new LEGO store leicester square arriving soon!

Royal Guard Announcement

A new LEGO Store is coming soon to the heart of London’s theatreland, Leicester Square!

Back in May 2016, it was announced that the construction of a new store in the United Kingdom (37th in Europe) has started. Specifically, it is located at 3 Swiss Court, London, with the postcode W1D 6AP (just in front of M&M's World!), covering 5,420 square feet in over two floors. The official press release said that the flagship store follows the recent unveiling of the LEGO Store in the Les Halles district of Paris, France, and the Asian flagship store in Shanghai, China (translation: the store will be massive!).

A recruitment drive has also commenced along with the construction, and is currently still ongoing. Head on to https://www.lego.com/en-gb/careers/search-jobs for more details.

Almost Done?!

It has been over a month since I last visited Leicester Square, so imagine my surprise when I saw that the store looks almost done! Don't get me started on the minifigures teasers! The Royal Guard minifigure looks so seriously cute! I don't have one from the Minifigures Series 5 [8805], so a re-release would just be perfect. And I really, really, really hope that LEGO will release the British gentleman minifigure (complete with a bowler hat, a Union Jack vest, and a cup of tea!) as one of the flagship store's exclusive.

Exclusive Minifigure?!

The official announcement said that the new store will open late 2016, but up to this point, a specific date is yet to be given. Can't wait!

the national museum of scotland made from LEGO

National Museum of Scotland Tower Roof Terrace 

In the National Museum of Scotland, there is a museum within a museum, and it's made entirely out of LEGO bricks...

Measuring about 3.5 meters, the LEGO model of the National Museum of Scotland was built by renowned brick artist Warren Elsmore (his largest single model yet!) and his team. It took them over 350 hours, using almost 90,000 bricks to build this masterpiece.

Museum of Scotland Building

Royal Museum Building

The minifigure scale model (about 1:50), depicting minute details of the galleries and the exhibits, was designed using scale-plans and elevation drawings. Every single brick used is a standard LEGO brick, though some were sought from all over Europe to finish this grandiose beauty.

Main Entrance

Scottish Galleries

Art, Design, Fashion, Science & Technology Galleries

The Grand Gallery

Natural World Galleries

The miniature museum model commemorates the 150th anniversry of the National Museum of Scotland. The exhibit is also in conjunction with the Festival of Architecture 2016, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design celebrations. The display will be available until 1 December 2016, in the Info Zone, Level 3. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. For further details, you can visit: http://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/.

Awestruck

When my wife and I visited Edinburgh in mid-August, we saw the culmination of all the ingenuity and hard-work Warren Elsmore and his team have done. If we came there earlier this year, we could have participated in the Build It!: Adventures with LEGO Bricks. We could have watched the master builder and his team work their magic on the miniature museum. Not only that, we could have seen the pre-built models on display as well, including the iconic red phone box, and a mini version of one of the properties on Edinburgh’s Broughton Street. We could have also joined the interactive activities, like a search for hidden museum-inspired builds, and a creation of our own models in the play and display section.

Nevertheless, seeing the LEGO model of the National Museum of Scotland up close was a grand experience in itself. Just like what Elsmore said, it can truly inspire future architects, designers, sculptors, and storytellers...

nexo knight racers: a serendipitous LEGO encounter

Knight Racers

Ask and you shall receive...

I know this verse is usually a metaphor for prayer, but sometimes in life, you just have to do it literally.

As I went to check my local convenience store for the latest issue of the LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine, I noticed that there were detached free gifts from the previous issues sitting on the shelf. These are the Knight Racers from copies of Issue 07, which were already returned to the publisher. Nicely, I asked the sales assistant if I could just buy them. She consulted her supervisor and they have decided to simply give them all to me, as they will just discard them anyway. I know this incident is beyond routine, but I can't deny that it is indeed fortuitous.

For the Knight Racer, I said in one of my posts that the vehicle could do better, but now that it belongs to a fleet, it definitely is.

