Review: 30386 Poe Dameron's X-Wing Fighter Polybag

I found this in Walmart as part of a display of new Marvel and Star Wars sets.  There's already been a bit of talk about it on the Facebook group.

Bag.  I paid $4.97 for this which gives a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Lightsaber Bars, Plates, a Brick, Tiles, Wedge Plates, 2x3 Plate w/Rounded End, Brackets, Clip Plates, Slopes, Minifig Ski Poles, Minifig Carrots, Minifig Telescopes, Round Bricks, Lampholders,  Round Plates, and Rounded Tiles.

Build.  Frame (2Rh+d8/2Y) 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 bunch of useful parts at a good price point that can make a Frame and a Station.

Review: 30555 Poppy's Carriage Polybag

I found this in Walmart as part of a display of new Trolls sets.

Bag.  I paid $4.97 for this which gives a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Round Plates, Slopes, Chest, Plates, Harness
Plate, Brackets, Large Jumper, New Turntable Bases,
Bar Plates,  Jumpers, Brick w/Studs on Side, Brick,
Clip Claws, Clip Tiles, Printed Round Tiles, Bar
Studs, Bar Bar Holder, and Quarter Tiles.

Parts 2.  The Cupcake
bases could be useful. 

Build.  A 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).  An embarrassment of colors .

Review: 76146 Spider-Man Mech

I found this in Kohl's of all places.  This is one of three new sets for 2020 that feature "small" mecha for Marvel characters.

Box.  I paid $9.99 for this which gives a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions and stickers.

Minifigs.

Parts 1.  Webbing pieces.

Parts 2.  Cockpit Shell, Technic Plate, Plates, Inverted Slopes, Slopes, Ball Joints, Inverted Tile, Clip Plate, Printed Round Tile, Plates w/Pin Hole, Hinge Plate, Tiles, Friction Pins, Apollo Studs, Brackets, Panel, Technic Brick, Round Plate w/Handle, Clip Bar Holders, Cones, and an Ingot.

Parts 3.  Round Jumpers, Axle Plates, Wedge Plates, Bar Plates, Slopes, Plates, Cheese Graters, Ball Joints, Brackets, Half Pins, Exo Force Arms, and Clip Bar Holders.

Parts 4.  Round Jumpers, Slopes, Technic Plates, Plates, Ball
Joints, Round Plates, Brackets, Axle Holders w/Pneumatic, Axle
Pins, Tiles, Bar Bar Holders, Clip Bar Holders, and Insect Legs.

Build.  Three Frames and a Station.
And there are plenty of leftover parts.

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+).  Three Frames and a Station from one set?  Yes please!

Review: 30453 Captain Marvel and Nick Fury Polybag

I found this in Walmart as part of a display of new Marvel and Star Wars sets.

Bag.  I paid $4.97 for this which gives a $0.16 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifigs.  The Minifig Gun is always useful and
the power blasts might make good greebles.

Parts. I think that Trans-Clear Panel is a new part.  Panels, Plates, Minifig Radio, Round Plate, Headlight, Printed Slope, Clip Brick, Bricks, Clip Tile, Printed Tiles, Jumper, and Minifig Phone.

Build. 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?  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-).  It has some good printed pieces but other than that I can't see a reason to buy this.

Wargaming Articles

Brought to my attention by Faie Baker, this is an excellent article discussing the history of wargames and the association with Fascism within the wargaming community.

Here's another article that discusses women in wargaming, worth a read.

Review: 75162 Star Wars Microfighter Series 4 Y-Wing

I needed the Two Bar Plate piece -- for my SR-1 Space Siren frames -- to finish out a squad I'm working on, so I dug this out of my backlog pile.

Box.  MSRP was $9.99 for a $0.11 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Plates, Bracket, Pin Bars, Round Bricks
w/Pinhole, Domes, Plate w/Bars, Axle w/Stop,
Brick w/Studs on Side, Wedge Plate, Plates w/
Pinhole, Liftarms, Slopes, Technic Bricks, and
 Corrugated Bricks.

Parts 2.  Round Plates, Plate w/Door Flange, Plates, Grille Tiles, Slopes, Minifig Telescopes, Cones, Friction Pins, Clip Tiles, Jumpers, and Minifig Blaster.

Build.  2Rd+d8 Frame.

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+).  A good selection of parts hampered by the Star Wars tax.

Polly Want A Baggy 8

Another look at the upcoming polybag releases for 2020.  As always, information has been culled from Brickset.

30369 Beach Buggy looks like a ramcart-in-a-bag to me.

30368 Fire Rescue Water Scooter there may be some possibilities here.

30548 Build your Own Birds has potential for some good parts.

30549 Build Your Own Vehicles solid potential here.

30574 Cat this looks to be as good as the Pug polybag from a few years ago, maybe even better.

30554 Cinderella Mini Castle looks like a good terrain set.

30411 Chocolate Box & Flower is probably the Valentine's Day set but it still looks really good.

30464 El Fuego's Stunt Cannon maybe more terrain or possibly a fun Station?

30536 Combo Charger another solid car set aaaand it looks to be some sort of transformer.

30537 Merchant Avatar Jay looks to have some interesting pieces in it.

30342 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO is a Speed Champions polybag

30386 Poe Dameron's X-Wing Fighter looks to have good pieces and good colors.  I've heard rumors this is available already.

30555 Poppy's Carriage is a Trolls polybag with some interesting colors.

There seems to be a wide range of interesting polybags this year.