halloween 2016 haul

Boo!

Happy Halloween! Brick or treat? Both!

My wife and I decided to treat ourselves with some bricks on our first Halloween in the United Kingdom. Our Halloween 2016 haul is more like 2015, for everything we bought were stuff from last year (and we're both not a fan of this year's spooky set. Is that a walrus vamp?). Needless to say, they're on sale.

For our first and only set, we purchased the Trick or Treat Halloween Set [40122].

Trick or Treat Halloween Set [40122]

Trick or Treat Halloween Set

We spotted this cute little vignette in our local Sainsbury's. It used to retail for £8.49 but they were selling the set for only £7, then they marked it further down to £5.60! This is our first ever vignette and it has inspired us to make similar projects in the future. Good thing I chose this over some spooky sweets.

For the next items, we used a voucher from WHSmith taking £5 off from at least £15 worth of kids' books or toys. Fortunately, our local store still has a few Minifigures Series 14: Monsters [71010] bags left. To be specific, there were six bags on the shelf. The exact quantity we need to avail of the promo.

Minifigures Series 14: Monsters [71010]

Out of the six bags, only one is a duplicate (to my younger sister's delight). For this haul, we got Zombie Businessman, Wolf Guy, Square Foot, Zombie Pirate, and Specter.

Zombie Businessman

Wolf Guy

Square Foot

Zombie Pirate

Specter

These guys will now join my Monster Scientist, Plant Monster, Tiger Woman, and Gargoyle. I still need to hunt down seven more minifigures to complete the set (I'm late. I know!). Not to mention my desire to have a cool Yeti from Series 11 [71002] to complement my cute Square Foot.

How about you guys? Brick or treat?

Happy Halloween!

UK toys r us first order general promotion

First Order General [5004406]

Good news UK LEGO Star Wars fans, the elusive First Order General [5004406] is finally available via Toys R Us!

As a Toys R Us special offer, the First Order General minifigure is free when you spend £15 on any LEGO Star Wars sets. There was no promotion period stated so it can be assumed that it will run while supplies last. The polybag is also purchasable in-store and online, retailing at £4.99. However, quantity is limited to one item per customer, and click and collect is not an option. Head on to www.toysrus.co.uk to purchase one, and for more details.

First Order General Hat Off

First Order General  Hat On

UK LEGO store star wars rebel A-wing pilot promotion

Rebel A-Wing Pilot Promotion
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

It was announced in the UK LEGO Store Christmas 2016 Newsletter that the Star Wars Rebel A-Wing Pilot [5004408] will be finally available as a free gift with purchase come December.

The long sought Phoenix Squadron Pilot minifigure will be officially up for grabs at last in the UK brick market. The minifigure is from Star Wars Rebels, more specifically from the end of the second season. The promotion runs from 11 to 31 December, with a free Rebel A-Wing Pilot [5004408] polybag (while supplies last) for any Star Wars purchase over £25.

I know it's a bit early for this announcement, that's why I plan to make another post later on to remind us of this certain promotion. I'm sure, like me, you wouldn't want to miss this...

UK LEGO store christmas promotions

Christmas Promotions
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

'Tis the season to be jolly! Along with the release of the UK LEGO Store Christmas 2016 Newsletter is the announcement of this year's multiple holiday promotions.

As early as October and, of course, ending in December, LEGO is giving away free gifts (after minimum purchases and while supplies last) to liven up the festive mood. The Christmas 2016 LEGO Store promotions are as follows:

• From 23 October to 20 November, free LEGO 24-in-1 Christmas Builds [40222] for any purchase over £60

• From 12 to 23 November, free LEGO Toy Soldier Christmas Ornament [5004420] for any purchase over £25

• From 25 November to 10 December, free LEGO Snowglobe [40223] for any purchase over £60

• From 11 to 20 December, free Exclusive Gingerbread Man Minifigure [5005156] for any purchase over £25

And don't forget to keep your receipt when you buy any LEGO product between 14 October and 10 December to get a 2017 LEGO Wall Calendar. The calendar can then be claimed (while supplies last) from any LEGO Store between 11 December and 15 January.

