Legendary Concorde by Orbiter88 Gets 10-K Support for LEGO Ideas First 2022 Review

There was a time when people who have become used to air travel were fascinated with flying faster than sound. Supersonic commercial passenger flight became an aspiration for air carriers since the 1950s. The concept was realized by the former USSR and collaboration between France and the UK. For the Soviets, they rolled out the Tupolev Tu-144; for UK-France, they fielded the Concorde. While supersonic transport was initially cool, problems quickly arose. Wear-and-tear, noise, sonic booms and rising fuel costs led to the retirement of SST aircraft by the 2000s. They never got any successors.

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Despite the abortive supersonic experience, SSTs continue to fascinate airliner aficionados long after they retired. That would explain LEGO Ideas member Orbiter88 creating a brick-built Concorde aircraft, and why it just got 10-K support.

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“The Legendary Concorde” depicts the Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde which first flew in 1969 and served 1976-2003. The aircraft features retractable landing gear and the signature tilting cockpit nose. It also boasts British Airways livery on its portside and Air France at starboard side.

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The model can be freestanding on its landing gear, or displayed via a provided adjustable stand. For the most part the build is seamless, like any high-quality plastic-model aircraft.

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The Legendary Concorde becomes the second entry to get into the LEGO Ideas First 2022 Review Stage. Its predecessor the Third 2021 Review Stage ended earlier this week with 36 product ideas gaining 10-K support.

Toy Fair New York 2022 Cancelled

The COVID-19 viral pandemic that exploded in 2020 did a serious number on public events worldwide. Conventions and expos, business fairs and festivals; they either resorted to virtual presentations or cancelled outright. The prevailing sentiment from organizers and would-be attendees of these events was that next year will be live again. As it turns out, next year, 2021, wasn’t much improvement, Therefore 2022 became the next target for large events such as the New York Toy Fair to return. If all went as planned, they will go public again next month. As Brick Fanatics tells it however, they won’t.

It’s official. Organizers have cancelled Toy Fair New York 2022, planned from February 19 to 22. Word came out from The Toy Association, which released a statement Tuesday, January 11. Again, concerns regarding COVID-19 (Omicron variant) have sunk the biggest toy and entertainment marketplace in the Western Hemisphere. New York Toy Fair has seen its over-a-century record broken repeatedly by the pandemic. Even with multiple toy manufacturers either pulling out or remaining non-committal, 700 companies expressed interest in going ahead. The organizers however have decided to err on the side of caution.

LEGO is known to be one of the major regular brand presences in the New York Toy Fair. They gave no indication if they were committed to appear if the event continued, or if they backed out. While The Toy Association made no promises for Toy Fair NY 2023, there’s still the Nuremberg International Toy Fair. Their organizers haven’t announced any cancellations for this year’s event, scheduled February 2-6. LEGO is also one of their big stars among toy brands.

LEGO.com Combining Pick a Brick, Bricks & Pieces Online Services Soon

The LEGO.com website provides more than product info and an online shop for their many sets and products. It also provides additional services such as building instructions for numbered set builds. That usually works in conjunction with having plenty of LEGO bricks and pieces already. But if you need specific parts then LEGO.com offers you two avenues. One is the Bricks & Pieces customer service. They replace missing or broken pieces from packaged sets. The other is Pick a Brick, where one can buy individual bricks/pieces by quantity. You probably look at those descriptions and think: Don’t these two services basically do the same thing?

Apparently LEGO has been thinking the same, according to German LEGO news source Promobricks. To that end, the company has announced plans to merge their Pick a Brick and Bricks & Pieces pages. A recent series of surveys LEGO conducted online appears to be the impetus for this move. As it turns out, their customers knew of either Pick a Brick, or Bricks & Pieces, but not the other. By combining the two services into a single front-end hub, builders looking for pieces will have easier times exploring. LEGO bricks seemingly exclusive to either service will now be available universally.

