For several years now, the LEGO Ideas online platform has served as the “dream machine” for many a LEGO builder who has wanted their custom creations to become official mass-produced sets. We’ve covered enough entries on the site that have gone to review, and beyond, so we know its styling.
A lot of that has changed lately, thanks to a website design overhaul of LEGO Ideas to coincide with its adoption of a new logo. Remember that logo design contest they held starting late last year and ending last January? That’s the centerpiece of the new LEGO Ideas website layout.
To check the differences between old and new, we opened up some of the Ideas entries we featured in the past. On those project pages, gone now is the old green progress bar at top. Only numerical statistics are shown to one side. But that’s not the only changes here.
Here’s a rundown of the alterations on LEGO Ideas according to their blog post announcing the overhaul. We also add our own opinions as to whether they “work” or not.
LEGO Ideas submissions are now officially termed as “Product Ideas” (which we’ll try to use from now on)
Navigation menu redesign to make Ideas Contests more prominent (okay)
News feed sidebar with filters to show Product Ideas in terms of newness, top ranking, and amount of support (the last filter seems like a last-minute add-in; it wasn’t there when we first looked)
Ideas Search Engine now has a page of its own, called “Discover” (kind of neat)
Updates on LEGO Ideas Guidelines and TOS for Product Ideas; all PI’s must be submitted by the creator themselves and not on behalf of someone else, while consolation prizes for 10-K supported PI’s that fail review have been listed (reasonable and informative additions)
One more thing. LEGO Rebrick will soon be shutting down in September, with its contests being folded into those for LEGO Ideas by that time.
We’re looking forward to cover more interesting Product Ideas coming from the revamped LEGO Ideas platform in the near future.
Our long wait is finally over! LEGO has pulled the veil from one of its closely guarded secrets, one that I followed very closely since the time that it was submitted as an early LEGO Ideas project. For the first time ever, we now have our first look at the biggest, buildable LEGO mech ever: the LEGO Ideas Voltron (21311) set. Designed by LEGO AFOL extraordinaire, Lendy Tayag from the Philippines, the LEGO Ideas Voltron is inspired by the original 1980s animated Voltron TV series, and the modern DreamWorks Voltron: Legendary Defender series. When completely assembled, this iconic brick-built mech stands a staggering 15 inches tall and 8 inches wide.
As an added treat to AFOLs and fans of the animated series, LEGO has announced that a limited number of sets will be available for purchase during next month’s San Diego Comic Con. The 2,321-piece set will retail for $179.99 and will be available to the general public on August 1, with early VIP access beginning July 23, 2018.
I have so much to say about the LEGO Ideas Voltron (21311) set since I am a fan of Voltron, and of course, of Lendy himself. I had the privilege of meeting him for the first time during the Philippines’ biggest LEGO fan convention sponsored by the Philippine LEGO Users Group (PhLUG), and it was one unforgettable experience. I’ll share more about this convention in my next write-up, but for now let us enjoy these crisp, clear images followed by the set’s official product description. This is one set that I will not miss.
21311 – LEGO® Ideas Voltron
2,321 pieces | Ages 16+
Price: $179.99
Available August 1, 2018.
**Limited quantities will be available for purchase first for attendees at San Diego’s Comic-Con (7/17-22)
Let’s go Voltron force in LEGO® style!
It’s time to defend the universe so get ready to form LEGO® Ideas 21311 Voltron, the biggest buildable LEGO mech ever! This awesome set features buildable and highly posable black, blue, yellow, red, and green lions with specially designed, extra-strong joints to combine them all and create the Voltron super robot, plus a huge sword and shield that attach firmly to Voltron’s hands. Ideal for display or recreating thrilling action from the original 1980s animated Voltron TV series and the modern DreamWorks Voltron: Legendary Defender series.
Features 5 buildable and posable lions that can be transformed and combined to create the giant Voltron super robot.
Play with the lions individually or combine them using extra-strong joints to form Voltron—the black lion forms the head and torso; the red and green lions form the arms; and the yellow and blue lions form the legs.
Pose the head, shoulders, arms and wrists of Voltron (legs are not posable).
