Review: 30221 Fire Car Polybag 1

This was available from Target back in 2013.

Bag.  MSRP was $3.99 for a $0.11 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts.  Somewhat of a random selection here.  The Taps and Clip Tiles are always useful, as are the Bricks, Plates, Slopes, Grille Tiles, and Bar Tile too.

Build.  A variation on my Starhawk Frigate.

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-).  If you need it, buy it, otherwise I think this is one to avoid.

Review: 30166 Robin & Redbird Cycle Polybag

This was available from Toys'R'Us back in 2013 as a "free with purchase" giveaway.

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

Instructions and Minifig.

Parts.  Not a lot here.  Several Technic Bricks w/Axle Hole, Axles,
Bushings, and Axle Holders, but not much of anything else.

Build 1.  I originally had a

couple of tiny builds when I

first tried working on this set.

Build 2.  I later changed it to an IO Frigate.

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-).  Completely not worth it, but I'm a Robin fan so I had to have it anyway.

Review: 40093 Snowman

This was a seasonal set from the winter of 2014.  It maty still be available in some Toys'R'Us stores.

Box.  MSRP was $9.99 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Lots of Slopes, Plates, and Tiles here.  I'm kind of surprised the internals of a snowman would be so colorful.  The Exo-Force Robot Arms, Barbs, and Bar Claws are nice, as is the Clip Tile.

Parts 2. Plenty of Bricks, Bricks w/Studs on side, Slopes, andbar  Plates.  A couple of Bricks w/Bar (open ends) and some Large Jumpers.

Build.  A quick 4P Frame 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+).  Another good seasonal set.

MFZ News

A new chat client, named Discord, is currently in alpha testing.  A few members of the MFZ community have started using it as a substitute for IRC.  The channel can be found here.    At the moment it seems more stable than IRC so we hope you join us for some lively conversations!

In other news, people looking for a Mobile Frame Zero role-playing game might not have long to wait.  Joshua posted something on Twitter that should make part of the community happy.  I'm not sure which PAX he means in that tweet but, it looks like things are about to get interesting.

Review: 40058 Decorating the Tree Polybag

This is a polybag dating back to January 2014 that I happened to find in my local Toys'R'Us one day back in January of this year.

Bag.  MSRP is $7.99 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifigs.



Parts.  Plenty of Plates and Slopes, A few Bricks, a Cone, a few Jumpers, a few Tiles, a Technic Axle, a couple of Minifig Wands, a Motor Bricks, a few Noodle Bricks, a couple of Hinge Plates, and some Fencing.







Build.  A 4P scale Frame 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+).  Not a surprising score with that many parts in a polybag.

Review 30286 Christmas Tree Polybag

Since it is now Spring, let's start reviewing some older sets in an effort to clean out my backlog.  This is a Christmas polybag from 2015 that can still be found at some stores.

Bag.  MSRP at Target is $3.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.
MSRP at Toys'R'Us is $3.49 for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plenty of Slopes and Plates, a 2x2 Round Brick, a 1x1 Brick, a 1x1 Cone, a Headlight Brick a Motor Brick, a few Jumpers, some Flower Plates, and a couple Stars.

Build.  An HVA for Intercept Orbit with its own stand.  Or some sort of weird Cubist re-imagining of a tree.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, starship, or HVA -- 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+).  Not a bad set, just limited in the color selection.

Sales Alert

The Easter sale at Toys'R'Us I mentioned last week has been updated.  It is now 40% off certain sets, 40% off Lego Dimensions Team and Level packs, along with the Lego items I mentioned last week.

Target has a Lego sale this week too.  They also have a Mega Bloks sale.

Good hunting.

Review: 30397 Frozen Olaf's Summertime Fun Polybag

This set can be found in the Easter section at Target.

Bag.  MSRP is $3.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

"Minifig."  Not your traditional minifig, but
that just means it can be raided for parts.

Parts.  That's an eclectic mix.  I'll take the Clip Tile, Slope w/Notch, 1x2 Brick w/Studs on Side, and the Unicorn Horns right away.  Everything else will probably go in the parts bin.

Build.  I managed a tree and a
little robot, but that's not really
good enough.


The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  No.  (-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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +0 (B).  An interesting collection of parts, but not really enough to recommend it.

