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Comparing LEGO Ideas 21338 A-Frame Cabin to its original design

13/01/202314/01/2023 Rachael Davies 4986 Views 1 Comment 21338 A-Frame Cabin, Ideas, LEGO, LEGO Ideas, LEGO.com, The LEGO Group

As LEGO Ideas 21338 is officially revealed, how far away did the LEGO designers stray from Andrea Lattanzio’s original idea?

Overall, 21338 A-Frame Cabin stays fairly close to Andrea’s original design. Of course, the A-frame structure has stayed the same, but also the stone deck area in the front, the inclusion of autumnal trees, the log pile to the left of the cabin, and the canoe for minifigures to strike out into the wilderness.

However, one key difference is in the depth of texture in the set. Presumably, to reduce the cost of the set (which will retail at £159.99 / $179.99 / €179.99), there are fewer pieces used for the exterior walls and rough. In Andrea’s original design, there are protruding planks and roof sections that make the cabin appear more rugged and rustic.

By contrast, 21338 A-Frame Cabin is largely smooth, with a few studded areas to create the sense of rough material. It’s a small change, but noticeable when you look at the two sets side by side. Still, as it’s likely in the interest of keeping the cost lower, it’s something we can get past.

There also appear to be fewer accessories throughout the final set as opposed to the original. Andrea included axes, saws, plenty of shrubbery, and other gardening tools in their original plan, whereas the final version of the build is more stripped back. Nonetheless, the canoe has survived and there’s still plenty of greenery and detail around the base of the cabin, giving a clear sense of the cabin’s location in the forest.

The minifigures themselves are also quite different. All four of the minifigures in 21338 A-Frame Cabin are fairly young and dressed in modern, warm clothing. By contrast, Andrea’s story behind the cabin was two brothers, Dan and Ethan, who left behind the world of mod-cons for a cosy life in the cabin. One sports a long beard, as pictured above, while the other wears a shorter beard and moustache. Dan and Ethan look like they’re committed to their life in the woods, whereas the four new minifigures in the final design look more like they’re there for a weekend away.

Overall, however, the general structure of the build has remained the same, down to the layout of the interior, with the living quarters on the ground floor and the bedroom up in the attic. The steps up to the front door and general autumnal atmosphere have remained throughout, keeping the heart of the build the same as its original design. We’d say it’s a fairly faithful rendition, with the only major changes likely a result of keeping the number of pieces and therefore price lower.

LEGO Ideas 21338 A-Frame Cabin will release on February 1, 2023, selling for £159.99 / $179.99 / €179.99. Keep an eye out for our in-depth review coming soon, where we’ll dig into the latest LEGO Ideas reveal in more detail.

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Rachael Davies

I write about all the very best fandoms – and that means LEGO, of course. Spending so much time looking at and talking about LEGO sets is dangerous for my bank balance, but the LEGO shelves are thriving. You win some, you lose some.