We’re getting our first high-quality look at two LEGO sets from Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. We don’t yet have information regarding price, part counts, or exact release dates of these sets, but we’ll be sure to bring you that info as soon as it’s available.
76084 The Ultimate Battle for Asgard
76088 Thor vs. Hulk: Arena Clash
We’ve featured some pretty big news here at The Brothers Brick this week, along with our usual fare of LEGO models, reviews, and more. In case you’ve missed any of it, here’s your weekly Brick Report for the last week of May 2017.
TBB NEWS, REVIEWS & INSTRUCTIONS: LEGO news this week was dominated by back-to-back announcements of two upcoming LEGO sets.
OTHER LEGO NEWS: The new Saturn V set is a hard act to follow, and the rest of the web was buzzing with that news this week as well. We’re also starting to see rumors and leaks of summer LEGO sets for products that weren’t unveiled at Toy Fair in February, but we’ll hold off covering those until we have more reliable, higher-quality information — our readers rely on us for trustworthy LEGO news, and we’ll bring that to you as soon as we have it.
Registration is now open for BrickCon 2017. This longest-running of LEGO fan conventions takes place in Seattle, Washington from Thursday October 5th thru Sunday October 8th. Early Bird registration is available until August 1st and costs $65. This will be the 16th BrickCon event, and the theme this year is “Brick to Old School”!
Like last year, there will be an exclusive “friends and family” night on the Friday from 8:30pm to 10pm. And new for this year, Thursday is now a full convention day! Table space, badges and goody bags will be available from 8am that day. Opening ceremonies have been moved to Thursday and there is also a “surprise game” on that day.
As a reminder, you must be registered in order to display your creations, and attendees ages 14-17 must be accompanied and supervised by a registered adult.
For those coming from out of town, the main hotel is the Maxell, located one block across from the Exhibition Hall. Special room rates have been arranged for convention attendees at both the Maxwell and nearby Hampton Suites.
BrickCon is the “home” convention of The Brothers Brick and we’re excited to see faces both old and new there this October!
For long-time Star Wars fans, perhaps the most exciting thing to emerge from the current batch of LEGO Star Wars sets inspired by the Rebels animated TV series is the new Grand Admiral Thrawn minifigure, released as part of the 75170 The Phantom set, which depicts the modified Trade Federation shuttle that replaces the first Phantom part way through season 3.
Grand Admiral Thrawn himself was created by sci-fi author Timothy Zahn in Heir to the Empire, the first book in Zahn’s epic Thrawn Trilogy. TBB spoke with Timothy Zahn at Emerald City Comicon recently, and got his first impressions of the Thrawn minifig, which we’ll share later in our review.
Read the full review after the jump!
After an early tease of 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V last month, today LEGO has officially taken the wraps off this massive 1:110 scale rocket. First announced last June, the Saturn V will be the largest ever fan-designed LEGO Ideas set with 1,969 pieces, giving even the part count a nod to the year of mankind’s first steps on the moon. The rocket itself stands 39 in. tall (100cm), and consists of all three stages with a full complement of the lunar orbiter, lunar lander, command module with flotation devices, and three astronaut microfigures. The Saturn V will retail for $119.99 USD beginning June 1, the same day as the just-announced 10257 Carousel.
The Saturn V is the first of two upcoming LEGO Ideas sets based on NASA, with a Women of NASA LEGO set coming later this year or early in 2018.
Click to see all the images of the Saturn V
Today LEGO announced its latest Creator Expert set, 10257 Carousel. The 2,670 piece set is the latest entry to the popular carnival theme of sets that includes 10247 Ferris Wheel, 10244 Fairground Mixer, and of course, 10196 Grand Carousel from 2009. The new Carousel has five brick-built animals galloping around its platform, which spins with a hand crank and comes ready for Power Functions integration. The set includes seven minifigures, and will retail for $199.99 USD. It will be available June 1, 2017.
The original carousel from 8 years ago is greatly loved, but the fact that LEGO is circling back to the same carnival ride after only two intervening sets is sure to raise some eyebrows. However, the old 10196 Carousel is so highly desired by fans that it’s currently selling for around $1,700 for an unopened copy, and over $1,100 for a used version, a rare figure outside the Star Wars and Modular themes. Certainly, many fans who can’t afford to spend over $1k on a single set will be glad to see this version. Although slightly smaller than the original, the new set carries a $50 lower MSRP, likely due to the Power Functions being an optional extra this time. Although we spy plenty of elements in new colors, however, we haven’t spotted any completely new elements apart from the cloth roof panels. Let us know in the comments if you see anything we’ve missed, though!
We’ve got the full press release, designer video, and all the images below.
