Mega Construx Will Launch its Own Brick-Built Fender Stratocaster

In a rather perplexing turn of events, rival building bricks company Mega Construx has now made it official that it will be launching its own version of the iconic Fender Stratocaster. In a recent tweet by the company, it has announced to the world that it has collaborated with Fender, and will be having a pre-sale from February 13-14 this weekend.

I really don’t know if there will be any IP-related issues or conflicts that might arise from this one, considering that LEGO has now made it official that it will also release its LEGO Ideas Legendary Stratocaster. But from the looks of it, Mega Construx has the advantage of an early release considering that they’ve already announced their pre-order offers. Mega also opted to give a sort of teaser image of what we can expect from this set, which is quite impressive actually. The scale and other fine details of this set and how the Stratocaster’s curves have been emphasized are spot-on.

mega construx fender

Though Mega Construx has plenty of third-party licensed IP sets under its belt such as its line of buildable Pokemon, Call of Duty, and Halo sets, I am still looking forward to seeing LEGO’s own version of a brick-built Stratocaster.  Not really sure about the legalities of it all but it begs the question, is it really possible to have two brick-built versions of the same branded musical instrument offered by two rival companies? If that is the case, then will it be possible to see a line of LEGO Nintendo Pokemon sets in the future? It’s enticing to reflect on this question considering that we have seen that a LEGO-Nintendo collab is entirely possible with the introduction of its LEGO Super Mario sets. And now that LEGO and Mega Construx has somewhat agreed to offer their own version of the Fender Stratocaster, then it might be possible in the future that they may agree on the release of other similar titles or IPs. Well, we can only speculate at this point.

The LEGO Ideas Legendary Stratocaster is one of the seven (7) approved product ideas that the LEGO Ideas Team is currently working on. These include soon-to-be-revealed sets such as Seinfeld 30th Anniversary, The Earth Globe, Home Alone – McCallister’s House, Typewriter, Winnie the Pooh, and the recently announced Sonic Mania: Green Hill Zone, and Vincent van Gogh: The Starry Night. 

Special thanks to Stone Wars for the tip.

LEGO DQ Institute is Here to Teach Children About Digital Citizenship

In this day and age of unprecedented internet activity, it is a breath of fresh air to have an advocacy that centers on helping children and perhaps adults as well, to understand what it means to be a responsible digital citizen. This is precisely what LEGO had in mind when it recently struck a partnership with DQ Institute – a leading think tank and advocacy group that promotes online safety and responsible digital skills.

LEGO DQ Institute

Taking it a step further from its advocacy of using renewable and sustainable resources in its products, LEGO now sets its vision on helping children and their parents understand what it means to be digitally intelligent. DQ or Digital Intelligence includes building empathy towards others online to be aware, sensitive to, and supportive of one another in an ever-growing online community. And what better way to teach these life lessons is through the introduction of LEGO’s new online hero minifigures. These new characters are currently up over at LEGO’s Safer Internet Day minisite, teaching children several aspects of digital intelligence. The site begins with a quick quiz to help children and visitors know more about what type of online hero they are and presents them with scenarios where they can flex their DQ or digital intelligence. You will be guided throughout by Captain Safety and will be introduced to his team of online heroes.

LEGO DQ Institute

Frankly, it will be nice if LEGO will eventually come up with physical counterparts of these new minifigure characters, and perhaps see a set or two dedicated to these LEGO DQ Institute characters:

LEGO DQ Institute
Sir Hug A Lot – who embodies online empathy.

 

Butterclops
Butterclops – a representation of online self-awareness.

 

AeroVision
AeroVision – designed to help children acknowledge the perspectives of other people

 

AdmiralHighFive
Admiral Highfive – a character created to talk about being kind online.

 

For more information about this new LEGO Group initiative, you may check out their official press release right here.

LEGO Ideas Out of this World Space Build Contest Launches

LEGO Ideas has launched a new contest over at its blog site. The LEGO Ideas Out of this World Space Build contest challenges LEGO fan builders to come up with their next fan entry that may eventually turn out to be the next LEGO gift-with-purchase (GWP) set.

Similar to the LEGO Vintage Car (40448), this contest seeks to tap into the creative side of LEGO fans by allowing talented builders to come up with their best entries yet. The LEGO Ideas Out of this World Space Build contest also pushes the bar higher by providing a set of limits for the number of LEGO pieces that can be used: ranging from 150 to 250 bricks, no more no less. This piece count somewhat approximates that of a small to medium-sized set, similar to previous GWP sets.

