One more. Another year has passed and we are now on our way to the new adventures that 2019 has in store for us.

I have the impression of writing the same thing each time, but it is difficult to do otherwise: in 2018, once again, more and more of you came to take a look at this blog, some of you very regularly, others more occasionally. As a consequence of this significant increase in site traffic, a new resizing of hosting resources which is costing me a lot but which effectively absorbs the influx of new visitors.

Once again, I sincerely thank all those who have contributed to the life of the blog via their comments. It is mainly thanks to you that this site is alive and these many contributors encourage a little more other fans every day to come and exchange, discuss, argue, express their satisfaction, indicate a good plan, complain or simply give their opinion on this or that subject. Without these interactions, the site would be, as I said before, just one more blog in an already very crowded microcosm.

During this past year, I have once again redistributed all of the products sent to me by LEGO and by brands that have found it useful to participate in the various operations organized here. I bought all the sets from my personal collection and this is a principle that I will not deviate from in 2019 either. Impossible to reward everyone, but it is always with immense satisfaction that I read the messages of joy or thank you letter sent by most of the winners.

I say it again: I hope 2019 will be a good year for all of you, with or without LEGO bricks, with or without a phase of Dark Age or with personal constraints that force you to temporarily or permanently put this often overwhelming passion aside. Remember this tip that I try to repost once a year: Don't sacrifice anything for a box of LEGO. Don't go into debt to buy LEGOs. Plastic cannot be eaten, and it does not sell for as expensive as some people would like to believe, especially when it is urgent to act.

Next year, I hope that you will continue, as you have been doing for eight years already, to make sense of everything I do here. A passion only has meaning if it can be shared with others.

I wish you all a Happy New Year 2019.

Note: Tradition obliges, I'm obviously putting the last five copies of the "exclusive" Hoth Bricks minifigure into play. To participate, all you have to do is post a comment (you should find what to say without too much problem ...) and you have until January 7, 2018 at 23:59 p.m. to act.

Update : The winners were drawn and were notified by email, their nicknames are indicated below.

It's time for the 2018 review with a small, very personal selection of sets marketed this year that I consider very successful, without much interest, or on the contrary as first-class failures.

I will not give you an inventory of the small boxes that deserve to be considered successful this year. Their reasonable price often justified taking the risk of acquiring them and the possible disappointment felt will not have put you on the straw.

Overall, in 2018 I therefore found something to please me in my favorite ranges (Star Wars, Super Heroes, Jurassic World) without being too tempted to spend my money on products from other universes.

So much the better for my wallet, too bad for LEGO who could not really attract me out of my comfort zone except for several copies of the LEGO Architecture set 21041 Great Wall of China because I am strangely fascinated by the possibility of aligning several of these boxes to make a long wall. At 50 € a box, I quickly revised my ambitions downwards, the very very long wall I dream of will wait a bit ...

I'm still just as allergic to the Speed ​​Champions range because of the concept: stickers with bricks and not the other way around. Even the atmosphere Revival around the Harry Potter universe left me a little indifferent. It all comes a little late for me and it smells warm, certainly intelligently updated, but I have long since moved on without particular nostalgia or regrets.

I assiduously collect sets from the LEGO Star Wars range and even though I'm generally very (too) indulgent with what LEGO offers us on this theme, I couldn't leave out the calamitous set. 75201 First Order AT-ST. This is the absolute failure of the Star Wars range this year. Fortunately, this fiasco will have cost me only about fifty euros and it is in fact already too much for what this product vaguely derived from the film offers. The Last Jedi.

This box perfectly embodies the permanent opportunism around the Star Wars universe and the portfolio of its most assiduous fans. By dint of trying to sell them anything, there comes a time when it goes too far. Here we are with this set. And also with the very dispensable set 75230 Porg.

The other product that I think deserves to be considered a failure is the LEGO Creator Expert set 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 which does not really pay homage to the vehicle concerned. There will always be a few diehards to defend LEGO on this issue, but this box is proof that we cannot do everything with LEGO bricks and that we sometimes have to know how to let go at the risk of making a fool of ourselves and selling a product. that even the worst second-class Chinese brands would not dare to market.

I hesitated for a long time to put the Bugatti Chiron from the Technic 42083 set in this list of flops. There are a number of reasons why it belongs: the LEGO vehicle only looks like a Bugatti Chiron from a distance, and the designer's many approximations and other shortcuts do not make this set the ultimate luxurious model promised by LEGO. Fortunately, the building experience saves the furniture.

It is therefore ultimately the Aston Martin that wins between the two: if you do not tell you what it is, there is little chance that you will spontaneously find the model of the vehicle that LEGO has tried to reproduce. here. At 150 € joke, this box is not worthy of a manufacturer like LEGO.

