The hype for the new 90 Years of Play LEGO sets is rising! We’ve already seen a fun tribute set in Classic 11021 and there are a couple of amazing sets on the horizon. But while we wait for those to hit the market, we can whet our appetites on an updated version of 1988’s Forestmen’s Hideout. LEGO 90 Years of Play 40567 Forest Hideout is available now through 6/22 from the LEGO Shop Online with qualifying purchases of US $150 | CAN $150 | UK £150. This 258 piece set reimagines the Castle System classic with updated parts and techniques. Come along and see if this set justifies the hefty price of admission, and see just how it looks next to it’s vintage inspiration!
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with a copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Unboxing the parts and instructions
This set comes in a smaller tab-sealed box with decidedly retro theming and colors. The 90 years of play logo in the lower right is one of the few immediate indicators that you’re not looking at an actual vintage set. The Forest Hideout is front and center, with a minimalist hillside in the background.
On the back, we get a view of the hideout playset in the closed position, a rear view of the interior, and a detail shot of the accessories and minifigures. A final image on the lower right shows the set’s dimensions: 19cm/7″ wide by 21cm/8″ tall.
Inside, there are four numbered parts bags and a center-stapled instruction book. There are no stickers in this set.
The parts
There aren’t any new molds in this set, but it does offer the Cylinder Quarter 2 x 2 x 5 with 1 x 1 Cutout in black for the first time. There are also a handful of other scarce parts to add to your collection, like the large 135 degree bended brick and 1×2 curved base brick.
The build
The build is pretty straightforward, with the majority of the hideout made from stacked brick and plate. The interior of the set is exposed thanks to a hinge along one edge. The rounded green tiles are a departure from the square base of the original set, and a hint as to the improved curves we’ll see elsewhere.
The ground level features a ladder up, a clip to hold a spear, yellow flowers and a toadstool. Like the original, leaves are built directly into the tree trunk for greater stability.
The second floor has the tree-fort with printed shields, and a barrel of loot. There are a few changes in brick selection from the classic, and the grey walls have been updated with a textured brick pattern.
Small tweaks aside, the real upgrade to the look of the set is in the foliage. Standard leaf elements in green and bright green are attached to black tree branches made from animal tails and handlebar elements. The top of the tree trunk is given a nice twisted appearance thanks to macaroni brick and bar-clip connectors.
The blue roof of the hideout is attached with clips and opens easily for another way to access the interior. (Although you’d probably just open up the tree along the hinge.)
The finished model
The completed model manages to feel both retro and updated at the same time. The tree’s organic shape and foliage work well, and the hideout’s construction matches the designs of yore. I’m still puzzled by why you’d give your secret hideout both a bright blue roof AND an easy-to-spot red flag, though. I’m sure it made sense at the time.
The updated interior has added play realism with a ladder to get up into the fort itself.
Closed, the hideout takes on its more tower-like appearance. The improved leaves and branches really shine here, with the new mushroom adding a bit of color to match the flag.
The minifigures
This set ditches the Forestmen angle to be a bit more inclusive. The two minifigures share the same green legs and new dual-sided torso, but we’re treated to both a masculine and feminine face print. The gal’s face has been around for a while with over a hundred appearances, mostly in City-themed sets. The gent’s visage is a bit more rare with only two other appearances; 60298 Rocket Stunt Bike and 910001 Castle in the Forest. The green hunter’s hat is a slightly updated mold, with the only other appearance in the Botanical Collection 10309 Succulents set.
Neither figure has a second expression, making it somewhat sad that they didn’t give the girl a brown archer’s hat to match the vintage assortment.
Comparison to 6054 Forestmen’s Hideout
We’ve talked a bit about how this set is an update to the classic 6054 Forestmen’s Hideout, but how does it actually compare? Well, at some point I acquired a nearly complete copy of it, so let’s take a side-by-side look!
The changes to the hideout are most apparent in the increased curves available from the elements introduced over the 30+ years since the set’s introduction. It’s cool to note that the negative space by the spear-holder still looks very similar, even if the edges have been smoothed out. The extra trees are also different, with the larger fir replaced with the yellow flowers and toadstool. The hanging vines are also gone, replaced with the interior ladder.
The interior of the fort now has slightly more play area, and a few more studs to pose minifigures on. The flag has moved up onto the fort itself, too.
Closed, the most obvious change is in the blue roof. It’s a tossup if the textured classic look is superior to the smooth tile of the reissue. There was going to have to be a change here, though, as the finger-hinge connection used in the original is no longer in production.
Looking closer, we can compare the Forester shields. The logo appears to be pretty much the same, although the detailing on the stag’s eye is different and there’s now a black border around the green field. The new piece is also on reddish-brown plastic, compared to the “old brown” of the original. I don’t know if the paint has faded on my vintage copy, but the new print looks to be a lot brighter, too.
The chest of loot also has a reddish-brown/old brown color change, and the golden loot is now, indeed, gold over the original yellow. The archery target is also vastly improved, using newer elements to make for an actual stand instead of a single folded hinge. And, yes, I know that’s not the vintage target tile. But everyone loves pizza, right?
The minifigures from the classic set are a bit more varied, with two different torso prints and a second hunter’s hat in brown. (One plume here should be blue, but apparently I don’t own that part either.) I like the updated version of the red-collar shirt, though, and as much as I like the basic LEGO face, having more “character” feels like the right thing to do here.
Conclusion and recommendation
So…this set is sure to be a big hit with Castle fans. It’s a great update to the classic 6054 Forestmen’s Hideout, different enough to stand on its own, but obviously very beholden to the source material. The real question is “is it worth spending $150 US to get this 258 piece set”? Honestly, that entry-point feels a bit high to me. If this is really a celebration of 90 years of play, LEGO could have made these a bit more accessible to the masses. Sure, a new recolored part and new torso help take the sting out a little, but it’s still a big ask to load up your cart with enough product to qualify. But…if you’re already spending at that level…you’re going to be happy to add this one to your collection.
LEGO 90 Years of Play 40567 Forest Hideout is available now through 6/22 from the LEGO Shop Online with qualifying purchases of US $150 | CAN $150 | UK £150. It may also be available via third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay.
The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
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Great review, love the comparisons to the vintage set. As far as gifts go, I think it’s “right-sized” for a $150 purchase – the set itself would be a $25-30 set if released on its own.
Only real disappointment is no second hat for the female Forester. It’s probably too much to ask for a new hair/hat mould, but just including a second hat just to have the option would have cost Lego all of a penny.
Great review! Disappointed that you have to spend $150 for it, would have wished for it to be a standalone or a cheaper threshold.
The pizza in the original is hilarious though!
Well, the hideout looks notably less hidden in a tree in the new version, but I still like it well enough. The green tunic’s glow-up is great, but I’m starting to find it weird that belts are still printed on the torso instead of on the hip piece. The one thing I really would’ve liked to change would be to dual-mold the legs to give them brown boots. Plain legs just look… well, plain, now. In darker colors that doesn’t usually matter, because boots are usually going to be dark as well. But a solid bright green? It looks out of place. (I would, of course, have also accepted them just having a belt printed on)
Good review. Finally someone did a comparison of the shields. I have been waiting to see that :)
I couldn’t afford the £17 back in ’88 so I thought It would be about £50+ today but £150 owch
I made the decision in reverse to get this. I immediately made the pre-order for the 10497 New Galaxy Explorer, and then saw for only spending $50 more, I could get another cool vintage remake. (I got a bunch of pick-a-brick to bump up my total.)
LOVE the target it looks great.