Review: GwP 40889 Build, Paint and Play from LEGO® Ideas

40889 Build, Paint and Play from LEGO® Ideas is a gift with purchase (GwP) set, which means you can't simply pick it up in store or order it online. You have to meet the predetermined spend threshold at LEGO to receive the set as a "free" additional bonus; the added anxiety for collectors here being the inevitable "while stocks last" disclaimer. The threshold is US$130/ £115/ 130€/ AU$210 and the set launches on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

There aren't any new moulds, which is entirely expected, but there are two very welcome recolours that will please Classic Space fanatics.

We were given this product 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.

40889 Build, Paint and Play

• Release date: 28 October 2026
• Pieces: 158
• Ages: 18+
• Availability: gift with purchases at or above the minimum threshold US$130/ £115/ 130€/ AU$210/ other countries click here

View on LEGO.com

 

This set was fan-designed by Topi Kari (a.k.a. Doomslizer) for the 'Build your Hobby' LEGO Ideas challenge last year.

© Doomslizer (Topi Kari)

They say there's no such thing as a new idea, and it has to be noted that Peter Reid tapped this Airfix kit concept with his "on the sprue" idea all the way back in 2014.

©Peter Reid via flickr

An idea which itself was based on an earlier MOC of his from 2012. 

Recolours

• 1x Helmet Classic, New Mold 2019 in Light Bluish Gray (6632829 | 50665)
• 1x Minifig Neckwear Airtanks with Large Holes in Light Bluish Gray (6632828 | 3838)

Twelve years I've waited for these and, if the realisation of a full light bluish grey astronaut minifigure is what you're here to see, please skip to the end for that treat.

Reintroduced

• 1x Torso, Light Bluish Gray Arms and Hands in Light Bluish Gray (6186014 | 76382) 

This has been previously available just once, in 70912 Arkham Asylum from 2017.

Rare

In one other set

• 1x Torso, Classic Space Logo Print, Dark Turquoise Arms and Hands in Dark Turquoise (6552650 | 76382) – two were in 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine – see my review of the LEGO gumball machine
• 1x Tile Special, Splat with Rounded Sides in Black (6612106 | 80677) – just one in 21369 The X-Files
• 1x Hair Small Tuft in Dark Tan (6631259 | 68212) 17 are supplied with 21373 Downton Abbey - see Toby's review of LEGO Downton Abbey 

In two other sets

• 1x Helmet Classic, New Mold 2019 in Dark Turquoise (6549098 | 50665)
• 1x Minifig Neckwear Airtanks with Large Holes in Dark Turquoise (6550811 | 3838)
• 1x Tile 2 x 6 in Dark Green (6608647 | 69729)

Stickers

These stickers are lot of fun and, graphically speaking, very neat. The ruler is potentially useful if carefully applied as the increments have been printed at an accurate centimetre scale.

I think it is a shame that the space logos aren’t printed on clear material and then cut torso shaped or die-cut, even if logically that means leaving the astronaut with an un-printed dark turquoise torso. I feel similarly about the minifigure faces.

I'm not sure I like the implied narrative of this activity being half-way through a project with missing or used-up stickers on the sheet. I would much prefer to have the stickers available as a resource and have the option to make use of them in alternate ways.

Had that been the case, I could see myself wanting many copies of this set. Official astronauts would become much easier to realise when helmets and airtanks appeared in new colours. Other applications would also present themselves I am sure as I regularly want to apply that classic space logo to modern elements.

An interesting detail is that the official LEGO colour code numbers are used here on the paint labels.

The final sticker is for the superglue tube and is a nod to the fan creator. 

The build   

This was a fun, albeit brief build, it's simple but looks pretty effective when complete. I also appreciate the many similarities to the original submission.

The main difference is the blue astronaut, which has been replaced by the more recent teal variant and this seems to be the biggest complaint from Classic Space fans that I've seen online.

As someone who who has been collecting each successive new colour of Classic Space astronauts, I do feel slightly disappointed that this wasn't just a simple blue or black, as those remain the only classic colours yet to be properly reissued with the modern helmet (50665). Another new colour may have been a bigger wish, but perhaps that would have been more of a crowd pleaser?

The other thing to note is the change from depicting more traditional model paints akin to Tamiya or Humbrol style pots to dropper bottles; both styles are entirely appropriate for the kind of modelling that's being replicated with the set though. Although I suspect there is heated debate amongst model makers as to what the best medium is.

