The LEGO VIP newsletter arrives at the members of the program and it finally presents the promotional set 5006744 Ulysses Satellite (236) that it will be possible to offer in exchange for 1800 VIP points on the occasion of the launch of the set 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery which will take place on April 1st at 01:00 am. The small probe will be accompanied by a presentation plate.

This bonus will not be offered, even if it could have been, but it will be necessary to sacrifice 1800 VIP points to obtain the code to enter in the basket when ordering, or the equivalent of approximately € 12 reduction to be used on a future purchase.

It will obviously be in front of the awards center next night to hope you don't miss out on this limited-edition VIP offer that should sell out within minutes.

Please note: at this stage, nothing confirms that the offer will be available from the launch of the set 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, it could also be postponed to a later date.

Update : LEGO will not be launching this product on April 1, it's official. The offer will be available later on the VIP Rewards Center.

The animated series trailer Star Wars: The Bad Batch is available and we now know that the broadcast of the series will begin on May 4 on the Disney + platform.

As for LEGO derivatives, the latest rumors tell us at least one set for this summer, the reference for the moment known under the title 75314 Bath Batch Shuttle, with the five members of Clone Force 99: Hunter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker and Crosshair, all sold at the retail price of € 99.99. We do not know if other characters will be in the box whose inventory would be composed of 969 pieces, we will have to wait for other leaks or an official announcement of the set to find out more.

Today we discover two of the sets planned this year in the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes range with the references 76180 Batman vs. The Joker: Batmobile Chase et 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile uploaded by a Vietnamese brand (76180 here et 76188 there).

On the one hand, a new interpretation of the vehicle seen in the cult TV series broadcast in the 60s with Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and Burt Ward (Dick GraysonRobin) in the lead roles.

LEGO had indeed already offered a first version of this Batmobile in the set 76052 Batman Classic TV Series - Batcave (2016). In the box, Batman and the Joker, both almost identical to the figures in the 2016 set. The Batmobile will be displayed on a stand with a small presentation plate that recalls the configuration of the promotional set. 40433 1989 Batmobile Limited Edition offered during the very short operation that took place on the LEGO Shop in 2019.

On the other, a set stamped 4+ with two vehicles with a simplistic but not uninteresting design and three minifigs: Batman, the Joker (seen in the sets 76119 Batmobile: Pursuit of The Joker et 76159 Joker's Trike Chase) and Batgirl (already seen in the set 76160 Batman: Mobile Bat-Base).

(Seen at The Brick Fan)

Today we take a quick look at the other LEGO Star Wars helmet currently in pre-order, the reference 75305 Scout Trooper Helmet (471 - € 49.99).

This second model offers a much smaller inventory than that of the set 75304 Darth Vader Helmet with its 834 pieces and its public price set at 69.99 €. However, the two constructions are on the same scale, they use the same display and they display very similar measurements.

Apart from aesthetic considerations, it is in the design of these two helmets that the main differences lie: The Scout Trooper's is empty inside, we assemble here a simple "shell" which will receive the different skins. exterior, and the inventory of this product contains far fewer small items than that of Darth Vader's helmet.

Once again, this is a LEGO interpretation of the helmet seen on the screen and not a model that seeks to be as faithful as possible to the reference accessory. The result seems pretty decent to me and the solution used to integrate a flat black visor that imitates the curve that is difficult to reproduce as well as possible is very interesting. By accentuating the top rounding, the designer manages to create the illusion and, from some angles more than others, it works.

The "nose" of the helmet is very successful, we find all the attributes seen on the screen and the only detail that seems a little off-topic is the tip that covers the black visor. It lacks a bit of rounding, but it's LEGO and it will be necessary to do with these aesthetic adaptations.

The integrated cap is very well made, with a double thickness of parts over almost the entire surface which allows it to be considered as really "molded" with the rest of the accessory and not as a simple extension. The upper area of ​​the cap is flat, so we are moving a bit away from the reference accessory on which the extension is slightly curved. The stepped dome with exposed studs is as usual a bit messy but this helmet sufficiently alternates between smooth surfaces and those that leave the studs exposed for the whole to be homogeneous.

The back of the helmet is also very correct with its ears with a black background and the extension of the rounded volume around the periphery of the helmet. The finish of the area above the smooth tunnel is a bit rough, but the product will be presented in its best light on a shelf anyway and you will quickly forget that the rear is a bit sloppy.

The assembly phase is not uninteresting even if the reduced inventory significantly shortens the duration of the "experiment". There are still some interesting techniques for the nose of the helmet or the attachment of the neck strap that will entertain the fans a bit. The rest looks a bit like putting together a big BrickHeadz figure.

Things get tough when you have to apply the dozen or so stickers provided: these stickers are printed on a (really) white background and they take place on pieces with a slightly creamy hue. The contrast is visible, it is more or less reinforced depending on the lighting and we understand why LEGO does not offer views of the rear of the product on the official store, the rare visuals on which we distinguish these stickers having obviously been retouched for hide the effect.

In my opinion, this helmet with a reduced inventory and a limited retail price therefore goes to the essentials with an interpretation of the subject which remains sufficiently credible without suffering too much from the limitations linked to the LEGO concept. Too bad the result is spoiled by these stickers which will be difficult to be forgotten.

This "collector's" product with its pretty (and too big) black box, its display and its identification plate loses a little of its splendor because LEGO has still not considered it useful to make an effort on this point whereas the set is qualified as "... premium quality template ..."in its official description.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at April 14th next at 23pm. 

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

At least four new books around the LEGO theme are announced by publisher Dorling Kindersley (DK) in 2021: Minifigure Mission, How to Build LEGO Cars, How to Build LEGO Houses et Mighty LEGO Mechs.

Minifigure Mission is a 128-page book that takes on a Toy Story-style adventure with a minifigure that must reach its shelf via an obstacle course to be built in different rooms of the house. The editor does not provide the parts necessary for the realization of the various ideas proposed but the main character is included with some accessories.

How to Build LEGO Cars et How to Build LEGO Houses are 96-page, more didactic books with around thirty examples and ideas for learning how to build cars and houses. An interesting detail for those who have followed the LEGO Masters UK show: Nathan Dias, one of the members of the winning pair of the show's first season, is the co-author of these two books. No bricks with these two books, it will be necessary to call on your personal inventory to reproduce the proposed examples.

Mighty LEGO Mechs is a 96-page book about which not much is known yet. Judging by the cover featuring two mechs from the LEGO Ninjago sets 71720 Fire Stone Mech (2020) et 71738 Zane's Titan Mech Battle (2021), it should be a simple collection of what LEGO has been able to offer so far in terms of robots and mechs, without instructions or new creations.

You will find a few pages above from two of these forthcoming books, the texts are in English but the visuals seem explicit enough to me that a young fan lacking inspiration will find some interesting leads.

We do not know for the moment whether these different books will one day be translated into French by the publisher who usually takes care of the localization of most of the books offered by Dorling Kindersley.

These four books are currently on pre-order from Amazon with availability announced for October 2021:

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