Terrain Workshop: Lesser Pirate Palm

Wanting to use the Triple Pin/Axle Connector in a more "normal" build, I came up with the following idea.  This doesn't have much in common with the original Pirate Palm beyond the 6x5 Swordleaf w/Clip piece.

Inserted into the ends of the Triple Axle/Pin Connector are three

2L Bars w/Stop Ring, attached to those are three 6x5 Swordleaves w/Clip.

That assembly is placed onto a 1L Axle/2L Pin w/Friction Ridges

which is plugged into a Smooth 2L Axle Connector which is attached

to another Smooth 2L Axle Connector by a Notched Axle.  The stack

is topped off with a 1x1 Round Brick.  This is a total of twelve pieces

which is 2 Hits.  It's 26 feet tall and 16 feet wide in 6P Scale.

I'm calling it a "Lesser Pirate Palm" because it only uses three Swordleaf pieces as opposed to the four of the original.  The trunk is also shorter in this design.  When I first built this I had the leaves pointing at the ground.  But I discovered that it looked so much better the other way around.  I hope this gives people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.

Terrain Workshop: (Clone) Trees 31

So this build is a one-off.  A look at what it's possible to create when you don't care about availability or cost effectiveness.  I have two of the Brickcraft Axle Connector w/5 Leaves pieces from recent reviews.   There's only one in each set so that basically makes them $4.97 each if you buy the set just to get them.

Working down from the Axle Connectors w/Leaves we have 2L Axles going into a Dark Brown Triple Axle/Pin Connector linked by a Friction Axle/Pin to a Reddish Brown 2L Pin Connector w/Slot.  Then there are two 1x1 Round Bricks with a 1x1 Round Plate between them, and it ends in a Smooth 2L Axle Connector attached to the stack with a Friction Axle/Pin.  This is a total of twelve pieces which is 2 Hits.  It's 32 feet tall and 19 feet wide in 6P Scale.  As you can see from the size comparison picture it is fairly large.

I chose to end it in the Smooth 2L Axle Connector so I didn't have to use a Large Jumper (of either the Square or Round variety) to secure it to the Plate.  The Friction Axle/Pin between that and the 1x1 Round Brick is slightly exposed but I can live with that.

In terms of price the 2L Axles are $0.01 each, Triple Axle/Pin Connector is $0.03, Friction Axle/Pins are $0.01 each, the 2L Pin Connector w/Slot is $0.02, 1x1 Round Bricks are $0.01 each, the 1x1 Round Plate is $0.01, and the Smooth 2L Axle Connector is $0.01 for a total of $10.07 for the entire tree.  I hope this gives people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.

Flickr page.

Terrain Workshop: Solar Panels

Recently SkullHPT posted an image of a Solar Panel Station on the Discord.  This made me look for an image of my solar panel design used in my Roadway Rumble table-setting, and I didn't have any.  So that became an excuse for this Terrain Workshop.

This is a pretty simple build, the majority of the parts are four Printed 1x4 Tiles.  These are placed on a 4x4 Plate which is attached to a Hinge Brick Base and 2x2 Top Plate combo.  This is a total of six pieces which is 1

Hit.  It's 11 feet tall (depending on the angle) and 10 feet wide in 6P Scale.

I generally mount them on a 2x2 Turntable to give them a "play function".

As you can see, up against the usual suspects, it's a decent size.  I hope

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

Flickr page.

Review: 30723 Ninjago Cole's 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 Target.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.13 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts.  Plates, Tires, Rims, Wedge Plates, Axle

Plates, Curved Slope w/Studs, Slope, Spoiler

w/Bar, Clip Plates, Jumper, Cheese Graters,

Log Brick, Minifig Handlebar, Flexible

Spikes, Bar Bar Holders, and Clip Tile.

Build.  Battlecart Swarmer (2Rh+d8 [blades] 1B [armor panel] 1Gd8

[no ranged weapons] 1Y [katana antenna] 2W).  Systems are Gold.

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 like it.  I generally like Ninjago vehicle sets.  But, 39 pieces with no spares?  I'm sure that's great for Lego's bottom line.  I don't see how it's good for their customers though.

Review: 30720 Ariel & Flounder's Birthday Music Fun 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 Target.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.13 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Parts.  Half Oval Plate, Plates, Rounded Plates,

Round Bricks, Curved Corner Bricks, Cones,

Minifig Forks, Studless Slopes, Clip Plates,

Printed Tiles,  Flowers w/Bar, Tulips w/Bar, and 

Translucent Round Plates w/Curved Upright Leaf.

  

Build.  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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +5 (B+). I like the colors and there are useful parts but that PpP is awful.

Review: 30721 Friends Flower Stand with Roses 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 Target.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Parts.  Half Circle Plate, Plates, Arch, Round Brick w/Diagonal Bars,

Panels, Inverted Domes, Headlight Bricks, Transparent Panels, Clip

Bricks, Brick w/Stud on Side, Ice Cream Cones, Plate w/Bar Up,

Triangle Tiles, Sunflower, Studless Slopes, Clip Plates, Apollo Studs,

Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Flower Stems, Peony Roses, Round Plates

w/Flower Edge, Taps, Minifig Scissors, and Translucent Round Brick.

Build.  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?  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+). Nice colors, useful parts, still needs a little something to be awesome.

Terrain Workshop: Tree 30

Let's finish out the week with a callback to a two year old design with a couple of parts changes and some color changes.

It begins with two 2x2 Round Brick 45 Deg. Elbow, and a Dragon Tail/Curved Neck, all of which are connected with 2L Notched Axles -- including one that goes into the base. Then an Friction Pin connects a Travis Brick to the top of the Tail/Neck, and four 6x5 Plant Leaves are connected to that. That is a total of twelve pieces which is 2 Hits. In 6P Scale -- and this layout -- it's 5 feet thick, 40 feet long, 30 feet tall, and 27.5 feet wide (at the end).

I've got two of the Dragon Tail/Curved Neck pieces so that's all

I have assembled at the moment.  I hope I've given people ideas

or techniques to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.