LEGO, take my money.

So, Ninjago is coming back. Good. I do not care much about Chima. Cannot wait for 2014. I can see all the mech sets about to come.

2013

Like always, for various reasons, this blog has been thoroughly neglected. Hopefully, I will be in better health come the new year, and also less lazy.

Aside from the blog, the diecast collection also suffers from neglect. Mattel (Matchbox and Hotwheels) releasing crappy castings contributes to this. Johnny Lightning still keeps me interested, with all the VW T2s they churn out.

The Kool Kombi is a new HW casting for 2013, and should be on every want list. It is out in other countries now but I have yet to see it locally. (I might not see it on the pegs 'cause of hoarders and speculators.)

Ninjago Sssnakes

Here are the cover images for the 2 new LEGO Ninjago Activity Books with Minifigures that I mentioned in this post. These 2013 versions of course are follow-ups from last year's versions.


LEGO Ninjago: Ninja vs Fangpyre Activity Book
Lets you explore the exciting world of LEGO Ninjago. This title lets you discover the story behind LEGO's exclusive range of ninja fighters, build your very own LEGO Ninjago minifigure, read the stories and complete the puzzles. (ISBN: 9781409314028)





LEGO Ninjago: Ninja vs Hypnobrai Activity Book
Lets you explore the exciting world of LEGO Ninjago. This title lets you discover the story behind LEGO's exclusive range of ninja fighters, build your very own LEGO Ninjago minifigure, read the stories and complete the puzzles. (ISBN: 9781409313038)

The Trees Keep on Dying

2 new LEGO books with minifigures are now available for preorder from various online bookshops.

LEGO City: Fire Team Adventure! Storybook with LEGO Minifigures and Accessories

Lets you join LEGO City minifigures on their action-packed adventures. This storybook comes with interchangeable minifigure parts and lots of accessories, that helps you build 3 different LEGO characters.

ISBN: 9781409309321


LEGO City: Police on Alert! Storybook with LEGO Minifigures and Accessories

It's Thomas' first day as a LEGO CITY police officer and he's already on a case! This title lets you join the LEGO CITY police, as they try to figure out who stole blankets, a horse... and robbed the bank.
Full description

ISBN: 9781409309314

Covering Your World

Here are the covers for the other upcoming LEGO Activity Books with minifigures that I mentioned in this previous post.

LEGO CITY: All Aboard! Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

LEGO CITY: Space Mission Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

I Am Stealth.

The preliminary cover images of the two Ninjago Activity Books with Minifigures to be released on August that I mentioned here are out. Normally I would not put anything with the "confidential" tag here but seeing how they are already in some book sites, here they are:

LEGO Ninjago: The Chosen Four Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

LEGO Ninjago: Spinning Power Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

Also, the two other LEGO City Activity Books with Minifgures have finally gotten their full titles:

LEGO CITY: All Aboard! Activity Book with LEGO minifigure
(October 2011 • Age: 5+ • £5.99 • 9781409310358)

LEGO CITY: Space Mission Activity Book with LEGO minifigure
(October 2011 • Age: 5+ • £5.99 • 9781409310365)

We love these books!! We have all the previous releases, including the now out-of-print Atlantis sets. Right now, I am thinking if the Annuals are worth getting (they do not come with minifigs!).

* Images from Penguin/Ladybird.

Swat This Bug.

Here is a another menacing LEGO MOC made by Peer Kreuger (the same guy who made that really cool Metal Grudge). Looking like a mean robotic insect, it is actually an all-terrain camera quadpod with adjustable limbs. It also has a facility for having the camera face upwards or downwards.

Not made of basic bricks but I would take it.

2012 Is Over.

The cover image for the LEGO: The Official Annual 2012, which is talked about briefly here, has finally surfaced.

" This awesome annual is bursting with brilliant comics, games and activities about all your favourite LEGO® ranges, including LEGO® CITY, LEGO® Kingdoms and the awesome new ninja theme, LEGO® Ninjago! With LEGO® bricks to build and play with too, this is the perfect Christmas gift for LEGO® fans! "

Build Me A City

I am having second thoughts about acquiring The LEGO Ideas Book that is set to come out on August. A couple of sample inside pages have hit the net and they are plain "meh" material. For those who are feeling like me, LEGO Certified Professional Sean Kenney's latest might be a better purchase. I passed on both Cool Cars and Trucks and Cool Robots because they required special pieces, and we only have basic bricks, but I am really keen on getting Cool City. The cover alone convinced me (such yummy buildings), I do not need any sample pages.

Available on hardback and having 32 pages, it comes out on October 11, 2011, although most popular online bookshops have it on preorder now. If the description is true, there will be a guide for a mini metropolis. Think Micro Building Set (Dacta 9324). Now, that is cool.

Pandamonium

We do not like pandas here.

