LEGO News Archives | Page 191 of 413

New LEGO Star Wars 20th Anniversary Edition Polybag Found – Snowspeeder (30384)

You probably haven’t forgotten, but just in case, LEGO Star Wars is 20 years old. This line of licensed-franchise LEGO products is one of their best sellers across all ages. And in celebration of two decades of popularity and success, LEGO has revealed several special anniversary edition “Star Wars” sets.

And there are even polybags coming out for the theme to in tribute to LEGO Star Wars at 20. Last month we saw a LEGO Star Wars Podracer polybag (30461) that serves as a counterpart to the full-set Anakin’s Podracer (75258), also a 20^th anniversary edition. It gets a buddy from the original trilogy, though the polybag in question was found at a Target store.

Thanks to information from fellow LEGO news source Zusammengebaut, we know that this new LEGO Star Wars 20^th Anniversary Edition polybag is a micro-build of the Rebel Snowspeeder (30384). Like the Podracer (30461), this has an “original” model in the Snowspeeder 20th Anniversary Edition (75259).

About the only difference between the two is that the set and polybag are colored differently from each other, and the latter product doesn’t have the extra minifigures and props. At 49 pieces, this LEGO Star Wars 20 polybag is an even easier assembly job than its Podracer brother (30461).

We’d earlier surmised that the 20^th anniversary LEGO Star Wars polybags might be employed first as a gift with purchase for promotions. Having one of them conventionally available on retail means getting one is a breeze. And at $3.99 it’s also no strain on wallets. This info on the Snowspeeder poly (30484) is pretty early that no official image has yet to release for it.

LEGO Stop-Motion Animator Jared “Gold Yeller” Remakes 2018 Buzzer-Beater of Michigan’s Jordan Poole in Bricks and Minifigs

Jared Jacobs, known on Twitter as Gold Yeller, has cemented his rep as LEGO builder and stop-motion animator with his online stock-in trade. He has recreated a lot of awesome game moments from a wide variety of sports and competitions, using LEGO sets in stop-motion and recorded actual play-by-play commentary.

We’ve seen his creative genius ourselves when we covered his stop-motion recreation of a highlight in US College Football, the “Kick Six” which led to Auburn beating Alabama in 2013. He’s since released more awesome videos on his Twitter page, and this is his latest.

Serving as something of a pick-me-up for the University of Michigan following their falling out of contention for the Big Ten this past weekend, Gold Yeller recreated one high point of the Wolverines from the previous year. This was an impressive buzzer-beating 3-point shot delivered against Houston by Jordan Poole.

I'm ready for @marchmadness to begin. I had a little spare time so I decided to re-create the Jordan Poole buzzer beater with Lego. #madness pic.twitter.com/a8cEi1MmSD

— Jared Jacobs (@goldyeller) March 11, 2019

In the same fashion as his “Kick Six” sequence, we see the March 2018 Michigan-Houston game for the NCAA Tournament’s second round. In the last seconds, the Wolverines launch a determined drive to the Houston side of the court. A pass puts the ball in Poole’s hands, and he launches it in a fade-away that leaves him on his back, but sinking the basket for three as the bell rings.

Additional touches to the stop-motion sequence include animated facial expressions to depict the crowd’s and benches’ reactions. Also caught was the defeated posture of a Houston player who flopped on the floor as Jordan Poole is mobbed by his teammates. And was that Harry Potter?

While Michigan this year will miss the Big Ten, at least they’ll have this Jared Jacobs mini-production to remind the team that they’re still awesome.

Sweet Discount Sale Ongoing for LEGO Ninjago Movie Tie-in, the Destiny’s Bounty (70618) on Amazon and Wal-Mart

“The LEGO Ninjago Movie” back in 2017 wasn’t quite the smash hit as its spinoff predecessor “The LEGO Batman Movie.” How much less for “The LEGO Movie” from 2014? Still, it was a nice source to make new tie-in sets separate from the main LEGO Ninjago line. These sets still remain available to this year.

One of these LEGO Ninjago Movie sets has just been discounted very handsomely at no less than two online shopping platforms. Both Amazon and Wal-Mart have just docked 20% from the regular price of $159.99 from the Destiny’s Bounty (70618).

