Year: 2020

Building the Botanical Collection II: 10281 Bonsai Tree

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Earlier this week, we got our first official look at the new LEGO 18+ Botanical Collection. Having already taken a look at 10280 Flower Bouquet, today I would like to look at the 10281 Bonsai Tree: also released on January 1 2020, with 878 pieces, and priced at $AUD89.99/USD/GBP/Euro 49.99.

One thing I have appreciated about the 18+ sets over the last 12 months is that they have provided a little more focus on the designers than in times gone past. The set was designed by Nicolaas Vás. Nico has designed a number of Bonsai models in the past, but predominantly used aournd the various LEGO offices, as well as on the promotional material for the LEGO Ninjago Movie. The manual also offers a selection of ‘way out’ techniques that could be used to explore the design of a LEGO®Bonsai tree, with different trunnk and leaf structures, as well as completely different themes…

The build appears relatively simple and elegant at a distance, but will it promote an opportunity to enter a state of mind where it becomes the total focus? Read on, as I explore the set in this hands-on review.

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Building the Botanical Collection: 10280 Flower Bouquet [Review]

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One of the big changes to the way the LEGO® sets have been marketed to AFOLs during 2020 has been the introduction of the 18+ branding on sets that are predominantly aimed at AFOLs. This labelling has been applied to sculptures, vehicles, Fairground rides, UCS Star Wars, Modulars, Mosaics and even the Winter Village. Most of these have had precedents in previous ranges. After releasing 23 sets during the course of 2020, I wonder if we should brace ourselves for an onslaught of such sets in 2021.

On January 1 we will se the first sets in a new 18+ ‘Collection’: the Botanical Collection. Designed for adult builders, not so much because of the technical challenge, but more the subject matter, these sets have around 750-850 elements, and will retail for around €49.99/$USD49.99.

The first of these, 10280 Flower Bouquet, presents us with a 756 part set, and the makings of five different flowers, as well as some ornamental leaves and grasses. The designers, Anderson Grubb and Astrid Sundorf Christensen came to the project in different ways: Anderson is a designer with the LEGO Group. Astrid has been involved in making brick built decorations, including flowers, in LEGO headquarters, as part of a return to work program. Her involvement here led to becoming involved with this project.

I was fortunate to be sent copies of the first two releases in this collection for review, by the LEGO Group. We will look at the parts included in the sets, the individual flower builds, and the challenges in making all these flowers sit in a regular vase.

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Let Creativity Bloom With New Botanical Builds From The LEGO Group

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We first saw images of the new Botanical Series a month or two ago, and today, the LEGO group officially announced the release of these sets on January 1 2020. The main sets in this series, are both priced at $49.99 GBP/Euro/USD and $89.99 AUD. Here is the official Press Release:

Today, the LEGO Group has revealed a new range of mindful models for the green-fingered. The decorative LEGO® Botanical Collection includes a stunning LEGO® Flower Bouquet to brighten the home, and a LEGO® Bonsai Tree for those looking to be more zen in the new year.

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80107: The Spring Lantern Festival – a Masterclass In LEGO® Landscape Design [Review]

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For the last couple of years, the larger of the Spring festival sets has been one of the highlights of the building year for me. Last year’s 80105 New Year Temple Fair is one of my favorite sets to build ever, between the details of the maket stalls, the characters , the different produce, and the temple itself.

This year, we are looking at the 80107 Spring Lantern Festival: traditionally on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, it marks the final day of celebrations for the Lunar New Year period. This year (2021) it will fall on February 26th. The lunar new year starts with a new moon – a moonless sky. On the night of the lantern festival, we expect to see a full moon.

I cannot recall any LEGO set that focusses on external landscape in any detail with the possible exception of the LEGO Ideas Treehouse, and in that situation, the landscape, apart from the tree and treehouse itself, was fairly limited. In this set, designer Justin Ramsden presents us with a masterclass in landscape design.

This is a larger set than 80106, with 1793 parts. It will cost $AUD169.99/USD119.99/GBP89.99/CAD159.99. It is due for release in the Asia Pacific region on January 1, and throughout the rest of the world on January 10.

