Review: 21538 Minifigure Vending Machine from LEGO® Ideas

A little under four years ago, Rob Vangansewinkel submitted his Minifigure Prize Machine to LEGO® Ideas. The wonderful concept took a little while to reach the 10K votes required to be considered, but was announced as a future product in June 2023.

In late May 2024 fans were unexpectedly asked to vote on a colour for a new Classic Space astronaut and a Castle faction, to be included in the Vending Machine. So it has felt like quite the wait since the hype started – not only to discover what minifigures would actually be included but also how closely this product would resemble the submitted project. From the publicity images alone, here is a set that looks like it has been worth the wait – so let's delve deeper.

Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.

Page contents

1. Meeting the LEGO designers
2. New moulds
3. Recoloured pieces
4. Printed parts 
5. Rare pieces 
6. Parts in quantity 
7. Minifigures 
8. The build 
9. The completed Gumball Machine 
10. Conclusion

21358 Minifigure Vending Machine

• Release date: 1 June 2025
• Pieces: 1343

Price: 

• US$ 179.99 on LEGO.com US
• CA$ 219.99 on LEGO.com Canada
• GB£ 149.99 on LEGO.com UK
• AU$ 249.99 on LEGO.com Australia
• NZ$ 299.99 on LEGO.com New Zealand
• DE€ 169,99 on LEGO.com Deutschland
• NL€ 169,99 on LEGO.com Nederland
• FR€ 169,99 on LEGO.com France
• PLN 749.99 on LEGO.com Polska
• NOK 2099,90 on LEGO.com Norge
• DKK 1329.95 on LEGO.com Danmark

Other countries click here

 

 

Meeting the LEGO designers

New Elementary were among the fan media invited to attend a roundtable interview with the designers involved in this project. Background was given into the new moulds and minifigures, the challenges faced and how things changed from the fan submission.

Jordan Scott (Creative Lead for LEGO Ideas), Chris McVeigh (Senior Designer), Hoang Dang (Senior Designer), Nathan Davis (Graphic Designer) and Nicola Belfiore (Element Designer) were the deisgn team charged with making Rob Vangansewinkel's concept into a real LEGO set.

I have included their insights within the main body of the review. For additional detail from the design team and Rob Vangansewinkel, read this LEGO Ideas blog post.

New moulds

Panel 8 x 8 x 6 Corner Convex (7344)

• 8x Panel 8 x 8 x 6 Rounded in Trans-Clear (6537237 | 7344)

It ended up being necessary to make this large panel for the set to ensure that the entire internal perimeter was smooth, so that the capsule balls did not get caught on a lip, get stuck and jam the mechanism.

The part follows on from the dimensions of the standard 4x4x6 quarter round panel (30562), extending both sides by 4 modules.

This new corner window panel is really quite enormous; at 8x8x6, I can only think of a few larger parts and many of those are no longer in production. The idea of wide, almost uninterrupted expanses of 'glass' is appealing for all sorts of uses. Previously, with sets like 21313 Ship in a Bottle, the result was many join lines that hindered the clarity. 

It is a relief to see that special measures have been employed to protect the large window panels from getting scratched in transit: 2 paper-based bags are included containing 4 panels in each.

Cylinder Hemisphere 5 x 5 with 2 Axle Holes (7343)

• 16x Technic Panel Dome 5 x 5 with Axle Holes in Trans-Clear (6537230 | 7343)
• 8x Technic Panel Dome 5 x 5 with Axle Holes in Yellow (6549301 | 7343)
• 8x Technic Panel Dome 5 x 5 with Axle Holes in Blue (6549303 | 7343)

The domes in trans-clear are frosted, and I think this is a good move as I suspect over time there will be a degree of scuffing that would develop through the intended usage, and subsequently detract from the look that a shinier finish would have given.

The minifigure capsules are made from 2 hemispheres. Internally, 2 LEGO® Technic axle holes are featured on either side as the connection points. Attachment is then made via 2x 2L axles. 