LEGO Ideas Out of this World

Aside from the Grand Prize winner, there will be five runner-ups that will be recognized, and the prizes that await them does not disappoint as well. And like previous LEGO Ideas building contests, tons of great LEGO sets are up for grabs for the winning entries.

Other than the perpetual bragging right of having your creation rendered to an official LEGO set, the Grand Prize winner will receive the following space-inspired LEGO sets:

lego ideas contest 1

The sweet prizes that await the five runner-ups are also equally appealing. Each of them will receive:

lego ideas contest 2

The deadline for entry for this contest is on or before March 8, 2021, at 6 AM EST. For the rest of the contest guidelines and on how to submit your entry, be sure to go through the building contest rules right here.

So do you have a Space-inspired LEGO entry in mind? Let us know in the comments below.

LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage Results Are Finally In

The LEGO Ideas Review Board has finally released the results for its LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Results, including a final decision on a project that took a considerable amount of time to be evaluated. These sets were chosen as the next official LEGO Ideas sets among a record-breaking 35 product ideas submitted between May to September of 2020. These proposals managed to get the support of more than 10,000 LEGO fans who wished to see them translated into an actual LEGO product.

The announcement came earlier today through LEGO Engagement Manager Hasan Jansen and LEGO Associate Marketing Manager Piangward Kate Jarupakorn. You can watch their full announcement right here.

First off, among 35 fan submissions evaluated during the LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage, the honor of being the next official LEGO set has been awarded to Truman Cheng’s (aka legotruman) brick rendition of a timeless masterpiece – Vincent van Gogh: The Starry Night. 

starry night

It will be interesting to see how this classic painting will be translated into LEGO bricks especially considering that LEGO has now introduced its LEGO Art series. However, considering that the building techniques employed by Truman in his approved fan submission do not utilize the same kind of pixelated style of the LEGO Arts series, then it will be interesting to see how the LEGO Ideas design team will eventually finalize it as a set. I hope that they will stay true to the concept and building techniques seen in the original submission.

Just a side note – though I’m happy that The Starry Night eventually received a thumb’s up from the review board, I can’t help but wonder why none of the other 34 entries were selected. Like what other LEGO fans have noted, there are other 10K qualifiers in this roster that is quite popular among fans for references to pop culture icons. It will be nice to see for example an official LEGO set for Nintendo’s Animal Crossing considering its playability and appeal to adult and younger LEGO fans alike, or perhaps a set dedicated to the Greendale Community College based on 2009’s hit series Community. I’m sure that there are other worthy candidates from this pool of 35 submissions, and it’s a bit disappointing to see that only 1 was ultimately selected. Perhaps the LEGO Ideas Review Board needs to cut some corners considering the sheer number of approved projects still in development? I really don’t know, so it will be nice if the review team will provide more details on their decision.

But if there is any consolation that the LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage has to offer to LEGO fans, is the fact that the Blue Blur is back and just in time for his 30th birthday. We first saw his official minifig in the now-discontinued LEGO Dimensions Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack (71244) from 2016. And just in case you missed out on him, having an official LEGO Ideas Sonic Mania: Green Hill Zone set along with other iconic characters of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is certainly most welcomed. I missed out on the first LEGO Sonic minifigure, and I will certainly not miss my next opportunity to get this one.

sonic mania

The conclusion of the LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage now brings a total of 7 approved projects currently in development:

And while waiting for these approved projects to roll out in LEGO stores shortly, the LEGO Ideas review team already has its hands full for the Third 2020 review cycle with its total of 25 qualifying entries.

third 2020

So what do you think of the outcome of LEGO Ideas Second 2020 Review Stage? Are you happy with the results? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon Sets Officially Announced

LEGO and Disney now introduce their latest tie-in sets in time for the debut of the latter’s next animated film. These LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon sets to celebrate the upcoming release of the film via Disney+ on March 5th. These sets let you travel to the fantasy world of Kumandra where humans and dragons have learned to co-exist in peace. However, things have changed and this time Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tan), must find the sole remaining dragon to stop the monsters named Druun from devastating their kingdom. In case you missed it, here’s the official trailer.

The movie in itself is promising, and the LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon sets do not disappoint. From the get-go, you’ll notice from these official images that these sets are a sort of mix between LEGO Friends and now retired LEGO Elves.  If you recall, we already published a collection of images last month coming from this LEGO Disney subtheme. But these more recent images give us a closer look at the intricate details and new LEGO elements that are included in this trio. They’re not yet listed over at LEGO Shop@Home as of this posting, but we can expect them to be out there soon before their release date on March 1st. I’ll update this post once their respective LEGO affiliate links are already available.

