Monday, March 31, 2025

Terrain Workshop: Mega Poppy

After a cavalcade of reviews, let's change it up and make some terrain.  I ended up with a bunch of 2x2 Plant Leaves w/4 Petals & Axle Hole in different colors so I decided to stack them on top of two 2L Smooth Axle Connectors -- which are joined by a 2L Notched Axle.  Then I topped them off with two 1x1 Round Plates w/Flower Edge, one in a color matching the Plant Leaves, the other in White.


Right now I have three different versions, representing either different varieties of this giant flower or maybe three different stages in the blooming cycle.  Like others builds of this nature, you can mount them individually or string them together in wall-like sections.


These are each 1 Hit and are 14 feet tall and roughly 8 feet across in 6P scale.

I hope this gives people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.

Friday, March 28, 2025

Review: 30709 Speed Champions Ferrari 499P - Hypercar Polybag

This was a "Gift with Purchase" for the first week of March as part of the big F1 Speed Champions release.  It's also now available at Target.


Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.  

Instructions & Stickers.














Parts.  Plates, Tires, Tiles, Mudguard Tiles, Studless Slopes, Rounded Plates,
Tile w/Studs on Ends, Jumpers, Wedge Tiles, Translucent Quarter Circle
Tiles, Translucent Bar, Axle Plates, Brackets, Curved Corner Slopes, Half
Round Brick, Brick w/Axle Hole, Studless Slope w/Cutout, and Rims.



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?  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+).  Solid parts count, decent parts selection, and decent color palette.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Review: 30702 Super Mario Toad (Pit Crew) Polybag

This was a "Gift with Purchase" for the first week of March.  As it's part of the Mario Kart line I could see a tentative connection to the F1 Speed Champions releases.


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

Instructions.











Minifig.  Round Tiles, Printed Modified Cube, Hinge Brick Top, Hinge Brick Bottom, Jumper, Round Plates, Printed Brick, Technic Pin Arms, Printed Round Brick w/Pinholes, and Leg Plate.











Parts.  Plates, Plate w/Legs, Wheel, Bricks, Round Plate, Brick w/
Studs on Side, Bar Plate, Clip Plates, Printed Tiles, Tiles w/Pin, Minifig
Wrench, Minifig Crowbar, Tile, Apollo Studs, and Minifig Handlebars.

Build.  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?  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+).  There are some useful parts but beyond that I don't see a reason to pursue this set.

Monday, March 24, 2025

Review: 30708 Star Wars Millennium Falcon Polybag

This can be found in the Lego section of Walmart.  A quick glance at the package art leads me to believe that the set build may fit inside the size limit for Frigates in Intercept Orbit.


Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 at Walmart for a $0.07 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.










Parts.  Quarter Circle Plates, Half Circle Plates w/Cutout, Quarter Circle Tiles,
Pin/Axle, Wedge Plates, Plates, Ingots, Taps, Minifig Binoculars, Round
Tiles w/Pinhole, Large Jumper, Dish, Truncated Cone, Brick w/Pinhole &
Plate, Translucent Plates, Apollo Studs, Rounded Plates, and Brackets.



Set Build.  IO Frigate.





Free Build.  Two IO Frigates and a HVA.
 

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's a Ship-in-a-Bag right out of the gate and you can stretch it into more than that if you don't want to build it as is.  Definitely worth it.

Friday, March 21, 2025

Review: 30697 Friends Nova's Doghouse Build Polybag

Another new for 2025 polybag.  The availability might be a little wider than Wednesday's review as I found this one at Wegman's.  Friends sets are usually interesting so let's take a look.


Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 at Wegman's for a $0.10 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.










Minidoll.

Doggo.




Parts.  Plates, Arches, Double Large Jumpers, Panels,
Tiles, Slopes, Clip Plate, Printed Tile, Bricks w/Clip,
Bricks w/Studs on Side, Round Bricks, Large Cheese
Slopes, Rounded Plates, Minifig Paint Roller, Small
Bones, Translucent Round Tile, Printed Round Tiles,
Minifig Yarn Ball, Minidoll Sunglasses, Minifig
Hammer, and Round Plates w/3 Leaves.

Build.  Two 1 Hit pieces 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?  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).  I like the colors, I like the parts -- The Minifig Paint Roller is always useful -- I just wish there was a little more to this set.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Review: 30703 Animal Crossing Julian's Beach Painting Polybag

Another new for 2025 polybag but it doesn't seem to be widely available.  Last year's Animal Crossing polybag at least had some interesting pieces so I decided to give this one a try as well.


Bag.  I paid $5.99 at Playnow for a $0.14 Price per Piece.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.12 Price per Piece. 
Instructions.









Minifig.  











