Review:41129 Amusement Park Hot Dog Van/Soupperson1
Soupperson1
Country: Ireland Age Group: TFOL (Sweet Sixteen) Gender: Female
Joined: 28th December 2011 
№ of Reviews: 43 
№ of Featured reviews: 0
Building Experience: Enough
Today I'm reviewing the set: 41129 Amusement Park Hot Dog Van. This set is one of the brand new Friends amusement park themed sets. I loved this set as soon as I saw pictures of it. Will my ideas materialize , let's find out in the review:
- Theme: Friends
- Pieces: 243
- Mini-doll figures: 2
- Price: $29.99 USD
- Brickipedia / Brickset
The box[edit | edit source]
The box of the set has a slightly new "Amusement Park" theme. The girls are in new outfits, but in the same poses as they were the previous wave. I like the technicolours and carnival designs they've given to the box. Even the curved sides of the box have a slight update, with lavender lines going through. Most of the images on the back of the box, are available on our article: 41129 Amusement Park Hot Dog Van.
The contents[edit | edit source]
We get only 2 numbered bags that contain 243 bricks, plus a few spares. We get two spare hotdogs, one actual spare and one the set gives you. The instruction booklet is quite short for a $30 build, but there's a lot of simultaneous building going on. The sticker sheet uses the colours; white, red, metallic silver (base colour), azure and purple.
The build[edit | edit source]
The build, like the other friends sets is easy and the instructions are quick to follow. I found the build quite fun and there was some techniques used I haven't seen before, but keep in mind I don't buy a lot of non mini doll vehicle sets.
Here are the advertisements in the back of the instructions.
There's advertisements for the other amusement park sets, the apps and this year's Elves sets at the back. I wonder why they didn't include an add for the regular sets? I love the amusement park set advert, our little Emma is all grown up! It's a shame the lobster she's holding in the artwork isn't in any physical sets. :( Oh and Nate's eyes are blue here for some reason. :P I do like the inclusion of a boy in the artwork as it helps make the theme feel a tiny bit gender neutral, I'd love to see a male 6th friend like Nya, Eris, Gali, Farran or Macy in their themes.
If your interested to see what each bag builds:
Bag 1-half of the van, the side builds and both figures.
Bag 2-the rest of the van
Sidebuilds[edit | edit source]
I really like the side builds the LEGO group have given us here. The hot dog sign isn't really a build, but it is still nice and I love the use of neon lights. The chairs are also really simple, but upside down building is such a joy for me. :P
The mirror is also nice, I like how it's applied onto a curved brick. If your like me and your not good at applying stickers, here it looks better if the mirror is crooked..funhouse mirrors!
The camera is an okay build, I'm not sure about those colours. I do like how it's an old school camera and they didn't just use a phone. I love the sticker for the photo, it's fantastic!
My thoughts on the carnival cut out? I love it! I love it! I love it! It's so simple, but so effective! You just put your mini dolls on the studs behind the wall and have them face the camera. These carnival cut outs are really common in real life, so it's a treat to finally get one in LEGO. I know the build is nearly non existent but the sticker is just so darn perfect! I love the use of a sailor and a mermaid as now it can work on beach or peer related MOCs too! I can't get enough of this and I can only imagine what the kids who play with this are thinking!
The van[edit | edit source]
This could possibly be the weirdest idea for a LEGO set yet the execution is almost perfect! I adore this van! It's great to see hot dog buns finally get produced and this is the only way to celebrate! The buns are great mounds and I had such a satisfying moment finally giving a sausage a home, seriously we've needed buns for years! The awning really sets the location of the set and it somehow makes a giant hotdog on wheels realistic. I love the addition of lights underneath too! I think the cash register should've been facing in, but that's only a nitpick. The counter for the hot dog area is large and long, so you can add a condiment to your hotdog while another mini doll orders. The counter of the van is also low down, I know a few people who hated the LEGo Movie's ice cream truck for having a counter so high up. I'm not fond of the bottom floor of the van its kind of a mitch match of colours, though it's not really noticeable from the outside, but when your cooking some of the sausages you'll notice! The grill itself is really simple though I don't think an intricate build was necessary either. The seats inside the van are white, which fit fine in my opinion. There isn't a door to the van just a ladder that can be lowered down to allow a passenger or "chef" in. Speaking of the ladder it leads up to the roof...
Which looks like a tiny little diner! I love those stickers they used for the seats! The drinks didn't have to be included but they're 100% welcome nevertheless.
Imagine driving in front of or behind this gem. <3
Mini-doll figures[edit | edit source]
I really like the mini dolls in this set. It's the only amusement park set with interesting figures.
Stephanie's head, hair and legs are not new. Her legs are now dual moulded! Strangely Nate's aren't, it's weird that they're making around half of the mini doll leg pieces dual moulded and leaving the rest even the new ones. I love how they brought back her sun visor piece, I'm sick of the gang's regular hair at this point. :P It would've been great to see the visor be recoloured but we can't have everything. I really like her employee torso, it's simplistic but still unique.
Nate is basically Noah with a different hairpiece and new legs. The new trouser mould features pockets at the ankles and on the bottom. I'm not sure what the purpose of ankle pockets are, but then again my skirts don't have pockets so I don't use pockets in general. :P The hot dog suit is a lovely inclusion, but unfortunately it doesn't fit around Nate's mouth. There is somewhat a benefit to this as you can exaggerate how it's hard to speak and breath in those heavy suits.
It is strange there's no customer, but I guess Nate can double up. The hot dog suit is really just a bonus.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
| Build/Design |  5 / 5 |
| Playability | 5 / 5 |
| Parts | 5 / 5 |
| Price |  4½ / 5 |
| Overall | 5 / 5 |
This set is fantastic! Yes the idea is somewhat stupid but the execution is the opposite! I love the side builds and the van itself. It's just so darn fun to play with and I'm sixteen! This set will work in any amusement park display, Shaggy and Scooby would love to come across it on one of their mysteries. The parts are interesting, including some new recolours and don't forget those new hotdog buns! The price is a little steep for 253 (I say it's still worth it) pieces but on everything else this is a five star set! So there go buy this set! I highly recommend it!
Plug, Find out what happens when Nate and Stephanie leave the van here!
Anyways, thanks for reading my review! I hope you liked it <3 Soup
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