Before the writing of this reviews, we can’t help to wonder why People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) would gone into merchandising deals for its first home made aircraft carrier. It’s unlikely China Navy is short of funds or eager to make money through licensing. Anyway, Sembo produced the only authorized version of aircraft carrier in LEGO bricks form with blessing from PLAN. There would be 10 brick sets from Sembo related to aircraft carrier Shandong. The photos in this review is courtesy of CK.

Open Box View of Sembo 202001

The set came with a carrier to bring the box. It came with wording “China Aircraft Carrier the Shandong” and its emblem. The emblem is the merchandising emblem and differed from the official PLAN emblem for the aircraft carrier.

This is the official emblem of aircraft carrier Shandong, just fyi.

Sembo 202001 set came with 3010 pieces of parts and the recommended age is six years and above. Lately we notice a trend among the China clone bricks makers to make sets with at least 2000 bricks. Though one may argued it’s good value for money, but the lack of space at home will hinder the purchase for many.

Back of the box stating the copyright belongs to People Liberation Army Navy. Actually there are many brick sets of another aircraft carrier “Liaoning” from makers such as KAZI, Xingbao and Sluban but none of them are authorized and get away with it!

The full length is 92 cm, shorter than Mould King Imperial Star Destroyer Monarch which is 120 cm long.

Two simple white inner boxes.

Instruction manual, though background details on the aircraft carrier is absented.

In total there are 10 numbering bags.

The transfer decals are packaged separately. It’s a nightmare to apply transfer decals if you don’t have steady hand and patience. How we wish to get printed parts or stickers.

Building in Progress

Some parts on spruces which required you to break them out.

Wiring for lighting kits.

Applying transfer decals.

Try to make space for lighting kits.

It’s lots of work to apply transfer decals. Normally Sembo will supply printed parts. Perhaps Sembo try to lower the cost opting for transfer decals instead of printed parts after paying big licensing fee to PLAN.

Unique parts of Sembo.

You can’t make mistake in apply transfer decal. Got the alignment wrong and you’re done!

There are 36 J-15 fighter jets to assemble.

Sembo opted for modelling parts instead of building the plane through bricks. It’s more realistic but some may argued this is cheating.

All together 36 J-15 fighter jets assembled.

Next are vehicles.

Minifigures of Sembo 202001

Sembo made minifigures are the best among the clone brick makers in China. The set came with 10 minifigures. One minor problem is the instruction manual didn’t tell you which left arms to assemble. You have to figure them out from the box.



From the left, helicopter pilot and two fighter jet pilots.

From the left, military police with red arm band, and two Navy captains.

From the left, three sailors and one medic.

Minifigures and their accessories.

These are navy caps under the merchandising deal like the actual one shown below.

Life vests and cases.

10 nano figs are included.

A emblem pin comes with every set.

Weapons on spruces.

Viewing of Aircraft Carrier the Shandong

Close Up Look

Thanks to abundant use of transfer decals, lots of details are able to replicate on the flight deck.

Some intricate details are presented through use of special parts.

It’s a nightmare to apply so many transfer decals.

Use of unique parts

Jet blast deflector.

Unique parts for canons and missiles.

Elevator to the hangar below.

Display stand with name plate.

The island where the bridge, flight control tower are located. Again, there are lots of transfer decals to use here.

The flight deck can be removed to reveal the lower deck.

Lots of lighting kits to install on two side of the hangar.

The motto of the aircraft carrier.

Let there be lights!

Fighter jets in the hangar.

Flight deck with fighter jets and vehicles.

Nano figures on the flight deck.

Completed set with minifigures and planes.

Summary

This is so far the best LEGO form aircraft carrier that you could find. Most of the parts are supplied by Gobricks which ensure the high quality of the bricks.



The details of the aircraft carriers were replicated through use of transfer decals. There are whopping three sheets of decals to apply, and high concentration and steady hands needed. Though decals are better than sticker, in which it won’t peel off, but the downside is once you make mistake, you can’t correct it anymore. For sticker, you could still peel off and reapply.



The minifigures are top notch with best printing quality one could expected from Sembo. Extra bonus are the accessories such as caps with emblems and nano figures.



The use of modelling parts for canons, fighter jets may put off purists who wanted everything to be built in bricks.



Highly recommended for those of you who are into building aircraft carrier in brick forms. You may order Sembo 202001 aircraft carrier Shandong from Aliexpress.

