Category: Featured

LEGO Ending Store Calendars this 2022

As November of the previous year gave way to December, LEGO put up their December 2021 Store Calendar. To make no bones about it, that LEGO Store Calendar was as bland as can be. The date spaces were bare where exclusives and events used to be marked. The LEGO Creator Skiing Santa Claus (3058) GWP remained the only notable offer listed in that month’s calendar. We know that there would have been more GWPs like Mr. and Mrs. Claus’ Living Room (40489) that were cancelled. It was a lackluster store calendar …and as it turns out, probably the last one too.

The Brick Fan reports that, starting this year 2022, we will be getting no monthly LEGO Store Calendars. This development was gleaned from an update image, ostensibly from LEGO, frequenting LEGO-related social media. The reason the post gives ranged from changes in marketing strategy, operational shifts, and current global events. As a result of these factors, LEGO can’t seem to put in a greater variety of calendar content. After all, would you brave going into a LEGO Store when health alerts are still ongoing. This would explain why we have no January 2022 calendar from LEGO. Of course, this is just what that announcement image tells us for now.

Said post hasn’t exactly been substantiated by LEGO itself. Then again, certain recent developments do give credence to the halt of monthly store calendar updates. We at The Brick Show have enjoyed sharing what we learn from these formerly-regular and fun-filled announcements. But if December 2021 was indeed the end, then know that we’ll miss the LEGO Store calendars already. Hopefully LEGO’s potential replacement for them is just as engaging.

Addendum: LEGO has confirmed it. In the future the LEGO.com Stores page  will update the usual Calendar info such as GWPs and events .

LEGO Unleashes “Spooky” Trailer for Super Mario “Luigi’s Mansion” Sets Released January 1

Way back in November of last year, we learned of the next step in LEGO Super Mario sets. The red-and-blue plumber’s handed the spotlight over to his green-and-blue brother, with sets based on the GameCube title “Luigi’s Mansion.” These three LEGO sets launched with so many others on the first day of the New Year, 2022. Let’s just say the “Luigi’s Mansion” tie-ins are starkly different from their Mario-centric predecessors. Aside from focusing on Luigi, the sets are also spookily themed. True, the original 2001 game on the Nintendo GameCube went rather gothic. And LEGO has some fun reminding fans.

Brick Fanatics has it that LEGO released a launch video for the recently-launched LEGO Super Mario “Luigi’s Mansion” sets. A lemony voiceover narrator provides the tone as the scene plays out of a family enjoying said play-sets. Like other LEGO Super Mario sets, these new ones can be combined to make an expanded play area. Our brick-built Luigi can be powered up by the Lab and Poltergust Expansion Set (71397), giving him his ghost-sucking vacuum cleaner. From there, he must navigate two key areas of “his” mansion. Those would be the Entryway (71399) and Haunt and Seek (71401) Expansion sets.

Hearing LEGO Luigi’s adorably scared voice lines while interacting with these new sets just never gets old. And it goes double if you’ve played “Luigi’s Mansion” on the GameCube years ago. Of course, Nintendo developed sequels for the game on the 3DS and Switch. LEGO willing, we’ll get more “Mansion” expansion sets covering these games too. In the meantime, collectors can get these three January-1st releases now, and relive their mansion-exploring, ghost-vacuuming days of old.

LEGO Makes “Matrix” Teaser on IG; LEGO Matrix?

The end of this year sees the thought-unlikely return of a film/media franchise that ruled that late 90s-early 2000s. December 22 sees the release of “The Matrix Resurrections,” the distant fourth installment of “The Matrix.” Keanu Reeves returns as Thomas Anderson/Neo as he once again enters a mind-bending adventure that questions one’s perception of reality. It’s shaping up to be another Warner Bros. hit, and could potentially reignite fan interest in the franchise-setting. What does this bit of entertainment news have to do with LEGO? If you check the toy brand’s social media you’ll find them riding the hype bandwagon.

According to Brick Fanatics, the official LEGO Instagram account just posted an epic reference to “The Matrix” December 21. It was an image of two hands, one with a blue brick and the other a red brick. If you’ve watched “The Matrix” you’d know this to be a sendup of the red pill/blue pill dilemma. You want to end your playtime with the blue brick? Or would you rather see how deep the LEGO pile is with the red brick? Is LEGO just indulging in some cross-company promotion? Or are we seeing the promise of a new licensed-IP theme line?

Indeed, many of the comments on Instagram interpret this post as the announcement of LEGO Matrix tie-ins. Best-case scenario, not only would “The Matrix Resurrections” be referenced, but the original “Matrix Trilogy” too. Time will tell however if the commenters were spot on, or if wishful thinking made them think too deeply. We can only wait for how LEGO follows up on this one-off promotion.