Also includes a sword and shield (each with silver-colored elements) that attach firmly to Voltron’s hands.
Includes a booklet with building instructions, plus information about the set’s fan creator and super force of LEGO® designers.
This set includes over 2,321 pieces.
Display or play out exciting stories from the original 1980s animated Voltron TV series and the modern DreamWorks Voltron: Legendary Defender series.
Voltron measures over 15” (40cm) high, 5” (14cm) long and 8” (21cm) wide.
Black lion measures over 6” (17cm) high, 8” (22cm) long and 5” (15cm) wide.
Yellow and blue lions each measure over 3” (8cm) high, 8” (21cm) long and 3” (8cm) wide.
Green and red lions each measure over 3” (8cm) high, 7” (18cm) long and 1” (5cm) wide.
It’s could be hard for casual LEGO fans to fathom that the brand’s trademark interlocking bricks and building elements could be used to make accurate scale renditions or real-life vehicles. To those who doubt this, we point towards the direction of LEGO Technic which has brought us such masterpieces as a Mack Truck (40278) and the new Bugatti Chiron (42083). LEGO’s been able to achieve such meticulous detail for their licensed vehicle builds by closely working with designers from the automakers themselves. Sometimes LEGO even helps with these companies in designing some of their concepts, as with Volvo CE recently, and the LEGO Technic Zeux (42081) is another testament to that.
LEGO and Volvo CE collaborated on the conception of Zeux, a planned prototype heavy wheeled loader. This was realized in a model assembled from LEGO Technic pieces, featuring a big-wheeled machine packing a digger claw. The beauty part of the Volvo CE Zeux is that it doesn’t need a driver.
Why? It’s because Zeux is unmanned. The prototype earth-mover comes with a quad-copter scout drone that acts as “eyes”. Zeux has its own sensors to determine its position relative to its surroundings, while the drone serves as a way for the machine to “see” and react to its (human) handlers.
LEGO senior design manager Andrew Woodman noted how children observers were puzzled by the notion of fully-autonomous vehicles like the Volvo Zeux, but he finds that they’re able to understand the principle behind its design thanks to the addition of the mapping drone, explaining the lack of a driver’s cab.
Volvo CE has no plans on turning the Zeux into a full-scale vehicle anytime soon, if ever at all. The resulting brick-built concept between them and LEGO will therefore be mass-produced as a LEGO Technic set, numbered 42081. Already teased by the company last December, it’ll become available this August.
Here’s another reason to start the day with a smile, especially for LEGO Harry Potter fans. In a quite unexpected move, LEGO has just revealed its much awaited LEGO Wizarding World Harry Potter Collectible Minifigures Series via its social media channels. Coming in at 22 collectible minifigs from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies, this latest LEGO minifigure series is expected to retail for $3.99 each, and will be available for sale starting August 1st.
Check out the following official images of these collectible minifigures and their respective character description.
Newt Scamander – As a Magizoologist and author of the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander studies magical creatures and educates the Wizarding World about why they are important.
Jacob Kowalski – Jacob Kowalski’s chance encounter with Newt Scamander introduces him to the Wizarding World and takes him on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams.
Tina Goldstein – Tina Goldstein is a smart and determined witch who works for MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) as an Auror investigating wizarding crimes.
Queenie Goldstein – Free-spirited Queenie Goldstein is Tina’s younger sister and a talented Legilimens who can read minds.
Credence Barebone – Credence Barebone, a troubled young man with a deeply powerful secret, struggles between his mother’s fanatical teachings and his longing for the freedom of the forbidden Wizarding World.
Percival Graves – The Director of Magical Security at the Magical Congress of the United States, Percival Graves is a respected law-enforcing Auror with a mysterious connection to an infamous Dark wizard.
Luna Lovegood – A unique Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Luna Lovegood is known for her dreamy behavior and quirky outlook on life.
Neville Longbottom – Neville Longbottom, an earnest Gryffindor student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, exhibits a deep reserve of courage despite being prone to mishaps and the victim of pranks.
Cho Chang – Cho Chang is the Seeker on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and a brave member of Dumbledore’s Army.
Dean Thomas – Dean Thomas, a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is new to the Wizarding World having been raised by Muggles before discovering his magical heritage.