Just last year a new 5x5 dome (4412) was introduced, initially available in plain white in 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover Planet and in a blue version printed with continents in 42179 Earth and Moon in Orbit. Now, with this year's June releases, the part is also available unprinted in reddish brown and printed in medium nougat in 76451 Privet Drive: Aunt Marge's Visit.

Why was that part, or any other similarly sized existing hemisphere not employed here? During product development it became clear that none of the existing "balls" worked consistently; they would stick in the mechanism. It needed to be a perfect sphere! After a lot of development where at least 20 prototype capsules were tried out, this new 5x5 element was settled upon.

Besides the usual copyright line, part number and cavity information debossed inside, there are no other features on the outside that identify this element as the LEGO brand, and given the necessity of the part being spherically smooth for functionality, that is entirely understandable.

I did a little exploration to connect the ball halves in other ways:

Initially I used the intended 2L Technic axles, but this only allows straight and right-angled alignments. 

Then, to allow greater rotational freedom than 90° increments I tried the 2L bar part (78258). The clutch is good enough for these types of layouts but does not entirely close due to the central stop ring. They also rotate fairly freely.

The slots in the outside accept Wolverine claws (10187), forks (79741) and round shields (91884, 17835) and while obviously being illegal connections, these hold reasonably well. I did not do an exhaustive test of parts that might wedge in there, but I am sure there must be others.

Recoloured pieces

• 2x Technic Plate 1 x 5 with Smooth Ends, 4 Studs and Centre Axle Hole in Light Bluish Gray (6549304 | 32124, 50029) – a surprising but very welcome recolour of this 1997 piece, having appeared in the old light gray
• 8x Brick Round Corner 3 x 3 Macaroni with 2 Studs in Red (6540808 | 5152) – this is still a relatively new part, only available in 4 other colours
• 4x Tile 4 x 4 Curved, Macaroni in Trans-Clear (6544432 | 27507)

Printed parts

• 2 x Tile Round 2 x 2 with Dime, Dark Red '10' print in Yellow (6542335 | 14769pr9953)

Rare pieces

In 1 other set

• 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Stud Notch Left in Blue (6535148 | 5091) available only in 77249 Williams Racing FW46 F1 Race Car
• 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Stud Notch Right in Blue (6535149 | 5092) available only in 77249 Williams Racing FW46 F1 Race Car 

In 2 other sets

• 2x Brick Round Corner, Curved 2 x 2 x 2/3 Quarter Circle in Light Bluish Gray (6529502 | 5852)
• 6x Wedge 3 x 3 Cut Corner in Red (6512255 | 30505)
• 4x Brick Arch 1 x 4 x 3 in Red (6436402 | 80543)
• 2x Bracket 1 x 2 with 1 x 2 Vertical Studs in Red (6528761 | 4585)
• 1x Road Sign Clip-on 2.2 x 2.667 Triangular with Open O Clip in Black (6491608 | 65676)

In 3 other sets

• 2x Tile Special Round 2 x 2 Inverted in Yellow (6508095 | 3567)
• 2x Brick Round, Half 1 x 2 in Red (6525850 | 68013)
• 1x Technic Panel Fairing 2 x 3 x 1 in Dark Bluish Gray (6435030 | 71682)

Parts in quantity

• 44x Slope Curved 3 x 2 No Studs in Red (6132210 | 24309) 

• 42x Slope Curved 2 x 2 x 2/3 in Red (6105976 | 15068)

• 24x Slope Curved 2 x 1 No Studs in Red (6029946 | 11477)

• 36x Tile 2 x 4 with Groove in Red (4560179 | 87079)
• 17x Tile 2 x 6 in Red (6335578 | 69729)

Minifigures

For many, the minifigures will be what most appeals about this set – in all honesty, the astronauts were what initially interested me most.

There are 16 characters included, 15 of them featuring parts that are exclusive to this set. All but one of the torsos are new and 3 of the legs have new prints too, but all the heads have been featured in other sets before. 

The 16 figures actually comprise 8 pairs of similar characters. Element IDs for the new prints and recolours are listed below for each figure (repeated in places, to include the duplicated elements).

