Review: Brix 64169 Fashion Bags Quilted Bag

These sets have been out for a while but are still available, for the moment.  They aren't labeled as a Brix Buildable Trio but they are packaged as such.    All of them have some interesting Colors and Parts, so let's take a week and review them.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00 for a $0.13 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts.  Half Circle Plates, Tiles, Quarter

Circle Plates, Plates, Double Sided Plates,

Large Macaroni Tiles, Chain, Round Plates

w/4 Petals, Brackets, Quarter Circle

Tiles, and Small Macaroni Tiles.

Build.  IO Frigate (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? 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: -5 (B-).  This is the weakest set of the bunch but it still has some decent pieces.  I figure the overall set is worth it just for the amount of Gold, Dark Blue, and Olive Green pieces you get.

Review: Brix 64169 Fashion Bag Blue & White

These sets have been out for a while but are still available, for the moment.  They aren't labeled as a Brix Buildable Trio but they are packaged as such.    All of them have some interesting Colors and Parts, so let's take a week and review them.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00 for a $0.11 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Tiles, Double Jumpers, Jumpers,

Round Plates w/4 Petals, Brackets, Bar Connectors,

Bar, Hinge Brick Bases, Hinge Brick Tops, Bricks w/

Stud on Side, and Elbow Macaroni Round Bricks.

Build.  IO Frigate (2Ras+d8) [Systems are Gold.].

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+).  I like the Macaroni Bricks and the Gold pieces but, I feel like it needs a little more to bulk it out.

Review: Brix 64169 Fashion Bags Green Bag

These sets have been out for a while but are still available, for the moment.  They aren't labeled as a Brix Buildable Trio but they are packaged as such.    All of them have some interesting Colors and Parts, so let's take a week and review them.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Flexible Hose.

Parts 2.  Quarter Oval Plates, Plates, Tiles, Quarter Circle Plates,

Inverted Studless Slopes, Corner Tiles, Corner Tiles w/Cutout,

Jumper, Quarter Circle Tiles, Round Plates w/4 Petals, Stadium

Tiles, Brackets, Bricks w/Stud on Side, Brick, and Corner Plate.

Build.  Frame (2Rd) [System is Yellow.] and

nano scale Futurama ship (Station or 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+). Olive Green and Pale Yellow is a nice color combo.

Review: Brix 64273-02 Bento Blox 2

Since the review of the first set turned out pretty well, I decided to review the second.  Let's give it a look.

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

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts 1.  Round Plates, Tiles, Macaroni Tiles, Dishes, Translucent

Gear, Cone, Brick, Bricks w/Studs on Opposite Sides, Round Tile,

Round Large Jumper, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Double Sided Plates,

Studless Slopes, Plates, Cheese Slopes, Bar, and Large Ball Joints.

Build.  A Frame, two Stations,

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+).  I was a little worried about this set when I opened it up.  While I managed a decent amount of builds -- I could have made more Cover if I had swapped some things around -- I feel like the color palette is a little limited.

Review: Brix 64273-01 Bento Blox

I found this the other day at Five Below along with a few other sets.  There's at least one other version.  Let's give it a look.

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

Inside of box without filler/shims.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Cones, Round Bricks, Double Studless

Slopes, Round Plates, Tiles, Plates, Double

Sided Plates, and Rounded Plates.

Parts 2.  Bars w/Stop, Axle Connectors, Tiles, Brackets, Cheese

Slopes, Cones, Notched Axles, Ball Joint/Axles, Bars, Round

Tiles, Round Plates, and Flower Stems w/Stud & 3 Stems.

Build.  Two Frames (2W) 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+).  When I was taking pictures of the parts in this set I wasn't that impressed.  But when I sat down to try and build something I was happy with what resulted.  Also, the box might make a half decent carrying case.

Review: Snap & Switch 64186 Stray The Guardian

I was in one of my local Five Below stores the other day and they had some new sets on the shelves.  I bought a few but this is the one that caught my eye because it has several Ball Joint pieces in colors you don't find in Lego.  I've seen other sets from this IP but I have no idea what it is.  Also, "Snap & Switch" seems to be another sub-line of Well Played.

