Build Journal: Handmaidens Revisited

Back in October of 2019 I created a Frame I came to call the Handmaiden, out of Make-It Blocks pieces.

Just to recap it's composed of parts from the following sets and quantities: London Bridge (x2), Golden Gate (x2),

Windows & Doors polybag, Sydney Opera House, and Empire State Building.  So that's seven sets at $1.00 each

to make one Frame without attachments.  You also have plenty of leftover parts.

Realizing I needed more attachment points, I added in the Clip Plates from the Fire Rescue set.  This would allow me to attach systems to one arm and one leg of the Frame.  That also changes it to eight sets at $1.00 to make a single Frame without Systems.

Flickr.

Frame Parts List

4070 Brick, Modified 1x1 w/Headlight (x8) (Primary color)
47458 Brick, Modified 1x2x2/3 No Studs, Wing End (x2) (Tertiary color)

3005 Brick 1x1 (x2) (Primary color)

2555 Tile, Modified 1x1 w/Clip (x4) (Primary color) 

2555 Tile, Modified 1x1 w/Clip (x6) (Secondary color)

3024 Plate 1x1 (x2) (Secondary color)

3023 Plate 1x2 (x2) (Primary color)

3023 Plate 1x2 (x2) (Secondary color)

3021 Plate 2x3 (x2) (Secondary color)

4085 Plate, Modified 1x1 w/Open O Clip Thick (Vertical Grip) (x2) (Tertiary color)

3794b Plate, Modified 1x2 w/1 Stud w/Groove (Jumper) (x1) (Primary color)

60478 Plate, Modified 1x2 w/Handle on End (Closed Ends) (x4) (Secondary color)

41740 Plate, Modified 1x4 w/2 Studs with Groove (x4) (Secondary color)

4599b Tap 1x1 w/o Hole in Nozzle End (x4) (Secondary color)

54200 Slope 30 deg. 1x1x2/3 (x2) (Secondary color)

3069b Tile 1x2 w/Groove (x1) (Secondary color)

I also changed the Stations.  I made them taller and used more pieces from the Sydney Opera House and Fire Rescue sets.  I'm trying to find Tiles in different colors to differentiate each of the Stations (I'm 2/3 of the way there.).

Station Parts List
553 Brick, Round 2x2 Dome Top (Undetermined Stud and Bottom Type) (x1) (Secondary color)
3004 Brick 1x2 (x1) (Primary color)
11211 Brick, Modified 1x2 w/Studs on 1 Side (x1) (Primary color)

3069b Tile 1x2 with Groove (x1) (Random color)
3938 Hinge Brick 1x2 Top Plate (x2) (Tertiary color)
3937 Hinge Brick 1x2 Base (x2) (Primary color)

4032 Plate, Round 2x2 with Axle Hole (x4) (Tertiary color)
87747 Barb/Claw/Horn/Tooth - Medium (x4) (Secondary color)

85984 Slope 30 1x2x2/3 (x4) Tertiary color)
3794b Plate, Modified 1x2 w/1 Stud with Groove (Jumper) (x4) (Tertiary color)

3031 Plate 4x4 (x1) (Tertiary color)

Realizing I wanted to keep it as an "All Clone Parts" build, I went with a third party manufacturer -- Brick Warriors -- to get the parts I wanted to use as Systems.

Top row: Vengeance AR (Direct Fire), Tower Shield (Defense),  Lantern (Movement), and Chakram (Spotting).

Bottom row: Bear Trap (Melee), Resistance Sniper (Artillery), and Land Mine (Single Shot Rocket)

All of these were available in a fourth color which was used to set them apart from the main body of the Frame.  I tried to keep the squad all Make-It Blocks.  I have enough Minifig Shovels in Black to act as melee weapons for the entire squad.  But I don't have enough other cool parts in Black to make all the Systems.  I did need the 48729 Bar Clip and 4274 Half Pin from the Make-It Blocks Zombie 1 set to attach the Movement system though.  Which bumps it up to nine sets at $1.00 to make a single Frame without Systems.

