Do you recall a tale where a cat transformed into a roaring motorcycle, racing against a panda armed with bamboo shooters? Perhaps not exactly, but the LEGO® DREAMZzz™ universe conjures up such whimsical scenarios! This review dives into two captivating sets from the latest DREAMZzz wave: 71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle and 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda. These sets, provided by The LEGO Group, offer unique building experiences and introduce fantastic elements perfect for fans of creative play and, especially for us, lovers of Cat Lego creations.
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71480 Logan the Mighty Panda
- Price: US$29.99 / £24.99 / 29.99€ / AU$49.99
- Pieces: 342
- Release date: August 1, 2024
LEGO DreamZzz 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda on LEGO.com
Lego DreamZzz 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda
71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle
- Price: US$19.99 / £17.99 / 19.99€ / AU$29.99
- Pieces: 226
- Release date: August 1, 2024
LEGO DreamZzz 71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle on LEGO.com
Lego DreamZzz 71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle
Exploring the Parts of 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda
This set is a treasure trove of interesting LEGO elements, particularly for those keen on expanding their parts collection.
Unveiling New Moulds
- 4x Brick Round 3 x 3 D. Tube with 45° Elbow and Axle Holes (Crossholes) at Each End in Blue (6492756 | 5057): A close up shows four blue LEGO macaroni tube pieces, a new element in the DreamZzz LEGO set.
The most notable new part is the “maxi” macaroni tube. This element, previously discussed by TobyMac in New Elementary’s DreamZzz August wave parts introduction, makes a significant appearance in this set with a high count in an opaque color. While the slight slot marks on the concave curve might be a minor drawback for those desiring a perfectly smooth surface, the five axle holes on each end provide exceptional connection stability. A central pin hole could have enhanced rotational possibilities, but overall, this piece is a welcome addition to the LEGO parts library, opening up new avenues for MOC (My Own Creation) building, which we’ll touch upon later.
- 2x Large Figure Cover / Face with Two Studs in Olive Green (6491523 | 5276): Two olive green, unprinted LEGO faceplate pieces are displayed, designed for large figures.
The second new mould is more specialized, likely intended as a printed faceplate. These unprinted olive green versions feel somewhat like placeholders, yet the olive green color itself is appealing.
- 1x Animal, Raven with a Black marbled pattern in Trans-Dark Pink (6466858 | 5272) – present in all sets of this wave: A trans-dark pink LEGO raven with a black marbled pattern is shown.
- 1x Dome 2 x 2 x 2 with Crystallized Top (6466880 | 5334) – also present in all sets of this wave: A trans-dark pink LEGO dome with crystallized texture on top is displayed.
These two parts are consistent across the entire DREAMZzz wave. They are quite niche, limiting immediate creative applications. However, the raven is visually striking, resembling a unique liquorice and raspberry jelly candy fusion.
Recolor Highlights
- 2x Wedge Curved 4 x 3 No Studs in Dark Tan (6343454 | 64225): Two dark tan curved wedge LEGO pieces without studs are featured.
- 1x Weapon Barrel in Bright Green (6491850 | 77257): A bright green LEGO weapon barrel piece is shown.
The dark tan wedge is a highly anticipated and versatile recolor, surprisingly absent until now. It’s excellent for creating realistic human figures. Conversely, the bright green weapon barrel is a bold and less universally applicable choice.
- 6x Technic Brick Special 1 x 2 with Pin Hole and 1 x 2 Plate in Blue (6488776 | 73109) – also in 71485 Mateo and Z-Blob the Knight Battle Mech: Six blue Technic LEGO bricks with pin holes and plates are displayed.
Another practical recolor comes in the form of these Technic bricks, appearing in a useful quantity.
New Prints
- 1x Windscreen 6 x 6 x 3 Dome with Dual 2 Fingers with Blue Panda Pattern in White (6487099): A white LEGO dome windscreen with a blue panda face print is presented.
The panda head hemisphere print with blue fur is a unique and somewhat whimsical piece, perhaps not universally appealing in its aesthetic.
- 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Rock, Skull and Windmill Pattern in Trans-Light Blue (6523611) – also in 2 other DREAMZzz sets: A trans-light blue LEGO tile with a dreamscape print featuring a rock, skull, and windmill is shown.
These transparent tiles, representing dream elements stolen by ravens, feature an intriguing dreamscape print.
Rare and Notable Parts
- 14x Animal / Creature Body Part, Claw with Clip in Blue (6447238 | 3171) – also in 76257 Wolverine Construction Figure: Fourteen blue LEGO claw pieces with clips are displayed.
