Posts by Kyle Keller

May the 4th be with you and the newly-revealed LEGO Star Wars 75428 Battle Droid with STAP [News]

Just in time for Star Wars Day tomorrow, LEGO has announced one more new set coming out this summer. LEGO Star Wars 75428 Battle Droid with STAP will consist of 1,088 pieces and offers the first brick-built Battle Droid since LEGO Technic 8001 Battle Droid back in 2000. But this version is riding the Single Trooper Aerial Platform (or STAP), as seen in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. If you’re looking to get your hands on this new display set, LEGO Star Wars 75428 Battle Droid with STAP will hit store shelves on July 1, and will retail for US $139.99 | CAN $TBD | UK £119.99

Roger, roger! Read on for more images of this new set

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New LEGO sets announced for Disney, Harry Potter, and more arriving in June [News]

As we begin the month of May, the minds of many a LEGO fan turn to the upcoming wave of summer sets from our favorite toy brand. This week, many of those sets are popping up on LEGO.com. We’ve compiled a list of our favorites below, be it Disney sets paying tribute to 101 Dalmatians with LEGO Disney 43269 Disney 101 Dalmatians Puppy, a glorious new LEGO train of an arctic persuasion called LEGO City 60470 Explorers’ Arctic Polar Express Train, or the next in the new LEGO Book Nooks: LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Harry Potter Book Nook: Hogwarts Express. Read on for all these sets and more, with plenty of pictures, prices, and release dates included!

There’s plenty from Disney, Minecraft, Harry Potter, and more below!

BrickCon 2025 is picking up STEAM! Attendee registration opens today! [News]

After 24 years, we in the Seattle area still look forward to BrickCon each fall, the longest-running fan-run LEGO convention and the local con for the Brothers Brick. This year, the theme is all about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, fully embracing the roots of this wonderful hobby with their theme Full STEAM Ahead. On September 4th through the 7th, BrickCon will return to the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA, with the public display happening on the last two days of the event. As in years past, attending fans (in-person and virtual) can count on plenty of presentations, games, and roundtables that happen alongside the massive showcase of builders from all over the world. Registration is now open, so be sure to visit brickcon.org to get signed up ASAP.

More details on BrickCon 2025 below, including hotel information

The new LEGO Icons 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook promises set assembly between reads [News]

As LEGO continues to direct the sets in its Icons line toward adults, there’s a definite effort to craft the models to the places that we older LEGO fans like to display them. And with LEGO Icons 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook, we see a set custom-made to occupy bookshelf real estate. Consisting of 1,359 pieces and boasting five minifigures, this new ode to everyone’s favorite detective folds in on itself to roughly a book size, capable of squeezing in-between volumes while offering a set with more depth than width. The two halves can also be opened up, showing the façade of 221B Baker Street along with a bookshop and a second, unnamed residence. Those looking to get their hands on Sherlock & Co. will find it on LEGO store shelves beginning on June 1st, where it will retail for US $129.99 | CAN $149.99 | UK £109.99.

Read our review here!

Follow the clues to more set pictures below!

How to train your micro dragon [Building Technique]

With LEGO clips for back spines, a tail of mismatched 1x2x2/3 slopes, and a video game controller for a head, Ian Summers shows us an awesome Toothless creation from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. How long until we have the parts in white to make a Light Fury version of this microscale marvel?

How to summon a LEGO genie [Building Technique]

Each year, we get to see some amazing LEGO building techniques on display during the part count-restricted Rogue Olympics. Mark van der Maarel keeps it well under 100 with this great magic lamp. And if you’re like me, your first wish will be figuring out how those white disks fit together to make such a great puff of smoke!

LEGO announces new Marvel Mini Bust line with Iron Man and Iron Spider sets [News]

In the wake of clearance-priced LEGO Marvel 76215 Black Panther appearing on the LEGO website for over a year, it appeared that interest in a large bust of a superhero didn’t exist for LEGO shoppers. But, beginning in June, LEGO will be returning to the milieu in a smaller scale with LEGO Marvel 76327 Iron Man MK4 Bust and LEGO Marvel 76326 Iron Spider-Man Bust. Consisting of 436 and 379 pieces, respectively, these portrait statuettes clock in at a height of only 6.5 inches (17 cm). Each is adorned with an appropriate minifigure, with the Iron Man bust coming out June 1st and Iron Spider hitting shelves later on August 1st. Both Marvel sets are available for pre-order now, and retail for US $59.99 | CAN $79.99 | UK £54.99.

Check out the two new Marvel Mini Busts below!

New LEGO sets for April 2025 coming soon! [News]

No fooling, April is set to bring us some huge new LEGO sets on store shelves. Disney fans have their eyes on LEGO Disney 43263 Beauty and the Beast Castle, which has Insiders access beginning today. Tolkien lovers will certainly be excited for LEGO Icons 10354 Lord of the Rings: The Shire, with access as early as April 2nd. And for those who are looking to take a trip down the mighty Mississippi, LEGO Ideas 21356 River Steamboat hits store shelves on April 7th, again for Insiders only. Check out all the new sets, and some of the other releases from this year, by heading over to the LEGO website: LEGO US | LEGO CAN | LEGO UK.

Check out the images and details for all these new sets below!

