Several new LEGO Super Heroes sets have just been listed on LEGO Shop. Besides the 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile, which was revealed earlier this week, two brand new sets are listed too; LEGO Marvel Spider-Man 76187 Venom and 76198 Spider-Man & Doctor Octopus Mech Battle. All three will be available from April 26.
Today LEGO revealed what is sure to be a controversial product, LEGO Solutions 712215 Brick Stick. The first in a new line of products called LEGO Solutions, it is a semi-permanent adhesive to secure LEGO bricks in their final built form. While we at TBB believe LEGO has always been about creativity and being able to build and rebuild, since the introduction of the 18+ Adults range, LEGO has been targeting a different audience with complex builds designed primarily as display pieces. The Brick Stick glue (let’s call it what it is) seems to be a key part of this, which LEGO says will allow fans to ensure their display models will be in pristine shape for years. Unlike the caustic glue used in outdoor models at LEGOLAND, the company says the new Brick Stick glue is safe for ingestion, non-permanent, and can be removed by soaking the pieces in water for about 30 minutes. The Brick Stick glue will come in a box of two 40ml applicator bottles, available starting May 1 as a Gift With Purchase with qualifying purchases of 18+ sets over US $149.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £119.99 from LEGO.com and in LEGO stores.
We had a brief chance to talk with LEGO Solutions Lead Designer Arne Lauridsen, who says that “We are aware that the core adult fan community has some reluctance about using an adhesive, since it doesn’t fit with the traditional way to use LEGO bricks. However, our research shows that there’s a significant market for this product among casual adult fans who only want to build a set once and then display it. I can’t wait to use it myself on some of my favourite sets that I do not intend to take apart, like the Darth Vader Helmet.”
Click to read the official press release
The reason the original castle set from 1978 was yellow and not gray is that LEGO didn’t want to encourage kids to build military stuff. All that changed with the abundance of gray in the Star Wars sets. Still they had similar hesitancy with olive green. It took the Pixar Cars line in 2011 to introduce the color and military builders rejoiced. So there, the joke is on you, LEGO! (That was much funnier when I thought of it earlier today.) While this particular shade of green is now available in many sets, it’s still a difficult color to amass in large quantities. That is just one of many reasons why this rough and tumble Soviet Ural-375D by Rolands Kirpis is so impressive. Another reason is each axle and the steering functions are run by Power Functions motors. It took a year to collect all the right parts to build this model but the end result is as mighty as the Ural mountains.
After being announced a few weeks ago and generating quite a lot of buzz, LEGO’s newest space-inspired set is now available for purchase. 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery has just gone on sale. The 2,354-piece set depicts the iconic orbiter on 1990’s STS-31 mission to launch the Hubble Space Telescope, and includes stands to display Discovery and Hubble separately or together as the satellite is launched from the spaceplane’s payload bay. The set is now available from LEGO for US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £169.99.
Check out our full, hands-on review of the set to see what we thought: TBB Review of 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery.
The LEGO Classic Space coin is also available now in the VIP Reward Center for 1,150 points: US | CAN | UK
Check out what we thought of the first LEGO Collectible Coin: TBB Review of the LEGO Castle Collectible Coin.
LEGO has also revealed the Ulysses Space Probe set that will be available as a VIP reward for 1,800 VIP points. This was originally announced as a promotional item to accompany the Discovery Shuttle set, but today LEGO told us that “Due to unexpected circumstances, there is a delay in the release of the space probe VIP reward. We do hope that it will be available soon. As soon as more information is available, we will make sure that we let all our fans know!”
If you’re thinking about picking up one of these sets, or any LEGO products, consider using the links in this article or on the right side of the page. Purchasing products from LEGO via these affiliate links is one of the key ways that TBB can keep providing you awesome LEGO content for free.
LEGO’s long lost Galidor theme wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying that those unusual parts can lead to some expressive creations. Matt Goldberg gives us a stellar example with Gage – “An AI of boundless curiosity, sparked by an inexplicable lightning incident.” Gage isn’t only a Galador remix, though. There are elements here from other classic LEGO themes. Check out the Aquazone pincers for hands, and that Bionicle mask for the back of Gage’s head. Throw in some “new” parts like those transparent pink 1×1 round tiles for eyes and a minifigure ice skate for a nose, and you’re ready to party!
Matt has made more photos of Gage available in a Flickr album, showing off Gage’s range of motion and emotion. And when you’re done checking those images out, you can peruse more quality robots from other builders in our archives!
