LEGO City 60212 Barbecue Burn Out review

LEGO City 60212 Barbecue Burn Out is too small to set the world on fire – but can it fan the flames of fan interest?

Price: £7.99 / $9.99 / €9.99  Pieces: 64  Available: Now

Barbecues are usually associated with summer holidays and lovely hot weather, unless you’re in the UK, in which case it is a battle to cook some burgers whilst holding an umbrella. Apparently in 60212 Barbecue Burn Out, even hot dogs are a fire hazard – with the cooking having gone so wrong it requires the help of the fire brigade.

To free-up the piece count and make the build as easy as possible, no chassis has to be made for the fire-engine, which instead uses a new-for-2019 wagon bottom. Unfortunately the truck looks rather unfinished, and with no roof it is more susceptible to breaking than other 4+ models. Although some printed elements add to the realism of the vehicle it really needed some more fire fighting accessories to encourage role-play.

The main emphasis of the fire-engine is its crane, which can be levered up or down as it is hinged. By including simple mechanisms in the 4+ theme it is a way for the LEGO Group to prepare young fans for the more complex ones incorporated in bigger sets.

Having flames to tackle is the whole purpose of a fire-engine, but even so, a burning barbecue does seem a little far-fetched. As an ancillary model it is quite dull – the grill is extremely simple and a tree with only one bough looks ridiculous.

Both minifigures are generic City folk, and it is a bit of a shame they are both guys.

60212 Barbecue Burn Out is a strange idea that has led to a mediocre set. There’s nothing wrong with the model but it doesn’t ignite the imagination – perhaps one to grab if you fancy a quick, cheap build.

This product was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

60212 Barbecue Burn Out is available now at shop.lego.com. You can help support Brick Fanatics’ work by using our affiliate links.