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ICONS 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook Review

By Barry Kay (SAFOLs Brick Boss, CapeLUG Member, Batman … Ssshhhh!)

LEGO® continues to bridge the gap between brick building and literature with the release of the Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook (10351) – a strikingly thematic set that merges architectural detail, storytelling, and compact display functionality. With 1,395 pieces and five unique minifigures, this 18+ set brings to life the moody alleyways and intellectual charm of Victorian London.

📚 Concept & Display Appeal

The Sherlock Holmes Book Nook is designed not just as a set to build and admire, but also as a functional piece of shelf décor. In its “closed” form, the build mimics the shape of a thick, hardcover book—making it ideal to tuck between actual books on a shelf. The front “cover” features a brick-built silhouette of Sherlock Holmes, complete with his iconic deerstalker hat and pipe, all rendered in a stylish two-tone mosaic effect.

Once opened, however, the Book Nook transforms into a three-dimensional Victorian scene. It unfolds into a three-panel diorama that captures the spirit of London’s Baker Street. This dual-purpose concept is unique for LEGO®: it merges creative storytelling with practical display use, catering especially to adult builders and collectors.

🧱 Build Structure and Techniques

At its core, this set is all about modular-style architecture within a bookend-sized footprint. It doesn’t rely heavily on Technic elements, but it does showcase a satisfying array of classic and modern building methods.

Hinged Structure

The build is split into three hinged sections: the left side features a storefront façade, the middle section houses the famous 221B address, and the rightmost panel contains Sherlock’s study interior. Each panel is hinged with standard LEGO® hinge bricks and rotates inward or outward depending on display preference. The hinge mechanism in the middle adds playability and customization to how the scene unfolds.

Use of SNOT Techniques

Although the majority of the structure is traditional brick-on-brick, Studs Not On Top (SNOT) techniques are subtly employed, particularly in areas like window framing, signage, and decorative wall trims. These help achieve more refined architectural shapes and compact detailing.

Gearing and Motion Features

A clever gear mechanism is embedded behind the center façade. Turning a discrete dial near the base of the build causes the front door to rise, revealing a secret compartment where Professor Moriarty is lurking. This functional element adds a layer of mystery and interaction to an otherwise static build.

Depth and Perspective

To simulate urban depth in such a narrow space, the set uses forced perspective tricks. Details become more compressed and simplified the deeper they go into the scene, mimicking distance. For example, cobblestone pathways taper in scale, and wall textures shift from layered bricks to flat tiles toward the back of the alley. This gives the illusion of a larger world within a small volume.

🏛️ Scene Breakdown

Each section of the build plays a distinct role in storytelling.

Left Section: The Bookshop Façade

This portion represents a quaint London bookstore. Its most prominent feature is a protruding bay window built with transparent panels, which can be gently rotated to give a peek inside. Above the window, a printed sign adds authenticity, while the storefront steps and lanterns below provide visual balance. The build here is compact but richly textured, using dark tan, nougat, and brown elements.

Middle Section: 221B Baker Street & Secret Lair

This central structure is the star of the set. The outer wall includes traditional British architecture—arched windows, gas lamps, and a numbered address tile. But the real highlight is the hidden play feature: turning a knob reveals the criminal mastermind, Moriarty, hiding behind a rising doorway. This sequence is controlled with an internal gear rack system, concealed within the base. The door opens cleanly thanks to smooth tiles and minimal friction, making it an engaging mechanical centrepiece.

Right Section: Sherlock Holmes’ Study

Inside the final panel is Sherlock’s study, a small but densely detailed room. Built using shallow depth but full vertical walls, this section includes a fireplace with a chimney stack, a violin resting on a wall-mounted rack, and an evidence board filled with clues. A stickered “Reichenbach Falls” painting nods to Holmes’ famous adventures. The study’s front wall opens outward like a cabinet door, allowing full access for posing minifigures or inspecting details.

