Review: 60249 Street Sweeper

I visited a local Marshalls last week looking for more of the Forever Clever G.I. Joe sets and found a few Lego sets on the shelves.  I bought this one because the price was right and it looked like it had potential.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99, for a $0.11 Price per Piece.  I paid $7.99 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  

Minifig.  

Parts 1.  Plates, Double Slope, Windscreen, Triple Curved Wedge, Slope, Wedge w/Cutout, Axle Plates, Inverted Slopes, Tile w/Clips, Technic Brick w/2 Pinholes, Axles w/Stops, Panel, Printed Bricks, Technic Bricks w/Axle Hole, Brick, Brushes, Inverted Arches, Minifig Trash Can, Tires, Minifig Steering Wheel, and Technic Gears.

Parts 2. Curved Slopes w/2 Studs, Wedge Plates, Bar Plate, Jumpers,

Minifig Broom, Tiles, Pins, Pin/Axles, Large Cheese Slope, Bricks

w/Clips, Bricks, Minifig Shovel, Translucent Plates, Plates, Translucent

Round Plates, Translucent Tile, Technic Connectors, Rims, Bar Tile,

Bracket, Plate w/Door Rail, Translucent Cheese Slopes, and Minifig Banana.

Build.  Frame (2Rd+d8/1B), 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?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  Not a bad set, better if you can find it for a reduced price.  At the price I paid, the score is +20 (A+).

Review: 42322 Blok Head Ninja Squad

I went back to that local Marshalls a few nights ago looking for more of the Blok Head sets from the review from last Wednesday and found another new -- to me -- clone brick set.  This set also seems to be available in bulk.

Box.  I paid $3.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  If you look up the company name and

set number on the instructions, this is what you get.

Minifig.  

Parts.  Plates, 2x3 Plates w/Rounded End, Flame Pieces, Double Inverted Slope w/Cutout (the fit on this piece was really tight and had to push a piece in to make it seat), Bar Plates w/Open Ends, Hinge Plate, Ball Joint Plates, Triple Slope, Tooth Plates, Studless Slopes, Clip Plates, Bar Plate w/Closed Ends, Clip Tiles, Exo-Force Arms, Round Plates, Brick w/Studs on Sides, Cheese Slopes, and a Hinge Cylinder.

Build.  Frame, no Systems.

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+).  Frame-in-a-Box.

Review: 42561 Blok Head Police Station

I visited a local Marshalls a few nights ago looking for more of the Forever Clever G.I. Joe sets and found a couple of new -- to me -- clone brick sets.  I bought them both -- because that's what I do -- and here's the second review.  This set also seems to be available in bulk.

Box.  I paid $3.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  If you look up the company name and

set number on the instructions, this is what you get.

Minifig.  The arms are similar to the minifig in the

Make-It Blocks Zombie sets but the head has a nose.

Parts.  Plates, Axle Plates, Inverted Slopes w/Cutout, Brackets, Tires,

 Rims, Large Cheese Slope, Cheese Slopes, Minifig Handlebar,

Minifig Chair, Studless Slope w/Lip, Bar Tile, Jumper, Tile, Grille

Tiles, Clip Plates, Clip Tile, Round Tiles, and Round Bricks. 

Build. Battle Cart.  [2Rd (pistol) 1G (wheels) 2Y (antenna) 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+).  It has some good parts but it's not as interesting as the review from Wednesday.

Review: Blok Head 42316 City Builder

I visited a local Marshalls last night looking for more of the Forever Clever G.I. Joe sets and found a couple of new -- to me -- clone brick sets.  I bought them both -- because that's what I do -- and here's the first review.  This set seems to be available in bulk.

Box.  I paid $3.99 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions.  If you look up the company name and

set number on the instructions, this is what you get.

Minifig.  Includes a sprue of construction tools.

