Category: LEGO

  • You Can Now Order / Backorder Some of the September Wave LEGO Sets

    You Can Now Order / Backorder Some of the September Wave LEGO Sets

    A couple of September sets are available for order / backorder days ahead of their release date. We’ll keep updating this post as more sets become available. A list of available sets for LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Harry Potter, and LEGO Art as of writing time are below:

    LEGO Star Wars

    Most of the Star Wars stuff is order-able. The only ones that aren’t are 75293 Resistance I-TS Transport, 75294 Bespin Duel, and the 75279 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar.

    LEGO Harry Potter

    Most of the next wave of Harry Potter sets are available as well. Everything except 75980 Attack on the Burrow, 75979 Hedwig, and 71028 Harry Potter Series 2 CMF line are available. Those still carry a September 1 release date, so it’s probably just a matter of days.

    LEGO Art

    In addition to 31199 Marvel Studios Iron Man release earlier this month, The other three mosaics are also available for order, each for $119.99:

    • 31200 Star Wars The Sith (you’ll need 3x for a complete set)
    • 31197 Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe (you’ll need 4x for a complete set)
    • 31198 The Beatles (you’ll need 4x for a complete set). Interestingly, or uninterestingly if you don’t find this sort of thing interesting, the product URL lists The Beatles set as “TBD Music 2020” (https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/tbd-music-2020-31198) instead of “The Beatles. Seems like a slight oversight and by slight I mean major.

    FBTB is an affiliate partner with LEGO.com. Any purchases made after clicking through any of the links in this post may net us a small commission. As always, we thank you for your continued support.

  • The New CITY Set 60271 Main Square Is A Rip Off

    The New CITY Set 60271 Main Square Is A Rip Off

    Out of all the things coming out on September 1st (HP (hopefully), Star Wars), 60271 Main Square from the CITY theme should be on the bottom of your hit list. In fact, it probably shouldn’t even be on your list AT ALL. LEGO sent over an email promoting this seemingly overpriced CITY set. Why does it seem like it’s overpriced? Well, for starters, it’s $199.99. Most of the top end CITY sets that didn’t include a train have never broken over $149.99 for the past couple of years. Take a look:

    • 2019 60229 Rocket Assembly & Transport $149.99 1,055 pieces
    • 2018 60200 Capital City $149.99 1,211 pieces
    • 2017 60162 Jungle Air Drop Helicopter $149.99 1,250 pieces
    • 2016 60125 Volcano Heavy-Lift Helicopter $149.99 1,277 pieces
    • 2015 60097 City Square $189.99 1,683 pieces

    2015 was an exception but it was justified by the piece count (kinda; the final build of that set is just as terrible as this year’s Square set). That’s just the last five years. I think that’s enough of a baseline to make my point that this year’s top-end set:

    The set doesn’t look so bad when all the little builds are condensed and crammed together, but look closer and you’ll see there isn’t a whole lot of substance. The leading image is more representative of how you’ll feel after buying this set: sparse and empty.
    • 2020 60271 Main Square $199.99 1,517 pieces

    seems overpriced. 2015’s City Square is the most comparable because they look very similar and weigh in pretty closely when it comes to piece count. And speaking of pieces, looking at those sets, it seems that there was a downward trend when it came to how much you would get out of the box. So this year LEGO added about 500 more pieces and raised the price by $50.

    What the hell is this thing supposed to be other than built from scrap pieces picked up off the floor from the design studio?

    Now I get that there’s inflation and all and things can’t always be the same price forever, but if you compare it to the Modular Building series’ 10270 Bookshop:

    10270 Bookshop Front_01

    • 2020 10270 Bookshop $179.99 2,504 pieces

    it really makes me wonder what the appeal would be for Main Square. Bookshop is $20 bucks cheaper comes with almost a thousand more pieces. You can take that $20 bucks and buy another set. Main Square looks like a bunch of $20 – $30 dollar sets crammed into a box. In fact, a lot of those top end sets from the past few years look like that, just a bunch of small builds.

    It might be the age thing. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but LEGO has been charging more for less on sets targeted to younger age groups. The Junior sets with the gigantic 4+ on the front of the boxes are a prime example of that. The Main Square set has a suggested age of 6+ whereas the Bookshop is for 16+. So the older you get, the quality of the set goes up, and prices seem more reasonable? I can maybe understand that logic. Maybe.

