With the arrival at LEGO of the "house" concept of smart bricks connected by Bluetooth to a smartphone, I will briefly come back to another brick at least as smart as the one supplied with the official sets: the model produced by Buwizz.

While LEGO has been trying since this summer to install the Control + ecosystem in our cottages via the set 42099 4x4 X-treme Off-Roader and since the start of the school year with the reference 42100 Liebehrr R 9800 Excavator, Buwizz has since 2016 been able to pilot motorized LEGO vehicles via the Bluetooth protocol and using an application installed on a smartphone. The manufacturer is already at version 2.0 of its product with an edition "Ludicrous"which promises to deliver even more power to the various connected motors.

Those familiar with motorized MOCs obviously already know this product. The only question here is to present this alternative to LEGO solutions to all those who are wondering what to do with their elements. Power Functions while LEGO is considering the possibility of eventually releasing an adapter to use them with a Smart Hub Control +.

The Buwizz brick is more compact than the Smart Hub Control + (ref. 88009) or a Battery Box rechargeable Power Functions (ref. 8878). Its integration into the various existing models does not therefore pose any particular problem and the use of Bluetooth even eliminates the need for the essential infrared receiver. Power Functions (ref. 8884). The four connectors available on the Buwizz brick allow the support of motors and / or LEDs Power Functions.

No need to use a Battery Box as is the case with the solution proposed by SBrick, the Buwizz brick has a rechargeable Lithium Polymer (Li-Ion) battery via a microUSB port and it is even possible to use a Powerbank installed directly on the model to recharge it during use.

I took as an example a model marketed this year but which did not have the chance to benefit from the Control + ecosystem: The LEGO Technic set 42095 Remote Controlled Stunt Racer (79.99 €). In its official version this set has two engines Power Functions L, a Battery Box and an infrared receiver. The supplied IR remote control allows you to control the machine, provided you stay close to the receiver. This last detail was a great source of frustration for my children who quickly grew tired of having to run after the vehicle ...

The integration of the Buwizz brick in this model is very simple: it does not require any major modification of the product or additional parts: It is enough simply to reposition a few parts and the only Technic pin to add is already provided in the inventory of the set as a replacement part.

Note that it is possible and sometimes even recommended to install several bricks in the same model depending on the number of motors installed and the expected speed of movement. This possibility will eat a little more the budget of the demanding MOCeurs but most of the existing sets convertible via the installation of a single brick will already benefit from real improvements without having to go back to the checkout.

In use, we find everything that makes the interest of a radio-controlled machine: we gain in speed of movement, in piloting precision and it is no longer necessary to stick to the train of the vehicle to ensure that the infrared receiver is in the line of sight of the remote control. I did not lose control of the vehicle until about twenty meters away.

The autonomy is very correct, I was able to have fun for a little over an hour by alternating between the four power levels available before having to recharge the built-in battery. The "normal" mode is already a little faster than what the original elements of the set allow. the other three modes available increase the voltage sent to the motors and really accelerate.

Replacement of elements Power Functions by the Buwizz brick also has an impact on the weight of the machine: We go from 586 grams, the six AA batteries included, to 413 grams with the Buwizz brick. In this specific case, the result is final, the vehicle rears up much less when starting up even if this particularity is in principle one of the strengths of the set and the placement of the Battery Box original is thought to accentuate this effect.

On the side of the application that allows you to take control of the brick, it is very refined. No visual artifices like at LEGO, the interface boils down here to what is strictly necessary. Several preinstalled profiles allow you to quickly get started with existing sets and it is also possible to create your own profiles. The association of the commands to the different controllers of the Buwizz brick is a breeze and many tutorials are available on Youtube.

We could regret that the dressing of the application is so basic and that the possibilities of customization are limited, but it ultimately only serves as an intermediary between the pilot and his machine.

