I have already compiled a comprehensive list of all the new and interesting elements in the LEGO® Chinese Traditional Festival sets which were released on 1 January 2025, but today I'm looking specifically at the construction of 80117 Good Fortune.
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.
80117 Good Fortune
- Release date: 1 January 2025
- Pieces:1021
- US$ 89.99 on LEGO.com US
- CA$ 119.99 on LEGO.com Canada
- GB£ 69.99 on LEGO.com UK
- AU$ 129.99 on LEGO.com Australia
- NZ$ 149.99 on LEGO.com New Zealand
- DE€ 79,99 on LEGO.com Deutschland
- NL€ 79,99 on LEGO.com Nederland
- FR€ 79,99 on LEGO.com France
- PLN 349.99 on LEGO.com Polska
- NOK 1099,90 on LEGO.com Norge
- DKK 699.95 on LEGO.com Danmark
Building Good Fortune
The box contains 8 bags and two instruction manuals, which split the numbered bags as 1-4 and 5-8, so it is possible to share the build with a friend if you wish.
Bag 1 contains the parts to lay the foundations, giving a stylish knot pattern made with pearl gold tiles sitting on top of a dark azure background. There are various attachment points for the other model segments built subsequently.
Bag 2 is all about the bling! These parts construct three 元宝 (yuánbǎo) ingots which were used historically in China as currency, but are used to represent wealth in the present day. Some SNOT-building is required to complete the boat-like shapes.
Bag 3 starts off by building a little wooden stand, which actually sits studs-down on the baseplate, held in place loosely by the 2L axle in the centre of the knotted pattern.
Next comes the persimmon featuring several curved elements newly in reddish orange, all unique here:
- Brick Round Corner 5x5x1 with Bottom Cut Outs (6524696 | 7033)
- Brick Round Corner 5x5x3 1/3 Dome Top (6524594 | 76776)
- Brick Round 5x5 Macaroni with 1/3 Inner Side (6524695 | 5532)
The inner core uses four black Plate, Modified 1x1 with Light Attachment (4081b, 41632) to reverse the stud direction of the upper and lower parts of the fruit.
Putting these together gives us the smooth rounded shape of the fruit, which is topped off with eight dark green leaves in two sizes.
The final build in the first instruction book sets out the steps to make a red scroll and stylish dark green calligraphy brush from the contents of Bag 4. The Chinese character 春 (chūn) represents springtime.
Two more new elements are utilised for the scroll's tassel, both unique in pearl gold in this wave of LEGO Spring Festival releases:
- Plate Round 1x1 with Clip at Underside (6520665 | 5264)
- Chain 2L with Bars (6512378 | 6981)
The second instruction manual starts with building the elements from Bag 5 into this elegant blue and white ceramic vase. Each side is made with a beautifully printed 8x8 Radar Dish (6519101 | 3961pr0015).
Two little tasselled banners hang from the berry branches in the vase; the intricate decals are printed onto two 2x6 red tiles. These decorations are 春联 (chūnlián); Spring Festival couplets with poetic phrases that often have double meanings. The one above left, 春暖花開 (chūnnuǎn huā kāi), roughly translates as "Spring is warm / flowers are blooming" while the other, 喜上枝頭 (xǐ shàngzhī tóu) says "happiness is on the branches" but also relates to magpies; a pair of which represent good fortune.
The parts in Bag 6 are used to build the basic fan shape in red, with a few teal and pearl gold accents. The fan is quite flimsy during construction and only really holds together well once the second set of hinge plates are applied to the top of the wedge plates.
At this point there are two options for the decoration of the fan.
A branch with what I'm guessing are either plum or cherry blossoms and two magpies can be made with the parts in Bag 7.
When applied to the surface of the fan, this branch provides a 3D effect which I personally find a bit bulky and a little lopsided. There's not much of interest on the left side, where the branch is at its fattest.
If you prefer something less voluminous and asymmetrical, then Bag 8 offers an alternative. It contains lots of pearl gold curved tiles, some pretty bright pink flowers and a number of teal leaf pieces to give an appealing pattern which contrasts nicely with the red background.
Putting all the elements together produces an attractive looking display model. However, only the scroll and fan are securely attached to the base. The ingots and vase are just connected by one stud (or bar), and the persimmon on its stand is just placed but not attached. So beware if you want to move this to a new location – I would recommend taking off these looser sections and moving them separately!
Conclusion
The set provides the opportunity for at least two people to build together, as each bag of parts makes a discrete part of the overall model which can be put together at the end. It would be a nice family activity around the Lunar New Year and results in a stylish display piece ready for the celebrations.
The price feels a little on the high end for what you get, but there are quite a few small parts, so the price to part value of 6.9p / 8.8c (USD) / 7.8c (EUR) is perhaps a bit misleading. As a parts pack it has some merit as there are a few new or rare pieces, and other more common elements in large quantities.
I enjoyed the build and the attractive final model (particularly the fan and vase) even though I don't personally have a cultural connection to the Spring Festival.
READ MORE: Year of the Snake GwP available until end 13 January 2025
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