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80106: The Story of Nian Review

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Over the last couple of years, the LEGO® sets released in association with the Spring Festival/ Lunar New Year have been some of the most delightful sets that I have experienced in recent years. With their bright colours, families celebrating and insights into Asian Cultures, they have been a highlight of the new year releases in 2018-19.This year, we have two new sets: 80106: The Story of Nian, and 80107: The Lantern Festival. I was delighted to be given the chance to look at both of these sets ahead of time. The Story of Nian will be released in Mainland China and the Asia-Pacific Markets on January 1 and rest of the world from January 10th, 2021. It will retail for $AUD109.99/USD79.99/GBP59.99/CAD109.99, and has 1067 elements.

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Hands On Review: 71381 Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter

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Today, we continue our exploration of the Second Wave of LEGO Super Mario Sets, and this time we have one of the most frequently suggested characters from our Super Mario Contest: Chain Chomp.

The Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter is the smallest expansion in this wave, and features 160 elements. It will become available on January 1, 2021 and cost 19.99 USD/ 24.99 EUR -19.99 GBP – 39.99 AUD – 24.99 CAD. There are two characters to overcome: the Bramball, as well as the Chain Chomp; and a brand new treasure box mechanic. All existing in the new biome of the Soda Jungle.Want to know more? Read on…

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Hands On Review: 71380 LEGO® Super Mario: Master Your Adventure Maker Set

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Today, we continue out exploration of the second wave of LEGO Super Mario Sets. The wave is significantly smaller than the first, featuring a range of Buildable Characters, three expansion sets, featuring the Soda Jungle biome, and finally 71380 Master Your Adventure. With 366 Pieces, and priced at $USD 59.95/EUR59.95/AUD89.99, this set will be released on January 1 2021. I was fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to get some experience with the set, thanks to the LEGO Group.

Continuing on with some of the themes we saw in the first wave of LEGO Super Mario sets, we still see the set requiring the LEGO Super Mario Starter set 71360 to use it, as well as the dependence on the App as a way to download instructions, as well as watch short videos outlining some of the more subtle aspects of gameplay. The App was updated to incorporate the new sets on the 18th of December, so it has been a bit of a crash course, both in building and getting to experience the functionality of these sets.

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Hands on Review: 71386 LEGO® Super Mario Character Packs (2nd Wave)

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The second wave of LEGO® Super Mario Sets was announced a month or so ago, and there has been great interest in what is coming up. The LEGO Group have sent over the entire wave for me to take a look at over the next week or so. Keep your eyes open: while the official release date is January 1 2021, some sets have been spotted in the wild in the USA. This week, the LEGO Super Mario App has now been updated to include the 2021 sets, so you should have full functionality.

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LEGO Ideas X Bricklink Designer Program

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Revamped AFOL Designers Program To Give Rejected LEGO® Ideas Submissions A Second Chance At Realisation.

Over the years that the LEGO® Ideas program has been operating, there have been many models that have made the grade to become official LEGO sets, but even many more that have not. During the course of 2020, there has been a record number of submissions to the crowdsourcing platform, and more submissions have been reaching the 10,000 vote threshold for more formal consideration to become official LEGO Sets.

Just a small selection of the IDEAS submissions that might be eligible for the new Bricklink Designer Program. Designers of select rejected submissions will be approached by Bricklink in 2021.

Today, the team are excited to announce a program in conjunction with secondary market place Bricklink, giving some of the unapproved submissions to get a new lease on life:

Appearing on the LEGO Ideas Blog today, the program looks to reach out to the creators of LEGO IDEAS submissions that were ultimately rejected, with a view to developing their designs further for for the AFOL Designer Program. A Pilot of the AFOL Designer Program was run by Bricklink in 2018-2019, and resulted in 11 sets being crowdfunded by the community, and released by Bricklink, as part of the celebration of 60 years of the LEGO Brick. Unfortunately, Ideas that involve 3rd party IP, and others that will not be able to be realised will not move forward to the crowd funding stage. It is anticipated that designers be approached in January 2021 about taking part in this program.

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Hogwarts Moments: Fitting in Furniture and Figures

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Since the LEGO Group sent over some pre-release copies for me to review, I have spenty a little bit of time looking at LEGO® Harry Potter Hogwarts™ Moments Sets. These four sets each encompass activities in a single Hogwarts classroom, and come with an interesting collection of fittings and Furniture for the different classrooms. They also come with one teacher, as well as a couple of students. And if that’s not enough, they all get bundled up into book form! Last time, we reviewed the built in scenery, some of which could be great for your own Hogwarts MOC. Today, I would like to look at the individual items of furniture, as well as any interesting accessories, as well as the minifigures.

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