LEGO takes us back to the start of Frodo’s journey with LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire [News]

With LEGO going back to the world of Lord of the Rings in 2023 with LEGO Icons 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell, we all knew it was a matter of time until we returned to the home of hobbit-kind. And next month, we’ll do just that with the 2,017-piece LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire. Including everything from the first few chapters/minutes of Fellowship of the Ring, we see minifigures of Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf, Merry, Pippin, Samwise, Rosie Cotton, and the Proudfoots… err, Proudfeet… set against Bilbo’s home and the trappings of his 111th birthday party. Set to release on April 2nd for LEGO Insiders (April 5th for everyone else), LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire will come with a special gift-with-purchase when bought between release and the 8th: LEGO Icons 40761 Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol. Once available in stores, expect the new set to retail for US $269.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99.

LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire | 2,017 Pieces | Available April 2 for Insiders (April 5 for all) | US $269.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99

LEGO Icons 40761 The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol | 181 Pieces | Available as GWP with 10354 until April 8 | US | CAN | UK

Here’s the press release on this new LotR set from LEGO:

Sean Astin Celebrates Middle-earth™ with LEGO Bricks!
New LEGO Icons Set Launches Alongside Exclusive Mini-Film
LONDON, UK (25th March, 2025) – Sean Astin, who portrayed Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, celebrates Middle-earth™ in a new collaboration with the LEGO Group. Astin stars in an exclusive mini-film celebrating the launch of the LEGO® Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire™ set, a stunning 2,017-piece diorama that captures the heart of Hobbiton™.
The mini-film, is more than just a recreation of The Lord of the Rings in LEGO bricks; it’s a tribute to the cinematic artistry of the trilogy. Echoing the iconic Osgiliath monologue and cross-cutting sequences that define the films, the mini-film features Sean Astin taking viewers on a personal tour through the set.
Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, the breathtakingly detailed Shire set recreates the festive atmosphere of Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday celebration. From Bilbo’s hobbit-hole, complete with its iconic round green door and richly appointed interior, to the nine included minifigures—Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey—the set brings this iconic scene to life.
Interactive elements include being able to transform a burning letter into The One Ring and make Bilbo vanish with a turn of a dial or recreating the dragon firework scene with interchangeable heads for Merry and Pippin. The set also includes Gandalf’s horse and cart, fireworks, a firework dragon figure, the Party Tree, a party pavilion, and Bilbo’s book, which can be displayed open or closed.
Sean Astin comments: “Not all those who wander are lost… especially when travelling through the astonishing detail of the Shire made out of LEGO bricks! From the smallest hobbit-hole to the grandest fireworks, building this set brought back so many fond memories of Middle-earth™. Now fans can journey there themselves and build their own adventures.”
A true collector’s item that completes the trilogy of sets, following previous Barad-dûr™ and Rivendell™ launches, the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set is a testament to the enduring power of friendship, adventure, and the magic of Middle-earth™.
The LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set is available for LEGO Insiders from 2nd April 2025, and for all from 5th April via LEGO.com/TheShire and LEGO Stores, priced at €269.99/ £229.99/ $269.99 In addition, between 2nd – 8th April, shoppers that purchase the new set (10354) via LEGO Stores and LEGO.com will receive a LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol™ & Déagol™ (18+) minibuild as a Gift with Purchase, while stocks last, T&C applies.

Age: 18+

Price: 269.99 EUR, 229.99 GBP, 269.00 USD

Pieces: 2,017 pieces

Product No.: 10354

Dimensions: W: 45cm, L: 27cm, H: 20cm

Available: LEGO Insiders 02.04.25 and 05.04.25 for All

Link: www.LEGO.com/TheShire

An all-digital pop star in two dimensions

Hatsune Miku is an interesting mascot – a virtual Japanese character with an entirely digital singing voice produced by the Yamaha Vocaloid line. And such an interesting, unique bit of pop culture deserves an equally-unique LEGO build of her likeness. Enter Mason Martin, with this gorgeous mosaic of Miku in hot pink and electric blue bricks. While this particular bit of art actually lacks the actual character, so much of her iconic style makes it instantly recognizable, from the light azure hair to the boxy headset. But Mason’s LEGO prowess reaches a crescendo with that glorious kanji above the mascot. It spells out her name, which translates to “First Sound Future,” a nod to the unprecedented nature of such a pop star.

This LEGO raccoon will steal your garbage and your heart

I’ve gone on record several times about my love of giving LEGO, especially when it’s a design of my own making for a specific friend or peer. And Dominique Boeynaems knows exactly what I’m taking about, with this brilliant raccoon construction that went to a friend of theirs. It’s such a tight, contained character with no part going to waste. I adore the pink hearts for its hind paws, and that ingeniously-fuzzy LEGO tail made of Technic gears.

An owl that’ll make you say hoo-boy!

When building for the RogueOlympics, an online LEGO building contest with a strict part limit of 100 pieces, working in silhouette can be your friend – if you can master the shape of your subject, that is. Thankfully, builder FS Leinad has got their shapes down with this great image of an owl hunting at twilight. I’m a big fan of the wing-work here, utilizing partial connections between black plate to fan those “feathers” out, while letting a little of the yellow Duplo in the background bleed through. The mouse is also great, standing upright with an outstretched minifigure spoon for a paw.