Review: 30433 Volvo Wheel Loader Polybag

I found this in Target in the Seasonal section along with three other polybag sets that I have already reviewed, one recently, so you're getting this review now.

Bag.  I paid $4.99 at Target, for a $0.07 Price per Piece. 

Instructions & Stickers

Parts.  Hinge Plow, Technic Panel, Tires, Thin Liftarms, Bent Liftarms,

Angled Liftarms, Axles, Axle w/Stop, Technic Connector w/Axles, 3L

Friction Pins, 3L Pins, 3/4 Pins, 1/2 Pins, Half Bushings, Cheese Graters,

Pin Connector, Barrel Hinge w/Axle Hole, Worm Screw, Gears, and Rims.

Build.  Ramcart! (2Rh/1Gd8/2W)

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+).  Plenty of Technic parts, feels like it needs something more though.

Review: 41697 Friends Turtle Protection Vehicle

I needed this set for one of the parts so I figured since it was under my self-imposed size limit I'd review it for you.

Box.  I paid $9.99, for a $0.11 Price per Piece. 

Instructions & Stickers

Minidolls.

Parts 1.  Plate.  Loose in box.

Parts 2.  Plates, Sword Leaves, Curved Plates, Mudguard Plates, Minifig

Surfboard, Tires, Inverted Slope, Rims, Axle Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Clip

Plate, Bracket, Brick w/Studs on Side, Technic Brick w/Axle Hole, Dinosaur

Tail/Neck, Crab, Turtle, Small Turtle, and Grille Guard/Push Bumper.

Parts 3.  Plates, Large Jumper, Clip Sign, Panels, Crown/Eggshell, Studless

Slope, Jumpers, Tile, Grille Tile, Large Cheese Slope, Flower Plates, Tile

Clips, Cheese Slopes, Rims, Round Translucent Tiles, Technic Connector

 w/Axle, Minifig Baby Bottle, Antenna, Bars, Slope w/Cutout, Plates w/Door

 Rails, Minifig Handlebar, Minidoll Life Jacket, and Minifig Hypodermic Needles.

 

Build.  Battlecart (2Rh/1Gd8/2Y/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?  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+).  Another good Friends set.  Six more pieces would have given this a +15 score.

Review: Gundam Converge MSN-04 Sazabi (121)

Let's do another Gundam Converge review week.  These sets are from the first wave of 10th anniversary sets which was released in March of 2022.

Box.  I paid $10.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The head vanes could be Spotting.  The head could be Defense or Spotting.  The backpack vanes could be Defense, Movement, or Spotting.  The shield could be Defense.  The sword could be Melee.  The assault rifle could be Direct Fire.  The long gun could be Artillery.  The arms can be removed for White dice damage.

Assembled.  I didn't fit the shield because either I'm going blind

or there was no mounting hole in the left arm of this model.

Size Comparison.

The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Above.  (-10)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  About the same size as a Chub.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Five.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  A good looking model with lots of accessories and options.

Review: Gundam Converge RX-178 Gundam Mk-II (152)

Let's do another Gundam Converge review week.  These sets are from the first wave of 10th anniversary sets which was released in March of 2022.

Box.  I paid $10.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The head vane could be Spotting.  The head could be

Defense or Spotting.  The shield could be Defense.  The gun could

be Direct Fire.  The arms can be removed for White dice damage.

Assembled.

Size Comparison.

The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Above.  (-10)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  About the same size as a Chub.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Four.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  The neat thing about this one is that you could buy three of them and use the different shoulder marking pieces to tell them apart.

Review: Gundam Converge YMS-15 Gyan (267)

Let's do another Gundam Converge review week.  These sets are from the first wave of 10th anniversary sets which was released in March of 2022.

Box.  I paid $10.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The head could be Defense or Spotting.  The shield could be Defense.  The sword could be Melee.  The arms can be removed for White dice damage.

Assembled.

Size Comparison.

The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Above.  (-10)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  About the same size as a Chub.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Three.  (0)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: 0 (B).  Kinda silly looking and the head angle doesn't match the box picture.