Yup, that’s an acronym inside an acronym. And I’m pretty sure TRON isn’t an acronym, but I know a song* that makes it an acronym. This slick cyberpunk bike by expert sci-fi builder Oscar Cederwall looks like a TRON Light Cycle, but without the light show. Instead, it’s packed with LEGO parts and techniques so futuristic that boggles our stone-age minds. The more I look at it, the more things I notice, and I become more and more impressed.
Starting with the front wheel, Oscar has developed a hubless design using all the handcuffs LEGO City has to offer. They fit snugly inside the large motorcycle wheel, surprising me with how two pieces I never thought would go well together actually go well together. Oscar also turned a train canopy upside down, continuing the shape of a futuristic motorbike. Around the seat, large Technic panels continue the curved shapes that are common on modern vehicles, and I’m especially impressed with a Slizers visor covering those pesky pin holes. Oscar continued the unconventional parts usage with leg armour from the Star Wars buildable figures. I never would have thought that part would make an excellent saddle. Lastly, a Duplo train track action insert holds the rear wheel, which is covered with a X-pod lid.
Oscar outdid himself to the point where either you can’t tell which parts are used, or if it’s even LEGO. Check out more of his creations here!
*The song in question is They.Resurrect.Over.New. by Lupe Fiasco, for those who are interested
The walking iris is an interesting plant. When it reproduces, new plantlets form at the top of the flower stalks. This added weight causes the stalks to bend to the ground, where the new plants take root. Repeat that a few times, and you have a flower that “walks” around the garden. This exceptional botanical recreation by James Zhan captures the unique beauty of this plant, and adds in a swanky LEGO base to boot.
Seen close up, you can appreciate the building techniques that have gone into the flowers. There’s some very clever part usage including minifigure ski poles and crowns, as well as a 1×1 plate used as a tiny mosaic to give the petals a splash of color. I also like the varied joints in the greenery, allowing for some very organic curves.
Flowers have always been a popular theme for custom LEGO creations, and we’ve seen some great sets coming directly from LEGO recently, too. What sort of botanical build do you want to try?
The new LEGO VIP reward set, exclusive Ulysses Space Probe is about to go available in the Reward Center (US | CAN | UK). The set is launching along with the start of sales of the latest LEGO space-theme set, 10283 Space Shuttle Discovery. According to the newsletters sent out today, the Ulysses Space Probe set will be available for 1,800 VIP points. However, this is still not clear whether the reward will be available starting tomorrow, April 1, or later. Still, the 10283 Space Shuttle Discovery will be available starting April 1, retailing for US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £169.99.
Ahead of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, The LEGO Foundation, the company’s learning development arm, is unveiling a new partnership with Play Included, a UK-based entity that uses LEGO as a therapy tool for neurodivergent children, including those with autism. The company is putting its support behind the existing Brick-by-Brick program that targets children ages 5 and up and allows them to learn in a group environment on small teams, teaching them valuable skills in socializing, problem-solving, communication, and more. The LEGO Foundation also plans to utilize the partnership to conduct studies on learning through play and how it could potentially be used to impact other conditions such as ADHD and anxiety.
Here’s a video from LEGO outlining the program.
Read the full press release from LEGO below
Patrick Bohn always manages to put really new and really old parts in his creation. This little cute cottage is no exception of this. The older parts are the 4×4 mushroom top (2002) and the barrel in medium blue (2001). The newer parts are the stem with thorns (2021), the quarter round tiles (2017) and the rock claw plate (also 2017). The last part has been used brilliantly to mimic a straw roof. Patricks mixing of old and new elements shows how LEGO keeps evolving but still keeps in touch with their past. Special mentions go out to the cattle horn grass, the curved minifigure stand tree and the brick build wheel barrel.
Jonas Kramm never stops to amaze me. He always manages to incorporate the weirdest parts in the most original manner. This golem is no exception. I know for sure that this golem would not get past border security because it is smuggling contraband. There is at least one troll (minus the arms) and two pumas hiding in this golem figure. The foliage and little critters attached to the golem’s back add to the likability of this critter. It is also nice to see the 4×4 Belville mushroom top. The entire creation looks mystical and magical.
I personally am a minifigure scale builder. I never tend to navigate to building on a different scale. This does not mean that I do not appreciate when other builders do. Markus Rollbühler made an amazing creation on, what I’d guess is, Belville scale. There are quite a few LEGO parts used in an original way. The cauldron is made by turning a big tire inside out. The bubbling effect is created by using the new cake icing and a sausage doubles as a spoon ladle. The big table uses tree trunks as table legs. Simple yet really effective. However, the best design has to be the mumbo jumbo of parts used to create a beautiful white owl. The chima eagle head was used for the head. The Yeti head was used as the body of the bird and the wings were made out of a combination of the fur collar and the large figure pads. Last but not least, have you seen the globe with sausages used in the globe holder?
