Review: Block Tech Block Bouquet Orange Camellia

Now for a quick palate cleanser.  This set is from the sixth edition of Block Bouquet sets.  For some reason I didn't pay much attention to it in amongst all the others.  Then I received a promotional email from Five Below where it was featured and I took a closer look.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Wedge Panels, Axles, Large Figure Armor, Domes w/Bar, Ball

Joint Plates, Ingots, Rounded Plates, Axle Connectors w/Pinhole, 1L

Liftarms, Bar, Ball Joint Pins, Half Pins, Bar Clips, Bars w/Stop, 180

Deg. Axle Connector w/Pinhole, 3L Axle Connector, Bent Axle

Connector w/Pinhole, 3L Pin, Axle Connectors w/3 Axles, and Pulley.

Build.  Frame (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?  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+).  All those useful parts in Orange.  I'm going to buy more of this one as I already have ideas forming in my head.

Review: Block Tech US101-2421 Cube-imals Axolotl

I found this the other day at Five Below along with a few other sets.  There's at least three other versions.  I thought this was the most interesting of the bunch so let's give it a look.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Rubber Bands.

Parts 2.  Plates, Tiles, Corner Bricks, Tiles

w/Studs on Edge, Corner Plates, Brick

w/Axle Hole, Bricks w/Pinholes, Brick,

Round Brick, and Bar Plates (open ends).

Parts 3.  Round Tile, Plates, Axle/Pin Connector Toggle Joint Smooth, Axle/Pin Connector,

Axles w/Stop, Notched Axle, Round Plates w/5 Petals, Inkwells, Half Bushings, Half Pins,

Bar Claws, Bar Connectors, Bar, and Minifig Weapon Blades w/Bar Handle & Spikes.

Build.  Frame (2W) -- taking inspiration

from my Doom Bot -- 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+).  The colors are nice but I feel like it needs more of the bits and bobs we all look for to be really good.

Review: Block Tech US101-2056 Everlasting Rose In A Dome

Block Tech is also revising their releases for Valentine's Day.  This set is available in Translucent Red and Translucent Blue as well.  I reviewed those last year so I'm only doing the clear version this time.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.06 Price per Piece. 

Instructions.

Parts 1. Plate, Wedge Plates, Axle, Transparent Brackets, Transparent

Clip Plates, Transparent Octagonal Bar Plates, Transparent Plates,

Transparent Inverted Tiles, Round Plates, Round Tile w/Pinhole,

Transparent Round Plates, Transparent Eggshell, Transparent Round

Large Jumpers, Transparent Round Plate w/Swirl, Transparent Studless

Slopes, Ball Joint Plate, Transparent Quarter Circle Studless Slopes,

Transparent Wedge, Pin/Axle Connector, Transparent Tooth Plates,

Transparent Tiles, Ball Joint/Pin, Wedge Studless Slopes, Transparent Double Studless Slopes, Transparent Cheese Slopes w/Studs, and Clip Claws.

Build.  Two Frames (2W), a Station, and two 1 Hit pieces 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+).  It may be hard to see but there are a number of useful parts in this set.  Also, seeing the parts count go up from last year is nice as well.

Review: Lazer Blocks US101-1966 Stegosaurus

Let's finish out the week with a Block Tech sub-line, Lazer Blocks.  I'm always looking for Translucent Green pieces to Color Tag Movement systems with so this should be a windfall for me.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Translucent Plates, Translucent Brick, Translucent Wedge Plates, Translucent

Bar Plate, Translucent Clip Plate, Translucent Ball Joint Plates, Translucent Studless

Slopes, Translucent Brackets, Translucent Round Light Brick, and Translucent Tails.

Parts 2.  Translucent Wedge Plates, Translucent

Ball Joint Plates, Translucent Plates, Translucent

Large Cheese Slopes, Translucent Studless Slopes,

Translucent Lampholder, and Translucent Brackets.

Parts 3.  Translucent Tooth Plates, Translucent Rounded

Clip Plate, Translucent Cheese Slopes, Translucent

Brackets, Translucent Round Plates w/Petals, and Barbs.

Build 1.  Two IO Frigates, and a HVA.

Build 2.  Can't be built at the same time as Build 1.  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+).  I actually felt better about this set after putting together the second build.  It has plenty of good parts but the color balance might be off a little.

Review: Block Tech US101-0463 Block Succulents Green Spoon

This is from the third release of Block Tech's Block Succulents line.  It features some interesting pieces and I think it's still on Five Below shelves.

Box.  MSRP was $3.25, for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Half Circle Plates w/Cutout, Round Bricks, Quarter Oval Plates, Dome

w/Bar, Octagonal Bar Plates, Curved Slopes w/Cutout, Plate, and Minifig Bucket.

Parts 2.  Round Plate, Round Large Jumper, Tiles, Tooth Plates, Headlight

Bricks, Cone, Travis Brick, U-Clips, Inkwell, and Apollo Stud.

Build.  Two Frames (2W), two Stations, and one 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+).  I'm a fan of this set -- I mean, look at what I managed to build with it -- but I feel like it needs a little bit more to be truly special.

Review: Block Tech US101-0927 Mount Up Cyber-Saurus Rex

This is from the fourth release of Block Tech's "Mount Up!" line that was released in early 2025.  I decided to review it because, say it with me now, "I needed some parts from it for some builds".

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  The ubiquitous Weapons Sprue.

