wedding favor set [40165] review

Wedding Favor Set [40165] Box

I do...

I do believe that the Wedding Favor Set [40165] is the perfect wedding present for a LEGO couple. But for my wife and I, it came about a year late. So we just built this set as one of the many ways to commemorate our first wedding anniversary. I am a firm believer that a happy wife means a happy life, so I let her build this one.

In a lot of ways, the Wedding Favor Set [40165] is a great improvement on its predecessor [853340]. The most obvious change is the absence of cardboard pieces. The lovely arch is now made entirely out of plastic bricks, decorated beautifully with gems and flowers. The new set also comes with a bigger baseplate to facilitate the elevation of the stage (and to add some more flowers).

Wedding Stage

Customization of the minifigures is more varied in the new set with the inclusion of lots of hairpieces. Unfortunately, not all natural colors are represented.

Bride Options

My wife super loves the Bride minifigure. But I think the old one is better (except for the multi-brick skirt) and more elegant, with its simple torso print and veiled tiara. But the best Bride (so far) is the one from the LEGO Collectible Minifigures Series 7 [8831]. My wife settled for the brown princess hairpiece to match her own.

My Wife Bride

For the Groom minifigure, the set includes a top hat, three hairpieces (yellow on yellow looks weird), and two minifig heads. One is bearded and the other is double-sided showing serious/worried faces.

Groom Options

According to my wife, only the bearded groom looked happy to get married. She settled with the black hairpiece and serious face to represent me (though in real life I actually smile a lot).

My Precious

Golden wedding bands were finally included in this seasonal set. Thanks to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit sets, a mold for minifigure rings was made. These sets were first released in 2012. The reason why the old Wedding Favor Set [853340] doesn't include this precious piece is because it was released a year before that.

Wedding Favor Set [40165]

Overall, the Wedding Favor Set [40165] is a fun build. It's also a good buy with a recommended retail price of UK £6.99 / US $9.99. It's a perfect wedding table (or cake) decoration for LEGO lovers. My only complaint is the Groom looks a little short without his top hat. Nevertheless, it made my wife happy. And we all know what that means...

LEGOLAND windsor: star wars miniland

Death Star

That's no moon...

That's what Obi-Wan Kenobi said upon approaching the Death Star. But when I saw the reproduction in LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display at LEGOLAND Windsor, I was lost for words! Together with my tita's (aunt's) family, I visited the resort last June, and their latest addition is the recreation of Darth Vader’s ultimate super weapon. It's one of the most impressive and biggest models ever created for the resort, using about 500,000 bricks. Measuring 2.4 meters wide and 3 meters high, and weighing 860 kilograms, the Death Star is the centerpiece for an amazing scene depicting the famous Battle of Yavin in A New Hope. The interactive display also features sound and light effects. By pressing the appropriate buttons, Alliance ships will come swooping to destroy the mobile space station.

Upon entering the LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display, Darth Vader in all his brickly glory extends his lightsaber to welcome the visitors. Our favorite droids R2-D2 and C-3PO follow shortly. It seems they are also part of the welcoming committee.

Darth Vader

R2-D2

C-3PO

Since it opened in 2012, The LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display features iconic scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, displaying 1,500 separate models, in 1:20 scale, made from 1.5 million bricks. Yearly, new models are being added (like this year's gigantic Death Star). Hopefully, next year, awesome scenes from The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and even from Star Wars Rebels will be added.

The year is almost over but the LEGO fun still continues. There are still a few days remaining to visit LEGOLAND Windsor. Head on to www.legoland.co.uk for more details.

Below are some of my favorite snaps from my recent trip. These pictures don't do justice for how amazing these models are. Seeing them in person is highly recommended. Oh, I can't wait to visit the resort again.

Naboo

Naboo Starfighter

Theed Royal Palace

Battle of Naboo

Geonosis Execution Arena

Battle of Geonosis: Republic Gunships

Battle of Geonosis: Hailfire Droids

Battle of Kashyyyk

Mustafar

Millennium Falcon at Tatooine

Tatooine

Mos Eisley Cantina

Battle of Hoth

Ewok Village

Battle of Endor

Shuttle Tydirium

Mini Yoda

Mini R2-D2

Mini Darth Maul

Mini Anakin Skyalker & Mini Darth Vader

Mini Han Solo & Mini Chewbacca

Mini Luke Skywalker & Mini Princess Leia

Y-Wing Starfighter

X-Wing Starfighter

 Millennium Falcon

Battle of Yavin

it's beginning to look a lot like... what wookie is this anyway?

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar [75146] (Do not open!)

