PlaymoFriends

General => Report & Review => Topic started by: Kelly on September 19, 2008, 22:31:58

Title: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Kelly on September 19, 2008, 22:31:58
Hi everyone,

My daughter and I went to the toy store today and came home with 4231 - Circus Band.  This is the first circus-themed Playmobil that we have purchased and I had not expected to like it because it makes noise (a quality that I normally detest in toys) and because it doesn't "fit" with the other themes that we have.

That said, this set is great!  It cost $19.99 and along with the noise-making base it came with two clowns, a monkey, a drum set with cymbal, an accordion, a tambourine, a saxiphone, a trumpet, and a chair.

The base is big enough to easily set the drum set and a clown on and has four buttons that make noise.  Now here is the really surprising part - the sounds aren't completely annoying as I had expected.  The first button plays the "Entrance of the Gladiators," the second plays several seconds of what I think is "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite," the third is a full 10 seconds of drumroll and the last is canned applause worthy of any respectable gameshow. The sound quality is better than what I would expect from a plastic toy and the music sounds like the music accompanying a carousel ride and not the expected synthetic I-got-my-Atari2600-to play-music noise that usually accompanies these sorts of toys. (I had also expected this component to be made in China, but the box says Germany.)

I feel like this set is the perfect marketing tool for the rest of the circus theme because the drumroll sound effect alone makes me want to rush back to the toystore to buy the circus elephants act and the tightrope walkers so that I'll have someone to play a drumroll for.

The instruments are great and can be used with other things - especially the drumb set.  I can see it eventually ending up in a teenaged boy's bedroom in my Playmomansion.

I have never owned a monkey before and so this may be normal, but this one's head is connected with a ball-joint so that he can look up and down as well as side to side.  I have never seen this sort of head-movement capibility before and think it would be great on klickys too.

That's it,

Kelly
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Rasputin on September 19, 2008, 22:41:44
I too recently purchased this set and was amazed at the quality of the music.
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Indianna on September 19, 2008, 23:51:39
Thanks for the well-written review and nice pics, Kelly!

I agree that the sounds are so much better than expected and that one feels compelled to get the other circus sets and put on a show in order to make use of them.  My children have "outgrown" Playmobil, but a week ago I bought this set and immediately checked out the sound feature without even setting up the rest of the pieces (I justify such purchases by thinking about future grandchildren   ;) .)  I happened to be near a TRU yesterday and visited just to see if they had anything new.  I was only able to resist buying the new circus tent (for you-know-who) because both sets on the shelf had damaged boxes (from being shoved into a display area that was too small  >:( - such disrespect!)

- Anne

Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: playmofire on September 20, 2008, 00:37:39
A very informative and useful review, Kelly; many thanks.

Circuses, in Playmobil or real life, are not my cup of tea, but having seen a big circus display in the Malta Fun Park last year, I can see the attraction even though I wouldn't buy anything in the theme myself.  This set and your review are going to tip some people havering over the theme over the edge and have them running out to TRU etc and eagerly searching the shelves.
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Gustavo on September 20, 2008, 01:12:14

(I justify such purchases by thinking about future grandchildren   ;) .)


 :lol:
Sorry to laugh, Anne ... It's that I find it very funny you putting your ... reasons to buy Playmo on children. It's very different from my reality. I think I buy them for being a child again. But mainly to have something (which I like) to occupy my mind, and help me run away from depression. As I had begun doing, in youth. (When I was depressed, I took the toys out of the boxes. There was lots of Lego. I admit that I used to go to Playmobil mainly when I was more inspired ... But It's a lot more interesting and appealing to me than Lego, so I don't intend to buy Lego (yet). The only reason I might do it, in the future, is that I miss a toy to write on starships & "science fiction" (& "space opera" ...), and I have to find a way of doing so. Maybe I will with Playmo, I hope, but it'll demand more Modern Life klickys, and something more ... Maybe Lego, because I'd like to make starships ... Only, it demands a lot of'em, so, it's possible that I'll find an alternative. But it's getting difficult to run away from the idea of beginning getting some Lego ... :-\ I'm beginning to miss deeply my space travel side! I think I strayed a long way here ...)