Parts 2.  Clip Plates, Tiles, Ball Joint Plates, Grille Tile, Plates,

Minifig Binoculars, Round Plates, Barbs, and Tooth Plates.

Parts 3.  Studless Slopes, Tiles, Bar Plate, Corner Plates, Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Tooth Plates, Wedge Plate, Exo-Force Arms, Bracket, and Bricks w/Studs on Corners.
 

Parts 4.  Quarter Circle Plates, Plates, Wedge Plates, Bar Plates,

Mudguard Plate, Ball Joint Plates, Large Ball Joint Bricks, Bricks,

Inverted Slopes, Studless Slopes, and Bricks w/Studs on Side.

Build.  Frame, Station, and two IO Frigates.

 

 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+).  I haven't seen a bad "Mount Up" set yet.  I can't wait to really dig into these parts.

Review: Block Tech Block Bouquet Black Rose

After finding last Monday's review, I "raided" a few more Marshalls stores to see what else was available.  I found this set at the third store.  It's different from this year's and last year's, which makes me wonder if RMS is making different sets for different distribution channels.  Again, according to the date of manufacture on the bottom of the box, this was made earlier this year.  There's also no individual set number.  Let's give it a review.

Box.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Axles, Notched Round Plate, Octagonal Bar Plates,

Inverted Tiles, Double Studless Slopes, Plates, Studless

Slopes, Angled Axle/Pin Connector, and Ball Joint Plates.

Parts 2. Quarter Circle Studless Slopes, Double Curved Wedges

 (Right), Double Curved Wedges (Left), Tiles, Large Cheese

Slopes w/Studs, Axle, Curved Slopes w/Wing End, Axle/

Pin Connectors, Travis Brick, Round Plates, and Clip Claws.

 

Parts 3.  Unlike the prior two versions, this has a third parts bag.

Rounded Clip Plates, Ball Joint Pins, Axle Connectors, Bushings, Brackets, Axle, Half Pins, Tooth Plates, Studless Slopes, Wedge Studless Slopes, Inverted Studless Slopes, Gear, Horn, and Round Large Jumper.

Build.  Two Frames (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+).  It's a good starter kit but, like last Monday's review, I'm not sure how available these sets will be.

Review: Block Tech Block Bouquet Black Lily

So I was killing some time in between work and an appointment last week and I decided to check a few Marshalls stores to see if they had anything interesting in for the Christmas season.  Turns out they did.  Last year Block Tech made a line of botanical sets that Five Below called "Goth Flowers".  Imagine my surprise when I find one that wasn't released through Five Below, and it's different from the one from last year.  According to the date of manufacture on the bottom of the box, this was made earlier this year.  There's no individual set number though.  Let's give it a review.

Box.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.08 Price per Piece.  I bought

this on clearance at $4.00, for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  2x5x9 Panels w/Clip, Axles, Textured Round 3x3 Tile, 1x8 Hinge

Plates w/Angled Side Extensions, Octagonal Bar Plate, Steering Wheel,

Double Sided Round Plate, Lamp Post Base(?), Ball Joint Plates, Hinge Plates,

Bar, Angled Axle Connector w/Pinhole, and Axle/Pin Connectors.

Parts 2.  Round Plate w/Axle Hole, Round Plate w/

Pinhole, Axle Connectors, Pin Ball Joints, Axles, Bar

Connector, Bushings, Double Sided Round Plates, Grass

Stems, Levers and Bases, and 1x1x2/3 Brick.

 

Build.  Frame (2Rh[ram prow] 2Y[antenna] 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+).  Still a good set even with two less pieces than the previous version.  Unfortunately, I've only found one copy.

Review: Block Tech US101-2197 Succulents Powder Blue Echeveria

This is from the fourth release of Block Tech's "Block Succulents" line.  Just looking at the colors, you know why I jumped this to the front of the line.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00 {wrong link}, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Plates, Octagonal Bar Plates, Tail Sections, Bricks w/Axle

Holes, Panels, Bricks, Round Plates, Eggshells, Round Plates w/Four

Petals, Clip Tiles, Clip Plates, Clip Bar holders, Inverted Studless Slopes,

Brackets, Cheese Slopes, Studless Slopes, Corner Panels, and Cones.

Build.  Two Frames, a Station, and a 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+).  Pieces in Lilac, Bright Light Yellow, and some sort of Dark Tan/Olive Green cross (Khaki?) and you can make two Frames and a Station?  Sold.

Review: Block Tech US101-2003 Bouquet Crystal Rose

This is the sixth edition of Block Bouquet sets.  They're changing it up a bit with this release and using translucent parts for some of the sets.  Which makes some of them really interesting.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00, {wrong link} for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

The instruction booklet is actually

larger than the box.

Parts 1.  Hexagonal Windshields w/Bar, Translucent Octagonal Bar

Plates, Translucent Flower Petals w/Clip, Octagonal Bar Plate, Translucent 

Pneuma- Ts, Translucent Round Plate, Translucent Gears, Axle Connectors,

Axle w/ Pinhole, Axle Connector w/Pinhole, Translucent Tooth Plates,

Translucent Bar w/Stop, Axles, Half Pins, Translucent Half Pins, Bar

Clips, Translucent Bushing, Translucent Travis Brick, and Clip Claws.

Build.  Frame (2W) and two Stations.

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 I really like this set for the colors and parts, I feel like it needed at least one Pin/Axle piece to be just that much better.