Teal Coffee Break Classic Space

• Helmet Classic, New Mold 2019 in Dark Turquoise (6549098 | 50665)
• Minifig Neckwear Airtanks with Large Holes in Dark Turquoise (6550811 | 3838)
• Torso, Classic Space Logo print, Dark Turquoise Arms and Hands in Dark Turquoise (6552650 | 76382)

Female Griffin Knight

• Helmet Castle with Cheek Protection Angled in Flat Silver (6487209) only previously in 21348 Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tail
• Torso, Dark Red Arms, Pearl Gold Hands with Plate Mail print in Flat Silver (6553083)
• Hips and Flat Silver Legs with Plate Mail print in Flat Silver (6551868)
• Shield Triangular with Spiked Top with White Griffin, Silver Head, Wings print in Flat Silver (6542337)

Pirates Camilla

• Hair Curly with Thin Braid in Bright Light Yellow (6529039)
• Torso, Tan Arms, Yellow Hands with print in Tan (6553668)

Paradisa Beach Bae

• Torso, White Shirt, Pink 'PARADISA' print, Yellow Arms and Hands in White (6553193)
• Hips and Yellow Legs with Medium Azure Speedo print in Medium Azure (6551870)

Gold Blaster Classic Space

• Helmet Classic, New Mold 2019 in Pearl Gold (6531660 | 50665)
• Minifig Neckwear Airtanks with Large Holes in Pearl Gold (6531658 | 3838)
• Torso, Classic Space Logo print, Pearl Gold Arms and Hands in Pearl Gold (6552651 | 76382)

Male Kraken Warrior

• Helmet, Viking [PLAIN] in Reddish Brown (6553087)
• Torso, Dark Green Arms, Black Hands with Kraken print in Dark Turquoise (6553088)
• Hips and Reddish Brown Legs with print in Reddish Brown (6542343)
• Shield Round Bowed with Yellowish Green Kraken, Dark Turquoise Border print in Dark Green (6542336)

Bernard Bear Minifigure 

• Costume / Mask, Bear, Face Opening with Black Eyes, Nose print in Medium Nougat (6542341) is a recolour only previously available in White and Dark Pink
• Torso, Yellow 'Fabuland' print, Blue Arms and Hands in Blue (6553073)

LEGO Ideas Designer

• Torso, Sweater, White LEGO Ideas Logo print, Black Arms, Yellow Hands in Black (6553089)

Teal Fix-it Classic Space

• Helmet Classic, New Mold 2019 in Dark Turquoise (6549098 | 50665)
• Minifig Neckwear Airtanks with Large Holes in Dark Turquoise (6550811 | 3838)
• Torso, Classic Space Logo print, Dark Turquoise Arms and Hands in Dark Turquoise (6552650 | 76382)

Male Griffin Knight

• Helmet Castle with Cheek Protection Angled in Flat Silver (6487209) only previously found in 21348 Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tail
• Torso, Dark Red Arms, Pearl Gold Hands with Plate Mail print in Flat Silver (6553083)
• Hips and Flat Silver Legs with Plate Mail print in Flat Silver (6551868)
• Shield Triangular with Spiked Top with White Griffin, Silver Head, Wings print in Flat Silver (6542337)

Pirates Bo'sun Will

• Torso, Jacket, Red/White Striped Shirt print, Yellow Arms and Hands in Reddish Brown (6553226)

Paradiso Beach Bro

• Torso, White Shirt, Pink 'PARADISA' print, Yellow Arms and Hands in White (6553193)
• Hips and Yellow Legs with Medium Azure Speedo print in Medium Azure (6551870)

Gold Comms Classic Space

• Helmet Classic, New Mold 2019 in Pearl Gold (6531660 | 50665)
• Minifig Neckwear Airtanks with Large Holes in Pearl Gold (6531658 | 3838)
• Torso, Classic Space Logo print, Pearl Gold Arms and Hands in Pearl Gold (6552651 | 76382)

Female Kraken Warrior

• Helmet, Viking [PLAIN] in Reddish Brown (6553087)
• Torso, Dark Green Arms, Black Hands with Kraken print in Dark Turquoise (6553088)
• Hips and Reddish Brown Legs with print in Reddish Brown (6542343)
• Shield Round Bowed with Yellowish Green Kraken, Dark Turquoise Border print in Dark Green (6542336)

Elton Elephant Minifigure

• Costume / Mask, Elephant with Black Eyes print in Light Bluish Gray (6551874) only previously in one LEGO® Minifigures bag, 71021 Elephant Costume Girl from 2018
• Torso, Yellow 'Fabuland' print, Blue Arms and Hands in Blue (6553073)

Rob the Fan Designer

This is a minifigure representation of the fan designer Rob Vangansewinkel. Sadly, he doesn't feature any new parts.