Sales Alert

Toys'R'Us is running a couple of sales.  The first one ends this Saturday (3/19/16) and has a few items that will interest the MFZ community.  They are 75100 Star Wars 1st Order Snow Speeder for $35.99, 75126 Star Wars Microfighter F.O. Snow Speeder for $7.99, 76031 Hulk Buster Smash for $26.39, and 76037 Rhino & Sandman Supervillian Team-Up for $34.39.

The second sale ends on Saturday the 26th (3/26/16) and is 20% off Duplo, City Fire sets, and Friends Adventure Camp sets.  Also the following Elves sets are 20% off, 41072 Naida's Spa Secret is $17.59, 41077 Aira's Pegasus Sleigh is $23.99, 41078 Skyra's Mysterious Sky Castle is $63.99, and 41075 Elve's Treetop Hideaway is $43.19 until 3/26/16.

Oh!  There's also a "Buy 1 get 1 40% off" sale on ALL Mega Bloks Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants, Minions & Monster High construction sets.

There are some good deals here.  Good hunting.

Review: 30422 Kai's Mini Dragon Polybag

This one is a "free" giveaway with $35 purchase from Lego for most of the month of March.

Bag.  MSRP will probably be $3.99 for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.  The opening in the sprue holding the Minifig Throwing Stars will fit a stud.  I'm going to try and use them on something.

Parts.  Some Mixel Joints, Plates, Slopes, Bar Plates, Clip Plates, Tooth Plates, Clip Tiles, Exo Force Robot Arms, Flame Pieces, a Half-Travis Brick, a 2x1 Female Click Hinge Plate, and a Click Hinge Axle Holder.

Build.  Yeah, this was a gimme.

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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +5 (B+).  Kinda hard to get and not really much in the way of parts.  Unless you're a completist I'd avoid this set.

Sales Alert

Target has a number of sets on sale for 20% off this week.  You can find some real deals in the following sets.

City Fire Ladder Truck 60107
Elves Aira's Pegasus Sleigh 41077
Friends Adventure Camp Archery 41120
Friends Adventure Camp Tree House 41122
Friends Heartlake Hot Air Balloon 41097
Friends Adventure Camp Rafting 41121
Chima Vardy's Ice Vulture Glider 70141
Chima Cragger's Fire Striker 70135

Chima Vultrix's Sky Scavenger 70228
Super Heroes Brainiac Attack 76040
City Helicopter Transporter 60049
Minecraft Creative Adventures The Mine 21118
City Town/City Starter Set 60086
Bionicle Lord of Skull Spiders 70790
Chima King Crominus' Rescue 70227
Jurassic World Dilophosaurus Ambush 75916

Review: 30446 The Batmobile Polybag

This one just appeared in Toys'R'Us recently

Bag.  MSRP is $3.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plenty of Plates, and Slopes, a few Brackets, Jumpers, Headlight Bricks, Rims, Tires, Axles, and Minifig Hoze Nozzles, a couple of Tooth Plates and Lampholders, one Clip Plate, 1x1 Cone, and Black Lightsaber Blade.

Build.  IO Frigate.  As with most "car"
sets, it makes a decent spaceship.

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+).  A licensed superhero set getting the max score?  Wow.

Review: 70124 Chima Eagle Legend Beast

Friday funday and the final Chima Legend Beast review.

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

Instructions.

Stickers and App card.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Wings!  Plenty of Exo-Force Robot Arms, Barbs, and Slopes, some Tiles, Plates, Printed Tiles, Wedge Plates, new Headlight Bricks, and Clip Plates, a couple Mixel Joints, one Tooth Plate.

Parts 2.  More Wings!  What really catches my eye is those Inverted Studless Slopes in the middle left of the picture.  Otherwise it's a decent selection of useful parts.

Build.  I'm calling this the Mecha-Owlbear.  I think this may be
one of the coolest looking builds I've managed from a single set.

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).  The only one of the Legend Beast sets to not score the max.

Review: 70123 Chima Lion Legend Beast

The penultimate Chima Legend Beast review.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Stickers and App card.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Plenty of Plates and Mixel Joints, some Slopes and Tiles, a couple Tooth Plates, and one Claw Bar Holder.

Parts 2.  Plenty of Plates and Slopes, some Brackets and Tooth Plates, a few Bricks, a couple Bar Plates, one Clip Plate, and one Tail.

Build.  I actually built this before I started in on my T.U.R.D. Bot fixation.

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+).