Fortunately, aside from the usual small sets with scraps of scenery, more or less successful ships and a large handful of minifigs, the LEGO Star Wars range occasionally reserves some nice surprises with boxes with very successful content. This is the case with the set Ultimate Collector Series 75181 Y-Wing Starfighter, a true demonstration of LEGO know-how.

More than a simple opportunistic reissue of the 2004 version, this is a great adaptation that meets the expectations of today's adult fans, ever more demanding on the finish and the fidelity of the reproduction.

In the department of good surprises, the LEGO Marvel set 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition is also worth mentioning. It is an exhibition figurine which is in my opinion very successful.

If we forget the absence of knee joints and the somewhat approximate reproduction of the armor, this product is a fine example of LEGO know-how that will find its place with any fan of the Marvel universe who does not he isn't necessarily a plastic brick addict.

Another set that I found really successful this year: the LEGO Technic reference 42078 Mack Anthem which is a really balanced mix between aesthetics and functionality. The workmanship is excellent and the final model really looks like the real version it was inspired by. You don't have to be an absolute fan of the Technic range, its construction machinery, pins and other gears to appreciate the contents of this box.

After a great 2017 in the LEGO Ideas range, I'm skipping this year's sets. Frankly, even if the set 21315 Pop-up Book was rather a good surprise, there is nothing to do with these niche sets which for the most part only have the merit of being "different" from what LEGO usually sells.

Each box marketed this year was the result of a global plebiscite on the selection platform and therefore inevitably found its audience at the time but these sets leave me rather indifferent with the passing time: A set on a nanar which dates from several years (21314 Tron: Legacy), a reference to an animated series that I have never watched (21311 Voltron: Defender of the Universe) or a concept that is really too kitsch for my taste (21313 Ship in A Bottle), nothing to ignite ...

I'll stop there, this small non-exhaustive selection obviously reflects only a very personal opinion and I know that there will probably be as many opinions as boxes. I look forward to hearing which were your favorite 2018 sets and which ones you consider disappointing ...

Today we are interested in The LEGO Movie 2 set 70821 Emmet and Benny's 'Build and Fix' Workshop! (19.99 €), a small box of 117 pieces stamped "4+"whose content is logically within the reach of the youngest.

Small paranthesis about the sub-range "4+"which takes over from the LEGO Juniors range in 2019: This classification is not new, it already existed in 2003/2004 and it allows the boxes concerned to be found in the same department as the rest of the range to which they belong.

By being associated with other boxes on the same theme, these sets intended for young fans in the process of transitioning from the DUPLO universe will therefore have under their eyes all the products derived from the universe that attracts them ... On a level purely marketing, it's always more interesting than finding the LEGO Juniors sets stored on a separate shelf in the store.

You know the principle of this intermediate sub-range: an easy-to-assemble product that uses the bricks of the range System with in the lot of very large pieces which allow to avoid the frustration of the children who are not yet used to this format and to the different construction techniques.

Here, it's a matter of fifteen minutes, taking your time. On the one hand, Emmet's all-terrain vehicle with a mini-service station-style decor with workshop trolley, a few tools, a pad-printed piece of wall and a little nod to the Octan brand. The large chassis of the vehicle accommodates a few parts and voila. The vehicle is also rather successful if we take into account the low number of parts used.

No stickers in this box, everything is pad printed, even the Classic Space logo placed on the nose of Benny's ship ...

So that those who have never had a LEGO Juniors or "4+" sets in their hands understand the principle, I have given you exploded views of Emmet's buggy and Benny's spaceship.

Another nod in the direction of the fans, Benny's ship with his buggy which is stowed in the back. Long-time fans will fondly remember the Classic Space 924 Space Transporter (1979) set of which LEGO is delivering a very simplified version today.

It's minimalist, but we find the flat side of these blue, gray and yellow vessels from our childhood. Here too, LEGO makes it easier for the youngest with a huge gray piece that embodies the base of the ship.

We quickly stack a few pieces on this base that give the ship its final look. Nothing complicated and the result is very honest despite the limited number of parts.

The final model is admittedly less ambitious than the enormous ship in the set 70816 Benny's Spaceship, Spaceship, SPACESHIP! marketed in 2014 on the occasion of the theatrical release of the first part of The LEGO Movie saga, but the minimalism of the thing refers directly to the sets of our childhood, at a time when the imagination and a few bricks still worked miracles .

It is possible to load the buggy at the back of the ship by moving the two reactors apart. This is the only feature of the set but it is the one that will undoubtedly allow a scene from the film to be replayed. Fans of the Classic Space universe will only have eyes for the coin with the pad printed logo and the yellow windshield. We understand them ...

In the view below, we can see the large gray part which constitutes the cabin of the vessel on which the thirty or so elements are placed which allow it to take shape.

at 19.99 € the 117 pieces, the two minifigs and the fifteen minutes of assembly, we can consider that it is a little expensive. We still get two machines, two important characters from The LEGO Movie saga and a nice nostalgic wink. It is enough for me.