    But still that doesn’t really justify why LEGO can’t offer a really nice building for the top end CITY set that isn’t a shell of a dollhouse-style building like their Fire Stations and Police Stations and Super Hero Headquarters. There seems to be this huge gap in design and quality between a building you can get from the CITY theme and something that actually looks like it belongs in a city from the Creator Expert Modular Building series. There’s no middle ground. It’s either a bunch of crappy small builds or a really nice, really big building with nothing in between.

    Except 60125 Volcano Heavy-Lift Helicopter. I’ll make an exception for that one because that big ol’ chopper is pretty sweet.

    tl;dr: 60271 Main Square is a rip off.

  • New LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special coming to Disney+ in November

    New LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special coming to Disney+ in November

    Disney+ has been a real slow-burn of a service… it doesn’t have the original content that other platforms have, but when it launches something, it tends to be Awesome. The Mandalorian, Hamilton, new Clone Wars… and now, the post-RoS follow-up LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special that will wash the terrible taste of RoS away for everyone.

    The original Holiday Special is, let’s say, an experience. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. Not because it’s good, it absolutely is not good in any way whatsoever other than the “so bad it’s good” way… but it’s so far into that category that you have to watch it. It’s the Plan 9 of Outer Space set in a Galaxy Far Far Away (I’ve watched both multiple times… the Holiday Special is worse than Plan 9). My personal favorite way to consume it is with RiffTrax, and it’s worth every dollar.

    I’m not really a fan of the LEGO games, because the gameplay in them is just terribad… but the setting and story of them have always been great. I love that they’re going to be able to apply new stories, all kinds of weird thing, and it’s technically canon, so it’ll really get some fanboys worked into a tizzy. That’s what every holiday special should be.

  • All The New Stuff LEGO Is Releasing Tomorrow 8/1

    All The New Stuff LEGO Is Releasing Tomorrow 8/1

    Update: Forgot they were releasing 43179 Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters too. It doesn’t seem to be too popular because it’s still available to add to bag and not back ordered on the Shop@Home site like the other releases from today.

    Also, the Harry Potter sets continue to be benched. A 4/30 pre-order date never materialized, the 8/1 shipping date doesn’t seem to be true either as they are all still listed as “Coming Soon”. Not sure what’s going on with that.

    Star Wars seems to have been pushed back to September 1 but maybe I just got that wrong entirely. Oops. Sorry. I’ve cleaned up the original post below and removed HP and SW listings. My apologies for any confusion.

    Original article, edited for clarity:

    Tomorrow is August 1, and a ton of new stuff is going to put on sale. It’s quite possible it may go up on 9pm tonight Pacific Time, or midnight if you’re on the opposite coast. Here’s a rundown (FBTB is an affiliate partner with LEGO Shop@Home, so if you click through any of the links and make any purchases, we may get a small commission):

    LEGO Super Mario

    The full range of LEGO Super Mario products will be available: the base Starter Set, Power Up packs, and Expansions Sets. You’ll need the base set, 71360 Adventures with Mario Starter Course, to get Mario and for the other sets to really mean anything other than just a pile of bricks with weird stickers.

    Here’s the entire list:

    You should also head out to your local big box retailer. They may or may not have some promotional polybag sets too.

    UCS Nintendo Entertainment System

    This is number one on my hit list for tomorrow, 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System. It may even replace my UCS R2-D2 in my giant bell jar display. Price is $229.99 which feels right, but $199.99 would have felt better. It’s like that Camper Van being $119.99 instead of $99.99.

    LEGO Art Iron Man

    Revealed earlier today, the Iron Man wall art portrait will be also be available. Cost is $119.99. You can build one of three portraits, or buy three to display all three at the same time or combine them to create this larger image:

    LEGO Piano

    Revealed last week, the LEGO Ideas Grand Piano set will be available for $349.99.

    Remember that feeling I had when LEGO introduced the gross $700 UCS Star Destroyer? I’m starting to get that feeling again. Especially looking at that piano. Especially now given the pandemic. I get that LEGO has a product roadmap they need to stick to a release cycle. No doubt that they are profiting quite nicely from parents looking for things to do while stuck at home if the bare shelves at Target and Walmart are any indication. But still, I can’t help but feel a bit nauseous. Yet here I am counting down the time until I can get my hands on the LEGO Super Mario stuff.