This small encounter is a reminder that sometimes, all you have to do is ask...

LEGO nexo knights magazine: issue 07

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 07

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 07 has just been released, and this month's wicked gift is a Globlin Catapult.

Jestro made sure that the Nexo Knights are in for a sizzling surprise in their seventh issue. He has built a mean machine that launches the nasty Globlins through the air. The Globlin Catapult is not just a free LEGO toy in this issue, but also a featured evil weapon in the epic adventure comic.

This month's free gift is very reminiscent of the small Chaos Catapult [70311] set, minus the monstrous vehicle (and everything else). And instead of lava stones, Globlins are the ammo of choice in this stationary weapon. I think it is more logical to use Globlins balls in this foil set, but the use of Globlin discs with slide shoe rounds delivered the promised fun. The inclusion of pyramid ridged tiles in the frame is a very nice finishing detail (or maybe I just simply adore those brick pieces).

Globlin Catapult

All in all, the Globlin Catapult is a decent free gift. It's a nice addition to Jestro's evil army, but it's not really a must-have.

The must-have Nexo Knights free gift is next month's generous offer. For Issue 08, three toys will be given away, namely Kid Clay (with an official hairpiece!), a training bot, and an exclusive Nexo Power! LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 08 will be available from 14 September.

Kid Clay

LEGO star wars magazine: issue 14

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 14

Issue 14 of LEGO Star Wars Magazine is now available, and this month's free gift is none other than Jedi Master Yoda's Hut!

When I first saw the preview of this issue in last month's, I thought LEGO Star Wars Magazine is finally giving away minifigures, and the first one will be Yoda. But obviously, I was wrong. Maybe I wasn't the only one who made this mistake because in the final foil packaging, Yoda was printed in 2D, instead of 3D, to make it clear that a minifigure was not included.

As I've said in my previous post, it really is quite reassuring to know that the LEGO Star Wars Magazine is a medium to explore the untouched corners of the Star Wars brick universe. Because truly in Star Wars, everything is important!

Surprisingly, this is not the debut of Yoda's Hut in brick form. The Hut was first featured in the X-Wing Fighter [4502] set back in 2004. The set included Yoda's Hut in the background to recreate the scene in Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back, wherein Luke Skywalker seek training from the Jedi Master in the murky swamps of Dagobah. The Hut was also featured in 2015's San Diego Comic-Con Dagobah Mini Build set, recreating the above mentioned scene in a microscale, complete with the tree trunk and the swamp (and an R2-D2 minifigure for the Godzilla effect).

For the free gift per se, it may not be the most representative but the set do feel like it is Yoda's.

Yoda's Hut

The color scheme screams "mine, it is!" The pieces are also quite interesting. I love seeing unconventional pieces in different shades of green. For the building experience, I actually have more fun than I expected. I just had a little trouble with the bricks with bows. The instruction was to put them on the baseplate first then connect them, but with my big fingers, I found the vice versa easier. Overall, it is a cute microbuild (and has a strong tendency to remain in my work desk for a long time).

For the next issue, here's a little sneak peak. The LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 15 comes out 14 September. Oh, I can't wait for this micro AT-AT!

Micro AT-AT

take on the world with carpark north's unbreakable music video (LEGO nexo knights season 2 theme song)

The official LEGO YouTube page has just uploaded the music video of Unbreakable by Carpark North. The song serves as the theme song for the second season of LEGO Nexo Knights animated television series. The music video fused the real world with the Kingdom of Knighton. It showed the Danish electronic rock band playing, and gradually turning their instruments, and later on themselves into LEGO bricks. Clips of our beloved Nexo Knights characters were also included in the music video. Overall, with all the LEGO effects, this is a super cool music video. And as a bonus, get ready to scan a Nexo Power (from the band's electric guitar)!

birthday table decoration [40153] review

Birthday Table Decoration [40153] Box

What's the perfect LEGO birthday present for a LEGO enthusiast (excluding the big box sets, of course)? The LEGO Birthday Table Decoration [40153]!

