Terrain Workshop: Trees 32

Sometimes you subconsciously reach back to older builds while trying to design something new.  That's not a bad thing.  If a technique has worked before, it should work again.  Today's creation draws from ideas I had back in 2022.

This build starts with a 1x1x6 Solid Pillar Support and a Travis Brick with four

Trunks w/Bar End (Long Straight Tip) plugged into it.  On the ends of the

Trunks are four 1x2 Round Plates w/Pointed Leaf.  On top of the Travis

Brick is a 1x1 Round Brick and a 1x1Round Plate w/Twist.  This tree is 29 feet

tall and 15 feet across in 6P scale and can take 2 Hits before being destroyed.

As you can see in this version, I changed the colors and a few of the parts to

make something that would fit better with some of the plants in my Oasis

setting.  The trunk is changed to two 3L Axle Connectors joined by a

Notched Axle.  Topping that off is an Axle/Friction Pin.  The Travis Brick,

four Trunks, and four Pointed Leaves are added to that.  Topping off the

stack is a 1x1 Cone.  Added to the outside of the Pointed Leaves are four

1x1 Round Plates w/3 Layered Leaves.  This version is 26 feet tall and

15 feet across in 6P scale and can take 3 Hits before being destroyed.

Here's the size comparison against the usual suspects.  Once again I hope I've given people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.

Review: Brix 64169 Fashion Bags Quilted Bag

These sets have been out for a while but are still available, for the moment.  They aren't labeled as a Brix Buildable Trio but they are packaged as such.    All of them have some interesting Colors and Parts, so let's take a week and review them.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00 for a $0.13 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts.  Half Circle Plates, Tiles, Quarter

Circle Plates, Plates, Double Sided Plates,

Large Macaroni Tiles, Chain, Round Plates

w/4 Petals, Brackets, Quarter Circle

Tiles, and Small Macaroni Tiles.

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-).  This is the weakest set of the bunch but it still has some decent pieces.  I figure the overall set is worth it just for the amount of Gold, Dark Blue, and Olive Green pieces you get.

Review: Brix 64169 Fashion Bag Blue & White

These sets have been out for a while but are still available, for the moment.  They aren't labeled as a Brix Buildable Trio but they are packaged as such.    All of them have some interesting Colors and Parts, so let's take a week and review them.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00 for a $0.11 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Tiles, Double Jumpers, Jumpers,

Round Plates w/4 Petals, Brackets, Bar Connectors,

Bar, Hinge Brick Bases, Hinge Brick Tops, Bricks w/

Stud on Side, and Elbow Macaroni Round Bricks.

Build.  IO Frigate (2Ras+d8) [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? Yes. (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  I like the Macaroni Bricks and the Gold pieces but, I feel like it needs a little more to bulk it out.

Review: Brix 64169 Fashion Bags Green Bag

These sets have been out for a while but are still available, for the moment.  They aren't labeled as a Brix Buildable Trio but they are packaged as such.    All of them have some interesting Colors and Parts, so let's take a week and review them.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Flexible Hose.

Parts 2.  Quarter Oval Plates, Plates, Tiles, Quarter Circle Plates,

Inverted Studless Slopes, Corner Tiles, Corner Tiles w/Cutout,

Jumper, Quarter Circle Tiles, Round Plates w/4 Petals, Stadium

Tiles, Brackets, Bricks w/Stud on Side, Brick, and Corner Plate.

Build.  Frame (2Rd) [System is Yellow.] and

nano scale Futurama ship (Station or HVA).

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+). Olive Green and Pale Yellow is a nice color combo.

Review: Make Market 795528 Floral Brick Art Lily of the Valley

A few months ago Michael's started carrying Make Market Floral Brick Art sets.  They're basically copies of sets by Block Tech, Make -It Blocks, and other botanical set creators.  I was originally going to try and review as many of the 27-odd sets that I managed to track down.  But, as these sets have all gone on clearance at 60% off I'm going to do something different.  I'm going to review three sets -- each at different Price per Piece levels -- and put together a post mortem in the final review on why this line tanked when every other company is still going.

