Review: Build A Flower 2

This is the sixth separate line of botanical sets from another completely different manufacturer.  I found these in Target several months ago in the "impulse buy" section right by the front doors.  There haven't been any since Summer arrived, that I have seen, but I'm willing to bet they're just in storage and will be on the shelves again come Fall.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Octagonal Bar Plate, Studless Slopes, Brick w/Stud on Side, Round Bricks,

Bar Plates, Clip Plates, Double Sided Stud, Round Plates, Antenna, and Plate.

Build.  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 you can build a micro-Frame right out of the box, I feel like it needs some "filler" pieces.  I'll have to check and and see if that Hot Pink matches the parts I use on the Amalgamate.

Review: Build A Flower 1

This is the sixth separate line of botanical sets from another completely different manufacturer.  I found these in Target several months ago in the "impulse buy" section right by the front doors.  There haven't been any since Summer arrived, that I have seen, but I'm willing to bet they're just in storage and will be on the shelves again come Fall.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Octagonal Bar Plate, Clip Plates, Wedge Studless Slopes, Studless

Slopes, Studless Slopes w/Cutout, Travis Brick, Plates, Bar Plates, Double

Sided Stud, Lever Base, Round Plate, Antenna, and Round Brick.

Build.  Frame (2W) 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+).  This seems like a useful set, I may have to track down more.  Actual Octagonal Bar Plates in Red from Lego are ridiculously expensive so it would be worth it for those alone.

Review: Make-It Blocks Birds 4

Finishing up this week's reviews with the fourth set in the new line of Make-It Blocks sets from this year.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Plate, Angled Axle/Pin Connector, Perpendicular Axle

Connector, Axle Connectors, Studless Slopes, Inkwell, Tooth Plates,

Plates, Printed Round Tiles, Clip Plates, Cheese Slopes, Barb, Sword Spike,

Axles, Headlight Brick, Travis Bricks, Plant Stem, and Minifig Nozzle.

Build.  Micro-Frame 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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +10 (A-).  Like Wednesday's review, this one took a little work to make something viable.  I think the big selling points for me in this line of sets are all the new Brown Axle (and/or) Axle/Pin Connectors in Brown -- along with other pieces -- that will expand the ability to make new and different plant life for MFZ.

Review: Make-It Blocks Birds 3

Carrying on with the third of four sets in the fourth new line of Make-It Blocks sets this year.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Plate, Round Brick w/Leaves, 3x4 Leaf, Round Jumper, Clip

Plates, Angled Axle/Pin Connector, Axle Connector, Perpendicular Axle

Connectors, Studless Slopes, Printed Tooth Plate, Apollo Studs, Inkwells,

Round Tile, Round Plates w/4 Knobs, Cheese Slope, Bracket, Axles, Skeleton 

Arms, Wings, Minifig Flipper, Travis Brick, Pneuma-T, and Minifig Speargun.

Build.  Hover Frame 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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +10 (A-).  I had to stretch a bit to make something from this set.  The selling point for me has to be the Red Pneuma-T.  Also, the Axle Connector isn't as fluted as the Lego version so it won't slot into the space between Studs.  Which means you need the Inkwell if you want to connect it to a non-Technic Plate/Brick.

Review: Make-It Blocks Birds 2

Continuing on with the fourth new line of Make-It Blocks sets this year, we have the second set for review.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Plate, Wedge Plates, Plates, Studless slopes, Jumpers,

Bar Plate, Printed Round tiles, Cheese Slopes, Inkwell, Clip Plate,

Double Sided Plate, Plate w/Pinhole, Cone, Axle Connector, Pin

Connector w/Axle, Round Jumper, Bar Studs, Travis Bricks, and Pin.

Build.  Frame (2Rd/1B).  Systems in Brown.

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+).  This build was a little easier than last Friday's but I think this set would also be better bought in pairs.

Review: Make-It Blocks Birds 1

We have a set from the fourth new line of Make-It Blocks sets this year to end this week's reviews.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Plate, Plates, Wedge Plates, Slope, Brackets, Jumpers,

Large Cheese Slope, Studless Slopes, Round Plate w/Petals, Bar Plate,

Padlock, Tooth Plate, Round Plates w/Bar, Printed Round Tiles, Inkwell,

Tile, Round Brick w/3 Leaves, Clip Plate, Curved Slope w/Cutout, Brick

w/Studs on Opposite Sides, Skeleton Arms, and Minifig Spear Gun.

Build.  Frame (2Rd/1B/2G) or IO Frigate (2Rpd/2Ras/1B).  Systems in Brown.

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 took a bit of effort to make something from this set.  It may be better utilized in pairs as there are a number of singular pieces.

Review: 30685 Star Wars TIE Interceptor Polybag

Found in Target in the Toy Section on a sidekick with other polybags.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Wedge Plates, Brackets, Tiles, Round Jumpers, Dishes, Printed Translucent Dish, Plates, Hinge Plates, Grille Tiles, Large Cheese Slopes, and Bar Studs.

