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4.5
My original review was 4-star, but this really does deserve 5 stars. Maybe that's because I did a Lego kit after this and found similar problems in that kit.This is a very nice project, but may frustrate anyone who isn't into tinkering or modifying – that mentality is very valuable for this kit. I have owned two of these vehicles in my life, and they carry great memories, so I simply had to build this kit. More details:Part quality: ExcellentThe parts are indistinguishable from Lego parts – excellent quality overall. And the 4 fold-up cardboard containers came in *very* handy (and can be used for future projects). I had no missing parts whatsoever, and a handful of extras. There are also parts for a motorized version... contact the very responsive customer support for motor recommendations. If you don't go that route, you'll have even more parts left over, which is always nice.Instruction manual: MehThe instruction booklet is printed very well on good paper stock, and resembles Lego booklets. The printing leaves much to be desired, however – all in all, too dark (Lego does this too). Black and grey look identical, but you soon realize that black parts are outlined in white, and the grey parts just look like a silhouette of the part. Some pieces are easily mistaken because of this, but over time you start to adjust. I needed my magnifying glasses (they have a strong light on them) to see details in the instructions (mainly to tell whether a black or grey part had an o hole or an + hole). The instructions also skip some steps, which you sometimes see only in the finished view. I found myself having to disassemble several times to add something that wasn't specifically mentioned in the instructions. After completion, I had to modify the design in places and create a custom part to add rigidity. If you don't have this kind of mindset, the kit may frustrate you.Parts availability: Excellent company responsivenessI thought I was missing a critical part, so I looked into getting it shipped to me (supposedly for free). Right on the inside cover of the instruction booklet, there's a note and an email address to get the missing parts shipped (again, for free). There is no link on their site, so the e-mail address is your only route here. Fortunately, I took another close look at the extra-dark instructions and found that the "part" was actually constructed of smaller parts, which was not pointed out (see the next section). Since then, I have used the contact email and received a prompt response... that's an awesome indicator of a company who cares. And a shout out to Cici!Difficulty: Very AdvancedThe design is pretty awesome, but requires a lot of finagling and even some ingenuity to get things right. I ended up having to modify the design a bit, and even made my own piece for a structure that wasn't very solid. A quick example is the hood: If you follow the instructions fully, the hood won't even come close to closing, and really doesn't look proper. I ended up removing parts (notably, two of the engine hoses and mysterious large black structure attached to the underside of the hood, which doesn't exist in the actual vehicle (again, I've owned two real FJ-40s). I also removed some pieces on the front edge of the hood in order to make it sit more realistically.Design: AwesomeThere are so many very cool parts to this kit that it's hard to name them all. A functional transmission with two differentials, so it's truly 4-wheel drive. I must have made a mistake because the wheels turn in opposite directions, but I'm not planning to play with the final build other than maybe open the doors (the springs for the latches were missing, but they still work). As others have mentioned, the steering is hit or miss (mostly miss). Mine grudgingly turns in one direction but not the other – I'm already thinking of solutions, but it's really not a big deal. The winch is also stubborn. But these are really minor issues, and the overall design is truly delightful... just be prepared for modifications here and there, which for me is the highest level of fun. I would have loved to see the hood latches represented, but that would likely be too bulky at this scale.Final build: Very niceI don't think this is a kit you'll play with after building – when finished, it has a fragility and a bit of "softness" to the structure. Nothing too bad for moving around, etc, but if your goal is to play with it a bit (other than opening doors and folding up the rear seats) it will likely prove too fragile.Final verdict: Very nice, very worthy, and a great purchaseI originally gave this 4 stars because of the directions, which are a key part of something so complex (2101 pieces). Then I built a Lego race yacht, and the experience was *worse* than this kit, despite having less than half the pieces and nowhere near the complexity. So this gets 5 stars, and I kind of miss the experience already. I may buy another one and try to motorize it (note: I bought their L002 Off-Road kit because it's almost 4000 pieces and I am obviously a masochist). Seriously, though, this company is absolutely great.The cost is very reasonable, and probably less than half what Lego would charge for such a kit. The final build delights me (mainly because I owned the exact same model and color in real life). It was a challenge with the modifications, but I enjoy that kind of thing.Final note:I am doing Lego-style projects to help my chronic insomnia (a truly crippling condition when I'm in the "insomnia phase" (it comes and goes every few weeks and lasts a couple of weeks... over and over). These projects truly help occupy and tire out my brain, which is important for good sleep – I'm retired, and the lack of day-to-day stimulus allows my brain to think of all sorts of anxiety-inducing thoughts. I've found that exercise (walking, pickleball, lifting weights) and mental challenges (puzzles and projects) replace the anxiety with a sense of accomplishment – they fill my brain with non-anxious thoughts and just plain tire it out. If you're in the same boat, I recommend these non-medical self-treatments (for the cost of a doctor's visit which has never helped, you can buy a Lego kit or a large puzzle or something else that will truly work).All the best to you! If you're considering this purchase, I wouldn't hesitate – it's overall a delight, the quality is top-tier, and the company is responsive. Truly excellent design at play, save for the hood (I'll figure out something there, and wish they had found a way to implement the characteristic hood latches).