New LEGO UCS AT-AT (75313) Video (For Help Disassembling the Technic Parts)

The LEGO star wars UCS T-AT (75313) was easily one of the biggest LEGO sets ever released. Just as huge was the promotional hype for it, from the shout-out-laden teaser to its official designer video. Designing a buildable vehicular set with just enough proper scale for minifigures takes lots of technical skills. Thus when it comes to a complex set like a UCS Imperial Walker, some problems might come up while building. Lots of LEGO builders online have been pointing out apparent design flaws for 75313. In response, LEGO released a new video addressing them, according to The Brick Fan.

LEGO Star Wars designer Henrik Andersen hosts this “Tips and Tricks” video for the UCS AT-AT set (75313). Top priority among the “problem fixes” addressed here concerns the Technic-piece components. Once put together, they’re hard to take apart or so the most common complaints say. Andersen presents some surprisingly sensible methods of getting those stubborn Technic rods out during disassembly. Building and rebuilding is part of the LEGO fun after all. The one-minute, thirty-second video also tacks in some “Star Wars” tech media trivia translated into 75313. Seeing that AT-AT leg motion replicated in brick-built form was quite the sight.

Anyway, the above video is definitely welcome news for early buyers of the UCS AT-AT (75313). For those who haven’t bought it yet, they’ll have a somewhat easier time now. Unlike the out-of-stock chaos of its Black Friday launch last month, the LEGO set remains available on LEGO.com right now.

LEGO Employee Gift 2021 Also Celebrates 10 Years of Ninjago

Every year-end Holiday season, LEGO employees have something to look forward to beyond bonuses and benefits. They get to bring home for free a product from their own hard work, manufactured specifically for the occasion. And in addition to commemorating the gift-giving season, these employee gift sets also celebrate any current theme milestone anniversary. Earlier this week Thomas Andreasen, co-creator of LEGO Ninjago, posted his gift on social media. As confirmed by Brick Fanatics (and made obvious by the revealer), the 2021 LEGO employee gift celebrates Ninjago’s first decade. It also posits how the Ninjago universe observes the Christmas Holiday.

As seen in Andreasen’s Twitter post, the LEGO Ninjago Temple of Celebrations (4002021) is this year’s LEGO employee gift. The set has 1,320 pieces and 11 Ninjago minifigures, including a Santa Garmadon. The back of the box contains a dedication from LEGO in eight languages. Andreasen also claims the set contains some of his written Holiday poems. He does add in a disclaimer that the set doesn’t confirm the existence of Christmas in the Ninjago setting. As always, a LEGO employee gift set officially goes only to employees. But Temple of Celebrations might be found on eBay and aftermarket platforms.

Slekk024’s S-70 Firehawk Helicopter Needs Support on LEGO Ideas; CAL Fire and Sikorsky Are Asking

Now that we got the ball rolling yesterday, let’s see if we can find more LEGO Ideas submissions needing support. Vertical News, an online news source and marketplace for helicopters, gives us this beauty. The subject: the Sikorsky S-70, in particular the “Firehawk” variant used as a water-bomber. This helicopter’s been in use with the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL Fire) since 2019. LEGO Ideas member Adrien “Slekk024” Pecquet launched his product idea for a brick-built Firehawk in June. With about 3,000 pieces this submission promises great detail and playable mechanical functionality.

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Regarding the copter the set’s based on, the Firehawk starts out as a Polish-manufactured S-70i. It is then reconfigured by United Rotorcraft stateside for water-bomber duties (featuring a 4,500-liter belly tank).

Slekk024’s LEGO rendition has the CAL Fire livery, honoring the around 13 S-70s currently used by the organization. It also comes with three minifigures: pilot, co-pilot and two firefighters. The product idea’s pretty good that both CAL Fire and Sikorsky Aircraft have given it shout-outs on their social media.

At present it has 3,738 supporters with 33 days left to reach 5,000 (and an extension towards hitting 10-K). This looks like another worthy creation worth pushing to Review Stage.

LEGO Thanks Employees for “Extraordinary Year” with Bonuses, More Days Off

COVID-19 was a bane to businesses worldwide when its pandemic spread and workplaces had to close or hunker down. The end of 2020 was hopeful but restricted. As this year of 2021 comes to a close however, the world has opened up more. Businesses thus can report record comeback earnings. LEGO is no exception.

The Brick Fan tells us by way of Bloomberg that LEGO’s operating profits in this year’s first half doubled. In celebration for their “extraordinary year,” the world’s most powerful brand is tipping its hat off to the employees. Long story short, they’re getting some added perks.

