Category: LEGO Ideas

LEGO Ideas Disney Mickey Mouse – Steamboat Willie Set (21317) Officially Revealed

Last week, LEGO Ideas put out a teaser for the reveal of a new upcoming set, Disney’s Steamboat Willie (21317). This Monday, March 18, the wait ended and LEGO Ideas’ Steamboat Willie set was unveiled. It’s everything that original creator Máté Szabó/szabomate90 envisioned, with LEGO adding some nifty extras too.

LEGO Ideas Disney Mickey Mouse – Steamboat Willie (21317) is a beautiful rendition of the cartoon river vessel that catapulted Mickey Mouse to legendary stardom. It also demonstrates some nifty non-Technic mechanics. There are hidden wheels under the hull to facilitate the steamboat “steaming” along any surface. As the wheel turns, the paddles turn and the twin smokestacks alternately rise and fall, like in the animation.

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Anyway, just as with the 1928 cartoon short directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks the whole set’s in black, white and grayscale, with the only colors in the packaging. The new Mickey and Minnie Mouse minifigures included are truly special with touches of silver added to their color schemes.

Other features of the famous steamboat include an adjustable crane; articulated rudder wheel and brick-built bell in the bridge; “1928” tile; props like a pennant, potato bin, parrot figure, and Minnie’s guitar and musical score.

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In addition, there’s also a commemorative brick plaque with the Mickey symbol and another “1928” year tile. This can serve as a standup display or a floor plate for the Mickey and Minnie Mouse minifigs. The instruction booklet will also include a section detailing the history of the “Steamboat Willie” cartoon short, plus info on both the Ideas creator and the LEGO design team that made the product idea official.

One last detail: LEGO news source and online set guide Brickset, to whom we owe these official set images, also noticed a printing error on the Steamboat Willie (21317) box. It identifies this product as the 24th Ideas set when it’s actually number 25 in sequence. The real 24th was the previous Ideas set, Flintstones (21316), which came out on the first day of this month and is still freshly available.

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Fans of LEGO and totally classic Disney can expect the Ideas Steamboat Willie (21317) to arrive this April 1; and that’s no April Fools’.

Fiffh LEGO Ideas 10K Passer for First 2019 Review Stage: Endangered New Zealand Kakapo by FlancrestEnterprises

The First 2019 Review Stage of LEGO Ideas is shaping to be a primarily building-based batch of submissions. Of the four 10-K product ideas awaiting review, three are structures (a historical building, a TV show interior set, and a classic-theme throwback). Only a quirky anatomical model’s the odd bird out.

Speaking of birds, what a coincidence! FlancrestEnterprises on LEGO Ideas has succeeded in getting a product idea up to 10,000 supporters. Said submission is a brick-built model of a very fascinating New Zealand bird. FlancrestEnterprises hopes it can increase awareness of the plight of this rare and critically endangered species.

The Kakapo or owl parrot is a flightless nocturnal parrot, endemic to New Zealand. It’s said to be one of the bird species with the longest potential lifespan. That hasn’t helped the Kakapo population, which is now numbered at less than 150, all named by observers and under close watch.

FlancrestEnterprises designed a brick-built Kakapo, with about 437 LEGO pieces of the birds’ green and brown plumage. Points of articulation include wings and tail feathers, and its printed-tile eyes were repurposed from BrickHeadz sets. Here’s a comparison of the Ideas Kakapo and the real thing.

This set does double-duty as a LEGO display piece (in lieu of creepy stuffed birds) and as an ad campaign for New Zealand’s conservation efforts to keep the Kakapos thriving. Perhaps that will give this work by FlancrestEnterprises some oomph with the reviewers, similar to the feelings of sympathy elicited by the Museu Nacional set, in honor the of the real one which burned down.

Teaser for LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie (21317) Released Less than a Month after Passing Review

It can be amazing how fast LEGO can work sometimes to take a LEGO Ideas review passer and turn it into an official set. Last month, the winners of the Ideas Second 2018 Review Stage were announced. Close to a month later, LEGO is already teasing one of those sets.

Then again, it’s understandable since despite being a fan-submitted product idea, the set’s also a major franchise licensed to LEGO. LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie (21317), based on the design by Máté Szabó/szabomate90, was teased in a sweet Twitter animation short.

