In a rather perplexing turn of events, rival building bricks company Mega Construx has now made it official that it will be launching its own version of the iconic Fender Stratocaster. In a recent tweet by the company, it has announced to the world that it has collaborated with Fender, and will be having a pre-sale from February 13-14 this weekend.
DROPPING SOON! #MEGACollabs has partnered with @Fender on a collectible that's built to rock! 🎸PRESALE takes place Feb 13-14; go behind-the-scenes with the team live at the Unboxed event, hosted EXCLUSIVELY on @NTWRKLIVE. 🤘#Fender
I really don’t know if there will be any IP-related issues or conflicts that might arise from this one, considering that LEGO has now made it official that it will also release its LEGO Ideas Legendary Stratocaster. But from the looks of it, Mega Construx has the advantage of an early release considering that they’ve already announced their pre-order offers. Mega also opted to give a sort of teaser image of what we can expect from this set, which is quite impressive actually. The scale and other fine details of this set and how the Stratocaster’s curves have been emphasized are spot-on.
Though Mega Construx has plenty of third-party licensed IP sets under its belt such as its line of buildable Pokemon, Call of Duty, and Halo sets, I am still looking forward to seeing LEGO’s own version of a brick-built Stratocaster. Not really sure about the legalities of it all but it begs the question, is it really possible to have two brick-built versions of the same branded musical instrument offered by two rival companies? If that is the case, then will it be possible to see a line of LEGO Nintendo Pokemon sets in the future? It’s enticing to reflect on this question considering that we have seen that a LEGO-Nintendo collab is entirely possible with the introduction of its LEGO Super Mario sets. And now that LEGO and Mega Construx has somewhat agreed to offer their own version of the Fender Stratocaster, then it might be possible in the future that they may agree on the release of other similar titles or IPs. Well, we can only speculate at this point.
In this day and age of unprecedented internet activity, it is a breath of fresh air to have an advocacy that centers on helping children and perhaps adults as well, to understand what it means to be a responsible digital citizen. This is precisely what LEGO had in mind when it recently struck a partnership with DQ Institute – a leading think tank and advocacy group that promotes online safety and responsible digital skills.
Taking it a step further from its advocacy of using renewable and sustainable resources in its products, LEGO now sets its vision on helping children and their parents understand what it means to be digitally intelligent. DQ or Digital Intelligence includes building empathy towards others online to be aware, sensitive to, and supportive of one another in an ever-growing online community. And what better way to teach these life lessons is through the introduction of LEGO’s new online hero minifigures. These new characters are currently up over at LEGO’s Safer Internet Day minisite, teaching children several aspects of digital intelligence. The site begins with a quick quiz to help children and visitors know more about what type of online hero they are and presents them with scenarios where they can flex their DQ or digital intelligence. You will be guided throughout by Captain Safety and will be introduced to his team of online heroes.
Frankly, it will be nice if LEGO will eventually come up with physical counterparts of these new minifigure characters, and perhaps see a set or two dedicated to these LEGO DQ Institute characters:
Sir Hug A Lot – who embodies online empathy.
Butterclops – a representation of online self-awareness.
AeroVision – designed to help children acknowledge the perspectives of other people
Admiral Highfive – a character created to talk about being kind online.
For more information about this new LEGO Group initiative, you may check out their official press release right here.
LEGO Ideas has launched a new contest over at its blog site. The LEGO Ideas Out of this World Space Build contest challenges LEGO fan builders to come up with their next fan entry that may eventually turn out to be the next LEGO gift-with-purchase (GWP) set.
Similar to the LEGO Vintage Car (40448), this contest seeks to tap into the creative side of LEGO fans by allowing talented builders to come up with their best entries yet. The LEGO Ideas Out of this World Space Build contest also pushes the bar higher by providing a set of limits for the number of LEGO pieces that can be used: ranging from 150 to 250 bricks, no more no less. This piece count somewhat approximates that of a small to medium-sized set, similar to previous GWP sets.
Aside from the Grand Prize winner, there will be five runner-ups that will be recognized, and the prizes that await them does not disappoint as well. And like previous LEGO Ideas building contests, tons of great LEGO sets are up for grabs for the winning entries.
