Let me start by saying, as a huge One Piece fan, the moment I saw this Going Merry building set, I knew I had to have it. The idea of recreating the Straw Hat Pirates' first ship was too tempting to pass up. But oh boy, was I in for a journey!

The good first: The final product looks absolutely stunning once assembled. At 7.4 inches high and with 1520 pieces, it's packed with detail that does justice to the iconic ship from the anime. The ABS plastic feels surprisingly high-quality - smooth to touch with vibrant colors that pop.

Now for the challenges... Those tiny pieces! I've built my fair share of LEGO sets, but these micro blocks took frustration to new levels. My fingers felt like they'd been through a workout session trying to snap those miniature parts together. And don't get me started on the instructions - jumping from step one showing 31 pre-assembled pieces had me scratching my head more than once.

The building process became a true test of patience. Several times I had to walk away when pieces refused to stay connected or when the unclear instructions left me guessing. It's definitely not a set for beginners - even my experienced builder friend struggled with some sections.

That said, there's something magical about seeing Luffy's ship come together piece by piece. Once completed (after about three evenings of determined work), it makes for an impressive display piece that any One Piece fan would adore on their shelf.

Would I recommend it? If you're a die-hard One Piece fan with plenty of building experience and patience to spare - yes, go for it! But if you're looking for a relaxing build or buying for a younger fan, you might want to consider other options.