There are lots of details in this set and they include 2 snakes. A yellow swim tube is also here too. There’s a nice clear beer bottle and there’s a starfish too.

Design-wise, I like how closely they kept to DadiTwins’ original design, and how it’s so immediately recognisable. Here, we have the LEGO Ray minifigure. He has a gray piece where he can look for things far away. Ray has a nice beard, printed torso and red shorts. His skin tone is yellow which is the traditional classic skin tone of LEGO minifigures.Gift idea – This 243-piece model measures over 5 in. (14 cm) high, 7 in. (19 cm) wide and 5 in. (13 cm) deep, and makes a fun gift for adults or any LEGO® enthusiast

With many new sets launching during its period of availability it should not be too difficult to find something to buy to acquire it. This set does sport ten palm fronds in three shades of green, which is quite nice for a set of this size. It’s definitely the parts highlight of the set, especially if you can rustle up the missing pieces for a third palm. The raft has a pole with a white flag. There’s a rope where it can attach to the desert island as well. Two studs are on the raft so that you can put 1-2 minifigures on it. Ray is fortunate to have been castaway on a very pleasant-looking island, with lush vegetation, colourful animals and vibrant blue sea surrounding it. He's been able to fashion a shelter from available resources and looks to have an abundant supply of fish for sustenance.

Summary

In this LEGO review article, we’ll review the 18+ LEGO IDEAS 40566 Ray the Castaway set (October 2022 GWP Gift Promo Set). Valid from October 1-13, 2022 or while supplies last. For those living in Australia, the promo gift set is now sold out at LEGO Shop at Home Australia. I particularly like the use of the brown 6-pronged stalks under the palm tree's leaves to replicate its flowers. I’m still trying to make up my mind on the SOS written in the sand. I do think it’s a fun, creative addition to a set like this. But the snakes feel out of place for me. That said, I don’t have an alternative part that would’ve worked better. Ray the Castaway by Dadi Twins has won the LEGO Group’s official “ Do You Want To Go to the Seaside?” contest!

Ray received 969 votes, getting close to almost double the votes of the second highest scoring entry, Message in a Bottle by JuBex, which received 524 Votes.

“Ray the Castaway” by DadiTwins

There are some fun techniques such as the Palm Trees, and how dense it is, giving the small beach section a very lived-in, survival vibe which translates well. Voting Phase – LEGO Ideas members will then have the opportunity to vote once, for their favorite entry from May 18th, 2021 until May 25th, 2021.