10281-1
Bonsai Tree is LEGO set 10281-1. It doesn't have a score so far. The set is recommended by 4 reviews, based on 1 scored review and 7 reviews total. We know this set was released in 2021, and it is categorised in Creator Expert.
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I love Bonsai trees, but I can never keep them alive... I am saving to build the cherry blossoms until the spring, but the green looks so good. it is a fairly easy and majestic build, it looks so good with the loose 1x1 round tiles for pebbles and the tires for the pot legs is such a good idea for not having it slide around so much as it would.
It's a model that comes together intelligently to create a final, affecting piece that pays fine tribute to not only how a real bonsai tree looks, but as much as it can to the practice and art form that bonsai is too.
One of the things I find most inspiring about this set is the explicit encouragement to modify it even further, beyond the two variants that are provided with parts and instructions. The back of the instruction booklet includes a gallery of ideas, ranging from simple color replacements with different leaves to entirely new settings.
Even without a large collection of your own parts, Bonsai Tree is a beautiful display piece and the reimagining of this Japanese icon in LEGO blocks is truly impressive. The build is a delight and I learned a couple of interesting techniques along the way. It's clear that a lot of thought was put into creating the optimal angle of the trunk against the base of the pot and the placement of the branches and foliage making a gorgeous LEGO plant. There's a lot to like in the selection of parts provided too: some useful parts in brown and green (both recoloured and returning) as well as all those pink frogs!
The set does an incredible job of recreating the plant which has inspired it. The build really looks just like a real Bonsai Tree. From the tray planter, wood-like plinth and textured bark of the tree, all these aspects of the set combine to create a truly unique LEGO display piece. It's the perfect set to encapsulate the concept of the ‘Adults Welcome' message. There is nothing stopping younger builder from constructing the set, but it certainly best suited towards AFOLs or those who wish to escape for a few moments. It's a genuinely a delightful little set, I like that there is an option to switch the leaves, as well as being the base to unleash your creativity.