The Road to PAX Unplugged 2022

After a year that didn't happen and skipping a year that did, I'm going back to PAX Unplugged and Philadelphia.  Joshua has a booth under his Glyphpress banner, number 4102, and I will be running demos of Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack for him.  I'll also try to organize a big game there -- like I always do -- there has already been discussion on the Facebook group.  Badges are still available if you're on the fence.  I hope to see people there!  Two weeks!

Terrain Workshop: Trees 7

It's been a minute since we had a Terrain Workshop -- and since I wanted to do more of them this year let's get back to it.  I stumbled across the Minifig Hot Dog/Sausage in Reddish Brown while digging through a set for other pieces and that gave me an idea for a small tree/large bush.  (I guess this is the "Year of the Tree" for Terrain Workshop?)  Fitting four of those into a Travis Brick, then placing Round Plates w/3 Leaves on the end of those simulates branches and foliage.  Placing that on top of two 1x1 Round Bricks and capping it off with a Cone leads to a total of twelve pieces which is 2 Hits.

Size comparison with the usual suspects.

In 6P scale it's 12 feet tall and 12.5 feet wide, with the trunk being 2.5 feet thick.  It could make for some sort of a Rhododendron, especially if you changed the color on one or more of the leaves.  It could also make for a pretty decent looking tree in one of the smaller scales, 4P or 2P possibly.  I feel like it would fit in well with Little Brick Root's style of building.

If you think it's too tall you could swap out one of the 1x1 Round Bricks for a 1x1 Round Plate which would keep the parts quantity the same -- and also keep it above the height minimum for Cover -- but reduce it to 10 feet tall in 6P scale.

Flickr page.

Sales Alert

Target is running a "20% Off on Select City, Disney Princess, Duplo, and Super Mario sets" sale this week.

Walmart is running an Early Black Friday sale on Duplo Classic Creative Animals 10934 and Classic Bricks and Animals 11011 this week as well.

Good hunting.

Review: 40512 Fun and Funky VIP Add On Pack Polybag

This is a "Free with Purchase" giveaway for a $50 expenditure for VIP patrons in November at the Lego store.

Bag.  MSRP is $9.99, for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Parts 1.  Plates, Minifig Skateboard, Wings, Fences, 1x2x2.6 Bricks w/Studs on

Side, Beehives, Translucent Round Bricks, Minifig Pigs, 2x3 Rounded Plates,

Elbow Macaroni, Splat Plates, Domes, Minifig Fishes, Printed Round Tiles,

Translucent Tiles, Turntable Bases, Minifig Top Hats, Minifig Bananas, Minifig

Guitar, Minifig Helmets, Skateboard Wheels, Glow-in-the-Dark Minifig

Heads, Clip Tiles Minifig Frogs, and Printed Minifig Heads (Pineapples).

Parts 2.  Rounded Plates, Plates, Minifig Frogs, Leaves, Minifig Roller Skates, Clip

Bar Holders, Stars, Flower Rounded plates, Printed Round Tiles, Translucent Minifig

Wands, Translucent Lightning, Levers & Bases, Poop Tiles, and Minifig Scuba Masks.

 

 Build.  Station.  A little pork appropriation (earmark?) for people to fight over.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Station.  (+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+).  Tons of neat colors and parts but nothing substantial, more of a supplemental pack than a core set.

Review: H11103 Stax Elephant

I'm always on the lookout for new and different sets to review.  I was in Ocean State Job Lots the other week looking for snacks for our most recent game and I stumbled across this set.

Box.  I paid $5.00 for this which is either $0.08 or $0.07 per

Piece depending on how you interpret the quantity of pieces.

Instructions.

 Parts 1.  Sound & Light Brick.  This was built into the packaging.

Parts 2.  Battery, and Sound Bricks.

 Parts 3.  Bricks, Slopes, Inverted Slopes, Plates, Tiles, and Cheese Slopes.

Build.  Two 2 Hit pieces of 

Cover, one 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? 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+).  Beyond the inexpensive light and sound bricks I'm not that impressed.

