Take part in our building challenge, using Classic Themes, for a chance to win 11021: 90 Years of Play!
We are counting down to the the 90th Anniversary of the LEGO Group, founded in a Danish Carpenter’s workshop in 1932, and I thought it would be appropriate to run a little building challenge. Over the years I have run a few building challenges based on Minifigure Habitats – the last in early 2020, at the start of the pandemic. At that time, the format was picked up with by a number of communities online, not the least of which would be the regular habitat challenges being run by Jen, known as @Brickfambuilds over on Instagram.
It looks like people have been enjoying the Builder’s Journeys column – our Throwback Thursday feature where we ask AFOLs to name a set that has a special meaning to them.
So far we have heard about sets from the last 50 years, from the LEGOLAND Bakery from 1973, through to the Hobbit. You can find all of the previous articles here.
If you have been thinking about making a contribution – there is no better time than the present. All submissions received by the 23rd of October will go into a draw for a great nostalgia laden prize from Jumper Plate.
Early in January, we launched our ‘Create a Vase for the LEGO Bouquet’ competition. I am pleased to say that we had an unprecendented response, with 88 entries! I would like to thank everyone who took time out to design and build an entry in the contest. The quality of the entries was outstanding, and certainly challenged the judging panel.
From a Logistical point of view, I certainly found using the entry panel on Airtable to be an easier way to collate entries, rather than wrangling entries from multiple social media platforms: I hope it was satisfactory for entrants. I would love some feedback on your experience. Would you have liked access to view the entries as they were submitted? Were you happier not knowing? I have learned a few new things about it for next time.
The recently released LEGO® Botanical Collection has certainly got a lot of people excited about having a bunch of flowers on their shelf that won’t require water to to keep them looking fresh and colourful. But, One thing became apparent to me: Being able to arrange them in a vase is just as important.
There are so many ways in which flowers can be displayed, as my Mum’s collection of vases demonstrated the other day. But, when your flowers are going to live forever, you perhaps shouldn’t remove the valuable glassware from circulation permanently. And so I would like to launch my first competition for the year:
Build a vase, using LEGO bricks to suit LEGO Flowers: builds can be real or digital, and should suit the LEGO Flower Bouquet. You don’t need a copy of the set to enter. Digital entries should be rendered as .jpg or .png files.
In which we briefly reflect on the LEGO® Super Mario Sets, consider what’s missing, and announce the next Rambling Brick Competition, with great LEGO Super Mario Prizes, thanks to the LEGO Group.
Have you been enjoying the LEGO Super Mario sets? Or have you had a bit of a play with them and thought “What Next?”
Over the last few weeks, I have spent “a little” time doing “some research” into the world of Super Mario games. By “a little”, I probably mean “quite a lot.” And by “some research” I probably mean “spending a bit too much time playing through a couple of the games, as well as working my way through the 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia.”
This has left me wondering about where LEGO Super Mario could go from here: I think the theme is great, but it is predominantly aimed at younger builders, to play with their families. That said, Super Mario now has a 35 year pedigree – hundreds of worlds, enemies, friends, traps and treasures to choose from. While the expansion sets as we have them at the moment are terrific, they are designed for kids. Easy to lay out, easy to pull apart. Fairly sparse in their density, with only a 2 stud wide plate holding things together. What if we set out to build on that 35 year legacy, with builders of greater experience?
Back in March, following on from the release of the DC Superheroes Collectable Minifigures, the Rambling Brick called on readers to build a minifigure habitat for a hero. Based on an 8x8x8 standard, the brief was to build a habitat for a hero, recognising that not all heroes have capes.
The contest also coincided with parts of the world going into relative lockdown, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we had a fantastic response, receiving over 50 entries from around the world.
The last week has seen the COVID-19 pandemic declared. Public events around the world have been cancelled, including many LEGO® Fan shows. Even the LEGO House has shut its doors for the time being. Europe has just declared the new epicentre of the pandemic, with borders closing, and quarantine being enforced in many countries. The USA has been declared to be in the grip of a national emergency, and the Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled. Our hearts go out to families around the world that have been affected by COVID-19 – those affected directly the illness, and those whose livelihoods are affected by the economic consequences of the pandemic.
In these troubled, uncertain times, we need someone to turn to. We need a symbol of hope, and reassurance that that although we have a struggle ahead of us, we will get through as best we can as a society.
We Need A HERO!
And so I thought I would take this as a prompt for my next Rambling Brick Habitat Competition.
Last week I presented my review of the Series 19 Minifigures. There are some great figures in this set, as well as some interesting accessories.
Now, I was sent a complete box of figures, but only really want one of the 3 complete sets in the box, so as with the Disney figures earlier in the year, I would like to run a competition, similar to the last.
Yes, build a minifigure habitat for one of the series 19 minifigures. This is an 8×8 plate, with one side and one back wall, designed to stack with others. You can have a little overhang over the open edges, but not extend more than 8 bricks above the plate at the base.
Last week, I published my survey of the new 70124 Disney Minifigures (series 2), and after reviewing the series, I still have a complete set…as well as another without Donalds nephews, as each box only contains 2 sets of Huey, Dewey and Louis. It must be time to give these away, and free up some space at home. Read on to find out what you need to do…
Are you likely to be in Melbourne during the weekend of January 19-20? Why not come along to Brickvention, Australia’s Premier Convention for LEGO® Fans. As well as amazing trains, towns, roller coasters Great Ball Contraptions and other models made by LEGO builders from all over Australia, there will be a huge minifigure swap, in conjunction with the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre in Melbourne, as well as the build zone to play in.
International visitors this year will include You Tube Fan Favourites, John and Josh Hanlon from Beyond the Brick.
The event will again take place in the beautiful Royal Exhibition Buildings, in Carlton, from 9am-5pm (Saturday) and 9-4 pm (Sunday). If you are planning to attend, you can book timed session tickets now, by following this link. Tickets start at $9 for children, and $18 for adults.
The Organising committee have given the The Rambling Brick a few passes to give away over the next couple of weeks. There are several ways to win. You can comment below, or on the Rambling Brick Facebook Page – tell me what you are most looking forward to seeing at Brickvention. Facebook not your preferred social media? Thats okay: You can message me on Twitter or Instagram, using the handle @ramblingbrick or the hashtag #ramblingbrickvention or using the good old fashioned email.
Tickets are valid for either day of the public exhibition. I will be drawing prizes this Sunday (6/1/2019, Midnight AEST) and the following week (Sunday 20/1/2019, entries close midnight AEST). Winners will be drawn at random.
So… What are you looking forward to seeing at Brickvention 2019?
Leave your comment below (or via any other means listed above). And until next time,
The Rambling Brick 
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