Other than the perpetual bragging right of having your creation rendered to an official LEGO set, the Grand Prize winner will receive the following space-inspired LEGO sets:
10 copies of the final LEGO Ideas Gift with Purchase set based on the grand prize winner’s entry
The deadline for entry for this contest is on or before March 8, 2021, at 6 AM EST. For the rest of the contest guidelines and on how to submit your entry, be sure to go through the building contest rules right here.
So do you have a Space-inspired LEGO entry in mind? Let us know in the comments below.
The LEGO Ideas Review Board has finally released the results for its LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Results, including a final decision on a project that took a considerable amount of time to be evaluated. These sets were chosen as the next official LEGO Ideas sets among a record-breaking 35 product ideas submitted between May to September of 2020. These proposals managed to get the support of more than 10,000 LEGO fans who wished to see them translated into an actual LEGO product.
The announcement came earlier today through LEGO Engagement Manager Hasan Jansen and LEGO Associate Marketing Manager Piangward Kate Jarupakorn. You can watch their full announcement right here.
First off, among 35 fan submissions evaluated during the LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage, the honor of being the next official LEGO set has been awarded to Truman Cheng’s (aka legotruman) brick rendition of a timeless masterpiece –Â Vincent van Gogh: The Starry Night.Â
It will be interesting to see how this classic painting will be translated into LEGO bricks especially considering that LEGO has now introduced its LEGO Art series. However, considering that the building techniques employed by Truman in his approved fan submission do not utilize the same kind of pixelated style of the LEGO Arts series, then it will be interesting to see how the LEGO Ideas design team will eventually finalize it as a set. I hope that they will stay true to the concept and building techniques seen in the original submission.
Just a side note – though I’m happy that The Starry Night eventually received a thumb’s up from the review board, I can’t help but wonder why none of the other 34 entries were selected. Like what other LEGO fans have noted, there are other 10K qualifiers in this roster that is quite popular among fans for references to pop culture icons. It will be nice to see for example an official LEGO set for Nintendo’s Animal Crossing considering its playability and appeal to adult and younger LEGO fans alike, or perhaps a set dedicated to the Greendale Community College based on 2009’s hit series Community. I’m sure that there are other worthy candidates from this pool of 35 submissions, and it’s a bit disappointing to see that only 1 was ultimately selected. Perhaps the LEGO Ideas Review Board needs to cut some corners considering the sheer number of approved projects still in development? I really don’t know, so it will be nice if the review team will provide more details on their decision.
But if there is any consolation that the LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage has to offer to LEGO fans, is the fact that the Blue Blur is back and just in time for his 30th birthday. We first saw his official minifig in the now-discontinued LEGO Dimensions Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack (71244) from 2016. And just in case you missed out on him, having an official LEGO Ideas Sonic Mania: Green Hill Zone set along with other iconic characters of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is certainly most welcomed. I missed out on the first LEGO Sonic minifigure, and I will certainly not miss my next opportunity to get this one.
The conclusion of the LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage now brings a total of 7 approved projects currently in development:
And while waiting for these approved projects to roll out in LEGO stores shortly, the LEGO Ideas review team already has its hands full for the Third 2020 review cycle with its total of 25 qualifying entries.
So what do you think of the outcome of LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage? Are you happy with the results? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
LEGO and Disney now introduce their latest tie-in sets in time for the debut of the latter’s next animated film. These LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon sets to celebrate the upcoming release of the film via Disney+ on March 5th. These sets let you travel to the fantasy world of Kumandra where humans and dragons have learned to co-exist in peace. However, things have changed and this time Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tan), must find the sole remaining dragon to stop the monsters named Druun from devastating their kingdom. In case you missed it, here’s the official trailer.
The movie in itself is promising, and the LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon sets do not disappoint. From the get-go, you’ll notice from these official images that these sets are a sort of mix between LEGO Friends and now retired LEGO Elves. If you recall, we already published a collection of images last month coming from this LEGO Disney subtheme. But these more recent images give us a closer look at the intricate details and new LEGO elements that are included in this trio. They’re not yet listed over at LEGO Shop@Home as of this posting, but we can expect them to be out there soon before their release date on March 1st. I’ll update this post once their respective LEGO affiliate links are already available.