Lord Voldemort – Obsessed with achieving great power and immortality, Dark wizard Lord Voldemort recruited an army of like-minded wizards and evil creatures to serve him in conquering the Wizarding World.
Dobby – A true and loyal friend, Dobby the house-elf disobeys the Malfoy family, his owners, to protect Harry Potter.
Cedric Diggory – The talented, well-liked, and athletic captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, Cedric Diggory is selected alongside Harry Potter as the Hogwarts champion in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament.
Mad-Eye Moody – Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody is a famous law-enforcing Auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix. At Hogwarts, Mad-Eye becomes the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Professor Flitwick – Small in stature but great in intelligence, Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw House and Charms Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is known for being a fair teacher with a good sense of humor.
Professor Trelawney –Sybill Trelawney is the Professor of Divination at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and a talented Seer with the magical ability to predict the future.
Albus Dumbledore – Beloved Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore is considered to be one of the most powerful wizards of all time and is a kind and wise mentor to Harry Potter.
Harry Potter in School Robes – A Gryffindor student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter is accompanied by his pet snowy owl Hedwig and is a skilled wizard and true force for good in the Wizarding World.
Ron Weasley in School Robes – One of Harry Potter’s best friends, Ron Weasley is part of a large family of witches and wizards from which he inherited his unusual pet rat Scabbers.
Hermione Granger in School Robes – Raised by Muggles, Hermione Granger is determined to become the best witch she can be by using hard work and intellect. She is best friends whith Harry Potter and Ron Weasley and is accompanied by her pet cat Crookshanks.
Draco Malfoy in Quidditch Robes – The spoiled, snooty son of a long line of witches and wizards, Draco Malfoy has a well-known rivalry with classmate Harry Potter both on and off the Quidditch field.
Harry Potter in Pajamas – Harry Potter receives an Invisibility Cloak as a surprise Christmas present during his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I ‘m not really an avid Harry Potter fan, but I have to say that the way this latest LEGO CMF turned out is absolutely beautiful. Their prints are entirely different as compared to the ones released way back almost 10 years ago. I’m sure going to feel my way towards that Niffler minifig. What’s your favorite LEGO Wizarding World Harry Potter CMF? Share your picks in the comments below.
It seems that the LEGO xtra polybags is slowly getting the attention of LEGO fans. The demand for the supplementary LEGO polybags is already quite high, and these accessory kits is still yet to find their way in LEGO stores in the US. We also know that other than the five poybags under this recent subtheme, LEGO has also thrown in three playmats to go with them. So while waiting for their US release, let’s check out some of these official images that are now uploaded via LEGO’s servers. Selected product descriptions are also posted at shop.LEGO.com’s UK website, with a release date of August 1st. Each LEGO xtra polybag retails for an average of £3 each, or roughly $4 US. Please take note that not all of these are listed at LEGO Shop@Home so we have to wait and see for the next few days.
Food Accessories (40309)
30 pieces
Play in new and yummy ways with the fun LEGO® xtra 40309 Food Accessories pack! This set of items features a range of foods, including a turkey, croissants, ice creams, fruits, vegetables and different sweet treats, plus a crate and money bills. Combine and use these LEGO xtra accessories with all LEGO sets to enhance children’s play in any way they can imagine.
This fun pack features 30 food accessory elements, including a crate, turkey and 2 each of chicken legs, fish, ice creams, grapefruit slices, bananas, croissants, carrots, money bills, cookies/muffins, chocolate bars, broccoli and cups.
LEGO® xtra packs are compatible with all LEGO sets.
Botanical Accessories (40310)
24 pieces
Bring nature landscaping to life with the fresh LEGO® xtra 40310 Botanical Accessories pack! This set of items has a garden-related theme, featuring trees, plants, fencing and colorful buildable flowers. You can also combine and use them with all LEGO sets to enhance children’s play in any way they can imagine.
This fun pack features 24 botanical-themed accessory items, including trees, plants and bushes, fencing rails, leaves and buildable flowers.
LEGO® xtra packs are compatible with all LEGO sets.