At $40 off, this LEGO Ninjago Movie tie-in can now be had online at these two sources for $119.99 only. It’s as awesome a bargain for a LEGO purchase as can be. The 2,295 pieces of the Destiny’s Bounty (70618) would come across as 5 cents a brick with both Wal-Mart and Amazon’s sale price.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Destiny’s Bounty set (70618) depicts a vessel used in the film that (old spoiler alert) was used by Master Wu to save his Ninjago students from certain death, after he himself was earlier swept away to “his” demise. It’s a fairly solid LEGO ship model and a popular Ninjago Movie tie-in.

LEGO BrickHeadz 2019 Seasonal Easter Chick (40350) Available Now; Also Spotted at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Berlin

One great thing about LEGO is that sometimes, they don’t let fans wait too long for some upcoming great release. When we first showed the official images of the LEGO BrickHeadz Seasonal Easter Chick set (40350) last January, we expected it to arrive, if early, at the end of February.

Well it didn’t release at the end of last month, but this past weekend’s still very much ahead of the Easter season. That was when LEGO finally made the LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Chick (40350) finally available for interested figure collectors.

As is the norm with the BrickHeadz line, the set contains some quirky LEGO elements and pieces that are used to form plants on the figure’s surroundings. The cool part was how these pieces were repurposed, like the “faceless” minifigure heads serving as the flowers’ pistils. LEGO BrickHeadz sets are great sources of pieces for making model plants and flowers.

The seasonal Easter Chick set (40350) is priced at $9.99 and is available at both stores and Shop@Home online. Interestingly, while it hasn’t been listed at the German Shop@Home, BrickHeadz 40350 has already been spotted on shelves at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Sony Center, Berlin. According to German LEGO news source Promo Bricks, it’s priced at €9.99, similar to the US despite value discrepancies.

LEGO at 2nd Place on “RepTrak 100” 2019 List of World’s Most Reputable Companies

The Reputation Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts has for some time been keeping track of how the world perceives its businesses. Their annual ranking of the reputation levels of major companies in both regional markets and the world has been invaluable to many quarters, and factors into these businesses’ future success.

LEGO undoubtedly is uber enough among multinational brands to be part of the Reputation Institute’s “RepTrak” lists. Last year they were the top reputable company in Europe, and the second in the world. This March, RI has publicized its 2019 RepTrak 100 list, and LEGO is revealed to still be going strong at second place.

Needless to say, The LEGO Group is pleased that they’ve maintained their record for impeccable corporate reputation in the eyes of the world. Their CEO Niels B. Christiansen says in a statement that their high public regard is due to the dedication of their employees to make LEGO the most trusted toy name for children.

Christiansen also made sure to mention how the company bounced back from an uncertain 2017 to become solid again in their latest annual results. He thus shared this momentous triumph will all LEGO employees for making the brand the best for many children, regarding toys.

Reputation Institute works out their RepTrak lists by considering respondents’ opinions on companies’ products/services, innovation, workplace, governance, citizenship (how well they work with their respective home nations’ governments), leadership and performance (obviously). Public respondents for RI come from 15 countries.

While LEGO is 2^nd on the 2019 RepTrak 100, watchmaker Rolex is at the top spot. Following LEGO in ranking order for the top ten are Disney, Adidas, Microsoft, Sony, Canon, Michelin, Netflix and Bosch.

March 2019 LEGO VIP Double Points on Technic Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (42093) and Speed Champions Dodge (75893)

When you’re a member of LEGO’s VIP program, you’re definitely encouraged to buy a little more. After all, that’s how you accumulate points for making later purchases. And every now and then, LEGO motivates you further by doubling acquired VIP points, whether in general or when buying some specific sets.

This month, the double VIP points can be gotten by members on two LEGO sets of a particular theme. That theme is cars. So for LEGO fans who also love cool automobiles then it’s time to break out the savings because these sets will only have double points for March.

For those who like small but many, they might consider getting their double VIP points from the Speed Champions 2-pack of the “Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and 1970 Dodge Charger R/T” (75893). You get double the Dodge and double the points; what’s not to love?

If on the other hand you prefer one big set but with two possible configurations, then the other March VIP double-point set announced is the LEGO Technic Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (42093). Being able to change between the sleek modern ZR1 and the retro-styled “Hot Rod” was its major selling point.

Of course, you can always buy both. At $29.99 (75893) and $49.99 (42093) they’re not exactly pricey compared to bigger sets. And of course the LEGO VIP program goes for both Shop@Home and in stores. Remember, it only lasts until the end of the month.

