40767 Up-Scaled Space Baby: A good reason to order fresh LEGO?

A large red LEGO Space Baby figure stands next to smaller pink and blue LEGO minifigures, with a text overlay asking if it's a good reason to buy LEGO.

After weeks of rumor and innuendo, the 40676 Scaled Up Baby Astranaut is going live as a gift with purchase on May 15th, with a purchase threshold of $USD150/€150/Aud 245

A group of LEGO minifigures including an adult astronaut with a communication device, a blue space baby, a pink space baby, and a female astronaut holding a tool, all displayed on a black base.

Space Babies have been a cause of some excitement over the last couple of years – appearing in 2023’s Series 24 minifigures (blue) and series 26 Minifigures (pink) with responsible adults, and also incorporated in to the 31142 Creator 3in1 Space Roller Coaster. While a white figure has appeared in miniature, it maintains a Classic Smiley face, while the babies have additional cuteness added. Will this cuteness survive the transition to a brick built model approximately 6x the size in most directions?

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Here’s your first look at the 40683 Flower Trellis Display: GWP Coming in April 2024.

There are plenty of LEGO® sets that have been released over the past couple of years that have given builders the chance to put together some brick built flowers, but otherwise not formally labelled as being part of the Botanical Series.

The 40863 Flower Trellis Display is a novel set, bringing us some colourful flowers growing on a vertical trellis. It is a substantial build that brings a pleasing , unique floral model, arriving just in time for Mothers’ Day in May ( in Australia at least – other geographies might vary.) It is scheduled to be available April 1 – 16, with a purchase threshold from LEGO.com of: 150 EUR/ 150 USD/ 135 GBP/ 240 AUD.

Interested? Let’s take a closer look. This set was provided by the LEGO Group: All opinions are my own.

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40601 Majisto’s Workshop: Hands on review and Back of Box Builds.

This year we celebrate 30 years since the arrival of Majisto and the Dragon Knights. (to say nothing of LEGO Dragons) onto the landscape. The modern update of 6048 Majisto’s workshop as a contemporary gift with purchase has had many builders excited about its arival, and others just as disappointed, either by the omission of certain details (such as plumes in the Knight’s helmet, and decorations on Majisto’s Torso ), or the buy in price (>400AUD/250USD) as a gift with purchase on the LEGO Insiders weekend, or over the Black Friday shopping weekend.

I was really excited to receive this set to look at, from the LEGO Group, as I was keen to see how techniques used might differ from those used in the original model. While I may not have a copy of this 6048 Majisto’s Workshop I can at least take a look at the instructions, and see how this updated set might differ from the 1993 original.

I am also keen to take a look at the original models displayed on the back of the box, and see if they might be able to be put together with this set.

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60850 Blacktron Cruiser [Hands-On Review]

Blacktron to the Future?

It was 1987, and for the first time ever, a collection of LEGO characters that could be defined as ‘the bad guys‘ was released. They were’nt part of Town, they weren’t in any Castle; but they were in Space. And their name was Blacktron. Gone was the Classic Space logo from their torsos: this was a functional black printed torso, with white lines providing the detail, while the helmet was no longer the traditional shape, but rather a motor cycle helmet. Now with a visor. But for extra menace, the visors were an opaque black. The opportunity for incognito was remarkable.

This band of intergalactic secret-stealing rapscallions were the pinnacle of villainy for a couple of years, only to be succeeded by their more fluorescent sequel: Blacktron II (Electric Boogaloo??).

But Now they Are Back! And I think, for the better! Set 6894 Known in the USA as the BLACKTRON INVADER, it was also referred to as the BLACKTRON CRUISER in the UK/Europe – although the European catalogue in 1988 confused the labels for 6894 and 6941 (Blacktron Battrax or Blacktron Prowler).

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Blacktron Is Back

Well, back for a limited time, and not as a general retail release…

The LEGO Group has released official images of an upcoming gift with purchase: 40580 Blacktron Cruiser. I might have just wept a little. The new set is expected to come as a gift with purchase in the new year.

