Pneumatic sets have been part of the LEGO Technic theme for a long time; the first sets were introduced in 1984 only two years after the Technic name was introduced. There haven't been many pneumatic sets though—if you don't count re-releases, accessory packs and LEGO Education, only 28 sets have been released in 39 years, with a 29th (42157 John Deere 948L II Skidder) just announced for later this year. Despite this rarity, pneumatic sets remain popular. So let's have a closer look at LEGO pneumatics. Along the way, we'll look at the history of the system, the components, the science, LEGO sets and MOCs. So let's get going, we have a lot to get through. It’s All Greek To Me The word 'pneumatic' comes from the Latin word 'pneumaticus' which in turn comes from the Greek word 'pneumatikós' meaning air, breath or spirit. The dictionary calls it “containing or operated...

Without a doubt, LEGO acknowledges the popularity of cars—even more specifically, classic American cars. Just look at sets like the Ford Mustang, the Pickup Truck, or the more recent Chevy Camaro. Someone who also likes these kinds of cars is Kuba the Builder, aka Jakub Marcisz. He has built several classics like the Crown Vic, a Ford F100, and more. All of those cars are built with a lot of attention to detail. And Jakub himself was kind enough to chat with us and show how he builds these V8 beauties. Marco: There is a wide variety among the models that you’ve made, but they’re clearly all classic American cars. Do you have a special interest in those? And where does that interest come from? Jakub: I am not interested in motorization, but I actually like classic American cars like muscle cars, pickups, etc. However, cars interest me from the visual...

Every year, AFOLs from around the world converge in a (very) small town in the southwestern part of Denmark at the end of September. Why is that, you may ask? Because of the legendary event called Skærbæk Fan Weekend (SFW)! But what is it and how do you “do Skærbæk“ properly? Well, let’s dive into it so you can make the most of the experience. What Is Skærbæk Fan Weekend? Let’s start with a short description (which is a complete rip-off from the SFW homepage—I figured the people in charge would be best equipped to explain it): “In 2005, the LEGO Company started a small get-together with some AFOLs. That event was called the LEGO Fan Weekend. Through the years it developed and grew into a fantastic event. Somehow the LEGO Company decided ten years later not to continue the LEGO Fan Weekend. Seriously bad news for the fans and so...

The vitruvian Minifigure, truly one of the best prints on a round 2x2 tile. In my continued search for the quirkiest connections in the LEGO System, I've come across quite a few unexpected pairings. Unlike in Galidor where limbs were meant to be glinched off and on, my studies of the dark arts of quirky connections have led me down a similar path... this time with minifigures and minidolls. In the search for greatness, I have strayed from the path of the Purist. WARNING: This article is not for the faint of heart or those unwilling to permanently modify or damage LEGO pieces. Minifigs and minidolls were harmed in the making of this article. Benny’s Bad Day What a jolly fella! If you are familiar with anything LEGO related, you’ll surely recognize this little fella, Benny. One of the main characters in The LEGO Movie, Benny is based on some of...

A highlight of the LEGO Fan Expo calendar every year in Australia is Bendigo Bricks. The city of Bendigo is located around 90 minutes from Melbourne and is the home of the active and enthusiastic Bendigo LEGO User Group (aka BALD). Starting in 2016 with just 35 tables of exhibits and barely 500 visitors, the event now boasts over 150 display tables and around 5,000 visitors. It’s become a major event and attracts AFOLs from many parts of Australia. Exhibitors at Bendigo Bricks 2023 Although the event is smaller than the very popular Brickvention, it has a friendly atmosphere and a community feel that is harder to achieve at larger events. It’s true that a number of the exhibits are the same as seen a few months prior at Brickvention, but the crowds are smaller so there is a greater opportunity to look at the fine detail of each of the...