Parts.  Plates, Bar Tile, Plate w/Door Rail, Axle Plates, Grille Tiles, Studless Slopes w/Lip, Turntable Base, Turntable Top, Round Plate, Tires, Brick, Bracket, Rims, Lever Bases, Jumpers, Studless Slopes, Tile, Cone, Round Brick, Ball Joint Plates, and Lever Handles. 

Build.  Battle Cart [2Rh (bull bar) 1G+d8 (wheels/no ranged weapons) 2Y (sensor arms) 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+).  If this had one more Male/Female Ball Joint Plate and one more Bracket, you'd be able to make a chicken walker Frame and this set would be a lot cooler.

Player Count 2

I made a post last year about Frames per Player and how it bugged me that the chart didn't seem to flow right -- in my opinion.  I remember chatting with Joshua about it and it took me 'til now to make some changes.  These versions reflect the issues that Joshua saw with my previous versions.

Original

                                Frames

Players  Stations Skirmish Battle

    2           3         4 to 6 5 to 8

    3           2         3 to 5 4 to 7

    4           2         3 to 4 4 to 6

    5           1         3 to 4 3 to 5

Revision 1

                Frames

Players Stations Skirmish Battle

      2       3  4 to 6 5 to 8

      3       2  3 to 5 4 to 7

      4       2  3 to 4 3 to 6

      5       1  3 to 4 3 to 5

Revision 2

                Frames

Players Stations Skirmish Battle

      2       3  5 to 7 6 to 8

      3       2  4 to 6 5 to 7

      4       2  3 to 5 4 to 6

      5       1  3 to 4 3 to 5

New

        Frames

Players Stations Clash Skirmish Battle

      2       3 4 to 6  5 to 7 6 to 8

      3       2 3 to 5  4 to 6 5 to 7

      4       2 3 to 4  3 to 5 4 to 6

      5       2 N/A          3 to 4 3 to 5

      6       1  N/A          N/A         3 to 4

Thoughts?

Review: Make-it Blocks Zombie 3

While searching for more copies of the baseplates I'm using to make an upcoming table-setting, I started looking at other Make-It Blocks sets that were available.  Might as well get Hallowe'en started early.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

 Instructions & Sticker.

Minifig.  No extra parts this time.

Parts.  Plates, Bar Plate, Cheese Grater, Large Cheese Slope, Studless Slopes,

 Round Plate, Clip Tile, Panels, Brick w/Studs on Side, Bricks, Minifig Skeleton

Torso, Minifig Head, Minifig Skeleton Legs, Round Brick w/Leaves, Minifig Shovel,

Tile, and Chain (disassembled like this is not something we see from Lego.).

Build.  Just a 1 Hit piece of Cover.  I wasn't feeling too creative.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Maybe.  (0)
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: +15 (A).  While I feel it has a few interesting parts, you'd have to buy multiples for it to be worth it.

Review: Make-It Blocks Zombie 2

While searching for more copies of the baseplates I'm using to make an upcoming table-setting, I started looking at other Make-It Blocks sets that were available.  Might as well get Hallowe'en started early.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

 Instructions & Sticker.

Minifig.  With extra arms.

Parts.  Plates, Sea Grass, Leaves, Large Jumpers, Round Plate, Jumpers, Tiles, Bricks, Curved Bricks w/Cutout, Corrugated Brick (This is also a Brick Brick.), New Headlight Brick, Headlight Bricks, Cheese Slopes, Ingots, and Nozzle.

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+).  Useful, but not as good as the one from Monday.

Review: Make-It Blocks Zombie 1

While searching for more copies of the baseplates I'm using to make an upcoming table-setting, I started looking at other Make-It Blocks sets that were available.  Might as well get Hallowe'en started early.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

 Instructions & Sticker.

Minifig.  With an extra torso.

Parts.  Plates, Corner Plates, Bricks, Jumpers, Technic Bricks w/Pinhole,

Tooth Plates, Minifig Neck Bracket, Brick Brick, Car Grille Plates, Plate

2x2 w/Studs on Side, Wing End Bricks, Log Bricks, Cone, Bar Clips, Half

Pins, Minifig Skeleton Legs, Minifig Skeleton Arms, Minifig Axe, Bar, Flower Plate, Round Tiles, Round Brick w/Leaves, and Minifig Skeleton Torso.