Said video depicts a LEGO tile mosaic being put together, grey and black on a white background. Then the whole thing gets animated into a familiar page-flipping motion, showing Mickey Mouse at the wheel of the titular Steamboat Willie. Disney movie viewers might recognize this as the current logo art for Walt Disney Animation Studios. Then the animated Mickey drawing fades into a minifigure version, still in black and white.

Choosing the classic 1928 Disney animated short “Steamboat Willie” to make an Ideas set out of was natural for Máté Szabó, who works as an animator. While technically not the first animation to feature Mickey Mouse, it’s the first that he showed up in with synchronized sound. In keeping with the aesthetics, the Steamboat Willie product idea was in black, white and gray LEGO pieces. LEGO would probably follow suit.

The other winner of the Second 2018 Review Stage alongside Steamboat Willie (21317) is the Central Perk Café from “Friends,” which has no teaser yet. Similarly, of the two First 2018 Review Stage winners, only “The Flintstones” (21316) has been revealed, not the Tree House.

LEGO Ideas Pop-Up Story Book (21315) Discounted in Amazon, Days After “LEGO Fold” Parody Ad

Earlier this week LEGO caused a stir in their corner of social media by “teasing” the LEGO Fold. Tech-heads would realize immediately that the toy brand was parodying the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Fold, which can convert from smartphone to tablet with the “Infinity Flex” feature.

LEGO fans on the other hand would recognize the LEGO Fold as an existing set from the LEGO Ideas line. Indeed, this is the Pop-Up Story Book (21315) that came out in November 2018. One could say that LEGO’s sendup of the Korean electronics giant’s folding phone reignited interest in the Pop-Up Book set. It couldn’t be coincidence that Amazon announced a sale of it.

For the curious, a check on the product listing for the LEGO ideas Pop-Up Book (21315) on Shop@Home would reveal that it remains available for its $69.99 retail price. Amazon just did one better by discounting their set listing 20%.

In other words, those who still haven’t gotten the set can have in for only $55.99 at the Amazon listing. Nobody knows how long this sale will last past the return of the Pop-Up Book (21315) in the spotlight. So if any LEGO collector that hasn’t got it still wants it, then here it is.

The LEGO Ideas Pop-Up Story Book (21315) has a sweet mechanical function to change from book to fairy tale stage. It features two stories: “Little Red Riding-Hood” and “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and includes relevant minifigures plus pieces to create Grandma’s house or the beanstalk.

The Classic LEGO Pirates May Have a Comeback With This LEGO Ideas The Pirate Bay Product Idea

Before LEGO Ninjago and more esoteric building systems like Technic, before the proliferation of licensed sets, LEGO themes were basic. There were City sets and Knight sets. Then we had the Pirate sets, usually comprised of ic0nic brick-built ship designs that sometimes had cloth sails. In what can only be a beautiful love letter to the old Pirates sets, LEGO Ideas member Pablo Jimenez or Bricky_Brick at LEGO Ideas submitted this incredible build. And while longtime internet explorers might cringe at its name, everyone can agree that LEGO Ideas The Pirate Bay product idea is a sweet assembly. The possibility of having this as an official LEGO set now that it passed that highly desired 10K fan support certainly makes LEGO Pirates feel like it never went away.

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Rather than make another pirate ship for his product idea, Pablo decided to tackle another signature locale of pirate lore. That would be the island hideout. The Pirate Bay sees a band of buccaneers turn a flat island into a fortress using wrecked ships and assorted flotsam. You have to agree the results are impressive. Pablo also did great in working in various setting details to sell that this island post can be somewhat self-sufficient for its pirate garrison. There are trees left on the island, and the proposed LEGO Ideas The Pirate Bay set also keep a combination of pigsty and chicken coop. They also have cannons on hand for that extra fire power.

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Home, in this case, is comprised of a captain’s quarters, kitchen, tavern, and jailhouse. There’s also a sandy dune to bury a stash of treasure in, as well as secret compartments under the captain’s bunk and galley, in case quick escapes are needed.

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There’s also a lot of characters and critters to populate LEGO Ideas The Pirate Bay with. The set provides for a six-person pirate crew (one peg-leg captain, three mates and two wenches); a lone navy sailor castaway; a dog, parrots, monkey (with minifigure limbs), pigs, chickens, and a crab; and finally some hazards like a scorpion and even a great white shark.

