Albert Balanza, Author at The Brick Show

Travel Around Your LEGO Metropolis With These LEGO Creator Yellow Taxi and Tuk Tuk Sets

Here are a couple of LEGO Creator sets that will look good together with your next big, LEGO City project. LEGO Shop@Home has been updated once again to include two new entries under the LEGO Creator theme. The LEGO Creator Yellow Taxi and Tuk Tuk sets are also scheduled to arrive this January 1st together with other 2021 Creator sets, such as the modular LEGO Creator Expert Police Station (10278).

The LEGO Creator Yellow Taxi and Tuk Tuk sets are a nod to the bustling life in the cities – whether you’re LEGO MOC depicts the busy streets of New York or India, these upcoming sets are an excellent addition to that minifigure city of yours.

Check out the following product description and images below, and be sure to add them to your wishlist by clicking on their respective links below.

Yellow Taxi (40468)

124 pieces | $9.99

LEGO® fans can create their own fun adventures on the streets of a vibrant city with a cool Yellow Taxi (40468) toy. This wonderfully attractive and detailed vehicle features an ad on the roof, side-view mirrors, license plates, and turning rubber wheels. An awesome gift for kids aged 7 and up to proudly display or use to enjoy role-play action.

Take an exciting trip to a vibrant city with this LEGO® Creator Yellow Taxi buildable toy for kids, featuring an ad on the roof, taxi decorations and turning rubber wheels.
This 124-piece taxi model is a fantastic gift for little builders aged 7 and up who have a passion for vehicles and using their imaginations to create fun stories.
The yellow taxi toy measures over 2 in. (6 cm) high, 5 in. (13 cm) long and 1 in. (5 cm) wide, the perfect size to play with at home or to take to a friend’s house for more fun.

Tuk Tuk (40469)

155 pieces | $9.99

Have fun on the bustling streets of India with this detailed and brightly colored Tuk Tuk (40469) toy car. It features a host of realistic details including front and back seats, hanging decorations, a fire extinguisher and Indian-style lunchboxes in a pallet on the roof, so kids have all they need to create fantastic stories. A cool gift for kids aged 7 and up who enjoy playing out exciting scenes with car toys.

Kids will enjoy creating fun adventures with this colorful LEGO® Creator Tuk Tuk buildable car, featuring front and back seats, hanging decorations and Indian-style lunchboxes in a pallet on the roof.
LEGO® fans aged 7 and up who love building and playing with car toys can use the Tuk Tuk to stage stories on their own or add it to other LEGO playsets in their collections for more fun.
The Tuk Tuk measures over 3 in. (9 cm) high, 2 in. (6 cm) long and 3 in. (10 cm) wide – just the right size to play with at home or to slip into a bag for fun on the go.

More Details on the LEGO Valentine’s Brown Bear (40462) Seasonal Set

After its partial, unofficial reveal last week, LEGO has now officially listed one of its first seasonal sets for 2021. Coming in at 245 pieces, the LEGO Valentine’s Brown Bear (40462) is expected to arrive exclusively in your nearest LEGO brand store starting January 1st, 2021. It will retail for $14.99, within the same price range as its animal BrickHeadz contemporaries.

Check out some of these official images and product descriptions of the LEGO Valentine’s Brown Bear (40462). It’s never too early to plan for Valentine’s so be sure to add this set to your LEGO Happy Heart’s Day wishlist.

As a side note, you will also notice that this product listing has also revealed the next seasonal set to be offered in the form of the Easter Bunny (40463). So that is something to watch out for as well.

Valentine’s Brown Bear (40462)

245 pieces | $14.99

Delight your valentine with the adorable LEGO® Valentine’s Brown Bear (40462). Holding an iconic red heart, the bear has posable arms and ears for creating different expressions. A picnic blanket decorated with buildable, red, heart-shaped balloons and colorful flowers makes the perfect setting for this lovable character. A romantic Valentine’s Day surprise for LEGO fans!

This buildable LEGO® Valentine’s (40462) Brown Bear, holding a red heart, comes with posable arms and ears, plus a picnic blanket setting with red hearts and colorful flowers.
Makes a great Valentine’s Day gift for LEGO® fans aged 8 and up and comes with 239 LEGO pieces.
The Valentine’s Brown Bear buildable toy stands over 4 in. (11 cm) high.

