Opinion Archives - whataslacker about bricks

LEGO Vidiyo Theme Review

Forgive this review I am trying to recreate it as I had an issue with posting it originally a month ago and am trying to remember all the finer points I made in it back then as the draft did not save. Basically, it boils done to the fact that the sets are way over priced for the amount of pieces you get in them.

You get only 70-80 some pieces in a $20 dollar set. The sets are comprised of a bunch a specialized parts that are reminiscent of the early 2000s when LEGO was getting crazy with all those special parts for Jack Stone and other themes. Most of these new parts won’t be usable in MOCs and are pretty much just huge Pods (also a points part in the LEGO system).

When I first saw this piece I really could not see anyone ever using it for anything other than these DJ houses. Surprisingly some AFOLs have been using them as spaceship cockpits.

Other ideas I came up with were microscale bio-domes or green houses. What ideas can you come up with for the clear plastic covers from the Vidiyo sets?

The handle. This one I was sure no one could find another use for as there are NO in system connections (LEGO missed an opportunity to add studs on these like the did with the Dots bracelets.) I have recently seen a MOC or two that has indeed used these to my surprise.

A little more System connections found. It will hold 16 of the beat bits tiles and a minifigure. But that is pointless because the figure requires its stand (see the bottom images) to play with it in the app. So I guess you could house a bunch of loose tiles in there instead.

This piece could have been brick built. Why make a new piece when you already have the parts to make this?

Mario brought us a lot of rounded corners. Just some more. This is probably the most useful part in the lot.

The larger domes are cool and snap right onto the white clips. But what else are we going to use those clips for?

The minifigures are fun as minifigures should be. Their cost is $5 which is what we pay for the CMF figures. They are now in a box so it makes it way to hard to find the ones you want. If I get one more stupid Ice cream dude I am going to scream. Yes, I know these are trading toys, but seriously do you know anyone that actually trades them? I don’t. If you know where I can trade them let me know.

The only way to get some of these figures and their fun accessories is to buy the overpriced big sets and that sucks.

I bought a few and at this point I am just going to wait until they hit clearance for any more.

Remove a Plate Surrounded by Other Plates

Sometimes in the middle of a build you realize you placed a piece wrong and you need to remove it.

In the case of a plate that is surrounded by other plates this gets a little tricky. Say we need to remove this green 1×2 plate.

If the plates are snug against the build plate, there is nothing you can do but remove the other plates around it to get to the one you need to reach.

Even with that gap in the surface that a separator will fit in to, the plate behind it will not allow the separator down far enough to remove the plate in question.

If for some reason you have not pushed the plate the whole way down and there is a gap, you may be able to wiggle the other end of the separator into the gap to remove the plate.

In most instances this is not the case. Removing the plates around it is the only way to access the one you need to remove.

Should the plate you need to remove be in the middle of a much larger build you would need to remove enough plates so that the brick separator would be able to go flush against the bottom plate and the width of the plate you would be removing.

The brick separator is basically 10×2 studs but if there are other plates or bricks against what you are trying to remove they will stop the plate from tilting enough to be removed.

Separating Two Plates

The brick separator is a handy tool to have in your tool box (or in this case brick box). It helps you separate bricks that are stuck together.

Sometimes you will need to have two on hand. As is the case when you have two plates that are stuck together. You just can’t get a handhold on the bottom plate to pull it apart. Especially if the plates are of the exact same size.

Put one separator on the top and one on the bottom like this.

Then squeeze them together until you see a small gap between the plates.

To save your fingernails remove one of the separators and pry the two pieces apart.

Then you have safely separated the two parts without damage to the brick or yourself.

Comparison of Old LEGO Ghost with New

Comparing the ghost of old with the new ones. Not a fan of the new ghosts in the Haunted House set.

The old ones are just more ghost-like than the new ones. Plus GLOW-IN-THE-DARK. Hello?!

Hope this was just something they were trying out and will go back to the good ghosts or maybe a new sculpt for the sheet over a fig style.

Shhhh No Politics Here

Personally, I try to avoid any political conflicts. Just bringing it up will either piss you off or get someone else butt hurt. So stay away from the topic altogether. Sometimes you can avoid it.

But I have to say I have been enjoying some of the political memes done in LEGO form. The latest such meme is the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference held by Rudy Giuliani. Such an odd locaton which makes this so much fun to pick on.

Brothers Brick just shared this meme on Instagram and has apparently offended many an AFOL.

Of course this means a lot of fighting in the comments. But the one that got me was this comment by some who apparently cannot take a joke.

The best thing is that the person that says “Politics and LEGO don’t mix” seems to like to mix them themselves. Hypocritical much.

I find it only fitting that the minifigure head used for Giuliani in this MOC is none other than Lex Luthor himself.

If you are unaware, Luthor also was elected president of the good ole USofA. He was a great president. A terrific president. One of the best.