Traffic Lights (40311)
46 pieces
Add some order to your city streets with the awesome LEGO® xtra 40311 Traffic Lights pack! This set of items includes 4 buildable traffic lights, plus a wheelbarrow, trash can, broom and trash elements. Combine and use the LEGO xtra accessories with all LEGO sets, to enhance children’s play in any way they can imagine.
This fun pack features a wheelbarrow, broom, trashcan with lid, 2 leaves, bottle, banana and 4 buildable traffic lights.
LEGO® xtra packs are compatible with all LEGO sets.
Streetlamps (40312)
34 pieces
Bicycles (40313)
21 pieces
Strap on your bike helmet and hit the road with the speedy LEGO® xtra 40313 Bicycles pack! This set of items features 2 different bicycles with lights and kickstands and a skateboard, plus 2 bike helmets, a ball cap, letter, pizza box, umbrella, a backpack and 2 bike racks. Combine and use the LEGO xtra accessories with any LEGO sets, to enhance children’s play in any way they can imagine.
This fun pack features 2 bicycles with lights and kickstands, 2 bike helmets, 2 bike racks, a skateboard, letter, pizza box, umbrella, ball cap and a backpack.
LEGO® xtra packs are compatible with all LEGO sets.
Though leaked images of this upcoming LEGO Star Wars set has been making rounds over the internet for quite some time, it’s good to see that we now finally have our first confirmed, third-party retailer listing of the LEGO Star Wars Porg (75230) set. Speculations have been around since late March that we will soon have a brick-built LEGO Star Wars Porg set similar to that of 2017’s LEGO Star Wars BB-8 (75187). And now it seems that we will be seeing this soon.
As it is, we now have our first official listing of the LEGO Star Wars Porg (75230) set coming from Dutch website Brickshop. This avian-inspired set from The Last Jedi is expected to come in at 811 pieces. The leaked image of this set gives an impression that this is a fairly large build, being almost identical to the size of last year’s UCS-style BB-8. This listing from the Brickshop also shows a price tag of 80 Euros, or probably $95 if offered in the US. It will be available to the general public in October just in time for the holidays. Check out this screenshot from Brickshop.nl.
I hope that this listing is not just another third-party slip-up. Taken as it is, we can probably expect an official announcement from LEGO anytime next month or early August. We can also expect a corresponding listing at shop.LEGO.com by then.
Earlier today, LEGO has announced a new DC Comics-inspired set which will debut at San Diego Comic Con slated for next month. It has been part of LEGO’s tradition to reveal a superhero-inspired set during the yearly SDCC, and the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Batman Mech VS. Poison Ivy Mech (76117) is our first set to premiere exclusively at the famed comic book convention. However, be aware that this particular LEGO set 76117 and SDCC exclusive, will only be available for purchase after six months, and will retail for $39.99 coming in at 375 pieces.
The LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Batman Mech vs. Poison Ivy Mech (76117) features two battle mech builds that speaks well of the characters that pilot them. The Batman Mech comes in as minifigure scaled build, equipped with an array of armaments typical from the Dark Knight. The Poison Ivy Mech comes in as a smaller build with posable branch arms equipped with stud shooters. The set also includes four minifigures: Batman, Poison Ivy, The Flash and a new Firefly minifig. Though the other 3 LEGO DC Comics minifigures were already included in past LEGO sets, it is interesting to note that they all come with variations for this newer one. Perhaps the most noticeable is the new minifigure of The Flash which now comes with dual-molded legs.
Here are the rest of the details for the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Batman Mech vs. Poison Ivy Mech (76117). We also expect that LEGO will also reveal another Marvel-themed set which will be exhibited during the SDCC so stay tuned.
76117 – Batman™ Mech vs. Poison Ivy™ Mech
Launching January 1, 2019 Piece count 375 Price $39.99 Age 7+
Includes 4 minifigures: Batman™, Poison Ivy™, The Flash™ and Firefly .
Batman™ Mech features an opening minifigure cockpit, posable arms and legs, gripping hands to grab a minifigure, dual stud shooter, spinning saw blade and a retractable net shooter
Poison Ivy™ Mech features a minifigure cockpit, stud shooter, posable branch ‘arms’, gripping poison ivy leaf ‘hand’ to grab a minifigure and collapse function.