Parts. Plates w/Rounded Corners & Feet, Plates, Wedge Plates, Round
 Plates w/Flower Edge, Printed Round Tiles, Brick, Studless Slope,
 Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Round Tiles, Minifig Paint Palette, Quarter
 Circle Tiles, Round Bricks, Bar Plates, and Minifig Paint Brushes.

Build.  A 1 Hit piece of Cover and a 2 Hit piece of Cover.
The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (0)  Cover.
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: 0 (B).  Again, parts count problems.  
One, more piece would have shaved a penny off the PpP.  Five more pieces would have brought it down by two cents and changed the score.

Monday, March 17, 2025

Review: 30690 Easter Egg Chick Painting Fun Polybag

This can be found in the Seasonal section of both Target and Walmart.  It's also a "Gift with Purchase" at Barnes & Noble, it may be online only though.


Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 at Target for a $0.08 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.













Parts.  Curved Corner Slopes, Plates, Round Plates, Brick, Plate w/Bar on Bottom, 
Studless Slopes, Inverted Round Tile, Tile, Antenna, Brackets, Bricks w/Studs
on Sides, Jumper, Printed Round Tiles, Clip Tile, Apollo Studs, Barbs, Round Tiles,
Stadium Tiles, Quarter Circle Tiles, Curved Slopes, and Vertical Clip Plates.

Build.  Frame [2Rd (gun) 2Rh (claw) 1B(back armor) 1G(big feet)]

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's a nice set -- I really need more of that Plate w/Bar on Bottom -- but I feel like it'd be a great candidate for the Double Set Challenge.

Friday, March 14, 2025

Review: 30695 Cinderella's Mini Garden Castle Polybag

This and another polybag were part of a "Free with Purchase" offer at the Lego store in February.


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

Instructions.










Minifig.



Parts.  Plates, Half Circle Plate, Half Oval Plate, Slopes,
Round Plates, Round Large Jumper, Tooth Gear
Plates, Fence, Bricks, Arch, Tiles, Rounded Top
Window, Brick Bricks, Turntable Bases, Cheese
Slopes, Round Plates w/Flower Edge, Translucent
Octagonal Jewels, Flag, Minifig Head, Jumper, Round
Plate w/3 Leaves, and Minifig Watering Can.




Build.  Gateway 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?  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).  Not bad but not great.  Not being sure what the availability is besides being a GwP doesn't help how I feel about it.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Review: 30696 Friends Autumn's Waffle Stand Polybag

This and another polybag were part of a "Free with Purchase" offer at the Lego store in February.  I've seen it in other retail stores since then.


Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 at Playnow for a $0.14 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.












Parts.  Plates, Arches, Half Oval Plate, Bricks w/Studs
on Side, Tiles w/Studs, Bar Plates, Clip Plates, Tile,
Half Circle Tiles, Printed Round Tiles, Minifig Tea
Saucers, Technic Ball, Round Plates w/3 Leaves,
Large Jumper, Flowers w/ Bar & Small Pinhole,
Dome Bottom, and Plate w/Bar on Bottom.



Build.  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?  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+).  There are some interesting pieces in this set but that PpP definitely kills it for me.

Monday, March 10, 2025

Review: 30705 Minecraft Lush Cave Fight Polybag

I found this in the Lego section at Barnes & Noble as opposed to the checkout aisle where they're usually kept.


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

Instructions.










Minifig.

Same figures as the Skeleton Defense polybag, just one weapon change.










Parts.  Plates, Bricks, Large Jumpers, Angular Leaves, Bar Plate, Jumper,
Brick w/Studs on Side, Round Plates, Round Plates w/Flower Edge,
Stadium Tiles, Round Tiles, Inkwells, Travis Brick, and Clip Bar Holder.


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?  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+).  Ugh, that parts count.  One, ONE, more piece would have shaved a penny off the PpP.  Four more pieces would have brought it down by two cents.  I still feel like the Turtle Beach polybag was the high point for Minecraft polybags in recent years.

Friday, March 7, 2025

Review: Gundam Converge RGC-80 GM Cannon [Red Head] {Immortal 4th Platoon} (302)

After a week of Zeon Gundam Converge reviews I feel the need to tilt things back the other way.  According to Gundanium Gateway, these were released in November of 2024.


Box.  I paid $11.99 at Newbury Comics for this.


Parts.









Disassembled.  The head could be Defense or Spotting, The backpack
could be Defense or Movement.  The shield could be Defense.  The gun
could  be Melee, Direct Fire, or Spotting.  The cannon could be Direct Fire, 
Artillery, or Spotting.  The arms could be removed for White Die damage.

Assembled.







I managed to get the antenna in correctly this time.



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 size of a Classic.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Two.  (0)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: 0 (B). This has the same advantages as Wednesday's review along with being a recolored design which allows you to field two duplicate GC figures on the table at the same time.