First 2021 LEGO BrickHeadz Sets Now Listed Over at LEGO Shop@Home

After having a glimpse of some of the first 2021 LEGO BrickHeadz sets to be expected in 2021, LEGO Shop@Home has updated its servers to now include official listings of these sets. This first wave of brick-built collectibles includes a pair of everyday pets and a trio of cute, Chinese New Year pandas.

These sets will be available starting January 1st, retailing from $15 to $20. Check out their corresponding product descriptions and crisp, official images below. You may also click on the following affiliate links if you want to add these 2021 LEGO BrickHeadz sets to your 2021 LEGO wishlist.

German Shepherd (40440)

247 pieces | $14.99

Kids who love pets will adore this BrickHeadz™ dog and puppy, build-and-display set. The German shepherd wears a bandanna and has a movable tail, and the puppy looks very cute with his little red tongue sticking out. The dogs sit together on a sturdy baseplate in a decorated basket, making this buildable pet set a great gift for all kids, BrickHeadz collectors and pet lovers.

Collectible construction set featuring fun LEGO® BrickHeadz™ models of a German shepherd dog and a puppy sitting together in a basket.
Standing over 3” (8cm) tall, this 247-piece model features a bandanna, movable tail and a decorated dog basket.

Shorthair Cats (40441)

250 pieces | $14.99

This BrickHeadz™ cat and kitten, build-and-display set will have cat fans purring with delight. The adult shorthair cat wears a bow tie, has a movable tail and sits next to a cute kitten on a sturdy baseplate in a decorated basket. This buildable pet set is a great gift for all kids, BrickHeadz collectors and anyone who loves cats.

Collectible construction set featuring fun LEGO® BrickHeadz™ models of a shorthair cat and kitten sitting together in a basket.
Standing over 3” (8cm) tall, this 250-piece model features a bow tie, movable tail and a decorated basket.

Chinese New Year Pandas (40466)

249 pieces | $19.99

Help kids mark a special occasion with these charming LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Chinese New Year Pandas (40466). This set contains a mother panda and her 2 cubs, one sitting, the other lying down. Each bear has its own sturdy baseplate so they can either be displayed together or separately around a bedroom. The set also comes with bamboo stalks, a lantern and a buildable mandarin orange tree, which is a symbol for good luck.

Wish a LEGO® fan good luck with the gift of these cute LEGO BrickHeadz™ Chinese New Year Pandas (40466). Each panda comes with its own baseplate so they can be displayed together or on their own.
This set includes 3 LEGO® BrickHeadz™ pandas – a mother bear and her 2 cubs – as well as a lantern and a buildable mandarin orange tree.
Mother panda stands over 3 in. (8 cm) tall and the two cubs each measure over 1.5 in. (5 cm) tall.

And the 150th LEGO BrickHeadz Set Will Be…

Last month, the LEGO Ideas platform has launched another fan activity that celebrates the upcoming release of the 150th LEGO BrickHeadz set. Fans of the brick-built collectible theme were given a chance to vote for the next BrickHeadz, coming from four pre-determined candidate themes.

As of this writing, there are currently more than 100 BrickHeadz that were already released, and it will definitely take some time before we see the likes of the 150th LEGO BrickHeadz set. And to make the voting process even more fun, the LEGO Ideas Team has rolled out four likely candidates that will be given the honor to mark such an occasion: Lilo & Stitch, Minecraft, Jaws, and Star Wars.

I have to say that I was excited about the idea of finally seeing an official, brick-built Stitch set (which somehow almost made it to the cut with Tyler’s LEGO Stitch product idea). But this being a majority vote among 13,000 LEGO fans who participated, the honor of being the 150th LEGO BrickHeadz set is now reserved for yet another LEGO Star Wars BrickHeadz set. That’s how democracy works I presume, even if you don’t particularly like the outcome.

lego brickheadz star wars — The 150th LEGO BrickHeadz set will feature a Star Wars character.

Currently, the Stars Wars subtheme of the LEGO BrickHeadz series is by far the most represented theme in the said genre – with 16 LEGO Star Wars BrickHeadz sets under its belt. I guess that’s a testament to how popular this LEGO subtheme is among the majority of the brick-loving masses.

