on sale I'll buy it but not at the retail price.
@Lucina said:
"i do want to say that i find the comparison to the old fishing store strange; if this cabin had been made ramshackle in the same way it would've looked much less like the original submission. i don't quite know how to put it into words but just. the old fishing store is weathered in a way i would expect an old fishing store to be weathered in, but not in the way i would see an old cabin weathered in. doing a cursory search, that kind of extreme weathering isn't really... how it goes. the reason the designer did the tiles the way they did was because that was perhaps the best way to represent the kind of unevenness you'd see in an old cabin, and it's not gonna fly in a lego set. they tried their best to replicate it with the uneven heights of the tiles on the front and back (and also with the scattered studded tiles on the roof) but it's a hard needle to thread.
and it's a horse beaten to death by this point but the colors of the cabin are exactly the same as the original proposal (besides white window frames turned dark green, which is a darker color) so where is this idea that lego bleached this set to unrecognizability coming from? the trees, which have leaves in real colors leaves come in?
i also don't really see how glamorous your camping can be in a cabin where you shower completely exposed to the elements but maybe that's just me"
I would have chosen the lack of indoor relievement facilities first, but I suppose the shower can eliminate those comparisons on its own.
@djcbs said:
" Since you're apparently awful at spot the differences:
- The trees went from dark red, dark orange and olive green, to a horrid hodgepodge of colours including bright orange, bright red and sand green. It's not a difference in lighting. It's a difference in actual colours chosen.
- The printed wooden planks went from matching the colour of the cabin to tan (likely to cheapen out).
- The windows went from white to green for some weird reason.
We expected LEGO designers to do their job and find creative alternatives to not fully pushed down bricks and "fragile trees" (as if fragile build have EVER been something LEGO actually cares about...). Although I would even argue that, considering Ideas sets aren't really aimed at children, there should be absolutely no issue with a build with not fully pressed down tiles. This is a display piece. And if you want to press things down, you can."
- I hardly consider the tree colors a "horrid hodgepodge" of colors. This is just …how deciduous trees often look in the autumn as their leaves change. I certainly can't figure why you'd compare brightly colored autumn leaves, which are a normal thing in real life, to CIRCUS TENTS of all things.
- The Sand Yellow/Dark Tan planks were in the original proposal! Not ALL the planks in the original proposal were those colors, but several were, including on the front wall and roof. All the designers did was move those parts around a bit, using them for the lintels instead of just for the crooked diagonal beams.
- Anyway, how does using a duller and dingier Sand Yellow lintels in place of the original project's Medium Nougat ones, or using subdued Earth Green/Dark Green window frames in place of the original project's stark white ones, line up with your complaint about them the colors being too bright?
- To me, the issue with tiles not being fully pressed down in an official build is not about complexity/target age (any builder can fail to press a piece down fully, even completely by accident!), but rather that there's no clear way to indicate that in an instruction manual . Moreover, your point that builders could just as easily push the parts down according to their preference also works in reverse — why can't people who want the "ramshackle" look just buy this set and then choose NOT to press the tiles down securely?
- Also, something I haven't seen a lot of people point out: the project creator HIMSELF chose to push the tiles down more securely in some of the later updates posted to the project page, in addition to adding more printed wooden boards in colors contrasting with the walls and roof. How does it make sense to treat the colors and building techiques from the original project photos as gospel when even the fan designer was not firmly committed to those particular choices?
@animal12 said:
" It seems like the "realism" that people desire for trees is something that is perceived and not at all what you actually see in the real world. AFOL perception of evergreen trees has always baffled me. I get that the overall shape of an evergreen tree is typically conical, however, people seem to think it's because the branches slope downwards. The vast majority of evergreen trees, though, actually have branches that either lay flat or slope slightly upwards. The conical shape is because the length of the branches at the top are shorter than those at the bottom. Yet AFOL after AFOL continue to build "evergreen trees" with downward sloping branches, believing them to be more realistic. "
I agree that the trees feel much more realistic here, but I do think it's a bit of a shame they changed them from coniferous trees to deciduous ones.
I don't think we've ever had a set with brick-built coniferous trees as tall as these — the closest I can think of is the one from 80109. And indeed, the tree in that set had similar downward-angled limbs to the original A-Frame Cabin proposal on the Ideas site, though in fairness you could make a case that its limbs are weighed down by ice and snow.
