Set Theme: Creator | Set Sub-theme: Expert | Set Name: Volkswagen Beetle | Set Number: 10252-1 | Pieces: 1167 | Set Year: 2016

First introduced by German auto-manufacturer Volkswagen in 1938, the Beetle [a.k.a. "bug"] has since become - at least in the United States - an icon for 1960s beach and surf culture. It's sleek, simple design and, most importantly, its affordability made it a hit with the middle-class '60s youth generation in the U.S. An economic boom during the 1960s in the U.S. allowed for many teenagers to own their own automobile - a luxury virtually unknown to previous generations. You can guess what those teenagers wanted. They wanted bugs. Fifty years later, the Volkswagen Beetle is just as groovy as it's always been, and LEGO certainly thinks so too. LEGO has now given us two Beetle models in less than ten years. Unfortunately, LEGO's previous attempt to provide us with a VW Beetle set was, in my opinion, far from groovy [why two colors of blue!]. Luckily, thanks to this 2016 updated and revamped version of the LEGO Beetle, LEGO Beetles have another shot at matching the groovy, iconic, beach-boy-song-inducing visual that is the classic 1960s Volkswagen Beetle. So, the question is - are LEGO Beetles finally groovy too?

THE SET

First of all, the Volkswagen Beetle is a Creator Expert offering. Expert is a label given to Creator sets which involve building techniques which are a bit more complex than your average non-expert LEGO system set, so it's safe to assume heading into the build that a number of inventive, complex, and enlightening building techniques are likely to be used during the construction of the set. This is certainly the case with the Beetle model. You can think of the model as a foundation with many mini-builds attached to it. Once completed, these compiled mini-builds end up looking like a Beetle. As a result, it's an incredibly satisfying and remarkable build. Each section of the Beetle is built as a separate one-piece build and then attached to the model using various hinging methods. This leaves you with a child-like sense of excitement during the construction of each one-piece build because you're not entirely sure which piece of the model you're constructing or how it will even attach to the model once it's complete. If you're looking for some new, inspiring construction techniques, you'll certainly enjoy this set.