You might have been hoping for other figures, but given the spread of themes included and the variety of characters both new, old, and both 'new & old', I think there should be something here for everyone.

My family loved most of these, but if pushed to pick favourites, as a self-confessed Classic Space obsessive, those would be my first choice. The cute Fabuland cosplay characters are also a delight! My daughter loved the Paradisa figures, and the female Griffin and Kraken Warriors.

The build

Eleven numbered paper-based bags plus the two external packets containing the large panels very nearly fully pack out the box.

Predictably, the model starts from the bottom. Each of the 11 bags includes 1 or 2 capsules with the minifigures to fill them, and this adds variety to the construction.

From the outset, there are interesting techniques employed, such as angling the exit ramp shown here above in the bottom left and right pictures.

That lower internal exit route is carefully controlled, using a variety of parts that will help guide the capsules to the dispensing point. The dark grey 2x3 Technic panel fairing (71682) is used here on the right hand side as a deflector while the relatively new black 4x4x3 quarter cylinder (4041) on the left, topped by a curved red tile, helps bump the capsule through the arch.

In places, I was impressed how economical the construction was, doing just enough to create a sturdy-yet-smooth channel that each single capsule would be dispensed through.

Bag 5 contains the mind-boggling coin mechanism, and actuator for the central rotating plates and "stirrers". The designers recommend taking time over the construction of this mechanism. I can only echo that suggestion, both for enjoying the breathtaking genius of it and also to ensure that important steps are not missed.

Note the void area in the turning cylinder, above top right, that will eventually be filled in by the coin.

The instructions specify how to place the smallest of Technic fairings, a blue 'comma' panel (89679) in the mechanism. In play it creates a 'stop' that prevents anti-clockwise rotation of the crank handle. It requires the coin to complete the turning cylinder, pushing the fairing back against the rubber peanut (45590) to allow the turning cylinder to smoothly rotate. 

With the coin in place, anti-clockwise rotation is also prevented by a ratchet (or pawl) that is made using a Technic axle connector (42135) that also uses a rubber peanut to create the necessary resistance against the dark azure 20 tooth gear (69779).

The fairing can be seen above right in the coin slot, blocking the path of the turning cylinder.

A turning plate is added, with space enough to rotate one capsule through to the exit ramps. Clearly, there has been some fine tuning involved, because the tiniest of bumpers on the corners of the plate are made using 2 white teacup saucers (38799, 3576). I can only hazard a guess as to precisely why they are needed, but it seems fair to assume that without this small feature the capsule would stick.

A top panel with a fixed opening and slight ramp combines with the turning plate below to fully close the open aperture preventing more than one capsule from being rotated towards the exit ramp.

The mechanism is just about complete at this point, and so the temptation to test a capsule was impossible to resist. You'll see that in my video further down, along with the completed construction. 

Three side panels made from plates, tiles and curved slopes create an economic and quickly built covering for the outer shell of the machine. A convincing and subtle curvature at the corners makes this model look almost real! Perhaps the designers thought so too, because they have added some LEGO DNA in the form of lines of 8 studs on each side? 

These 3 panels are also the most repetitive part of the whole build, which sounds like a criticism, but is actually a compliment of the variety encountered in the overall process.

It is a fairly immersive build and, in what feels like no time at all, those fabulous new and enormous clear panels are added to create the enclosure. The necessity of functionality in the Vending Machine brings with it the improved aesthetics of clarity. I appreciate how attractive that is in its purity, echoing the design ideal of "form follows function".

