PlaymoFriends
General => Report & Review => Topic started by: Birdie on August 08, 2014, 10:57:43
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Well it's not a new set by far, and I'm sure you've all seen one out of the box, but there's no review of a 5300 yet and since I've just opened one, I thought a review was a must.
Don't hate me for opening one of these MISB... :) It will be put to good use in plenty of dioramas, and it will allow me to use my old, faded 5300 for customizing. I have spare parts for a new lay-out and I want new wallpaper and floors.
This is the best Playmobil set ever, without a doubt. It's been over 20 years since I opened my first 5300, when I got it as a combined birthday-Sinterklaas-Christmas present from my parents, grandparents and godmother. I remember it cost 7500 Belgian francs back then, so around €180, which was a crazy amount for a kid's present, especially 20 years ago. Normally I'd get something that was worth up to 1000 Belgian Francs, or €25. It was a bit of a miracle that my mother decided I could have one of these, but I'm sure it was because of the beautiful design.
So it was pretty exciting when, during the PCC collector's tour in Germany, in April, collector Marinebaer explained he had a MISB 5300 sitting at home that he wanted to sell. Tahra and Mitri and I drove over to his house - he has two rooms filled with MISB sets, it's Playmobil-heaven over there!!! You can imagine I was jumping up and down at this point ;D
I paid €220 I think, and we could take it straight home in the car, so no shipping costs. The box was a bit damaged, but since I was about to open it, that didn't matter at all.
And then I managed not to touch it until now, because I wanted to take my time opening the box and taking pictures. (That is a bit of a first for me. I'm very impatient with new sets. I usually start opening them in the car on the way home from the shop :) )
Here it is!
(http://i.imgur.com/B5zPdum.jpg)
Since it's the third version of this set, the box has a photo on the back of the exact content.
(http://i.imgur.com/6L7rfAc.jpg)
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These pictures are on the sides of the box:
(http://i.imgur.com/odAXAZX.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6n8uSSc.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/bfWR4NB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4BqiPlr.jpg)
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How do you review the best set ever made? Well...
:)9 The attention to detail is beyond compare. The design is so beautiful. They've made sure that everything from felt curtains and golden curtain rods to floor and wallpaper patterns are life-like. I love the conservatory walls and the terrace, what a brilliant idea.
:)9 There's two staircases and two panels to cover the holes. There are flowers for all the window sills. How is it possible that back then, they were able to make a set with such a level of quality, weight and detail, and make it so profitable it was released three times?
:)9 It's steck! I spent a few hours putting it together, and the flowers took a lot of that time. No messing around with connectors! No painful finger tops! :cloud9:
:eh?: The front door opens into the kitchen. Hm...
:eh?: The roof parts come apart easily. It's a bit of a struggle to put the attick wallpaper in place while keeping the roof intact.
:eh?: The building itself is difficult to move around too. Always lift it while holding the base plates! I can't count the times I tried to pick it up by the sides, with the whole thing collapsing entirely :lol:
I can't think of any other downsides. The price, well, it's worth it, isn't it? This isn't a toy to throw out after a few years' time. I've had mine for over 20 years and apart from a bit of fading, and some of those golden roof top thingies breaking off, it's still diorama worthy. And it's been used A LOT.
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Let's see what was inside:
(http://i.imgur.com/qSyQPUg.jpg)
There's a poster printed on both sides with two beautiful dioramas:
(http://i.imgur.com/0DYegs0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/RbpEwhL.jpg)
Inside the cardboard box there are two styrofoam 'containers' stacked on top of each other. The bags of tiny pieces are stored inside two pink cardboard boxes. The catalogue, plans and other sheets of paper are put in a pink folder.
(http://i.imgur.com/FpEBQk5.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/oZjrpHg.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4b7pvtx.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/SlafFnP.jpg)
I can't get over how crisp and shiny the colours are. :love:
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(http://i.imgur.com/qxUD3JW.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/UBEFtXn.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ftUbUyW.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/2l7mtCS.jpg)
The red flooring for the terrace looks gorgeous!!
