Trevi Fountain

This was a good piece to work on. The structures in the fountain were a pain to put together and get in the right place but I was able to get them there. The water was fun to put in also. I do not understand why the instructions are printed on black paper and not like the regular Lego instruction books. It would be easier to see, especially the black pieces. It would also be easier to keep the book open to the page that you are on. I have found a way to keep the book open but using a large binder clip but you have to keep moving it as you progress. I have also noticed that the Architecture sets are more reliable in having all the pieces included in the sets. I really like that! more less

When the Trevi Fountain was released I felt it was nice, but was not personally inclined to purchase. In the end, I received the Trevi Fountain model as a gift, and within the first hour of building, I had totally changed my mind. The kit consists of 731 pieces which is quite high considering the scale of the model. The primary reason for this high piece count is the extensive use of smaller 1x1 and 1x2 tiles and plates. This adds to both the intricacy of the build as well as the detail of the finished model. I enjoyed the model designer's notes in the instruction manual explaining the abstract representations of the actual fountain's more subtle details as well as the creative approach to representing the coral/rock formations. The instruction manual also did a great job showing where new elements were to be placed despite being placed in close proximity to very similar elements. The only genuine criticism I can offer for this kit has nothing to do with the model itself, rather it pertains to the instruction manual binding method. The Lego Fallingwater model featured a spiral-bound instruction manual whereas all subsequent Lego Architecture manuals have been glue/tape bound. I personally much prefer the spiral binding, but to their credit, Lego's glue binding does seem robust and should last. For those undecided on this model, I would suggest taking the plunge. The representation as well as piece count make this model worthwhile and quite enjoyable to build. more less

I really do think this set is nice. For representing such a large structure, LEGO did a great job taking it and making it at this small scale. There are few discernible details at this size, but to make it as large and detailed as it would need to be, I'd see it at about the size of the latest Arkham Asylum set. The water and rock work is exceptional. more less

In the case of the Trevi Fountain set, it's safe to say that the whole is worth way more than the sum of the parts. There are very few rare or unique pieces in the set - and those that are (the all white shield for instance) are totally boring and wouldn't have a lot of uses outside something like this set anyhow. There is virtually no play value in the set so I wouldn't recommend buying this set for a child unless that kid has some sort of fascination with fountains...or Rome. For adults, I wouldn't recommend this set at full retail price - the majority of the pieces are really small so the price-per-piece idea isn't a good gauge. Instead, if you can get this set on sale, go for it - it does look quite nice when it's complete. If not, you could probably use Brick Link or even eBay and create your own Trevi Fountain and save some money along the way! I still gave the set an 8 overall because it does a great job of doing what it is supposed to be doing. It's a pretty good replica of Trevi Fountain in LEGO form - and yes, the lack of color is boring but it's true to the source material (which is the important part). more less

Overall, I'm impressed with the set. [...] There are some rare and exclusive parts in it including the clear 1x1 tiles, a white classic shield and the unprinted white microfigs. And the rest of the parts are a pretty good assortment. more less

This set definitely exceeded my expectations, since Baroque and Classical architecture are so difficult to represent in LEGO, let alone microscale. Yet this is a superb job. Earlier I simplistically described the model as a horizontal and a vertical plane, but in fact these planes are packed with fine detail and layered texture. In terms of new and fairly new elements it's not mindblowing, but certainly decent for an Architecture set, with some unusual inclusions. I'm especially pleased with the White microfigs and Trans-Clear 1X1 tiles. more less

The fountain and pool in front of it are certainly the right shape but the thing I am not so convinced about is the sea reef, represented in the model by grey slopes and tiles in the water. In my opinion they take up far too much space and leave very little pool in front of them. Of course, that is easily remedied, simply remove some of them or maybe extend the front of the pool out 4 studs or so. That minor niggle aside, this is an excellent addition to the Architecture line. It's a satisfying, 'adult' build, one you need to take time over to get it to look its best, the completed model looks superb and is a faithful representation of the real thing. more less

The final result is excellent, both the decoration and the water effect are phenomenally solved, and once finished it is a great decorative model. Clearly its architectural interest may differ from previous models in the line, and certainly Rome can be an endless source of architectural gems, but the monument is known worldwide and the model is solved with quality, making it an outstanding set. more less

While this set costs $50 and doesn't have as many colours/interesting new pieces as one would hope, the interesting build and end result are more than enough of a reason to get it. A faithful representation of the Trevi Fountain that beautifully recreates the water, rocks, and sculptures, it will not only look great for others to admire, but it leaves you quite satisfied by the end of the building process. more less