Raya and the Heart Palace (43181)
610 pieces | $79.99 | Figures include: Raya, Namaari, Tuk Tuk and Serlot
Raya and Sisu Dragon (43184)
216 pieces | $29.99 | Includes a Raya minidoll and a buildable Sisu Dragon figure | This set may also be attached to set 43181
Boun’s Boat (43185)
247 pieces | $29.99 | Includes Uka, Pan, Dyan, Boun, and Sisu Human figuresÂ
Last month, we saw a glimpse of things to come this March as far as LEGO Star Wars is concerned. With three new LEGO Star Wars March 2021 sets now included in LEGO’s database, we can now have a better look at these sets and what we can expect from them based on their official product descriptions.
Though sometimes I feel that the LEGO Star Wars theme or franchise is becoming a bit redundant with LEGO’s tendency of recycling or redesigning previously released sets, somewhere along the way, LEGO comes with new set designs that are pretty much endearing. One such example is the new mini build set in the form of the LEGO Star Wars AT-AT vs Tauntaun Microfighters (75298). That brick-built Tauntaun is simply adorable.
If you like this set as much as I do, then you may want to click on the following LEGO Shop@Home affiliate links to add them to your LEGO wishlist and to know more. You may also want to go through their official product description below while waiting for their release on March 1st.
60 pieces | $19.99 | Minifigures include Poe Dameron and BB-8
Let youngsters learn to build and role-play with this LEGO® Star Warsâ„¢ Resistance X-wing (75297) for ages 4 and up. A simple-to-build version of the starfighter from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, this awesome building toy has wings that fold out for a flight and in for landing. The Poe Dameron LEGO minifigure, which comes with a blaster pistol, fits in the X-wing’s opening cockpit and there is space behind for the BB-8 droid LEGO figure.
Instructions PLUS Check out interactive Instructions PLUS, available in the free LEGO Building Instructions app. It has cool zoom and rotate viewing tools to make building this starfighter even more rewarding for kids.
Welcome to 4+ LEGO Star Wars 4+ buildable toy playsets give younger kids aged 4 and up the best introduction to LEGO building and the Star Wars saga. With Starter Brick bases to help them, they can construct vehicles, buildings, and more – on their own, or with assistance from an older sibling or adult – and get playing fast.
Give younger children a great first experience of LEGO® Star Wars™ with this Resistance X-wing (75297) construction toy, featuring a starter brick chassis for a quick build so the action starts fast.
The buildable starfighter toy comes with a Poe Dameron LEGO® minifigure with a blaster pistol, plus a BB-8 droid LEGO figure to inspire creative role-play fun.
The X-wing has an opening cockpit for Poe Dameron, space for BB-8, and wings that fold out for flight mode.
Easy to build and rebuild after playtime battles, this 60-piece LEGO® Star Wars™ starter set makes the best birthday present, holiday gift, or surprise treat for creative kids aged 4 and up.
This awesome starfighter building toy measures over 1.5 in. (5 cm) high, 6 in. (15 cm) long, and 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide, so it can fit easily into a child’s backpack ready for play on the go.
205 pieces | $19.99 | Minifigures include Luke Skywalker and an AT-AT Driver
Inspire young children to reimagine the Battle of Hoth from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and play out their own stories with this AT-AT vs. Tauntaun Microfighters (75298) building set. It features a quick-to-build, posable AT-AT Walker and Tauntaun construction models for the 2 LEGO® minifigures to sit on.
Role-play fun The Luke Skywalker and AT-AT Driver LEGO minifigures each have a stud shooter and an electrobinoculars element, and Luke also has a lightsaber for battle play. This fun, creative set comes with clear instructions so even LEGO beginners can build with Jedi-like confidence, and it combines perfectly with the Millennium Falcon Microfighter (75295).