(http://i.imgur.com/6d3uuuG.jpg)
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The clicky family in their glorious costumes:
(http://i.imgur.com/9kj05E5.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/TPNoKUE.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/8BzoNsZ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/u9jk1lb.jpg)
I've gotten so used to this guy, he looks really weird without the moustache:
(http://i.imgur.com/apA4qWo.jpg)
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The dramatic feather on her hat, and the pink sjawl... Love it :)
(http://i.imgur.com/V03jpFB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Eh3dAOA.jpg)
I've never liked clicky children with black hair and brown eyes, so to me this girl looks a bit weird. Her dress is lovely though:
(http://i.imgur.com/w5XAtLW.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4vAK2gS.jpg)
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For the paintings, this time I had a steady hand and years of experience to put the stickers on. Much better result :)9
(http://i.imgur.com/S0UNyQd.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/OJBkyb3.jpg)
And here's the house:
(http://i.imgur.com/z45pNBv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/KOLIYzj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/dv6a3x6.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/lqgucVO.jpg)
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These are the double sided tape stickers for the paintings, the clock and the mirror. I don't think I'll use these again! Rooky misktake :)
(http://i.imgur.com/iTvgTFA.jpg)
The leaflet looks great, especially the last pages, of all the different worlds to be explored:
(http://i.imgur.com/RUmLDD6.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/pNr1Yon.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/qJRanBt.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/EZALETf.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/TIgsNLn.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/CHkREGk.jpg)
Well, these clickies are very excited to be out of the box after all these years! Let the diorama-making commence ;D
(http://i.imgur.com/2AwlNU7.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/axZsYnZ.jpg)
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Excellent review, Birdie - congratulations on acquiring this beautiful set! :wow:
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Lovely detailed pictures with great comments. Nice review of a marvellous set.
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Fantastic review, once again! I haven't had a chance to see close up, in-depth photos of the 5300, it looks like a wonderful set! :)
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I have been looking forward to your review ever since you mentioned doing it a few days ago! Your pictures and commentary are perfect and do this wonderful set justice. ;) Thank you so much.
I will be anxious to see what you do to expand and customize your other 5300. Let me know if you need any extra parts, I may be able to help you out on that score. :)
Joe
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I'm very impatient with new sets. I usually start opening them in the car on the way home from the shop :) )
Or before! :P
Great review :) (though we disagree on it being the best set ever!)
That last pic with the couple is... BRILLIANT! :love:
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. . . That last pic with the couple is... BRILLIANT! :love:
I agree!
. . . Great review :) (though we disagree on it being the best set ever!) . . .
Tahra: what is the best set ever, in your opinion?
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congratulations on getting your first mint 5300. your review was great and a pleasure to read. Hopefully one day geobra realizes its sets like these that made the playmobil brand so popular. The design, building system, colors, everything about this set is simply toy genius. I keep my fingers crossed that Geobra re-releases this and all the complimentary sets one day, in classic normal colors.
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Wonderful review. Thanks for sharing your experience with us! It's great to see a brand new one and how it all came out of the box.
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Thank you for your detailed and excellent review. I agree with you this is the best set ever made.
I have a question...how can you tell that it is the "3rd version?" I know there was a difference in the family room wallpaper at some point. I have this same set. I'm assuming it's the 3rd version, since I purchased it shortly before it was discontinued. But I would be interested to know how you officially can tell between all three versions.
Thanks and congratulations on your magnificent new house!
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Thanks for the review! I bought one secondhand a few weeks ago. I was going to complete it and re-sell it but I'm kind of attached to it. :-[
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Gorgeous set and gorgeous review! Thanks for sharing!
I have a question...how can you tell that it is the "3rd version?" I know there was a difference in the family room wallpaper at some point. I have this same set. I'm assuming it's the 3rd version, since I purchased it shortly before it was discontinued. But I would be interested to know how you officially can tell between all three versions.
I'm wondering that too. Mine is probably also the 3rd version because it was too expensive for a gift, so I saved for years to buy it.
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I have a question...how can you tell that it is the "3rd version?" I know there was a difference in the family room wallpaper at some point. I have this same set. I'm assuming it's the 3rd version, since I purchased it shortly before it was discontinued. But I would be interested to know how you officially can tell between all three versions.
I have a Playmobil Collector catalogue, so I looked up when the first and second versions were released and what the boxes looked like.
- The first mansion has 1989/1990 - 1991-1992 for dates. I think that's the one I got as a kid. The back of the box was either styrofoam or plain white cardboard, I don't remember there being a diorama on the back. I don't think they ever did that with big boxes. And at that point, they didn't have a detailed shot of all the pieces and clickies on the back yet.