It is also interesting to note that LEGO may also be continuing its trend of offering official brick renditions of some of the most popular pop-icons of our generation, similar to the likes of LEGO BrickHeadz pairs such as that of Marty MacFly and Doc Brown (41611), and Peter Venkman and Slimer (41622). And bringing the possibility of having a LEGO Jaws set on the table is quite revealing on the part of LEGO. Does it mean that LEGO has something in the works coming from this direction? We just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, we might need to wait a little longer before we can see the 150th LEGO BrickHeadz set under the Star Wars theme. And with so many present and future Star Wars candidates to choose from, it will be quite a challenge for LEGO to zero-in on the best SW character to fill in the commemorative spot.

So who do you think from the galaxy far, far away will be honored as the 150th LEGO BrickHeadz set? Which Star Wars characters do you think will eventually win this title? Or are you even happy with the results? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

LEGO Ideas Vintage Car (40448) Gift-With-Purchase Set Coming in January 2021

Last week, we reported on a rumor that was making rounds across the LEGO fan community that the next LEGO Ideas set may already be on its way towards LEGO brand stores and at LEGO Shop@Home anytime soon. And to make it even more special, the rumored release of the LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith in January 2021, will be accompanied by the next gift-with-purchase (GWP) set coming from the fan-inspired theme. And from the looks of it, the LEGO Ideas Vintage Car (40448) is all poised to be the initial GWP set of 2021. Since we don’t have any better images as of the moment, I guess we just have to settle for this one. I’ll update this post once LEGO releases their official images.

LEGO Ideas Vintage Car (40448) Promotional Gift Item

According to Promobricks, the LEGO Ideas Vintage Car will be added to your LEGO shopping cart automatically for every single-receipt qualifying purchase of any LEGO products worth 85 euros or more via LEGO Shop@Home and at LEGO brand stores. The promo may last until the middle of January 2021 or while supplies last.

If you recall, the LEGO Ideas Vintage Car emerged as the overall winner in the LEGO Ideas Build a Vintage Car building contest held in the latter part of 2019, earning more than 1,400 LEGO fan votes among other entries. This upcoming freebie is based on the creation of LEGO fan Versteinert and his Aedelsten Deluxe MOC. There’s not much of a difference from the fan version to that of the final LEGO Ideas version, save for some minor changes in the front of the car and details on the minifigure couple included with the set.

lego ideas vintage car gwp — LEGO Ideas Vintage Car fan design. Not the final product.

lego ideas vintage car gwp 02 — LEGO Ideas Vintage Car fan design. Not the final product.

We haven’t heard anything yet from LEGO US regarding this next promotional freebie, but I can safely guess that more details (and even perhaps a better, closer look) about the LEGO Ideas Vintage Car (40448) may appear on the copy of the January 2021 LEGO Store Calendar which will be uploaded to LEGO servers anytime soon. Stay tuned for more updates.

LEGO Originals Wooden Minifigure for VIPs: Here’s a Chance to Win an Exclusive

In case you missed it, the LEGO VIP Rewards Center has been updated to include a new sweepstakes contest that gives all LEGO VIP members a chance to win an exclusive LEGO Originals Wooden Minifigure.

Launched towards the end of 2019, the upscaled 5:1 wooden minifigure display piece is a nod to one of LEGO’s most recognizable pop-icon symbols that began in 1978. And this time around, LEGO VIP members now have a chance to bring home not just the generic kind of LEGO wooden maxifig, but a Colette-branded collectible exclusively designed by Sarah Andelman. For those who are not familiar with her works in the fashion industry, Sarah Andelman is the founder and creative director of Colette, a chic Parisian concept store known for its limited-edition range of collectibles and luxury brands, and its quirky mix of lifestyle products. Unfortunately, after 20 years in the business since 1997, Colette eventually closed its doors in 2017.

Each raffle entry to this exclusive LEGO Originals Wooden Minifigure sweepstakes costs 50 VIP points. The raffle draw will run until January 10, 2021, across eligible countries. For more information, be sure to check out LEGO’s contest rules and terms of service. And if you wish to include this in your AFOL’s LEGO Christmas wishlist, be sure to visit LEGO Shop@Home to know more about this collectible.

