DUPLO 30327 My First Duck polybag – A change of pace for the overwhelmed builder in you  [Review]

There’s no denying that LEGO can be a challenging hobby. Things have come a long way from the simple range of parts in the 1960’s – it seems every new set contains at least one new mold or color variation. Building techniques have expanded; you can’t open an instruction manual without being getting your fingers covered in SNOT. Then giant sets like the Icons 10307 Eiffel Tower empty your plastic-brick budget in seconds. It can all get to be a bit much. That’s why today we’re going to take a little bit of a breather. We’ll turn back the calendar to 2019 and visit a simple, inexpensive, and soothing model that makes the world a happier place. Yes, it’s time for us to retro-review DUPLO 30327 My First Duck polybag. 


A brief history of LEGO ducks

“My First Duck” might very well be a meta reference to one of LEGO’s very first toys- the iconic wooden duck.

We’ve seen that vintage toy reimagined in brick before – including a store exclusive in 2007, an Employee Gift in 2011, and in 2020 as a LEGO House exclusive.

The build in today’s review is extremely simplified in comparison. And I admit the link between “My Frist Duck” and “LEGO’s First Duck” is kind of weak. But these are the sorts of things that keep me up at night.


Unbagging the parts and instructions

This set comes in a clear polybag with prominent LEGO and DUPLO logos in the upper left. The core model is shown in the foreground, with three alternate builds appearing in inset shots along the right. The age range is set at a mere one and a half years, meaning most Adult Fans of LEGO will find that they qualify.

From the back, you can see into the bag and get a hint of the six exciting pieces waiting to be assembled into avian form.

Inside the bag are six pieces and a folded pamphlet.

Sadly, the folded item isn’t an instruction sheet – rather it’s an advertisement for other DUPLO sets.  I guess we’ll just have to…wing it.


The parts

There are six distinct parts in this set, mainly bricks and plates.  The colors include orange, yellow and medium azure. There are two 2×4 plates and two unprinted 2×2 bricks, each in their own color. These are all solidly constructed elements, and interlock well. (They also interlock with System bricks, if you feel like incorporating them into other builds.)

More exciting is the 2×4 inverted curve double slope. This larger brick adds some organic shaping to the mix, while retaining simple “studs up” construction.

Finally, we come to the aptly named 2×2 brick with Black Pupil and White Dot and Small Crescent Eye on Both Sides Pattern. While not a particularly complex or colorful print, the image still evokes a level of pathos and friendship. The gap in the printing allows the underlying brick color to show though, a small design choice that makes this print useful against a variety of base bricks.


The build

The construction of the duck relies exclusively on a “stacked brick and plate” method. The first two elements are the medium azure plate (representing a pool or other pond-like watery surface) and the orange 2×2 brick for the duck’s legs.

The inverted curved slope is attached next, giving the duck a meaty center of balance.

The next step involves slightly more complex connections, with both the 2×2 yellow brick (tail) and 2×4 orange plate (beak) overhanging the edge of the main body. There is no expected locking or bracing of parts; the model relies instead on the natural friction between the elements to keep things stable.

Finally the printed 2×2 brick is attached, completing the duck’s head.


The finished model

The completed duck does a great job of conveying the subject matter. Even if it’s an escapee from an 8-bit world, it’s clearly a duck.

From the extreme front and back, the illusion of form is a little less convincing. I feel this is forgivable in a six-piece model.

From the top, the even cubists would be hard pressed to identify things, and from the bottom it could be a model of just about anything. Luckily these are the less common angles to view the duck from. As long as you get a hint of that eye, though, you can probably guess what’s up.


Alternate Builds

Visitors to the LEGO house can obtain a copy of 624210 LEGO House 6 Bricks – a polybag that contains six red 2×4 bricks. Those can be combined in 915,103,765 possible ways. I’m not sure how many combinations the DUPLO elements here have, but it’s still a whole world of mutations. The polybag suggests three alternate looks, and we took the time to build all of them for you.

We started out with the adorable “duck with pants” option.

We followed it with “Carefree on the waves”. Interestingly, this model only uses four of the six pieces.

And finished up with “Jay, the cool duck”

We also spent some quality time developing our own variations. Like this fashionable duck-snail hybrid.

Admittedly, none of our rebuilds were very duck-like. Which one is your favorite? What would you build with these six pieces?


Conclusion and recommendation

When you need a break from the current complexity of LEGO sets, taking a pause with My First Duck is a rewarding experience. The build is quick, easy on the hands, and pleasing to the eyes. The bright colors and oversized bricks invite you to create your own blocky waterfowl variations – and reward your efforts with quick wins and cheerful giggles. For a small, out of print polybag, it’s still everything you need from LEGO. Leg godt. Play well, indeed.


DUPLO 30327 My First Duck polybag was available from LEGO in 2019. It’s available now via third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay.


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5 comments on “DUPLO 30327 My First Duck polybag – A change of pace for the overwhelmed builder in you  [Review]

  1. james

    I’ve been seriously on the fence about models of this complexity, but your attention to detail and poignant observations throughout have convinced me to take the plunge. Thanks for making sure that these niche, fringe-budget sets get continued coverage

  2. Joeriri

    Loved this review! I think there is a lot of value in the simplicity of small sets, they invite you to rebuild with creativity. Really the core of Lego I think.

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