Welcome to the LEGO Star Wars™ universe For over two decades, the LEGO Group has been creating amazing, brick-built versions of iconic Star Wars starships, vehicles, locations, and characters. This building toy makes an awesome birthday, holiday, or surprise gift for young kids to introduce them to this action-packed galaxy of fun.
Kids can recreate the Battle of Hoth from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and role-play their own stories with these quick-build, LEGO® brick AT-AT Walker and Tauntaun Microfighters.
This AT-AT vs. Tauntaun Microfighters (75298) set features 2 LEGO® minifigures: Luke Skywalker, with a lightsaber, and an AT-AT Driver. Each has a stud shooter and an electrobinoculars element.
The Tauntaun and the posable AT-AT each have a seat for a LEGO® minifigure, and the set combines brilliantly with the Millennium Falcon Microfighter (75295) for extra battle action.
This awesome 205-piece construction toy makes the best birthday present, holiday gift, or unexpected treat for kids aged 6 and up to introduce them to the fun, creative LEGO® Star Wars™ universe.
The Tauntaun measures over 2.5 in. (7 cm) high, 3.5 in. (9 cm) long, and 2 in. (5 cm) wide. Along with the AT-AT and LEGO® minifigures, the set fits in a child’s backpack for play on their travels.
660 pieces | $69.99 | Minifigures include Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Imperial Officer
Fans can play out exciting scenes from the classic Star Wars™ trilogy with this buildable Imperial Shuttle (75302) model. The elegant design of the shuttle is beautifully recreated in LEGO® bricks, with an opening minifigure cockpit, opening main compartment with space for 2 LEGO minifigures, foldable wings for flight and landing mode, plus 2 stud shooters. Between playtime adventures, it makes a cool display piece.
Role-play fun This awesome building toy for kids also includes Darth Vader, Imperial Officer, and Luke Skywalker LEGO minifigures with lightsabers and a blaster pistol.
Awesome gifts The LEGO Group has been recreating iconic starships, vehicles, locations, and characters from the Star Wars universe since 1999. LEGO Star Wars is now its most successful theme, with fun, creative gift ideas for fans of all ages.
Build a LEGO® brick version of the elegant Imperial Shuttle and play out scenes from the classic Star Wars™ trilogy with this action-packed building toy for kids (75302).
Includes 3 LEGO® minifigures – Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, both with a lightsaber, and an Imperial Officer with a blaster pistol, plus a handcuffs accessory element – for fun, creative play.
The Imperial Shuttle features an opening minifigure cockpit, opening main compartment with space for 2 LEGO® minifigures, foldable wings for flight and landing mode, plus 2 stud shooters.
This awesome building toy makes the best birthday, holiday, or surprise gift for kids and any Star Wars™ fan aged 9 and up. It’s fun to build and play solo or with family and friends.
The Imperial Shuttle measures over 10 in. (25 cm) high, 9 in. (24 cm) long, and 14 in. (35 cm) wide. Kids will be proud to display their creation in their bedroom between playtime adventures.
It seems that LEGO is adding more characters to its line up of LEGO Brick Sketches sets. Introduced last June 2020, its initial offering saw some of pop culture’s most famous names rendered in collectible, brick-built illustrations on a 12×16 baseplate. This time around, the House of Mouse gets another share under the LEGO spotlight with the introduction of the upcoming LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie sets.
Retailing for $17 each, the LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie sets are expected to be available starting March 1, 2021. They are both currently listed over at LEGO Shop@Home, and you can know more about these sets by clicking on the following affiliate links below. In the meantime, check out their official images below.
Fans of Disney’s iconic characters can build and display their own Mickey Mouse illustration with this LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ Mickey Mouse (40456) kit. Hang it on the wall using the built-in hook – the 12×16 baseplate holds the LEGO bricks firmly in place – or stand it on a shelf. A great treat for holidays, birthdays, or other celebrations, and an impressive addition to any collection of LEGO Brick Sketches character portraits.
Young LEGO® builders and Disney Mickey Mouse fans will love to create and display this cool, collectible Brick Sketches™ portrait of the well-known Disney character.