A white wookie, a silver droid, and a whole lot more! What else can a Star Wars fanboy ask for? The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar [75146] is now available! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

It's funny that LEGO released the advent calendars as early as September (The LEGO Friends Advent Calendar [41131] and LEGO City Advent Calendar [60133] are already on sale as well). This reminds me of the blissful Filipino tradition of starting the holiday celebrations as soon as the -Ber months arrive.

I really can't think of a perfect holiday themed Star Wars pun for my title (my brain is currently limited to the likes of Silver Droid, Silver Droid or Wookie guide my sleigh tonight?), until I settled with the one above. I truly wonder who the white wookie is. All signs seem to point to a snow-covered Chewbacca with a peppermint flavored bandolier.

But I can't build or even see him yet. My wife wrote a note that I can't open the box 'til 1 December. This is her gift to me by the way (Thank you pi!). And she's complaining that the set only included 24 gifts instead of 25, making it one present short (Um, thank you LEGO!). The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar [75146] is my first advent calendar ever. I can't wait to open each and every mini door and reveal what's behind them. It can be a Star Wars themed minifigure, starship, vehicle, or other themed collectible. With this advent calendar, LEGO promises a festive tour of the galaxy, from Hoth to Tatooine to Naboo.

I really love the concept of an advent calendar. You can sing the Twelve Days... song but you have to add twelve days more. If you or your loved ones don't like Star Wars (Who doesn't?!), Friends, or City, you can make your own version. Your only limit is your imagination. I can envision myself customizing a Disney theme for my wife (Why is there no LEGO Disney Advent Calendar?!).

This will also be the first time for my wife and I to be away from our dear families and friends during the holiday season. The advent calendars are by no means substitutes for that longing, but they sure can entertain us even for just a little while...

LEGO star wars go rogue

Death Star [75159] (Photo grabbed from https://www.facebook.com/LEGO/photos)

With the upcoming release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, almost everything is painted black, or going rogue, and that includes the toys...

LEGO recently announced the future release (or re-release, depending on your perspective) of the Death Star [75159] Ultimate Collector Series set just in time for the showing of the first film in the Star Wars Anthology Series. The set will retail for US $499.99 / UK £399.99. A lot of AFOLs are crying foul that the new set is a recycled version of the recently retired Death Star [10188] set with only a few upgrades (It's a Star Wars recurring theme!). Personally, I think the LEGO Death Star play set design is great. Maybe it's too great that LEGO is trying to make it close to evergreen. The first Death Star [10188] lasted for about eight years. Who knows how long will the second Death Star [75159] last? This also gives the chance for people like me (who recently emerged from the shadows and) who doesn't have the first one to own an ultimate version of the galactic superweapon. I just feel bad for those who invested on the [10188] set expecting a huge return. But that's life. Risk is inevitable.

When everything is still a bit hush hush, I was so excited about the dark Death Star Droid. I immediately assumed that it's the recently revealed C2-B5...

C2-B5 (Photo grabbed from https://www.facebook.com/StarWars.UK/photos)

...but it's not. I keep forgetting that the Death Star [75159] is not a Rogue One set. C2-B5 is actually a mixture of two of the droids in the set, namely the (real) Death Star Droid and the Imperial Astromech. The Death Star Droid is even better than I pictured. It gives off a vibe that it's armed and dangerous, and that you don't want to mess with it. I wasn't really disappointed that it's not C2-B5 because if you're going to dig into previous sets, there are already a lot of black astromech droids in various brick forms.

Death Star Droid & Imperial Astromech Minifigures (Photos grabbed from https://www.facebook.com/LEGO/photos)

Since the Death Star is the main focus of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it's not surprising to see its LEGO version in the first chapter of the Star Wars Go Rogue video clip. Here we can see different Star Wars toys, including our precious LEGO, in their own interpretation of the first anthology film. It's really cute and funny. But what's funnier is the need for a disclaimer that the video uses special effects, and that the toys can't move or talk on their own (Talk about setting expectations, haha!). For those who haven't seen it yet, here it is:

LEGO has also released sneak peeks of the new Rogue One sets coming out at the end of September, and they all look great! The Rebel U-Wing Fighter [75155] is the newest good guys' ship to be introduced in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Perhaps, there's too much emphasis on the good side that LEGO decided to give it a brighter color scheme than the one in the film. Nevertheless, it's still a cool ship, with its foldable wings and all.

Rogue One Sets (From Left to Right): Rebel U-Wing Fighter [75155], TIE Striker [75154], Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152], AT-ST Walker [75153], & Krennic's Imperial Shuttle [75156] (Photos grabbed from https://www.facebook.com/LEGO/photos)

My personal favorite is Krennic's Imperial Shuttle [75156]. All those black bricks give an uncanny feel. But with that set retailing for US $89.99 / UK £79.99, I think I'm going to wait for a little while. Other sets to be released include the TIE Striker [75154], Imperial Assault Hovertank [75152], and AT-ST Walker [75153].