I recently celebrated my 30th birthday last month, and one of the gifts my ever-supportive wife gave me is the Birthday Table Decoration [40153] set. It is the perfect centerpiece in the festive table (and the perfect announcement of your current age).

Birthday Table Decoration [40153]

The iconic table decoration was released in the summer of 2015, retailing at £6.99 / $9.99 / 7.99€. It measures over 3” high, 3” wide, and 3” deep. It comes with buildable age numbers from 1 to 99 (poor centenarians). The official spiel says that it includes a jester minifigure, but the truth is it includes only half a minifigure. I really wish that LEGO has provided the jester his brick legs so that he can stand on his own. The jester is used in the set's pop-up function, revealing a cute birthday surprise. The set comes with a lot of colorful decorative elements, and translucent flame elements.

The building experience is a lot of fun, with all the different colors and layers. The final build resembles a mini cake that looks good enough to eat. The pop-up function seems stable enough that there's no need to worry if the top will detach and fly to the nearby food. I also love the size of the box. It is just enough to fit the final build without disassembling anything.

Birthday Table Decoration [40153] Surprise

A quick customization of this set can make it fit to any birthday party theme. It's as easy as substituting the bricks with other colors to match the motif. Or changing the jester to any other minifigure the celebrant favors. For my wife's birthday next year, I was thinking of making a Disney themed birthday table decoration. Sounds like a plan...

The Birthday Table Decoration [40153] is truly a perfect birthday gift for any LEGO fan...

LEGO star wars magazines

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 08

In the second half of 2015, the LEGO Star Wars Magazine was launched. Every issue of the magazine comes with an exclusive collectible LEGO toy for fans of the galaxy far, far away. It also features competitions, puzzles, and posters. But just like the other LEGO magazines, publication is currently limited within Europe. So, for the rest of the world, here's a little peek...

...of Issues 08 to 13. Yes, I missed the first few issues of this series. I missed the mini- and/or microbuilds of the X-Wing Starfighter, Slave I, Imperial Shooter (no regrets for this one), Star Destroyer and TIE Fighter, Jedi Weapon Stand (no regrets for this one either), Snowspeeder, and Millennium Falcon! Actually, I could have purchased the issue with the micro MF. When it was released, I just got here in the United Kingdom, and unfortunately, it was not high on my priority list. So I started with the eighth issue, which was given to me by my tita (aunt). The free gift in this issue is Luke's Landspeeder.

Landspeeder

I instantly fell in love with the micro Landspeeder. I think it resembles Luke's X-34 with the three air-cooled thrust turbines and all. This looks a bit shiny though, compared to the farmboy's battered one.

When I saw Issue 09, I immediately bought it without second thoughts. It's as if C-3PO was calling me in his protocol droid voice saying he comes with a Naboo Starfighter!

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 09

Naboo Starfighter

The Naboo Starfighter microbuild is the cutest microbuild ever! (Okay, maybe I'm a bit biased towards the N-1. It's my favorite ship after all). But it really is the cutest! It may not be as curvaceous as the real thing, but it's still perfect. And the grey stud as an astromech droid? Clever idea!

I was kind of hesitant with Issue 10 and the Probe Droid minibuild, but good thing I bought it nonetheless.

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 10

Probe Droid

The Imperial Probe Droid minibuild is very similar (if not exactly the same) to the one in the Hoth Attack [75138] set. If I ever get my hands on that set, I'll make a side-by-side comparison. But what I love most from this foil pack are the transparent whip aerial and round plate pieces that serve as the droid's stand. It will prove useful for future spaceship mini- and/or microbuilds.

The editor of LEGO Star Wars Magazines must be a big fan of The Phantom Menace, for Issue 11 features another vehicle from the episode, the AAT.

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 11

AAT

The Armored Assault Tank build looks accurate on a microscale. It's also funny (and fitting) that some of the parts used are Battle Droid parts. I got two of them because my tita overlooked that I already have one. How serendipitous?