ABOUT THE SET you bought, Kelly, it's appealing to me because of the musical instruments ... I never liked the clowns, but always bought them because of accessories 8}

Gus
:blackhair:
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Gepetto on September 20, 2008, 02:44:20
Thank you Kelly for your excellent review (and very nice photos, sigh). I had been waiting for this set because I wanted the monkey and the drums but was put off by the potential canned music of the stand. I am glad to know the quality of sound is that high.



Gepetto
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Indianna on September 20, 2008, 03:22:21
:lol:
Sorry to laugh, Anne ... It's that I find it very funny you putting your ... reasons to buy Playmo on children. . . .

Gus, please do not apologize - I am very happy to have given you a laugh!   :yup:

I truly mean it to be a joke when I say I am buying Playmobil for future grandchildren.  Though when the time comes I expect to be a very popular granny!   :lol: 
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Gustavo on September 20, 2008, 03:40:00
 :lol:

Crazy! 8}

Well, I never thought ... maybe I have -- to be a grandfather. To be a father is such a far away dream, that, recently, to be a grandfather is nearly unexistent. But, when someone has children, things maybe different.
No matter you['re kidding, as you] say so kidding ;)

Gus
:blackhair:
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Richard on October 05, 2008, 04:53:24


Thanks, Kelly ...

I have each of the earlier circus themes from Playmobil and was curious about this one.

As Gordon said, "This set and your review are going to tip some people ..."

You've tipped me, Kelly ...  :klickygrin:

I just flew back to Fort Lauderdale, so TRU is definitely going to get a visit from me tomorrow or Monday.

Thanks again and all the best,
Richard

Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Richard on October 17, 2008, 00:18:54



You've tipped me, Kelly ...  :klickygrin:

I just flew back to Fort Lauderdale, so TRU is definitely going to get a visit from me tomorrow or Monday.



Thanks, Kelly ...  :klickywink:

I didn't really realize how far you had actually "tipped" me ... I visited TRU and bought the whole darn Circus!

However, my wife has confiscated my entire purchase. When she saw the Circus, she loved it and thought that it would make a wonderful Christmas present from her to me ... :klickygrin:

Thanks again and all the best,
Richard


Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: CountBogro on October 17, 2008, 05:59:36
... When she saw the Circus, she loved it and thought that it would make a wonderful Christmas present from her to me ... :klickygrin: ...

 :love: Isns't it nice to have understanding partners  :love:

Bogro
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Richard on October 17, 2008, 11:57:16



 :love: Isn't it nice to have understanding partners  :love:

Bogro

You betcha !!! ...  ;D

Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: CIRCUS OLIVER on January 31, 2009, 22:30:19
hi there!
thanks for your description!
here is a picture of my circus band collection. it is set up on an original scarf from the circus festival of monte carlo. its circus band is conducted by bandmaster reto parolari from switzerland. they are one of the best circus bands in the world.
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Martin Milner on February 01, 2009, 10:44:24
The monkey is of course not a monkey but an ape, specifically a chimpanzee! Playmobil monkeys have tails.

This playmobil chimpanzee is cast all in one go with the head already attached, but facing backwards - the heads then have to be turned by hand to face forwards.

I like the ball and socket joint, smilar to the one used for the skeleton, and it does lend further expression to the figure. Maybe one day they will start makign klickies with these neck joints, though it might make customisation difficult if it was harder to disassemble without breakage.
Title: Re: 4231 Circus Band
Post by: Richard on February 04, 2009, 00:29:26



here is a picture of my circus band collection. it is set up on an original scarf from the circus festival of monte carlo. its circus band is conducted by bandmaster reto parolari from switzerland. they are one of the best circus bands in the world.



Hello, Circus Oliver ...  :wave:

Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful Circus Band collection.

Your display is beautiful !

All the best and welcome to Playmofriends,
Richard