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

Back of Box.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Dishes, Domes, Minifig Whips, Plates, Round Plates, Round

Large Jumpers, Studless Slopes, Pin Connectors w/Pin, Candles, Pin

Connector, Axle Connectors w/Pinhole, 3L Axle Connectors, Dinosaur

Tail/Neck Middle Section w/Bar Hole & Technic Pin, and Bar w/Stop.

Parts 2.  Wedge Studless Slopes, Brackets, Axles, and Bars.

Parts 3.  Wedge Studless Slopes, Half Pins,

Bar Connectors, Cones, and Pin/Axle.

Build.  Frame (2W), Station, and two 1 Hit pieces 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+).  If you need 1x1-1x1 Brackets and Wedge Studless Slopes then this is the set for you.  It has some other useful pieces, and I like Pale Yellow, but I feel like Wednesday's review was the better set.

My thoughts on the whole matter: One, unfortunately the parts count is listed on the back of the package so you have to do a little digging to see which ones are affordable.  Two, the starting price point was $10.00 where Five Below -- for a counter example -- charges $4.00 to $6.00 usually.  Three, Michael's is not a place you think of when it comes to building block sets.  Yeah, they have a lot of online third party product but there's not a lot available in the actual stores.  Four, nowhere on the package does it state that it's compatible with Lego even though it is.  One item on the plus side of the ledger is some of the sets had parts in colors not available from Lego.  Overall I'm not sure whom the target was but they obviously missed.

Review: Make Market 795531 Floral Brick Art Carnation

A few months ago Michael's started carrying Make Market Floral Brick Art sets.  They're basically copies of sets by Block Tech, Make -It Blocks, and other botanical set creators.  I was originally going to try and review as many of the 27-odd sets that I managed to track down.  But, as these sets have all gone on clearance at 60% off I'm going to do something different.  I'm going to review three sets -- each at different Price per Piece levels -- and put together a post mortem in the final post on why this line tanked when every other company is still going.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.10 Price per Piece.  

Back of Box.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Octagonal Bar Plates, Translucent Round Plate w/4 Petals, Round Large

Jumper, Round Plates, Cone, Translucent Minifig Mop Head, Ball Joint Plates, 3L

Axle Connectors, Minifig Skis, Bar w/Stop, Axles, and Wedge Studless Slopes.

Parts 2.  Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Ball

Joint Pins, Pneuma-Ts, Minifig Nozzles,

Bar, Clip Bar Holders, and Cone.

Build.  Frames (2W), Station,

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? 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).  Better than Monday's review, Octagonal Bar Plates, Ball Joints, and Hot Pink parts are all interesting to me.  But, if this had two more pieces it would have had a better score. 

Review: Make Market 795513 Floral Brick Art Areca Palm

A few months ago Michael's started carrying Make Market Floral Brick Art sets.  They're basically copies of sets by Block Tech, Make -It Blocks, and other botanical set creators.  I was originally going to try and review as many of the 27-odd sets that I managed to track down.  But, as these sets have all gone on clearance at 60% off I'm going to do something different.  I'm going to review three sets -- each at different Price per Piece levels -- and put together a post mortem in the final post on why this line tanked when every other company is still going.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.17 Price per Piece.  

Back of box.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  9L Wings, 8x3 Palm Leaf, Studless Slopes, Axle Plates, 1x4 Offset 

Plates, 3x5 Leaves, Plate, Jumper, Notched Axles, 3L Axle Connectors,

Axle Connectors, Axle Connectors w/Pinhole, Axles, Axle/Pins, Bent Axle Connectors w/Pinhole, Bar Claws, Stadium Tiles, and Half Pins.

Build.  Frame and two 1 Hit pieces 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+). The Price per Piece is awful but, this is the only source of those 9L Wings in Green that I know of.  So I'm gonna grab as many of this set as I can.