One day on from reveal, LEGO fans react to 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine
LEGO Ideas 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine sparks discussion online, first about the minifigures and then about the main build itself.
Those who buy 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine will be doing it for one of two reasons: the clever vending function, or the 16 minifigures. Whichever side you land on – or whether you’re motivated by both – there’s a lot to say about the upcoming LEGO Ideas set, and people aren’t holding back their opinions.
Minifigures included?
More than one person on Instagram was confused by the LEGO Group’s launch video for 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine, sparking questions about whether it’s actually a real LEGO set, whether it’s just promoting the minifigures, or whether the minifigures are included.
To put minds at rest, yes, it’s real; yes, the minifigures are real; and yes, the minifigures are included – and, by and large, people are very impressed. However, not every is ready to part with £150 for the 16 minifigures.
“I just need the Castle minifigure parts to show up on Pick a Brick,” wrote tacoorpizza on reddit.
Others are seeing 21358 essentially like a Collectible Minifigure series, with a buildable vending machine thrown in. However, comparing them directly to a CMF series is not an easy translation for everyone.
“They’re nowhere near CMF quality for the most part,” wrote wildedges on reddit. “Plain arms and legs, common accessories, no animals. Isn’t Build a Minifigure like £6 for three minifigures?”
Others are more positive, seeing the opportunity to make the LEGO Ideas set your own.
“When I first saw the price, I thought it was too much but then I saw that it comes with 16 minifigures,” commented otakudan88 on reddit. “The price is actually really good. I know that there are duplicates but I’m glad there are because I’m taking half of the duplicates and unique designs to put into a display case. I’ll just add extra duplicate minifigures that I already have into the machine.”
The most practical LEGO set yet
Indeed, a lot of the discussion around this set centres around what else you could put in the transparent domes.
“I was thinking about maybe putting in the mini-builds from some of the advent calendars into them after taking the minifigures out,” speculated. LegoKB on reddit. “That or using some of the minifigure parts from the LEGO Store Build a Minifigure.”
“I’d use it to dispense candy,” planned another Ok-Relationship-2746 on reddit. “Break open bags of M&Ms, Skittles, that sort of thing, and fill each ball up with a single type of candy. Need a small fix? Boom, I’ve got you sorted.”
“I was either going to put the mini-builds from the Star Wars advent calendars in them, or I was going to put one 4×4 brick of each colour in them until I run out of capsules,” added MetalSonic123 on reddit
“I’m definitely replacing them with the D&D minifigures,” said Faile-Bashere on reddit, putting forward perhaps our favourite idea of the lot. “Then using it as a way to select your character for my next one-shot campaign!”
For adults?
21358 Minifigure Vending Machine comes in the all-black box that’s reserved for 18+ sets, and some people are wondering why. It’s likely due to the complex working function hidden within, but some people argue that the LEGO Group might be missing a trick not gearing this towards younger builders.
“I can’t believe it’s 18+ because, to me, after the build, kids would be the market to sell to with this,” commented YourMindlessBarnacle on reddit. “It would have much more play and use with kids and reuse with refilling with other minifigures as a treasure vending machine in a classroom or good behaviour at home. It’s really not nostalgic for the 18+ crowd, but to each their own.”
21358 Minifigure Vending Machine will retail for £149.99 / $179.99 / €169.99 with 1,343 pieces (including 16 minifigures) upon its release on June 1 for LEGO Insiders or June 4 for everyone.
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