LEGO Creator 31156: Tropical Ukulele [REVIEW]

vrijdag, 29 december 2023

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The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 theme has been expanding its line-up to include display models like the Retro Roller Skate and smaller plant-based sets from last year. If you’ve been dreaming of a tropical vacation during these darker winter months (unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, that is) then maybe this tropical ukulele or the alternate surfboard model is the perfect display set for you. LEGO Creator 31156: Tropical Ukulele includes 387 pieces and will be available on January 1st for US $29.99 | CAN $39.99 | UK £24.99

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Unboxing the parts and instructions

The set comes in a tall rectangular box with the Creator 3-in-1 branding. Since the theme is tropical, the background illustration is a beach at sunset. Along the right side are smaller images of the alternate models, a surfboard and a dolphin leaping out of the water next to a small island. On the back of the box, the three models are shown more equally sized, and from different angles.

Inside the box are 3 numbered paper parts bags, a plastic bag with large curved elements and the 4 rubber “strings” (Mine even came with an extra). The paper bags had smaller plastic bags inside, although other Creator sets in this wave had paper inner bags as well.

The build

The build starts with a long core that connects to the neck of the ukulele using curved half arches. Then a black section is added for the central opening. This set includes several bracket and sideways-facing stud elements in light azure, similar to the LEGO Creator 31148: Retro Roller Skate. The neck is covered in light nougat tiles.

Wheel arches are added, along with several brackets that the curved outer slides will eventually attach to. The central core was finished with more tiles down the front below the opening. There is an attachment point for the strings as well.

From here we move on to two identical curved sections, forming the body of the ukulele. These are made with several light azure curved elements stacked along with some slopes, and once attached, give the instrument its iconic shape.

The head is a somewhat complicated structure to align the tuning knobs and attachment points for the strings, which are loose at first until the head is angled back slightly with click hinges.

With the main model done, we next build a simple stand with 2 small flowers. One was made with salmon-colored clamshells, and the other from a 4-petaled flower part with a tooth in the center.

The finished model

The ukulele sits upright on the base for display with a second large flower attached to the back, this one uses the clamshell parts in yellow. The color choice for a wooden instrument is a bit baffling, but it seems that LEGO has a surplus of this color since it is used in both this set and the roller skate from the same wave.

Conclusions and recommendations

While the set is fun to build, and makes a great display model if you are a fan of the ukulele, as a display set it seems to be a bit too niche, but with the surfboard as an alternate, it will appeal to a wider audience. For the price, it also makes a pretty good parts pack, with several curved parts and tiles in both light azure and light nougat. The finished instrument may not be 1:1 (unless you are talking about Tiny Tim), but the proportions and detail are very realistic. LEGO Creator 31156: Tropical Ukulele includes 387 pieces and will be available on January 1st for US $29.99 | CAN $39.99 | UK £24.99

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.