Expansive LEGO Mount Rushomre Build Featuring at BrickUniverse Event at Raleigh, NC

LEGO-related news lately has been featuring some impressively large MOC builds. This week if you can recall, we covered a tabletop LEGO roller coaster and playground set that’s fit to earn a Guinness World Record. That MOC by James Burrows is also scheduled to go on the road for exhibition.

Speaking of which, Raleigh is hosting the BrickUniverse LEGO Fan Convention again this year, and on the coming weekend to boot. Like its official website says, we can expect plenty of big builds being showcased for participants and guests. One of them is a stunning scale copy of Mount Rushmore.

Created by Rocco Buttliere, a LEGO builder for Chicago, the sprawling model is made out of about 22,000 bricks, rendering Mount Rushmore – and the four Presidential faces carved on it – down to some sharp detail, including the rubble pile underneath.

And that’s only on one side of the whole build. The rest is given over to a recreation of the forested terrain and the rest of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial complex: visitor’s center, Lincoln Borglum Museum and Presidential Trail.

According to WRAL.com Buttliere took around 400 hours to finalize the design of his LEGO Mount Rushmore model, and that the actual construction took him 150 hours more. That’s par for the course for Buttliere, a well-known LEGO builder with international awards and exhibits of his work.

The BrickUniverse LEGO Con kicks off at the Raleigh Convention Center from March 9 to 10, 9AM-5PM. Highlights will include the usual free-building areas, meet and greets with popular builders, a Challenge competition Zone and a “Star Wars” set display.

Online Prize Draw on “Fantastic Beasts” UK Website Offers LEGO Tie-In Sets and Promotional Niffler Build, to Celebrate Home Video Release

The second installment of J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts” film series, “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” premiered worldwide in November last year. It was the 10^th highest grossing film of 2018, and served to set up the Wizarding War that the original “Harry Potter” series referenced. Only in this year did it finally arrive for home media.

First, “The Crimes of Grindelwald” was made available for digital download last February. For those who prefer their media on physical copy however, the film’s Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD versions will arrive March 18 in the UK. To celebrate the occasion, Warner Bros. is partnering with LEGO to offer some nice goodies to “Fantastic Beasts” fans this week.

Back when the movie premiered in the UK, The LEGO Group helped with promotion by scattering large brick-builds of the surprisingly popular Niffler critter around London. One of these Niffler statues can soon belong to a lucky winner visiting the official “Fantastic Beasts” UK website.

This LEGO Niffler build is one of the prizes for the current “Wizarding Wednesdays” online contest. Those who enter the draw will stand a chance to win that, plus two major LEGO tie-ins released for “Crimes of Grindelwald” last year: Grindelwald’s Escape (75951) and Newt’s Case of Magic Creatures (75952).

While the Ultra HD, Blu-Ray and DVD media release for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is on the 18^th in the UK, it’ll be coming earlier for the US, next week at March 12.

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.

Hereford LEGO Builder Requesting Brick Donations to Complete Old House Model for Brick History Exhibition at Real Old House

In Hereford, UK there’s an old house built during the 17^th Century that serves as one of that cathedral city’s main tourist attractions. Constructed in the half-timbered Jacobean style and painted black and white, the Old House – now a museum – is the subject of a LEGO build that’ll soon become part of its own exhibits.

With the Hereford Old House soon to host a LEGO Brick History Exhibition, Shona Ashton has decided to contribute a brick-built scale model of The Old House. Thus far her project has progressed thanks to contributions of bricks from donors in her community; but her build is not yet complete.

With the Brick History Exhibition kicking off Saturday next week Ashton, a designer from the local New Model in Technology and Engineering (NMiTE) school, has put out a request on the local press and social media. Her LEGO Old House is still several bricks short.

Ashton’s post on her Twitter page actually lists the specific LEGO bricks and elements she needs to finish her Old House model. From her recent photo of the build, it’s still missing pieces for roof tiles and the white “timber” to fit between the black “posts” on the second floor.

Besides Shona Ashton’s Old House, other models to be showcased by NMiTE builders at the LEGO Brick History Exhibition will be builds of various mobile phones, the DNA double-helix, the Big Bang, and LEGO statues of Martin Luther King and Mozart, among others. The exhibit, launched in partnership with the Herefordshire Council, begins March 16.