Raya and the Heart Palace (43181)

610 pieces | $79.99 | Figures include: Raya, Namaari, Tuk Tuk and Serlot

LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon banner 43181 Front 01 01 43181 Box1 v39 43181 Box5 v39

 

Raya and Sisu Dragon (43184)

216 pieces | $29.99 | Includes a Raya minidoll and a buildable Sisu Dragon figure | This set may also be attached to set 43181

LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon 43184 Box1 v39 43184 Box5 v39

 

Boun’s Boat (43185)

247 pieces | $29.99 | Includes Uka, Pan, Dyan, Boun, and Sisu Human figures 

LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon 43185 Box1 v39 43185 Box5 v39

New LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie Now Up At LEGO Shop@Home

It seems that LEGO is adding more characters to its line up of LEGO Brick Sketches sets. Introduced last June 2020, its initial offering saw some of pop culture’s most famous names rendered in collectible, brick-built illustrations on a 12×16 baseplate. This time around, the House of Mouse gets another share under the LEGO spotlight with the introduction of the upcoming LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie sets.

Retailing for $17 each, the LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie sets are expected to be available starting March 1, 2021. They are both currently listed over at LEGO Shop@Home, and you can know more about these sets by clicking on the following affiliate links below. In the meantime, check out their official images below.

LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey (40456)

118 pieces | $16.99

LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie

Fans of Disney’s iconic characters can build and display their own Mickey Mouse illustration with this LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ Mickey Mouse (40456) kit. Hang it on the wall using the built-in hook – the 12×16 baseplate holds the LEGO bricks firmly in place – or stand it on a shelf. A great treat for holidays, birthdays, or other celebrations, and an impressive addition to any collection of LEGO Brick Sketches character portraits.

  • Young LEGO® builders and Disney Mickey Mouse fans will love to create and display this cool, collectible Brick Sketchesâ„¢ portrait of the well-known Disney character.
  • A great gift idea for ages 8 and up, this 118-piece building set is part of the LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ theme, which features collectible, buildable, 3D illustrations of iconic characters on 12×16 baseplates.
  • Measuring over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 3 in. (9 cm) wide, and 1 in. (3 cm) deep, this LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ Mickey Mouse picture makes a striking piece displayed on the mantelpiece or hung by its built-in hook on a wall.

 

LEGO Brick Sketches Minnie (40457)

140 pieces | $16.99

LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie

Fans of Disney’s iconic characters can build and display their own Minnie Mouse illustration with this LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ Minnie Mouse (40457) kit. Hang it on the wall using the built-in hook – the 12×16 baseplate holds the LEGO bricks firmly in place – or stand it on a shelf. It’s a perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, or other celebrations and an impressive addition to any collection of LEGO Brick Sketches character portraits.

  • Young LEGO® builders and Disney Minnie Mouse fans will love to create and display this cool, collectible Brick Sketchesâ„¢ portrait of the well-known Disney character.
  • A great gift idea for ages 8 and up, this 140-piece building set is part of the LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ theme, which features collectible, buildable, 3D illustrations of iconic characters on 12×16 baseplates.
  • Measuring over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 3 in. (9 cm) wide, and 1 in. (3 cm) deep, this LEGO® Brick Sketchesâ„¢ Minnie Mouse picture makes a striking piece displayed on the mantelpiece or hung by its built-in hook on a wall.

WATCH: LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295) Designer Video

After making its official debut, the LEGO Group has now released an accompanying designer video for its recent 2-in-1 masterpiece,  the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295). LEGO Design Master Mike Psiaki gives us an in-depth look at the creative process behind this recent offering. Watch the video below.

After giving audiences a brief historical background of the 70s Porsche 911, Mike revealed some pretty neat aspects of the new LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295). As a 2-in-1 build, you have the option of creating either the model’s powerful counterpart which is the 911 Turbo, or the more laid back and relaxed version of the 911 Targa. Its accompanying building instruction, as disclosed by Mike, is unique in itself in that it gives you the option of selecting which version of the Porsche 911 will you like to continue midway as you build the set.

And of course, the set also features first-for-March 2o21 parts as detailed by LEGO Element Designer Yoel Mazur. Particularly, the use of a new triple bow for the back of the Porsche, giving it a sleeker, more polished look; and a new 5×5 quarter-circle that accentuates its classic rear wheels. I can just imagine the possibilities that these new elements will offer LEGO fan builders. Other than these new LEGO pieces, it is interesting to note that this set does not feature any stickers at all, and LEGO has gone the extra mile of offering printed elements for all of the set’s interior and exterior details.

