LEGO News Archives | Page 241 of 405

LEGO Powered UP Rebrand Combining Powered Functions 2.0, Boost and Education Under One Umbrella in 2019

One of the significant advances made by LEGO in terms of technology for their products was the introduction of mechanical parts that can be driven by electrical power to operate particular sets. What these electronic systems were called depended on the line they’re part of, but for the most part they fell under Power Functions. Most recently LEGO has been promoting a new series of Power Functions 2.0 components for some of their latest sets like several trains on LEGO City and the App-Controlled Batmobile (76112). But all of a sudden The LEGO Group has announced a new product rebranding which it refers to as LEGO Powered UP

In this feature renaming, LEGO Power Functions 2.0 will be grouped together with other electronic component systems like LEGO Boost and WeDo 2.0 of the LEGO Education line under a unified banner. These features will now be collectively branded as LEGO Powered UP across all products using them.

scaled 17101 alt06 — The LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox (17101)

To coincide with this rebranding all unique features from the previous electric parts systems will become common, such as replacing infrared sensors with wireless BLE connections and compatibility with downloadable LEGO mobile apps. The degree of connectivity and functionality being offered by LEGO Powered UP is greater than anything before.

It all comes across as overwhelming, but LEGO is giving their more tech-oriented fans time to digest this rebranding. All sets with the mentioned features releasing this year will still bear Power Functions 2.0 and such on their respective packaging. Expect LEGO Powered UP to replace those labels by 2019 though.

For more details, check out this transcript of a recent LEGO Q&A. We’ve included an excerpt here describing one of the new advantages of Powered UP.

…All elements can now be electrically identified, so when attaching e.g. a train motor, the Hub and the App can now recognise it is a train motor. This allows us to help younger users put things in the right place. Another benefit is that we can optimise functionality based on particular elements, for example when using a train motor or the add-on light, the handset increments/decrements power (good for train / setting light) but when using the medium motor, the handset sets 100% power when a button is pressed down (good for RC vehicles)…

So what do you think about these recent developments about the LEGO Powered Up line? Do you think this is a welcomed move as far the LEGO community is concerned? Let us know in the comments below.

LEGO Store September Calendar Teases On Two LEGO Exclusive Sets for VIP Members

Last week at the beginning of August, we had our good look at what comes next with LEGO at their Store Calendar for September 2018. Aside from the debut of so many new sets from best-selling lines such as LEGO Friends and LEGO Harry Potter, they also teased something special for VIP Members from the 13^th to the month’s end. What that means is that two LEGO exclusive sets are being offered Early Access to those who availed of the LEGO VIP program. One of those two mystery sets has been hinted to be the long, long-rumored LEGO Star Wars UCS Cloud City set, but what about the other one?

It’s only rumor at the moment, but there’s a possibility that the second September LEGO exclusive might be the 2018 version of the annual-release LEGO Creator Expert Winter Village set. One only needs to look back at the Winter Village Station (10259) released last year to know how great a new set might look.

And that early access release is appropriate for next month, especially in recent years when countries who do celebrate Christmas and the winter Holidays tend to start promoting these related events as early as September.

Anyway, we’ll have plenty of time to further speculate as we go through August. The VIP Early Access LEGO exclusive sets will start becoming available from September 13 to the 30^th.

Does the Way the LEGO Wizarding World Collectible Minifigures (71022) Blind Bags Placed Per Box Gives A Hint On What You Can Get?

The new wave of LEGO Wizarding World Harry Potter and Fantastic Beast sets are now out, together with the highly in demand LEGO Harry Potter and Wizarding World Collectible Minifigures (71022). As we all know by now, the LEGO Harry Potter CMF 71022 comes with an array of impressively designed minifigs of familiar Potter-verse characters, including a chase minifig of Percival Graves/Gellert Grindelwald. We already reported on its box distribution earlier last month, giving us an idea of the odds of getting that minifigure that you really want.

This time around, an avid collector of this latest LEGO CMF has shared additional info via Reddit that will somehow increase the odds of finding that elusive LEGOF CMF (71022) character that you are looking for. According to Mabubifarti, s/he observes that the way the sixty (60) blind bags of this particular CMF is placed inside its sealed box follows a peculiar pattern. Furthermore, this tendency for a ‘preferred’ arrangement was also observed by Mabubifarti to be applicable to LEGO’s Anniversary Series 18 CMF (71021), particularly in reference to where Series 18’s chase minifig (which is the Classic Police Officer) is located inside the sealed box.

