project monochrome: white

White Monochrome Minifigure

One of the purposes of the monochrome in art is to reduce it to its simplest form so that the focus of the piece would be on its pure physical elements. Applying that concept to LEGO, peeling away all the paint, leaving only the base color, one can achieve a minimal art in brick form...

That's one way to see it. Another is to simply say that I have always been a fan of monochrome minifigures, which are so cool and calming to look at. For the longest time, I thought this would be a difficult project but I have read somewhere that it's so easy if you start with the basics. That's why for my first monochrome minifigure, I decided to begin with the color white.

White Monochrome Minifigure: Sailor

White pieces are very easy to obtain. I got all the white minifigure pieces from my local LEGO Shop's Build-a-Mini. Unfortunately, there was no plain torso available so I just chose the one with the least printing. The doctor's torso with a pocket and a stethoscope fits the description perfectly. I removed the paint using a cotton swab and a rag cloth with Brasso metal polish. With just a few rubs, all the paint is gone. I tried to do it as lightly as possible to avoid scratches or dullness. There were some reports of such results if the process was done aggressively. Luckily, I managed to produce a clean outcome on my first try.

Brasso

With my Project Monochrome, I feel like I have added depth to my LEGO collection. The hunt is on to find single-colored pieces...

micro-AT-ATs

AT-ATs

The AT-AT microbuilds from the LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 15 are the cutest combat walkers ever!

On my last post, where I featured the aforementioned issue, I was very vocal about my fondness of the All Terrain Armored Transport free gift that I highly considered getting another one. Obviously, I wasn't able to restrain myself, so I bought another copy. I have found that it is cheaper (and a lot easier) to buy another magazine than to order the individual bricks. I wasn't able to find a single shop (in LEGO's Pick-a-Brick or BrickLink) that carries all the required pieces, making the postage fees not worth it.

Battle of Hoth

I don't usually make posts about duplicates, but I had a lot of fun playing with these microbuilds that it felt wrong not to share it. With two microscale Imperial Walkers, it's only natural to recreate scenes from The Empire Strikes Back. The AT-ATs were very significant in the Battle of Hoth. Besides, nobody forgets how Wedge Antilles skillfully used his T-47's tow cables to topple a combat walker (right, Spider-Man?).

Tow Cable?

These Micro-AT-ATs are really fetching like droid puppies. I don't think i can get enough of them...

________________________________________

UPDATE: My wife surprised me with another one! Super thank you!

And then there were three...

More AT-ATs!

LEGO star wars magazine: issue 15

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 15

LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 15 has just been released, and this month's free gift is the iconic AT-AT!

The All Terrain Armored Transport, or AT-AT for short, is a four-legged combat walker used by the Empire's ground forces. It first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, then prominently featured in Star Wars Rebels, and, more recently, also seen in The Force Awakens (as background wreckage). Older versions seems to be in the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but they may (or may not) be under a different name (UPDATE: They are apparently called All Terrain Armored Cargo Transport or AT-ACT). Being one of the most famous symbols of the Empire's military might, it's no surprise that the AT-AT is the microbuild of Issue 15.

AT-AT

So far, the AT-AT is my favorite magazine microbuild (next to the Naboo Starfighter). I simply love its minimalist look. With only 48 brick pieces, it's a wonder that it accurately represented the imposing quadrupedal combat walker.

I just panicked for a bit (about two minutes) when I thought that a piece or two is missing from my foil pack. In my first build, the head seemed to lack a 2 x 2 gray piece, which made it look like the cockpit has been blown off. I made a quick recount and it resulted to the right number of brick pieces. I reviewed what I did then I realized that I put the 1 x 2 plate with handles on the opposite direction. Silly me! The instructions in the LEGO Magazines are usually easy to follow. I don't know if it's just me or the drawing of that particular brick is a bit confusing.

This month's free gift is really adorable. I love it so much that I wish I have another one or two or three. I'll research first if it's cheaper to just order the bricks. They seem pretty common anyway.

For the next issue, get ready for the Multi-Troop Transport, or MTT, of the Trade Federation! It's time for the prequel era once again. The LEGO Star Wars Magazine Issue 16 comes out on 12 October.

MTT

LEGO nexo knights magazine issue 08

LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 08

The LEGO Nexo Knights Magazine Issue 08 is hot off the press and it's overloaded with lots of free gifts, including a Kid Clay minifigure and Ninjago trading cards!

In last issue's preview, it was promised that Issue 08 will include a limited edition Kid Clay minifigure, a training bot, and an exclusive Nexo Power. All these were neatly placed in the small foil pack. But wait, there's more. An exclusive Ninjago Trading Card and a booster pack were given away as well.

