Terrain Workshop: Balloon Tree

I know I have a terrain feature in my Alien Planet table-setting with the same name.  This one is made of different pieces and is a lot smaller.  Also, I realize this build is somewhat silly but sometimes you have to throw things against the wall to see what sticks.

This one starts at the top with a 3x3x1.3 Dome on top of an inverted 3x3x3 Cone.

They are connected with a Friction Pin.  The Cone is slotted onto a 6L Bar w/Stop Ring.

That is plugged into two 1x1 Round Plates w/Open Stud.  This is a total of six

pieces which is 1 Hit.  They are 27 feet tall and 7.5 feet across in 6P scale.

Right now I only have the two main pieces in Yellowish Green.

I happen to like that color but, there are only two other colors

that these pieces share -- Black and Orange.  So there isn't a

heck of a lot of variety to be found in this build at the moment.

Yellowish Green is nicely weird though and should fit into a

science fiction themed battlefield pretty well.  I hope this

gives people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.

Flickr page.

Review: 42233 Technic Mighty Machines Dump Truck

This is a new for 2026 Technic series.  The builds being packaged in a blind box format like the Collectable Minifig Series is an interesting gambit.  Just as a "heads up" the numbers next to the QR code do not match up to the contents of the box.  I've already bought one duplicate so far.

Box.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

QR Code.

Instructions & Game Piece.

Parts.  Thin Liftarms w/Frame, Shovel Panels,

Perpendicular Split Axle/Pin Connectors, Bent Liftarm,

Perpendicular Axle/Pin Connectors, Tires, Rims,

Pins, Notched Axles, Axles, 3/4 Pins, and Axle/Pins.

Build.  Frame (2B {pivoting shield} 1Gd8 {no ranged weapons} 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?  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).  Four Perpendicular Split Axle/Pin Connectors is nice but onesies of some other parts is less nice.

Overall thoughts: There are some fun and useful pieces in these sets.  I can't wait to see the Thin Liftarms w/Frame and Shovel Panels in other colors.  The price point could have been a skosh better -- $4 would have been killer.  The blind box thing is just annoying though, especially with none of the QR codes being in any of the free online readers.

Review: 42233 Technic Mighty Machines Excavator

This is a new for 2026 Technic series.  The builds being packaged in a blind box format like the Collectable Minifig Series is an interesting gambit.  Just as a "heads up" the numbers next to the QR code do not match up to the contents of the box.  I've already bought one duplicate so far.

Box.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.11 Price per Piece.

QR Code.

Instructions & Game Piece.

Parts.  Liftarms, Link w/o Stoppers, Thin Liftarms

w/Frame, Shovel Panels, Axle Connector, Thin

Liftarms, Axle/Pin Connector, Perpendicular

Axle/Pin Connector, Half Bushings, Pin w/Pin

Connector, Axle w/Pin Connector, Bushings,

Friction Axle/Pins, Axles, Friction Pins, Ball Joint

Pins, Axle/Pin, Axles w/Stop, and Angled Liftarm.

Build (1st Attempt).  Frame (2W).

Build (2nd Attempt).  Frame (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?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  I'm much happier with this set after my second crack at a build.  The odd number of certain pieces is still annoying but just buy two.

Review: 42233 Technic Mighty Machines Bulldozer

 This is a new for 2026 Technic series.  The builds being packaged in a blind box format like the Collectable Minifig Series is an interesting gambit.  Just as a "heads up" the numbers next to the QR code do not match up to the contents of the box.  I've already bought one duplicate so far.

Box.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

QR Code.

Instructions & Game Piece.

Parts.  Thin Liftarms, Axle/Pin Connectors,

Perpendicular Axle/Pin Connectors, Axle w/

Stop, Axles, 1L Liftarms, Worm Gear, Gear,

Bushings, Liftarms w/Frame, and 3/4 Pins.

 

Build.  Frame (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?  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).  I feel like this needed one more 3/4 Pin, or a Friction Pin, or something to make it a bit more viable as a set -- despite the score.

Battle Report: Cherry Blossom Forest 6

This is our third game of the year  It's been roughly three years since we've used this table-setting.  It was a Battle.

Tom (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 49 points.
   Green Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

   Pink Tank -- 2Rd+d8/2B/2W.

   Brown Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W + SSR.
   White Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W + SSR.

   Grey Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

Me (6 Frames & 23 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (8 assets) = 32 points.  (DGR-1 Squad)

   Brown Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   White Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Tan Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2w + SSR.
   Orange Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W.
   Yellow Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W.
   Lime Light Recon by Fire -- 2Ra/2Y/2W.

Phungkyjams (6 Frames & 24 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (8 assets) = 24 points.  (Dockhands)
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   Purple Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   Yellow Squad Leader -- 2Rd/1B/2Y/2W.
   Red Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Blue Armored Assault -- 2Rd/2B/1G/2W + SSR(x2).
   Lime Instigator -- 2Ra/1G/2Y/2W.

