Review: Zuru Max 83231-A Beauty Collection Make-Up

This is another of the Zuru Max collections.  It can be found in Target in sidekick display boxes.  It was also in impulse buy trays the Christmas seasonal area for a minute.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  Mirror.

Parts 2.  Cylinders, Notched Plates, Plates,

Tiles, Quarter Circle Plates, Cross Plates,

Macaroni Plates, Double Sided Plates, Thin 

Liftarm, Studless Slopes, Wedge Studless

Slopes, Tile w/Studs on Edge, Round

Bricks, Corner Panels, One Ring Sprue,

Minifig Brooms, Panels, and Axle.

Parts 3.  Modified Cone, Round Brick w/Extension, Tiles, Hinge Brick

Tops, Quarter Circle Studless Slopes, Macaroni Tiles, Plates, Double

Sided Plates, Double Jumpers, Half Circle Jumpers, Half Circle Tiles,

Panels, Corner Panels, Hinge Brick Bases, Brackets, Curved Cheese

Slopes, Jumper, Wedge Studless Slope, Quarter Circle Tiles, Stadium

Tiles, Rounded Double sided Plates, Studless Slopes, and Corner Plates.

Build.  Two Frames (2W), two Stations, and a 1 Hit piece of Cover.
 

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+).  I originally bought this because it looked like it had Minifig Bananas in it.  I was wrong but it still turned out to have some interesting pieces and colors.

Review: Miniso Toys HWMC7164 My Little Garden Lily

There's a second series of Miniso Toys flowers.  From the picture on the side of the box there are six in this run.

Box.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  Ribbon, Printed Tile.

Parts 2.  Modified Minifig Ski Poles, Triple

Wedge, 4x4 Clip Leaves, Axles, 8x3 Bar

Leaves, Tail End Section, Studless Slopes,

Plates, Cones, Round Plates, Padlocks,

Apollo Studs, Round Bricks, Bar Plates,

Bricks w/Studs on Sides, Bar, Axle Connector, Pin Connector w/Axle, 3L Axle Connector, Bushings w/Clip, Angled Axle/Pin Connector,

Tail Middle Section, and Flower Stamens.

Build.  Frame (2W), two Stations, and a 1 Hit piece of Cover.

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+).  Those Bushings w/Clip are the star of the show for me.  I also like the two different sets of Leaves.

Review: 30693 Police Water Scooter Polybag

The polybag dates back to 2025.  I'm not sure if I didn't see it before now or I just didn't bother due to the parts count.  Anyway.  I found this one at Walgreens.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.17 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts.  Inverted Double Slope w/Cutout, Inverted Wedge

w/Cutout, Printed Studless Slope, Race Car Grille

Plate, Brick, 2x2x2/3 Corrugated Brick w/Axle

Hole, Studless Slopes, Wedge Plate, Clip Plate,

Plates, Tiles, Translucent  Tiles, Bar Tile, Minifig

Handlebar, and Wedge Plate w/Cutout.

Build.  IO Frigate (2W).

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-).  The Neon Yellow and Printed parts are nice but, a horrible PpP and 1/5 of the pieces are wasted on the minifig.  Totally not worth it.

Review: Lazer Blocks US101-1966 Stegosaurus

Let's finish out the week with a Block Tech sub-line, Lazer Blocks.  I'm always looking for Translucent Green pieces to Color Tag Movement systems with so this should be a windfall for me.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Translucent Plates, Translucent Brick, Translucent Wedge Plates, Translucent

Bar Plate, Translucent Clip Plate, Translucent Ball Joint Plates, Translucent Studless

Slopes, Translucent Brackets, Translucent Round Light Brick, and Translucent Tails.

Parts 2.  Translucent Wedge Plates, Translucent

Ball Joint Plates, Translucent Plates, Translucent

Large Cheese Slopes, Translucent Studless Slopes,

Translucent Lampholder, and Translucent Brackets.

Parts 3.  Translucent Tooth Plates, Translucent Rounded

Clip Plate, Translucent Cheese Slopes, Translucent

Brackets, Translucent Round Plates w/Petals, and Barbs.

Build 1.  Two IO Frigates, and a HVA.

Build 2.  Can't be built at the same time as Build 1.  Frame (2W) and 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?  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+).  I actually felt better about this set after putting together the second build.  It has plenty of good parts but the color balance might be off a little.

Review: Block Tech US101-0463 Block Succulents Green Spoon

This is from the third release of Block Tech's Block Succulents line.  It features some interesting pieces and I think it's still on Five Below shelves.

Box.  MSRP was $3.25, for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Half Circle Plates w/Cutout, Round Bricks, Quarter Oval Plates, Dome

w/Bar, Octagonal Bar Plates, Curved Slopes w/Cutout, Plate, and Minifig Bucket.