This set follows in the footsteps of the 40567 Forest Hideout, seen earlier in the 2022, rereleasing a popular set from days long past, using contemporary building techniques.

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Sydney News: Limited Tile and New Shop Announced.

A couple of bits of news for Sydney-siders this week from the Certified Stores.

For Visitors to the BONDI store on Saturday 12th November, if you purchase the ‘LEGO Brand Store’ set you will also receive a limited edition ‘Sydney’ Tile to go above the door. These tiles have had limited release for a number of flagship stores around the world, and brings us in line with other flagship stores around the world, including London, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris and more.

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40562 Creator 3 in 1: Mystic Witch: Gift With Purchase 14-31st October

It’s a funny time of the year: the Christmas/Holiday season sets have been announced, but the Gifts with Purchase are a bit unpredictable until we enter November: We went with early October purchases to secure the Gift with Purchase Ideas Set ‘Ray the Castaway’ and then out of nowhere… This Happens.

The 40562 Mystic Witch set is a Creator 3-in-1 set that will be available as a gift with purchase in the second half of October 2022 (there might even be a day or two of overlap with double GWP Points if you are really clever). In Australia, the purchase threshold is $165 AUD (or $USD100/€100/£100 ROTW): Perfect if you are looking at 10308 – The Holiday Main Street in time for the holidays- or another copy of 10497 Galaxy Explorer because it is an awesome set!

I was fortunate to be sent a copy to look at: will it be enough to trigger purchases during the latter half of October, before the Christmas GWPs start to appear, and indeed before Black Friday in November? Let’s take a look!

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40530 Jane Goodall Tribute – Gift With Purchase [Hands-On Review]

March is Women’s History Month, and this year the LEGO Group pay tribute to Jane Goodall, the ethologist who spent decades studying primate interations in Tanzania. The set, a small vignette depicting Jane Goodall in the jungle with a 3 chimpanzees, is the Gift with Purchase from LEGO.com from March 3rd to 15,2022. You will need to spend $120USD; €120 euro or £120. I am unsure of the price in other markets at this time. [UPDATE FOR AUSTRALIANS: I have heard from LEGO Australia that stock will not be available until after the 8th of March, so we can expect the promotion to runn a little later in the month. The set will be available across the Certified stores, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and LEGO.com] I am grateful to the AFOL Engagement team at the LEGO Group for sending me a pre-release copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This is the second set honoring women’s History month, the previous being Amelia Earheart, the pioneering aviatrix, released last year. Join me as we take a look at the life of this remarkable woman, as well as this Tribute set.

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New Gift With Purchase: 40532 Vintage Taxi[Hands on Review]

Did you hold off buying the Boutique Hotel on January 1 because there was no interesting gift with purchase, beyond a couple of City and Friends polybags? Were you able to hold off through January, because you didn’t weren’t sure about collecting the Chinese Zodiac Animals sets? Well, wait no longer! Starting with the 28th of January, and extending until February 13th (or the ubiquitous ‘While Stocks Last’) the LEGO Group is pleased to bring you the 183 piece Vintage Taxi, set 40532. [This set is also available through the Australian Certified stores, with a 279.99 AUD buy in)

According to the LEGO.com website, this is ” a classic version of the 1930s Citroën Traction Avant.”

Available with a purchase of $200USD, £200, €200 or $279AUD this set has 183 pieces and one Minifigure who appears a little bit familiar…

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Vintage Taxi Gift With Purchase Is Now Live at LEGO.COM (Australia)

The clock has just ticked past midnight, and there is a new gift with purchase to be found on LEGO.com: the Vintage Taxi. The set requires a purchase of over 279AUD. Given the 10297 Boutique Hotel retails for 319.99AUD, that shouldn’t be too hard! It is rumoured to require a $200UDS/Euro/GBP purchase in those markets: we will see as the earth turns, and the promotions go live!

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