This is what the table looked like at the start of the game.

Events of Round 1 (DDC@11): Tom's Brown frame hits my Orange frame for 1.  My Orange frame moves North and captures Tom's First station.  Tom's Pink frame takes a few steps East and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1.  Tom's Green frame hits Phungkyjams' Lime frame for 3.  Phungkyjams' Blue frame hits the tree in front of Tom's Pink frame for 1.  My Lime frame hits Tom's Grey frame for 1.  My Yellow frame moves Northwest and captures Phungkyjams' Comms station.  My White frame moves North around the trees in front of it and hits Tom's Green frame for 3.  My Brown frame steps West and hits Tom's Green frame for 2.

Tom: 42 Points.

Me: 40 points.

Phungkyjams: 21 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 8): Tom's Green frame moves Southeast and kicks the mesa my Lime frame is on for 1.  Tom's Pink frame hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1.  My Brown frame hits Tom's Green frame for 3, destroying it, then retreats back behind the trees.  Phungkyjams' Blue frame hits my Orange frame for 1, then moves South to capture Tom's First station that was under my control.  Phungkyjams' Lime frame hits the damaged mesa for 1 with a SSR, then runs East past the bridge.  Phungkyjams' Red frame takes a couple steps South and hits the damaged mesa again for 3, destroying it.  My Lime takes 1 Falling damage as a result.

Me: 36 points.

Tom: 35 Points.

Phungkyjams: 24 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 5): My Orange frame steps North and slashes Tom's Grey frame for 3, Station Dance, and my Orange frame captures his Second station.  Phungkyjams' Lime frame runs East and recaptures his Comms station.  Phungkyjams' Purple frame hits my Orange frame for 1, Station Dance, then Phungkyjams' Blue frame captures Tom's Second station that was under my control.  Phungkyjams' Orange frame hits my White frame for 3.  Tom's Pink frame moves around the Twin Teeth and hits my White frame for 1 and the tree it was using for Cover for 1.  Phungkyjams' Red frame hits Tom's Pink frame for 1 then moves Northeast to the other side of the bridge.

Me: 32 points.

Phungkyjams: 30 points.

Tom: 28 Points.

Events of Round 4 (DDC @ 3): My Tan frame, which has been moving steadily Northward, hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1.  My Orange frame moves South and hits Phungkyjams' Lime frame for 1, Station Dance.  Phungkyjams' Red frame hits my Orange frame for 2 in response.  My Yellow frame jumps South -- over some trees -- and hits Phungkyjams' Blue frame for 1.  Phungkyjams' Blue frame then hits my Orange frame for 1.  Tom's White frame hits Phungkyjams' Lime frame for 3, Station Dance.  Phungkyjams' Purple frame hits my Orange frame for 2, destroying it, then moves South to Tom's First station.  Tom's Brown frame hits Phungkyjams' Lime frame for 2, destroying it.  Tom's Pink frame moves East along the stream and hits my White frame for 6, destroying it.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Tom: 28 Points.

Phungkyjams: 27 points.

Me: 24 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Round 1.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Battle.
• This was a tense and well fought game.
• We did not use the Neutral Station rule.
• We used the "New 1.3" player count formula from my "Player Count 6" blog post.
• We had Falling damage!
• I probably lost the game when I started attacking Tom's forces on the Western edge of the battlefield.
• I probably should have put together a little more aggressive force, replaced one of the Soldiers with a Brawler and moved all the SSRs onto the melee Frames.
• Speaking of SSRs, I didn't get a complete log of their use but I think the last one was used in Round 3. Which is pretty deep into the game.
• Speaking of game length, both Tom and Phungkyjams talked about going another Round when counting down the clock and I think that had an effect on how conservative I played in the final Round.
• I really need to build a Compass Rose for this table-setting.  I have some ideas percolating.
• Flickr page.

Review: Teso-X 15014 Colorful Bloom Protea

Teso Life is selling these Botanical sets under their "Teso-X" brand imprint.  But they're made by a different manufacturer entirely.

Box.  The price I paid at Teso is $5.99, for a $0.06 Price per Piece.  MSRP from Pantasy is $7.99, for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Bag.  As you can see, this is made by Pantasy.

Parts 1.  Steering Wheels, Octagonal Bar

Plates, Wide Curved Claws, Hexagonal

Windscreens w/Bar, and Round Brick. 

Parts 2.  Large Barbs/Claws/Teeth, Clip Claws, Axle Connectors,

Perpendicular Axle/Connectors, Pin Connector, Angled Axle

Connectors w/Pinhole, Axle/Pins, Axles, Horns, Bar Claws, Clip

Bar Holders, Exo-Force Arms, Medium Barbs/Claws/Teeth,

Pin Connector w/Clips, Round Plates, and Apollo Studs.

Build.  Two Frames (2Rh+d8/2W) [Systems

are Orange.] 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+).  Two Frames and Cover is a decent start.