The original application developed by the manufacturer has also gone into version "Legacy"and Buwizz is now making a new version available on the Google Play Store (Android) and on the app store (iOS). It is not necessary to have a competition smartphone to install the application. I used an "old" model of iPhone which did not cause any problems.

The Buwizz brick is sold for 157.38 € TTC per unit or 279.38 € TTC for a pack of two bricks. We can consider that it is a bit expensive as it is. But this product is really versatile and it can be used on all your models without being limited by a closed interface which only allows the piloting of one or more particular models, as is currently the case at LEGO with the Control + system.

If we also take into account the fact that this brick incorporates a rechargeable battery and that it gives a second life to your sets equipped with elements Power Functions by making them truly controllable remotely and by allowing them to move a little faster than in their initial configuration, the investment seems to me to be appropriate to prevent your pretty motorized set from being a source of frustration and ending up at the bottom of a cupboard from the first uses (it's real life ...).

Note: The Buwizz brick supplied by the manufacturer is used (without the test set). To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the October 15, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory. 

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.

Today we take a quick look at the LEGO DC Comics set 76137 batman vs. The Riddler Robbery, a very small box stamped 4+ with its 59 pieces, its two minifigs and its recommended retail price set at € 9.99.

The set is thought to be assembled by the youngest fans of the Gotham City vigilante and the building challenge here is really very limited with a Batmobile a bit in mind. Mighty Pickups and a very basic cash dispenser.

The content of the set is rather balanced with two characters in opposition, a vehicle and enough to organize a real chase between the Riddler on his skateboard and Batman at the wheel of his machine. Even for 9.99 €, there is a lot of fun and it deserves to be highlighted.

The Batmobile is assembled very quickly and the base of the vehicle will allow the youngest to have a starting frame to create other machines. The principle is interesting even if I wonder who these children of five or six years old who are already fans of Batman and his rather dark universe really are ...

The instruction booklet is as usual suitable for very young LEGO fans with advanced simplification of the various assembly steps. By scanning the QR Code placed on the cover of the booklet, it is also possible to access an electronic version of these instructions. These are not interactive instructions, it is simply the PDF version of the booklet that is displayed in the LEGO Life app. Useful when the paper version has already finished cut out or crumpled in a corner.

No stickers to stick in this box, the logo placed on the front of the Batmobile is pad printed, like the screen of the cash dispenser. The latter can be removed from its location to simulate the explosion of the dynamite installed by the Riddler. Two 100 bills are provided.

As for the two minifigs delivered in this box, we note that the torso and the head of Batman are the elements already seen in a good dozen boxes marketed since 2012, that the cape without fold at the neck and with a single hole is a little rarer and that in addition to the two 4+ sets marketed this year, it has so far only appeared in the Juniors set 10753 The Joker Batcave Attack (2018)

The Riddler minifig delivered here is identical to the one already seen in the set 76120 Batwing and The Riddler Heist sold for 54.99 €, so here you have an opportunity to add it to your collection at a lower cost. The character comes with a skateboard that allows him to escape with his loot. The purple board is the one already seen in particular in the set LEGO Ideas 21103 Back to the Future Time Machine (2013) and in the set TMNT 79105 Baxter Robot Rampage (2013).

In short, this set intended for the youngest offers something to have a little fun for less than 10 € and we should not expect more. The ability to get the Riddler in a box cheaper than the one it also appears in is a real plus for collectors who don't care about the rest of the set content.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the October 3, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

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.

Today we are quickly interested in the LEGO Creator Expert set 10267 Gingerbread House, a box that joins the long list of sets that form the Winter village with LEGO sauce. Festive spirit, snowy roofs, Christmas tree and various and varied gifts, this new box of 1477 pieces sold for € 94.99 is in the theme.

Since this is a set from the Creator Expert range, the set obviously gives pride of place to elaborate construction techniques and finishing details that are usually absent from sets considered more lambdas.

