Lego

LEGO Creative Lab joins with Indiegogo to test drive new product line.

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Coloring

Add A Splash of Creativity to your day.

Today, we see the announcement of an exciting collaboration between the LEGO Creative Play Lab and Indiegogo. Rather than just testing ideas out with employees and focus groups, LEGO have announced that some ideas will be developed through public crowdfunding platforms such as Indiegogo.

GearsThe first range to be developed in this way is the new FORMA series: Based around a Technic core, this range will feature subjects from nature with swappable skins, that can be colored in or changed by the purchaser. Aimed at a young adult market, there is an emphasis on the creative project for display, rather than being a toy. The initial Indiegogo features an articulated fish model, with four different skins/designs available.Model Close Up_move

As you can see, the final result is not a typical LEGO model, but resembles a lego skeleton with literal skins, which can be changed. The sets are priced from $45USD, and $15 for the additional skins.  The opening range includes a Koi, Splash Koi, shark and Ink Koi – to be coloured in by the purchaser!Product_4 skins

You can follow the link to the campaign here.  Currently only available in the UK and USA, in the future there is the possibility of engaging other markets.

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The completed koi model in action. Source: indiegogo.com

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Creator Expert Vestas Wind Turbine Re-released and Sustainability Update [Announcement/Preview]

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In which we get a glimpse of another set re-released after 10 years and have a quick review of some of the recent steps the LEGO Group are taking towards a sustainable future.4999-1

Ten years ago, LEGO® set 4999 was released. A limited release set produced for Vestas®, a company which produces a significant number of wind turbines around the world,  this set was never made available to the general public.  Measuring over two feet high, it does have significant gravitas as a display piece.

Today, at the New York Climate Week,  the LEGO Group has announced the re-release of this set, as 10268 Vestas Wind Turbine. This time, the set will be available to the general public, from Black Friday (November 23). With 826 elements, the count is a little higher than the 803 listed for the older set in the database maintained by Brickset. In Australia, it will cost $AUD329. A full international price list is listed at the bottom of this post.

The Vestas Wind Turbine also includes a Power Functions Battery box, M motor, with a long extension cable, to get the turbine spinning, as well as lights.

Consisting of the wind turbine sitting on a small hill, with a house, service van and three minifigures, this set maintains many of the characteristics of the original.  Most of the elements in that set were readily available, except for one.  A green ‘Large ugly rock piece.’ While these could easily be substituted for one in grey, the green one has gone back into production for this set. The trees in this set are some of the first ‘Plants from Plants’ available for purchase in LEGO sets.  Earlier in the year, a promotional set was available, as a gift with purchase, in some markets.

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Community Corner: BrisBricks Expo at Chandler Arena- 29th September- 1st October 2018

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We have had a few community events held around the country recently, and as we head further into spring, they just keep coming. Over the forthcoming Queen’s Birthday long weekend in Queensland, BrisBricks will be holding their sixth Fan Expo at the Chandler Arena. Read on for further details:

BrisBricks returns to the Chandler Arena for its biggest LEGO Fan Expo to date

BrisBricks LEGO® Fan Event is welcomed back to Brisbane’s Chandler Arena on September 29th to October 1st.

Now in its sixth year, BrisBricks annual LEGO Fan Expo at Chandler Arena has over the years welcomed thousands of patrons to be amazed and excited by the visually stunning exhibits and this year will be no exception.

BrisBricks’ energetic team of clever builders and volunteers freely donate their time, displaying their own creations and personal collections that will take children and adults on a magical journey through the ages of LEGO.

There will be interactive displays and play tables; a large train layout covering scenes from a number of movie blockbusters; and much more.

A couple of highlights this year is an impressive Batcave model built by talented master builder Brent Waller (who also worked on some of the model design for last year’s LEGO BatmanTM movie) and a huge Harry Potter display with an impressive Hogwarts castle accessed from Kings Cross station via Hogwarts express.

BrisBricks will also try to regain the Southern Hemisphere record of having the largest number of “Great Ball Contraption” modules on display. These modules work together moving small plastic balls around a track in all ways possible.

The BrisBricks Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL) community in South East QLD is a not for profit club that has proudly supported many local children’s charities over the years. This year we are proudly supporting the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Long term BrisBricks club member, Russell Bates, said: “The hundreds of hours spent creating a display for a BrisBricks’ Expo is amply rewarded by the smiles on the thousands of appreciative fans of all ages”.

At the Expo patrons will enjoy:

  • Amazing fan built LEGO creations and set displaysCosplayers from Redback 501st Garrison – have your photo taken with a Stormtrooper or a Jedi
  • Getting little hands creating with our LEGO and DUPLO® play area
  • Charity raffle with LEGO prizes
  • Large selection of specialist LEGO retailers, face painting, balloon animals, jewellery made from LEGO, pre-loved LEGO and more
  • VIP session for the fan that wants something extra

EVENT DETAILS

Where:

Chandler Arena, Sleemans Sports Complex, Chandler, QLD 4155. (Corner of Old Cleveland Road and Tilley Road)

Opening hours:

General Public Sessions

Saturday 29 September 2018, 9am – 4pm. Sunday 30 September 2018, 10am – 5pm. Monday 1 October 2018, 9am – 4 pm.

