This ultimate LEGO Super Mario Bowser’s Airship set comes with a lot of impressive features that will wow everyone in the room. This amazing airship unfolds from compact to opened up form in just one move. The masts are removable to facilitate gameplay by joining them together with the extra LEGO bricks provided in the set.
You can play the set on its own (imaginative playing) or via the free app physically in the virtual world. You are required to download the LEGO Super Mario app along with either starter course Mario 71360 or Luigi 71387 to play with this set. Unfortunately, I do not have the starter course to play along with. Nevertheless, let’s check out this amazing LEGO Super Mario Bowser’s Airship Expansion Set which is available to buy from zavvi.com.
There are over 1,000 LEGO pieces in this set and it will take you just a few hours to build. It looks very complicated but it is easy to follow and build. I like that LEGO is saving the trees by not printing the instructions on paper booklets; instead, all the instructions are found in the app with videos on how to play with the sets. I find it so much easier to view via the app than the paper booklets, especially as I can rotate the build on the app and see it from different angles. The app isn’t completely problem-free though – I regularly run into problems with the app just shutting down. It’s annoying to have to restart mid-flow, click through the icons and enter the set number again though it does remember the step that you stopped at. Phew! Of course, instead of using the app, you can download the PDF file from LEGO.com to view it.
There are a total of 13 steps/individual packets to build this airship. The three figures: Kamek, Rocky Wrench and Goomba Gumba are divided across each of the packets and there is also a Cannon Start Pipe.
First, let’s take a look at Kamek. He comes with his ‘flying’ broomstick and staff. His goggles are printed on black round tiles. His barcode can be found at the bottom of an inverse white tile.
Next, we have Rocky Wrench who wears goggles (printed face) and has a wrench under his right arm. His code is located behind his back.
The last figure is this tiny Goomba Gumba whose hat comes off to reveal his code on top of his head.
The ship measures around 36 cm long, 18 cm wide and 35 cm high in compact form. When it is opened up, the ship is around 54 cm long. There are two impressive Bowsers’ heads located on the front and back of the ship. The Bowser’s head at the back can be tilted open to reveal a code to scan.
There are three yellow cannons on either side, with green hatch covers above them and numerous blue lanterns hang around the sides of the ship. There are two small propellers located at the rear end of the ship.
Once the ship is opened, you can remove the two masts to play or just leave it as it is. Both masts’ propellers are rotatable and they also have small crow’s nests at the top. The biggest mast features Bowser’s hand. It is loosely attached to a lift ark, connected to a target. Use the figurine to hit the hand off or turn the mast to fly off the hand. As I don’t have the Mario nor Luigi figurines, I am unable to explain how the point system works via playing with the app.
Behind the biggest mast, there is a ‘POW brick’ and behind it, is the sitting area for Mario/Luigi and once the character is in it, it will pop up a steering wheel.
One thing I hate is sticking stickers, especially for any LEGO sets, and I am glad that there is none to stick in this set. All the prints or codes are already stuck or printed on.
The finished airship looks stunning and great for playing with or without the app game. We are very impressed and love that it can transform. Every detail on the ship is very well thought out and the contrasts of colours bricks are beautiful. Yet again, Lego has nailed it to create this stunning set with fantastic details that will provide many hours of fun to play and also to display. I would definitely recommend it and of course along with the starter set to complete the set for playing.
Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own.