So while I appreciate this set's trees for being built in a different way than usual, and being fairly realistic in colors and limb structure, I would still definitely love to see a REALISTIC brick-built conifer tree at this sort of scale in a future set!
@Lucina said:
" I also don't really see how glamorous your camping can be in a cabin where you shower completely exposed to the elements but maybe that's just me "
Yeah, the "glamping" comments make no sense to me. Frankly, some of the final set's amenities are slightly LESS modern/glamorous/high-tech than the original project's.
The original design had a boom box with tape deck instead of a vinyl record player, and also had a large chandelier and dining table on the ground floor in place of the final model's more utilitarian lamp and writing desk. The fancy pie and cupcake from the Ideas proposal have been swapped for a simpler meal of fried eggs and a carton of milk (I do worry a bit about how they'll keep that milk fresh without a fridge or ice chest, though). Even the decorative potted plants from the original project, have been replaced with wild plants, fungi, and other natural elements in the finished set — another change the fan designer opted for later project updates.
As I see it, the main reason that the final cabin might seem more cozy or glamorous than the original is that it's not so poorly maintained! The front porch stairs are no longer falling apart. The walls and roof are no longer carelessly patched up with diagonal wooden beams. The bedroom walls are no longer covered in spiderwebs (though the spider that presumably made them now has a safe hiding spot in the rafters). And the birdhouse is now painted, instead of leaving it the same Reddish Brown color as the roof and porch railings.
But regardless of that tidier aesthetic, the campers are still chopping their own wood, cooking their own meals, and — as @PhantomBricks points out — burying their own waste. That's hardly a pampered, upper-class sort of lifestyle!
So, as per usual, some prefer the original submission, others prefer the production version. Looks like Lego have got it just about right then!
@Aanchir
I hadn't thought of that, but the complaints of glamping stemming from how tidy it is makes sense. It's certainly more logical than the alternative. Or, perhaps some of our fellow Bricksetters live in caves and see this as an upgrade... All joking aside, I think this model looks better with all planks pressed down. I'm pretty sure leaving them partially on would create extra tension as well, right? Maybe I am misremembering that fact.
Looks very nice. I'm not a fan of the messy interior. I get it, but it just looks aesthetically unpleasing and overly busy. It kind of detracts from the nature-area focussed build IMHO.
I won't be able to buy this like always, but I think this is a wonderful model.
I loved the original fan design for certain reasons and I love the official design for certain reasons. What a happy set. Love the colors. Absolutely a day 1 purchase for me!
Thanks for the wonderful review. I will probably pick this one up. I think it looks great!
The original idea has a certain charm to it but it's clearly an inferior model compared to the finished version. The original doesn't even appear to have a proper foundation. I'm inclined to think it would probably fall apart the moment you attempted to move it.
I'm not a fan of the parts just scattered about in the original either. Did people actually expect LEGO to release a set with 1x1 plates randomly dumped around the model that aren't even connected to anything?
For those looking to revert the finished model to something akin to the more rustic proposal, I think like it would be extremely easy to modify to accommodate that.
I got so excited to see that the Dark Green windows (1x4x3) were going to available again!
But then LEGO makes them in (2x4x3) in this set, which is pretty much a useless size imho.
LEGO had the ability to hook us all up with a rare piece and instead seriously disappoint, at least, me.
I don't like the trees, has anyone upgraded them and is willing to share how they did it?
It's just occorred to me that all of those Mjolnirs make this a worthy set. Also, I hadn't realized that was called an Aran jumper. (Or an Aran sweater, I guess, as I'm American.) And that's another Nintendo character I want in Lego form. And if that is a water butt, let's hope they don't confuse it and the fuel can. I find it interesting that they use that for the candle, rather than the standard candle piece.
@HeriSanmi : Obviously, it's a polycule and they sleep together.
@elangab said:
"Lego Friends 41338 - Andrea's Summer Cabin"
If that's supposed to be a reference to the fan designer, the Italian Andrea is 1. A male name, and 2. pronounced differently. (I believe the pronunciation is more like AndrAYa than Andreea.) Still a good pun that I had to upvote, though.
@Vesparas said:
"I'm not a fan of the parts just scattered about in the original either. Did people actually expect LEGO to release a set with 1x1 plates randomly dumped around the model that aren't even connected to anything?"
Both 21313 and 10281 used them.
Can anyone tell me what the wand placed in the gold stud next to the downstairs candle is supposed to represent? I can't for the life of me figure that out.