21011 Brandenburg Gate LEGO Set – Already Review

Posted on August 7, 2011 by

While I sort through more Brick Fiesta photos, I know a lot of people have been interested in the 21011 Brandenburg Gate LEGO set that’s from the Architecture line, and a few weeks ago a Brickset forum user saw the sets at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester for £35 (around $57 US) and took a picture.

From Bricks to Bothans and The Brothers Brick have posted larger versions of the photo, but there is already a really nice review.

While the set is not due out until September, like many LEGO sets, it has made it’s way into the hands of a LEGO fan.

Even better, that fan is Eurobricks member bricknation and he has posted a review.

You really should check it out – I’m sure that whatever stock of 21011 Brandenburg Gates that the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester had, they are probably sold out, but keep an eye out elsewhere.

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Brick Fiesta 2011 – Part 1

Posted on August 4, 2011 by

Update: Here is Part 2 of my Brick Fiesta 2011 Pics

A month ago, Brick Fiesta, Texas’ first major LEGO convention was held in Austin, Texas, and I’m just now getting around to posting photos!

Keep in mind the early photos I took were off in the color – the lighting was pretty bad, but the quality picks up in the next few batches after this.

As always, clicking on the photos below will take you to a larger version of the photo. This is the full set and will eventually have 100+ photos.

The mascots of Brick Fiesta:

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

The main area – looks are very deceiving here as it was much larger than it looks:

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

Whole Foods Headquarters and Grocery Store in downtown Austin:

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

The Neverwas Haul (2010)
By Kurt Bay (RTN LNA)
“Modeled on the real life Neverwas Haul, a self-propelled 3-story Victorian House, piloted by a Pith helmeted crew, is a “steam punk” fantasy come to life.

Brick Fiesta LEGO Convention - Austin, Texas (July 2011)

Ship on the left:
Republic of Texas Navy Steamship-of-War Zavala
First Steamship-of-War in the Texas Navy and was built in 1836, commissioned in 1839, and decomissioned in 1842. She was based out of Galveston, Texas, and had a crew of 24 officers and 123 sailors and Marines, with 5 cannon. Wikipedia article.

Ship in the middle is fictional and named the “RTS Legomalee” and the ship on the right is a fictional Texas version of the ironclads from the Civil War.

Continue reading →

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Brick Fiesta – Austin, Photos From Others

Posted on July 5, 2011 by

It’s taking me longer than I thought to sort through the nearly 200 photos I took, but in the meantime, these are but a few of the many photos others took over the weekend at the Brick Fiesta in Austin, Texas. For the full listing of photos, see this flickr group. Do understand that the lighting in the main ballroom was a bit wonky for taking photos.

An amazing build:

BrickFiesta2011_266

This is much larger than it appears:

Skyline

The local Whole Foods headquarters and store was rendered in bricks:

BrickFiesta2011_272

This was my favorite MOC and pictures barely do it justice:

BrickFiesta2011_297

The University of Texas tower was also recreated in LEGO bricks:

BrickFiesta2011_224

I’m hoping to add my photos to the group tomorrow and will be posting them here as well. Remember, this flickr group has most of the MOCs and sets on display, and click on any of the images above for larger versions.

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Brick Fiesta – This Weekend, Austin, TX

Posted on July 2, 2011 by

Don’t forget that this weekend, the LEGO Convention in Austin, Texas, Brick Fiesta, is ongoing, and open to the general public.

I’ve taken a lot of photos this weekend and will be getting them uploaded later this weekend, along with the site redesign. I’ve seen some amazing MOCs and I was very impressed at the turnout, the MOCs, and the vendors.

It’s a bargain – $10 a day adults, or $15 for two days, and there is a one-day family pack – $20 for two adults, two children.

Official Website: BrickFiesta.com

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Review: LEGO CITY 7286 Prisoner Transport

Posted on June 9, 2011 by

First off, I will go on record by saying that LEGO City has too many police sets, and this one doesn’t help my perception of LEGO City being a safe place to live! I will say that on the other hand, this set is really, really nice. It looks strong and mildly brutish with its boxy design complete with fat fenders to boot.

LEGO City 7286 Prisoner Transport Review

The stats on this formidable van are: 173 pieces, one sticker sheet, one roadblock sign, loads of accessories, one yellow crate to keep them in, a motorcycle, a moneybag backpack, 100 LEGO bucks (which doesn’t seem worth stealing and going to Legoland jail for), one policeman minifig, and one crook minifig.

LEGO City 7286 Prisoner Transport Review

By the Numbers:
Set: LEGO 7286 City Prisoner Transport
Year of Release: 2011 (December 2010)
Type: City – Police vehicle and minifig set
# of Pieces: 173
# of Extra pieces:
# of Minifigs and what kind: 2 – police officer, criminal
Stickers? Yes
Ages: 5-12
Time to Complete:
Price: $19.99

Available
* Shop.LEGO.com – LEGO Prisoner Transport 7286
* Amazon.com – LEGO Prisoner Transport 7286
* Amazon.co.uk – LEGO Prisoner Transport 7286
* Target, Toys R Us, etc.

Remember: click on the photos to see larger images at flickr (Full 7286-1 gallery at flickr)

Box Art:

LEGO City 7286 Prisoner Transport Review

Continue reading →

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LEGO and Nintendo Announce LEGO City Stories

Posted on June 7, 2011 by

Just heard the news that earlier today, LEGO and Nintendo announced LEGO City Stories at this major year’s electronics expo – E3.

It’s going to be produced by TT Games who has produced several of the current LEGO titles including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Ninjago, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

The big news though is that it will be on the Nintendo Wii U and the Nintendo handheld 3DS. The Wii U is Nintendo’s new console that was also announced today. LEGO City Stories will be a launch title for the Nintendo Wii U, available sometime next year. It sounds like some kind of sandbox/open world game based on the LEGO City line and will be focused on vehicles, since vehicles featured so prominently in the announcement images. I’m guessing that all of the marina/aquatic stuff we’ve been seeing lately will tie in. Would be nice to see some LEGO train action as well.

You can see in the video (posted below), among other things, LEGO City Police, Fire, and construction vehicles.

Posted in Announcements, City, LEGO Company, LEGO Game Series, Police, Video Games | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment