PAX Unplugged 2018

For the next three days I'll be helping demonstrate Mobile Frame Zero at PAX Unplugged. We'll be at booth # 1925 so come see us if you're there.

Review: 30406 Unikitty Roller Coaster Wagon Polybag

This is one of two polybags available at Target in the Christmas aisle.  I've already reviewed the other one.

Bag.  I paid $3.99, for a $0.09 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

"Minifig".  There's that 1x3 Inverted Tile again.

Parts.  Plates, Wedge Plates, Axle Plates,
Jumpers, Tiles, Round Tiles, Slopes, Mod. Bricks,
Star Tiles, Wheel & Axles, Truncated Cone, Apollo
Stud, Technic Axle, Nipple, and Unicorn Horn.
  

Build.  Yeeaah, it's a crappy Ram Cart.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  No.  (-5)
Score: +10 (A-).  That score sounds about right.

Sales Alert

Target is running a 20% off select Lego sets sale this week.  There are some good deals and heavy hitters on that list.

Good hunting.

Review: 76114 Spider-Man's Spider Crawler

Normally a set this size is waaaay outside my parts limits for Lego set reviews.  But when I saw it last Saturday night I knew I had to purchase it and do a review.

Box.  The MSRP is $39.99 for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifigs.

Parts 1.  The two hexagonal pieces in the upper center of the picture are one of the reasons I bought this set.  The box art makes them look like Hexagonal Bar Plates.  They're not even close to that.  Disappointing.

Parts 2.  The Lime Technic

Plates are interesting.

Parts 3.  Oooh, Angled Studless Slopes in Dark Green.

Parts 4.

Parts 5.  1x1-1x1 Brackets!

Parts 6.  Axle Ball Joints!

Parts 7.  Bionicle Claws and

 Pneuma-T Axle Holders.

Parts 8.  1x1-1x1 Inverted

Brackets!  Cyber Spiders!

Build.  A quick Frame
and a Station.

  

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  At.  (0)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  Six more pieces and this set would have gotten a perfect score.  As it is, this is a massive parts kit.

The Road to PAX Unplugged 2018

In a week I'll be in Philadelphia at PAX Unplugged helping to demonstrate Mobile Frame Zero for the Indie Bazaar.  I will also be selling Rulers again and Starter sets for the first time.  We'll be at Booth 1925 on the sales floor and a table somewhere in Tabletop Freeplay.  There's a topic on the Hangar discussing the usual "big game" at PAX.  :-)  Also, I'll be arriving Thursday evening so if anyone wants to meet me for dinner that'd be cool.

Non-Human 30

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I'm feeling kinda worn out, so let's give thanks for cool looking mechs.

CF-3686 by Cole Blaq.  Another great build from Cole.

Police Riot Walker by Victor K.  Some

great shaping and parts use on this one.

Stoop Goblin by lord_dane.  Oh yeah!  This looks great!

Centaur Drones by "Luke".  These are pretty cool.  I

don't know why I haven't blogged about them already.

Blacktron Rectifier by Luc Bayard.  Let's finish this out
with something awesome that is probably the size of a
Scrambler.  There's a Parts List and Instructions too!

Purity: Blokko 3 in 1 Light FX Copters Review

People were asking about light brick sets over on the Facebook page so when the chance came to grab one at a discount I bought one.

Box.  MSRP seems to be $8.99.  This yields a $0.18 Price per Piece.  Dollar General has them for $5.00.  I paid $2.50 on sale for mine.

Instructions.

Parts.  Bricks, Slopes, Plates, a Round Plate, Kre-O style Jumper
-- which is a Turntable when combined with the Round Plate --
two Lampholders, two Light Bricks, and an Axle -- which is really
only there to act as a key for the Light Bricks.

Build.  Best I could manage.
  

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  No.  (-5)
Score: -5 (B-).  I'm not sure if the Trans-Red Lampholders or the Trans-Clear Axle make this worth it.

Review: 41601 Brick Headz Cyborg

Let's finish up the week by going back to the Justice League.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99.  This yields a $0.09 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  This was loose inside the box.

Parts 2.  Bricks, Round Bricks,
Mod. Bricks, Plates, Mod. Plates,
Tiles, and a Round Plate.

Parts 3.  Seventeen Headlight
bricks in Dark Bley.  Nuff said!

Build.  I used C6 techniques to attach the legs.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  This one is a massive parts pack.  I've been grabbing them whenever I found them marked down.

Sales Alert

BrickForge is running an inventory reduction sale.  50% off all loose items.  No end date is given.

Target has previewed their Black Friday sale.  They list four sets at $41.99 in a "door buster" deal.  I think you can currently get three of them at that price plus the "$10 for spending $50 on Lego" sale that's running up until Thanksgiving.

Dollar General has a three day sale -- starting today -- on clone bricks, 50% off.  They're apparently going to start carrying Lego sets.

Good hunting.

Review: 41586 Brick Headz Batgirl

Midway through another Brick Headz week and let's change up the color scheme.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99.  This yields a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  This was loose inside
the box.  Odd that it's 4x6 instead
of 6x6 like the others.

Parts 2.  Puuurple.  Mod. Bricks,
 Round Bricks, Bricks, Plates, Mod.
Plates, Tiles, Brackets, a Wedge
Plate, and an Inverted Slope.

Parts 3.  More Puuurple.  Slopes, Tiles, Printed Tiles, Mod. Tiles, Plates, Mod. Plates, a Wedge Plate, and Yellow Minifig Batarangs.

Build.  An IO Cruiser with plenty
of room for Attachments.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  At.  (0)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  Great color selection in this set.

Review: 41599 Brick Headz Wonder Woman

Let's start another theme week.  Beginning with the character that ended the previous week is a nice bit of continuity.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99.  This yields a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  This was loose inside the box.

Parts 2.  Printed Tiles, Slopes, Bricks, Round Bricks, Mod. Bricks, Plates, Mod. Plates, a Bracket, a Printed Brick, and a Minifig Shield.

Parts 3.  Plates, Round Plates,
Tiles, Printed Tiles, Slopes,
Mod. Plates, and Minifig Swords.

Build.  I really wanted to use
the Shield but there are only
two Clip Plates in the set.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  While it earned a good score, I'm generally "meh" about the Brick Headz sets.

Review: 76070 Mighty Micros: Wonder Woman vs. Doomsday

Finishing up the DC Mighty Micros week.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.12 Price per Piece

Instructions and parts list.

Minifigs.

Parts 1.  Trans-Clear
Tails and 2x2 Dome.

Parts 2.  Trans-Clear Headlight Bricks!

Build.  I modified the WW build
for this one.  2Rh+d8/1B/1Y.
  

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  While this set has the highest parts count and most interesting pieces of the three this week, it's still kinda disappointing like the rest of the Mighty Micros.