In addition to the best LEGO models created by builders from everywhere on the planet, The Brothers Brick also keeps you up to date with the most timely and relevant LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the third week of April 2017.
TBB NEWS, REVIEWS & INSTRUCTIONS: It’s been a bit of a slower news week here at The Brothers Brick, with a flurry of last-minute building by several of our team members heading north to attend BrickCan. Nevertheless, the rest of the team has been busy bringing all our readers up to date LEGO news and reviews, as well as the best LEGO models we can find.
OTHER LEGO NEWS: There’s a lot of news out there we choose not to bring you as it happens, but that doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. Here’s the rest of what happened in the LEGO world this week.
Have you ever wanted to experience the thrill of playing LEGO games at a fan convention, perhaps trying out your hand at a Master Build? That LEGO fun is coming straight to your computer through a new live-streaming Twitch show, Battle of the Bricks.
Nick Della Mora, aka BrickinNick, will host the live brick-building competition show, highlighting some of the talented builders in the AFOL community. Each show will feature a head to head battle where two builders using the same LEGO sets will build something new using the same pieces, based on a chosen theme. When the time runs out, viewers will become the judge, choosing whose scene reigns supreme.
The show will air on Friday, April 21st through Friday, June 2nd at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Twitch. Shows will be posted on YouTube the following day. Tomorrow’s show will pit Dan (DR.Church) against Caleb Wagoner (Masked Builder), so we look forward to seeing any fun builds stemming from the show.
Collectible Minifigures Series 17 are due for release May 1 at the standard price of $3.99 USD, but if previous series have been any indicator, lucky shoppers may begin finding them earlier. We’ve already some reports that they’re on sale in LEGOLAND Billund, so if you’re excited about this series, start keeping an eye out now. We brought you an early review of Collectible Minifigures Series 17 a few weeks ago, but now to help you prepare for hunting for your favorite figures, we’re providing a Feel Guide.
As is standard for the Minifigures line, 71018 Collectible Minifigures Series 17 are each packaged in a blind foil bag, preventing buyers from knowing which characters they’re purchasing. That is, unless you use your nimble fingers to prod and poke the bags into revealing their secrets. We’ve already sorted an entire case of Series 17, so we’re here to help you figure out what you’re feeling inside each bag.
Click to read the full Feel Guide
20 years ago today, in 1997, Huw Millington created his first LEGO set guide online, laying the foundation for what would become Brickset’s database. The database is arguably the most complete, thorough data archive on all things LEGO available online today, and has certainly come a long way.
Initially just an online copy of a LEGO catalog, the database has grown and evolved to include sets, prices, pieces, colors, photos and more. Brickset posted a look back at various versions of the database over time, which is worth a read and a good chuckle, if you remember what old HTML web pages used to look like (shudder). If you want to know more about Brickset’s past, check out this article Huw wrote in 2014: Brickset through the ages.
TBB has a great relationship with Brickset, and we’re honored to have Huw and his assistants as part of the LEGO community. So how does one properly express gratitude to such an amazing site? Through poetry, of course, and by borrowing heavily from fellow brit and poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous sonnet:
How do I love thee, Brickset database? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height of a 2×4 brick.
My searches can reach, and find that part that clicks
For the means of winning the set collection race.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and moonlight.
I love thee freely, as I look up a set price.
I love thee purely, your color chart I praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs without thee, and with my dark age.
I love thee with a love never to lose
With my lost parts. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my AFOL life; an idea of Huw’s,
I shall but love thee database until death.
In addition to the best LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick also brings you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the second week of April 2017.
TBB NEWS, REVIEWS & INSTRUCTIONS: Star Wars ruled the week with a new movie trailer, new LEGO sets, and even free instructions. May the force ever be in your favor!
OTHER NEWS: There was a good amount of LEGO news from other places around the web this week. Here are a few items we noticed and thought you might enjoy.
Following a successful first year, BrickCan returns to Vancouver, British Columbia for another LEGO convention and public exhibition. Next weekend, Saturday and Sunday April 22-23, hundreds of LEGO builders will converge on the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond (right outside of Vancouver) with creations big and small for an incredible LEGO exhibition everyone can enjoy. Tickets are selling fast, so purchase yours ahead of time online through Ticketmaster for $15 CAD.
Along with the full convention for builders, the general public can select a two-hour block to see everything that is on display, build their own creation, or shop among the many vendors for that one rare set or minifig accessory you’ve always wanted. Plus, all children 12 and under will receive an exclusive custom-designed BrickCan LEGO kit to take home.
The Brothers Brick will be on-site, scouring the builds for the next amazing LEGO creation to showcase, like this collaborative build Fallout Shelter from last year among many more exciting things. We hope to see you there!