Review: Block Tech US101-2421 Cube-imals Axolotl

I found this the other day at Five Below along with a few other sets.  There's at least three other versions.  I thought this was the most interesting of the bunch so let's give it a look.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Rubber Bands.

Parts 2.  Plates, Tiles, Corner Bricks, Tiles

w/Studs on Edge, Corner Plates, Brick

w/Axle Hole, Bricks w/Pinholes, Brick,

Round Brick, and Bar Plates (open ends).

Parts 3.  Round Tile, Plates, Axle/Pin Connector Toggle Joint Smooth, Axle/Pin Connector,

Axles w/Stop, Notched Axle, Round Plates w/5 Petals, Inkwells, Half Bushings, Half Pins,

Bar Claws, Bar Connectors, Bar, and Minifig Weapon Blades w/Bar Handle & Spikes.

Build.  Frame (2W) -- taking inspiration

from my Doom Bot -- 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+).  The colors are nice but I feel like it needs more of the bits and bobs we all look for to be really good.

Review: Brix 64273-01 Bento Blox

I found this the other day at Five Below along with a few other sets.  There's at least one other version.  Let's give it a look.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00 for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Inside of box without filler/shims.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Cones, Round Bricks, Double Studless

Slopes, Round Plates, Tiles, Plates, Double

Sided Plates, and Rounded Plates.

Parts 2.  Bars w/Stop, Axle Connectors, Tiles, Brackets, Cheese

Slopes, Cones, Notched Axles, Ball Joint/Axles, Bars, Round

Tiles, Round Plates, and Flower Stems w/Stud & 3 Stems.

Build.  Two Frames (2W) 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? 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+).  When I was taking pictures of the parts in this set I wasn't that impressed.  But when I sat down to try and build something I was happy with what resulted.  Also, the box might make a half decent carrying case.

Review: Brickcraft 72613PEP Peeps Blue Bunny Easter Basket

Brickcraft once again has the Peeps license for Easter.  This is the one new set for the year, I believe, so let's give it a look.

Box.  MSRP is $7.95 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

I paid $4.97 at Walmart for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Plate w/Cutout, Quarter Circle Plates, Plates, Round

Large Jumpers, Bar Tiles, Macaroni Bricks,  Eggshells, Macaroni Plates,

Printed Macaroni Brick, Brick, Slope w/Cutout, Printed Brick, Log Bricks,

Printed Oval Brick, Tiles, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Oval Brick, Double

Curved Slopes, Apollo Studs, Bricks w/Studs on Side, Round Plates w/5

Petals, Large Cheese Slopes, Brackets, Cheese Slopes w/Studs on Slope, Bars, Bars w/Angled Hollow Studs, Round Bricks, and Macaroni Tiles.

Build.  Frame (2W), a 1 Hit piece of Cover, 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? 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+). I like the pastels, and there are some useful parts, but overall I'm not feeling this one.

Review: Brickcraft 72609BFS D.I.Y Egg

Brickcraft is debuting some new sets for Easter this year.  They still have the Peeps sets but they have a bunch of new sets this time around.  This one seems to be a, smaller, riff on Lego's Decorative Easter Egg.

Box.  MSRP is $6.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.  I paid $4.97 at Walmart for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Bricks w/Studs on Side, Corner Bricks, Truncated Cone, Corner

Plates, Studless Slopes, Large Cheese Slopes, Double Sided Plates, Heart Tiles,

Round Tiles, Stadium Tiles, Quarter Circle Tiles, and Bricks w/Stud on Side.

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+). I like all the Aqua, and the 3x4 Plates are interesting.  It's not conventional but it should add a splash of color to your regular choices.

Review: Brickcraft 72603BFS Bricktanicals Hyacinth

Brickcraft is debuting some new sets for Easter this year.  They still have the Peeps sets but they have a bunch of new sets this time around.  I was really intrigued by the Pink pieces at the core of this build so I bought the set.

Box.  MSRP is $5.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.  I paid $4.97 at Walmart for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  X by Y Leaf w/Ball Joint, Axle.

Parts 2.  Weapon Holder Rings, Axle Connectors, Flower

w/Bar, Round Bricks, Axle Connector w/Ball Joint, Cones,

Minifig Banana Peels, Stem w/Bar & 3 Leaves, Bar,

Apollo Studs, Inverted Tile Clips, Bar w/Stop, and Axles.

Build.  1 Hit piece of Cover and 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?  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+).  While the build is disappointing, this set will make a great parts pack with those Weapon Holder Rings and Ball Joint Axle Connectors.

Review: Brickcraft 72607BFS Bricktanicals Blue Sunflower in Picket Fence Pot

Brickcraft is debuting some new sets for Easter this year.  They still have the Peeps sets but they have a bunch of new sets this time around.  I was really intrigued by the Pink pieces at the core of this build so I bought the set.

Box.  MSRP is $13.99 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.  I paid $9.97 at Walmart for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Notched Round Plate, Round Plate, Plates, Bricks w/Studs

on Side, Inverted Tiles, Round Bricks, Studless Slopes, Bricks

w/Studs on Corners, Axle, Brick, and Curved Slopes w/Cutout.

Parts 2.  Round Plates, Large Steering Wheel, Octagonal Bar Plates,

2x2x2 Round Bricks, Eggs, 7x4 Leaves w/Clip, Axles, 4x2 Leaves w/Clip,

2x2 Round Bricks, Half 2x2 Round Brick w/45 Deg. Bend, Clip Plates,

Round Tile w/Pinhole, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, and 2L Notched Axle.

Parts 3.  Tiles w/Studs on Edge, Large Stadium Tiles, Round Plates,

Corner Plates, Plates, Large Hinge Brick Tops, Brackets, Large Cheese

Slopes, Hinge Brick Bases, Cheese Slopes w/Stud on Slope, and Tiles.

Build.  Two Frames (2W), 1 Hit

piece of Cover, 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? 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, a Station, Cover, and tons of extra pieces leftover.  Yes, please!

Review: Make-It Blocks Block Rabbit

Easter is coming up soon and Make-It Blocks is debuting some new sets.  I think.  The Block Chick from last year is back.  I'm not sure if I missed this one last year or if it's new but I'm reviewing it anyway.

Box.  MSRP is $1.50 for a $0.02 Price per Piece

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts 1.  Bricks, Plates, Tiles, Corner Tile, Studless Slopes,

Brackets, Curved Slopes w/Cutout, and Bricks w/Stud on Side.

Parts 2.  Plates, Jumpers, Padlocks, Studless Slopes, Round Plates w/Clips,

Round Tiles, Stadium Tile, Brackets, Clip Tiles, and Headlight Bricks.

Build.  Frame (2W) 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+). I like it but, I feel like you'll need two of them to make something substantial.