The set includes a generous quantity of the new-ish finger/claw pieces in blue, providing ample opportunity to experiment with them in character-based MOCs.
- 1x Slope Curved 4 x 3 with 3 Layers, 1 x 3 Cutout on Underside in Blue (6421594 | 66955) – in 2 other sets: A blue curved LEGO slope piece with a cutout on the underside is shown.
- 6x Plate Special 1 x 1 Rounded with Handle in Dark Azure (6481638 | 26047) – in 2 other sets: Six dark azure LEGO rounded plates with handles are displayed.
- 2x Technic Brick Special 2 x 2 with Ball Receptacle Wide and Axle Hole, No Arm Holes in Dark Blue (6479467 | 67696) – also in 76298 Iron Spider-Man Construction Figure: Two dark blue Technic LEGO bricks with ball receptacles are shown.
These parts, especially the ball socket brick in various colors, are valuable additions for MOC builders.
Sticker Sheet
- A sticker sheet for the Logan the Mighty Panda LEGO set is presented, featuring various decorative stickers.
Stickers 1 and 2, intended for the dark tan wedges and panda chest, were intentionally omitted in this review.
Minifigures of Set 71480
This set features two versions of Logan: the heroic Logan and his evil counterpart, Dogan. This “evil twin” trope is common in superhero themes. Dogan’s name is notably similar to DoÄŸan, a Turkish name meaning Falcon.
- Two LEGO minifigures, Logan and Dogan, are displayed side by side. Dogan, the evil version, is in magenta and black, while Logan is in blue and orange.
Evil Logan “Dogan” features:
- Shoulder piece with a Black mold pattern in Trans-Dark Pink (6508633 | 5332) – new mould
- Head, Dogan in Magenta (6487096)
- Torso, Dogan in Black (6493258)
- Legs, Dogan in Magenta – Black hips (6487098)
- A close up of the Logan and Dogan minifigures showcases their unique printed torsos and legs.
Heroic Logan includes:
- Head, Logan (6487093)
- Torso, Logan in Dark Blue (6493108)
- Legs, Dual-Moulded, Logan in Dark Azure/Bright Light Orange (6487095)
Both Logans share the same black swept hairpiece, although it’s not pictured here.
The Completed 71480 Set
- The completed LEGO Logan the Mighty Panda set is displayed, showing its blue and white color scheme and bamboo minigun.
The finished Logan’s Mighty Panda is a robust, square-shaped blue and white panda armed with a bamboo-themed minigun. Despite its somewhat stocky build, it offers a good range of motion for dynamic poses and feels solid and easy to handle.
- Another angle of the LEGO panda set highlights the tan and olive green armor plating on its shoulders.
Lacking mechanical details, the panda seems to be a magical creature rather than a vehicle. Tan and olive green elements form armor plating, further emphasizing its broad shoulders.
- The side profile of the LEGO panda reveals some of the busier detailing and the bright light orange accents.
While generally cohesive, the sides and back of the panda exhibit a slightly busy aesthetic. The bright light orange details provide a pleasing contrast against the blue.
- A view into the panda cockpit shows space for Logan minifigure and the dome with hinged joints.
The cockpit comfortably fits Logan and his hockey stick, and the dome features two joints for a fully enclosed angle. The hockey stick and grinning blue panda head give off an ice hockey mascot vibe.
The alternate build, simply posing the panda on four legs with the gun on its back, is less imaginative compared to other DREAMZzz sets which offer more distinct alternate models.
- Logan’s Mighty Panda in a four-legged pose, the less exciting alternate build option.
Logan’s Mighty Panda lives up to its name, offering a unique, engaging, and well-designed set. While the printed dome head might be divisive due to its fixed grin and “Sonic-core” aesthetic, it’s undeniably memorable and effectively conceals the minifigure pilot. Despite some aesthetic reservations, the overall design is respectable, and even the stud shooter, often considered unwelcome, integrates well with the set’s style.
Parts Highlights of 71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle – A Purr-fect Cat Lego Ride
Moving onto the cat lego set, Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle, we explore its parts and building experience, especially for fans of cat lego creations.
New Moulds
- 1x Animal, Raven with a Black marbled pattern in Trans-Dark Pink (6466858 | 5272) – in each set of this wave: Re-display of the trans-dark pink LEGO raven with black marbling.