Exclusive VIP Session (Ages 16+ only)

Saturday 29 September 2018, 4:30pm – 5:30pm.

New in 2018 is this session for the fans, who wants a special LEGO experience. Limited session size will allow the VIPs to get closer to the LEGO and have more interaction with the exhibitors and volunteers. There will be other treats as per http://www.brisbricks.org/VIP

Autism Community Session

Sunday 30 September 2018, 9am – 10am.

This session is designed for children and adults that require a quieter, lower lighting event with special considerations made for the Autistic Community. Book this session if it suits your family requirements. Book early to avoid disappointment as this session has less tickets available to accommodate the above needs.

Ticket prices:

Adult (16+ yrs): $12.00

Child (3-15 yrs): $6.00

Children under 3 yrs: free

VIP session: $20

Tickets only available online: http://www.brisbricks.org/tickets

A Post About Aspiring Altered Alliterative Anthropomorphised Animal Annotation [Fabuland Names: Advertising Archive]

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Let me take you back to Fabuland.  First released in 1979, this was one of the first themes for which story telling was central. Fabuland was the first theme to be released in parallel with a series of books and was supported later by an animated television series.  Designed to fit into the range somewhere between Duplo and ‘normal’ LEGO Bricks,  Fabuland sets continued to be available until 1989.

With around one hundred sets produced over this time, there were over eighty different figures produced. The sets were designed to be able to be assembled by children as young as three, and as such developed larger elements compared standard building bricks during the course of their run.

 

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Winter Village Fire Station 10263 [Announcement]

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LEGO have just released the details of the 2018 Creator Expert Winter Village Set.  Steering clear of another reissue of a previous set, this year we see the release of the 10263 Winter Village Fire Station. With 1166 elements, this set will be released globally on October 1st 2018, with VIP availability at LEGO Brand Retail and shop.LEGO.com from September 13th. It will cost $149.99AUD, $100USD, £84.99 GBP and €89.99 in Germany.

As with previous Winter Village sets, this one appears to be set somewhere peaceful, in the mid 20th century, possibly in the middle of a Rankin-Bass animated Christmas Special. We have seen a number of common elements of these sets over the last 9 years:

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Community Catchup: Medowie BrickFest

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41328251_1064184393759537_7067035623739097088_nIt’s only a week until Medowie Brickfest,  A LEGO® Fan Event! After great support last year, this community event is back, supporting all the Medowie Schools.

Medowie Brickfest is organised by Rainbow Bricks, a Recognised LEGO User Group based in the Newcastle/Hunter Valley/Central Coast area. There are over 30 LEGO Exhibitors with 70 tables of LEGO displays for you to enjoy.
There will also be lots of activities for the kids and young at heart to enjoy, including a LEGO build area, Remote Control Tracker Driving Area and Speed Build Competition.

Enjoy a drink and something to eat while you are with us from the Food and Drink Stalls.

There will be LEGO sets, merchandise and parts for sale.

DATE: Saturday 15th September
TIME: 10am – 4pm
VENUE: Medowie Christian School
COST: $5 a person / $15 a family

Facebook Event:
www.facebook.com/events/305206676678332

This is shaping up to be a great weekend for LEGO Fans in New South Wales: On Sunday the 16th, the Ryde Brick Fair is on in Sydney. There are certainly a number of events coming up over the next few weeks! Are you looking to get to any in particular? By the way, recognised LEGO User groups will often post notice of their events on the Ambassador’s network.  You don’t need to be a member to access the calendar: so check it out here.MBf18-poster-v4

Community Catchup: Ryde Brick Fair

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Knock knock.
Who’s there?
LEGO®!
LEGO who?
LEGO to the Ryde Brick Fair!
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6in1CsbgThe LEGO master builders of Sydney (SydLUG) are throwing open their LEGO lairs to show justwhat is possible when you don’t follow the instructions! Get up close and inspired with some of Australia’s greatest Lego masterpieces before diving into the brick pit to create your own – the only limit is your imagination.
Fun for ages 4-99, come for the World’s favourite brick but stay for the jumping castle, LEGO RC car racing, cake stall, BBQ and more. Surprise appearances by your beloved characters throughout theday. Everything WILL be awesome. Everything will be cool (if you are part of the team).
Tickets: $5 per person on the day or book online and save with family ticket for $15.
https://www.trybooking.com/401419
Gates open 10am-4pm on Sunday 16th September 2018
Funds raised go to the Ryde East Public School.

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And while we are talking about Fan Shows, a little bird tells me that there might be some discounted tickets for Brickvention (in Melbourne, January 2019) going on sale tomorrow afternoon…