Review: LEGO Friends Heartlake City Airport and Airplane 42656

LEGO Friends Heartlake City Airport and Airplane 42656 January 2025 New Release Review Brick Banter

LEGO Friends Heartlake City flight 42656 now arriving for your viewing pleasure into Terminal 1

LEGO Friends continues for another year, and we’ve been slated with the whole first wave of 2025. Taking a look into the LEGO Friends Heartlake City Airport and Airplane, how does Friends hold up for 2025’s first wave?

The Airport

The exterior of the Airport feels bright with colour and very at home with the LEGO Friends Aesthetic. I’ll admit that the use of the palm tree makes it feel very tropical, but it’s not a fault. Plus it kind of works with the fun colourful windows!

Outside of the model we are given a small drop off zone for travellers into the airport, and also gives us a garden wall too. We are also treated to a well sculpted window with red, pinks and purples. Its a subtle but powerful effect that makes me like the set more.

Inside the airport, we are treated to the full airport experience. We have bag scanners, individual scanners, a ticketing booth, baggage claim and waiting lounge. The baggage claim is a function element, with a rotating 2×2 round brick on top to spin the luggage around for collection. One of my favourite stickers from the set is the baggage scanner, giving an in-depth look to some of the bags.

We are also treated to a new disability awareness Minidoll, being the sunflower lanyard. This is to help recognise individuals with disabilities that are non-visual. Another perfect step for LEGO going forward.

The Plane and Taxi

The plane for the set is a different style than what we have come to expect from LEGO. This is an electric powered reverse-propeller (push-propeller) aircraft, using two vertical stabilisers instead of one.

This type of plane does exist, and is known as the Piaggio p180. LEGO’s own twist on the craft by making it eco friendly with a dash of paint is great. The plane can store plenty of luggage and fit plenty of people inside too. Love this.

The Taxi for the set is a classic American Style Taxi, and I can’t state how much I like this very simple build. I can see this easily fitting into a LEGO Cityscape too.

Verdict

This set feels well worth the price tag in my opinion. The set feels full of details that can be easily reused, and the interior parts of the model have had lots of detail and attention poured into it. I’ve had lots of experience with travel at my own job, and this all feels right on the money.