The LEGO.com Pick a Brick-Bricks & Pieces merge will also benefit US and Canadian customers. Part of the reorganization also involves opening a new North American-based fulfillment center this month. To facilitate this change, they will temporarily shut down Pick a Brick from January 23 to 25. The combined hub will be soft-launched sometime afterwards, in early (UK, Western Europe) and late (NA, ANZAC) February. LEGO also plans to test a new Build-a-Minifigure service soon, but only for Europe and Asia.

“Cancelled” LEGO Marvel Mech Armor 2022 Sets Coming Again, on April 1

Just because LEGO cranks out set after set, at monthly intervals every year, doesn’t mean they’re perfect manufacturers. Even with all their experience the designers can still make mistakes. Sometimes, that leads to anticipated sets being held back, or worse, cancelled. Late last year we received word of three LEGO Marvel sets for the Mech Armor product line. Unfortunately, LEGO scrapped their planned January 1, 2022 release date and delisted them from their online shop. The company even released a statement explaining how the items “failed quality standards,” with news sources citing bad structural choices. For a time, collectors thought these LEGO Marvel Mech Armors will never come at all.

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Not so, according to a report by The Brick Fan. Not only are the missing upcoming Mech Armors back online, they have a new launch date. Marvel fans can get the Wolverine (76202), Iron Man (76203) and Black Panther (76204) Mech Armors months from now. They’re expected to become available at the same $9.99 SRP this April 1st. But wait, you ask. The date’s sus, you say. But in our opinion, LEGO’s not going to use these sets for April Fools. Let’s wait for April 1 to know for sure.

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LEGO news site analysis of the quality issues which delayed the LEGO Marvel sets points at flimsy brick assembly. Most likely, the 1×1 plates serving as the Mech Armor’s hip joints would quickly wear down from play-articulation. Thus far, the box images haven’t been altered to confirm if that was the issue which needed fixing. Again, the definitive proof might have to wait until April Fools’ Day, which we’re sure doesn’t involve these LEGO sets.

LEGO Ideas First 2022 Review Stage Begins with “Forestmen Secret Inn” 10-K Support

As we’ve reported prior, the LEGO Ideas Third 2021 Review Stage closed earlier this week. By the end of it, 36 product ideas gained 10-K support for inclusion in the group review. That much was detailed in a LEGO Ideas Blog post this past Monday. We’ve had the pleasure of covering each submission. The concepts vary in idea, theme and licensing, although most were building sets in some form. But before we get to that, we also noticed that a new product idea with the support milestone has appeared. It’s now the inaugural entry to the First 2022 Review Stage.

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Facebrickup tips the hat to LEGO’s building and medieval-theme fandoms with “The Forestmen Secret Inn.” It features expies of Robin Hood and his Merry Men in their secret lair, an inn hidden within the forest. The building features some mechanical gimmicks like fold-out awnings and opening from the back to reveal the interior.

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Our not-Robin is accompanied by two other Forestmen and a Forestmaid managing the inn. He even gets a partner stag to sell the Forest atmosphere. As for the inn, the details are great. We get three stories plus loads of furnishings and props for a lived-in feel.

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In summation, this is a great start for the newest LEGO Ideas Review Stage, the first this year. Meanwhile, the 36 product ideas of Third 2021 Review Stage should indeed be being reviewed now. Their earlier brethren from Second 2021 might soon be getting their final verdicts for official LEGO set-dom soon. You can check the remaining under-review submissions from year 2021 here. With that done, here’s a summary of the Third 2021 10-K sets:

Third 2021 Review Stage Submissions:

Chinese New Year LEGO Sets, GWPs Now Available in US/Canada

As January 2022 goes on, LEGO is moving on from the Holiday seasonal and New Year product launch blitz. Next on the special occasion agenda: the now LEGO-elevated Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. And back in 2021 we saw what we could expect from LEGO to mark the event. Like Brickset, we’re now getting this straight from LEGO.com itself, in lieu of the now-discontinued monthly Store Calendars. It’s a slight change in routine but that’s all. And now, with the 2022 Chinese New Year seasonal sets available, so too is the accompanying GWP since Monday.