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911

10295 5x5 quarter circle

10295 exterior printed elementst

10295 interior printed elementst

The LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295) is expected to roll-out both in-store and online starting February 16 for LEGO VIP members, and on March 1st for the general population. Clocking in at 1,458 pieces it is expected to retail for $150. You may click here to find out more about this latest LEGO offering.

So what do you think of this new LEGO Creator Expert set? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295) Coming This Month

LEGO has rolled out its latest 18+ set that joins the ranks of its brick-built classic sports car such as the LEGO Aston Martin DB5 (10262) and my personal favorite the LEGO Ford Mustang (10265).  This time around, LEGO has channeled the essence of the iconic German sports car and gave it a 2-in-1 twist in the form of the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295).

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911

As per the LEGO Group’s official press release, the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 is a 2-in-1 wonder that captures the hallmarks of this classic sports car, offering every builder a choice of creating the speedster Porsche 911 Turbo, or its more leisurely variant the Porsche 911 Targa. And like previous top-of-the-line LEGO Creator sets before it, the LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295) features a ton of details that stays true to its real-life counterpart. Coming in at 1,458 pieces, this set will retail for $150 and is expected for an early VIP release starting February 16, and a general public release of March 1st.

Read on for its official product description and take a look at some of its fine details. You may also click on the following affiliate link below for more details and if you wish to add it to your LEGO wishlist.

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 (10295)

1,458 pieces | $149.99 | Early VIP release on February 16, and a general public release on March 1st, 2021.

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911 LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911

LEGO Creator Expert Porsche 911

Celebrate the unmistakable style of Porsche with this fantastic building challenge as you create your own classic, collectible car with the LEGO® Porsche 911 (10295) model kit. Choose to build either the Turbo model with its turbocharged engine or the Targa with its iconic Targa bar and a removable roof that stores under the hood.

Build your favorite Porsche 911
Both the Turbo and the Targa model cars feature authentic Porsche 911 details like the iconic front and rear bumpers, angled headlights, printed logo, and number plates. And the interior is just as impressive with working steering, gearshift, emergency brake, tilting seats, and a dark-orange-and-nougat color scheme.

A building project for you
The LEGO Porsche 911 is part of a collection of buildable model kits for adults. From classic collectible cars to detailed buildings, these LEGO sets are the perfect way to escape everyday life with an immersive building project.

  • Escape from the everyday with this thrilling building project. The LEGO® Porsche 911 (10295) model car building kit is the perfect set for adults looking for their next hands-on project.
  • Explore all the Porsche 911 features including the rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-six engine, working steering, gearshift, emergency brake, and tilting seats.
  • Which will you choose to build? The Turbo model with its turbocharged engine or the Targa with a removable roof that can be stored under the hood.
  • The Porsche 911 Turbo model car features a wide rear axle, an integrated spoiler, plus a turbocharged engine complete with an intercooler.
  • The Porsche 911 Targa model car includes a removable roof that fits in the hood plus the iconic Targa bar with rear glass behind the driver.
  • Designed especially for classic car fans and Porsche enthusiasts, this advanced building kit comes with coffee-table-style instructions with inspirational design details.
  • This Porsche 911 collectible car model measures over 4 in. (10 cm) high, 13.5 in. (35 cm) long, and 6 in. (16 cm) wide.

Check Out This Month’s Promotional Items With the February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar

It’s a brand new month of exciting offerings from LEGO and we can now expect a new round of promotional items and freebies as detailed in the February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar. Read on for more details.

With the LEGO Ninjago Ninjago City Gardens (71741), taking the prime spot on this month’s promotional calendar, LEGO is throwing in some attractive offers to sweeten up your next LEGO purchase. LEGO brand stores across the US including LEGO Shop@Home, are all set to offer another promotional item that will prove to be quite popular among LEGO collectors. Additionally, the month of February will still have its share of some LEGO-inspired love now that LEGO offers another freebie to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Free Exclusive Seasonal LEGO Year of the Ox (40417)

Offer valid from February 1 to 14, 2021 for qualifying, single-receipt purchases of any LEGO products worth $85 and above. 

February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar

40417 1

This next collectible set in LEGO’s Lunar Zodiac series now sees the mighty ox in its cute, brick-built version. Coming in at 167 pieces, the LEGO Year of the Ox set will be added to your bag once your LEGO purchases reach a single-receipt amount of $85 and more. This promo offer is valid from February 1 to 14 or while supplies last.

 

Free LEGO Friends Chocolate Box & Flower (30411)

Offer from February 1 to 14, 2021 for qualifying, single-receipt purchases of any LEGO products worth $40 and above.