A great gift idea for ages 8 and up, this 118-piece building set is part of the LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ theme, which features collectible, buildable, 3D illustrations of iconic characters on 12×16 baseplates.
Measuring over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 3 in. (9 cm) wide, and 1 in. (3 cm) deep, this LEGO® Brick Sketches™ Mickey Mouse picture makes a striking piece displayed on the mantelpiece or hung by its built-in hook on a wall.
Fans of Disney’s iconic characters can build and display their own Minnie Mouse illustration with this LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ Minnie Mouse (40457) kit. Hang it on the wall using the built-in hook – the 12×16 baseplate holds the LEGO bricks firmly in place – or stand it on a shelf. It’s a perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, or other celebrations and an impressive addition to any collection of LEGO Brick Sketches character portraits.
Young LEGO® builders and Disney Minnie Mouse fans will love to create and display this cool, collectible Brick Sketches™ portrait of the well-known Disney character.
A great gift idea for ages 8 and up, this 140-piece building set is part of the LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ theme, which features collectible, buildable, 3D illustrations of iconic characters on 12×16 baseplates.
Measuring over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 3 in. (9 cm) wide, and 1 in. (3 cm) deep, this LEGO® Brick Sketches™ Minnie Mouse picture makes a striking piece displayed on the mantelpiece or hung by its built-in hook on a wall.
After making its official debut, the LEGO Group has now released an accompanying designer video for its recent 2-in-1 masterpiece, the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295). LEGO Design Master Mike Psiaki gives us an in-depth look at the creative process behind this recent offering. Watch the video below.
After giving audiences a brief historical background of the 70s Porsche 911, Mike revealed some pretty neat aspects of the new LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295). As a 2-in-1 build, you have the option of creating either the model’s powerful counterpart which is the 911 Turbo, or the more laid back and relaxed version of the 911 Targa. Its accompanying building instruction, as disclosed by Mike, is unique in itself in that it gives you the option of selecting which version of the Porsche 911 will you like to continue midway as you build the set.
And of course, the set also features first-for-March 2o21 parts as detailed by LEGO Element Designer Yoel Mazur. Particularly, the use of a new triple bow for the back of the Porsche, giving it a sleeker, more polished look; and a new 5×5 quarter-circle that accentuates its classic rear wheels. I can just imagine the possibilities that these new elements will offer LEGO fan builders. Other than these new LEGO pieces, it is interesting to note that this set does not feature any stickers at all, and LEGO has gone the extra mile of offering printed elements for all of the set’s interior and exterior details.
The LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295) is expected to roll-out both in-store and online starting February 16 for LEGO VIP members, and on March 1st for the general population. Clocking in at 1,458 pieces it is expected to retail for $150. You may click here to find out more about this latest LEGO offering.
So what do you think of this new LEGO Creator Expert set? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
LEGO has rolled out its latest 18+ set that joins the ranks of its brick-built classic sports car such as the LEGO Aston Martin DB5 (10262) and my personal favorite the LEGO Ford Mustang (10265). This time around, LEGO has channeled the essence of the iconic German sports car and gave it a 2-in-1 twist in the form of the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295).
As per the LEGO Group’s official press release, the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 is a 2-in-1 wonder that captures the hallmarks of this classic sports car, offering every builder a choice of creating the speedster Porsche 911 Turbo, or its more leisurely variant the Porsche 911 Targa. And like previous top-of-the-line LEGO Creator sets before it, the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295) features a ton of details that stays true to its real-life counterpart. Coming in at 1,458 pieces, this set will retail for $150 and is expected for an early VIP release starting February 16, and a general public release of March 1st.
Read on for its official product description and take a look at some of its fine details. You may also click on the following affiliate link below for more details and if you wish to add it to your LEGO wishlist.
1,458 pieces | $149.99 | Early VIP release on February 16, and a general public release on March 1st, 2021.
Celebrate the unmistakable style of Porsche with this fantastic building challenge as you create your own classic, collectible car with the LEGO® Porsche 911 (10295) model kit. Choose to build either the Turbo model with its turbocharged engine or the Targa with its iconic Targa bar and a removable roof that stores under the hood.