Just in case someone finds it useful, I recorded the order of the minifigures in my Harry Potter CMF box. from lego

Based on the above layout, the upper row of the table represents the back portion of the box, while the row at the very bottom of the table represents the front portion of the box. According to reports from other LEGO Harry Potter CMF collectors, Mabubifarti’s arrangement is quite accurate with 2 other slight variations from the one s/he originally shared. If this is true and you’re still on a mission to complete your very own LEGO Harry Potter CMF (71022), then it will be better to keep in mind that picking up the blind bags from both the front and back end of the box will probably yield a handful of duplicate minifigs. It seems that the best strategy to avoid any unwanted duplicates is to pick things upper column and getting each blind bag per column alternately.

Of course, we must always take such reports with a grain salt, but with almost every collector reporting the same with only slight variations on the preferred arrangement, then it may also prove that such an arrangement does exist. If you’re still in doubt, you should always feel your way through each of the blind bags. The reported blind bag arrangement may only help as far as narrowing down your search, but feeling your way through each of them still gives you a much better chance of landing on that minifig that you really want.

Speaking of feeling your way through each LEGO Harry Potter CMF (71022) blind bag, The Brothers Brick has published an excellent guide that will help you increase the odds of finding that tricky minifig that you really want. Be sure to check out their feel guide before you head to your local LEGO brand store for your LEGO Harry Potter CMF hunt. Alternatively, you may also visit shop.LEGO.com if you don’t mind getting a randomly selected blind bag.

New LEGO Summer Sets Still Up at shop.LEGO.com and Amazon

It has almost been a week since the latest wave of LEGO summer sets have been released, with a handful of them now being temporarily out of stock or in backorder from shop.LEGO.com due to their high demand and popularity among fans. This latest wave of new LEGO sets is pretty much impressive and sought after on their own, with a good number of sets coming from the LEGO Harry Potter Wizarding World, LEGO Ninjago and LEGO Ideas just to name a few. And if you haven’t made up your mind until now on which of these uber cool sets you want to bring home with you, then you’ll be glad to know that most of them are still available either via shop.LEGO.com or Amazon. Let’s look back and revisit some of them these latest LEGO summer sets and see if we still have the chance to bag them. For convenience, just click on the links to know more. Whenever applicable, and if the set is on backorder at LEGO Shop@Home, I’ve also included an its corresponding link on Amazon for you to check as well. Since these are affiliate links, any purchase that you made through these will be a big help in keeping our blogsite up.

Just a last reminder: for any purchases worth $35 and above from August 1 to 14 entitles you to a free Plants from Plants (40320) set, and a free LEGO Unikitty Castle Room (5005239) from August 1 to 12 for any LEGO Unikitty set purchase worth $25 and above.

LEGO Architecture

Statue of Liberty (21042)

Great Wall of China (21041) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

LEGO BrickHeadz

Steve & Creeper (41612)

Elsa (41617)

Anna & Olaf (41618)

Harry Potter & Hedwig (41615)

Hermione Granger (41616) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Ron Weasley & Albus Dumbledore (41621)

LEGO City

Passenger Train (60197)

Cargo Train (60198) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Capital City (60200)

People Pack – Outdoor Adventures (60202)

Tracks (60205)

Switch Tracks (60238)

LEGO Creator Expert

James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (10262)

LEGO DC Comics Superheroes

Aquaman: Black Manta Strike (76095) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Batman: The Attack of the Talons (76110)

Batman: Brother Eye Takedown (76111)

Ninjago City Docks (70657) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Oni Titan (70658)

LEGO Star Wars

Hoth Medical Chamber (75203) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter (75214) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Cloud-Rider Swoop Bikes (75215) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Snoke’s Throne Room (75216)

Imperial Conveyex Transport (75217)

X-Wing Starfighter (75218) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Imperial AT-Hauler (75219)

Sandcrawler (75220) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Imperial Landing Craft (75221) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

LEGO Technic

Heavy Duty Forklift (42079)

Forest Machine (42080)

Volvo Concept Wheel Loader ZEUX (42081)

Rough Terrain Crane (42082) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Bugatti Chiron (42083)

LEGO Unikitty

Unikitty Cloud Car (41451)

Prince Puppycorn Trike (41452)

Party Time (41453)

Dr. Fox Laboratory (41454)

Unikingdom Creative Brick Box (41 455) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Unikingdom Fairground Fun (41456) – now in backorder at shop.LEGO.com (check Amazon)

Here’s How To Build The LEGO Hogwarts Express From Barnes & Noble’s Build and Take Event

In celebration of the 20^th anniversary of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book in the US, and the eventual release of LEGO’s new Wizarding World sets, Barnes & Noble has launched a LEGO Build and Take this Saturday at select bookstore branches in the US. And just recently, fans who attended the event have now shared several images of this mini LEGO Hogwarts Express and the instructions that go along with it.

