CRB BUILDS: Lego Creator 3in1 Retro Camera #31147

Word by Amy

Photos and hyperlapse by Scott

My first time tackling a LEGO review so we’ll see how this goes!

First Impressions
The set I’m talking about today is set #31147, a Creator 3-in-1 featuring three builds to choose from: a retro 35mm camera (261 pieces), a camcorder, and a vintage television set. The packaging, as always with LEGO Creator sets, is bright and appealing, showcasing the main build (in this case, the camera), with the other options displayed as smaller images around the main. Inside, you get three separate build manuals, one for each option, which I really appreciate; it’s so much better than cramming everything into one massive booklet.

The pieces come packaged in plastic bags, though LEGO is moving towards paper bags to be more environmentally friendly. A notable difference with this set is that the bags aren’t numbered, which makes sense given the three different build options. However, this does mean you have to open all the bags at once, leaving pieces scattered everywhere. For me, a naturally chaotic LEGO builder, this definitely adds to the confusion!

The Building Experience
Overall, this build was a lot of fun. That said, having all the pieces in one big heap made me feel like every other piece I needed had gone missing. I can’t help but wonder if the bags could have been grouped or numbered specifically for the main build.

This set is aimed at ages 8+, but I imagine younger builders might find a sea of pieces overwhelming, especially if they’re building without help. On the flip side, the lack of numbered bags makes the process last longer and feel a bit more like a challenge - which I actually quite enjoyed.

Of course, I made my usual share of mistakes, like using a brown flat bar instead of black (reading instructions has never been my strong point). I’d probably benefit from using LEGO’s app instead of the booklet, but that always feels like cheating. There was plenty of undoing and redoing, but that’s just par for the course with me (see my earlier comment about chaos). I could have sorted the pieces beforehand, but where’s the fun in that?

One of the things I love about LEGO is how it goes from looking like a random abstract sculpture to suddenly becoming something instantly recognisable. With this set, I loved how the back of the camera opens just like a real one, and you get to make two film reels, one to go inside the camera and one for display. I even got creative and veered away from the instructions (Scott - Heathen!), putting all the animal-themed tiles on one reel and the holiday-themed ones on the other.

When I wasn’t panicking about missing pieces, the build was incredibly relaxing, and I genuinely enjoyed it.

Interesting Techniques or Parts
Overall, the build was fairly straightforward without any major difficulties. That said, one early step required fitting a little ball joint into a cup hinge, which was surprisingly tricky. I also found the lens assembly a bit fiddly, it took some effort to line up properly, and after adding another part, I managed to accidentally push the lens off again. That part definitely felt more advanced than I’d expect for an 8-year-old.

As always, the stickers were impossible to line up perfectly, but I found that using the backing paper to reposition them worked well enough.

The Finished Model
The finished model looks fantastic, though the camera strap was a bit disappointing. It feels very thin and flimsy compared to the rest of the build. Other than that, it’s a sturdy, well-designed piece that looks just like an old-fashioned camera.

Playability and Functionality / Display Appeal
This is definitely a set that’s more suited for photography fans or collectors to build and display rather than for kids to play with. That said, it’s robust enough that children could handle it without too much worry, just as long as the back door isn’t opened constantly. For collectors and display enthusiasts, it’s ideal, as it doesn’t have lots of intricate nooks that would make it a nightmare to dust.

Value for Money
I think the £17.99 price tag is about right for the camera. However, given how much smaller the instruction books are for the TV and camcorder, I feel the price is a bit steep for those builds, especially as you’ll end up with lots of spare parts. I love the concept of 3-in-1 sets, but having built one of the less-dominant builds before (#31143 Birdhouse, I built the hedgehogs on a bench), I feel LEGO might do better to release three separate sets priced according to complexity and parts.

Final Thoughts
This was a fun little build that took me about two hours. There were a few tricky parts but nothing overly complicated or stress-inducing. The end result is solid—possibly a bit complex for a younger child, but overall worth the money and perfect for any photography enthusiast.

Scotts comments 

The build was completed within around an hour (Amy - Smartarse!). I wasn’t rushing but I was conscious that I was trying to record the hyperlapse at the same time. Lucky for you there’s no sound as there was lots of huffing and puffing. Not from the build but from my aching knees and elbows as I’d decided to build on the floor!

Overall I think it’s decent value for money for not an overly complicated build with some cute little parts. I liked how they tried to replicate the winder and shutter buttons and using a larger model's wheel hub as the lens body was quite inspired.