The free gift of Issue 12 is an exclusive Acklay figure. But what in the outer rim is an Acklay?

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 12

Acklay

An Acklay is a part-crustacean and part-reptilian creature with claw-like legs and pointed fangs from the planet Vendaxa. It was first seen in the Attack of the Clones as one of the three creatures released in the Geonosis arena to execute Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala.

This is the first time the Acklay was released in LEGO form. It is quite reassuring to know that the LEGO Star Wars Magazine is a medium to explore the untouched corners of the Star Wars brick universe.

The minibuild per se is a lot of fun. The use of the Battle Droids arms for the monster's appendages is a nice touch. And all those brick colors and pieces are also very interesting.

The thirteenth issue is a bumper issue. Meaning, there are two LEGO sets for free! I got a TIE Bomber and a Snowspeeder (from Issue 06). I thought all bonus sets are Snowspeeders, but no, you can also get the following: X-Wing Starfighter, Slave I, Imperial Shooter, and Star Destroyer and TIE Fighter from previous issues.

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 13

TIE Bomber

Based on the cover, I thought at first the TIE Bomber is a small minibuild, but I was wrong. I was surprised by its actual length. I know that there's only one viewport in this space bomber, but the absence of a LEGO piece in the ordnance pod make it seems a bit off. By the way, I used the Probe Droid's transparent stand in this picture to create the illusion that it's flying.

The Snowspeeder on the other hand is super tiny. But I think you need to squint your eyes really small to see the resemblance.

Snowspeeder

Star Wars is my main LEGO collection. That's why I always can't wait to see what the latest LEGO Star Wars Magazine has in store. Once I do, I will immediately share it with you for sure!...

LEGO nexo knights magazines

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 02

Earlier this year, the launch of the fantasy-based Castle theme Nexo Knights went beyond the colorful LEGO toy sets. As with most products nowadays, it took the multimedia approach, maximizing everything from animated television series to mobile game apps to print publications. The latter include monthly glossy magazines that contain comics, pull-out posters, fact files, puzzles, and more to keep little (and not-so-little) knights entertained. But the best part is that they always come with exclusive LEGO minifigures or mini-builds. Unfortunately, the new LEGO Nexo Knights Magazines are only currently released within Europe. So, for the rest of the world, here's a little glimpse...

Strangely enough, I started with the second issue, which was given to me by my tita (aunt). I tried to steer away from Nexo Knights at first because I wasn't really planning to start a new collection, but obviously, I gave in irresistibly. The free gift in this issue is Lance's Hover Horse.

Lance's Hover Horse

The build is a simplified version of the hover horses found in the bigger box sets. Gone are the color cues indicating which knight owns what horse. Nonetheless, it still looks cute. But it feels empty without a rider, so naturally, I sought for one. Good thing I found a good deal in eBay, with free delivery and all.

Issue 01 Free Gift

Lance

The epic gift (that I nearly missed) in the first issue is a Lance Richmond minifigure, complete with his lance weapon and a knightly feast. Not only that, this is the first time a Nexo Knight hairpiece was released officially (Robin doesn't count because he's just a Junior Knight, and Macy's pony tail doesn't count either because she can't wear that without the helmet). I wonder if they'll do the same with the others.

Lance and His Hover Horse

See? The Hover Horse looks perfect with Lance on it! Everything seems shiny and fancy, befitting a Richmond.

The third issue puts the spotlight on young Robin Underwood and his horse. Nexo Knights is a fusion of medieval and futuristic tech, so expect a lot of horses. The free gift in this issue is a bit generous for the final build seems like it came from the usual LEGO polybags. It's a bit reminiscent of Robin's Mini Fortrex [30372].

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 03

Robin and His Horse

Now for a cuteness overload, here's Lance and Robin on their high-tech rides. Is this a race or what?