The final part of the mechanism, the 'stirrers', are attached via a long central spindle and rotate the capsules within the enclosure.

The lid is on, we've filled it up with all those capsules and it's time to test drive it! 

The completed Gumball Machine

This really is a beautifully designed model. It is subtle yet complex in its faultless function, and effortlessly sleek in its looks.There is a lot of fun to be had just activating the mechanism. 

My daughter and I loaded the machine up twice, just dispensing the capsules before we built any of the minifigures (the very reason she wanted to help me!). Everything works here, and it's a joy to play with, even down to an authentic clicking sound produced by the ratchet as you rotate the crank handle.

The capsules themselves feel pleasantly tactile in the hand. 

The built figures don't quite fit back in the capsule and close up neatly, so you need to disassemble.

Conclusion

The concept was always a good one, and I was really pleased to see it selected for development as a real set by LEGO Ideas. 

The final product is upscaled from Rob's submission. That increase in size was the right decision, as it enabled increasing the size of each capsule to ensure the parts of the minifigures would all fit inside comfortably, and also allowed for more capsules and therefore more minifigures to be included.

I feel this brilliant set exceeded my expectations. I thought that I would probably be buying the set for the figures alone. The machine is more than that though: something about the construction of the mechanism, its faultless functioning, the coin activation and yes, the dispensing of minifigures make this really special. 

It replicates the look of a classic little gumball machine so well. At first glance, especially if you don't feel nostalgia for classic vending machines, then it might look like it could be a little uninteresting from a build point of view. Believe me, this is a truly fun experience, and repetition in the build is also minimal.

Dispensing machines don't just rely on nostalgic appeal though. Gacha (or gachapon) are extremely popular. On a recent visit to Brighton (not just for the LEGO shop), I found a shop almost entirely dedicated to official Bandai Namco gashapon vending machines, so I have no doubt that this will be a successful product and I hope that we see a second edition with another 16 figures. It feels like here is a perfect perennial set, potentially of use to promote new series of LEGO Minifigures and in-store Build-a-Minifigure refreshes?

My only criticism of the set is that the pentagonal tiles on the front might have benefitted from a little arrow pointing the clockwise direction for turning the coin mechanism handle, as I have mocked up below:

I suggest this only because this is a one-way crank, and I found myself trying to rotate the switch in the wrong direction. Although the mechanism prevents anti-clockwise turning, I imagine that there is still the potential for some users to try to force this the wrong way. That really is the mildest of criticisms because otherwise the whole product is simply delightful, from start to finish.

It also has to be noted that the part count does feel low for what at first seems to be an elevated retail price, US$179.99/ £149.99/ 169.99€/ AU$249.99. I feel the quantity of minifigures, new large moulds and the design-intensive endeavours to ensure this product worked faultlessly all go a long way to justifying the cost. Sometimes there is more than just bricks and raw commodity value to take account of; the playability of this set, the reward of dispensing something, and the fact this is all made from LEGO bricks can't be ignored. The enjoyment of a well-made product can't be understated.

I'm gushing a little now, but suffice to say I already had this set on my "want list", and having been offered this set to review and having built and played with it, I now realise this is one that should have been on my "need list".

For me, the icing on the cake was building the set for review with my little girl. She usually isn't interested in LEGO play but was attracted by the minifigures on offer. She enjoyed building the set with me and has subsequently taken ownership of it, so it looks like I will be buying one for myself after all! If your budget allows, even with what feels like a high price, I don't think you will be disappointed.

It is fair to assume that in time, the minifigure parts will appear on Pick a Brick and purchasing any particular desired figure or extras of some for 'army building' will be significantly easier and cheaper than buying more than one copy of the set. Buying only the minifigures might miss the point slightly; some are indeed very desirable but forgoing the whole set would be a shame.

I think this is definitely a highlight of this year's LEGO sets and may prove to be an all-time classic LEGO set, and one you might regret not adding to your collection.

 

Buy on LEGO.com

 

READ MORE: Seaside LEGO® Friends sets 42664 Travel Boat Adventure & 42673 Family Vacation Beach Resort are reviewed for their new parts, construction and general good times

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