Parts 2.  Round Plate, Round Large Jumper, Tiles, Tooth Plates, Headlight

Bricks, Cone, Travis Brick, U-Clips, Inkwell, and Apollo Stud.

Build.  Two Frames (2W), two Stations, and one 1 Hit piece of Cover.

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+).  I'm a fan of this set -- I mean, look at what I managed to build with it -- but I feel like it needs a little bit more to be truly special.

Review: Block Tech US101-0927 Mount Up Cyber-Saurus Rex

This is from the fourth release of Block Tech's "Mount Up!" line that was released in early 2025.  I decided to review it because, say it with me now, "I needed some parts from it for some builds".

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  The ubiquitous Weapons Sprue.

Parts 2.  Clip Plates, Tiles, Ball Joint Plates, Grille Tile, Plates,

Minifig Binoculars, Round Plates, Barbs, and Tooth Plates.

Parts 3.  Studless Slopes, Tiles, Bar Plate, Corner Plates, Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Tooth Plates, Wedge Plate, Exo-Force Arms, Bracket, and Bricks w/Studs on Corners.
 

Parts 4.  Quarter Circle Plates, Plates, Wedge Plates, Bar Plates,

Mudguard Plate, Ball Joint Plates, Large Ball Joint Bricks, Bricks,

Inverted Slopes, Studless Slopes, and Bricks w/Studs on Side.

Build.  Frame, Station, and two IO Frigates.

 

 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+).  I haven't seen a bad "Mount Up" set yet.  I can't wait to really dig into these parts.

Review: 30727 Star Wars TIE Advanced Polybag

The new for 2026 polybags are starting to arrive.  It looks like paper packaging has finally made its way to the United States.  I found this one at Barnes & Noble.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Parts.  Half Circle Plate w/Cutout, Dishes, Plates, Translucent Plates, Bar

Plates, Double Inverted Slopes w/Cutout, Tiles, Large Jumpers, Slope, Wedge

Plates, Tiles w/Studs on Ends, Transparent Dish, Round Tiles, Clip Plates,

Brick w/Stud on Side, Corrugated Brick, Large Cheese Slopes, and Brackets.

Build 1.  Two Frames (2W) and a Station.  

Build 2.  Cannot be built at the same time

as Build 1.  Frame (2W) and a Station.

Build 3.  Cannot be built at the same time as

Build 1 and 2.  Set Build.  IO Frigate (2W).

Build 4.  Cannot be built at the same time as Build 1, 2, and 3.  IO Frigate (2W) and HVA.  You could turn the Frigate into a quad walker if you wanted too.

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+).  Frame-in-a-Bag, Ship-in-a-Bag, useful pieces, good parts count, this one's a winner.

Review: 30714 Orange Cat Polybag

The new for 2026 polybags are starting to arrive.  It looks like paper packaging has finally made its way to the United States.  I found this one at Walmart.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Plate, Plates, Rounded Corner Plates, Wedge Plate, Round Brick,

Brick, Studless Slope,  Rounded Plates, Printed Tiles, Inverted Studless Slopes, Macaroni Bricks, Bricks w/Pinhole, Plate w/Bar on Bottom, Jumpers, Clip Plates,

Minifig Claws, Tiles, Apollo Studs, Double Curved Slopes, Stadium Tiles, Tooth Plates, Plates w/Pinhole, Friction Pins, Quarter Circle Tiles, Pneuma-Ts, Bracket, and Arch.

Build.  Frame (2W) and 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?  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+).  A Frame-in-a-Bag with a station and left-over parts.  Very nice.

Review: 30735 Technic Hot Rod Car Polybag

The new for 2026 polybags are starting to arrive.  It looks like paper packaging has finally made its way to the United States.  I found this one at Barnes & Noble.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Parts.  Liftarms, Tires, Axle/Pins,  Thin Quarter Ellipse Liftarms, Rims, Thin

L Liftarms, Axles, Perpendicular Split Axle/Pin Connectors, Crank Discs, Perpendicular Axle/Pin 3L Connectors, Perpendicular Axle/Pin Connectors, Thin Liftarms, Small Pistons, 3L Axle/Pins, 3/4 Pins, Friction Pins, 1/2 Pins, Bushings, Half Bushings, Transparent Round Plates, Grille Tiles, Plate, 12 Tooth Gears, Axle/Pin Connectors, Curved Panels, and Quadruple Axle/Pin Connector. 

Build.  IO Frigate (2Ras+d8) {Systems are Light Bley}.
 

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+).  As much as I like Technic pieces this is more of a parts pack then a starter kit.