Some random thoughts

I’ve actually been feeling kinda guilty about neglecting the blog tho I know I have good reason to…  Apart from work, I’ve been busy with a personal project that is currently taking up loads of my free time. 

As I’ve mentioned before, I still do continue to read  many of the LEGO fan sites and blogs and forums, just that I don’t blog about them as often as I used to.  Come to think about it, I’ve been shopping much less frequently now so that really shows how busy I’ve been… (hey, shopping is a favourite past time for many Singaporeans!). 🙂 

Anyway, a couple of noteworthy reads:

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1. Brickset shares news of another LEGO survey

The direct link is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LEGO_AFOL_Q12011

One nugget of info from the last survey that I found interesting was that “Respondents say they are prompted to collect sets because of the theme or unique minifigures or elements. Less than 10% of fans say they’re prompted to collect sets because of a unique box or a box of a different size. However, when asked if the LEGO Group were to create sets with different box sizes and identical contents would they purchase an additional set, nearly half responded that they would.”

Really? Half? I thought most people bought LEGO for the contents and not the boxes? Anyway to find out what the other results are, do visit Brickset’s post here.

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2. Toysnbricks reports on sets discontinued in 2011

If you have been holding out for whatever reason on these sets, wait no longer cos you know the prices will rise once the stores are out of stock.  And, these sets are really among the better ones.  I think MMV and Emerald Night are destined to be instant classics.  As for Star Wars… well, we know how sky-high prices can go right?

• Castle Medieval Market Village (MSRP: $99.99)
• Creator Emerald Night (MSRP: $99.99)
• Star Wars Death Star (MSRP: $399.99)
• Star Wars Battle of Endor (MSRP: $99.99)

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3. Charity drive for Japan’s tsunami victims by The Brothers Brick

If you would like to do something for the tsunami victims in Japan, you may like to have a look at TBB’s charity drive.  They have requested for donations in creations and for support in the auctions.  (Note: Having grown up hearing and studying WW2 history, I find the logo used quite disturbing tho…)

If you are more practical like me… cash is king, especially when multiplied.  I’ve heard of firms (like mine) who are matching dollar-for-dollar any donations made by staff.  If not, you can also visit any local Red Cross to make a donation.

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4. Singapore Only: Service Pack for 10213 Shuttle Adventure

I found out about the service pack for Shuttle Adventure some time back (thanks to an email from TS), but never managed to find time to go down to the LEGO Singapore office to collect it. 

Luckily, Toy Station/Brickstation now has them in store for those who bought them from TS when it was 1st brought in (like me).  So if you are one of those who bought from TS, you may like to pop by the store when you are free. Perhaps to coincide with the expected new stocks coming in next week or the week after? If you are not on TS mailing list, you can follow their blog, facebook or twitter (yeah, very well-networked store) (Side note: Yay, store goodwill index up)

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you may like to read Smashing Bricks’ post here.

Update on LEGO Ideas, Harry Potter & Star Wars Character Books

Hey, remember my earlier post about DK’s The LEGO Ideas Book and the subsequent pic found by killyrbf ?  Well, the source has been (re-)found, courtesy of legolijntje from EB Forum. 

Or how about the LEGO® Harry Potter™:Building the Magical World or LEGO® Star Wars™ Character Encyclopedia?  No recollection? Nevermind, I’ve the updated info all below. 🙂

Btw, if you enjoy LEGO related books, do click on the Books category to read my previous posts about LEGO books k?

• LEGO Ideas Book
• Pub. Date: 19 Sep 2011
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
• Format: Hardcover , 200pp
• US$24.99 / £16.02
• ISBN-13: 9780756686062
• ISBN: 0756686067
• LEGO® inspiration: tips and techniques from expert LEGO builders covering transport, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure and useful makes. Perfect for LEGO fans who want to make their models cool, fun and imaginative. 

• LEGO® Harry Potter™:Building the Magical World
• Pub. Date: 16 May 2011
• 301 x 252mm 96pp, full colour throughout
• US$21.99/£16.99 hardback 
• ISBN-13: 9780756688875
• ISBN: 9781405366458
• Get the lowdown on your favourite LEGO® Harry Potter™ sets with this exciting companion to the magical world. Includes an exclusive Minifigure.
• The magic of Harry Potter™ and the fun of the LEGO® world, now in one incredible book!
  Since it was first introduced in 2001, LEGO® Harry Potter™ has been one of the LEGO Group’s most popular themes. This incredible guide gives readers an up-close look at the bricks, constructions, and minifigures of the LEGO® Harry Potter universe—from Hogwarts Castle to Hagrid’s hut.
  You won’t want to miss out on the exclusive inter views with the LEGO® Harry Potter™ team, and special sections allowing you to see, first-hand, how the bricks and figures come to be the toys we love today! The book will also feature a timeline that shows the evolution of the LEGO® Harry Potter™ construction sets, video game and board game.

• LEGO® Star Wars™Character Encyclopedia
• Pub. Date: 19 Sep 2011
• 235 x 183mm• 208pp, full colour throughout
• US$18.99/£14.99 hardback
• ISBN-13: 978-0756686970
• ISBN: 9781405373586
• Get to know the LEGO® Star Wars™Minifigures: discover rare variants and lots of cool LEGO Star Wars™facts! With an exclusive LEGO StarWars™ Minifigure.

