I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love the LEGO® Creator 3in1 sets: they provide builders with great opportunities to learn about about evolving construction techniques, new elements, or even serve as reminders about established techniques that might be outside our regular repertoire.

Recently, there has been a trend to bring out creator 3in1 sets showcasing specific colours, while building real world objects, decorated with flowers. One of the latest releases, 31172, brings us the options of a record player, a radio and a microphone with vintage styling while highlighting a white and light royal blue, with different bunches of flowers.

This set has 366 pieces, and priced at $AUD39.99/ $USD29.99 /€29.99 /£24.99. It is now available now

Today, after looking at the elements included and the 3 models, we will take a look at some of the handy tips I picked up as I put the record player together. Some were new to me, some were reminders, and all will be useful to someone, I am sure. I’d love to know what you think.

The Elements

This new set has 366 parts, of which 81 are light royal blue, and 57 are white. That said, these include many of the larger elements featured in this set. – 2×4 tiles, 1×8 tiles and 2×6 plates, as well as many arch elements. Also of interest are the black quarter circle 5×5 elements – we will come to these later.

I’ll focus on the lessons learned with the record player. These might not be new to you. Some are new to me – particularly where new elements are involved – others are reminders of useful principles which, if you are returning after growing up in the era of pixelated plate and brick, will serve you well going forward.

The builds

Record Player

The hero build brings us the second vintage record player that we have seen in the past 6 months. This time, its a retail set, rather than GWP, and I think I prefer this one. The case uses hozizontally placed arches to provide a lovely curve on the corners of the model. Alternating tiles and space brings us the appearance of a speaker, or air vent, and the white fascia is perfectly flush with the edge of the blue walls. The white stitch on the front of the record player gives us a satisfying ‘click’ as you change positions.

On the rear, we can see the jacks for cabling to an amplifier or external speakers, as well as a handle to rotate the record platen. some small bunches of flowers plug into the rear, adding a burst of colour.

Here is the vintage record player side by side with the 40699 Retro Record Player , released as a Gift with purchase through LEGO.com last year. I love the different tone arm designs, and styles of record. If 40699 is a retro record player, with an LP on it, I perceive this new Creator model as a much older machine, with a ’78’ loaded on – slightly smaller, and a thicker, more robust material! I probably prefer the crank over the 40699’s cog to turn the disc.

Radio

Another model playing on the vintage aesthetic, the case shifts from horizontal to vertical, with the curved corners again attached using SNOT elements. It does reveal a slight weakness in this approach, with the pale blue edging being thinner that the adjacent arch elements by half a plate’s thickness.

Spaced tiles give the appearance of the old speaker grill, ad a couple of knobs allow us to tune and adjust the volume.

It is a little untidy around the back – no big deal, as this model is likely to be kept on display facing outwards.

Microphone

The microphone gives a feeling of those good old announcer’s microphones, detailed in pale blue plastic rather than chrome! The model is able to rotate on its base. Unlike the previous 2 models, the flowers are completely separate . This is pretty well life size, compared with the other two models, and I could see some scope to adapt the model to contain an actual microphone. Perfect for the aspiring LEGO Podcaster. [Cheap plug: In the latest episode of Extra Pieces, Jay from Jay’s Brick Blog and I talk about our experiences with the latest LEGO The Lord of the Rings set, 10354 The Shire. Listen to it o your pod player of choice…]

Five Top Tips I picked up with this set

Plates can attach to appropriately spaced positioned SNOT bricks.

We have, long ago, looked into 1×2 bricks with snots on their side, and the fact that a plate on the side runs flush with the top of the brick. Add 2 plates and another of these bricks, and there is a 2 module gap between the studs.

A 2x2x2/3 plate can be placed directly below or above one of these bricks, providing the perfect spacing for a one-module space between studs—akin to the 1x2x1 2/3 brick with four studs on the side.

In fact, these two elements can almost function as the top and bottom half of this core SNOT Brick (with the addition of the 2×1 plate out the back)

The use of the thinner element, covered with 2 plates and a tile allowed any element attached to the sideways studs to end flush with the smooth surface. Compare the ‘Side Studs all the way’ with the ‘Middle 2 rows’ in the example below.

This comes to the fore in the later part of the build, where the rounded ends – build up on an 8×4 plate (with some extensions) – are attached.

Further use of these SNOT elements, spaced to allow plates to be placed over them, can be seen in the microphone model:

Gear box

The gearbox is an excellent element incorporating Technic mechanisms in System/Brickbuilt models. Since its introduction in 2016, it has been incorporated in play themes across the board – Nexo Knights, Super Heroes, Star Wars, Harry Potter and more. I realise I have taken this element for granted in the sets where it has appeared, but not giving is much thought until I incorporated several throughout a recent MOC. These functions have not been highlighted in 3in1 sets for a few years, so I am glad we have the chance to look at it here.

