As if by some strange coincidence, I have had a few products cross my desk in the last week that can allow you to display your LEGO bricks and figures in unconventional ways.  While I am still exploring some of the virulently marketed LEGO Compatible tape, and the options and reasoning behind it, I have also had a chance to look at the Brick Brick Omega Cap. I would like to present this review today.

The Brick Brick Cap is a baseball style cap, with a flat, rather than curved brim.  It offers two surfaces to attach your brick designs to:

First, the brick binding brim which slides over the peak of the cap. The brim is approximately 20 studs wide and 8 studs deep at the front.  The studs wrap around towards the sides of the cap. Multiple injection moulding points were visible on the dark blue surface, but they did not appear to interfere with the quality of the clutch power.

Then there is the front plate, which attaches by velcro to the front if the main cap.  Measuring 18 studs wide by eight studs high, this panel is curved. This restricts the use of elements that bind across multiple horizontal studs, although limited connections spanning two or three studs are possible without significant deformation of the plate.

Looking at the cap itself:

The hat is made of an acrylic wool mix, and consists of five panels.  The front panel double sized and reinforced.  It is significantly firmer the the other four: it is across this front panel of fabric that the front plate attaches, via a velcro patch, with the Brick Brick Logo shaved into it.  The hat is adjustable, and available in both adult and youth sizes.  It appears to be of sturdy construction.

For me, the odd aspect to wearing this cap was the flatness of the brim, which is necessary to ensure the building surface slides on easily.  Once the brim plate has been slid into place, it is firm, with little wobble.  I do wonder if it would become significantly looser with time.

All about the bricks.

The highlight of the cap is the ability to customise the front surfaces with whatever elements you wish: bricks, plates, tiles, mini figures, you name it. The clutch power is exceptional: I was able to fit an entire series of collectible mini figures onto the brim of the cap, and wave it round a few times, and there was no sign of figures falling off. …although it did start to get a bit crowded. The options for display here are as infinite as those allowed by LEGO bricks themselves: Micro Scale townships, small minifigure vignettes, vehicles, free range sculptures…

The front panel is ideal for applying a small mosaic, or some brick lettering to. Inspired by the recent New Elementary Typography Competition, I made a few rudimentary type forms on this panel: One to go with my Ford GT 2 Speed Champions models, and another to go with my Ninjago Collectible Minifigures.

If you choose to go incognito: for example, as you go into the supermarket on the way to your local LEGO Fan Expo, the brim and front panel can be easily removed.  The cap has an embroidered badge with a logo on the side, that will more subtley declare your love of the brick.

I like the size of the brim, allowing plenty of space for building, as well as keeping the sun out of my eyes.

I was surprised as how comfortable the Brick Brick Omega Cap was to wear, despite being heavily loaded with figures or other models.

In Summary

What I liked: The clutch power was surprisingly good.  The chance to exchange panels and brims of different colours.  I appreciated the ease with which the brim and front panel could be removed, to allow for rebuilding.

I was challenged by the curve of the front panel, which while it fits nicely around the shape of the cap, but slightly obscures the wearer’s range of vision. It gave me an uderstanding as to the normal, curved shape of a baseball cap’s peak.

How would I use it?

Personally, I am unlikely to wear a cap with LEGO Bricks or mini figures on, as I walk down the street.  That might be just me…

However, at a show, I could see myself using the brim to contain a micro (or nano) scale version of the diorama I have on display, or a small vignette inspired by the theme of the build.

I can also see this cap having appeal for children, looking for a way to take their play with them.

I quite like the BrickBrick Omega Cap.  While unlikely to use it for everyday wear, there are certainly times when I will happily put it on, decked out in all its glory.  I award it 3.5 out of 5 Arbitrary Praise Units.

My cap was supplied by I’m Rick James Bricks, the Australian distributer for the purposes of this review, but the opinions are my own. The Australian RRP is $30, for a cap with matching panel and brim.  Additional front panels and brim plates are available, in a variety of colors.  The cap and plate components come in grey, royal blue, red, pink, navy blue and black as well as silver and gold. Brims and panels are $10 each, or $12 with a metallic finish.

What do you think? Is this an item for you to add to your collection of  ‘gear’? Why not leave a comment below.

Until next time,

Play well.