Monday, May 5, 2014

Wange 40615 Automobile Carrier Set Review (Not Lego)


Hello and welcome to Its Not Lego, my blog that reviews all the not Lego building sets.  Today we will be reviewing this Wange Automobile truck set. It's set number 40615. Not sure why they call it an automobile carrier, when clearly it's just a cargo truck. This is my first set by Wange. The design of this truck is a close copy of Lego's Truck and Forklift set 7733 that came out in 2008.  While Lego's truck was green, the Wange version is red.



You get one mini figure with the set.  The Wange mini figure isn't that compatible with Lego minifigs, as the arms and legs are completely different.

Here's the mini fig from behind.

The rear trailer can be detached and the front axle pivots.

Here's the side view.

Here's the rear view.

There's lots of storage room inside.

The cab roof can be removed to put the mini figure inside.

Here's the whole set with more pics below.






Here's the instruction manual. The set has 310 pieces.  Build quality is average and the mini figure sucks.

Brand: Wange
Set: 40615 Automobile Carrier
Number of pieces: 310 pieces
Minifigs: 1
Would I recommend this set?  Yes, but only if the price was right.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Enlighten 627 Not Lego Train Locomotive set review



its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

After waiting like what seems forever, my Enlighten train finally arrived from AliExpress.  It's based on a Derwent Grange steam locomotive.

I wasn't expecting the seller to ship the box, but here it is albeit slightly crumpled.  I also got 2 duplicate instruction booklets.   

I'm a big fan of these Lego style train sets, especially as they are so hard to come by.  Enlighten makes a number of trains but most of them have been discontinued, so I figured I better grab this one before it was retired also.  It cost me just under $20 USD with free shipping from AliExpress.

This set has 168 pieces and is about 80% similar to Lego's Hogwart's Express set 4708 released back in 2001.  This set has both the locomotive and the tender, whereas the Lego set had the locomotive and a train car.  The set comes with a single minifigure.   As with most Enlighten train sets, this one did not come with any track, unlike  Ausini brand train sets which come with six or seven pieces.

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

The build was pretty straightforward and the Enlighten bricks are completely compatible with Lego bricks.  This non-powered train set is molded in red and black with word printing on the locomotive and tender, not stickers.  It should be noted that the red bricks have a slightly metallic sheen to them.


its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

Pictured above is the front of the locomotive.  Unfortunately it doesn't come with a front coupler.  Derwent Grange is printed on the side and 3688 towards the rear.

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

Note to self: add some small round black pieces to the hopper to simulate coal.

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

The engine cover opens up to reveal the steam engine inside.  

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

There's some nicely detailed tiles inside the cab.

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

Both trucks under the locomotive's carriage swivel making turns on the track a breeze.  


its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

Above is the coal car with Enlighten brand on the side of it.

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

Here is the undercarriage for the coal car.  The magnets on all of the couplers are quite strong.

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

A ladder adorns the back of the coal car.

its-not-lego.blogspot.com, enlighten 627 train set

Here is the steam locomotive pulling an Ausini brand tanker car and an Enlighten brand caboose.   Now I just need to get some more train tracks.  Do you have any Lego or clone brick train sets?

Brand: Enlighten
Set: 627
Model:  Derwent Grange Steam Locomotive
Number of Brick Pieces: 168


If you are looking for different Lego compatible train sets, you can find them on Aliexpress.

As always, thanks for visiting Its Not Lego and See you next time!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Wange brand Lego style Villa 34052 Building block Set Review

 

Hi again.  I have another building set to show you today.  This is 755 piece Wange Villa set 34052.

 It is almost a knockoff of Lego Creator set 4954 Town House.


After I built the house according to the Wange instruction booklet, I decided I wanted to update the location of the windows and doors.  In the above picture, I've added some extra details like the lamppost, the mailbox, the bicycle and some bushes.

Here's a side view of the house, which uses a lot of the smaller windows.


Another side view.

The back of the building is unfinished as per the set.  I guess you can add furniture pieces later.  You can see the height of the first and second floors from the two batman mini figures.  The original set came with a much larger baseplate and you could build a side yard and fence.  In my build, I used a smaller baseplate and didn't add the side yard.

A few more views of the side of the house.


This set was a much better build than Wange Villa set 32052.  That set had yellow brick walls whereas this set has tan bricks.  The Lego 4954 was discontinued a long time ago and now it costs a few hundred to buy it.  On the other hand this Wange set only cost me about $30 USD from AliExpress.  I liked this set quite a bit as it has lots of potential to make different buildings.  In fact, I might buy another one of these sets in the future.

Brand: Wange 
Model/Set: Creation Villa
Set number: 34052
Number of pieces: 755