The Animal Zodiac LEGO GWP Year of the Tiger (40491) went live this past January 10. Its launch coincides with the availability of the official 2022 Chinese New Year LEGO sets in US and Canada. For those needing a refresher, they’re the Lunar New Year Traditions (80108) and Lunar New Year Ice Festival (80109). Either of these will suffice to clear the $85 LEGO purchase threshold for the Year of the Tiger GWP. Alternatively, buying over $40 worth in LEGO Monkie Kid or Ninjago sets will net a second GWP (polybag). Monkie Kid’s Underwater Journey (30562) could be yours if you favor the above themes.

While the LEGO Monkie Kid polybag has a GWP period end (January 27), Year of the Tiger (40491) doesn’t. In any case, this month is the golden time for getting your choice seasonal sets to claim the gift. Chinese New Year 2022 falls on February 1, for reference. That in mind: Go get ‘em, Tiger.

“Garden and Greenhouse,” “It’s A Wonderful LEGO Life” Last 10-K Entries for Ideas Third 2021 Review Stage

It was only a matter of time before LEGO Ideas closed their Third 2021 Review Stage. After all, the period actually overlapped into the start of 2022. In any case this review stage indeed came to an end over the weekend. Of course, some last few product ideas managed to gain the necessary 10,000 supporters to join the batch. As expected, we have more building/structural submissions trying to run the Review gauntlet to official set-hood. One is a sprawling set to complement the LEGO Botanical line. Another is a product idea we recommended for support last year, and got it.

The Garden and Greenhouse

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First, let’s look at The Garden and Greenhouse by 10K Club member kris_kelvin. The product name itself is a giveaway of what to expect. But even those expectations would be shattered at what the creator came up with. We get a sprawling complex, to scale with minifigures, half covered with gardens and the other dominated by said greenhouse.

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LEGO plant pieces dot the set providing plastic flowers and vegetables. Creator kris_kelvin sees The Garden and Greenhouse as a complementary structure to LEGO City neighborhoods. Nothing says a LEGO community supports “local food” like a garden/greenhouse providing fresh veggies within reach.

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It’s a Wonderful LEGO Life

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Another 10-K product idea that got into the Third 2021 Review Stage is, as we said, one we featured. Last November, “It’s a Wonderful LEGO Life” by Jason and Jane Middaughs saw some press attention. Now, it’s got full support. This brick-built set depicts iconic Holiday film “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart. The Middaughs (twrt0es on LEGO Ideas) created the submission to celebrate the movie’s 75th anniversary back in 2021. Even if it passes review later on, the set’s a bit delayed. But it’s better late than never.

In Closing

Keep following us here on The Brick Show for a wrap-up of LEGO Ideas’ Third 2021 Review Stage. Or perhaps we’ll feature the first 10-K submission for the First 2022 Stage, whichever comes first.

LEGO Presents Timeline Poster for LEGO Friends 10th Anniversary in 2022

If one needs any indicator that LEGO is for girls too, look no further than the “Friends” themed line. Introducing a slice-of-life theme featuring a circle of diverse female friends was a marketing masterstroke for the global toy giant. Collectors fell in love with the whimsical sets featuring more detailed and expressive “minidoll” figures representing actual characters. And like its male-oriented fellow theme “Ninjago,” LEGO Friends got a companion animated series of its own. Despite some controversy, the line has done LEGO well since debuting in 2012. That also means that this 2022, LEGO Friends is celebrating its first decade.

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Brick Fanatics reports that as part of the 10th Anniversary celebration of LEGO Friends, LEGO gives fans a promotional timeline. “10 Years of Friendship” chronicles the journey of the Friends theme, covering every year since 2012. It can be downloaded in PDF form from the “About” section of the LEGO.com Friends theme page. For dedicated collectors however, they might observe some timeline details that don’t quite match up. The information claims that 2012 was about developing/introducing the theme, with the first LEGO Friends sets arriving 2013. In actuality the line did release its first wave in 2012. Still, “10 Years of Friendship” makes for a nice digest of events in LEGO Friends history, noting the subthemes and prominent set launches.

