Year: 2021

GWP: 40528 LEGO Retail Store [Hands On Review]

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January 1 is just around the corner, and with it come over 100 new LEGO sets. Now, you might be happy to wait and see how they get discounted at your local retailers, but the LEGO Group seem to make a point of adding in a new gift with purchase for 1st of January to tempt you either directly into their retail stores (if you have LEGO Brand retail, and not just certified stores) or to place your order at LEGO.com.

This year they have released a new version of the LEGO brand retail store – 40528. It will be launched as a gift with purchase in the new year – with a $USD125;123€;£125 purchase. I am not certain of the exact timings of the offer, or the threshold in other markets at this time.

most importantly, the information received is unclear with regard to whether this will be a GWP on January 1, or just with future store openings! All will become clear soon, I am sure.

I believe it will be available from 1st January as a GWP, and quite probably at future LEGO Brand retail openings. Read on for my review.

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From Players to Builders:  The new LEGO® Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog™Green Hill Zone set offers fans a fun run of nostalgia

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It has been almost 2 years now, since Sonic Mania – The Green Hill Zone reached 10000 supporters on LEGO Ideas, and now the set is almost ready to roll as Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone, due for release on January 1 2022. The set has been reframed to take in the 30-year history of Sonic the Hedgehog, where the Green Hill Zone has been a part of the landscape in multiple iterations of the game.

The set has 1125 pieces, and when set up measures 36 cm from end to end, while only 6cm deep. It is priced at $69.90 USD9 / £59.99 / €69.99 / 119.9 AUD / 89.99 CAD.

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80108 Lunar New Year Traditions: Hands-On Review

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The Spring Festival Sets – coinciding with the Lunar New Year Celebrations have become a highlight over the last few years. As well as a larger set commemorating a significant part of the celebrations: Family Reunion Dinner, the Temple Market, the Lantern Festival, and Ice festival, there have also been more generic sets: The Dragon Dance, Lion Dance and the Story of Nian. This year, the smaller set – 80108 Lunar New Year traditions leans on many aspects of the Chinese New Year Celebrations, and brings them into the setting of six vignettes join around a central hub. Along the way, we have a few new elements, and some delightful scenes.

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80109 Lunar New Year Ice Festival: Hands-On Review

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The Harbin Snow and Ice Festival is one of the more unique events associated with the period from late December to early February. Located in Heilongjiang, the northernmost province in China, the annual festival sees a large number of magnificent Ice and Snow sculptures on display.

This festival, and other like it are the subject of 80109 Lunar New Year Ice Festival. With 1519 pieces, it is one of two minifigure scale sets released this year celebrating the Chinese Spring Fesitvals.

Like the Temple Fair and Lantern Festivals, this set is rich in minifigures, and scope for story telling. Being set in a snow clad winter setting, it brings us a very different environment to these other sets. I was fortunate to receive a pre-release copy of the set for review, thanks to the LEGO Group. Let’s take a look at the build experience.

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Happy Holidays from The Rambling Brick

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Just a quick note to wish you all a happy holiday, and I hope to see you back soon (I still have a few reviews to post between Now and New year!)

In the meantime, 2021 has been as full of challenges as 2020, both with pursuing LEGO fandom, as well as the consequences of having live go on in the face of the Pandemic.

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Hispabrick Magazine #37 Now Available For Free Download!

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It has been 11 months since the last edition, but today we see a new edition of Hispabrick Magazine. It is now available to download for free, in English or Spanish, from their website (links below)

We set out to make an issue with the overall theme “on the road” and ended up with more than half the magazine dedicated to MILS (Modular Integrated Landscaping System). As this issue runs p102 pages, that’s a sizable chunk. There are detailed descriptions and instructions for different  MILS road modules as well as some other models, in the context of converting a city layout to the MILS standard. 
Of course that leaves a little less than half of 102 pages for other content and we hope there is something for all kinds of LEGO fans. It is our present to the worldwide community of LEGO fans.
I would also like to remind you that all our back issues are freely available at  https://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/

The new issue can be found at:
HBM037 English: https://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/magazines/articles.php?edicion=HBM037  

HBM037 Spanish: https://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/revistas/articulos.php?edicion=HBM037 

I have been meaning to find out a little more about using MILS elements as part of a community building standard, and so this looks like my Christmas reading sorted! The magazine has several reviews, as well as community profiles from around the world.

Please feel free to share the magazine links with your friends and communities.

Until next time, Play Well

40450 Brickheadz 151: Lion Dance Guy [Hands-On Review]

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The Asian Festival sets are due to be released verrrrry soon: We have previously previewed the Lunar New Year Traditions, as well as the Ice Festival sets, and their reviews will be live in a couple of days. There is one more set that we have not previously mentioned: the 40450 Lion Dance Guy Brickheadz set. Due to release through LEGO.com on New Years Day 2022, I was fortunate to be sent a copy of this set for early review.

Brickheadz can be interesting sets to look at, from a reviewers point of view. Sometimes, they are great parts packs, sometimes they are full of interesting building techniques, and sometimes, the end result is what the journey is all about.

So, which of these categories does this Brickheadz fit into? read on to find out…

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71396 Bowser Jr.’s Clown Car Expansion Set [Review and Playthrough]

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While the previous range of LEGO Super Mario sets was starting to feel a bit same-old and refresh, despite the addition of the 2-player mechanic, Unlike previous waves of LEGO Super Mario, this wave does not feature any new Power-Up suits for Mario to wear. However, it introduces a vehicle mechanic in the form of 71401 Bowser Jr,’s Clown Car Expansion Set. This inexpensive set provides a new way for Mario to take on enemies and earn coins, all for the same price as an Power-up Pack.

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LEGO Super Mario: 71400 Big Urchin Beach Ride Expansion [Hands-On Review]

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The January 2022 wave of LEGO Super Mario sets follow two specific streams: Luigi’s Mansion and the Beachfront. Today, I’d like to present the 71400 Big Urchin Beach Ride expansion set. You need either the Mario or Luigi Starter sets to play with this set in the way it is intended. The set has 536 pieces, and will be released on January 1 2022. This set was sent to me by the AFOL Engagement team of the LEGO Group for review purposes. All opinions, however, are my own.

After the previous wave of expansion sets focussed on two-player, cooperative play this wave returns to the roots of single player gaming, although the 2 player option exists, with all of the potential advantages that brings.

This set brings some familiar gameplay from the Super Mario Video Game, as well as a few new characters, and game mechanics. With this set, I will take a look at the Characters encountered, Any Bonus boxes, as well as hazards and obstacles encountered in the gameplay.

As with all LEGO Super Mario sets, building instreuctions are accessed through Digital instructions in the LEGO Super Mario App, or using the LEGO Building Instructions App. Personally, I find the App quite acceptable to use on a tablet – it also allows demonstration videos for game play. the Instructions Plus engine also allows manipulation of the model in 3D space as you build it, ensuring construction is clear.

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80031: Mei’s Dragon Car – [Hands-on Review, With a New Hue]

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MK’s friend Mei is descended from dragons (and in particular, a dragon that took on the form of a horse). As such, she has acquired a number of Dragon themed vehiclesover the last few years.The latest wave is no exception, bringing us 80031 Mei’s Dragon Car.

The set comes with 4 minifigures, 456 parts, 3 vehicles and an eye burning new colour. Due for release on January 1, 2022, it will cost $AUD 69.99 / £34.99 / $USD49.99 / 39.99€. How does this set stand up for play value and building experience? Read on to find out.

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