🧍 Minifigures and Accessories

The set includes five highly detailed minifigures, each with exclusive printing and accessories that contribute to the narrative. (In order as per the image below)

  1. Dr. John Watson: Dressed in formal Victorian attire, Watson carries a cane and medical satchel. His inclusion reinforces the duo’s iconic partnership.
  2. The Baker Street Irregular: Represented as a newspaper boy, this character holds a printed paper tile and wears a brown cap. He adds a street-level perspective to the scene, rounding out the ensemble.
  3. Sherlock Holmes: Sporting his unmistakable deerstalker hat and cape, Sherlock comes equipped with a magnifying glass and printed waistcoat. His face features a serious expression, fitting for the cerebral detective.
  4. Professor Moriarty: The villain is sharply dressed in a pinstripe suit and top hat. He also features a dual-sided cape and facial expression that leans toward theatrical mischief.
  5. Irene Adler: Wearing a deep purple gown with subtle gold detailing, Adler is armed with an umbrella and confident smirk. Her torso and skirt are printed to resemble layered Victorian fashion.

The minifigs are diverse and expressive, with dual-sided head prints and detailed torso/back printing. While the space within the diorama limits how many can be actively displayed at once, they’re perfect for storytelling and rotation depending on your preferred narrative.

🪟 Visual Design & Colour Palette

A muted and cohesive colour scheme helps this set feel authentically Victorian. Shades like dark tan, reddish brown, dark green, and black dominate the structure, providing a realistic backdrop. Contrasting lighter elements like sand green and pearl gold are used sparingly for highlights, creating a moody but readable build.

Interior lighting isn’t included, but the layout lends itself well to aftermarket lighting kits. Trans-clear panels in the windows and openings in the roof would allow LED elements to shine through beautifully – especially helpful if the nook is placed between books in a dim room.

⚙️ Playability & Modularity

Although the set is clearly designed for display, it contains enough interactive elements to warrant much playability:

  • The rotating shop window and movable front door provide physical engagement.
  • Hinged panels offer multiple display modes – either folded shut to resemble a single “book,” or fully expanded to act as a small vignette.
  • The Sherlock study includes enough open studs and modular floor elements for users to pose or swap out minifigures.

This makes the set more than just a shelf ornament. It’s a modular, interactive tribute to classic detective fiction – offering builders the chance to create, customize, and role-play.

🎨 Stickers and Printed Elements

The set includes a mix of printed tiles and stickers. While most major signage like the 221B number plate and newspaper are printed, other interior decorations such as paintings, maps, and clues are stickered. These add flavour to the scene but do require careful alignment for best results.

One could argue that full printing would elevate the premium feel of the set, but the stickers are high-quality and thematically appropriate.

🧩 Building Experience

The instruction booklet is well-paced, with logical sub-assemblies breaking the build into digestible sessions. The process is engaging for intermediate to advanced builders, thanks to its combination of standard architectural techniques and small mechanical functions.

There’s a strong sense of progression: starting with a flat book-like base, slowly layering upward with intricate walls and decorative façades. While no single portion of the build is overly complex, the satisfaction comes from seeing how small scenes come together into a unified, immersive environment.

✅ Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Unique folding book-nook format
  • Excellent character selection
  • Clever play features like the gear-operated door
  • Detailed interiors and exteriors
  • Perfect for shelf display and bookcases

Cons:

  • Rear of the build is mostly flat and unadorned
  • Stickers instead of all printed pieces
  • Limited interior space for minifigure posing
  • No included lighting, which would enhance display value

🧠 Final Thoughts

The LEGO® 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook is a charming and imaginative departure from traditional display models. Blending literary homage, Victorian street architecture, and clever mechanical play, it presents an innovative way for adult builders to combine their love of books, mysteries, and LEGO®.

While not overflowing with advanced techniques or complexity, the set delivers a uniquely satisfying build – particularly for fans of Sherlock Holmes or atmospheric builds. It offers a touch of storytelling magic that is rare in more utilitarian or modern-style LEGO® sets.