- 1x Dome 2 x 2 x 2 with Crystallized Top (6466880 | 5334) – in each set of this wave: Re-display of the trans-dark pink crystallized dome LEGO piece.
As with the panda set, the raven and crystallized dome are the only new moulds, appearing across the DREAMZzz wave. No other unique moulds are specific to this cat lego motorcycle.
New Recolor Elements
- 2x Brick Round 2 x 2 D. Tube with 45° Elbow and Axle Holes (Crossholes) at Each End [LONG] in Dark Blue (6510158 | 5489): Two dark blue long macaroni LEGO tube pieces are shown.
- 2x Brick Round 2 x 2 D. Tube with 45° Elbow and Axle Holes (Crossholes) at Each End [LONG] in Medium Azure (6510153 | 5489): Two medium azure long macaroni LEGO tube pieces are displayed.
Recolors include the long version of the macaroni tube, now available in dark blue and medium azure, colors already present in the short version from previous DREAMZzz sets. While not groundbreaking, these larger macaroni pieces are still inspiring and useful, especially for builders focusing on curved shapes.
New Prints
- 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Video Game Accessories Pattern in Trans-Purple (6523618) – in 3 other LEGO DREAMZzz sets: A trans-purple LEGO tile with a video game accessories print is shown.
- 1x Large Figure Shoulder Cover with Futuristic Cat Pattern in Dark Blue (6487033): A dark blue LEGO shoulder cover with a futuristic cat face print is displayed, a key element for cat lego enthusiasts.
The trans-purple tile features a video game dream print, less visually striking than the dream tile in the panda set. However, the dark blue shoulder cover with a futuristic cat face print is a standout piece, perfectly aligning with the cat lego theme and highly usable for figure customization.
Rare Parts
- 1x Animal Body Part / Plant, Tail / Neck / Branch / Trunk, Middle Section with Pin in Medium Azure (6410520 | 51274) – also in 75572 Jake & Neytiri’s First Banshee Flight: A medium azure LEGO tail/neck/branch piece is shown.
- 2x Technic Tooth 1 x 3 with Axle Hole [Hollow Underside] in Dark Blue (6434422 | 48267) – also in 42154 2022 Ford GT: Two dark blue Technic LEGO tooth pieces are displayed.
- 2x Large Figure Shoulder Cover, Armor, Round, Smooth with Bar in Dark Blue (6510984 | 1686) – in 2 other sets: Two dark blue large figure shoulder armor pieces are shown.
These rare parts, including the tail piece (still using the older mould with a pin), Technic teeth, and shoulder armor, are all useful and welcome additions.
Sticker Sheet
- The sticker sheet for Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle LEGO set, featuring four small decorative stickers.
The small sticker sheet includes just four stickers, applied to common pieces and enhancing the set’s visual appeal.
Minifigures in 71479
- Zoey and Evil Cooper “Dooper” LEGO minifigures from the Cat Motorcycle set are displayed. Zoey is in dark blue and orange, Dooper in black and magenta.
Zoey, the hero of this cat lego adventure, and Evil Cooper (“Dooper”), the antagonist, are included.
New parts for Zoey:
- Head, Zoey in Yellow (6487027)
- Torso, Zoey in Dark Blue (6490590)
- Legs, Zoey in Dark Blue (6487029)
The coral cat claw print on Zoey’s legs is a charming detail for cat lego enthusiasts. Zoey is equipped with an Avatar-style flick arrow bow and a somewhat bulky “quiver.”
- Close-up of Zoey and Dooper minifigures, highlighting their distinct facial prints and torso designs.
Evil Cooper “Dooper” features:
- Hair Tousled and Sticking Out on Both Sides in Magenta (6490140) – recolour
- Shoulder piece with a Black mold pattern in Trans-Dark Pink (6508633 | 5332) – new mould
- Head, Dooper in White (6487030)
- Torso, Dooper in Black (6490605)
- Legs, Dooper in Black (6487032)
The Completed 71479 Set – Zoey’s Cat Lego Motorcycle in All its Glory
- The completed Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle LEGO set is displayed in motorcycle mode, showcasing its sleek design and azure wheels.
Large motorcycles are a staple in action themes, and this cat lego motorcycle takes it a step further. It transforms into a car by removing the exhaust pipes and wheels, similar to transformations seen in 71456 Mrs. Castillo’s Turtle Van and 71458 Crocodile Car. An alternate model, using wheels as rotors, was not explored in this review.
The motorcycle is sturdy and features adjustable leg forks. The color scheme is decent, with particular praise for the faceplate print, medium azure wheels, and rounded shoulder armor, all contributing to its appeal as a cat lego set.