Build Journal: Veyman Revelation

Dark Syntax took two of Aardvark17's Frames -- the Layman and the Vega Genesis -- and combined them.  This is a fairly standard practice of the MFZ community and I've mentioned it before.  The resulting build was named the Veyman Genesis and it's pretty neat.  It removes some of the Layman's blandness and tones down the finicky-ness of the Vega Genesis, resulting in a solid, table-ready design.  I even made a copy myself.

The main issue I have with the design is that the feet are located behind the point of balance for the Frame, meaning that you have to push the shoulders back to keep it upright -- or add a bunch of Systems to the back of the Frame.  It's an issue that can be fixed, but I like my Frame designs stable from the get go.

I should mention that I made a couple changes in the initial version I assembled.  I added in a 2x2 Corner Plate to the torso.  This widened out the torso making it look fuller.  It also reduces the amount of weight carried by the shoulder's single stud connection by transferring some of the weight to the waist construction.  I also used a different set-up for the forearms, mainly because I don't have any 1x1 Bricks w/Studs on 2 Opposite Sides in the two colors I chose to use for the build.

This post on the MFZ Facebook group got me thinking on how to fix my issue with the design and led me to experiment a little bit more.  Seeing that and the Veyman Dynamo, I realized I could make legs with more articulation.  So I added 1x1 Clip Bricks (horizontal) into the hips.  Starting with a 1x2 Bar Plate (closed ends), a 1x3 Slope paired with a 1x3 Inverted Slope expanded the footprint and made it more stable.  I swiped Skrob's Ingot face idea and changed the Studless Slope on the head to something a little more my style.  I also made an alteration to one of the arm designs that Dark Syntax detailed in the original posting on Facebook.

Flickr.

I also updated the name, leaning into the biblical aspect of the original name choice, hence the "Revelation" part of the moniker.

Now all I have to do is finish Systems, Stations, and SSRs and they'll be table ready!

Review: 60300 Wildlife Rescue ATV

I saw this on the shelf at Target a few weeks ago and decided to purchase it despite the horrible Price per Piece.  It has a few interesting pieces and more of the new 2x4 Vehicle Base w/Suspension pieces so I gave it a shot.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99, for a $0.14 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  

Minifig.  The Dark Red Minifig Helmet and the Dark Blue

Scorpion are interesting.  The new Monkey mold is just fun.

Parts 1.  Quarter Circle Plates, Plates, Mudguard Plates,

Vehicle Bases w/Suspension, Tires, Brick, and Arches.  

Parts 2.  Plates, Round Plate, Tile w/Studs, Printed Studless Slope, Studless Slopes, Brackets, Corner Slope, Grille Tile, Hinge Plates, Axle Plates, Bar Plates, Clip Plates,

Tile, Printed Tile, Translucent Tile, Rims, New Headlight Brick, Round Bricks, Vehicle

Axles w/Cutouts & Wheel Holders, Minifig Handlebar, Minifig Banana, Bars,

Translucent Round Tiles, Leaves, Propellers, Clip Bar Holder, and Poop Tiles.

Build.  Frame (2Rh+d8/1B/1G+d8) Station (Monkeys

FTW, right?!), 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?  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+).  This set is frustrating.  It makes a good starter set with the ability to make a  Frame, a Station, and Cover but the price just kills the score.  It would need 22 more pieces or a $2.50 price cut to get a better score.

Review: 60249 Street Sweeper

I visited a local Marshalls last week looking for more of the Forever Clever G.I. Joe sets and found a few Lego sets on the shelves.  I bought this one because the price was right and it looked like it had potential.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99, for a $0.11 Price per Piece.  I paid $7.99 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  

Minifig.  