For those seeking a visually compelling, narrative-rich model that fits neatly into a bookshelf and doubles as décor, this Book Nook is a case worth cracking. It’s a strong debut for what may become a broader line of LEGO® book-nook-style builds—and one that feels right at home among both books and bricks.

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21358 Ideas Minifigure Vending Machine Review

21358 Ideas Minifigure Vending Machine

By Barry Kay (SAFOLs Brick Boss, CapeLUG Member, Batman … Ssshhhh!)

The LEGO® Ideas 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine is a remarkable set that blends nostalgic charm with modern building sophistication. Designed for adult builders and collectors alike, this set captures the spirit of classic capsule vending machines while incorporating clever mechanics, vibrant aesthetics, and an irresistible lineup of collectible minifigures. With 1,343 pieces and an engaging mechanical function, this is a standout display piece with plenty of personality.

Overview and Theme

At first glance, the build draws clear inspiration from retro-style vending machines—those capsule dispensers you might remember from arcades or supermarkets. The model faithfully recreates the shape and function of those machines, complete with a turning knob, coin slot, and capsule delivery system. The main colour scheme of bright red with transparent panels and metallic trim adds to the nostalgic arcade-style look.

The central gimmick – a fully functioning minifigure dispenser – isn’t just for show. It actually works. Insert a LEGO® coin, turn the crank, and a capsule rolls down through the mechanism to the front slot, ready to be opened. It’s this interactive quality that sets the model apart from many other static display builds.

Building Experience and Techniques

The building process is a balanced mix of mechanical engineering and decorative detail. It progresses in structured phases, beginning with the internal mechanism and moving outwards to the outer shell and cosmetic touches.

Mechanical Core

At the heart of the machine is a vertical rotating mechanism that pushes the capsules downward, one click at a time, toward the release hatch. This system uses Technic gears, axles, and pins, all cleverly hidden within a central frame. As you build this section, you’re essentially constructing a miniature delivery engine using LEGO®’s mechanical system, and it’s very satisfying to watch it come together.

Timing and alignment are crucial here. The capsules need just the right amount of spacing and rotation clearance to descend without getting jammed, so precision is essential. Thankfully, the instructions make it clear when to check for alignment before enclosing the mechanism.

Aesthetic Shell

The outer casing of the vending machine uses advanced SNOT (Studs Not On Top) techniques to create smooth, curved surfaces. This is especially evident in the dome-shaped top section, which is constructed from transparent curved panels that seamlessly fit together using side-mounted brackets and hinge plates.

The red body is decorated with tiled elements and curved slopes to avoid exposed studs where possible, giving the model a polished, finished look. The coin slot is built using small, angled elements and cleverly positioned grille tiles, lending a realistic appearance to the functional interface.

Throughout the build, you’ll encounter interesting subassemblies, like layered panels that snap into place as modular components. This approach makes the build feel less repetitive, even when constructing symmetrical elements like the side walls or base.

Functionality and Play Features

Though primarily a display piece, the vending machine includes an impressive interactive component. The knob on the side connects to the inner gear system and rotates with a satisfying resistance. When turned, it activates the central rotor, which advances one capsule at a time. These capsules – clear spheres that house the minifigures – roll along a small track and drop down to a delivery slot at the front base of the machine.

A separate chute on the back collects the inserted LEGO® coins, adding another layer of realism. Everything works as a true vending machine would, and this elevates the set from being just a visual model to something you can actually engage with over and over again.

Minifigures – A Capsule of Creativity

Included in the set are 16 minifigures, each placed inside its own capsule. These figures span a wide range of themes, representing a kind of tribute to LEGO® history. You’ll find characters inspired by classic space, pirates, castle, and other legacy lines, as well as modern interpretations and unique characters exclusive to this set.

What makes these minifigures special is not just their quantity, but their quality. Many feature unique torsos, detailed prints, and fun accessories that make them stand out from standard figures. They feel like a curated celebration of LEGO® themes, appealing to collectors who enjoy variety and rarity.

