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The construction of the longship itself employs a lot of SNOT techniques to make the bow and stern of the keel, with the usual method of using bright colours internally to keep the build interesting and provide easier orientation of the model until they're eventually covered up. The figurehead at the prow of the boat is a fearsome dragon (believed by the Vikings to protect them against the evil spirits on the hostile land they were sailing to conquer), and mirrored nicely at the stern with a similarly elaborate carving.
The resulting model is one of a fearsome serpent, head and tail rearing into the air, with an impressive amount of articulation. Every joint in the tail can move, providing a large number of poses. However, I was slightly disappointed to see that the foremost section of the serpents body, from the floor to the base of the head, is fixed in place. LEGO's recent revival of various older themes seems to have mostly been a hit (although I know many of us would like more than just a single set for each) and I think they've kept the quality bar just as high here with the Viking longship. The sail doesn't rest on the mast itself at the bottom, but rather on the ropes tethering the mast to the sides of the ship. Attaching the six tethering ropes (two to each side, one to the stern, one to the bow) to the mast was one of the most satisfying parts of the build; they are a perfect tension to hold the mast firmly in place with very little give, and the use of a steering wheel at the top of the mast to attach them to is some nice parts usage. Vikings are a perennial subject in education (at least here in the UK), with every primary school aged child learning about their iconic ships, and I can see this set having a large amount of appeal to both adults and children alike. However, I think the designer has done a pretty decent job of capturing the essence of the beast, and its size is clearly evident next to the minifigures (only one shield is provided for the four of them, this time!)
Summary
I agree, some smallish to medium Classic/Viking/Pirate set would be welcome, 31111 : Cyber Drone showed that a small set can have a cool figure and build too. Torso isn't unique but the face print was new for 2021, and was only recently re-used in 80036 City of Lanterns Four minifigures are included, two male and two female. Right off the bat I'm going to try and head off some of the inevitable comments: yes, Viking helmets most likely didn't actually sport horns, but this is a play set designed around the mythical idea of Vikings, rather than factual reality, so I think we can let this one slide! I am also sure there are other factual inaccuracies that I won't point out in this review. You can also see clearly in these side photos how the sail hangs from the mast boom and rests gently on the tension ropes.
At the stern of the ship is a covered dining area, with enough room to seat the whole crew (at least, the four provided with the model!). There's also a burning fire above which hang a pair of fish. The roof of the dining table comes off easily, for better access to the seats, and the sunken area to the fore of the table has a few bales of hay for the cow to munch on while the crew enjoy their fish. The whole roof detaches to provide access to the ground floor, although I've also removed most of the walls below to show you the inside. An armchair sits with a mug in front of a fire on a decorative floor.I quite like the house itself. The curved parts that made up the layered look of the longships bow are put to good use to imitate wattle and daub, and a shield hangs above the entrance on either side. One of the sides of the house is open to the elements where there's a small anvil next to a stream. As befitting a quartet of Viking warriors aboard a longship, they're each equipped with vicious-looking weapons; a single- and double-headed axe, a spear, and a sword. The alternative models are quite nice, but it's the main build that really stands out with its attention-grabbing design, multitude of play features, and the general feeling of nostalgia it evokes for the earlier short-lived Vikings line.
The way the Vikings stored their shields on the sides of their ships while travelling is an iconic image, and the set doesn't disappoint. There are four shields attached to either side, each with a different pattern, presumably unique to the Viking that wields it. They can easily be detached and held in the hand of one of the minifigures, although there are twice as many shields as figures included.
Minifigures
The head itself can rotate, move up and down vertically, and the jaw can open and close. The orange eyes, large white fangs, and long red tongue are particularly effective, and I think the colour choice was a good one. The final instruction booklet contains directions for the third model, a small tree and a large wolf; presumably Fenris (or Fenrir) of Norse mythology. It's the smallest of the three builds. The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author. Minifigures Finally, Fenris himself is constructed, making liberal use of the various joints from the serpent combined with parts of the hull. His tail, head, and all four legs can be individually posed, as well as his jaw. The pitched roof hinges open, inside which are four other shields attached in the rafters of the building. This part of the build is somewhat busy and a little bit of a mess, however.
The serpent towers over the longship and its dragon figurehead, although it doesn't reach the heights of the sail. It seems very well sized next to the ship, and I think the whole set together looks fabulous.The tree is a tall, thin, pine tree, mostly made from the mast of the longship and the roof of the dining area (I am forever in awe of the designer's ability to create three usable—if not downright good—models from one set of parts). There's a small area for a campfire beneath, although it is somewhat of a mismash of colours. The serpent poses a formidable foe to the crew of the longship, and towers over the poor minifigures! Now, if they do more sets to match in the future, similar to how they've made the matching Space sets in 31107 , 31115 , and 31117 , I'd be definitely happy for LEGO to continue these classic themes under the Creator banner." LEGO have reintroduced a horned helmet, of which you get two in the set, and I think it looks fantastic. Our ginger-bearded warrior is also wearing a new highly-detailed torso print; another breastplate, this time of a woven material, over a green tunic. His orange trousers are nicely colour-matched with his beard! There are three instruction booklets included; two smaller ones for each of the alternative models, and a large one for the main build. I was surprised by the choice of colour on the booklet; the use of the pale tan looks quite insipid and far less enticing than the box artwork.
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