Ninjago Trading Cards

I believe that it's a brilliant strategy to introduce the Ninjago Trading Card Game in the LEGO Magazines. I also think that it's a genius move to put rare cards in the mix to tickle the market's (especially kids') need to collect them. Included in every Issue 08 is a Limited Edition NRG Cole golden foil card. There's also a special card guaranteed in every booster pack, and I got an Action Master Chen silver foil card in mine. So, by purchasing this issue, I instantly have two shiny foil cards. Conveniently, a game rules pamphlet and a cards checklist centerfold poster were also part of the strategy presents. As if this is not enough, next issue promises another exclusive card and another booster pack (yey! more shiny foil cards!).

Moving on, let's now proceed to the star of this issue, Kid Clay!

Kid Clay

Training Bot

Kid Clay and his Training Bot are this month's free LEGO toys. They both look so adorable (and short)! Though the pieces are not really exclusive ones, it's really satisfying to finally have an official Clay hairpiece (three more to go. A Lance hairpiece was released in Issue 01). Incorporating Kid Clay and his Training Bot in the comics is also a nice touch. They were presented via flashback when Clay was training Robin, the junior knight.

Training Time

With all these wicked gifts, I almost forgot about the exclusive Nexo Power. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the first time that we saw the Minify Surprise in physical LEGO form. I have already scanned that power months ago from the Nexo Knights Academy missions from the Malaysian site (nexoknightsapac.lego.com/en-my).

For the next issue, a monstrous toy seems to be on its way. A Flame Bat vehicle with hot lava ammo is coming next month. As with most free vehicle builds, there's no pilot included. And it's up to the readers to decide who'll fly it. I wonder if Kid Clay will look good riding it, haha. Just kidding! Issue 09 will be on sale 19 October.

Flame Bat

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LEGO store leicester square opening on 17 november

Lester (Photo grabbed from http://stores.lego.com/en-gb/stores/uk/london-leicester-square)

Mark your calendars! The new London Leicester Square LEGO Store will open on 17 November!

Dubbed in their official press release as the largest (5,420 square feet in over two floors) LEGO Brand Retail Store in the world, the new Leicester Square Store is scheduled to open on 17 November. A tea-loving mascot, unique to the store, is also set to debut, and he is aptly named Lester (exclusive minifigure?!). If the quintessential gentleman looks a bit familiar, you might have seen him on the announcement teasers on the store's construction barriers.

Big Ben (Photo grabbed from http://stores.lego.com/en-gb/stores/uk/london-leicester-square)

For the iconic model, the new store won't be complete without the famous Big Ben. A huge model (largest ever at 6.53 meters high!) is currently being built, and it's made from more than 200,000 bricks. Not only that, it works as well! And the clock face is said to be illuminated at night. The store also promises exciting new and exclusive LEGO experience.

For more details, head on to stores.lego.com/en-gb/stores/uk/london-leicester-square.

LEGO star wars annual 2017 review

LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017

LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017 has just been released, and it looks way, way better than last year's.

When I first came here in the United Kingdom, I bought a copy of the LEGO Star Wars Annual 2016 in Poundland for £1. It's a kiddie activity book with some free bricks. To be specific, it came with three 1x8 and three 1x4 white plates to represent lightsaber blades. That doesn't really make any sense. But I'm not really complaining, I got the book for only 1/8 of the retail price (paying the full price is not worth it). Apparently, annuals are a thing here. But what exactly are annuals? In my previous post I mentioned that annuals are books published shortly before the end of each year, and are aimed at the Christmas market. They are generally large hardcover books centered on sports, toys, celebrities, films, TV series, and so on, featuring various contents like text articles, comics, puzzles, etc. And since LEGO is quite popular here, it's not surprising to see LEGO Annuals. For 2017, three books were published. One is about LEGO per se, the other centers on Ninjago, and the remaining one focuses on, of course, Star Wars.

Imagine my excitement when I saw the preview of the LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017. Instead of senseless bricks, the new book includes not only an Ezra Bridger minifigure, but also a C1-10P, AKA Chopper. Even the LEGO Star Wars Magazine is yet to release an issue with free minifigures. So, when I saw a copy in my local WHSmith with a buy one get one for £1 promo, I decided to buy it (but not right away). I studied first if that was the current best deal. The book is actually cheaper in Argos for £3.99 (RRP £7.99), but it's out-of-stock in all the Argos near me. That alarmed me a bit. If it's selling fast, I don't think stocks will be left to be dumped into Poundland and be sold at a low, low price. Good thing there are still a few copies left in my local WHSmith. I immediately grabbed a copy (and a Ninjago one for my little sister) and found relief.

I was still in the shadows when the first Star Wars Rebels sets came out. So I missed The Ghost [75053], and The Phantom [75048], and all the minifigures that came with them. My first Star Wars Rebels set (that is not a polybag) is The Ghost [75127] Microfighter. Now my Hera Syndulla minifigure is no longer alone. She now has Ezra and Chopper in her crew (I'm just not sure if they'll all fit in the microfighter ship, haha).