Each minifigure fits snugly inside a transparent capsule that’s split into two hemispheres. These are easy to open and close, allowing you to display the figures either inside their capsules or posed outside on a stand or shelf.

Display Appeal

Even when not in use, the Minifigure Vending Machine is a conversation piece. Its vibrant red body, domed top, and visible capsules make it immediately eye-catching. It fits perfectly on a shelf, office desk, or in a LEGO® room. Thanks to the clear top section, you can show off the minifigures while keeping them safe and dust-free inside their capsules.

Builders who enjoy modularity can easily remove and display the minifigures separately, while keeping the vending machine as a standalone decorative build. Its versatility as both an interactive toy and a collector’s centrepiece is one of its greatest strengths.

Value for Money

This set sits in the premium price tier, and that might give some buyers pause. However, when you break it down – over 1,300 parts, a unique mechanical function and top prize of 16 exclusive collectible minifigures, the value becomes more apparent.

Whether it’s worth the price depends on what you enjoy in a LEGO® set. If you’re someone who loves collecting minifigures, appreciates clever mechanics, or enjoys nostalgic LEGO® design, this is a great investment. For those more focused on playsets or sheer part count, it may seem expensive, but the quality and attention to detail justify the cost.

Minor Downsides

While this is a standout set, it isn’t without a few limitations:

1. Limited Variety in Capsule Themes: Some collectors may wish for even more theme diversity among the minifigures, as certain styles appear twice or share similar designs.

2. Capsule Handling: The transparent capsules are well-designed but can be slightly fiddly to open, especially if you want to reuse them without scratching or stressing the plastic.

Final Thoughts

The LEGO® Ideas Minifigure Vending Machine is one of the most charming and inventive sets to come from the Ideas line. It captures the essence of what makes LEGO® special: creativity, engineering, nostalgia, and play. With a unique concept, excellent build quality, and high replay value, it checks many boxes for adult fans and collectors.

The build process is engaging, the end result is functional, and the minifigures are delightful. It’s rare for a set to combine mechanical features and aesthetic appeal so effectively, but this model does it with style.

Rating: 9/10
Highly recommended for fans of LEGO® nostalgia, mechanical builds, and exclusive minifigure collections. It’s a set that entertains during the build and keeps on giving long after it’s complete.

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21338 Ideas A-Frame Cabin Review

By Rakesh Gosai (SAFOLs Brick Deputy)

The 21338 Ideas A-Frame Cabin, an insanely detailed model that was satisfying to put together but a bit on the controversial side of things, due to significant changes when compared to the original fan submission on the LEGO® Ideas platform, more on than later.

Looking at the model, I have to say, it looks stunning! It has such a unique style that it really shows what the LEGO® system has to offer. What’s also stunning is the artwork for the building instructions.

There’s a daylight scene in book one, and a nighttime scene in the book two. Hopefully we’ll get to see a lot more of this in upcoming releases.

The building instructions are split into two books, which means that this is a great build to share with someone else, which I feel is always great to have.

Let’s look at the side builds first, which actually come off of the main build. The cross-axle connectors make it so that the side builds are always loose, to avoid the model breaking if you were to lift the whole set. The smallest of the two has a wood storage space with different sizes of logs to chop

Down, and an autumn shaded tree with lots of different foliage elements with the red leaves being a new colour exclusive to this set.

You’ll also find some wildlife, a blue bird up the tree and a butterfly which seems to be the first

time it’s been printed. The second side build is significantly bigger, with bigger trees as well, designed in a similar way as the previous one, but featuring different colour schemes, a yellow and a green

one on top of which we can find the red bird. There’s also a different print to the butterfly, an otter and a frog by the simple creek build.

It will be hard to miss the canoe, under it some life vests in a crate, and the paddles by the barrel.

The base has different kinds of shapes and colours which looks like it could have been better put together. The mushrooms were a nice touch, and a rock element built sideways for some cool stone texture on the ground was an interesting building technique.