Horsing Around

The LEGO sets in the next issues are not as grand but they're still interesting and fun. The Globlin Spiders and the Lava Warrior all look cool hot. The Knight Racer has a bit of a promise as well. Maybe it will look better once a Nexo Knight (Aaron, anyone?) rode it. Here are the rest of the magazines and the free gifts:

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 04

Globlin Spiders

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 05

Lava Warrior

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 06

Knight Racer

Another cool feature of the LEGO Nexo Knights Magazines is the inclusion of exclusive scannable Nexo Powers which can be used in the LEGO Nexo Knights: Merlok 2.0 game app.

I really love Nexo Knights. That's why I'm always looking forward each month for the release of the latest issue. And when I do, rest assured that I will immediately share it with you guys!...

brickednexus keeper AKA green majisto

Majistos: Blue & Green

With just a quick glance on brickednexus, one can deduce two things: my fondness for the blue wizard minifigure Majisto, and my affinity towards the color green. That's why combining them produced the perfect mascot for this blog, whom I shamelessly dubbed as the brickednexus Keeper, AKA the Green Majisto. But where in the LEGO dimensions did he come from?

Let's start off with the original Majisto. The blue wizard minifigure, which is also known as Merlin in other areas, debuted in 1993 under the LEGO Castle theme, and Dragon Knights subtheme. He first appeared in the sets Magic Shop [6020] (my favorite!), Majisto's Magical Workshop [6048], Dark Dragon's Den [6076], and Fire Breathing Fortress [6082]. He would later on be included in a number of box sets for the next few years. With the debut of Majisto also comes a few brand-new pieces, namely the blue pointed hat piece, the separate white beard piece, and the glow-in-the-dark wand (glow-in-the-dark!). But not everything is new to this lovely minifigure. Besides the LEGO head with the standard grin, the print on his blue torso is not unique as well.

The tie shirt print with a waist belt pouch first appeared in 1987, as the green Forestmen minifigures joined the Castle cast in the set Camouflaged Outpost [6066]. This is LEGO's version of Robin Hood and his merry outlaws, who clashed with other factions in the medieval scene.

Forestman

The torso print was also used on the Peasant minifigures, this time in light gray (and blue sleeves). It was first used in 1988 in the sets Knight's Challenge [1584], and Castle Mini Figures [6103].

Peasant

But how did my green version of Majisto came about? After I was able to win the Magic Shop set in an eBay bid, I saw an auction for a Forestman minifigure. Unfortunately, I was not lucky enough that time around for I was outbid on the last second! Other offers were just so expensive! What do I expect from a minifigure who's almost as old as I am? And then I tried something that I never did before. I used BrickLink, and I was so delighted that I did!

United Kingdom is a LEGO heaven for me. I mean, there's LEGOLAND Windsor, and everything LEGO is not only awesome, but also accessible (don't let me start on the sales!). And part of that accessibility is BrickLink. It may have originated (not to mention bigger) in the United States, but the presence of close to a thousand online stores is the next best thing. My Green Majisto won't materialize if not for the great BrickLink stores Sue's Place, and Minifigforlife. So far, my limited BrickLink experience with these two stores is very much favorable. The LEGO pieces were even cheaper in their stores than those that I saw on eBay! I ordered the pieces one night, and when I woke up, I already received the invoices. I then paid them in the same morning, and they shipped the items in the afternoon. The next day, the postman delivered my orders to me. Some of the pieces are good as new even though they were marked as used. Voila! I now have my Green Majisto! Just like that, quick and smooth. For my future projects, I will not hesitate checking their stores first for LEGO pieces.

Hmmm, I wonder what to do next? I am still contemplating on whether or not to transform my Peasant minifigure into a Gray Majisto. I still lack some pieces though. Well, that's easy. BrickLink!

BrickLink Logo

Do you also have a favorite minifigure? Have you tried BrickLink as well? How did it go? Feel free to share your comments below!

Reference:

Brickset. Castle. Retrieved from http://brickset.com/sets/theme-Castle

Farshtey, G., & Lipkowitz, D. (2013). LEGO minifigure year by year a visual history. Great Britain: Dorling Kindersley