2017 Wall Calendar
(Photo grabbed from: https://www.lego.com/en-GB)

So plan your holiday purchases wisely! And I think this is just perfect, just in time for the opening of the new London Leicester Square LEGO Flagship Store on 17 November!

project monochrome: black

Black Monochrome Minifigure

Continuing my minimal art project in brick form, I have decided to go back to the basic black...

After my first White Monochrome Minifigure, I chose to follow it up with another basic color, black. Like white pieces, black pieces are also very easy to procure. I acquired all the black minifigure parts from my local LEGO Shop's Build-a-Mini. Unfortunately, there were no plain black head and torso pieces available, so I just selected the ones with the least printing. With the same process as before, I removed the paint using cotton swabs and a rag cloth with Brasso metal polish.

For its first interpretation, the Black Monochrome Minifigure is presented as a soldier. Why? The honest reason is that during the time of the shoot, the soldier hat is my only plain black piece. Besides, I think it looks super cute, like a shadow escapee from The Nutcracker.

Black Monochrome Minifigure: Soldier

Slowly, I'm collecting various extra pieces for my Project Monochrome (I find it hard to break a set for just a particular needed piece). I can't wait to execute what I have envisioned for this minimalist aspect of my brick fixation...

LEGO nexo knights magazine issue 09

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 09

The LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 09 has just been released. And as promised, it's a profusion of free gifts, including a Bat Flyer and Ninjago trading cards!

Just like the previous issue, Issue 09 is overloaded with giveaways, specifically the Bat Flyer LEGO toy, a Ninjago booster pack, and a limited edition Ninjago card. All that's lacking is a Nexo Power, but that's okay. The brilliant strategy of introducing the Ninjago Trading Card Game in the LEGO Magazines is still ongoing. Just like last month, another rare card was included. A genius move, I believe, to tease the desire to complete the whole collection. It almost worked for me, almost, for now.

Ninjago Trading Cards

A Limited Edition Team Ninja golden foil card is included in every Issue 09. And with the special card guaranteed in every booster pack, I got a Jay & Cole silver foil card. So, by purchasing the two issues of LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine, I instantly have four shiny foil cards. This has tempted me into buying a Starter Pack. It's priced at £4.99, and it includes a binder, a pack of cards, an exclusive NRG Kai card, a gameboard, and a set of rules and instructions. Let's see if I can resist it...

For the LEGO toy, this month's freebie is a Bat Flyer.

Bat Flyer

Even without a rider, the airborne vehicle looks wickedly hot. The six shooter housing piece instantly makes any build fiercely hardcore. And the press release reads that the flame bat fires lava ammo (and that it's a vampire speedster)! I thought that the Bat Flyer is Lavaria's ride, but in the comics, a Crust Smasher was seen flying it. I always love it when the toys would appear in the comics.

I'm actually excited for next issue's free gift, for a knightly toy is promised, none other than a supermighty Mech Bot! Is this in preparation for the future Action sets? Then a Pilot Bot will be included in Issue 11 (I believe that's a typo below, unless the wrong toy was highlighted). LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 10 is on sale from 16 November.

Mech Bot

last chance to get a final free LEGO toy with next saturday's daily mail

Skybound Plane [30421]
(Photo grabbed from: https://shop.lego.com/en-GB)

Wait, there's more! LEGO fans from the United Kingdom have another chance to get a final free LEGO polybag with the Daily Mail next Saturday.

On 22 October, soar into battle by claiming the Ninjago Skybound Plane [30421] with Saturday's Daily Mail!

To get your loot, simply present the voucher printed in Saturday's paper to a participating WHSmith High Street store before closing on the specified day to collect one free toy, while stocks last.

Head on to The Mail Online for more details.