The layout of the minifigure parts on the sprues and runners is nicely handled, the parts are organised well – economic with space in a convincing fashion.

Final details, like the tube of glue, un-painted figure stand, glue drop and paint splat complete the neat little vignette.

I like the addition of the pot for the brushes too, but would have liked to see a brush for applying fine detail in addition to the broomstick included.

The real appeal

As mentioned, two elements, both in light-bluish grey, are potentially the most desirable parts in this set.

The bike helmet, although initially scarce in light bluish grey, has been more easily acquired since 2022 and prices have been reasonable since then. I know that many fans favoured the original, more faithful minifigure space helmet, but only two variants in (old) light grey with a thin chin strap were ever produced, and appeared in a total of just six sets. Good, undamaged examples currently start at £20.

Light grey airtanks were more plentiful, appearing in over 20 sets during the 1970s and '80s. Surprisingly, the light gray airtanks were also seen once on this side of the millennium, in 7047 Coast Watch HQ from 2003. Prices for good examples wouldn't break the bank if you were desperate. 

These new light bluish grey airtanks will undoubtedly have an inflated price initially, but will be worth the wait when they're more plentifully available from Pick a Brick. 

There's also a feeling of peace with the new parts: all is finally right, as the newer colour completes the character properly by colour matching the available elements. I'm aware that the minute change in hue is perhaps an obsessive concern, particularly as the (old) light grey helmet and airtanks were a slightly different colour, but I'm also aware that I'm not the only person that this kind of thing matters to.

Conclusion

This model is great. As soon as I saw that Topi’s concept had won the fan vote, I knew this would be a really nice addition to the Classic Space gallery…

As stated above I know that many fans are disappointed that this set only contains a repeat of the teal/ dark turquoise astronaut from 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine, but perhaps we have to balance that against the long wait that we have endured for the helmet and airtanks in light bluish grey: it was a s2014 (cough!) gave us one of the first recolours that year, in Rocket Boy from LEGO® Minifigures 71018 Series 17.

You may also recall that the other new astronaut colour in 2014 was green: Pete and Yve from the set 21109 Exo Suit. Since then, it's been a semi-regular occurrence, most recently with the light blue that appeared in 11374 Arcade Pinball Machine, see Ben's review of the LEGO gumball machine here. 

As nice as the set is, in terms of new resources and a Classic Space fan's viewpoint, I think 40889 Build, Paint and Play is something of a disappointment. While it differs only slightly from the submission, I would have preferred to see the concept upgraded to a widely available retail set. Maybe expanding the idea to include a couple of minifigures, a couple more brushes and stickers that could be used to make more official-feeling customs, and of course "paint pots" in more of the current palette of LEGO colours?

I know that many fans are unhappy about the continued practice of locking away great little sets like this behind "paywall" thresholds. For some of us though, we can console ourselves with the fact that the main appeal of this set are the pair of light bluish grey minifigure accessories that will eventually appear to buy on Pick a Brick, with that hopefully being the case early in the new year.

The set is a celebration of a hobby, a great way to get the long-hankered-for helmet and airtanks to faithfully complete the grey astronaut but honestly, don't waste your money attempting to meet the spend threshold. There's nothing really special in this set that you won't be able to acquire in a far more economic fashion in time. If you are buying sets anyway and have been waiting for this GwP to drop, I don't think you'll be disappointed receiving it as an extra bonus.

Threshold

• Australia 210
• Bahrain 55
• Bosnia 255
• Brazil 730
• Canada 170
• Chile 125520
• China 1248
• Colombia 600000
• Costa Rica 74500
• Croatia 980
• Czech Republic 3175
• Denmark 975
• EU Region 130
• Hong Kong 1125
• Hungary 51000
• Indonesia 2227000
• Japan 18500
• Korea 190000
• Kuwait 45
• Macau 1155
• Malaysia 620
• Mexico 2830
• New Zealand 230
• Norway 1515
• Panama 140
• Peru         540
• Philippines 8090
• Poland 540
• Qatar 525
• Qatar 520
• Romania 645
• Serbia 15210
• Singapore 190
• South Africa 2550
• Sweden 1590
• Switzerland 125
• Taiwan 4605
• Thailand 4880
• Turkey 4895
• UAE 530
• United Kingdom 115
• United States 130

 

READ MORE: Eero's stunning looks created with LEGO® Editions 43017 Oscar Piastri & 43023 Lando Norris helmets 

 

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