LEGO Creator Roses (40460) and Tulips (40461) Now Listed at LEGO Shop@Home

A few days ago, I reported on a couple of upcoming LEGO Creator sets that can certainly add that brick-inspired touch to any special occasion. The images that I initially shared were not that ideal, but now thanks to LEGO Shop@Home, we can now have a better look at what the LEGO Creator Roses (40460) and Tulips (40461) have to offer.

Whether you intend them to be a standalone gift, or as a sort of expansion set to the upcoming LEGO Creator Expert Botanical Collection Flower Bouquet (10280), these brick-built roses and tulips certainly look lovely. As of this posting, they are still labeled as coming soon over LEGO Shop@Home in the US. But since they are already appearing in LEGO servers, we can expect them to be rolled out globally anytime soon. Check out their product descriptions and official images below. You may also click on their respective affiliate links if you wish to add them to your LEGO wishlist.

LEGO Creator Roses (40460)

120 pieces | $12.99 | Coming soon, most probably in January 2021

Mark a special occasion with these LEGO® Roses (40460). They’re the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or just to let someone know how much they’re cherished – and they’ll bring a beautiful burst of color when displayed in a vase. This easy-to-assemble set comes with 2 red blooms, green leaves, and length-adjustable stems. Combine with LEGO Tulips (40461) to add extra color to this brick-built bouquet. The set is also compatible with the LEGO Flower Bouquet (10280).

Show someone how special they are with this LEGO® Roses (40460) building kit. It makes the perfect Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, or just-because gift.
Includes 2 buildable red roses with adjustable stems.
Each rose stem measures over 10 in. (26 cm) long – perfect for displaying in a vase.

LEGO Creator Tulips (40461)

111 pieces | $9.99 | Coming soon, most probably in January 2021

Celebrate spring or any special occasion with these LEGO® Tulips (40461). They’re the perfect gift for Mother’s Day or just to let someone know how much they’re cherished. The easy-to-assemble set comes with 3 blooms – 1 white, 1 purple, and 1 yellow – with bright green leaves to symbolize the fresh new life of spring. With length-adjustable stems, they can be displayed in most vases. The set can also be combined with LEGO Roses (40460) and the LEGO Flower Bouquet (10280).

Show someone how special they are with this LEGO® Tulips (40461) building kit. Makes the perfect Mother’s Day or just-because gift.
Includes 3 buildable tulips in different colors with adjustable stems.
Each tulip stem measures over 9 in. (24 cm) long – perfect for displaying in a vase.

From the Rumor Mill: LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith Is On Its Way

If you recall during the first quarter of this year, the LEGO Ideas 2019 Second Review Stage wrapped up with two officially recognized sets that we will eventually see on store shelves later next year. The LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith, alongside the LEGO Ideas Winnie the Pooh set, are expected to be out next year, on the word on brick street is that the former is expected to launch first.

According to The Brick Fan, rumor has it that the LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith is the first between the pair of approved sets to be released anytime soon. I really don’t know how the LEGO Design Team or the LEGO Group for that matter, decides on which of the two fan-made sets gets to be first released. But from a financial perspective, it will do LEGO good if they don’t sell the two sets simultaneously.

The LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith is the brainchild of LEGO Ideas fan builder Clemens Fiedler (aka Namirob) and originally consisted of approximately 3,000 pieces. However, since word has it that the retail price of this next LEGO Ideas set is somewhat between $100 to $180, then we can expect this to be somewhat scaled-down. Historically, for example, the LEGO Ideas Pirates of the Barracuda Bay (21322) clocks in at 2,545 pieces and is already priced at $200. The only LEGO Ideas set that was priced exactly at $180 is the LEGO Ideas Voltron (21311) which comes in at 2,321 pieces. So by way of comparison, we can assume that LEGO designers in charge of the project somehow cut corners in coming up with the Medieval Blacksmith’s final version.

Whatever is the case, I guess the arrival of this next LEGO Ideas set will surely be welcomed by AFOLs who are looking forward to that classic LEGO Castles vibe. Like the Pirates of Barracuda Bay, the Medieval Blacksmith is a callback to one of LEGO’s endearing themes so I’m sure that adult LEGO fans will certainly add this set to their brick wishlist.

