If you’re looking for a good bounty, suit up and enter the MOC Madness Building Tournament hosted by FBTB. Build a bounty hunter and bounty hunter ship and you could win some awesome prizes including a white Boba Fett minifig. Each qualifying entry advances tournament style so you can root for your favorites, or better yet, be the favorite.
Ever wonder why creations with the LUGpol logo are so awesome? If you are in Warsaw on July 10 and 11, you can stop by the Museum Of Technology (Muzeum Techniki) to see the best LUGPol creations in person and mingle with their members. The exhibit lasts until the end of September and features creations from varied themes and includes large city, castle, and Star Wars dioramas and much more.
The new LEGO Space Shuttle set 10213 Shuttle Adventure is now shipping from the LEGO Shop online.
While we’re at it, a number of items have also been put on sale today, including pretty deep discounts on the LEGO Indiana Jones sets Venice Canal Chase and Fighter Plane Attack
.
See all of the discounted sets on LEGO.com.
Brickworld took place in Chicago last weekend with an unprecedented gathering of 800 attendees displaying Lego creations across 30,000 square feet in the Westin Hotel & Convention Center. It took me three days to get myself back together after the post-con crash and sorting out my haul, so without further ado, here’s my wrap-up of the event.
The above picture taken by Alex Eylar best describes my thoughts about this year’s Brickworld in two words: crazy awesome. (Alternatively it can also be described as epic by David Pagano‘s video)
First, there were the crazy awesome creations. In addition to the returning classics such as Arthur Gugick‘s microscale landmarks, NILTC‘s train/city display, and the Great Ball Contraption, there were plenty of new creations that each made quite an entrance. Among the many were Adam Reed Tucker‘s roller coaster, the Vic-Viper Memorial Fly-In, Matt De Lanoy‘s Futurama display, and the insane Monster Chess. With between 5,000 – 10,000 creations, you’ll need to browse the Brickworld Flickr group for a glimpse of all that was there.
The second half that made up the con was the crazy awesome people. I won’t make a list, because there’s bound to be those that I missed among such a large crowd. Some went to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center (and struck questionable poses), a few dined at the same restaurant for 4 straight meals, and others went head-to-head in the Esther Walner Memorial Charity Auction that raised an astounding $12,000. When it came to public hours, there was quite a line, and I’m guessing that we had upwards of 10,000 visitors. Speaking of crowd control, get a load of the action that went on during the special sales at the Lego store. There were plenty of 50% off sets to go around this time, making most people happy with their acquisitions.
Needless to say, Brickworld was nothing short of being crazy awesome as it has been and will continue to be. But before I finish my wrap-up, I leave you with the tentative themes for next year and 2012. The theme for 2011 will most likely be “Five,” celebrating the 5th year of Brickworld. For 2012, we have our eyes set on “The End of the World.”
Yes.
The US LEGO Catalog is holding a Design Challenge to find the cover for the Late Holiday Catalog. Entries can be submitted now through August 8th. Enthusiasts ages 5 and older are invited to submit an idea for a new LEGO creation.
Contest Overview:
Develop your new LEGO creation using a maximum of 100 LEGO bricks and/or elements. Then, submit a photo or image of your creation along with a brief description of your creation (50 words or fewer). You may build your creation using physical bricks and elements or you may develop your creation virtually, using LEGO® Design by ME. One Grand Prize winner will be determined in each of the four age categories: ages 5-8, ages 9-12, ages 13-15 and ages 16 and older.The Prizes:
Winner’s creation will be featured in the Late Holiday 2010 edition of the LEGO® Shop-at-Home Catalog issued in November. In addition, winner will receive a $100 LEGO® Gift Card (redeemable at any LEGO® Store, online at shop.LEGO.com, or through the LEGO® Shop-at-Home Catalog), a $50 LEGO® Design by ME gift card, a Sponsor-specified LEGO® set and a LEGO® Certificate of Achievement. (The approximate retail value of each Grand Prize is $200). Sponsor will select, at its sole discretion, one of the winning creations to be featured on the cover of the catalog. There is no monetary value associated with winner’s submission being featured in the catalog or on the cover of the catalog. Prize consists of only those items specifically listed as part of the prize.
Unveiled at Brickworld earlier this evening, 10212 Imperial Shuttle brings large-scale models back to the LEGO Star Wars line.
The set includes 2,503 pieces and 5 minifigs, and will cost 260 USD. As always, I’ve upload all the official photos to a photoset on Flickr:
Here are the official details from The LEGO Group:
10212 – Imperial Shuttle™
Ages 16+. 2,503 pieces.