Forget Paris

So, it looks like I really do not have any intention of going to Paris any time soon as I totally forgot that the wifey mentioned it last week. Haha. But, Malaysia is definitely in my travel plans for the next couple of years. I have never been to Malaysia, despite its proximity to Singapore (which a favorite of ours), Little P. too. Big P have been there, I know, but that was ages ago.

Aside from the Legoland which is on schedule to open on 2012. I need some more Malaysia "stuff" to justify to the wifey that a trip is in order. Bags, would definitely be an attraction to her. Of course, there must be something for the little one, but the Legoland already has that covered. (Wink, wink) Pipe in with your recommendations, I would greatly appreciate that. Themeparks are shooins, we love themeparks. Museums, not so much.

Located across Universal Studios Singapore, with just a waterway in between, Legoland Malaysia will offer 40 rides to go along with shows and displays. The display, of course, will feature famous structures in Asia, and require around 30 million bricks to build. Legoland Malayasia will only be the 6th of its kind in the whole world, and will be the 1st in Asia.

(Don't you just love their ties?)

Photos from AFP via The Straits Times.

Get A Brick, We'll Travel

We have never been to Paris, and, even though the wifey would love it, it has never been in my list of places to visit. Serious or otherwise, we have never had any discussions about going there. The closest I have been to the Eiffel Tower, aside from a 3-inch souvenir someone gave the wifey, is at a large-scale display in Hong Kong a couple of Christmases ago. It was quite a surprise coming home to a LEGO "Paris Tower" made by Little P. Colorful, the litlle thing is, just the way I like it. Plus, it doubles as a spaceship, according to my 6-year old who just go introduced to LEGO last December. (Most architects will never think of that!)

(Photo from Tour-Eiffel.com)

LEGO come out with an Eiffel Tower (10181) set in 2007. Built to 1:300 scale and stands 42.5 inches high, the realistic tower retailed for $199.99. Of course, today it goes for 5 times the original price.

LEGO Goes Vrooooom!

High resoltuion pictures of the upcoming Disney/Pixar Cars 2 LEGO sets have been unveiled for us by Grogall of Birckshelf. Just click on the thumbnails below to view them.


Flo's V8 Cafe - 8487

Mack's Team Truck - 8486

Spy Jet Escape - 8638

Tokyo International Circuit - 8486
This set will be a Toys R' Us Exclusive, but most likely will be available via Lego S@H as well.

World Grand Prix Racing Rivalry - 8423

The Fillmore just does not jump at me. I think it is even looking away from me!!

Respect The Classics, Man!

They are out. Here are some really fresh pictures of upcoming LEGO Cars sets courtesy of FBTB and Kris Kelvin of Eurobricks .

8200 Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen
May 2011. US$6.99.

8486 Mack's Team Truck
May 2011. US$39.99.

8487 Flo's V8 Cafe
May 2011. US$59.99.

I love Cars, but only collect Fillmore, and I am quite disappointed with the Fillmore in the above set. It does not look like a Volkswagen Kombi!! Where is your respect for the classics, LEGO?!

Fireworks & Red Lanterns

Just getting reacquainted with them bricks. Here is a simple build off an old Lego.com monthly build.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!

A Girl and Her Fish

Little P.'s LEGO Mermaid won Build City's Minifigs In Action contest.

Heaven In Technicolor

LEGO shopping in Singapore is like heaven. Not only because of the much better selection but also, and more importantly, because of the cheaper price. It is great to see sets going at prices close to, or even lower (with discounts) than, their US retail prices. Our local price goes from double to almost triple of retail, which is just plain crazy.

Of course, since we are trying to stay away from themed sets, we picked up mostly Bricks & More and a couple of City impulse sets with minifigs to go with them.

If you are hitting Singapore and plan to pick up a few sets, hop on over to A Modular Life for a fantastic shopping guide maintained by a nice AFFOL Erica.

The Stuff That Makes Up The World

Getting the LEGO digital camera somehow rekindled my love for LEGO bricks and building. Little P. and I plan to amass tons of basic bricks for gazillions of constructing fun. Never mind the themed sets. I think having a brick stock and just grabbing some images off the net would be more fun. Plus, we love multicolor builds, "real" colors are just plain dull.

X-Rated

Got a new toy.

Just like its predecessor the FDC01, aka SQ28M, this baby has a horrible shutter lag. (I was hoping they already worked on that.) Hence, it is not suited for drive-by snapping which is only what my time allows right now. A proper "photowalk" awaits.

I have not paid for this yet. My dear wifey would be glad to know that I did not have to break into our bank account. Yet. Think of it as a credit card purchase without the interest. (Right, 'tol? Hehe.)

Here is a sample capture using the yellow mode:

Those Are Not Roses.

I thought I was done buying diapers.

Yes, it poops. I can smell it. Same odor as burning money.