I'm not really a fan of the Buildable Figures but I feel obliged to put them here as well. Besides, Jyn Erso [75119], K-2S0 [75120], and and the Imperial Death Trooper [75121] collectively look menacingly cool in this versions.

Rogue One Buildable Figures (From Left to Right): Sergeant Jyn Erso [75119], K-2S0 [75120], & Imperial Death Trooper [75121] (Photos grabbed from https://www.facebook.com/LEGO/photos)

All this Rogue One buildup is making the Star Wars fanboy in me über-excited! How about you?

________________________________________

UPDATE: See the Rebel U-Wing Fighter [75155] in action and more in the next chapters of Star Wars Go Rogue:

new LEGO store leicester square arriving soon!

Royal Guard Announcement

A new LEGO Store is coming soon to the heart of London’s theatreland, Leicester Square!

Back in May 2016, it was announced that the construction of a new store in the United Kingdom (37th in Europe) has started. Specifically, it is located at 3 Swiss Court, London, with the postcode W1D 6AP (just in front of M&M's World!), covering 5,420 square feet in over two floors. The official press release said that the flagship store follows the recent unveiling of the LEGO Store in the Les Halles district of Paris, France, and the Asian flagship store in Shanghai, China (translation: the store will be massive!).

A recruitment drive has also commenced along with the construction, and is currently still ongoing. Head on to https://www.lego.com/en-gb/careers/search-jobs for more details.

Almost Done?!

It has been over a month since I last visited Leicester Square, so imagine my surprise when I saw that the store looks almost done! Don't get me started on the minifigures teasers! The Royal Guard minifigure looks so seriously cute! I don't have one from the Minifigures Series 5 [8805], so a re-release would just be perfect. And I really, really, really hope that LEGO will release the British gentleman minifigure (complete with a bowler hat, a Union Jack vest, and a cup of tea!) as one of the flagship store's exclusive.

Exclusive Minifigure?!

The official announcement said that the new store will open late 2016, but up to this point, a specific date is yet to be given. Can't wait!

the national museum of scotland made from LEGO

National Museum of Scotland Tower Roof Terrace 

In the National Museum of Scotland, there is a museum within a museum, and it's made entirely out of LEGO bricks...

Measuring about 3.5 meters, the LEGO model of the National Museum of Scotland was built by renowned brick artist Warren Elsmore (his largest single model yet!) and his team. It took them over 350 hours, using almost 90,000 bricks to build this masterpiece.

Museum of Scotland Building

Royal Museum Building

The minifigure scale model (about 1:50), depicting minute details of the galleries and the exhibits, was designed using scale-plans and elevation drawings. Every single brick used is a standard LEGO brick, though some were sought from all over Europe to finish this grandiose beauty.

Main Entrance

Scottish Galleries

Art, Design, Fashion, Science & Technology Galleries

The Grand Gallery

Natural World Galleries

The miniature museum model commemorates the 150th anniversry of the National Museum of Scotland. The exhibit is also in conjunction with the Festival of Architecture 2016, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design celebrations. The display will be available until 1 December 2016, in the Info Zone, Level 3. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. For further details, you can visit: http://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/.

Awestruck

When my wife and I visited Edinburgh in mid-August, we saw the culmination of all the ingenuity and hard-work Warren Elsmore and his team have done. If we came there earlier this year, we could have participated in the Build It!: Adventures with LEGO Bricks. We could have watched the master builder and his team work their magic on the miniature museum. Not only that, we could have seen the pre-built models on display as well, including the iconic red phone box, and a mini version of one of the properties on Edinburgh’s Broughton Street. We could have also joined the interactive activities, like a search for hidden museum-inspired builds, and a creation of our own models in the play and display section.

Nevertheless, seeing the LEGO model of the National Museum of Scotland up close was a grand experience in itself. Just like what Elsmore said, it can truly inspire future architects, designers, sculptors, and storytellers...

nexo knight racers: a serendipitous LEGO encounter

Knight Racers

Ask and you shall receive...

I know this verse is usually a metaphor for prayer, but sometimes in life, you just have to do it literally.

As I went to check my local convenience store for the latest issue of the LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine, I noticed that there were detached free gifts from the previous issues sitting on the shelf. These are the Knight Racers from copies of Issue 07, which were already returned to the publisher. Nicely, I asked the sales assistant if I could just buy them. She consulted her supervisor and they have decided to simply give them all to me, as they will just discard them anyway. I know this incident is beyond routine, but I can't deny that it is indeed fortuitous.

For the Knight Racer, I said in one of my posts that the vehicle could do better, but now that it belongs to a fleet, it definitely is.

This small encounter is a reminder that sometimes, all you have to do is ask...