I only picked up 4 sets from the first wave of LEGO Batman Movie sets. Three of them contained Batman. This was part of my plan. They all look much the same: the printing on each body is the same.
What I had not planned on was successfully selecting sets that each had a different Batman Head…. so I present the Many Faces of The LEGO Batman Movie BATMAN. Continue reading
The 10th anniversary celebrations for the LEGO® Creator Modular Buildings continues. LEGOrebrick have just announced an opportunity to win EVERY MODULAR BUILDING SET EVER( released at time of contest)!
Continue reading
Ever since I first saw the previews for 2017’s Elves sets, I knew there was one set I would want to get ahead of all others: Aira’s Airship and Amulet Chase. This set features an Elven Airship, piloted by Aira Windwhistler; Emily Jones riding Shotgun Crossbow and Dukelin the Goblin, with his own magical flying post box…
There are two reasons I unpacked this set, and put it together quickly after bringing it home: the Goblin – this was my first experience with such a LEGO® character – and the airship, especially all of the new golden recolours. And the curlicue. It turns out however, that in my haste to get it put together, I failed to pick up on the elements in other colors which are relatively new. That said, these new golden elements could be well repurposed in to a steampunk construction. Continue reading
I have referred to the new Creator 3-in-1 Set 31058 Mighty Dinosaurs several times in the last month. I like it. A Lot. It has taught me about unfamiliar elements, as well as demonstrates the use of some of the new SNOT elements that have appeared over the last year or so.
The box art features a yellow border, introduced this year after a few years absence. The feel is delightfully retro, and extends across the Creator 2017 range. The from demonstrates the 3 main models: a tyrannosaurus rex, a pteranodon and a triceratops. The back of the box shows alternate views of these, as well as a picture of a brachiosaurus – with instructions available on line. The box is secured with security tape, so with a quick flick of my penknife we were in.
Last year, the Mighty Micros were a surprisingly fun addition to the superhero range. I had a few hours to pass this week, so I picked up this set for $AUD15, bought a coffee, sat down and got to work.
I especially love the giant fists, waiting for application in a mech, real soon now. Continue reading
After a year exploring the relationships between the Elves and Dragons, 2017 sees the arrival of Emily Jones’s cousin Sophie. Sophie is captured by the Goblins, and for further details, I suspect we will need to watch the Netflix LEGO® Elves Series. I have found the design of the minidolls has grown on me, over the years, and I don’t mind having them around the house.
The first half year sets feature seven different goblins. I picked up a copy of 41184 Aira’s Airship and the Amulet Chase. This set features Dukelin: A fierce looking, one eyed, spring yellowish green character, with navy blue hair and a similar coloured onesie. The rest of the set is brimming with possibilities, so while I wait for them to come to fruition, I thought I would bring a short examination of the Goblin figure.
The Rambling Brick is now live on Facebook …
Come and join me as I put together 70900 : Joker Balloon Escape
The stream has now ended. Please feel free to watch all 48 glorious minutes of static camera construction of this set. Who knows what the next marathon will be… or when…
Great small set. Batman and Coat tails Joker. Exploding energy facility and balloons. Everyone loves balloons right? And a spare utility belt.
4/5 Arbitrary Praise Units.
Play Well
Last February, I looked the 31045 Ocean Explorer Creator Set, and particularly the techniques used for ‘SNOT’ building. These building techniques help models made of LEGO® bricks gain an extra dimension as studs and bows move in different directions. As a reminder, when AFOLs and TFOLs talk of SNOT, they are referring to ‘Studs Not On Top’. As a follow up glossary hint, AFOL and TFOL refer to ‘Adult/Teen Fan Of LEGO®’.
On the meantime, there has been a widening of the palette for SNOT components. 
Introduced early last year is the modified brick, 1x2x1 2/3 with 2x2studs on the side. Making its debut in the modular Creator Expert 10251 Brick Bank, its use has dramatically increased this year. For example, twelve these bricks form the basic ‘skull’ of the new BrickHeadz character sets. Exploiting the measurement of 5 plates thickness=2 stud plate length, this brick has a square profile. this allows bricks on the side to bind with studs on the side of adjacent bricks, although, as can be seen below, spacer bricks are required to bind with ‘regular’ bricks with studs on the side that are attached to the top of this part.
Another new piece, announced late last year as part of 
the 2017 modular building, 10255 Assembly Square, is the modified brick 1×1 with 2 studs on adjacent sides. This piece is just perfect for sitting in the corners that the ‘Travis’ brick- with studs on four sides- will never fit.
As you might imagine, these pieces are likely to revolutionise SNOT techniques, making them for more accessible to the average builder.
Today, I would like to look at the way in which these components are used in 31058- Mighty Dinosaurs. Compared to the way in which SNOT components were used in last year’s Creator Sets, we have quite a different style to look at this year, affording create versatility and strength.
Every so often, the Rambling Brick, along with other LEGO® Blogs and Recognised LEGO® User Groups are asked to distribute surveys to our members/readers from the LEGO® Group.
Today, we have a request from the Package Design Team.
Dear LEGO® user,
We are a team of packaging designers belonging to the LEGO® product development department. Our key mission is to design packaging that supports a strong LEGO® product experience. We are conducting this survey among RLUGs/RLFMs since we know that you (members and readers) have a great deal of experience with our products and packaging! To achieve our mission it is important for us to get an understanding of how you perceive the LEGO® packaging experience. Please help us by participating in a survey: http://lego.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/yma/afol-packaging-survey/
Please complete the survey before March 6, 2017.
Thank you in advance for your feedback – it is highly appreciated!
Kind regards,
The LEGO® Packaging Experience Design Team
At least, that’s what Brickset and the LEGO Group call it. The name is a little awkward. And a little suggestive. Bricklink refers to it as a Hero Factory Arm/Leg Extender with Ball Joint and Ball Socket. Neither of these names is particularly catchy.
I first encountered this piece when putting together the new Creator set 31085: Mighty Dinosaurs. While this is the first Creator set to feature it, it is by no means a new piece.
Appearing initially in 2012, this piece has featured heavily on the constraction figures, with themes such as Hero Factory, Bionicle 2: the Rebirth; Star Wars; Chima and DC Superheroes. More recently is has appeared in several Ninjago sets and a couple of NEXO Knights sets, particularly those involving dragons or mechs, as well as the ClayFace Splat Attack (70326,70327,70593,70595,70627 and70904). It was also present in 75156 Admiral Krennic’s Shuttle Craft, from Rogue One. Having little experience with buildable figures such as Bionicle and the like, and having not put together the mech sets and large dragons from Ninjago, I was unlikely to have encountered it until now. Continue reading
