Calling Lego experts... I dont yet have a main present for DS12

[sweetmelody]

Ok - I do have choices, but there is nothing on his list that I am keen to get him as a main present. However, he has always loved Lego sets and was asking about the red and white Lego plane that he was gifted some time ago but many of the key pieces got lost in a house move. Having said that, he is not one to make a kit up, and then break it up and make it up again.....

His other interests are trains, robotics, cars, football - the usual stuff.

I would quite like to get him a really decent Lego set but no nothing about the funkier, fancier stuff.

Can someone recommend a particular set? Im really pushed for time here!

*know

My son got a Hayes v8 engine which he made (10yo) but it was a bit challenging but your 12 yo Lego fan will be able for it.

The red London bus looks good too. Says 16+ but I imagine a 12 yo could do it.

Lego technic stuff is good.

I got a mix of Lego for our boys this year - the older one (11) loves the architecture ones - you can get them lots of major cities and they sometimes do accessories like lights for the London Eye - they are quite a challenge but reevaluate rewarding to do. We also have our eye on the roller coaster which actually works! but it’s over £200 and way out of our budget.

DS is a Lego obsessive. If your DS isn't a collector (yet...), I would go for something not linked to one of the big franchises (Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc) but get him a standalone set. The London bus is a great shout, but we also have the VW camper van which we love. DS says that the Lego City range has train sets, or if your DS likes Harry Potter, you can get the Harry Potter train.

How cool is this?!

www.johnlewis.com/lego-creator-10261-roller-coaster/p3893080

Technics or City is better value than Star Wars or the other franchised stuff

Btw - you can order missing pieces on the lego website - sometimes it's free

We have a couple of the larger City sets, the space station and the volcano are both well enjoyed, particularly the volcano as the art 'does' stuff.

Harry Potter sets have been the main request in our house this year.

www.very.co.uk/lego-city-60197nbsppassenger-train/1600264131.prd?sku=sku20809717&cm_mmc=google--PLA+-+Generic--Lego--PRODUCT_GROUP_p49449854865%5BAdID%5D&utm_campaign=Generic_Toys+%7C+Brands+%7C+Lego&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=PRODUCT_GROUP&campaigntype=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiLzG-_bD5gIVCLrtCh1sswjXEAQYAiABEgIurfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I only say as I’ve got mine still since I was a kid , I’m 32 now! And now my DS will play with it... deffo a Keep sake

There's the robot that links to coding, also the hidden scenes (?) Use an app & it makes a scene

The rollercoaster looks amazing!

Ive checked out the train sets and Im not sure as its pitched at 6-12.

I do love the red bus so I think it is between the bus and the Lego Mindstorms robot. Anyone any experience of mindstorms??

Oh so @Namechanger23455 you'd recommend the train for a 12 year old?

What's your budget?

My son went to a Lego workshop and with this kit, they learn coding and actually build working windmills , helicopters, robots etc

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Education-WeDo-2-0-Core/dp/B01A9A9XLW/ref=ascdff_B01A9A9XLW/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=255766344631&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8633494769326355270&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045117&hvtargid=pla-459034555868&psc=1

I’m an adult Lego maker but I do mainly buildings however the camper van was a fun build If he likes Disney and it’s a smaller budget the Steamboat Willy is also lovely

Look at the Technic sets with Power Functions (you might have to buy the motor separately)

He's 12 and you don't want to buy him any of the things he has asked for and want to get him something entirely different that he doesn't want....
Well, he's going to be upset on Christmas morning isn't he?

@OxiBrilloRange probably £200

Re the coding options, bottom line is he is a huge Robot Wars fan but has struggled with embracing the coding side of things. He goes to a robotics after school club and has been finding it boring becuase 'they do the same thing every week and the robots never work'.

I bought him a load of 'tech will save us' stuff last Christmas and it never came out of the box (need to remember to put it on eBay - what a waste). So I like the idea of a Lego robot that he can enjoy building, and the coding bit is secondary and hopefully a bonus

The Christmas sets are always lovely, and all sort of go together to make a mahoosive Christmas village. There's a train, a bakery, Santa's workshop etc, not sure what this year's set is as DS is on Star Wars atm.

But... is there nothing from his list at all suitable?

Buy something from his list! Surely if you got him things last year that he has never used you have learnt from that?

What else is on his list? The NASA Saturn V rocket is a good one

To be fair, the list could be filled with outrageous, hyper-expensive fripperies!

Go for Lego Technics. That's more advanced and some really cool stuff. Budget dependant there are sets that are remote controlled too. Or something like this, which we have bought for DS
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G5RI0KS/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExOUVLTU5VR0RNRERZJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzk0NzQ3S0xCSlZDUkZPUDE3JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2MDcwMTlOUlU1N0Y5STlHNEQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&pd_rd_i=B01G5RI0KS&tag=mumsnetforu03-21