Without revealing too much so that those who will spend their money on this set will benefit from the many techniques implemented here, there is something to have fun and learn in the process to combine a few pieces to obtain an original effect. The junction of the roof tops, the windows clad in glittery bricks or the bathtub on the first floor are among the many elements that make good use of these techniques that non-MOCeurs are not always used to encounter, except to be fan of type sets Modulars.

The final model measuring only 26 cm wide, 21 cm high and 13 cm deep, you will understand that the 1477 pieces are mostly small elements that intervene in the construction of the house and the various accessories that make it. accompany. Pass from the imposing Imperial Star Destroyer from set 75252 that I just finished taking apart and repacking for the future winner of this set had something relaxing. Here, everything is in the details and we never get bored.

We quickly go over the mini-things that accompany the house and the characters in this box: another mini Christmas tree here surmounted by a star made from diamonds already seen in other colors within the Elves range, a few gifts, a rocking horse, a pram, a snowblower and some toys. These elements will easily find their place in your dioramas, that's always right.

No unusual process in the construction of the gingerbread house, we go up from the bottom to the top. A little tiling, a few sweets, the fireplace, the living room armchair, the furniture, everything is linked together to finish with the installation of the various roof panels. Unlike a classic home, here some of the furniture has been reimagined in a candy version and it is very successful. The white chocolate bed, the cotton candy bedside lamp and the candy or cake-based drawer handles make their little effect.

Among the new coins available in this box, we will retain the colored ingots Tan that dress the first floor bed and the purple colored 1x1 glitter bricks used for the construction windows. The pink version of these bricks, also present in this box, made the heyday of the Belville range in the 2000s and an appearance in the LEGO Friends Advent calendar in 2012.

This half-house is above all a playset, with its open side which allows you to enjoy the different rooms and their fittings. Once again, we could debate the interest of providing us with a half-construction when the model is rather intended to be enthroned in the middle of a winter village emerged from the boxes on the occasion of the end of year celebrations, but I find that the house here remains sufficiently "closed" to be able to be exposed from certain angles.

The set incorporates a luminous brick which allows the hearth of the fireplace to be lit on condition that you keep your finger pressed on the smoke coming out of the duct on the roof. As usual, it is not possible to leave the fireplace on all the time, except to tinker with the construction, and that's a shame.

This fireplace is also a little strange: it is open both to the interior of the house and to the outside. It's totally fancy, but it allows you to take advantage of the integrated lighting on both sides of the construction.

In the official product description, LEGO announces three minifigures. In my opinion, it is a bit of an exaggeration, the baby is a simple slice of gingerbread embodied by a pad printing on a tile. LEGO misses in my opinion here the opportunity to provide us with a baby in Medium Dark Flesh composed of the elements that we have already obtained for example in the sets 60134 Fun in the Park City People Pack et 10255 Assembly Square.

The two real figurines delivered in this box are very successful. Their torso takes the design already used for other characters of the same type by adding red buttons for the festive side. On the other hand, no pad printing on the legs of the two characters as on the figurine of the 11th series of collectible characters launched in 2013 (71022) or that of the promotional mini-set 5005156 Gingerbread Man offered in 2016.

The female character, however, received special care with a decorated skirt and a pink insert between the two slices of gingerbread on the head. All in all, we find ourselves there. The flat baby comes with his bottle, an accessory already seen in many sets in the LEGO Friends range.

In short, this set should in my opinion quickly become a staple of everything Winter village who respects himself. It is really in the theme, its assembly is an opportunity to discover some original techniques and and this pretty gingerbread house filled with sweets is a feast for the eyes.

As a bonus, LEGO provides a very large handful of 70 Spare Parts, those extra pieces that are left on your hands as you finish putting the build together and start wondering where you left something behind ...

For those who are wondering, there are only three stickers in this box: the family photo above the fireplace, the doormat and the sign. Candy lane fixed on one of the two barley sugars.

