Series 4 Lego Minifigures are Officially Dis-continued

Well, no big surprise, it would have had to happen sometime, but it will be sad that these will no longer be available in stores, and only be available via eBay, Amazon, or other websites that sell Lego's. Also, when Series 4 leaves the shelf at stores across the world, they will be replaced by the new Series 5 Lego minifigures. When the 16 new minifigures come out I plan to buy the evil dwarf, the cave-woman, the Cleopatra Lady, and the roman warrior. These should hit stores about September 1st. And I quietly await, but none to patiently, mind you, for the release of Series 5.

What to do With Series 4

If you are reading this blog you are most likely a Lego fan, like me. You most likely buy Lego's about once a month, or more. Series 4 Lego minifigures are almost gone, and you have probably accumulated some, again like me. What I have done most likely differently than you is I have purchased some of the same minifigures and I have made something for them that I made out of loose pieces I found laying around my room. There is no technique used in this creation, just two things helped me build it. An inspiration, something has to give you the idea, for me it was Series 4 vikings, the second, visualization, seeing the final product and striving to get there. For me this was another time I succeeded in making my creation come to life. 

Invisible Rods Technique

The Invisible Rods technique is used in many of the best Lego models or dioramas. The Invisible Rods technique is used to display a thing flying, jumping, floating, lifting off the ground, or in this case levitating. The Invisible Rods technique is quite good for using birds, planes, or showing any motion that includes leaving the ground. In some posts I have already given a brief mention about the Invisible Rods technique in posts like Atlantis, and The Castle With Many Techniques. There are many pieces for the Invisible Rods technique in sets today. There are different types of translucent bricks, the rods (I used that in this model), the 1x2x1, and the 2x2x1/2, there are others but these are the most effective. Translucent rods are great because you can use them to have something floating in the air.

Star Wars Hoth Echo Base Set 7879 is Released!

This new Star Wars set was well created, unfortunately, the hinging of the base allowing it to open and close is lost when trying to put it on a base plate. Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and protocol droid, R-3PO get ready to fend off the attack as 2 snowtroopers come into view. This set comes with 8 minifigures, Chewbaca, Han Solo, Princess Leia, 2-1B, R-3PO (a protocol droid), Luke Skywalker (in the bacta tank), and of course the 2 snowtroppers attacking. This set is 773 pieces, some features include: 2 rotating radar dishes, a falling icicle trap, a working cargo crane, and a medical bay with a bacta tank.

Ewok Attack! Set 7596

Listen up Star Wars fans! This new set includes a Imperial scout trooper, Logray and Tokkat, (both warrior Ewoks). It also includes the Imperial scout trooper's speeder, an Ewok tree hideout complete with two catapults, and 166 pieces. In this set, all minifigures are armed with either a gun, bow, or a spear. This set and 7968, 7877, 7957, 7959, 7961, 7962, 7964, and 7965 were  released quite recently. Star Wars is releasing many new sets this month, and I think they will release many more this coming month. 

Brick-built Rocks

Brick-built Rocks is a very useful technique, it is quite piece consuming, but in the end when it is finished it looks better than if you just used the big Lego rocks. In my creation, The Castle With Many Techniques, I used a brick-built rock that I made. I also was able to add a dungeon inside the rock. Brick-built rocks are quite realistic, and I think that it is worth the pieces it takes to make one. Brick-built  rocks are being used more and more in Lego creations. 

The Castle With Many Techniques

I know that most of you are probably not Lego Castle fans, or you might not even have a favorite Lego series. I made this Lego castle for two reasons, the first my favorite Lego series is Castle, the second to provide you with the knowledge of how to make your Lego creations more realistic. In this creation I used the antidote for the BIG grey wall syndrome, Marakoeschtra's wall, and the Fire sword technique.  On this blog I have already talked about the Marakoeschtra's wall technique, Mixed Cylinder wall Curving, SNOT (studs not on top), and the Fire Sword technique. In the future I will discuss Brick-built Rocks, the BIG grey wall syndrome and how to stop it, and the Invisible Rods technique.

Recently Dis-continued Set 4195 Queen Anne's Revenge

This set was recently dis-continued by Lego.com. Lego.com has been dis-continuing sets to make way for new sets, and or improving the build for a different age group. I don't think that it was necessary for Lego.com to dis-continue this set. This set includes 7 minifigures, 1094 pieces, some detail on the sides with bone, and comes with a free poster. The cannon flaps lift up and you can slide your cannons out. I don't really know why Lego.com dis-continued this set other than they are going to come out with new things to replace the dis-continued.