Barnes & Noble Harry Potter mini build event from lego

Check your local Barnes & Noble for this event today! from lego

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmESwjoAT2o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmETK7vg6pq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I didn’t notice it back then when the event was still being promoted via social media, but thanks to avid LEGO Harry Potter fans, they’ve correctly pointed out that this version of the Barnes & Noble LEGO Hogwarts Express is exactly the same build that can be found in the now discontinued LEGO Dimensions Harry Potter Team Pack (71247).

This particular mini-build comes in at 43 pieces and can easily built using any LEGO pieces that you have. Though the Barnes & Noble’s mini LEGO Hogwarts Express build and take event set was not exactly an exclusive build so to speak, it’s still cool to bring home a piece of the LEGO Harry Potter magic. If you missed out on this event and would still like the make your own mini LEGO Hogwarts Express, you may download the building instructions for the 71247 which you can find from LEGO’s customer service portal. The parts list is also made available so having the right pieces should be a snap.

So what do you think of this promotional set, brick fans? Were you there during the yesterday’s B&N build and take event? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Here’s Your Chance To Have The Exclusive LEGO DC Comics Superheroes Electro Suit Batman Minifigure

If you recall back in 2012, DK Books released its first version of the LEGO DC Superheroes Visual Dictionary focusing on the LEGO Batman universe. Like any most LEGO-inspired DK book, this particular visual dictionary also comes with a free and exclusive minifigure which gives us an idea on how Batman may look like if ever he is in a Tron movie. In case you missed this exclusive back then, you might be glad to know that after almost 6 years, the LEGO DC Comics Superheroes Electro Suit Batman minifigure is once again available as a new promotional give-away by Media Offers in the UK.

The return of the Electro Suit Batman minifig marks the celebration of the return of the updated 2018 LEGO DC Superheroes Visual Dictionary, together with an exclusive Ultimate Activity Kit and a special pull-out poster. There is no purchase necessary to claim these freebies, however, you are expected to cover the cost of handling and postage which is £2.99 for the Electro Suit Batman, and £1.99 for the Ultimate Activity Kit. If you wish to avail both of these items, you have the option of shelling out £4.45.

If you’re eyeing on the LEGO DC Electro Suit Batman, then this is the best time to avail this. Just follow the instructions which you can find on Media Offers’ website. While you’re at it, be sure to check and pre-order the upcoming revised and expanded version of the LEGO DC Superheroes Visual Dictionary coming in September.

LEGO City Passenger Train (60197) Allows for Easy Extension of Train Length

We already know there’s a lot of LEGO sets that came out on the first of August. Among them are the latest train sets under the hugely popular LEGO City line. One of these recent locomotive models, the Passenger Train (60197), is suddenly getting attention from LEGO train enthusiasts due to its specific locomotive components making it possible to affordably extend its length up to double.

Some of the other LEGO passenger train sets, especially of the modern City designs, usually comprise two engines and a train carriage. The engines go on either side of the train (as with actual contemporary locomotives, to easily go back and forth on its set rail line and minimize the need for a train turntable).

The thing is, LEGO rail fans who would like to extend their model trains find that buying extra copies of train sets with two engines leave them with too many engines and too few carriages. The City Passenger Train version 60197 eliminates that wastage by providing only one buildable engine to two carriages in set.

Now while that normally means the 60197 loco will more feasibly work only on a circular track going one way (without a model turntable), getting a second 60197 would have the two sets being joined back to back, with the engines on opposite sides. That results in a long, realistic train design with at least four passenger carriages in between.

With the LEGO City Power Functions included in the Passenger Train (60197), builders can now make it go forward and back on its track, as there are engine motors on either side to make it go the desired direction. In fact, if the Power Function motors on both engines are activated simultaneously (forward for the leading engine and reverse for the rear one), they could combine their individual speeds to make the whole loco faster.

The Passenger Train (60197) was also accompanied on its August 1 release by fellow LEGO City sets the Cargo Train (60198) and Capital City (60200). All these and more are available on shop.LEGO.com as well as on LEGO Store shelves.

LEGO Holds Live Activation Event in China to Promote Its LEGO Technic Sets

LEGO Technic is among the most advanced product lines put out by The LEGO Group, and while the reach of their building sets is worldwide, there are still some certain markets that either haven’t gotten Technic introduced, or are simply unaware and overlook it. One of those countries is China. That’s something The LEGO Group plans to rectify. This week they held their first live activation for the LEGO Technic line in the Chinese capital of Beijing. LEGO is focusing on one of their particular promotion slogans for this event – “Build for real” – in conceptualizing the exhibits for the activation.