Parts 1.  Plates, Double Slope, Windscreen, Triple Curved Wedge, Slope, Wedge w/Cutout, Axle Plates, Inverted Slopes, Tile w/Clips, Technic Brick w/2 Pinholes, Axles w/Stops, Panel, Printed Bricks, Technic Bricks w/Axle Hole, Brick, Brushes, Inverted Arches, Minifig Trash Can, Tires, Minifig Steering Wheel, and Technic Gears.

Parts 2. Curved Slopes w/2 Studs, Wedge Plates, Bar Plate, Jumpers,

Minifig Broom, Tiles, Pins, Pin/Axles, Large Cheese Slope, Bricks

w/Clips, Bricks, Minifig Shovel, Translucent Plates, Plates, Translucent

Round Plates, Translucent Tile, Technic Connectors, Rims, Bar Tile,

Bracket, Plate w/Door Rail, Translucent Cheese Slopes, and Minifig Banana.

Build.  Frame (2Rd+d8/1B), Station, and 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?  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+).  Not a bad set, better if you can find it for a reduced price.  At the price I paid, the score is +20 (A+).

Review: 42322 Blok Head Ninja Squad

I went back to that local Marshalls a few nights ago looking for more of the Blok Head sets from the review from last Wednesday and found another new -- to me -- clone brick set.  This set also seems to be available in bulk.

Box.  I paid $3.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  If you look up the company name and

set number on the instructions, this is what you get.

Minifig.  

Parts.  Plates, 2x3 Plates w/Rounded End, Flame Pieces, Double Inverted Slope w/Cutout (the fit on this piece was really tight and had to push a piece in to make it seat), Bar Plates w/Open Ends, Hinge Plate, Ball Joint Plates, Triple Slope, Tooth Plates, Studless Slopes, Clip Plates, Bar Plate w/Closed Ends, Clip Tiles, Exo-Force Arms, Round Plates, Brick w/Studs on Sides, Cheese Slopes, and a Hinge Cylinder.

Build.  Frame, no Systems.

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-Box.

Review: 42561 Blok Head Police Station

I visited a local Marshalls a few nights ago looking for more of the Forever Clever G.I. Joe sets and found a couple of new -- to me -- clone brick sets.  I bought them both -- because that's what I do -- and here's the second review.  This set also seems to be available in bulk.

Box.  I paid $3.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  If you look up the company name and

set number on the instructions, this is what you get.

Minifig.  The arms are similar to the minifig in the

Make-It Blocks Zombie sets but the head has a nose.

Parts.  Plates, Axle Plates, Inverted Slopes w/Cutout, Brackets, Tires,

 Rims, Large Cheese Slope, Cheese Slopes, Minifig Handlebar,

Minifig Chair, Studless Slope w/Lip, Bar Tile, Jumper, Tile, Grille

Tiles, Clip Plates, Clip Tile, Round Tiles, and Round Bricks. 

Build. Battle Cart.  [2Rd (pistol) 1G (wheels) 2Y (antenna) 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?  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+).  It has some good parts but it's not as interesting as the review from Wednesday.

Review: Blok Head 42316 City Builder

I visited a local Marshalls last night looking for more of the Forever Clever G.I. Joe sets and found a couple of new -- to me -- clone brick sets.  I bought them both -- because that's what I do -- and here's the first review.  This set seems to be available in bulk.

Box.  I paid $3.99 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  If you look up the company name and

set number on the instructions, this is what you get.

Minifig.  Includes a sprue of construction tools.

Parts.  Plates, Bar Tile, Plate w/Door Rail, Axle Plates, Grille Tiles, Studless Slopes w/Lip, Turntable Base, Turntable Top, Round Plate, Tires, Brick, Bracket, Rims, Lever Bases, Jumpers, Studless Slopes, Tile, Cone, Round Brick, Ball Joint Plates, and Lever Handles. 

Build.  Battle Cart [2Rh (bull bar) 1G+d8 (wheels/no ranged weapons) 2Y (sensor arms) 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?  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+).  If this had one more Male/Female Ball Joint Plate and one more Bracket, you'd be able to make a chicken walker Frame and this set would be a lot cooler.