Build your favorite Porsche 911 Both the Turbo and the Targa model cars feature authentic Porsche 911 details like the iconic front and rear bumpers, angled headlights, printed logo, and number plates. And the interior is just as impressive with working steering, gearshift, emergency brake, tilting seats, and a dark-orange-and-nougat color scheme.
A building project for you The LEGO Porsche 911 is part of a collection of buildable model kits for adults. From classic collectible cars to detailed buildings, these LEGO sets are the perfect way to escape everyday life with an immersive building project.
Escape from the everyday with this thrilling building project. The LEGO® Porsche 911 (10295) model car building kit is the perfect set for adults looking for their next hands-on project.
Explore all the Porsche 911 features including the rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-six engine, working steering, gearshift, emergency brake, and tilting seats.
Which will you choose to build? The Turbo model with its turbocharged engine or the Targa with a removable roof that can be stored under the hood.
The Porsche 911 Turbo model car features a wide rear axle, an integrated spoiler, plus a turbocharged engine complete with an intercooler.
The Porsche 911 Targa model car includes a removable roof that fits in the hood plus the iconic Targa bar with rear glass behind the driver.
Designed especially for classic car fans and Porsche enthusiasts, this advanced building kit comes with coffee-table-style instructions with inspirational design details.
This Porsche 911 collectible car model measures over 4 in. (10 cm) high, 13.5 in. (35 cm) long, and 6 in. (16 cm) wide.
It’s a brand new month of exciting offerings from LEGO and we can now expect a new round of promotional items and freebies as detailed in the February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar. Read on for more details.
With the LEGO Ninjago Ninjago City Gardens (71741), taking the prime spot on this month’s promotional calendar, LEGO is throwing in some attractive offers to sweeten up your next LEGO purchase. LEGO brand stores across the US including LEGO Shop@Home, are all set to offer another promotional item that will prove to be quite popular among LEGO collectors. Additionally, the month of February will still have its share of some LEGO-inspired love now that LEGO offers another freebie to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Free Exclusive Seasonal LEGO Year of the Ox (40417)
Offer valid from February 1 to 14, 2021 for qualifying, single-receipt purchases of any LEGO products worth $85 and above.Â
This next collectible set in LEGO’s Lunar Zodiac series now sees the mighty ox in its cute, brick-built version. Coming in at 167 pieces, the LEGO Year of the Ox set will be added to your bag once your LEGO purchases reach a single-receipt amount of $85 and more. This promo offer is valid from February 1 to 14 or while supplies last.
Free LEGO Friends Chocolate Box & Flower (30411)
Offer from February 1 to 14, 2021 for qualifying, single-receipt purchases of any LEGO products worth $40 and above.
This LEGO Friends polybag makes a great gift for those who love to decorate and some brick-building fun on their desks and study areas. Coming in at 75 pieces, the LEGO Friends Chocolate Box & Flower polybag will be yours for free for a lower qualifying purchase of any LEGO products worth $40 and above. Similarly, this promo offer is valid from February 1 to 14 or while supplies last.
Free LEGO Ninjago The Island Lloyd’s Quad Bike (30539)
Offer valid from February 15 to 21 or while supplies last, for qualifying LEGO Ninjago purchases worth $40 and more.
And if you’re looking forward to having the next wave of LEGO Ninjago sets, or even the mammoth-sized LEGO Ninjago Ninjago City Gardens (71741), then don’t forget to claim your free LEGO Ninjago The Island Lloyd’s Quad Bike (30539). Offered from February 15 to 21 and while supplies last, this next free polybag will be automatically yours if your single-receipt LEGO Ninjago purchase will amount to $40 and above. A great way to celebrate LEGO Ninjago’s anniversary if you’ll ask me.
As we can expect, there are still no in-store activities promoted yet in the February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar as LEGO’s way of keeping us safe from the on-going pandemic. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of good things to look forward to this month at your LEGO brand store, so be sure to check. Just remember to observe our health safety protocols and we’re good to go. Keep on building!