Ezra Bridger

The minifigures included in the LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017 are not really exclusives. They are the same Ezra and Chopper that can be acquired in The Phantom [75048], Rebel Combat Frigate [75158], Ezra's Speeder Bike [75090] (for Ezra), and the San Diego Comic Con 2014 exclusive The Ghost Starship (for Chopper). I think the Ezra minifigure will be updated in future sets based on the show's third season, with his new look and all. I was just a little disappointed with Chopper's matched appendages. I was kind of expecting mismatched struts, but I guess that can be easily arranged. Now that I think about it, I think Chopper is quickly becoming one of my favorite droids ever!

C1-10P (Chopper)

For the LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017 book itself, it still is a kiddie activity book. It is recommended for children aged seven years old and above. The art is colorful and cute as always. The puzzles and activities are also quite similar. What's remarkably new is the inclusion of The Force Awakens characters and story line. It's always a delight to see BB-8 in whatever form.

The LEGO Star Wars Annual 2017 is a good enough of an annual with great minifigures and fun activities. It's a perfect book to add in any collection, or to give away this holiday season. Just make sure to buy it at a discounted price. 

bargain LEGO books

LEGO Minifigure Year by Year A Visual History

Putting together LEGO and books is a perfect combination. But when you add bargain to the equation, SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that, for me, the United Kingdom is a LEGO paradise. But it's not only the AFOL in me who's in bliss, but also the bibliophile. It's such a wonder to be in a place full of people who loves books. Anywhere you go, there's almost always someone who's immersed in a good book. At the bus stop. In the train. On the park bench. Since there's a huge demand, there's also a huge supply. But sometimes, the economic scale would tip to the surplus side. And we all know what that means, bargains! But it's only a good deal if you can find it in time.

I found the LEGO Minifigure Year by Year A Visual History in T.K. Maxx (T.J. Maxx in the US) for only £9.99 (RRP £25)! But the cheapest price that I found is a teeny £5 in The Book People! Unfortunately, the book is currently sold out in both stores. (Check out their other products in www.tkmaxx.com and www.thebookpeople.co.uk).

LEGO Minifigures Character Encyclopedia

Still at T.K. Maxx, I discovered the LEGO Minifigures Character Encyclopedia for only £3.99 (RRP £14.99)! It's not in the website though. I'm not quite sure but I think T.K. Maxx has more products in-store than online. Other LEGO books available when I visited my local branch are LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles for £6.99 (RRP £14.99), and LEGO Star Wars Brickmaster Battle for the Stolen Crystals for £9.99 (RRP £19.99). I just don't know if they will still be there on my next visit. There's a huge ominous sign in the store that reads here today, gone tomorrow!

LEGO I Love That Minifigure

Another store that has great book deals is The Works (www.theworks.co.uk). There, I was able to score LEGO I Love That Minifigure for £5 (RRP £14.99). There are a lot more LEGO books (about LEGO Ideas, Chima, etc.) in my local shop but I wasn't able to note their prices.

Nexo Power Rules

WHSmith (www.whsmith.co.uk) has lovely book deals as well. I bought my copy of Nexo Power Rules online for £3.49 (RRP £6.99) and collected it in-store for free! As of writing, WHSmith has a promotion on the new LEGO Annuals (RRP £7.99) with buy one get the other one for £1. I want the Star Wars one with the Ezra and C1-10P (Chopper) minifigures.

But if you're going to compute it, the 2017 LEGO Annuals are actually cheaper in Argos (www.argos.co.uk) for only £3.99 each!

LEGO Star Wars Annual 2016

Or maybe I could wait until next year and buy an annual in Poundland for just, well, £1! But I don't think with those sweet minifigures (in contrast with the free white bricks above), the 2017 LEGO Annuals will still be available next year, and for that low low price.

But what exactly are annuals? In the United Kingdom, annuals are published shortly before the end of each year, and are aimed at the Christmas market. They are generally large hardcover books centered on sports, toys, celebrities, films, TV series, and so on, featuring various contents like text articles, comics, puzzles, etc. (See? Book heaven!).

Supermarket chains like Sainsbury's (www.sainsburys.co.uk) also offers some great book deals. I don't really get it but some of the books there, even the recently released, are sold for only half the price! I got my LEGO Star Wars: Space Adventures there for only £3.49 (RRP £6.99).

LEGO Star Wars: Space Adventures

And don't get me started on Amazon and eBay. Their domains are too vast to discuss...

There's always a good book deal somewhere. You just need to know where to find one. A big help in doing so is HotUKDeals (www.hotukdeals.com), a community for deal seekers, finding and sharing the best deals, promotional codes, and vouchers from on and off the web (I lifted that from their About section, hehe).

The prices mentioned above definitely are subject to change. Deals change every time. Some deals are even only good for a few minutes. And some deals are just wild goose chases. I just wanted to share my hauls and how I got them for only the fraction of their original prices. LEGO is an expensive hobby so it's often better to cut cost and shop smartly. Happy hunting!