Knock over the Poison Ivy™ Mech with the saw blade.
Includes 10 assorted new-for-December-2018 translucent-orange Power Burst elements to customize your builds, minifigures and tools.
Right at the start of this month we shone a spotlight on a little-hyped new product line from LEGO, for builders of sets and vignettes who need a wider variety of props. The LEGO xtra polybag sets promised plenty of accessories and window dressing for the benefit of dedicated builders. But when we mentioned that LEGO xtra was little-hyped, we also meant minimally stocked. The European LEGO stores that carried the polybags quickly had their stocks sold out. And no word has gone out yet on whether or not there will be LEGO xtra in the North American market anytime soon. Still, those who managed to buy any of the xtra polybags have shared a notable piece of information regarding this uncommon LEGO product line. The LEGO xtra Playmat polybags have instruction sheets that also featured three more products of the xtra line: not more LEGO props, but three possible play-mats for setting vignettes.
The three additional LEGO xtra Playmat polybags each contain two plastic mats which, lain side by side, depicts a type of surface: roads (853840), grass (853841), and a sandy seashore (85342). Each play may also includes several LEGO pieces with matching colors to that of the mat surface.
We have no concrete idea how much these LEGO xtra Playmat polybags will cost, though it’s possible that they are priced higher than the preceding prop polybags (€3.99 apiece/$4.67). Again, these and the earlier xtra sets (40309 to 40313) are rare sights in Europe, and yet to appear in the US.
There’s not stopping the hype now. Only last week, LEGO sent its fans and those of a certain spy movie franchise into a mutual frenzy with their announcement of an upcoming set based on James Bond of all things. Concerns that the product may not jive with the family-friendly image of most LEGO items from licensed franchises were assuaged by the hint that the set will be a vehicle model, particularly a LEGO Aston Martin DB5 set.
Now that’s more like it. If you know the franchise even slightly, you can’t imagine James Bond without his latest tricked-out spy car. And now LEGO’s confirming the rumors somewhat.
Here we have teasers of what LEGO’s got in mind from the official Twitter pages of James Bond and Aston Martin, the most iconic automaker to provide cars for Q Branch of Her Majesty’s Secret Service to pimp. The lines are from the film Goldfinger, debut of the immortal DB5.
One might recall the little conversation between Sean Connery’s Bond and Desmond Llewellyn’s Q during the introduction of the Aston Martin DB5 and its various features: rotating multiple license plate display, machine guns, ejector seat. That car set the benchmark for what all future Bond cars could carry or do.
That’s another round of promotional hints dropped by LEGO and their licensing partners for this endeavor. Again, time will have to tell on when the companies will provide a specific date for when a LEGO Aston Martin DB5 will finally be showcased, much less when it’ll become available.
We capped off our previous week’s lineup of LEGO news with plenty of updates on sets for LEGO’s Wizarding World. We got plenty of info on the upcoming sets themed after either Harry Potter or Fantastic Beasts so we’re well appraised on those products when they come out in July. But there’s still more sets under that product line that we’re still fishing for information. One of them is the LEGO Hogwarts Castle set (71043), of which we’ve been receiving only small-steps news, such as the fact that it’s going to be micro-scale with nanofigures included. We’ll, here’s another related update/rumor.
An anonymous source has sent word to our fellow LEGO news source, The Brick Fan with more information on the micro-scale Hogwarts Castle (71043). That is, we’ve now got an estimate on the number of bricks and elements that will form this set. If the source is on the money, we’re looking at an average of 6,000 LEGO bricks.
For comparison, we return once again to the LEGO micro-scale set we made references of with our previous update on the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle (71043). That was the long-discontinued LEGO Marvel Super Heroes SHIELD Helicarrier (76042). It looked pretty massive at first glance, but is still made up of “only” almost 3,000 pieces.
That just hammers home how massive the micro-scale Hogwarts Castle (71043) will be, and how potentially unfeasible it would have been if the scale were mini instead. Now, the 6,000-piece count is only a rumor until we get official confirmation from LEGO, so we wait.
