FBTB.net - From Bricks To Bothans

Yep, that’s the name. Bricklandia. Sort of inspired by Fred Armisen’s Portlandia comedy show. We chose this name for a variety of reasons, but mostly because we hated it the least. I don’t know what it is about being in this hobby, but there seems to be some sort of unwritten rule or disease that forces one to name a new LEGO-related endeavor with the word “brick” in it. What’s up with that? Are we that uncreative that we can’t come up with a cool new name that doesn’t involve the word “brick”? I think that’s why I wanted to use Studs, since it avoids “brick” altogether but still implies an association with LEGO on some level. So Bricklandia was suggested and other than us hating it the least, we also liked the fact that it gave the characters a place to live and establishes the LUG and location for the LEGOLand theme park. So this week, we went with a poster type of image outlining some of the characters we had in mind for upcoming strips. Hopefully over time, this cast of characters will expand. It’ll be interesting to see how different or similar this poster will be in a year or two.

And for the record, it was not my idea to put a character named Onions modeled after the Series 4 skater who is a LEGO Ambassador into the strip. Paul thinks he’s being funny.

If you had the chance to watch the video LEGO posted highlighting the new Town Hall modular, you might have noticed a couple of easter eggs in the first few seconds. If you missed it no worries, the screenshots are presented for you here in all their low-res glory. I know I wasn’t the only one disappointed that the 10225 R2-D2 didn’t make an appearance at Toy Fair, but this is a nice tease to tide us over until it’s unveiled at some future gathering of geeks. I have little doubt this was unintentional on LEGO’s part and still expect to see a proper press release in the future.

Thanks to Walter Boy for the heads up, because I rarely watch the videos. I’m more of a picture guy…

But wait, there’s more. How about a modular sized Haunted House that could be in line with the upcoming Monster Fighters theme?

Good eyes people, good eyes.

I love me some modular buildings. 10224 Town Hall, though, takes the cake. The largest modular building set to date, it weighs in at 2,766 pieces and will set you back $199 USD. It has some pretty impressive details such as brick-built columns that are NOT made of the 2×2 round bricks with grille, the elevator, and the skylights. Start budgeting your pennies now, this set will be available starting March 2012.

More pics below, press release after that.

10224 Town Hall

Ages 14+. 2,766 pieces.

US $199.99 CA $249.99 DE 179.99 € UK 149.99 £ DK 1499 DKK

Keep the wheels of commerce turning with the authentic Town Hall!

This classic 3-storey town hall building is the latest addition to the LEGO® Modular Buildings series. This highly-detailed model features large entrance-way columns and coat of arms, a tall bell tower with clock and a large skylight giving a view inside the building. On the ground floor, the large hall, tax office and auditorium are perfect for servicing the town’s citizens. Take the working elevator up to the secretary and mayor’s offices on the second floor, furnished eloquently with desks, chairs, paintings and even a frog sculpture. There’s even a balcony for addressing the town’s citizens. On the third floor, a spacious meeting room features a large conference table, chairs, globe and plants. Includes 8 minifigures: mayor, secretary, bride and groom, press woman, janitor and 2 children.
• Includes 8 minifigures: mayor, secretary, bride and groom, press woman, janitor and 2 children
• Features painting, desks, chairs, sculpture, lamp, conference table, globe, plants and bench
• Functioning elevator with space for 2 minifigures and ladder access to roof
• Bell tower features bench and maintenance ladder
• Roof features skylight with view inside the building
• Measures 10” (25.5 cm) wide and 20” (50 cm) high
• Address the citizens from the balcony!
• Combine with other LEGO® Modular buildings like the 10218 Pet Shop and 10211 Grand Emporium!

If you’re like me, you don’t live anywhere near Copenhagen, Denmark where LEGO World is underway from now until February 19. It is there where the official LEGO Minecraft set was unveiled just moments ago. I’ve been fortunate enough to be sent the official pictures from the press release to share with you. It appears to be built in micro scale given that the mobs are about the same height as a microfig. I’m sure more pics will be up and available from attendees from the event soon. I’d keep my eye on flickr for pics.

Full article »

We’ve just passed the halfway point for the building phase for our podracer contest and the entries are already pouring in. You still have two weeks left if you would like to participate and earn a shot at the prizes. That’s plenty of time to pick your favorite collectible minifig and build them a matching racer. The full contest rules are available right here on the forum so take a look and join the fun!

Check out this fantastic mega-music box! Built by an outfit called Serviceplan, this bad boy was on display for the 3D premiere of The Phantom Menace in Munich, Germany. Impressive how the features of the scrolling scene on the rotary drum provide the musical data, as well. And it all comes together with a sweet synth, a more direct take on a player piano. Great stuff!

It’s always a treat to see how LEGO decorates the corners of their booth at Toy Fair. This year they are understandably making a push on their hot new IP line, LEGO Super Heroes, and their feminist-angering girl-friendly line, LEGO Friends.

The Super Heroes corners was the most interesting. Rather than going with a mural or a large statue, a bas relief of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman adorned one corner. It was a combination of a studs-out mural type of build with a traditional sculpture construction technique.

And finally, LEGO had an approximately six-and-a-half-feet-by-six-and-a-half-feet tall sculpture of the Hulk minifig on the conventional hall floor. Lean, mean, and green, it will probably give you an idea of what the final painted face will look like for Hulk if you squint your eyes and blur your vision a bit.

Marvel.com published an article yesterday with some official promotional pictures of the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Avengers sets. Hulk’s face is purposefully shadowed out. The LEGO booth at New York Toy Fair had the same prototype Hulk that was shown at San Diego Comic Con. If a final painted version exists, it hasn’t been seen or photographed yet. This is probably as close as it gets, for now anyway. More pics rehosted below, hi res available on their respective flickr pages.

Thanks to Pontus Lee for writing it in.

And Iron Man is still ugly.

Photos from “>Marvel.com

Well this was certainly a surprise. Of course, this basically paves the way for a Friends Disney Princess line, which will sell like gangbusters, GANGBUSTERS I SAY! Only a matter of time…

You heard it here first folks!

Anyway, the initial assortment only consists of four sets, the largest being Cinderella’s Castle. No sign of Beast and Belle, or Ariel, or any other Disney’s notable Princess characters, but hopefully it won’t be too long before more sets are developed.

• 6151 Sleeping Beauty’s Room
• 6152 Snow White’s Cottage
• 6153 Cinderella’s Carriage
• 6154 Cinderella’s Castle