I say yes, although a "real" baby would have been welcome.

THE 10267 GINGERBREAD HOUSE SET ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

THE SET ON THE BELGIAN SHOP >> THE SET ON THE SWISS SHOP >>

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the September 30, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory. 

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.

A few hours before the launch of this big box, here is the second part of the test of the LEGO Star Wars set 75252 UCS Imperial Star Destroyer, which now takes shape with the addition of the various sets that form the hull of the ship.

The model is almost "modular", with sub-assemblies to be mounted on the corner of a table before placing them on the main structure. It's practical, you can leave the frame aside and get busy in front of the TV without having to clutter the living room table with this large model 1.10 m long and 66cm wide under construction.

As much to tell you right away, the handle which seemed to me judiciously placed to lift the model turns out to be in fact rather badly positioned when it comes to lifting the final product. The center of gravity of the vessel is located further aft and the handle alone is no longer sufficient. You have to support the ship from the front to avoid disaster, as is indicated in the instruction booklet. You will probably lose a few 1x2 coins in the process, be sure to check behind you when you move the Devastator.

On the other hand, access to the interior space has been very well thought out: all you have to do is remove two of the modules which are held by two Technic pins to access the bowels of the Devastator.

When you are done with this model, you will realize that it can be dismantled in blocks without having to go out the instructions to reassemble everything. Convenient for those who will consider storing it under pressure from other inhabitants of the house or taking it on their next exhibition.

As expected, the designer has certainly done his best to adjust the different modules between them but there is still a lot of empty space. These different modules are also dotted with colored pieces, from certain angles, the ship lets appear several of these colored elements. It's not a problem if the model sits at a good distance on a shelf, you only notice these touches of color when you really approach the model.

The finish of the upper decks of the vessel is very correct with many details embodied by these small parts (greebs) sometimes diverted from their main use. The structure of the pairs of modules is identical with a mirror effect but the finish of each sub-element varies slightly from one block to another.

It's when we finish assembling the set that we realize that the ship would probably have deserved a few touches of dark gray on its outer hull. As it stands, it's a little sad and it lacks relief. The side strip which separates the hull elements would have benefited from this alternation of more or less dark colors, just like the guns and the front face of the various upper decks.

LEGO was able to sell us the set with official visuals expertly staged with saturated colors and play of shadows, but we do not find any of this on the final product without setting up adequate lighting in the exhibition space. .

I mention again this impression that I had from the first hours of editing about the 16x6 plates which seemed to me slightly veiled. Some gradually unhook from the tenons on which they are fitted and you have to literally hit your fist to put everything back in place.

The junction between the fuselage panels is fairly rough. The gray Technic bar which is at the front end of the frame aims to try to visually "block" the space which circulates to the upper decks. This is partially the case in terms of color uniformity, but it does not fill in the gaps.

I know we're talking about a LEGO product here and not a glue-on mockup, but that empty groove is a bit unsightly. the designer tried to fill the upper part of this space with a few pieces, but that was not enough to completely eliminate the separation between the fuselage plates.

Overall, the model is very fragile and difficult to handle. It is obviously not intended to serve as a playset and there is nothing to see inside, but this fragility still seems excessive to me for a high-end model.

Speaking of the interior, this mockup has enough internal volume available to accommodate a mini command post, even symbolic that would have echoed the two minifigs provided. The Millennium Falcon from set 75192 had some vaguely "playable" internal spaces, that was enough to satisfy many fans.

The rear of the ship seems pretty successful to me and the designer has done his best to respect the different angles of the reference model. The reactors are convincing and all that's missing is lighting to really show them off. The parts that protrude all around the back of the hull tend to come off during handling, be careful.

The Tantive IV microphone provided is necessarily anecdotal because it is vaguely on the scale of the Devastator. It is hardly better than a polybag model but it is nonetheless a nice decorative accessory which brings a little color to the model and helps to make the ship even more impressive. The construction can be hung on the sides of the Devastator or integrated into the location provided for this purpose under the vessel.

The two minifigs provided are exclusive to this box and they should in principle remain so for a long time. You have to be content with a generic lieutenant and a crew member whose name we will probably never know, but collectors who make the effort to acquire this box will inevitably find a place for them in their Ribba frames. The others do not miss much, even if these two minifigs are successful with in particular a nice pad printing of the arms on the crew member.

Unlike those who consider that a set from the range Ultimate Collector Series can easily do without minifigs or be satisfied with the bare minimum, I think LEGO could have made an effort on this point. Fans spending $ 700 on this monochrome ship deserved better than these two minifigs and Darth Vader seemed right to me. Everyone loves minifigs, even collectors of UCS sets ...

Finally, the sticker provided specifies that it is indeed the Devastator but it does not use the name Imperial Star Destoyer, who knows why ... By the way, if you want to avoid killing everything by sticking this sticker, apply a little window cleaner on the black plate, you will have an additional chance to be able to reposition it correctly before it dries completely.

Let's talk briefly about the price: € 699.99 at launch, that's the price to pay to get it right away but we all know here that the set will quickly drop below the € 550 / € 600 mark in the coming months. There is no fair price for a set of this type anyway, it is always too expensive for some and it is not a basic product.

Forget the calculations of the price per piece or per kilo that serve as a pretext for both to argue that this product is an overpriced deal or model. LEGO sells a global product, with its license, its potential to attract fans, its overall assembly experience, all at a price that makes it exclusive and desirable but also unfortunately inaccessible to many fans on a budget.

I add in passing that LEGO necessarily monitors what's happening in the aftermarket and that the statistics of the (re) sale of the set 10030 Imperial Star Destroyer on Bricklink undoubtedly had an impact on the manufacturer's choices in terms of retail price for this new model.

Will I afford this box one day? Yes, no doubt about it. This model is a nice reinterpretation of the ISD despite the few flaws that I find in it and it makes the version of the set obsolete in my opinion 10030 Imperial Star Destroyer marketed in 2002, whose magnets used to fix the hull panels age very badly. On the other hand, I will take my troubles patiently, hoping for a more substantial discount than the doubling of VIP points offered by LEGO for the launch of the product.

Le Millennium Falcon from set 75192 had been a real crush in its time that made me impatient. Here, this is not the case. The Devastator will wait.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the September 28, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. The comments from both parts of the test will be accumulated before the draw, so you will have two chances to win instead of one if you post to both parts. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory. 

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.

Today we are interested in the LEGO Star Wars set 75252 UCS Imperial Star Destroyer, a very big box which at least has the merit of leaving no one indifferent. Too gray or too big for some, too expensive for others, essential for the most motivated collectors, this model of the Devastator sold for € 699.99 has fueled the interminable debate on the public price / inventory / interest ratio of the product since its announcement.

Everyone has their opinion and I do not intend to try to convince those who have already decided to ignore or discourage those who are already in the starting blocks while waiting for September 18th. As usual, I'll just give you some very personal thoughts on this set.

First observation, LEGO has worked on the packaging of this new product since the problems encountered with that of the set 75192 UCS Millennium Falcon, And this is a good thing. Indeed, it was not uncommon for the instruction booklet for set 75192 to arrive damaged and the packaging of the booklet for this new set seems to me to be more suited to logistical constraints. For the rest, the box uses the principle of internal sub-packaging in which the bags are distributed. It's pretty and it gives a little luxury to the product.

Everyone already knows that the Devastator is empty inside and the object is built around a structure based on Technic elements. The start of the assembly phase therefore looks more like that of a LEGO Technic machine than that of a high-end model with an exemplary finish.

Without questioning the interest of basing the internal structure on a frame made up of elements which ensure its rigidity, I must admit that I was a little disappointed by the first hours of construction: This patchwork of colors and elements gave me the impression of assembling a tinkered structure in a hurry with what fell to the hand of the designer.