LEGO spokesperson Benjamin Hjorth mentions increased annual bonuses and added vacation days for about 20,000 of the company’s employees. This may be same-old news to fans aware of how generous LEGO can be to its workforce. But the timing of the new benefits, at the second pandemic Holiday season, gives it greater meaning.

Three more vacation days to a year, plus additional bonuses arriving April 2022, underscores how valuable employees are to LEGO. The rank-and-file make the brick-building magic happen after all. Do we have to wonder why LEGO sets now and coming soon are so good? This is why.

Support “It’s a Wonderful LEGO Life” on LEGO Ideas in Time for Classic Film’s 75th Anniversary

LEGO Ideas-wise, we at The Brick Show have lately covered product ideas achieving 10,000 supporters for review. The Third 2021 Review Stage needs entries after all. We’ve also covered the reveals of official sets and their releases: several in this year alone. What we haven’t done lately is feature a product idea still garnering support. A recent news item courtesy of WTAE-TV Pittsburgh brings a particularly topical submission to our attention however.

It’s an anniversary celebration, one that LEGO Ideas loves to jump on. In 1946 a movie premiered that would become an indelible American Holiday viewing tradition. It’s turning 75 years old this 2021.

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We’re talking about “It’s A Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart. It’s a miracle tale of an angel helping a suicidal man by showing him a “what-if” timeline without his presence. And a father-daughter tandem of fans has translated that into a spectacular product idea. Jason and Jane Middaugh created “It’s A Wonderful LEGO Life,” that turns Bedford Falls into a brick-built Christmas Village.

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The Bailey home, family car and even the bridge where George Bailey attempts suicide are all replicated. It even has minifigs of George with his wife and kids, his guardian angel Clarence, and miserly Mister Potter.

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The Middaughs initially custom-built the LEGO set to display at the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, PA. Now, their work is documented as a product idea for LEGO Ideas (twrt0es, 10K Club Member). “It’s a Wonderful Life” celebrates its 75th anniversary this December 5. Already the build is over halfway there to the 10-K support milestone. If you’re an Ideas member then let’s help this wonderful set earn its wings!

LEGO Foundation Donates Near 1M Euros for July Flood Victims in Germany

Even as fans/collectors worldwide buy their products and make them a global toy giant, LEGO still has a big heart. Sometimes, they might encourage their fans to engage in an activity that they’ll then match in charitable action. But when the chips are down, The LEGO Foundation doesn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand. Promobricks.de has it that LEGO made a near-million-Euro donation to help German families and children affected by severe mid-2021 floods. The disaster, which gripped Europe throughout July, was considered the worst to hit Germany since 1962’s North Sea flood. But now, LEGO is helping them recover.

As detailed on their Twitter November 23, LEGO donated 7.1 million Danish Kroner to the German Red Cross. That’s equivalent to €960,000 ($1,076,616 in direct conversion). LEGO’s donation will help rebuild 10 kindergartens damaged by July’s flooding in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia state. A new family aid center also counts among plans by the German Red Cross, made possible by LEGO’s charity. This is merely the latest in a series of 2021 donations by LEGO. Other beneficiaries this year include children in Afghanistan and Haiti. LEGO has also been prominent in helping address the COVID-19 pandemic. You can expect nothing less from one of the biggest brands ever in all-ages toys.

Reddit User Motorizes LEGO Titanic (10294) Pistons, Screws

Quite a lot of recently-released LEGO sets could be considered newsmakers, each and every one. But the set that really holds that distinction would have to be the LEGO Titanic (10294). A scale model of one largest early-20th Century ocean liner still translates into one of the biggest LEGO sets. Such is the size of this brick-built Titanic that it could be divided into sections to show off the interior. The insides feature moving parts, from the steam engines to the outside propellers they drive. At first glance the 10294 interior looks too cramped to insert motor functions. But a Reddit user refutes that perception.

Featured on r/lego over in Reddit, user bertr0id showcased a video of his motorization of the LEGO Titanic (10294). Looking at the model’s insides, with the ultra-micro-scale inner decks, it doesn’t seem feasible to put a motor in. One might have to remove some of the 9,090 set pieces to make room. Somehow bertr0id found a way, leaving only the motor battery outside with wires leading in. The motorization makes the steam pistons pump and the rear screw-props spin. However the first setup had the screws rotating in the same direction (they don’t in actual ships). The second attempt, uploaded over the weekend, corrects this.

The LEGO Titanic set (10294) has been a mind-blowingly beautiful and expensive new addition to collector’s wish-lists. The tiny details and the engine-propeller articulation gained much praise from builders. It may never have been meant to be motorized, but the efforts of bertr0id deserve recognition. Interestingly, his Reddit post got removed by moderators. You can still check it there.

ADDENDUM: Thanks to the creator himself, Bert “bertr0id” de Jong, for stating the correct action of the Titanic screw propellers.