The newest LEGO Architecture set 21063 Neuschwanstein Castle was just released and today I get to play with it! It is the second-largest set in the LEGO Architecture series so far, just about 900 pieces behind the 21051 Notre-Dame de Paris set. LEGO was kind enough to provide BrickNerd a review copy, and the editors thought I should review it for some reason... Image via LEGO Though if you are reading and know the author, you might be wondering, that’s a bit odd… why would you give Simon (Si-MOCs)—a well-known sci-fi/mech builder—a castle set!? Let me tell you a story… In Defense of Castle Hey! I castle too! It might surprise most readers to know that I did dabble in “Castle” early in my career. (Medium Stone/Light Bluish Bley) brick-bricks are great for castle AND space!) I was also actually one of the co-founders of the Guilds of Historica. It is...

Today is the last day to get your orders in for the LEGO Ideas Italian Riviera (21359) where you can earn double Insiders points on the set. It was originally released back in August and it was surprising to see that LEGO was already offering double points for it. To double up on the promos, you can also get the LEGO Disney Classic Animation Scenes (40774) to get more bang for your buck. As a LinkShare/Rakuten Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The post Last Day for LEGO Ideas Italian Riviera (21359) Double Insiders Points appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

In my previous article, I wrote about what to consider when starting a First LEGO League Team. Since then, our inaugural season has gotten underway, and we’re learning so much about the sport! From what resources we need to what exactly an FLL team meeting is. While there have been some learning moments, the most important observation is that the kids are actually using LEGO to build robots, work as a team, and learn real science. As I prep for this week’s meeting, I wanted to share some of what we learned to help anyone else who might be thinking about starting a team. LEGO League Logistics All of my initial questions were logistical. How often do we meet? Where do we meet? And, most importantly, what exactly am I going to have these kids do each week? This was my first coaching experience, and I have no functional coding abilities....

Today we share with you an interview with Ian Hou, a talented artist and passionate LEGO builder from Taiwan, and today’s honoured guest of our BrickNerd community! Ian shared his festive characters for each Lunar New Year with us earlier this year, and now we’re going to discuss all aspects of his building creativity. Ann: Hi Ian! It’s great to have a conversation with such a creative builder whose art guarantees such a cheerful mood. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your love of LEGO? Ian: I’ve studied in art since I was little and then came back to playing with LEGO in 2014 and was deeply fascinated by it; LEGO is a kind of creative element to me, and I use these blocks to shape my creations. During the process of creating, I use bricks from time to time to clear up my mind and to maintain...

Star Trek, the final frontier of fandom, is coming at last to LEGO this month with the Black Friday release of LEGO Icons  10356 U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The 3,600 piece set is designed by Hans B. Schlömer (no stranger to big ships, having also designed the Millennium Falcon and Endeavor) with graphic design by Crystal Marie Fontan, who wonderfully captures the look of the crew across the 9 included minifigures. The massive display set features one play feature – a removable saucer section. When the set goes on sale on Black Friday, November 28, it comes with a Gift With Purchase of the Shuttlepod Onizuka and exclusive minig Ensign Ro. Photos of the set leaked months before today’s reveal, but what didn’t come across was how substantial the set is (see some of the lifestyle pictures below to better appreciate the scale). We’re also thrilled...