It’s time to start the Summer set reviews by looking at the entire new range of LEGO® Marvel sets. The first set I’m taking a look at is the recently revealed mini version of the Helicarrier. This gigantic airborne aircraft carrier acts as the mobile command centre for S.H.I.E.L.D. It first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Marvel’s The Avengers/Avengers Assemble. Since then it’s appeared in multiple MCU projects, including Captain America: Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. It’s the MCU version of the Helicarrier which this new set is modelled on. Previous LEGO versions of the Helicarrier have included the large-scale version from 2015 and a more play-focused set released in 2020. This new take on the Helicarrier follows a similar format to the LEGO Star Wars Starship Collection sets. Offering a displayable microscale recreation of the Avengers mobile HQ.
Product Details
Set Name: The Avengers Helicarrier | Set Number: 76295 | Pieces: 509 | Theme: Marvel
Number of Bags: Bags x 4 (paper) + loose elements | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: Sheet x 1 | Insiders QR: Yes
RRP: £69.99/$79.99/79.99€/129.99AUD/99.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores & LEGO Online from August 1st
Long before the introduction of 18+ sets, one of the largest and most detailed LEGO Marvel sets was the SHIELD Helicarrier. This was a true microscale recreation of the flying Avengers HQ, complete with microfigs. But even at that scale, it was still a hefty set that would require a large area to display. This new version switches up the scale again but offers a much easier set to display.
Let’s not beat about the bush and tackle the elephant in the room – stickers! Yes, the set features a number of them. In my particular set, they were loose in the box and therefore were crumpled and some stickers had come loose from the backing sheet. Not ideal but thankfully I’ve managed to apply them without any issues. However, there shouldn’t be this many stickers used. They are mainly applied to the Helicarrier’s runway-like deck. So they are on flat tiles, one of the easiest elements to print on. The pattern of the runway also requires it to align neatly, which is tricky to do with stickers. Although this isn’t a super expensive UCS-type set, it still has a premium price and is a display piece. The particular elements featuring stickers should have been printed, even if that meant a slightly higher price point.
Although I’d preferred print detail to be used in place of stickers, they form only a small aspect of the overall set. The Helicarrier is a unique structure known for its four large rotary motors and its angular deck. These have both been achieved to varying degrees of success. The large motor blades are connected by a Technic pin on a 1×1 plate with a handle. This minimal connection point looks great but does make blades prone to falling off. As this is a display piece that’s left of an issue but is a little annoying when building the rest of the set. How the flight deck is added is quite clever and looks awesome. The smaller ‘upper’ deck sits at an angle to the rest of the craft and this is achieved by connecting this section to a turntable plate. The effect is good and helps to formulate the unique shape of the Helicarrier.
Just like the Star Wars Starship Collection sets, the Helicarrier is mounted on a similar display plinth. This isn’t built into the Helicarrier, it’s a separate piece in which the craft sits on top. The display stand features a (printed) nameplate making it a nice companion piece to the Star Wars ships, Marvel helmets or other Marvel display pieces such as Thor’s Hammer and Captain America’s Shield. Although the use of stickers on such a prominent surface of the set is disappointing, it’s nice to see the Marvel theme continue to try new things. These sorts of smaller, displayable sets are a great way for fans to express their love of a movie franchise without the need for masses of space. The LEGO Marvel The Avengers Helicarrier will be available from August 1st and can be pre-ordered now.
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These sets were provided to BricksFanz.com by the LEGO Group for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Marvel. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
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