Reviews 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.

Green Army Guys

I got a set of the classic green army men from Brick Mini during Bricks LA and have to say they are pretty darn cool.

They work on a LEGO stud or minifig hand so your sigfig can sit around and play with them.

You get eight standing (all in different poses) and three tank parts (the dude coming up out of the tank and two tank hatches, one opened and one closed).

LEGO VIDIYO Review

I wasn’t going to buy into these, but I kind of liked the figures to some degree. But the sets so far are way overpriced for what you get.

Right now there are four sets and 12 blind box figures. The sets all average around 70 pieces and retail for $20. At close to $.30 a piece that is (as I have said) a bit overpriced.

I guess we are paying for all those unnecessary new part molds. It feels like we have stepped back in time to when LEGO was making specialized parts left and right. The problem with these are they don’t really fit into the system in any way other than as the boxes they are.

Too many specialized parts like these will become a pile of unused parts in my LEGO room.

Seriously though why give us something like this when they could have designed this around the Dots bands?

Less specialized parts have promise but not much. At least they work better inside the system.

As I said, I also picked up some of the figures. They at least come with a few parts plus the tiles for the app.

I only picked up four and got one duplicate. With not being able to feel these I think they may be the downfall of this theme. I don’t want more than one of each figure. I don’t need all the tiles as I have already tired of the app.

Not a fan of the music on the app. Plus you have to have your figs with you to play with it (bad idea if you’re outside as you may wind up losing them). And who wants to have these AR videos of the inside of their house out there for the world to see? Not me.

You can’t share the videos outside the app not even with a screen capture app. Which is great for kid’s safety but takes some of the fun out of it for AFOLs.

Guess I will wait for these to hit clearance before I buy any more. Or buy them on BrickLink.

Chess Anyone?

I had seen the Brick Mini chess sets around Instagram and Facebook, but had only thought of getting them in passing.

Then at Bricks LA’s virtual con I got to see a presentation of their products and decided to bite the bullet and place my order (the attendee’s discount didn’t hurt either). I got a chess set (seen in this review), a set of the nano soldiers, and a couple meeples (I will discuss the others in another post).

For the chess pieces you can take your pick from a number of LEGO color matched options. I went with the classic black and white.

You buy each side separately. So a full set will cost $18, but doing so allows you more creative options with the color schemes. Each side is comprised of two sets of four pawns, a rook, a knight, a queen, and a king. You wind up with an extra king and queen for each side.

You have to build your own board or buy a starter board from them (the parts will be official LEGO pieces).

You will need 64 1×1 plates in two colors. 32 of each color and an 8×8 plate.

The pieces are all designed so that a minifigure can hold each one.

These are really kind of fun. Whether you want a little something for your own desk or want to add a touch of Queen’s Gambit to your city’s park, I think you’ll like these.

Available at BrickMini.com.

Dots Series 3

I have been underwhelmed by the Dots lines, but especially in the bands (aka bracelets).

First off, I know many have already states this, but we need more basic colors. Seriously, boys like to wear these too. Besides that, not all girls feel the need to have everything in pinks and pastels.

In series three we see these same issues once again. The only reason I even picked up a pack and set of the new bands were for the special pieces. But I think LEGO knows that’s what is selling these.

The double molded stars and diamonds are pretty neat. And the transparent piece goes all the way through so they could potentially be back lit.

I just wish they had done these in reverse. Pink and purple round diamonds and opal and dark blue square stars. I would find night time stars so much more valuable than these dark pink ones.

I also bought a pack with the new bands. This round they are a single line of studs and you get two of two different colors in the packs.

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.

Review of LEGO Set 43173 Aurora’s Roya Carriage

For those unfamiliar with her name, this is Sleeping Beauty. I don’t remember the story well enough to even know if she has a carriage in the movie. Guess that is what Disney+ is for.

Not being a fan of the “girls” line because LEGO has always been a gender neutral toy and those minidolls are hideous, sometimes I find myself picking up a Friends or Disney set despite that hatred because I find the parts interesting.

The gold parts, flowers, and the owl got me to pick up this $10 set. (Because I couldn’t get the owl on Brick and Pieces and did not want to py shipping for just the owl from a Bricklink seller. )

While most of my minidolls are languishing bald in a box somewhere, Aurora may stay intact. That is unless I find a use for her hair elsewhere.

I only wish the parts of the minidolls were more in system like a standard minifig. Her dress could be used for something else but the top connection doesn’t work with anything other than a minidoll torso.

So what is the reasoning LEGO has a small table, tea cup, and cake with a carriage set? I don’t know! Perhaps the owl is hungry?

Overall not a bad little set even with my personal objections to it.

I had to take the carriage out for a spin. Why not it is a magical, horseless carriage after all.

LEGO Polybag Train Set #30575

I have been enjoying some of the recent LEGO polybags.

I picked up this little train awhile ago, but saw that it is currently in Target stores again at checkout.

Lots of dark blue parts for your consideration.

It is of course a quick little build, but a great looking little engine.

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.