   

Set Build.  This is a good

size for an IO Frigate.  

Free Build.  With a few modifications you get a quad walker.

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).  A Frigate/Frame-in-a-Bag.  A couple more parts, or a few cents cheaper, and it would have the max score.

So it turns out this is my 2,000 post.  Guess my math was off as it's a couple weeks earlier than my prediction.

Review: 30677 Harry Potter Draco in the Forbidden Forest Polybag

I don't support the transphobic views expressed by J.K. Rowling.  They are antithetical to the beliefs of the Mobile Frame Zero community at large.  Trans rights are human rights.

Found in Target in the Toy Section on a sidekick with other polybags.  The length of the name of this set is a little ridiculous.  They couldn't just call it the "Forbidden Forest"?

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.15 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts.  Round Plate, Slopes, Arches, 4x3 Plant

Leaves, Bricks, Bar Brick, Clip Brick, Large

Jumper, Round Plates w/ 3 Leaves, Minifig

Lantern, Minifig Spider, Rounded Plate, Round

Brick, Cones, Angled Bars w/Hollow

Stud, and Transparent Round Tiles.

   

Build.  2 Hit piece of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Terrain.  (0)
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: -10 (C+).  The Dark Blue, Purple, Dark Green, and Light Blue pieces are nice but other than that this is kinda thin.  Not really surprising considering it's a licensed set.

Review: Block Tech US24-1967 Mount Up! Chaos Dragon 1

This is the first release of Block Tech's "Mount Up!" line dating back to 2021.  I purchased this at a 5Below store back before Christmas of that year.  I'm not sure why they all have the same part number and SKU.  The boxes were huge.

Box.  MSRP was $4.99, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Minifig Weapons Sprue.  In a bag all by itself.

Wow, this goes all the way back to the first release.

Parts 2.  Tooth Plates, Clip Plates, Plates, 1x2 Cheese Slope, Tiles,

2x1 Cheese Slope, Inverted Studless Slopes, Lampholders, Wedge

Studless Slopes, Brackets, Barbs, and Transparent Round Tiles.

Parts 3.  Plates, Tiles w/Studs on Edge, Tiles, Wedge Plates, Bar

Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Studless Slopes, Corner Plates, Curved

Slopes w/Wing End, Tooth Tiles, Clip Claws, and Minifig Axe.

Parts 4.  Wedge Plates, Tiles, Plates, Ball Joint Bricks,

Inverted Slopes, Brackets, Slope, and Ball Joint Plates.

Build.  Two Frames (2Rh+d8 {claws}

2B {wings} 2W) 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 solid set.  It's like buying three polybags for the price of one.

MFZ Pride

We've swung around to that time of year again.  Summer has started -- in the Northern Hemisphere -- and Pride month is upon us.  Just like last year, The Mobile Frame 0 University -- the community Discord -- is having a build challenge to create Frames and/or stations in Pride colors.  We had a good turn out last year so let's see if we can get more people to participate this time around.

This is my contribution for this year.  A pair of Generics in Nonbinary colors.  They are assembled from a brickblend of Lego and Block Tech parts.  I've made a few tweaks since this picture was taken.  I've also assembled more of them, made Systems, and made Stations, so hopefully they'll be table ready soon.

I haven't forgotten about my build from last year.  I made Stations for that squad -- only two because I didn't have parts for more.  All I need to do now is make Single Shot Rockets and the squad will be ready for a medium sized game.

We've come up with a new hashtag, #MFZPride, for better connecting all of the community's builds for this challenge. I've also started the "MFZ Pride" tag on Flickr.

Review: Block Tech US24-2435 Mount Up Stealth Wing Manta Ray

This is the second of four sets in the latest "Mount Up!" release by Block Tech.  Once again, I'm reviewing this because it has parts that are useful to me.  :-)

Box.  MSRP is $5.00 for a $0.05 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Minifig Weapons Sprue.  This was in a bag all by itself.  Why?!

They could have just left it loose or packaged it with other parts.

Parts 2.  Clip Plates, Flags, Wedge Studless

Slopes, Plates, Barb, and Clip Bar Holder.

Parts 3.  Tiles w/Studs on Side, Ball Joint

Plates, Jumpers, Inverted Studless Slopes,

Double Slopes, Cheese Grater, Hinge Plates,

Padlock, Lampholders, Round Ball Joint Plates,

Plates, Bars, and Bricks w/Studs on Corners.

  

Parts 4.  Plates, Bricks, Inverted Slope, Wedge Plates, Bricks 1x1x1.6 w/Studs

on Side, Ball Joint Plates, Bar Plates, Studless Slopes, Brackets, and Slopes.

Build.  Two Hover Tanks

(2Rd/1B/1G) 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+).  Another decent "Mount Up" set that gives you a good start on making a squad.