Lettering Technique

Lettering is a technique used on many different things in Lego sets, railroad cars, markets, and buildings. There are many different types of lettering, like SNOT-ized Mosaic Lettering, that just means that the letters don't have their studs facing up, like in the picture. Stud-up is another way, it gives you an bird's eye view of the Lego's, so you see the studs. Stud-out is yet another way, it means that the Lego bricks are sideways and you see the top studs sideways.

New Creator Set, Hillside House

Creator sets are sets that have three models you can build with instructions but you can only build one model at a time because you are using most of the same pieces. The new Creator set, Hillside House (set 5771) comes with a minifigure and a brick-built dog and 714 pieces. Some features are a outdoor grill, musical Lego sound doorbell, realistic lights, a water spout, and many other things. Hillside House rebuilds into Smaller House with Greenhouse or a Modern Home. Creator sets are cool because if you don't like the first model or the second there is a third model.  

Set 6918 Blacksmith Attack Is Out! And In Stores!

This set I have been waiting for, and the other Kingdoms sets, that came about a month earlier, sets 7187, 7188, 7189. This set I think is very cool because if you spin the water wheel, like if there was water flowing the hammer drops hitting the anvil, or whatever is resting on the anvil. This set includes: 2 minifigures, a dragon knight and a blacksmith, 7 weapons, some body armor, a bucket, a chicken, a spinning water wheel, and a 104 pieces.

Mixed Cylinder Curving

Mixed Cylinder Curving is a very piece consuming Lego technique, done correctly it allows you to curve a Lego wall into a circle or any shape with roundish edges. The bricks needed to make these cool walls are: 1x2 or 1x3, and a round brick. To make these walls all you have to do is offset the bricks so it would be 1x1, round brick, 1x1, round brick, until you can curve your wall to your desired shape.

Ninjago Set Battle Pack Recently Dis-continued

This set was recently dis-continued by Lego.com. Kai's battle pack includes: a fire spinner, 3 weapons, 1 character card, 4 battle cards, 3 Lego bricks, and of course Kai. I think they dis-continued this Ninjago Set because they wanted to clear space for more sets that are bigger and better than Kai's battle pack.

Lego Games

Lego.com is making Lego games from series already out. Like for example the Lego NinjaGo Game (in the picture). If you are a Lego Ninjago fan then you might recognize Sensie Wu, Zane, Jay, Cole, and Kai. Lego Ninjago is getting more and more popular now, so are Lego Games. There are many different Lego Games like Banana Balance,  Frog Rush, Pirates Plank, Draida Bay, and Robot Champ.

Marakoeschtra's Wall

This Lego technique is piece consuming but makes your buildings more life-like. Real brick-built walls have lines of mortar separating the bricks, so the structure holds together. In the Lego world most walls are completely smooth and plain, with the Marakoeschtra's Wall technique the wall becomes more life-like and real with detail. This brick-built building is both realistic and extremely detailed with it's bricks.

Shuttle Expedition

               
The Shuttle Expedition stands 17.5" tall and is 10" from wing tip to wing tip, this detailed and realistic shuttle is ready to blast of when you are, on it's next exciting mission into space. This set includes three minifigures one male and female astronaut and a service crew member, this set also comes with 1230 pieces. The Shuttle Expedition is the replacement of set number 10213 Shuttle Adventure, here are some reasons why the replacement happened: Since it's release in 2010 Shuttle Adventure was quite popular, although the model was designed for a 16+ target audience, a consumer call center brought to Lego.com's attention that younger children  were playing with Shuttle Adventure, Lego.com's designers started to look for any changes that could make it a better build and design for a slightly younger target audience.

Lego Fireworks!

This easy-to-make firework is to celebrate Independence Day! The firework is twelve pieces, and made out of a brown rod, grey bush connector, angular brick 1x1, fire curved orange, white circular wheel 2x2, red circular flat 2x2, white circular flat 2x2, blue circular flat 2x2, and four red roof tiles 1x1x2/3.

Lego SNOT (Studs Not On Top)

Lego SNOT (Studs Not On Top) is a technique used in some Lego creations. This picture is a good example of SNOT, because the boat can move freely, so can the crocodile, but it has no studs poking up through the water, also the builder was able to catch the wake of the boat. Here are some reasons when using SNOT makes your creation better:

• other bricks can move in different directions, that they could not go in if not using SNOT 
• and It gives your creation a more detailed and  lifelike appearance