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

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts 1.  Dish, Plates, Plates w/Cutout, Wedge

Plate, Brick, and Bricks w/Studs on Side.

Parts 2.  Wedge Plates, Tiles, Plates, 8L Bars w/Stop Rings & Pin,

Studless Slopes, Bricks, Brackets, Round Brick, Bricks w/Studs

on Side, Bricks w/Pinhole, Inverted Slopes, and Ball Joint Plates.

Parts 3.  Round Tiles, Tiles, Bar Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Plates, Large

Cheese Slopes, Brackets, 1.5L Bar, 1x1x2/3 Double Anti-Stud Bricks, Bar

Studs, Padlocks, Half Pins, Round Plates w/Ball Joint, and Bar Clips.

Build.  Frame (2W), Station,

and Micro-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+). Ball Joint Plates in non-standard colors, Technic Ski Poles, and plenty of Bar Clips make this interesting.  I'm going to need another one just to have matching numbers of parts in certain colors though.

Review: Brix FB64134-12 BBT Succulent Bonsai Tree

This weeks reviews are going to be a little different.  They all come from one "set".  Brix has already released Buildable Brix Trios as part of their Micro Brix line, now they're releasing them in standard brick size.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.14 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plate, 6x5 Leaf, 5x3 Leaves, Round

Bricks, Inverted Slopes, Corner Inverted

Slopes, Tiles, Round Plates w/5 Petals, Clip

Plates, Padlocks, Axles, Cheese Slopes w/

Stud, Angled Axle/Pin Connector, Corner

Tiles, and Round Plate w/3 Leaves.

Build.  Baby Groot frame (2W) and 2 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).  While this set has some useful parts and excellent terrain bits, I feel like it would be better attempting a Double Set Challenge when trying to build a Frame.

Review: Brix FB64134-12 BBT Succulent Cherry Blossom

This weeks reviews are going to be a little different.  They all come from one "set".  Brix has already released Buildable Brix Trios as part of their Micro Brix line, now they're releasing them in standard brick size.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.12 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Arch, Tiles, 5x3 Leaves, Studless

Slope, Brackets, Round Plates w/5 Petals,

Cheese Slope, Brick, Inverted Slopes, Slopes,

Corner Plate, and Round Brick w/3 Leaves.

Build.  Two Robodog frames 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?  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).  That is a decent amount of Brackets but I'm not seeing much more to recommend this set.  It might actually be better as terrain.

Review: Brix FB64134-12 BBT Succulent Lotus

This weeks reviews are going to be a little different.  They all come from one "set".  Brix has already released Buildable Brix Trios as part of their Micro Brix line, now they're releasing them in standard brick size.  This is the second vegetation themed set.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

This is what the combined sets look like.

Instructions.

Parts.  Octagonal Bar Plates, Quarter Circle Plates,

Round Tiles, Round Large Jumpers, Round Plate,

Plate, Macaroni Tiles, Travis Brick, Tiles, Tooth

Plates, Clip Plates, and Quarter Circle Tiles.

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?  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 and Octagonal Bar Plates are always a treat to me.

Review: Brix 64166-06 Household Series Aquarium

Let's finish out the "Household Appliances" line from Brix that was released last year.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00, for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Plates, Translucent Windscreens, Quarter Circle Plate,

Corrugated Bricks, Brick, Plant Stem w/Stud & 3 Large Leaves

on Sprue, Seaweed, Translucent 1x1x2 Bricks, and 1x1x2 Brick.

Parts 2.  Plates, Corner Plate, Corner Tiles, Doors, Minifig Fish, Round

Bricks, Cones, Ingot, Tiles, Quarter Circle Tile, Round Tile,1x1x

2/3 Brick, Round Plates, Curved Bar w/Antistuds, Cheese Graters,

Grille Tile, Grass Stems, Palm Tree Trunk, and Macaroni Tile.

  

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?  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+).  A fair amount of useful pieces.  That is a really dark Dark Brown.