LEGO Christmas Train Review for MFZ: RA

Christmas Train

So I was at Target looking through the Christmas Section when I came across what I call the 'stocking section' Well I found this polybag hanging around and decided to pick it up to do a review on it so let's get this started.

Well first I am going to state that this really just seems like a modified version of the Mini Hogwarts Express and this will be a terrain and normal review just like that one was. Also for simplicity I use terrain, scenery interchangeably for anything not a frame.

Can you build a frame, or frames, right away?

Off the bat I am going to say no but I also want to try and be a bit more creative. I think I might be able to make a tank but little to busy for that right now. Might be a revisit in the future! No -5

Can you build a terrain, or trains (terrain I mean), right away?

Going to go with yes! It can be stripped down for raw parts to be used to make terrain or it can be used mostly as is to put a in scale train on your field. I think it is a better size then the Mini Hogwarts is but it needs the back that it has plus I think that car in the back could be useful! +5

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?

Picked this up for $4.99 at Target with 82 pieces. Calculate and we have $0.06 so below! +5

That's a lot for a polybag!

If you can't build a frame right away, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?

Yes but limited so +5

If you can't build a terrain right away, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?

If you want the train it is a yes but for raw other kind of scenery I think it would be a no. Going stick to giving it a yes though for the purpose of points at the moment. +5

Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts (frames)?

Nope -5

Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts (scenery)?

Yes +5

These looking interesting and useful. Only two in the bag.

So now our totals!

Frame: 0 = B
Terrain: 20 = A+

Next to a Chub for scale comparison.

Need to move a frame fast?

So I basically just repeated the Hogwarts Express review but...they are almost the same collection just more pieces.  If you are going to just use it for parts not for the train but something else it is most likely going to drop to an A or B+. Of course all these trains could be used to make a home brew scenario as well! Then again there is that tank idea...

Though now that I think about it there might be parts in here for Alpha Bandit...

Having some fun...

Of course review system credit to Mantis King.

About MFZ: RA Reviews

First I like to say thank you for those that have checked out my reviews, thank you. Currently I have a rough average 130 views per review post and I think that is awesome! I am also glad to see that some people are finding them useful! If you have checked out my other posts because of my reviews, then you get 10 extra points of gratitude.

Next I like to thank Mantis King and our 'rivalry' about reviews. I use the system he established (thank you) and I find it very exciting we have 'sister' reviews. I think it good for the community as I am sure we look at things in different ways and I will take more about this later. Once there are a few more I will most likely make a post having side by side hyperlinks of the reviews.

3rd I am sorry I have not done a review in awhile. I have been busy getting ready to move and nothing has really jumped at me lately but I have two reviews coming around the corner!

So now how I do my reviews.

I am going to start by coping a question and answer that came up in the Hanger.

Xero010

When you calculate price per part, do you include the minifigure as well? I realized I had a lot of fig bits leftover from random polys, and it made me wonder.

Shades_Corvid (This is Me)

I go by the number on the bag which I am sure includes the minifigure but I don't think it includes the 'random' extras.

The reason I go by the bag is 1) I don't think the 'random' bits are included and 2) their is a few builds that use either legs or hands of minifigures but I don't include that fact for the 'useful bits' section of the questions.

Next when I do a review I think I have one big difference from Mantis King and that is I am not one of these 'master builders'. I don't look at the parts and go "I can use this to make this or do this." I think the best example of this is in our reviews for The Galaxy Squad Mini Mech; His, Mine.

I am the guy looking through the models and deciding what frames I want to use and looking for instructions or using sets as is (like in the terrain review).
So I hope that helps people understand my process a bit in the future.

Will of course answer more questions in the comments!

Additionally I will write about my demo soon also!!