Review: LEGO Travel Moments (41838)

LEGO Travel Moments 41838 New Release Review Brick Banter - 2024 August

Soaring in as a LEGO Masters US Collectors Item, is the LEGO Travel Moments ready for take-off?

For a world first, the LEGO Travel Moments World Wonderliner is the star of the fleet for LEGO Masters US sets. For those out of the loop, the winners of LEGO Masters Season 4 US would have their final build turned into a real-life LEGO set, with this being the result.

This is one of the fastest LEGO sets to come out of development and into production in LEGO‘s history, with the show finale around a year ago to date.

But how does a set like this hold up? Is the fast production a problem? Read on!

LEGO Travel Moments (41838)
RRP AUD $249.99 – CA $199.99 – EUR €149.99 – UK £129.99 – USA $149.99
1,231 pieces
Available from LEGO.com and LEGO Stores from 1st August 2024.

Vehicles

The Travel Moments set is graced with a few alternate builds, keeping to the aesthetic colour palette as the World Wonderliner plane. This gives many folks the opportunity to mark cruises they’ve been on, camping trips or iconic railway lines.

I like these alternate options for display, but I am not really a fan of the colour palette. I understand the colours of the plane were more or less set by the finalists Chris and Robert, but some variation with the builds would have been better.

The large amounts of white on the plane help it stand out from the map backdrop, but the smaller vehicles simply blend too much.

The Flat Earth

The main section of the build is actually the map that the World Wonderliner flies above. This wasn’t conceived by Robert and Chris in the show, but something out of LEGO HQ.

As far as world map goes, I don’t have anything to criticise about the shaping of the world at all, it’s darn near perfect. There is a lot more vibrancy in colour than that of the Globe set, with lime, green, earth green, sand green, tan and white making their way in.

The top of the world has a number of different photo holders. I’ve had a mixed experience with these in the past and the LEGO Ideas Family Tree, but works better here. These allow up to 10 photos to be displayed behind the map, which is great for showcasing what you and your family have done.

That being said, these do require cut-out photos or similar to sit in these spots. For those not wishing to display photos or hang this on the wall, you can simply remove them.

Although never seen, the back of this structure is riddled with rainbow. I would assume this a attempt to make building the map more fun or making it easier to see what instruction you are on. From a logistical standpoint, I can only imagine that this would cost a lot in set manufacturing hours to go and get so many different coloured bricks and plates. Was it worth it? I don’t know.

Air Plane

The World Wonderliner plane has had some big changed from the version in the finale, with the removal of lots of different structures off it’s back. LEGO opted for a clearly and simpler design, and I can’t fault it. The plane has it’s own stand, as well as the colours shifted to below the body instead across the back of it.

The plane simply does what it needs to do, and I can’t fault it. I wish the front of the plane was a little more cockpit-like, but I cannot for the life of me think of a better way to do it.

Accessories

The accessories of the set include references to a globe, a travel case, a compass and even new printed 1×1 round tiles. The new tiles represent locations you’ve stayed, the locations of the photos you might display, and where home is. I like these new tiles, and wish there was ways to get more of them.

Verdict

Okay, let’s lay things bare.

Is this is a good set? Truthfully, I have mixed feelings. The principle is good, and its versatile for display, but the display doesn’t feel as ‘clean’ as I’d like it to be. To get a more luxurious feel to the set, you actually need to remove most of the extra features.

Truthfully, this set might have been better off with no accompanying small builds and no photo stalks. If you plan to hang this on the wall, photos would be hung around it anyways, but you could still get away with putting the plane on the map.

Is It Worth The Price?

The big questions is, is it worth the price? Good heavens no.

AUD$249 for a 1200 part set has always been an iffy price point for me, even in other themes. But this is a set with no Minifigures, no play features, and is solely for display. The new LEGO C3PO buildable figure is 1138 parts for $229, which is 62 parts less for $20 less.

It has a rare Minifigure and it’s a licensed theme! You can get that many parts for a LEGO Friends set for $100 AUD less!

I understand that this comes from LEGO Masters Season 4 US, but the insanity of the price point just doesn’t make sense. Is is the hidden rainbow underneath an increased production load to blame? Is it the extras that come with it that most people won’t use? Does LEGO Masters US have a licensing tax we aren’t aware of?

You Might Be Happier With…

At time of writing, the LEGO Globe set is still currently available for purchase, and a set I proudly own. It spins, it’s a talking point, and it allows you to mark where you’ve been in the world.

For this set, it takes up more space longways when laying flat, isn’t as aesthetically pleasing and doesn’t feel as rewarding to build. Yes, the globe costs more and was a pain to build, but the end result paid off.

This? I can’t justify the product for the price.