    Again, links should be live by 9pm Pacific Time tonight. Otherwise, try again tomorrow.

  • LEGO Wall Art Mosaics F.A.Q.

    LEGO Wall Art Mosaics F.A.Q.

    What is LEGO Art?

    LEGO Art is a new theme aimed at adults where you can create a square portrait of famous entertainment icons as wall art. There are four in total: Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles, Iron Man, and The Sith. Iron Man will be available starting tomorrow, August 1, with the others coming to market on September 1.

    Each portrait measures a hair over 15″ square, which is the size of an XL Gray Baseplate.

    Sounds… awesome? How much?

    Each set will cost you $119.99 for just one. Yeah, you can only build one portrait at a time. Have fun taking those tiles and plates off. Or, you can spend another $120 bucks for each other portrait you want to build and display at the same time. Displaying all of the Warhol or The Beatles portraits will run you $480 before tax, $360 for all three Iron Man or Sith ones.

    For Marilyn, you can build her portrait in one of four different color ways. For The Beatles, you can build any of the band member’s portrait. For Iron Man, you can build a portrait of either the MARK III, the HULKBUSTER MARK I, or the MARK LXXXV. For The Sith, you build can build either Darth Maul, Darth Vader, or Kylo Ren.

    What else do I get for $120 besides a bunch of tiles and plates?

    Each set has over 3,000 pieces so there’s definitely some good value there if you’re into plates and tiles and whatever goes into building the frame. You get to build a frame for the potrait designed to be hung on the wall. And a soundtrack to listen to while you’re building.

    It really bugs me that the corner isn’t a tile.

    A soundtrack?

    Yep. There’s a unique one for each set. They posted a sneak preview of the soundtrack for Iron Man here.

    Is that why these seem so expensive?

    Probably.

    Anything else?

    Iron Man and The Sith have alternate instructions you can download. Should you pony up enough money to complete the set, you can combine them and make a different picture altogether:

    The instructions are free and are downloadable from LEGO.com.

    There’s no combined alternate model for Marilyn (but a 2x version of one of them would have been cool to do) or The Beatles

    These seem expensive.

    You’re not wrong.

    LEGO is suggesting that I need this. Do I need this?

    You don’t. But if you want to buy, you can preorder them below:

    And yes, we’ll get a commission if you buy after clicking through those links.

     

  • Monthly LEGO VIP Raffle is a Comic Con Bizarro Minifig

    Monthly LEGO VIP Raffle is a Comic Con Bizarro Minifig

    This month’s LEGO VIP raffle is another rare San Diego Comic Con exclusive. From 2012, it’s Bizarro from DC Comics. That year’s set of minifigs were attached by the legs to a plate and then the plate was glued on to a cardboard back. It wasn’t the most secure method of attaching figs and there was no plastic clamshell to secure everything together. Keeping the cardboard undamaged was pretty challenging as well. The prize you get in the raffle giveaway looks like it secures the minifig in its own acrylic compartment and protects the cardboard backing. It is, as always, graded by some self-righteous authority that really doesn’t mean squat but I guess it’s important for some people.

    Each entry costs 50 VIP points and you can enter up to 15 times. I’m a little late to the party because you have until August 2nd, 2020 to enter. Good luck!

  • [SDCC] LEGO Comic Creator Is Online

    [SDCC] LEGO Comic Creator Is Online

    Comic Con may not be happening this year, but that’s not stopping CCI from hosting things virtually. Which really isn’t the same thing but at least it’s something. A lot of vendors are still selling exclusives but one presence that I haven’t heard a peep about is LEGO. I’m not entirely sure how I came across it but I did find this online the other day, the LEGO Comic Creator website. You create a LEGO avatar, choose a theme between Star Wars, Spider-Man, and Batman, answer a couple of questions, and then you’re done. You can choose a digital version to print out at home or a digital + print version and one will be mailed to you too.

    It looks like it recreates the comic making experience from last year’s convention, except you do this at home and you have to be one of the first 10,000 people to submit to get a printed copy sent to your home. I actually thought it was a really great idea making their booth experience so, so relevant to the convention. 10,000 doesn’t seem like a lot, but hopefully everyone who wants one will be able to get one.