This 4x4x 1 2/3 powerhouse can provide stability for axles running across a surface, as well as redirect motion with the aid of a couple of small beveled 12 tooth gears. You can redirect motion sideways with the addition of a Technic brick, or vertically through a Technic plate. In this model, it is used to redirect power from a manually rotated handle to the vertical drive shaft of the record player’s turntable. To secure the block, it is strapped down with a plate along one edge, and reinforced with a 4×4 plate (with 2×2 cutout in the middle).

Ultimately, a long bar is threaded through the gearbox

Insetting the panel

After setting up the SNOT wall, and installing the gear box, we move onto the rear panel of the record player. Now, in real life, this would typically include the stereo jacks to go to an amplifier, and the power cord. Several plugs go into a Technic brick- imitating the jacks, while the crankshaft for the platen will pass through into the gear block. But how do we set up the panel in a way that looks realistic, and not just list a wall of grey on the back of the turntable?

First, we install a row of 2×2 offset plates along one edge. Now, I was concerned that using these plates, rather than a row ox 1×2 offset plates, that we might be left with a half brick gap. However, I had forgotten that the 1xn Technic bricks have a bar type projection in between the anti studs, meaning this brick can fit directly into the studs on the offset plates, while lining up with the edges neatly.

Along the top of the 1xn bricks are regular 1×2 offset plates which then plug into the plate that overlies them, giving a nifty under-slung panel. The indented bricks run through to the edge, but they will get covered up by the plate that is attached to the edge piece.

This is probably not a surprise to many of you. For myself though, this is a game changer.

New Arch slopes – small and large.

Over the years, we have become accustomed to a certain parts nesting nicely with each other. Particularly the 1x1x 1 1/3, neatly slotting under the 1x1x1 2/3 arch. These two new elements are one plate lower than the well established 1x1x3 and 1x1x1 2/3 arches. To what benefit do these bricks exist? The more cynical part of me says ‘to inflate the part count’, but in reality, I think the introduction of these brings us greater scope to increase the level of detail, at smaller scales.

In this model, a 1×4 plate is used to join together the arches at the base – making them functionally the same height as the previous version, but more securely attached, compared to using the older version to do the same job.

The new, smaller version, fits the shape of the 2×3 curved slope with 4 studs – and that is demonstrated here, where it is used as a thinner alternative to that brick, allowing other detailing to be added. (Compare the rounded sides of the record player.)

Greebling with negative space.

Greebling typically refers to the use of elements to bring texture and physical detail to a surface. In each of these builds, alternating elements with a gap adds to the surface detail: with the radio and record players, it gives the feeling of a speaker grille, while the arches around the head of the microphone add to the effect of the cage around the microphone elements. This effect would be lost if we just had a big plain field of blue or white.

In Conclusion

These are just some of the nifty tricks that I picked up from building this set. Of all the builds, I found the record player most satisfying, followed by the microphone. That said, I appreciate the radio model. I just found the actual build experience to be somewhat less satisfying than the others. The record player has good play value, while the microphone will be a satisfying prop to play with.

The “Creator 3in1 Vintage objects with flowers,” appears to be evolving as a theme: we have seen a yellow watering can last year, and a light purple typewriter earlier this year (currently sitting on my to do list). These sets bring us two of the highlights of the LEGO Portfolio for Adults, Botanicals and real world objects (thinking about not only the IDEAS typewriter and globe, but also 76391 Hogwarts Icons and 43227 Disney Villain Icons)only at smaller kid-focussed scales and price tags.

The relatively staid colour palette is enhanced by the presence of the flowers on the model – adding a degree of brightness, as well as multiple techniques for building the flowers – with every version of the model. With Botanicals spinning off from ICONs, and becoming its own theme, I appreciate the way that these builds prompt alternative floral designs using the included elements. Especially important given the increasing number of specialised floral elements appearing within the Botanical theme these days.

If you find the builds appealing, or if you want the chance to explore some of the new bow/arch elements, I recommend this set. There are some interesting techniques demonstrated here that I am likely to be more mindful of when considering future MOCs. I can’t wait to see what this unofficial subtheme has in store for us, going forward.

Creator 3in1 31172 Record player with flowers has 366 pieces, and priced at $AUD39.99/ $USD29.99 /€29.99 /£24.99. It is now available from LEGO.com and other retail outlets. If we have piqued your interest, consider using our affiliate links to purchase this set: it doesn’t alter the price you pay, but a small commission might be paid to the Ramblingbrick to help offset our costs in running the blog.

What do you think of this set? Is it one that appeals to you? What other real world objects would you like to see given the floral creator 3in1 treatment? Leave your comments below.

If you have enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends, families and communities. You can also keep up to date with us by following The Rambling Brick on our socials: Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Tumblr (or just sign up for our mailing list) and find some extra content on Instagram and TikTok.

We really value your feedback: please let us know what you think about the sets we review, and the articles we post. And if you wish to support the Rambling Brick, consider clicking on our affiliate links before going shopping at LEGO.com. The Rambling Brick receives a small commission, and it costs you nothing extra.

Until Next Time,

Play Well!