Today, Branko takes a look at several Stich models, and considers how models are displayed in LEGO Stores around the world..

Years ago (2016) I bumped across this Stitch model on LEGO Ideas and I fell in love with it. Regardless whether or not the idea would get approved by LEGO Ideas, I set about building this wonderful creature based on instructions by Tyler Clites (who went on to win US LEGO Masters season 1 with Amy Clites in 2020).

This year, LEGO suddenly released its own design of a larger Stitch model,43249, (affiliate link), which I obviously bought as soon as I could.

In relation to this new Stitch set, I made two observations how LEGO sets are displayed in store: this varies a lot per store and per country, and I like getting a bit of inspiration beyond ‘what’s in the box’.

Display in LEGO stores

When walking into Sydney’s Pitt Street store I noticed the display of Stitch Combined with the Tropical Ukulele also released this year. It seems like a perfect combination so I was stimulated to go and buy me a Ukulele (that I had managed to avoid until that time).

I’ve been told that the certified LEGO stores in Australia have fairly strict rules regarding what can be displayed which makes the displays a bit predictable and unimaginative but it seems the rules are starting to stretch a little and I can wholeheartedly applaud this! It makes it more interesting to visit the store and consider combinations I might not have thought of before.

While visiting stores in Japan and the Netherlands I noticed a lot more creativity; entire flower pots filled with multiples of the flower sets in the Netherlands (seems appropriate) whereas in Japan some displays looked like a group of kids were fed an overdose of sugar before being let loose on the display. I loved it!

What do you think about store displays? Should they limit themselves to the contents of a box, or should the stores put in a bit of extra effort to show what else LEGO can be?

Stitch vs Stitch

What is a fundamental difference between official sets and unofficial instructions?

Now that I have two Stitches, they have to be displayed together. Tyler has described the roller-coaster of emotions regarding his creation and has decided to share instructions for his design with anyone who wants it.

I love both Stitch models. Combined with the tropical Ukulele 31156, they make for a good shelf in my display cabinet. Unfortunately, the official Stitch is not very pose-able which limits the display options, but Tyler’s Stitch more than makes up for it.

The flexibility of many points of articulation (head, mouth, four arms, feet, legs, ears) comes with a downside: he’s also very good at face-planting, so you need to balance him carefully or make sure he holds on to something. With four arms (two optional), this is not a problem.

At some point I will probably include some of Tyler’s suggested upgrades, but for now I’m happy to have a small family of Stitch at home. Because, remember, “Ohana means family“.

Official LEGO sets may be more sturdy, but I love having a bit more pose-ability, even if this comes by sacrificing stability. Tyler has even managed to include different expressions in the eyes; I would love to see this kind of variation in official sets.

Have you been inspired to buy a set of custom instructions, only to see an official set released a couple of years later? Have you been inspired by different store displays around the place, mixing and matching sets that don’t ‘officially’ belong together? Leave your thoughts below.

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Until Next Time,

Play Well!