  • The Lambo Up Is For Grabs Now, and Some Free Gifts With Purchase Too

    The Lambo Up Is For Grabs Now, and Some Free Gifts With Purchase Too

    If you’ve got 380 simoleons and love lime green model cars, you should know that the new 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 is now available for sale. It’s currently backordered as of this writing and will ship by July 2nd. Yeah, $379. $30 more than their last supercar, 42083 Bugatti Chiron, for just 97 more pieces. I’m sure there’s more reason why the set costs more. Maybe all the video content? Fancy box? Not sure. Also, the set is labeled as 18+, versus the Chiron’s 16+. Is there really that much of a difference in fine motor skills is between 16- and 18-year-olds?

    And to sweeten the deal, you can get this free GWP with your purchase of the Lambo (or any other LEGO purchase of $85 or more), 40409 Hot Rod. It’s a remake of an old Model Team set, 5541 Blue Fury, without the shiny chrome bits. This promo lasts until 11:59pm EST June 21, 2020 or while supplies last.

    You can also get this free 30369 Beach Buggy polybag with any LEGO purchases over $40. This deal expires at 11:59pm EST June 30, 2020, or while supplies last.

    FBTB is an affiliate partner of LEGO Shop@Home, so making any purchases after clicking through these links may lead to a few pennies being deposited into our account. Every purchase helps keep the site running. As always, we thank you for your continued support.

    It’s as if LEGO is promoting car items for Father’s Day or something.

  • LEGO Reveals Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 Set

    LEGO Reveals Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 Set

    After being teased for days, we finally get to see the new Lamborghini Sián set today, #42115. It comprises of 3,696 pieces and will set you back €/$ 379.99 / £349.99. The set will go on sale at LEGO Shop@Home and Brand Retail locations on June 1 with availability at more retailers  starting on August 1.

    LEGO went all out in the presentation of the Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 set. The reveal video alone, shown above, has this neat racing effect with the video projected behind and around the car.

    The Lamborghini product web page took its cues from Apple’s website and hijacks your scrolling to push slides in and out of view as you navigate up and down the page. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s a neat effect for about two seconds before it gets tiring. If you have seen it before, you might be like me and just wonder why they even bothered. Looking for something specific on the page is a trial in patience as you have to wait for elements to load and animations to finish. And just in case you think I’m being ornery and criticizing LEGO unfairly, I hold the same criticisms against Apple’s site too. I wish there was a skip animation button like there was a skip intro button back in the late ’90’s / early 2000’s to bypass the inevitable Flash intro.

    The packaging is kind of neat. They tried to make the box look as much like the ‘ghini as possible, but there’s only so much you can do with a rectangular box. Still, you can see the headlghts, exhaust, and the hood on front, back, and top, respectively.

    The sides of the box continue the lines from the rear, and the bottom shows off the completed model.

    Anyways, in addition to the website, all the videos, and photoshoots, the effort LEGO put into the experience of the Lamborghini set extends into the set itself. There are QR codes printed on included booklets that unlock 13 videocasts that you can watch at different stages of the building process. But wait, there’s more! Each set includes a unique serial number that unlocks additional content at www.LEGO.com/lamborghini-sian.

    A couple more comments:

    • Why lime green? LEGO has made a metallic green color before that is a much closer resemblance to the green color you see in their comparison shots.
    • This is LEGO’s first supercar in 1:8 scale, which means you can stick your DC Universe Green Arrow in the driver’s seat. A ride fit for a billionaire.
    • The lime green still bugs me.

    Most of the pictures are below. I may update this post later with videos. You can read all the press materials after that.

    Pictures of 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37

    42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 Press Release

    INTRODUCING THE LATEST LEGO® THUNDERBOLT: THE LEGO® TECHNIC™ LAMBORGHINI SIÁN FKP 37 UNVEILED IN MINIATURISED SUPERCAR LAUNCH

    Today, the LEGO Group and Automobili Lamborghini unveiled the eagerly awaited LEGO® Technic™ Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 in true style. The showstopping reveal featured all the suspense, emotion and excitement of a supercar launch event – but was miniature in scale and powered entirely by LEGO Technic elements.

    The star of the show, 1:8 scale LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 embodies the unrivalled power, visionary design and futuristic elegance of the limited-edition Italian super sports car. First presented at Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2019, only 63 of the full-sized Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 models are being produced, making this 3,696-piece replica the ultimate collector’s item for luxury car lovers and LEGO fans looking for their next building challenge.

