Purity: Laser Pegs 18003 Mars Shuttle Review

Back when I reviewed the Mars Explorer a number of the TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods stores had this line in stock.  I'm always a sucker for clone bricks and possible interesting transparent parts makes for more potential fun.

Box.  MSRP was $49.99.  Original Price per Piece was $0.18.
I paid $8.00 for this which gives a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions and stickers.

Minifigs.  These have knees!

Parts 1.  Light Brick and
the Axle activators.

Parts 2. 4x4 Round Light
Bricks, and 2x4 Light Brick.

Parts 3.  Canopy, Plates, Studless Slopes, and Bricks.

Parts 4.  Orange Boat Sliders!  Kre-O Mod. Brick/Round Brick, Base & Lever, Plates, Round Plates, and Technic Pins.

Parts 5.  Ball Joint Plates, Studless Slopes,
Plates, Round Tiles, and Bricks. I know the
Translucent White pieces are hard to see.

Parts 6.  Plates, Clip Plates, Bricks, Technic Bricks, Bracket Bricks, 1x1x2 Bricks, Round Tiles, Rounded Large Cheese Slopes, Tiles, Grille Tiles, Bar Plates, and Corner Plates.

Parts 7.  Slopes, Round Plate, Plates, Inverted Slopes, and Bricks, 

Parts 8.  Panels, Plates, and Bricks.

Build.  1 Hit piece of Cover,
a (2Rd+d8/1Y) Frame,
and three 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?  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 really cool parts in this set.  At the clearance price the score would be +20 (A+).

Purity: Laser Pegs 18001 Mars Explorer Review

A number of the TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods stores have this line in stock now.  I'm always a sucker for clone bricks and possible interesting transparent parts makes for more potential fun.

Box.  MSRP is $19.99.  I paid $6.99 for this which gives a
$0.04 Price per Piece.  Original Price per Piece was $0.11.

Instructions.

Minifig.  These have knees!

Parts 1.  Light Bricks and the Axle activators.

Parts 2.  Steering Wheel, Clip Plates, Dish, Boat Slider, Slopes, Round
 Bricks, Doors, Cheese Graters, Bar Tile, Taps(!), and Round Tiles.

Parts 3.  Minifig Tools on Sprue,
Transparent Wedge Plates, Arch
Bricks, Panel, Flag, and Towball.

Parts 4.  Slopes, Axle Plates, Plates,
Lampholders, Lightsaber Blades, Hinge Bricks, Bricks, Round Brick, and Turntable Tops.

Parts 5.  Rims, Plates, Tires (yes, they're translucent rubber), Round Plate, Slopes, Turntable Bases, and a Brick.  (I know some of these items are hard to see.)

Parts 6.  Plates, Round Bar Plate, Grille Tiles, Bar Plates,
Female Towball Plate, Tiles, Container, and Round Brick.

Build.  Station and Frame with
plenty of left over parts.

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+).  There are some really cool translucent parts in this set.  At the original price the score would be +5 (B+).

Purity: Laser Pegs 18401 Squid Encounter Review

I purchased this at Marshall's a few weeks ago.  I'm generally not a fan of this line of clone bricks but the set looked weird -- and I tend to like weird -- and the price was good.

Box.  MSRP was $29.99.  I paid $16.00 for this which gives a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions and Stickers.

Minifig and Light Brick.

Parts 1.  Light Blocks.

Parts 2.  Tiles, Slopes, Round Plates,
Round Tiles, Lampholders, a Plate,
and a Hinge Brick.

Parts 3.  Plates, Ball Joints, and a Brick.

Parts 4.  Slopes, Brackets, Wedge Plates, Plates, a Round Plate, and an Air Scoop.

Parts 5.  Plates, Minifig Weapons, Slopes, Wedge Plates, Dishes, Round Plates, Bricks w/Studs on 1 Side, Panel, Clip Plate, Tile Clip, Minifig Handlebar, Leaf Plate, Bar Plate, Modified Plate, and LURP.

Build.  Frame.

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).  All those Ball Joint pieces are great, too bad the rest of the set isn't really as useful.