One of the biggest challenges facing LEGO Fans who have been collecting for any significant period of time is one of storage and display space. I am excited to see that with the latest LEGO ICONS subtheme, Restaurants of the World, we are getting a detailed facade and streetscape, chock full of neat parts usage, yet limited to a depth of only 8 studs. I can smell the coffee from here.
The first set in the series 10362 French Cafe is due for release on March 1st 2025. It has 1101 pieces and will be priced at $AUD129.99/ USD79.99/79.99€/£69.99
The 10355 Blacktron Renegade is the latest of the LEGO sets from the 1970s-80s to be revised an updated to suit the contemporary adult builder, longing for a hint of nostalgia. In this review, I will look at the build process and components, how the set stands on its own merits, as well as in comparison to the original 6954 Renegade from 1987. We shall also take a look at the 40650 Blacktron Cruiser from 2023 and see if it can be made to fit with the components of the updated craft. I shall NOT attempt to recreate the box art of the classic set at this time. This set was provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Here is a picture of the box lifted from the LEGO Website. I’ll Explain why shortly…
It’s that most wonderful time of the year: sure, Christmas is coming, and the advent calendars are opening day by day. But more importantly, the latest LEGO® modular building has finally been revealed.
Modular buildings have a special place in my heart: back when I discovered such as thing as an AFOL, the modular buildings were just taking off. This was a time when the Modular buildings were a cornerstone of the AFOL experience. With only a handful of adult-focused sets being released each year, the modular was the one purchase most people seemed to agree with, whether they were otherwise into cars, trains or Star Wars.
These days, we see sets focused on grown ups being launched every other week. It is almost routine and mundane. But still, the modular always feels special.
LEGO and F1 are racing into 2025 with a slew of product reveals overnight in Las Vegas. On top of the Duplo, City and Speed Champions sets, more sets have been revealed:
Next up is the 42207 Technic Ferrari SF 24 F1 – this 1361 piece Technic set will also go on sale on March the 1st 2025, with a price of $AUD349.99 / €229.99 EUR / $USD229.99 / £199.99 .
Both sets, along with the Speed Champions, are now open to pre-order in some markets. Unfortunately, not Australia.
The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-17 was probably the final expedition of the Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration. Led by third time Antarctic Explorer Ernest Shackleton, the goal was to cross the icy continent from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea, via the South Pole. What actually happened was a feat of human survival that could be summed up in a single word: than name of the ship they had set sail on: Endurance.
Overnight, the LEGO Group has revealed a 3011 piece replica model of the Wooden Brigantine Endurance. This set will be released on 29th November 2024, priced at $AUD399.99/£229.99 / €269.99/ $USD269.99. There will be a gift with purchase at release featuring Minifigures of Ernest Shackleton and photographer William Hurley, along with one of the lifeboats used to ensure the survival of the crew.
Did you ever wonder how all of those letters to Santa got there? And how those letters from Santa made their way from the North Pole to hopeful children? Wonder no longer with the Latest Winter Village collection set, 10339 Santa’s Workshop. This latest addition to the annual Christmas holiday tradition goes on sale on the 1st of October, 2024 for $AUD169.99/€99.99 / $USD99.99 / £89.99. The set has 1440 pieces, and comes with 5 minifigures.
Also due for release on the 1st of October is the 40746 Santa’s Delivery Truck, with 224 pieces, and priced at $AUD32.99/ €19.99 / $19.99 / £17.99
The LEGO Group has today announced a new collaboration with visionary artist and designer Pharrell Williams, inspiring everyone to unlock their creativity and unleash their limitless potential through LEGO Play.
Today’s announcement also sees the release of a new LEGO set designed in collaboration with Pharell. Over the Moon is a space shuttle with a golden canopy and a vibrant jet stream of colors. For Pharrell, the infinity of space was the first catalyst for his imagination, showing him that there are no limits to what we can explore.
A few years ago, if you were visiting Paris for the first time, there were two things many tourists would try to fit in: one would be a trip to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, which never fails to astound first time views by just how small it is; and as visit to Notre Dame Cathedral. Or at least it was before the fire in 2019. With the cathedral’s restoration on track to be completed at the end of 2024, tourists will again be able to visit the medieval church.
With this in mind, the LEGO Group today revealed two new products to help bring the magic of Paris closer to home for builders. Fans can start building their very own art collection with the LEGO® Art Mona Lisa or choose to be captivated by the majestic LEGO® Architecture Notre-Dame de Paris set.
These two global icons of Paris have been unveiled to celebrate the rich heritage and history of the French capital, which has an exciting and packed year ahead and will be available for pre-order on 7th May.
As we have previously discussed, 2023 has been the most wonderful year for LEGO® Space fans – from City and Friends sets that are out of this world, Technic sets adding a bit of realism and a set of Collectable Minifigures just around the corner (if you are in the rest of the world – May 1) or a little further away if you are in Australia (1 June). While some might be anxiously awaiting some classic spaceships reimagined with parts and techniques of the 2020s (at this point, I only have hopes and dreams and not even a reliable rumour to hang my hat on). But, once the dust settles on Star Wars, we will be seeing two new sets with an adult focus launch on the scene: one for fans of Space Travel and one for fans of art and astronomy: 10341 LEGO ICONS NASA Artemis Launch System [3601 Pieces; AUD449.9/ €259.99 / £219.99/USD259.99] and 31212 LEGO® Art The Milky Way Galaxy [3091 Pieces; AUD299.99/ €199.99/ £169.99/ USD199.99]
As one of the original minifigure themes, the LEGO Castle theme has a history with many Adult Fans: initially as an item of childhood joy, and subsequently as a nostalgic call back to simpler times. While the regular Castle playsets dwindled into nothingness almost a decade ago, their legacy has been revisited through 2022’s 10305 Lion Knight’s Castle, as well as a number of Gifts with Purchase: 40567 Forest hideout along with 40601 Majisto’s Magical Workshop.