Parts 2.  This is the other side of the "Brick" Brick, an interesting combination.

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+).  Bar Clips, Half Pins, Log Bricks, and Technic Bricks all make this a treasure trove of parts.

Terrain Workshop: Papercraft Trees 3

I wasn't planning on doing another one of these so soon but I came up with a build yesterday that I wanted to share.  We're still using the folding technique that Lego uses with its Minifig Capes.  But this time we've modified the trunk of the tree that's hidden under the paper.

This is the sixth papercraft tree.  I had cut the paper sections for a

different build that didn't work out.  I'm glad I kept them and used

them for this.  It will take two hits before being completely destroyed.  

Here's a size comparison picture.  In 6P scale it's roughly 34 feet tall.

Here's a breakdown of the parts involved.  The 1x1 Round Brick is the only piece from previous builds.  The trunk of the tree is four 1x3 Hinge Cylinders, one 1x2 Hinge Cylinder w/1 Finger & Axle Hole, one 1x2 Hinge Cylinder w/2 Fingers & Axle Hole, one 2L Notched Axle, and one Axle/Pin.  This gives us

a total of 12 pieces including the paper.  The base was made for a different build and is composed of one 1x2 Technic Brick w/Axle Hole, two 1x6 Bricks, two 1x2 Slopes, two 1x2 Inverted Slopes, and four 1x2 Bricks.

This is the template used to make the "leaf" sections.

Let's talk Pros & Cons.  Pros: It's fairly tall and wide so it should look

good on a table.  It's a reasonable amount of some fairly common parts.

Cons:  The technique used to build it can get a little fiddly when trying to

attach the paper and mount it in the base (see picture).  The internal

colors aren't great.  You could substitute Black for all the pieces of

the trunk but the Axle/Pin in Black hasn't been made since 2006.

So, once again, I hope people like this and find it useful.

Terrain Workshop: Papercraft Trees 2

In a continuing effort to make better -- and more interesting -- terrain, I've experimented with more paper creations.  This time I'm using a folding technique that Lego uses with its Minifig Capes.  This technique creates a bend in the paper/cloth which creates more volume and that's what we're looking for when using pieces of paper.

This is the fifth papercraft tree.  It's not originally what I was working towards

but after a quick tweak it turned into something worth keeping.  It will

take four hits before being completely destroyed.  Brickshelf gallery.

Here's a size comparison picture.  In 6P scale it's 52 feet tall.

Here's a breakdown of the parts involved.  If you swap out the three 1x1

Round Plates for a 1x1 Round Brick the total number of pieces comes 

down to 18.  I'm not sure why I didn't do this in the first place.  I dipped

back into the parts I used with the original Lego Tree Build Journal by

using an Inkwell to connect the lower trunk section to  the upper.

This is the template used to make the "leaf" sections.

Let's talk Pros & Cons.  Pros: It's tall and should look good on a table.  It's a

reasonable amount of some fairly common parts.  Cons: The technique

used to build it is a little fiddly (see picture).  The Minifig Ring piece is

only in 31 sets.  You'll only get 1.5 to 2 trees out of one piece of paper.

So, once again, I hope people like this and find it useful.

Random Mechs 28

It's a Tuesday after a long weekend and I'm feeling lazy, so have some mecha to ogle.

TNG01 Reaper by Kevin H.  Built for the

old 9 Brick Mech contest.  Love the color.

Batman's Mech Suit by Shusuke.  I'm Batman, good citizen.

Cube Robo 03 -- Iron Man Hulkbuster.  This one's a little different.

It's a video.  It may be a little large but, it's too cute not to share.

Tritone 6-ST by SuperHardcoreDave.  Some amazing sticker work here.

Lego micro Ironman and War Machine by Marco De Bon.

These look to be the right size for MFZ, and a bunch

of Iron Man suits would make an awesome squad.