An advance Happy Chinese New Year to all readers! Wishing all a prosperous and healthy year of the Rat ahead! 恭喜发财！
I am reviewing the last set of the 2nd wave of Modular Buildings under the Zhong Hua Street (中华街) series released by XingBao (星堡積木), XB-01023, Zhong Hua Street: Banks (中华街：正通钱庄).
Kit Details
XingBao XB-01023 Zhong Hua Street: Banks (中华街：正通钱庄)
Year: 2018
Minifigs: 8
Pieces: 2,955
RRP: ???
Upon opening the box. The Instruction Book is seated nicely a pop up paper tray. The deviation on the Instruction Book as compared to the tray and the box art, instead of the usual 中华街 and Zhong Hua Street, China Town is printed on the Instruction Book as mentioned in the earlier review is still visible. I am happy to see the sticker sheet loose in the paper tray, not glued or taped to the Instruction Book!
The contents within the box below the paper tray.
A total of 54 bags spread across Numbered Bags 1 to 14, Spares Bag and loose in box is 1 32×32 Dark Grey Baseplate and 1 Light Grey 16×16 Plate.
The distribution of the bags across the Numbered Packs.
4 bags of Numbered 1 Pack.
3 bags of Numbered 2 Pack.
I got an extra bag 6 for the Numbered 2 Pack, which I rejoiced but soon regret rejoicing about.
4 bags of Numbered 3 Pack.
2 bags of Numbered 4 Pack.
As I was cross checking with the Instruction Book at the same time. I realised I have a missing bag from the Numbered 4 Pack. There should have been 3 bags but I only got 2 bags. Guess the extra bag from Numbered 2 Pack “compensated” for the bags count.
4 bags of Numbered 5 Pack.
3 bags of Numbered 6 Pack.
4 bags of Numbered 7 Pack.
4 bags of Numbered 8 Pack.
4 bags of Numbered 9 Pack.
5 bags of Numbered 10 Pack.
But on the Instruction Book indicated 4 bags instead of 5 bags.
On closer examination, I noticed this bag is “036”. I guess it is a supplementary pack added for missing parts related to bag 36 post packing.
4 bags of Numbered 11 Pack.
4 bags of Numbered 12 Pack.
3 bags of Numbered 13 Pack.
4 bags of Numbered 14 Pack.
1 bag of Spare Parts which escaped the photo shoot.
The sticker sheet.
Let the building with a series of unfortunate events begin!
The completed build from Numbered 1 packs.
The printed parts from Numbered 2 packs.
The interior of the front counter.
The completed build from Numbered 2 packs.
The first missing part that I encountered from Numbered 3 pack.
The SNOT wall.
The completed build from Numbered 3 packs.
The printed parts from Numbered 4 packs. (Thank goodness it is not part of the missing bag!)
The MOC on the go Alter and Flower Pot with Stand fitting nicely in.
The completed build from Numbered 4 packs.
The completed build from Numbered 5 packs.
The completed build from Numbered 6 packs.
The completed build from Numbered 7 packs.
I like the base build of Level 2 of this better as the edges are more sturdy.
The completed build from Numbered 8 packs.
The printed parts from Numbered 9 packs.
I really like the internal furnishings builds of this series.
The completed build from Numbered 9 packs.
A simple build for a Chair with Armrest.
The supplementary pack that was included meant to be replacement for the Red Minifigure Head piece included in bag 36 which had no clutch power to be held by the Dark Brown 1×1 Modified Clip piece.
The completed build from Numbered 10 packs.
The completed build from Numbered 11 packs.
The completed Level 2 stacked with Level 1 along with the mast pole and cart.
The completed build from Numbered 12 packs.
The completed build from Numbered 13 packs.
The completed build from Numbered 14 packs. (I had a crippled Bank Staff because of a missing leg piece!)
The completed roof stacked with level 1 & 2.
Bonus Pictures!
The street view of the Banks.
The entire 2nd wave in a display shelf.
After thoughts:
I built this set over a spread of 2 days in the night clocking almost 11 hours to complete. I could have completed it in shorter time if there wasn’t a need to search for the missing parts and some MOC on the go due to the missing Numbered 4 pack.
Overall, this set is the most sturdy build out of all the 8 modular houses. But this set also gave me the biggest disappointment with the highest amount of missing parts. I understand missing parts are common in other building block brands, but an entire missing bag was something I had never encountered before in the Zhong Hua Street series.
It is lucky that I have accumulated quite some Xingbao spare parts over the 2 waves of modular and 3 series of mini building of the Zhong Hua Street. Otherwise, I cannot imagine how to fill the missing pieces of the structural build or MOC on the go.
It is lucky the missing bag in Numbered 4 pack was the bag containing smaller parts, which was a small relief for me. I was prepared to give up on the furnishings as long as the main structural build is not affected. In the end, managed to get most pieces for the structural build except the 2 clips and the parts securing the main door hinges.
Also managed to MOC on the go to salvage the Altar.
And also salvaged the Flower Pot with Stand.
Towards the end of the build, I got a random sprue piece and a missing leg piece for the Bank staff.
Luckily, he is placed behind the counter, so it hides the flaw.
I would have preferred that the minifigures are distributed throughout the build, so they can be inserted to the relevant position before capping the level like in the Teahouse and Roadhouse.
This review concludes the 2nd wave of the modular building sets of the Zhong Hua Street released.
Hope you have enjoyed this. Thank you for reading!
Do check out my earlier reviews of the Zhong Hua Street (中华街).