Set Review ➟ LEGO 10304 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
LEGO has been kind enough to provide us with this new set for review. The 10304 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 set has 1456 parts and an expected price of €170. It is a set for adults, on the box it is marked with a +18, but the word ICONS does not yet appear anywhere, which is supposed to include this type of set. The box is mainly black with dark red details, which is a reflection of the model itself, as the vehicle has those same colours.
It is clear that this type of set is being well received by the AFOLS, given the number of different cars from different brands that it has released in recent years. Although these are display sets, since their features and gameplay are very limited, they seem to have found their way onto the shelves of most AFOLS.
Opening the box we find eight main bags, and then loose and tumbling around the box we have the tires, instructions and sticker sheet. None of that comes bagged or protected with cardboard. Fortunately, neither the stickers nor the instructions suffered major damage. It also includes a small information sheet about the gradual substitution of plastic bags for paper ones, unfortunately in my version there was only plastic.
Building the model is not inherently difficult for most AFOLs. It is very pleasant since it does not have repetitive steps and there are enough SNOT zones that allow a finish with practically no studs in sight. I have not found many steps that make this model complicated for children with experience in LEGO, they may need help hooking a clip or joining some parts whose placement is not totally clear in the instructions, but nothing especially complicated... except in the step 57 of the assembly, where we are asked to place some hinges invading the physical space of parts placed in previous steps. It is striking that even the instructions mark that step as impossible by showing the parts partially overlapping. The solution is quick since the parts that make it difficult to place the hinges are easily removed and put on. The rest of the assembly does not present major problems. The instructions come on a gray background, which slightly alters the tones of the red and blue parts, nothing particularly serious once you get used to it.
The functions included in the model are typical of the latest sets of this series of vehicles. Steering from the steering wheel, hood, doors and trunk opening and folding seats. The main novelty is that this set includes the option to customize the model, allowing us to choose various finishes for it during construction. The most important and most affecting option during assembly is choosing between the Coupe model and the Convertible model. Both equally attractive, so only our personal taste will decide. When we reach bag 8 we will have to choose the path to follow. Another functionality is related to the color of the model. Although the basic color is black, the stripes that run along the hood and trunk can be mounted in white, dark gray or dark red. I opted for the Coupe model and the white stripes although it probably won't take long to mount the convertible. Regarding the dark gray stripes, I find them very elegant but they stand out very little from the black of the vehicle, and the dark red ones did not quite convince me, since it is the color used for the interiors of the model. Finally, you can also choose between two license plates and two types of headlights, the classic round ones or ones in the shape of a grid. When choosing the color of the stripes you have to be careful with some parts that come in all three colors and you can forget to choose the right color at the right step and you will have to go back when you realize it.
Once the model is finished, I have to admit that it is more beautiful than what the photo on the box implies. I think the main problem of the model is the color. The black model on a black background blends in some parts and does not give a real idea of the final result. Although being European I don't have that special cultural relationship with the American Muscle Cars of that time, as a car fan I do know most of the models that marked that time in the construction of sports cars. Huge engines for a time when fuel economy was not a priority. Aggressive bodywork and few concessions to the superfluous. The LEGO model very well transmits that image of strength of the original sports car and the shapes and volumes are very well achieved.
Its sticker load is low. Bring seventeen small size stickers. I have left without putting the ones on the sides of the windshield since I do not think they contribute much and I may need that windshield later. I think the side tiles where the word Camaro appears should be printed and not stickers, but it's a personal opinion. I was also surprised that the decorative lines of the trunk are wider than those of the front hood, I have not been able to find a photo of a real model on the internet that would completely clear my doubts, but the ones I have been able to find have made me understand that in the real model they were the same width. There is no structural reason for not having made the trunk lines narrower and that they will match the front ones, personally it is a detail that I do not like and that I will probably fix.
Under the front hood we can see the engine, a good reflection of the real engine. The rear trunk, on the other hand, is empty. In the cabin I miss a few more details, although the designers have given it a couple of touches of humor including a Model Team magazine in the back seat and the typical dices hanging from the interior rearview mirror. This last detail is lost if you opt for the convertible model.
If you are thinking of this model as a source of parts, I have to tell you that the assortment is good, without excessively large pieces and with a great variety, but if you do not need black parts… Well yes, unfortunately this model is black, and I have nothing personal against that color, but it is so “bland”. I think there are better options for any sports car than black. Taking into account that black options abound lately (Batmobile, Dodge Charger, etc…) perhaps they could have chosen another color. The interiors in Dark red are more interesting as a source of parts. It includes some chrome rims that are very nice on this model. Includes two large windshields, one 12 studs wide and one 10 studs wide. Of the 1456 pieces, the most abundant is the 2x1 cheese slope, of which there are already 53 in black alone. At the end of the assembly you find a lot of extra pieces in addition to the usual small pieces, since you have those corresponding to the construction of the alternative model (Coupe or convertible) and the two decorations that you have not used.
If you like classic cars, this is one in its own right, and the LEGO version is visually very successful from almost every angle. I especially like the front, with that very well imitated front apron. Perhaps the rearview mirrors, made from popsicle sticks, look a bit plain compared to the rest of the model. Structurally it seems solid, and you can hold it in various places without giving you the feeling that it is going to fall apart. Probably the only weak point is the roof of the Coupe version, something normal in this type of model.
The problem arises when it comes to price. A price of €170 has been announced, that's €40 more than the Ford Mustang that has a slightly higher number of parts (1470) and also in a more exclusive color…, the accounts don't add up. I don't know if this set already comes with the announced price increase and the Mustang doesn't yet, but it is clear that with the current information I see the model as a bit expensive. Of course, if you are one of those for whom the price tag is not a problem, I think the model will not disappoint you.
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