LEGO Creator 40517 Vespa review

Creator delivers a more accessible and affordable version of , proving that great things really do come in small packages. 

Smaller vehicular Creator sets, such as last year’s

and , fill a perfect gap in the portfolio. They’re nowhere near as expensive or large as the sets, and they aren’t as detailed as .

Instead, they offer a cheap alternative while still maintaining a decent build experience – perfect for casual fans, pocket money purchases or those looking for a quick and cheap

fix in between the larger, more involved models on the market.

is an interesting entry as it acts as a companion piece to the much larger . It’s not often that the same subject matter is released in two different sets at the same time, so fans of the Italian motoring icon will no doubt be thrilled – but is there enough on offer here to appeal to a wider audience? 

— Set details —

Theme:

Creator Set name: Release: March 1, 2022

Price: £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99 Pieces: 118 Minifigures: 0

: Available March 1, 2022

— Build —

Two bags containing all the [currently undisclosed number of] parts and a small sticker sheet are included inside the box. Upon pouring out the contents of the bags, you’ll be greeted with an abundance of bright red parts, which makes for a very striking final model. 

The build begins by constructing the back end, the seat, the side panels and rear mud flap. There’s not many parts used, but those that are here create excellent and recognisable shaping almost instantly. A single piece makes up the sloping of the entire back, while two 4×4 wedges form the bulk of each side panel. 

Curved slopes, 2×2 wedge corners and a handful of tiles are also expertly used during the construction of the framework – it may be a small model, but it’s one that shows just what can be achieved with only a handful of bricks. The rear mud flap’s sticker has the number ‘1946’ printed on, marking the year that the first Vespa was released on to the market – a nice nod to the history of the iconic scooter.

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The front of the scooter is a completely separate sub-assembly, and again exhibits some really smart parts usage and techniques – especially the way the front tyre comes together. Built from two 1×1 headlamps, 1×1 round studs with holes and two 1×2

lift arms, it’s not only cleverly designed, but looks authentic too. To complete the model, the two side foot rests clip on to either side of the frame.

Despite the size, the shaping throughout is excellently designed, recreating the famous curves with a high degree of accuracy. The only thing on the entire model that perhaps could have been slightly improved is the top of the handlebars, which lacks any curvature. It’s not entirely accurate, but it’s such a small negative that it is easily overlooked.

The colour scheme feels perfect and the stickers add that final level of detail, completing a compact yet decent model. It’s a fairly quick build, but nonetheless a very enjoyable one. Two main assemblies slot seamlessly together, creating a classic Vespa that very much hits the spot.

— Characters —

is many things – affordable, fun and well-designed – but to scale with minifigures isn’t one of them.

— Price —

At a time when prices of not just

but pretty much everything seem to be on the increase, it’s a rare treat to find a set that’s not only enjoyable to put together but one that most certainly won’t break the bank. At £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99, this is a great purchase for anyone with pocket money to spend, or without the display space for .

— Pictures —

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— Summary —

Creator is a surprisingly good set. Even though the build is over fairly quickly, it’s still an enjoyable model to put together. There are some decent techniques on display and really smart parts usage throughout. It’s one of those sets that really highlights just what can be achieved using a relatively small amount of parts. 

For those with limited space, or finances, this makes for a brilliant alternative to the much larger

. It offers up great value, an enjoyable (albeit short) experience, and the final model looks simply excellent. It’s hard to call a set so small a must buy, but there is a lot to love about this compact little model – it’s simply bellissima. 

This set was provided for review by the

Group.

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— FAQs —