LEGO, FTC, and Social Media Posts

As I scroll through my Facebook or Instagram feeds I am being bombarded with posts about LEGO and it is not unwelcome believe me. In fact that is why I am there to share the love of LEGO. Unfortunately, I cannot sift out which posts are paid/sponsored ones and which ones are fan based.

Yes, they are all fan based LEGO posts. However, many of them are in a paid relationship with the manufacturer and are not following FTC guidelines so it is clear how they got their products.

So right up front… I am not nor have I ever been a recognized online media outlet for the LEGO company. I have never received any products from them that they in turn expect me to promote on my channels. All my LEGO sets have been purchased by me except for the rare few that may have been gifts from friends or family.

The FTC has set up guidelines for influencers and bloggers to follow when they are paid or given products from companies and then turn around and share that product or service online with their readers.

Those guidelines are there for a reason. So we, the readers, can make up our own minds as to whether or not their opinion of the product has been swayed by them being paid or given said item.

LEGO has a set of rules and guidelines for everything except possibly this. And purhaps they should because it appears their influencers either don’t know about this FTC law or they are flat out ignoring it.

Let me be clear. I don’t want any of the folks I mention in this post to get into trouble (that is kind of why I am writing this) and I certainly do not want LEGO to be fined.

I have reached out to LEGO about this and I am still waiting to hear back as of this posting.

I have reached out to the influencers I use as examples as well. I do not have the reach they do, but hope they take me seriously and make changes so they are in compliance with the FTC guidelines on social media posts.

And by them adhering to the guidelines then maybe others will too.

First up. Brickfinder.net they are listed as a recognized online or media site by LEGO. Which means they have access to the LEGO Ambassador Network and LEGO products. I have to assume LEGO send them products to review, but neither their site posts nor their social media posts ever disclose that relationship. I could be wrong and they, like me, are just spending a small fortune with LEGO every month. If it is your own money that purchased the product you don’t have to disclose that according to the FTC.

One of my favorite sites out there is NewElementary.com. Excellent news, information, and reviews about all things LEGO. Social media, whether Instagram or Facebook, never mentions their relationship with LEGO. They are sent sets and probably even bags of just parts for their reviews and seed part events (again just guess on the parts).

See this big long post yet no disclose about the relationship (which should be at the top before the more link in the description.

And because this is an ongoing relationship with LEGO (they are getting products sent to them on the regular) they must disclose this relationship every time they endorse (mention) the company or one of their products even when that product was not sent to them. So basically every single page on the site and every single social media post should have a disclosure on it.

The next image shows a post that raises a whole new set of questions for me. When a site like this is sent the sets from LEGO, but hands them off to another person to review or use in a different way does that person now have a relationship with LEGO by proxy and have to disclose that? I think yes. But that will be for LEGO legal and the Federal Trade Commission to figure out.

They are excellent with both the fact that they disclose this on their website posts and that this disclosure is prominently placed and clear. It is just lacking in the social media posts.

CandidBricks.com is anither great source of LEGO information. They are based in Singapore. But because they reach USA buyers they too must disclose their relationship with LEGO.

There is no disclosures on any of their social media. There is a discloure on their website posts but only on the ones they review and way at the bottom. FTC guidelines now state disclosure should be clear and near the top of the posts.

New Elementary Facebook post with no disclosure

Honestly this is only a small fraction of the posts that go against the FTC guidelines. I have seen no changes since I brought this to the above sites’ attention and unless LEGO enforces it I doubt we will.

Hot Wheels Ride-ons #notlego

Cool new twist in the Hotwheels line. The ride-ons give your minifigs a chance to zip through your city on a speedy orange track.

Ride-on are designed to attach figures from leading brand blocks companies. As you can see from my photos they can clip on different areas via their hands and even sit in some of the rides.

New Gru. LEGO Minion Set 75549

Minions! Set # 75549 is only 136 pieces selling at $20. I do not feel $.15/pieceis a good deal. The @lego prices are going up and the piece count going down.

I was excited about this set, but honestly. It isn’t worth $20. New arms for the minions are cool. Used a regular minifig hand instead of the older version of these being all one piece.

Gru isn’t special at all. I think the face prints have been seen before and his hair is just Emmet’s in black.

The minions are okay. The goggles are part of the dome. The eyes are printed light bley round tiles ( you get one extra of each eye). Lower body is all one piece.

LEGO Friends Set 41404 Emma’s Play Cube

LEGO Community Leaves a Lot to be Desired

This is just my opinion so walk away now, if you don’t care to hear something that may conflict with your way of thinking.

I have been a part of this community for the past 20 plus years. Mostly lurking on the fringes of the community not speaking up nor taking part in many of the activities.

The reasoning for this mostly because I have seen a lot of nasty on the web (and even some in person) and I don’t want to be part of that.

Why do people feel the need to trash everything and everybody online?

Seriously, would you speak to someone in person they way you do online?

Think before you rip into someone.