Quite the number of new LEGO Friends products joined the New Year’s launch storm. Here’s a quick rundown of these:

Pet Clinic (41695) – $19.99

Turtle Protection Vehicle (41697) – $9.99

Beach Glamping (41700) – $39.99

Street Food Market (41701) –$49.99

Canal Houseboat (41702) – $79.99

Friendship Tree House (41703) – Anniversary set; $79.99

Main Street Building (41704) – $149.99

Tree-Planting Vehicle (41707) – $29.99

LEGO Ideas Sonic (21331) Fan Designer Presents Alt-Build Tips for Eggman Figure

January 1, 2022 saw the release of LEGO Idea set #39, Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone (21331). This highly-anticipated item was based on the brainchild of Ideas contributor Viv Grannell, aka toastergrl. As with some previous Ideas sets, this final product features significant changes from its original version. It now depicts the original first level of “Sonic the Hedgehog” (1991) on the Sega Genesis. Grannell’s submission had been based on the updated Green Hill Zone from 2017’s “Sonic Mania” nostalgia title. This change, toastergrl doesn’t mind. In fact, she even has her own suggested alterations of the released product.

As The Brick Fan tells it, Viv “toastergrl” Grannell has provided alternate building instructions for LEGO Ideas 21331. These alternative steps can be downloaded on LEGO MOC platform Rebrickable. They involve designs for the brick-built Dr. Eggman/Robotnik figure. Grannell’s original ideas for the Eggman figure featured articulation, lost in the Ideas Sonic set for stability purposes. Thus, these MOC instructions add/change pieces to 21331’s Eggman figure to give him moveable arms and a bushier mustache. And indeed, the resulting alternative build looks more action figure-like, if somewhat less stable.

Grannell adds on her Rebrickable account that she has more alternative ideas for Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) coming up. So stay tuned there for possible Green Hill Zone layout rebuilds, and Badnik designs beyond the featured Moto-Bug and Crabmeat. The basic set was already customizable by connecting multiple copies end to end. Therefore, all these comes as a natural progression. And if you haven’t gotten LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) yet, then go fast! Why wait any more?

“LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” to Feature Prequel Actor as Boba Fett

It’s now the year 2022, and for LEGO videogame aficionados, that means only one thing right now. Before the midpoint of this year the long-anticipated but repeatedly-delayed “LEGO Stars Wars: The Skywalker Saga” might finally be released. WB Interactive and Traveller’s Tales have promised LEGO videogame adventures through all three “Star Wars” trilogies, on multiple platforms. LEGO gamers might well just riot if it still won’t come out soon. Thankfully, the longtime developers do seem to be making the overall experience as epic as can be. They’re even getting cast members from the film to reprise voices, even if it’s not the ones you expect.

For example, Brick Fanatics tells us that a “Star Wars” prequel actor may have joined the voice cast. It started with a promo clip of “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” on their official Twitter page. The segment featured iconic galactic bounty hunter Boba Fett. His voice however, despite sounding like current portrayer Temuera Morrison, was pegged by commenters to be somebody else. They guessed that it was actor Daniel Logan. He played young Boba Fett in prequel Episode II “Attack of the Clones.” Morrison at the time was cast as Boba’s father, Jango Fett.

Speculation got to the point that “LSW” fans reached out to Logan on Twitter for confirmation. His one-word positive reply seemingly confirms that Daniel Logan will voice Fett in “The Skywalker Saga.” It’s a good choice, given that Logan carried on voicing young Boba even in the “Clone Wars” animated series. Archival footage also made it to Disney+’ “The Book of Boba Fett” via flashback. One wonders if other “Star Wars” alumni have joined in the voice cast. Hopefully we won’t have longer to wait for “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga,” coming this 2022.