With over 9,000 supporters and more than 700 days left, we can probably expect Bricky_Brick’s The Pirate Bay to gain the need 10-K LEGO Ideas support sooner rather than later. If it can make the deadline for the First 2019 Review Stage it’ll join the likes of the Museu Nacional – Rio de Janeiro, Anatomini, and NBC’s “The Office” product ideas.

ADDENDUM: Scratch the request for supporters. “The Pirate Bay” has hit the magic 10-K and is now part of the First 2019 Review Stage batch. Congratulations to Bricky_Brick and best of luck with the review crew.

LEGO Re-Promotes LEGO Ideas Pop-Up Book (21315) in Hilarious Ad Parodying Samsung Galaxy Fold

Last month, the South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung presented a prospective new mobile device of theirs. They’re keen on seeing it revolutionize the development of smartphones and tablet computers. Why? Because their Samsung Galaxy Fold is a smartphone that can “unfold” into a tablet, thanks to a foldable AMOLED display.

This bit of news seems out of place where LEGO is concerned. At least, that’s how it was until LEGO suddenly made an April Fools’ joke weeks early. On their Twitter page they put a promotional image for the “LEGO Fold,” in a hilarious rip of the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

LEGO’s ad is an obvious parody of the Korean folding phone-tablet. Playing the role of the Galaxy Fold was last year’s LEGO Ideas set, the Pop-Up Story Book (21315). The toy brand’s Twitter caption boasted the set’s “5-inch cover unfolding into an 11-inch pop-up storybook.”

For tech-heads, that pronouncement was a send-up to the specs of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which had a 4.6-in phone display and the 7.3-inch folding tablet-screen. Also gaining chuckles was LEGO’s assertion that its own Fold never runs out of battery charge. Lastly, the Ideas Pop-Up Book (21315) is more affordable at $69.99 than the Galaxy Fold’s alleged $2,000 price.

We’re not quite sure what inspired LEGO to do a parody of Samsung. It is a funny tweet for all intents and purposes. And perhaps they’re advertising that the LEGO Ideas Pop-Up Book (21315) is still available for purchase in retailers and online at Shop@Home.

New 10-K Support Passer for Possible LEGO Ideas First 2019 Review Stage: NBC’s “The Office”

As we proceed further along the year 2019, it’s only a matter of time before a new batch of product ideas begin racking up 10,000 supporters to join the next LEGO Ideas review stage. Among the first submissions to be pending review this year are the Rio de Janeiro Museu Nacional and the very quirky Anatomini set. They are now followed by a new addition.

Similar to one of the chosen submission from the Second 2018 Review Stage, this product idea by the suitably-codenamed theoffice_lego, is inspired by the NBC sitcom “The Office.” It’s a building interior model replicating the primary setting of the show.

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To fully capture every notable detail in the office building of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Co. branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania, theoffice_lego had to make the set big, with a total area of 17”x19”. Despite the size, he used just under 2,500 pieces to complete it (total count not yet finalized).

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One other neat feature of this set for “The Office” is its easy separation into three sections to better facilitate play and vignette-posing at specific places of the whole thing. It also helps viewers to get a better viewing angle of every decoration, accessory and fluff pieces put in there.

“The Office” set comes with 14 minifigures representing the show’s pretty large cast: five from Sales, three from Accounting and six more, including main character Michael Scott. All of them have their own workspace and personal accessories for setting scenes.

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This is an ambitious project that could blow similar interior sets out of the water with its intricacy and provisions for ease of play. We definitely want to wish the best for theoffice_lego when this set joins its fellows on the Ideas First 2019 Review Stage to come before review.

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Cool LEGO Ideas Submission: “Sonic Mania” Green Hill Zone by toastergrl Needs Support

When it comes to licensed sets based on videogames, LEGO is no slouch. The latest proof of their mastery in that genre can be seen in the LEGO Overwatch series. But they’ve also dipped into the retro classics, such as Sega’s face character Sonic the Hedgehog. Surely you remember the old “LEGO Dimensions” level pack?

Aside from the official LEGO Sonic products, aspiring builders have also submitted several “Sonic” themed builds to LEGO Ideas over the years. One new product idea in that vein is getting plenty of attention. It’s based on the retro-inspired “Sonic Mania” multi-platform title from 2017-18.

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For those who probably missed it, “Sonic Mania” was a 2D game that flashed back to the early installments of the franchise. It remixed stages from the classic games to create a nostalgia adventure worthy of the 25th anniversary of “Sonic.” This product idea by “toastergrl” replicates the “Mania” reimagining of the Green Hill Zone.