    Boasting a vivid lime-green colour and elegant golden rims, the model measures over 5” (13cm) high, 23” (60cm) long and 9” (25cm) wide. This one-of-a-kind model is the ultimate addition to any LEGO collection.

    The LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 will be available directly from LEGO stores* and www.LEGO.com/TechnicLamborghiniSian from June 1st, then in many retailers globally from August 1, 2020.

    A showstopping reveal

    In a feat of engineering excellence, the stunning LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 made an explosive entrance worthy of any true super sports car – in the LEGO Group’s first 1:8 scale launch.

    From the elegance of the setting and futuristic lighting, to the energy-charged reveal of the car’s unmistakable silhouette, the experience was crafted entirely from LEGO Technic pieces, showing that with LEGO Technic, you can build whatever you can imagine.

    The unveil was shown globally to give luxury car fans and LEGO lovers the chance to experience the magic and emotion of a real super sports car launch. The video of the reveal and the making of story can be viewed here.

    A design ahead of its time

    The LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 embodies the unmistakable power and stunning looks of the Lamborghini Sián both in design and style. The super sports car’s futuristic features are recreated in elaborate and authentic detail, bringing proud owners closer to the real model than they could ever imagine. These immersive touches include a replica of the Lamborghini Sián’s incomparable V12 engine, a rear spoiler that pops up like the real thing, front and rear suspension, and steering powered by a wheel adorned with the Automobili Lamborghini emblem.

    In true Lamborghini style, the model also boasts scissor doors which open to reveal the perfectly recreated cockpit. Inside, the car’s luxurious interior has been intricately recreated with a fullyfunctioning 8-speed sequential gearbox triggered by a movable paddle gearshift.

    Speaking about the visionary design, Niels. B. Christiansen, LEGO Group CEO, said: “This new model truly encapsulates the pursuit of excellence embedded in the DNA of both Automobili Lamborghini and the LEGO Group. Both the 1:8 model and the reveal itself are feats of engineering innovation, pulled off by incredibly talented teams from across our two businesses. The LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 is a true testament that with LEGO® Technic, you can build anything your heart desires. I can’t wait to build this authentic replica of this futuristic super sports car for real.”

    “The LEGO brick is an icon in the same way as a Lamborghini super sports car,” said Stefano Domenicali, CEO and Chairman of Automobili Lamborghini. “They both embody the pursuit of design perfection through constant research and development, create different emotions with every interaction, and are valued by generations. Each Lamborghini super sports car can be unique thanks to our Ad Personam personalization program and the specific driving style of each owner, just as LEGO bricks provide builders of all ages with endless possibilities for creation. This outstanding replica of the Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 from the LEGO Group presents a brilliant new building experience  for both super sports car fans and LEGO enthusiasts and Lamborghini is privileged to share in this opportunity with the LEGO Group.”

    To make the building experience as thrilling and immersive as a spin behind the wheel of the real car, proud owners can also pop open the front hood to discover a stylish Lamborghini overnight bag and a unique serial number that unlocks special content at www.LEGO.com/lamborghinisian.

    An exclusive series of 13 videocasts featuring Automobili Lamborghini and LEGO experts can also be accessed through QR codes in two ‘coffee-table’ style collectors’ booklets that accompany the model. As fans work through the comprehensive building instructions, these videocasts delve deep into the inspiration behind different stages of the design. However, it is not just the building experience that is totally unique: the LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 comes shrouded in a unique box inspired by the iconic lines, signature headlight silhouette and eye-catching colour of the original Lamborghini Sián.

  • Creative Brick Boxes On Sale

    Creative Brick Boxes On Sale

    Both Amazon and Walmart are putting Large and Medium Creative Brick Boxes on sale at a decent discount:

    • 10698 LEGO Large Creative Brick Box originally $59.99, now $43.99 (27% off) Amazon | Walmart
    • 10696 LEGO Medium Creative Brick Box originally $34.99, now $24.81 (29% off) Walmart

    Sometimes I think these Brick Boxes are better are sparking creativity and imagination. The sets are great and all but I think for some people its hard to break away from the instructions to build something new and think outside the box (no pun intended). See plot of The LEGO Movie for more details. I see it in my kids right now. They just want to either play with minifigs or want instructions. I’ve always believed that these bulk brick boxes forced more creativity than something with instructions.

    And of course, if you click through any of the above links and make a purchase, FBTB will earn a small commission. We thank you for your continued support.