- The second mansion has 1991/1992 - 1995. The front of the box shows the regular picture of the outside of the house, but also a smaller picture showing the inside, in the left top corner. I suppose there wasn't a detailed picture on the back of the box yet either, at that point. Other sets from 1993, for example, still had dioramas on the back, as far as I can remember.
- The third mansion has 1995-2004. The picture on the front of the box is slightly different, with the family in a different pose and sketched outlines of the city for background. The main difference is that the back of the box has the detailed pictures of what is inside.
I've never known of a difference in wallpaper though :eh?:
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Or before! :P
Let's say I normally open a box as soon as I've paid for it. :lol:
Great review :) (though we disagree on it being the best set ever!)
:o
Which one do you mean? The Colorado Springs Station? The 3666 Knights Castle?
I will be anxious to see what you do to expand and customize your other 5300. Let me know if you need any extra parts, I may be able to help you out on that score. :)
Well, I've got a spare 5300 and a spare 5305, several pink gazebo sets and some spare parts from E-bay, but the main problem is finding the 7411 extra floor. I need several flat connectors and single window wall pieces, but have you seen how much they're charging for those extra floors on E-bay?! :o
I don't suppose you've got any of those bits to sell? :)
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I will check to see what I have and PM you.
Joe
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I'm afraid the discussion about the best set would be a humongous off topic here. Though the house is very nice, victorian or dollhouses are not my fave, so it would never be the best for me. If we're going with huge sets, would DEFINITELY be steck, and probably castle. Play value for that is off scale. I mean, I probably spent HOURS playing with my sister's magician workshop (first steck thingy we ever got).
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Very nice review made all the better by your love of the set good for you that you've managed to get a mint one after all those years. It does indeed look like a really great set so much detail, I don't think I'd have made a good job with those stickers though if it had been me :-[. It's certainly nostalgic for me as well seeing all those dioramas on the sides and in the catlaogue just like I remember them in my very first catalogue makes me very happy to see them again particularly the market and the photos of the house vibrant and full of life :)
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Thank you DrDralek :) Those old pictures do bring back memories :love:
@Tahra: That magician with apprentice and his castle are pretty great! Favourites all depend on personal experience, for sure.
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It's a very beautifull set, I can understand that they retired the victorian theme for a while but they really should bring it back sometimes, including dollhouse of course!
As for best set.. I do think its more beautifull than the 3666, it's more unique.. though the mansion relies heavily on other sets to complete it whereas the 3666 and all castles are on their own already fully ready to play. So I say the 5300 wins in beauty, but the 3666 in play potential when judging it purely on its own merit.
Not that I mind though, I really like it when a theme forms a great combination when its all is combined.. greater than the sum of their parts. It does seem a bit random these days when you combine everything of a released batch together.
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I have a Playmobil Collector catalogue, so I looked up when the first and second versions were released and what the boxes looked like.
- The first mansion has 1989/1990 - 1991-1992 for dates. I think that's the one I got as a kid. The back of the box was either styrofoam or plain white cardboard, I don't remember there being a diorama on the back. I don't think they ever did that with big boxes. And at that point, they didn't have a detailed shot of all the pieces and clickies on the back yet.
- The second mansion has 1991/1992 - 1995. The front of the box shows the regular picture of the outside of the house, but also a smaller picture showing the inside, in the left top corner. I suppose there wasn't a detailed picture on the back of the box yet either, at that point. Other sets from 1993, for example, still had dioramas on the back, as far as I can remember.
- The third mansion has 1995-2004. The picture on the front of the box is slightly different, with the family in a different pose and sketched outlines of the city for background. The main difference is that the back of the box has the detailed pictures of what is inside.
I've never known of a difference in wallpaper though :eh?:
Thank you Birdie for an explanation of the different versions! It's very helpful. It's amazing to me that this set was produced for such a long period of time. It's my favorite set too.
Several years ago, I read that the gold wallpaper in the main family room was slightly different in the first version. But I'm not positive about that.
Your review is excellent. I'm so happy that you were able to get a mint 5300. What a treasure!
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Getting to open a MISB 5300, what fun!!! And great review. Thanks for posting!
Your detailed pics have reminded me what a beautiful set this is. :love:
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Really loved to read about your treasure opening experience. Such a great set! :love:
Thank you!