US $ 259.99 CA $ 309.99 UK £ 239.99 DE 259.99 €The elegant Lambda-class Imperial Shuttle™ transports the Empire’s elite and the occasional secret strike team of Rebel commandos all across the galaxy. Now you can build this huge and iconic Star Wars™ vehicle in true minifigure scale for the first time ever! The Imperial Shuttle is authentically detailed with rotating double laser wing cannons and a four-seat cockpit. This Ultimate Collector’s model features an opening canopy, detachable landing gear, a stand for display in flight or landing modes, a labeled display plaque, and gear-driven folding wings with removable activation keys. Completed model measures 28″ (71 cm) tall on stand and 22″ (57 cm) wide with wings deployed. Includes 5 minifigures: Darth Vader™, Imperial Pilot, Imperial Officer, Stormtrooper and Luke Skywalker™.
- Includes 5 minifigures: Darth Vader™, Shuttle Pilot, Imperial Officer, Stormtrooper™ and Luke Skywalker™.
- Features rotating double laser wing cannons!
- Open the cockpit roof to access the interior and seat the minifigures inside!
- Wings fold up and down by turning 2 keys on rear of model!
- Model can be displayed on landing gear or landing gear can be removed to display in flying mode!
- Includes display stand, name plate and label sheet!
- Measures 28″ (71 cm) tall on stand and 22″ (57 cm) wide with wings deployed!
LEGO has also released another video diary from the set designers:
Finally, Nannan is on the ground representing The Brothers Brick in Chicago, and shot this video after the unveiling:
From Jan Beyer
Hi LEGO Fans,
The LEGO Community Development would like to know which of the already existing elements would be needed most urgently in missing colors. Some optimism presumed the number one of the resulting list could end in a “color change” and might be produced in the future.
To participate – the way is as follows:
- Suggestions need to be send by email until the 30.06.2010. These suggestions will be sorted and afterwards published for a voting. The final chart will be send to the LCD Team.
- For easier handling the suggestions should be aligned to the description of the BrickLink catalogue: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogTree.asp?itemType=P
- Suggestions only will be accepted in a color which is still in production. So e.g.”Fabuland brown” is invalid because production of this color was stoped in 1997. An overview about the actual colors could be downloaded here: http://x-brick.de/ambassador/colorpalette/2010LEGOcolorpalette.pdf
An example:
Part No: 50746
Name: Slope 30 1 x 1 x 2/3
New color: brick-yellow (tan)The suggestions should be send to this email address: ccf@x-brick.de
EDIT: I presume that “Some optimism presumed the number one of the resulting list could end in a “color change” and might be produced in the future” means that there is a good chance that the number one element will likely appear in sets.
BrickArms has released new custom minifig weapons, including the Apoc SMG, High Caliber Sniper Rifle, Combat PDW, AC8 Assault Carbine, Longslide Automatic, Sawed-Off Shotgun, M203 Grenade Launcher, and Spy Carbine.
From the new LEGO Castle theme Kingdoms to World Racers and the much-anticipated Collectible Minifigures, all of the Summer 2010 LEGO sets are now available from the LEGO Shop online.
In related news, the LEGO VIP Program now works with LEGO Shop orders, so you can help support LEGO fan sites you visit without worrying about losing points.
(We’re a bit behind on our news-related posts, so most of this won’t be a surprise to many of you, but thought I’d pass along the word anyway.)
The Portuguese LEGO Users Group (PLUG) is organizing another LEGO Fan event in Portugal called TOMAR 2010. The event takes place in Tomar, a city that was founded as the headquarters of the Knights Templar in the 12th century. Details are below:
The event will take place at the municipal pavilion and will occupy an area of about 1,000 sqm (almost 11,000 sqf).
Dates and opening hours:
Jun 10 – 12 (Thu – Sat): 10:00 – 22:00
Jun 13 (Sun): 10:00 – 18:00This year the event will feature LEGO creations such as dioramas, models, a city layout with over 60 sqm (approx. 650 sqf), one large GBC setup and demonstrations with LEGO Technic and MINDSTORMS models.
We will have a also a large large scale Ferrari model from the Toy Museum in Sintra, and will have also a large private collection exhibition of LEGO wooden toys from the 30s – 40s.
Besides the exhibition there will be also several activities for the kids and for the LUG members as well. It includes build contests, build-your-self activities, etc.Event setup will happen on the weekend June 5-6.
Those of us who’ve attended LEGO conventions like BrickCon and BrickFest over the last couple of years have probably come away with at least one of Bob Kojima’s LEGO-themed T-shirts. The only problem has been that they weren’t available outside these LEGO events.
Just in time for T-shirt weather, Bob has launched BrickShirts.com, where you can buy all of his designs.
Some of my favorites are the ones based on the original, hand-drawn images included with The LEGO Group’s patents, like the minifig (above) and “stud and tube” brick patent.
The Portuguese Lego fan community Comunidade 0937 is hosting their annual Lego event from June 7 -13 in Paredes de Coura. This year’s event is called Arte em Peças (Art in Parts) and will feature both private and public conventions. You can see pictures from the previous year’s event on Flickr.
In addition to displays, there will be activities including Mindstorms NXT demonstrations, contests, a free-build pool, opportunities to buy Lego, and surprise activities announced at the event. Check it out if you’re around the area!