Last year (wow, has it really been that long?), we took a look at individual LEGO parts’ mold variations and the different techniques that were unlocked by using one specific variation or another. Well, our amazing readers had all kinds of great feedback, including a few elements that I hadn’t even considered the first time around! I’ll be highlighting some of those, plus a few more that I’ve thought of or discovered in the interim as we dive once more into… molds over time! Stacking Up Let’s start with a brief summary of the last article: many LEGO elements have been changed over time for various reasons, such as to make them more “in system” to match the design ideology of more modern pieces, or simply to enhance their functionality. Whether deliberately or by circumstance, this has created situations where different variations of the same element can be used for totally...

LEGO hasn’t released much in terms of gift with purchase sets for Disney 100 but that will be changing really soon with the release of Mini Steamboat Willie (40659). The set has 424 pieces and you’ll be able to get it from October 23-31 with purchases of $100 or more in Disney properties which includes Marvel and Star Wars. The set features a mini replica of the LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie (21317). Minifigure The set does includes a minifigure of Mickey Mouse in black and white. Unlike the previous versions of the minifigure, the legs are not dual molded but a flat gray. The hat has also been released before from the Series 2 Disney Collectible Minifigures (71024). Build Although the finished build has a black and white color scheme with some gray, there are colored parts when you’re building the set. The innards include a gear mechanism that controls the...

LEGO has put up a product page for the new LEGO Christmas Fun VIP Add-On Pack (40609). Like with previous Add-On Packs, it’ll most likely require a $50 purchase to get it. It features a number of Christmas related elements such as snowflakes, a Santa hat, and lots of food pieces. For those who have been asking, the polybag does not come with any of the white parts to make the house in the pictures, just the decorative parts. The post LEGO Christmas Fun VIP Add-On Pack (40609) Official Images appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

“If you can draw the human figure, you can draw anything!” I’ve seen this statement in all manner of art books and websites. There’s a lot of truth in it, but also a mighty challenge! We all know exactly what a person looks like. So it is very easy to be hyper-critical of small mistakes. Plus, the human form is hard with so many curves, so many things that are proportional to each other, then tie in foreshortening effects, and on and on. Many of the same issues exist in building the human form in LEGO with the addition of working in a medium that is fairly rectangular. Figure/character building is so not my wheelhouse—my much-neglected Flickr is mostly spaceships, castles, and LUG events. That being said, some of my figure builds are MOCs I’m the most proud of. So I hope sharing my journey out of my comfort zone will...

By and large, the LEGO community is a place of childlike wonder and happy stories, where good wins and creativity prevails. That said, there is a darkness in the world of LEGO. That’s right, we’re talking about the Dark Age, that dreaded period where once-devoted LEGO enthusiasts grow apart from the brick. Absolutely tragic. I think it’s generally agreed upon that the ultimate source of these dark ages is college. Hit with the double-whammy of being away from your LEGO collection and being frantically busy 24/7, this is a dark time for many would-be AFOLs. That’s why, when I left for college about two months ago, I came in with a plan and determination to avoid this common pitfall. Now, I’m here to share some of my experiences so far in staying active in the LEGO hobby while at college. Display Only The first (and perhaps most obvious) method of staying...