Some, especially those who had trouble with the much less festive inventory of the set 10030 UCS Imperial Star Destroyer marketed in 2002, I will perhaps oppose the usual remark about the voluntarily varied and colorful inventory which allows you to do something else with the parts of the product. As this is a pure exhibition product, I still think that it was not really necessary to provide such a colorful inventory that could be reused for other creations.

I know that this structure of just under 500 pieces will no longer be visible after the thousand necessary construction steps, but the high-end model that LEGO promises us perhaps deserved a more uniform frame and dotted with some details. or nods that fans appreciate. Here, nothing directly refers to the final product or the Star Wars universe and you have to wait to start assembling the different panels of the hull to really get to the heart of the matter.

Before tackling the structure of the ship, it is necessary to assemble the support on which the Devastator take place. It is a logical choice which makes it possible to work on a stable construction where all the faces are easily accessible. This support may seem relatively fragile at first, but it is perfectly sized to support the imposing vessel. If I had to make a complaint about this element of the set, I think that a few centimeters more in height would have made it possible to better take advantage of the spaces available under the hull and possibly facilitate the integration of the ship on a shelf already loaded with models. from the LEGO Star Wars range, some products can fit under the front and back of the Devastator.

From the first stages of assembly, the size of the finished product is known with an internal structure which also makes it possible to move the construction short without breaking everything. The two minifigs provided in this box are available from the first sachets, like the plate on which is placed the only sticker of the set that I decided to keep for the end.

When the chassis is built, we then proceed with the narrow sides of the ship strewn with greebs, these various and varied elements which ensure the finish and the relief of the model. The two sides are identical and can be assembled simultaneously, it is always a few minutes saved.

We then proceed to the assembly of the lower part of the hull of the vessel which will be visible from certain angles. Several sub-assemblies must be built before clipping them under the structure. We find here a Tie Fighter microphone which will not be really visible afterwards except when leaning, but as usual "we know it's there".

The large sets of plates that make up the lower shell are also dotted with colored pieces on their inner face. It is useful from time to time to follow the instructions to the letter while respecting the positioning of certain sub-assemblies but here too I think it is superfluous. With only black, dark gray and light gray, the difficulty level would have been slightly increased but the impression of assembling a high-end product would in my opinion have been reinforced.

As we move forward in the assembly, we also notice that this model will be relatively fragile in certain places. The flat panels of the hull are well maintained by ball joints but there are still some solutions used to obtain more or less pronounced angles and finishing details which will require taking all the usual precautions when moving the product.

The blocks of parts fixed to the structure using Technic pins are not in question, I am rather thinking of elements like the three nozzles which are dressed in 2x2 parts or the edges of the lower hull which are dotted with parts including half protrudes at the back. The solution based on Ball Seals used here to keep the hull of the ship on the chassis is in any case more reassuring than the one based on magnets imagined for the set 10030 UCS Imperial Star Destroyer.

The large sets of plates which cover the lower part of the structure are logically not very detailed and therefore quickly assembled. I just noticed a little unusual resistance of some 16x6 plates that it is difficult to fit correctly without insisting (very) strongly. It seems to me that some of them are slightly hazy and the phenomenon does not affect the other large plates provided.

At this point the Devastator begins to take shape but the sobriety of the final product is not yet in order. The manufacturer recommends gripping the construction by the red "handle" placed on the top of the internal structure. It is convincing, the vessel does not bend under its own weight and the balance of the whole is ensured thanks to a well thought out placement of this handle.

This is what I could tell you about the internal structure of the ship. In the second part of the test, I will focus on the finishes of this model and on the different elements that accompany this Devastator.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the September 28, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. The comments from both parts of the test will be accumulated before the draw, so you will have two chances to win instead of one if you post to both parts. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory. 

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.