Last week, we reported on a subtle addition to the functionality of the LEGO Shop@Home webpage interface. A color selection option was implemented on two of its products: the LEGO Creator sets Expert Fiat 500 (10271) and 3-in-1 Mighty Dinosaurs (31058). This hinted that these two sets, and perhaps many others, could have set variants produced.
At the time of that report, the color options for the above-mentioned LEGO Creator sets were only their originals. Nearly a week later, LEGO itself has made an official announcement of this feature. Along with that comes the reveal of the first alternative colors.
The LEGO Group finally shed light on the variant color option for selected sets on its home shopping portal, describing it as a limited-time pilot project. Here’s their official statement:
The LEGO Group is running a pilot with a small number of products to gain a deeper understanding of what our fans want from our portfolio and where they prefer to shop for new or unique products.
The pilot includes variations of some of our existing products, so we can find out more about the colors and sizes of sets that fans of all ages want to see more of in our portfolio.
It certainly sounds like good news, and if you’re wondering about the catch then here it is. Most of these set color variants will be available only in the UK and Ireland. This is via their regional LEGO Shop@Home, physical stores, and third-party retailers. The variations on selected LEGO sets will only be available in these areas until November 30, or while supplies last. The LEGO Creator Expert Fiat 500 recolor is the sole exception. LEGO Shop@Home UK can ship this one internationally.
So far, LEGO has marked four sets for variants. The first two are, as already stated, the aforementioned LEGO Creator sets. LEGO Creator Expert Fiat 500 (10271) has an additional blue color scheme renumbered as set 77942 in addition to its original yellow.
The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Mighty Dinosaurs (31058), aside from green, now has brown (77940) and blue (77941) recolored versions.
The other two sets with variants are from LEGO City, but as re-scales of an earlier retired set the LEGO City Fire Station (60110) from 2016, and not exactly recolors. These are the LEGO City Fire Station Starter (77943) and the larger LEGO City Fire Station Headquarters (77944).
Here’s hoping the pilot test for this thing in the UK takes off. Maybe then LEGO will make these set variants available internationally, and with more to follow.