- The back view of the Cat Motorcycle, highlighting the feet that function as stands in motorcycle mode.
The rear feet serve as stands, maintaining stability in motorcycle mode and preparing it for transformation.
- The Cat Motorcycle transformed into cat mode, showcasing its feline shape and light bley technic connectors.
The cat mode is also well-executed. Light bley Technic connectors are somewhat noticeable, and darker hues might have been preferable, but the grey color blocking in the ankle ball sockets makes eliminating grey entirely challenging.
- Dooper minifigure facing the Cat Motorcycle in cat mode, emphasizing the size and scale of the cat build.
An elephant-sized magic cat is arguably more intimidating than a motorcycle, a sentiment Dooper seems to share. A minor design flaw across the wave is revealed here: the dream domes carried by ravens cannot stand upright on their own due to the boat stud.
MOC Inspiration: Zero Suit Samus – Leveraging New LEGO Parts
Color schemes are a personal fascination in LEGO building. Bright Blue, a classic LEGO blue, is an underutilized color in personal creations, despite its ubiquity. The set’s blue parts, particularly the maxi-macaronis, sparked a creative MOC project: Zero Suit Samus.
The 3×3 maxi-macaronis were the catalyst. Aiming to transcend their typical tube applications, the goal was to integrate them into larger forms, obscuring their original shape. The blue color naturally evoked Samus Aran’s Zero Suit from the Metroid series. A previous Bionicle-based attempt at this character was revisited, leading to a new iteration leveraging these parts.
- A LEGO MOC of Zero Suit Samus, inspired by the new blue macaroni pieces from the reviewed sets.
The design draws inspiration from the Nintendo Wii game Other M and a Max Factory figure. The figure’s dynamic pose, complete with flowing hair, provided a solid starting point. While loosely based on the Other M design, significant modifications were made to proportions, posture, and torso bulk for a more realistic rendition.
- Another view of the Zero Suit Samus MOC, highlighting its unique structure without a central spine.
The structure is unconventional, lacking a central spine. A core assembly within the hips, utilizing 1×3 round plates with T-bars, acts as the central hub. Legs and hip curves connect to this hub. A curved stomach panel is applied to the front, and the upper torso links to the macaroni tubes. The desired macaroni tube pin hole for rotation was achieved using dark azure 3×3 round Technic pieces, enabling free macaroni rotation crucial for this MOC.
- Side view of the Zero Suit Samus LEGO MOC, showing the color blocking and part usage.
While the Zero Suit typically features darker and lighter blue patterns with pink accents, this seed-part-based model simplifies the color palette. Dark blue was used for mid-legs, enabling the use of 47844 Windscreen 9 x 3 x 1 2/3 Bubble Canopy as upper leg muscles. Dark azure, necessitated by waist construction, was also incorporated into the shins, allowing for rounded front edges with 1×4 “loaf” curved slopes, resulting in a pleasing color patchwork.
- Rear view of the Zero Suit Samus MOC, showcasing hair detail and part connections.
Other parts from the reviewed sets include panda fingers, blue Technic plate/brick recolors for structural support, and cat cycle shoulder pads repurposed as buttocks. An unusual hair piece, 30596 Rock 2 x 2 with Centre Stud from the 2005 Belville 5960 The Mermaid Castle, highlights the surprising longevity of certain LEGO colors like bright light yellow.
Conclusion: DreamZzz Sets – Worthy Additions for LEGO Fans, Especially Cat Lego Lovers
Both 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda and 71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle are commendable sets without significant flaws. The cat lego motorcycle, while not overflowing with entirely new parts, is a strong parts pack, particularly for curved elements and the beautiful medium azure wheels, making it a must-have for cat lego collectors. The model itself is cohesive and robust. The panda set boasts exciting new parts, notably the maxi macaroni tubes, with four included in a reasonably priced set. Its design is unique and ambitious, offering fun posing and handling, even if the aesthetic is not universally appealing. The price points of US$19.99/ £17.99/ 19.99€/ AU$29.99 for 71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle (226 parts) and US$29.99/ £24.99/ 29.99€/ AU$49.99 for 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda (342 parts), each with two minifigures, are reasonable. For fans of cat lego, Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle is a particularly delightful addition.
LEGO DreamZzz 71480 Logan the Mighty Panda on LEGO.com
LEGO DreamZzz 71479 Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle on LEGO.com
READ MORE: What are the new LEGO® parts in October 2024 sets?
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