Source: http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/static/cs/uk/11/search/pdfs/22-DK_Children_Film_and_TV.pdf

Free Download of Marcos Bessa’s Models

Update: I don’t know why, but I can’t link the pics to the websites.  So to be clear, you have to go to his blog to download the files (LINK HERE) and to Flickr to see the rest of his portfolio (LINK HERE)

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Remember Marcos Bessa? (Yep, he has become a LEGO Designer – read HERE).  The good news is that he has kindly put up his LDD files on his blog so you can now download for free his digital creations here from his blog.

I also just notice that Marcos shared his portfolio created in July 2010 for the LEGO Designer position.  Here’s a sample:

Nice huh? More in Marcos Bessa’s Flickr.

Some LEGO News Round-Up

Some news that caught my eye the past 2 days. 

1. How to Unglue Your Glued Magnets

Via Cygnet from The Ugly Duckling, I found out about Akunthita‘s efforts to find the solution around glued magnets.  You really have to read the full article on thebrickblogger and the full range of experiments she conducted to find the solution.  Plus the great pictorial guide on how to unglue the magnets of course.  

2. Changes to Instruction Booklet & Sticker Packaging

Via Josh from The Brothers Brick, I found out about better packaging for stickers and instructions for sets with more than 1000 pieces.  News about this change has been coming from overseas AFOLs about instructions being packed with a hard cardboard in a sealed plastic sleeve and this officially confirms the change.

3. New Sets and Set Instruction Manuals Uploaded

Via Huw & Grahame from Brickset, I found out about the newly released set 10155 Maersk Container Ship and that loads of new instructions are now on Lego.com including 3 new polybag sets.

Making Your Own LEGO Bricks

… or minifigs, or whatever your heart desires in ABS plastic.

Fantasy? No, you can actually do it if you get a Thing-O-Matic 3D Printer Kit from MakerBot. It all gets kinda techical but this article from Guardian explains it well in layman terms.  The ‘Printer’ bit is a bit deceiving… the machines are “3D printers build up objects using layers of plastic”.

Oh, and you also have to have at least US$649 (for the most basic Cupcake kit) to US$1225 (for the latest Thing-O-Matic) and wait for up to 7 weeks after placing your order.  Remember to order the ABS plastic too.  A 5 pound coil of red/blue/green/yellow//pink ABS plastic costs US$65, and a natural one at US$45.  Fluorescent red costs more at US$70 for 5 lb and glow in the dark is the most expensive at US$46 for 1 lb.

I was curious and pulled up a comparison of all 3 models… and don’t understand… uhhhh… very very engineering language.  If you are game you can read more below.

And… this really reminds me of some in-game “The Sims” kind of gadget.  Even the name sounds like one. Come to think of it, I’m sure there was some machine/reward like that in “The Sims 3“…

Someone has already made some large minifigs (20 minifigs size x 4) and shared his blue prints. Looks good don’t you think?  By Michael Curry, aka Skimbal, more pics in his Picasa page.  Blue prints for the minifigs here in his thingiverse page.  

You can also see a video of an actual to-scale 2×2 brick:

Loads more videos about ‘makerbot’ in youtube.

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As the last post for 2010, happy new year to all readers!  Wishing all a healthy, peaceful and wonderful year ahead. 🙂

How to Wire LEDs

I have been doing some reading, and thought it’ll be nice to pass on the info.  Found some fairly easy to understand articles on eHow teaching how to wire up an LED:

• LED basics
• How to wire LEDs

Yeah, thought I’ll get started on this (picking up LED basics) cos eventually I would have to find some way to have lighted street lamps.  It looks kinda strange to have a ‘blacked out’ street when the buildings are lighted. 😦

Never thought my LEGO hobby will have me trying to pick up basic electrical knowledge but hey we live and learn ya?

I think I’ve also found a solution so I won’t have to drill any LEGO pieces in the process of making street lighting… but it would mean going on Crack- I mean BrickLink to get some stuff.  Think I’ll try to do up a prototype when I manage to get some electrical equipment to play with.

Building Tips & Fun Stuff on LEGO.com

I’ve been exploring the Lego.com site and wanted to share some discoveries…

1. Creator Building Tips – Really cool tips from some of your favourite designers can be found using the link below. Being more of a City gal I especially like the tips for corner doors, sliding doors, making furniture, fireplace… (k, you get the idea) but vehicle and creature tips are also available.

LINK: Creator Building Tips

2. City Downloads – Think the printable coloring sheets and join the dots activity sheets would be good for kids?

LINK: City Downloads

3. Star Wars Fun – Of course I would mention Star Wars.  Loads of comics and movies (you must have seen the latest being circulated around fan sites…) can be viewed from the SW site.  A must for any SW fan.

LINK: Star Wars Movie & Comics

4. Collectible Minifigs – I find the masks, games & movies interesting.

LINK: Collectible Minifig Masks   /   Collectible Minifig Games /  Movies

That’s all… loads of games but I didn’t feel up to trying… if you know/come across other cool stuff on the LEGO site, do share by leaving a comment k? 

Click HERE to select the product page you want to visit.

P.S. Ran into some technical problems while trying to insert pics (to jazz up this post) so… I give up… am gonna play with some real life bricks now. 😛