Review: 30584 Winter Holiday Train Polybag

I found this polybag when I was investigating a new toy store that opened near my work.

Bag.  I paid $6.99 at "Playnow", for a $0.10 Price per Piece.  Brickset has the MSRP at $3.99 which seems odd as current pricing for polybags is $4.99 per.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Double Curved Slopes w/Studs, Round Flower Plates,

Studless Slopes, Bricks, Inkwells, Large Jumpers, Ball Joint Plates, Bar

Plates, Plate w/2 Studs on Side, Round Tiles, Axle Plates, 1x2x2 Bricks,

Bracket, Candlestick, Corrugated Brick, Transparent Bricks, Technic Bricks

w/Pinhole, Panel, Corner Bricks, Round Large Jumper, and Train Wheels.

Build.  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?  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 (B-).  It has a decent amount of parts but the colors are all over the place.

Build Journal: Quadcast 3

In the first Quadcast Build Journal I created two types of Quadcast frame, regular and inverted.  As evidenced by my second Quadcast Build Journal I kept working on the inverted version.  I always liked the regular version but I didn't have enough of the Mod. Brick 1x2 w/Bar Handle on End to make more.  Then I stumbled into a source and started working on a new squad.

I made two minor-ish changes from the original version.  The first, small one was to change the color of the Jumpers used as feet to match the color of the Brick in the center of the chest.  This will make the individual units easier to tell apart in game photos.  The second, greater one was to change the construction of the head from a 1x3 Curved Slope to a 1x3 Inverted Arch topped by a Pyramid.  I feel like this gives it a lot more character and gets away from my "standard" head design.  It still retains the Translucent 1x1 Round Plate as the "eye"/sensor though.

Here's a picture of a single Frame in the "Military Tradeshow" layout with all the Systems.  Systems are all made from Dark Bley parts to differentiate them from the core build and are Color Tagged for reference.  The Defense and Movement systems are both split into paired units for visual and artistic balance even though it might be slightly confusing for gameplay.

Here's a picture of the assembled squad along with Stations and Single Shot Rockets.

Brickshelf gallery.  Flickr page.  I'm having fun with this Frame.  There's something about the vibe of these when the Systems are in place.  They feel kind of Gundam-esque with all the weapons, armor, and equipment hanging off them.

Battle Report: Neue Regel 4

We got together last weekend for our seventh full size game this year.  It's been two years since this table-setting has seen use -- even longer than that for a posted game.  For the first time in a long while we have new players in back to back games.  It's also been three years since Stevenik has managed back to back games.  This was a Skirmish.

Stevenik (4 Frames & 14 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 30 points.
   Green Armored Spotter -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR (x3).
   Orange Artillerist -- 2Ra+d8/2B/2W.
   Blue Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W.
   Gold -- 2Ra/1B/2W.

Tom (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 25 points.
   Blue Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   White Medium Tank -- 2Rd+d8/1B/2W.

   Orange Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Yellow Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

Phungkyjams (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 25 points.  (Strikehands)
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Yellow Assault -- 2Rd/1B/1G/2W + SSR (x2).

   Bright Yellow Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Dark Blue Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W.

Me (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points. (Combined Arms Squad)

   Red Mjolnir Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W + SSR(x2).

   Orange Walker Tank Heavy Assault -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1G/2W.

   Blue Walker Tank Heavy Assault -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1G/2W.

   White Death Drone Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/12B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

Greko (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points.  (Frames)
   Green Northstar Fast Stalker -- 1B/1G+d8/2Y/2W + SSR(x2).

   Yellow Bananaman Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y2W.

   White Osprey Fast Assault -- 2Rd/1B/2G/2W.

   Red/Grey Hi-Leg Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y2W.

This is what the table looked like at the start of the game.

Events of Round 1 (DDC@11): Stevenik's Blue frame captures my Station before the game starts.  Phungkyjams' Bright Yellow frame hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 1. Phungkyjams' Orange frame moves to the Bladewing Statue and hits my White frame for 1.  My White frame hits Stevenik's Blue frame for 1 with a SSR then moves behind the Jagged Tree.  Stevenik's Blue frame skuttles at an angle and captures Phungkyjams' Station then hits my Blue frame for 1.  My Blue frame retaliates back for 2 damage and moves behind a Helmet Statue.  Tom's Yellow frame hits Stevenik's Blue frame for 1 and moves towards the center of the battlefield.  My Orange frame moves towards my Station and hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 2.  Tom's White frame moves from behind a Bladewing Statue and hits Stevenik's Blue frame for 3, destroying it.  Phungkyjams' Dark Blue charges over to the Flanged Tree and hits hits Greko's White frame for 1.  Tom's Orange frame trundles towards the center of the battlefield and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 3.  Stevenik's Green frame skuttles sideways to his Station and hits Tom's White frame for 1.

Stevenik: 36 Points.

Tom: 25 points.

Phungkyjams: 20 points.

Greko: 20 points.

Me: 16 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 9): Greko's White frame sprints from the Flanged Tree and captures Phungkyjams' Station.

Tom's Yellow frame keeps moving towards the center of the battlefield and hits Greko's White frame for 3, Station Dance.  Greko's Green frame moves towards the Stargate and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 2.  My Red frame moves back behind the Trifold Statue and hits Stevenik's Green frame for 1, Station Dance.  Stevenik's Green frame hits a Comm Tower for 1 while trying to hit Tom's White frame.  Tom's White frame hits Greko's White frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Bright Yellow frame moves sideways and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 2.  Greko's Yellow frame moves behind the Arch Trees and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 2, destroying it.  My Blue frame hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 1, Station Dance, then runs past the Jagged Tree.  My Orange frame hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 2 then shuffles to the end of the battlefield.  My White frame wheels around the Jagged Tree and slashes Stevenik's Orange frame for 2, destroying it and capturing the Station it was defending.  Tom's Orange frame hits Greko's Green frame for 5 and captures Phungkyjams' Station.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Greko's White frame for 2, destroying it.

Tom: 25 Points.

Phungkyjams: 20 points.

Me: 20 points.

Stevenik: 18 points.

Greko: 16 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 7): Greko's Green frame moves forward a few steps and hits Tom's Orange frame for 1, Station Dance, and it captures Phungkyjams' Station.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Phungkyjams' Dark Blue frame for 2 which then moves towards a Silo.  Tom's White frame hits Greko's Green frame for 1, Station Dance, then trundles forward.  Phungkyjams' Bright Yellow frame hits Greko's Red/Grey frame for 4, Station Dance.  My Blue frame hits Tom's White frame for 3.

Tom: 20 Points.

Phungkyjams: 20 points.

Me: 20 points.

Greko: 20 points.

Stevenik: 18 points.

Events of Round 4 (DDC @ 2): Tom's White frame captures Phungkyjams' Station.  My Orange frame hits Stevenik's Green frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Dark Blue Frame moves forward and captures Greko's Station.  Phungkyjams' Orange frame hits Greko's Grey/Red frame for 2 and moves behind his Bright Yellow frame.  Greko's Yellow frame keeps moving forward and captures Tom's Station.  Tom's Blue frame moves towards the Flanged Tree and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 2.  My Red frame hits Phungkyjams' Bright Yellow frame with SSRs for 2 while targeting Phungkyjams' Orange frame.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Greko's Green for 1, destroying it, while targeting Tom's White frame.  My Blue frame hits Stevenik's Green frame for 2.  Tom's Orange frame moves away from the Stargate and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1, destroying it, and hits Phungkyjams' Bright Yellow frame for 2.

Phungkyjams: 20 points.

Tom: 20 Points.

Me: 20 points.

Stevenik: 18 points.

Greko: 16 points.

Here are several aftermath pictures.

Round 1

Round 2

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Skirmish.
• It's been nine years since I used this squad but I did add a new Frame to it since it was used last.
• I probably should have put more thought into the composition of my squad but it worked okay.
• It was interesting watching the advantage shift to Phungkyjams at the end of the third beginning of the fourth round.
• The lead actually shifted multiple times during the game.
• And at one point there was a four way tie.
• This was a fun and challenging game.
• Flickr page.