February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar

30411 1

This LEGO Friends polybag makes a great gift for those who love to decorate and some brick-building fun on their desks and study areas. Coming in at 75 pieces, the LEGO Friends Chocolate Box & Flower polybag will be yours for free for a lower qualifying purchase of any LEGO products worth $40 and above. Similarly, this promo offer is valid from February 1 to 14 or while supplies last.

 

Free LEGO Ninjago The Island Lloyd’s Quad Bike (30539)

Offer valid from February 15 to 21 or while supplies last, for qualifying LEGO Ninjago purchases worth $40 and more.

February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar

30539 1

And if you’re looking forward to having the next wave of LEGO Ninjago sets, or even the mammoth-sized LEGO Ninjago Ninjago City Gardens (71741), then don’t forget to claim your free LEGO Ninjago The Island Lloyd’s Quad Bike (30539). Offered from February 15 to 21 and while supplies last, this next free polybag will be automatically yours if your single-receipt LEGO Ninjago purchase will amount to $40 and above. A great way to celebrate LEGO Ninjago’s anniversary if you’ll ask me.

 

As we can expect, there are still no in-store activities promoted yet in the February 2021 LEGO Store Calendar as LEGO’s way of keeping us safe from the on-going pandemic. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of good things to look forward to this month at your LEGO brand store, so be sure to check. Just remember to observe our health safety protocols and we’re good to go. Keep on building!

ICYMI: LEGO Monkie Kid Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter (80023) Now Listed at LEGO Shop@Home

LEGO Shop@Home has now listed its first LEGO Monkie Kid set for 2021. We first saw this set when it was revealed back in November 2020 during the 3rd China International Import Exhibition (CIIE). Initially, it was thought this set might be a sort of regional exclusive, despite LEGO’s repeated assurance that they are finally letting go of this very limiting business model.  And now we can confirm that the LEGO Monkie Kid Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter (80023), along with the rest of the still to be revealed LEGO Monkie Kid 2021 sets, will be arriving soon via LEGO’s online shopping portal.

The first to be revealed for its 2021 series, the LEGO Monkie Kid Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter (80023) comes in at 1,462 pieces and will retail for $150 when it arrives on March 1st. Check out the following product description of this set, along with its several official images. You may also add this set to your LEGO wishlist so you will not forget to add this to your cart once it is available in March.

LEGO Monkie Kid Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter (80023)

1462 pieces | $149.99

Monkie Kid's Team Dronecopter Monkie Kid's Team Dronecopter Monkie Kid's Team Dronecopter

Monkie Kid's Team Dronecopter

Monkie Kid's Team Dronecopter

Children can become heroes in their own epic stories and wow their friends with Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter. This LEGO® Monkie Kid™ helicopter toy (80023) features 2 spring-loaded shooters and 2 detachable ‘cargo containers’ with lots of homely features inside, including bunk beds and a buildable arcade machine. The playset includes 8 minifigures and 2 figures, including Monkie Kid, Mei, Sandy, Mo the cat, Spider Queen, Mr. Tang with a Journey to the West book element, and Red Son with a flyer, plus a spring-loaded ‘spider poison’ shooter for battle action.

Go digital
Find clear instructions in the box and digital Instructions PLUS in the free LEGO Building Instructions app, which lets youngsters zoom in on, rotate, and visualize the models as they build.

Build, play, and learn
Inspired by the classic Journey to the West novel and rooted in China’s culture, LEGO Monkie Kid sets make the best gifts for kids, helping them develop creativity, bravery, resilience, and optimism.

  • Children can join a team of heroes and battle the Spider Queen with the fabulously detailed Monkie Kid’s Team Dronecopter (80023), plus a buildable, spring-loaded ‘spider poison’ shooter.
  • Includes 8 minifigures: Monkie Kid, Mei, Mr. Tang, Huntsman, Syntax, Red Son, Spider Queen, and Fei, plus Sandy and Mo the cat toy figures, with weapons and accessories for creative role play.
  • This helicopter toy has 2 spring-loaded shooters and 2 detachable ‘cargo containers’ that are full of homely features, including a buildable arcade machine, bunk beds, and a guitar accessory element.
  • This premium-quality building kit also includes Red Son’s flyer and Mo’s cat-box-shaped flyer to boost the action play, plus a Journey to the West book element for Mr. Tang.
  • Offering an immersive building experience and limitless creative play potential, this 1,462-piece, LEGO® set makes the best birthday or holiday gift toy for trendsetting kids aged 10 and up.
  • The Dronecopter measures over 7.5 in. (19cm) high, 15.5 in. (39 cm) long, and 15.5 in. (39 cm) wide and will look impressive displayed in any child’s bedroom between playtime adventures.