And to top it off, the discovery of the upcoming gift-with-purchase (GWP) set, the LEGO Ideas Vintage Car (40448), may add credence to the rumor that we are about to see the final version of the next LEGO Ideas anytime soon. The Vintage Car, if you remember, was the Grand Prize Winner of a building contest launched by the LEGO Ideas platform last year. Same as with 2018’s Space Rocket Ride (40335) GWP, the Vintage Car is now the next promotional set that will probably be offered in 2021 together with the LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith set.

40448 1 — The LEGO Ideas Vintage Car 40448 is the next gift-with-purchase set slated to be offered in the first quarter of 2021.

So what do you think brick fans, when do you think the next LEGO Ideas set will be offered? Will it be the Medieval Blacksmith eventually? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

LEGO Comes to Our Aid by Helping Us Spot A Fake LEGO Webstore

Two years ago, I published an article that that placed the spotlight on various fake LEGO shopping websites that you should avoid if you want your hard-earned money not be put to waste. It’s my little contribution to the LEGO fan community to help us avoid the deceitfulness of these LEGO scam sites. And now that we are in full steam ahead of the holiday season, I’m personally glad that LEGO has officially spoken on the matter by helping us spot a fake LEGO webstore. Here are some of the guidelines or steps that they’ve released along with a neat infographic. Check these out.

We’re doing everything we can to protect consumers from fraud, and we take the issue of fraudulent and scam websites very seriously. We’re working harder than ever to identify and report as many of these sites as possible and the following simple steps can help you spot a fake, fraudulent, or scam LEGO webstore.

Look closely at the contents of the site.

Spend time looking at the entire website before purchasing anything. Check for incorrect language, fake consumer services addresses, terms and conditions for returns, privacy policy, etc. If you are still in doubt after doing this, try calling the company if a phone number is provided on the page. Often, the phone numbers on fake webstores do not exist or they do not answer calls.

Be cautious of very low prices.

When you see very low prices being offered on LEGO products, it may be a fake webstore that uses the tactic to lure you in to either buy fake LEGO sets or simply take your money.

Pay with debit or credit card.

When buying a LEGO product online, a credit or debit card will often provide greater protection if you’re unfortunate enough to buy fake or non-existent products.

Check customer reviews.

Look at various websites that collect customer reviews – use multiple sources. Check websites that alert about current scam sites.

If you see a potentially fraudulent or scam website claiming to sell LEGO products, please contact customer service at www.LEGO.com/en-us/service.

Remember to shop only at legitimate sites like LEGO Shop@Home and Amazon. Yes, authentic LEGO sets may be hard on the wallet, but an excellent and well-made toy that will last for a lifetime is without a doubt, a worthy investment. Thanks again to LEGO for helping us spot a fake LEGO webstore.

Images of First LEGO BrickHeadz 2021 Sets Revealed

After giving us a glimpse of the first wave of LEGO Seasonal sets for 2021, Brickset has also shared a trio of LEGO BrickHeadz 2021 sets that we can expect in the first quarter of 2021. Similarly, LEGO made the reveal via its declaration of conformity as part of its legal process of declaring the safety of their products. The images below are also not at par with the high-res ones that we usually include in our posts, but they’re enough to give us an idea of what we can anticipate from them.

Like the LEGO Seasonal Year of the Ox (40417), this first LEGO BrickHeadz 2021 set celebrates the rich tradition and celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The LEGO BrickHeadz Chinese New Year Pandas (40466) features three cute, brick-built pandas: two baby pandas and one adult panda, each with a distinct look and personality of its own. These adorable brick creatures are accentuated by a decorative tree with lanterns that are very much the same as what we can see from LEGO’s Chinese Spring Lantern Festival sets.

Further down the road, we have a couple of BrickHeadz sets added to its roster of animals and pet-inspired builds. The LEGO BrickHeadz German Shepherd (40440) and Shorthair Cats (40441) seem to be a part of a new Pets subtheme that focuses on our buddies at home. Similar to the New Year Pandas, each of these LEGO BrickHeadz Pets feature two builds- that of a bigger, adult pet and a smaller, younger one.

The New Year Pandas are expected to retail for $19.99, while the LEGO BrickHeadz Pets may be offered within the usual $9.99 price range. They’re also expected to be available in January 2021 so be sure to keep an eye on them over at LEGO Shop@Home. I’ll update this post once better images are available, but for now, check these out.

Author: Albert Balanza