The two sections can be connected together for a small mini forest scene if you want to have this detached from the cabin. This could have also been a gift with purchase set! The set is all about the cabin and, I find it absolutely stunning. The official GWP is shown here: https://norton74.com/2024/11/12/exclusive-gwp-for-the-a-frame-cabin/

From the start of the main build, a frog is hidden under the stairs that lead to the house, a few more mushrooms and a squirrel.  The cobblestone work is amazing because it uses a bunch of Thor’s Mjolnir hammer as the stones in a staggered way! Talk about nice part usage. It’s also worth mentioning that the first few steps of the set also have us building a secret Italian flag, a cool Easter Egg that references the nationality of the designer of the set, Andrea Lattanzio, aka Norton74 in the AFOL community. More of his portfolio can be seen here : https://norton74.com/portfolio/

On the porch, there is a rocking chair with the whip element, a very clever detail, an egg being fried here and another small bench to the other side. There’s two more butterflies, the same prints as the ones previously mentioned and a small bird house next to one of the windows, that feature the dark green colour with printed wooden plank pieces above it, something that can be seen on all windows of the cabin, like the ones on the sides of the roof.

There’s a ton of tiles used here on the roof, for a nice effect, though I think the model would have benefited with the use of at least an extra colour for some variation. There isn’t a lack of detail on the back as well with a gas tank and a petrol container, judging by the Octan colour scheme to the left a shower with a pink soap and a door element for a towel. Or is it toilet paper next to a shovel?

There’s also a chimney that goes all the way up, and I would also like to highlight the texturing of the wall. It is very interesting with the use of different pieces and there’s also a lot of different layers of depth, achieved with a mix of modified bricks and brackets on the layers underneath, breaking an otherwise flat surface really well.

The roofs could have benefited with the use of a few more colours.  Both sides of the roof can be removed, and they’re actually only resting, relying on gravity to stay in place which is great for ease of access to the interior.


The roofs don’t line up perfectly as they do on the box as there’s this small gap at the top, not a real issue but something I wanted to mention. There’s a ton of interior details, a bit too much for my taste but I have to agree that it resembles what you would expect to see in these kinds of cabins.

Starting from the top there’s a bedroom with lots of objects lying around. I’ll have to highlight the painting above the bed, an image of a custom build by the fan designer of the set, a cool little Easter

egg in there, a miniature LEGO® Ideas Tree House reference and a hidden nut that the squirrel placed under the bed.

He isn’t the only creature that has been inside though…look out for the spider!

The whole top floor can be removed for easier access to the ground floor, and I like how the chimney outside was split but still matches the lower section when in place.

The ground floor has an even crazier number of details that are really fun to put together, like a desk with a typewriter, a reference to yet another LEGO® Ideas set, the wooden stove in there is very neat, the exhaust was made with a car spoiler element on its side, or the sink’s tap made with the flintlock piece.

In the couch area there’s a collection of vinyl disks, a record player and a collection of minerals as well.

As you probably know, there’s no stickers in the set, everything is printed including the entrance mat with the LEGO® print, an element only seen once before in the red pickup truck set, and above the door, a tile that up until now was exclusive to the LEGO® Ideas Blacksmith set.

Well Priced with 2082 pieces, no stickers, a great building experience, fun details and an amazing looking model when put together, I think this set offers a lot of value and then there are the 4 minifigures, all featuring appropriate clothing for the setting were the action plays out.

It does confuse me how these four people will sleep with the cabin only having a double bed upstairs though. Maybe they’ll share the woods with all the different animals that this set has to offer.

This set seems to be getting some criticism due to a few changes when we compare the final model, to the initial fan designer submission on the LEGO® Ideas platform. The trees are the most obvious changes which understandably can make some people less happy. The original ones also seem incredibly difficult to build strongly enough for LEGO® quality standards. I can understand if the changes were made due to stability. There’s also the overall look of the model, the original looked way more dated, whereas the final model looks a bit more modern looking.

I don’t mind the changes all that much and the model still looks amazing!