Jack Morton Worldwide helped LEGO realize the various activities and displays that showcase the mechanical engineering potential of the Technic line of products. For the Beijing live activation, guests get to see some Technic sets being put through some intense (and potentially destructive) physical situations.

“We wanted the first live experience we created in China to reveal the depth of Lego to this market,” remarked LEGO’s China brand marketing manager, Lili Rui. “Technic offers a wonderful opportunity to explore and discover and we’re delighted that this experience truly captures that and brings it to life.”

Want to see how well the Whack (42072) and Bash (42073) might survive deliberate crash tests? Try your luck in parking the All-Terrain Tow Truck (42070) in a scale-size parking space? Or how about operating the Rough Terrain Crane (42082) to see how well you can erect walls with it?

Perhaps the crowning glory of the Technic event in China is the exhibit of a full-sized replica engine of the Bugatti Chiron (the car itself being a Technic set numbered 42083), all made of Technic pieces. And it runs too!

LEGO fans in Beijing and nearby in China can enjoy these interactive displays – and be inspired to try the LEGO Technic series of sets – up until August 12. LEGO in China has been hyping this one-time occasion with an aggressive PR and social media campaign.

Source: Campaign Live (UK)

Take A Look At This LEGO BrickHeadz Geoffrey (40316) Set That We Never Had

Toys R Us in the United States are no more, but this recent find by Brickset member RonnyNhas may tug a heartstring or two among LEGO fans who grew up with the brick and mortar store. As it turned out, LEGO still has TRU in mind when a recent discovery of a LEGO BrickHeadz Geoffrey (40316) set was stumbled upon via LEGO’s servers in the public domain, or more specifically, the building instructions to create the famed TRU mascot in LEGO BrickHeadz style.

From the looks of the parts inventory, it seems that this LEGO BrickHeadz Geoffrey (40316) set does not contain any special parts or elements except for a few unique printed bricks showing the recognizable star patterns on Geoffrey. Check out the parts inventory below and see if you have the necessary parts to build our most favorite giraffe. You may also download the set’s building instructions while it is still up at LEGO’s public servers.

Now it is possible that LEGO may have actually intended to release a LEGO BrickHeadz Geoffrey (40316) set, and everything was already in place for the grand reveal. However, due to the eventual, heart-breaking closure of all TRU stores in the US, this particular BrickHeadz may have been placed on hold. It could also mean that since there are still other TRU stores in countries outside of the US, then it is likely that we may still see this set as a local promotional in their respective countries.

So what do you think about this LEGO BrickHeadz Geoffrey (40316) set that we never had? Do you think this will really happen? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Brick by Brick Permanent LEGO Exhibit Announced for the Science Center of Iowa

We always try to keep an eye out for news items that highlight just how fun and effective LEGO can be as an educational tool. On Wednesday, August 1, the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines made a LEGO-related announcement that we’re now going to shine a spotlight on. The SCI usually serves as a home for a wide variety of science-related exhibits and displays that come and go with the seasons and important events. But now they’re planning a new addition to their uncommon permanent exhibits, build entirely of LEGO bricks and aptly named as Brick by Brick.

“Brick by Brick” is described by SCI President and CEO Curt Simmons as an exhibit to inspire children to “think and build”. That’s because the exhibit will be composed of an eclectic collection of architectural masterpieces, from the Roman Colosseum of ancient times to modern-day edifices like the St. Louis Gateway and Golden Gate Bridge.

These structures will be replicated in scale by using LEGO, the Golden Gate Bridge mentioned will be a 60-feet long brick-build, and that won’t be the only one. Simmons says “Brick by Brick” marks a shift in the exhibit strategy for the Science Center of Iowa, “an investment in the experience that our visitors can expect on a daily basis.”

The inspiration for “Brick by Brick” at the SCI comes from Iowa’s implementation of new standards in teaching science at school, calling for added lessons in engineering principles. Indeed, rather than just gawk at the LEGO architecture visiting schoolchildren will also be given a space and a pile of LEGO pieces to practice their structural design ideas with accompanying lessons.

Brick by Brick is set to debut at the Science Center of Iowa on Labor Day, September 5, as a permanent part of the museum.

Source: WhoTV

LEGO Architecture

LEGO BrickHeadz

LEGO City

LEGO Creator Expert

LEGO DC Comics Superheroes

LEGO Friends

LEGO Ideas

LEGO Minecraft

LEGO Ninjago and LEGO Ninjago Movie

LEGO Star Wars

LEGO Technic

LEGO Unikitty