10193: Medieval Market: The Largest Castle Set
But before the great Castle Renaissance of recent years, the largest castle set (by number of pieces) was 10193 Medieval Market. With 1601 pieces, this set from 2009 was the largest castle set released prior to the 10305 (with 4514 pieces). If we include surrogate castle themes such as the inital Hobbit and Lord of the Ringssets, and (if you dare) Nexo Knights, it outsized only by the Tower of Orthanc. Harry Potter might be considered another surrogate castle theme, but only the larger Diagon Alley sets, along with the microscale builds of Hogwarts have more pieces than 10129 Medieval Market.
7189 Mill Village Raid
Suffice to say, for many years, this has been one of the largest Castle sets, embodying the civilian aspects of medieval life. Prior to this, we had the occasional blacksmith, and tavern, and subsequently the not infamous 7189 Mill Village Raid – part of 2011’s Kingdoms line up , this civilian farm had the opportunity to be overrun by the Dragon Knights (who seem a little different to those depicted in the early 1990s.
This is of course the one and only set that previously brought us the LEGO Goat. Just why we never saw another goat for years remains the subject of speculation – the official line is that the mould was ruined- although the relative scarcity did allow for profiteering and investment, with the iconic animal rarely fading into obscurity, of only because of outlandish behaviours on the secondary market. Tes – thats right, over $100 for a Goat.
The Role of Collectable Minifigures in keeping our Castles Populated
Now, while the 10305 Lion Knight’s Castle brought us a ‘proper’ castle set, fans have never really be left alone, with Collectable minifigures revisting some aspect of medieval life with almost every one of the numbered sets over the year.
Ultimately, series 25 brought forth great cries of excitement from The People with the arrival of the Goat herd, as well as the reimagined Bat-Lord. The Goatherd brought us a new remoulded goat – this time with unprinted sided.
The LEGACY/ICONS castle range has included Lion Knights, Black Falcons, Forestmen, and Dragon Knights. In collectable minifigures, we can add Fright Knights( Fright Knight in Series 19, along with the Vampire Knight in 2024) , along with a Wolf pack Rogue, wayback in 2016.
The Big Reveal: 10332 Medieval Town Square
And so it is into this Millieu that the latest LEGO ICONS set is announced: the 10332 ICONS Medieval Town Square. With 3304 pieces, 8 minifigures and a newly minted Grey Goat this set will be released on the 1st of March 2024.
The model features two large structures that open to reveal detailed interiors, including a tavern, cheese factory, shield-painting workshop, guard tower, woodworking shop, and weaving workshop. There is also a tree and vendor stall in the town. There are also functional features including a crane and a small water mill.
The Minifigures
We see the weaver, wood worker, the cheese maker, the shield artistthe barmaid/landlady as well as the local noble… tax collector and a lion knight. But wait… who is that sneaking around the edges? could it possibly the return of the wolf pack? Oh yes.. there is a Dark Stone Grey Goat!
Return of the Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack – a gang of ruffians have not been seen in full since the Rogue in Series 16 Minifigures, and they have seen a significant upgrade since their original appearance back in the 1990s.
Evolution of the Wolf Pack!
Tribute to the Yellow Castle Era
Looking further into life in the village, I love the tapestry and the tribute it pays to the original yellow Castle sets from 1978-79:Including the iconic cypress trees.
From the outset, castle sets, and castle builders have been at the forefront of developing new techniques for architectural detail as well as landscaping, and you can see how the design of these thatched roofs has evolved since the days of the Medieval Market, where simple, long 45º slopes would do the job.
Medieval Roofing: 2009Medieval Roofing: 2024. What a difference 15 years makes!
The increased parts usage can be seen, in part, in the level of detail in the roof, as well as the overall structure and surrounding landscape – something which is developed significantly in theis new set compared with the 10193 Medieval Market.
Here is a closer look at the tavern in the older set, compared with the new version. As I rebuilt the bed, every reddish brown 1×1 tile I touched split in half… so glad we are past this era of brittleness…
10193 Medieval Market – the Tavern
It is an interesting exercise in looking at the evolution of building techniques employed in this type of set, as well as the evolution of the LEGO colour palette over the past 15 years.
I am excited to see this set in real life, and I expect it will be the launchpad for a number of medival MOCs that will spring up over the next few years. The presence of the LIONs Knight in this set suggests that this vilage might be under the watchful eye of the the castle released in 2022, and I suspect that, side by side, they will form a formidable display.
I love the way this set captures the look and feel of a contemporary Castle Construction, using increasingly specialised techniques to capture the details in ways that would not have been considered 15 years ago. This detail, in combination with new figures (and of course the goat) all contribute to making this set one to look out for in MArch – particularly if Castle is your thing
What do you think of this set? Is it a fitting sequel to 10129? How about as a companion piece to 10305? Why don’t you leave your comments below!
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