I’m sure “Sonic” fans must be hearing that ear-worm ditty stage them in their heads right now. Anyway, the “Mania”-version Green Hill Zone stages sees the familiar hilly riverside terrain with ramps and loops and palm-like trees. And it also has a giant Dr. Eggman (Robotnik) Robot on Sonic’s tail.

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The Ideas submission by toastergrl features two standard features of Green Hill Zone – a hilly slope (with tree and spring) and a single loop (with 1-Up container and power ring). It has one Sonic minifigure (classic design), and five brick-built figures for Doc Eggman, a motorbug and three Flickies. And let’s not forget the robot.

The hill and loop modules can be connected in several ways, while the trampoline spring is powered by Technic mechanism. Eggman’s brick figure has some degree of poseability, magnified several times with his robot ride.

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At present, the “Sonic Mania” Green Hill Zone build by toastergrl has over 2,000 supporters with 602 days to reach 10-K. “Sonic” fans in the LEGO community should need no prodding to help this succeed.

Build Your Own LEGO Mustang Model to Win the Creator Mustang (10265) Set in this LEGO Ideas Contest

This week we waxed admiration for the recently revealed new upcoming LEGO Creator set, a beautiful brick construct of the iconic Ford Mustang (10265). No doubt LEGO is going all-out in hyping this set to fans of LEGO, cars, and both, if the promotional keychain to be simultaneously given out during the first ten days of the Creator Mustang (10265) set’s release is any indication.

In fact, even LEGO Ideas is getting in on the LEGO Ford Mustang bandwagon with their new contest. The prize is, of course, the LEGO Creator set (10265), an earlier Mustang set from Speed Champions, and a Shop@Home shopping spree.

The contest mechanics are simple: using real LEGO bricks (including variants like Duplo and Technic) or a digital LEGO building tool, contestants need to assemble a model of their favorite model of the Ford Mustang. Bear in mind, the Ford Mustang models have been around from 1965 to this day.

Once a contestant’s entry Mustang model is finished, they must take up to five photos of it to showcase its contours and features. Background is also encouraged, whether similarly LEGO-built or a real setting, a place “where you’d want to take your Mustang for a ride” according to contest rules.

After the pictorial, the submission only needs a title and description before it gets sent on to LEGO Ideas. The entry deadline is on April 3, and the winner plus two runner-ups will get a LEGO Creator Ford Mustang (10265) as well as the Speed Champions 1968 Mustang Fastback (75884). The Shop@Home shopping sprees are worth $500 for the winner and $300 for the runners-up.

For more details on this prime opportunity to get the LEGO Creator Mustang (10265), please check their official LEGO Ideas Contest page here. Do remember the “Acceptable Entry Content” to ensure your build gets accepted.

Splendid LEGO Ideas Submission Worthy of 10-K Support: Auto Union Type C Racing Car by redara00

During the 1930s, four automakers in Germany joined together to form an umbrella firm that turned the constituent companies’ names into its brands. But for auto-racing enthusiasts they’ll remember the Auto Union AG – the precursor to the modern Audi Company – for their formidable race team with their distinctive silver racecars.

And that legacy is the subject of this incredible product idea that’s been submitted to the LEGO Ideas platform. As featured on motor1.com, this sweet Technic-level model of the 1936 Auto Union Type C racer came from the brilliant workmanship of Alexander Rossier (LEGO Ideas username redera00), and wonderfully built.

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Rossier notes that he spent around 50 hours to fully assemble his product idea. This proposed LEGO Auto Union Type C might just rival the LEGO Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon (75192) in piece count, with some 2,300 pieces to recreate the car in 1:8-scale.

The Technic-like way this model was put together would do any LEGO set design team proud. Like a real racecar the panels can be removed to reveal the vehicle’s inner workings, all replicated to amazing detail.

From front radiator to rear gearbox, tube-shaped chassis and six wheels (2-front, 4-back), the features match up to an authentic Auto Union Type C. The race markings are period-accurate too, with the telltale four-circle Auto Union logo, now used by Audi, right in front.

As of this writing, redera00’s Auto Union Type C racer is at 1,309 of the needed 10-K supporters, with 515 days left to do so. Motor1.com is fully supportive of this set, and LEGO fans who also love auto-racing will surely love to see it become a LEGO Ideas set. Wouldn’t you like that too?