In my opinion, the objective is achieved by this small unpretentious set which above all aims to bring together two generations of fans around the LEGO toy: Daddy buys the set because ... SPACESHIP !, the children get their hero Emmet and it 's. left for a few hours of sharing and fun. I say yes, just for that.

Note: The set shown here is put into play as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before January 6, 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.

While waiting to talk about the Porsche 911 RSR from set 42096, let's take a quick detour to the LEGO Technic set 42093 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (579 pieces - 39.99 €) which proposes, as its name suggests, to assemble a LEGO version of the Corvette ZR1 in its livery Sebring Orange.

And this box is really a very good surprise, if we keep in mind that this is a small set sold for 40 €. As usual with LEGO Technic sets, it is better not to get carried away by the number of pieces displayed on the box: in this set, there are more than 200 various and varied pins, i.e. more than a third of inventory.

No surprise here regarding the assembly logic. It is quickly assembled starting with the chassis which integrates the engine and the steering axis which will be finally managed via a dial placed at the rear of the vehicle. The steering wheel is not functional, it turns in a vacuum and has the sole function of dressing the cockpit.

The eight cylinders of the engine are set in motion during travel and remain visible through the two large openings in the front cover. It is aesthetically original even if it is obviously not very realistic.

The balance between the phases of assembly of the various mechanical elements and the stages of finishing using the large body parts makes it possible not to get bored. We move quickly and we can test the few features planned before having finished assembling the model. This is the ideal combination for the youngest who want to know what a particular set of gears can do without having to wait until they reach the last page of the instruction booklet, and then regret not seeing the mechanism. concerned which is found hidden under some panels and other meta-pieces.

If we could legitimately blame the Porsche of the set 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (299.99 €) its aesthetic approximations, difficult to be so demanding here. It is not a model as ambitious as the 911 which was sold in a luxurious cardboard box. This set is more of a mid-range product that will allow those new to the LEGO Technic range to place a few gears, then a few body panels, quickly and inexpensively. The Corvette will then find its place on the corner of a shelf to fill an empty space and complete a collection of supercars in LEGO Technic version. Except for the ladder freaks who might not want to pair this mini-Corvette with their Bugatti Chiron ...

Turning the vehicle over, we see that the finish is rather successful even on this invisible part without completely concealing the mechanism which allows the engine to start moving and the steering to operate. A good point, which allows you to really understand how the different movements are transmitted from the rear wheels to the engine placed in the front.

This Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 definitely has a good face, but this is especially the case depending on the angle from which you observe the vehicle. Some positions are less flattering and the profile view reveals the aesthetic limitations of the model with wheels that look really undersized (or raised) under the new fenders and a few slightly empty spaces between the doors and the front fenders. The real Corvette ZR1 has different sized wheels at the front (19 ") and rear (20"), the LEGO version overlooks this detail. No ceramic blue Brembo brake calipers visible through the rims either. For 40 €, you shouldn't ask for too much.

The stickers representing the air intakes at the front of the doors almost duplicate the gaping holes in the bodywork which in fact perform this function ... The doors do not open, the rear spoiler is fixed, the 'front is a bit too messy for my taste and while the purists of the LEGO Technic range won't necessarily agree with me, I think the visible blue pines detract from the overall rendering of this supercar a bit. Even if it means trying to offer a successful model that visually conforms to the vehicle it claims to reproduce, a few orange pins would have been welcome to ensure the connection of the various bodywork elements.

Lots of stickers to stick in this set, but the orange tint on the roof and door covers is relatively faithful to the base color of the body parts. Too bad once again that the brand's logo is also placed on simple stickers stuck at the end of the front cover and at the back. Licensed products deserve at least the luxury of offering a pad-printed logo of the brand they are promoting.

In summary, this small unpretentious set offers a good compromise between functionality, admittedly rather limited, and aesthetics. The end result may seem rather rough from some angles, but we recognize the model that served as a working basis for the LEGO designer in charge of adapting and simplifying the thing. It is quickly assembled without spending long hours to have the impression of placing only pins, the result is solid and playable, the eight movable cylinders bring a little movement. I say yes.

Note: The set shown here is put into play as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before January 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.

Continuation and end of the 2018 LEGO Star Wars Advent calendar content in terms of minifigs with in box No. 17: a member of the Guavian Death Gang already seen in duplicate in the set 75180 Rathtar Escape (89.99 €) marketed since 2017. Not enough to cry genius, but it's still taken.

In box N ° 23: This is the "exclusive" minifigure of this set: General Antoc Merrick (played by actor Ben Daniels), leader of the Blue Squadron who takes part in the attack on the planet Scarif in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and gets knocked out by a Tie Striker.

It is above all the combination of the parts used and the fact that the character is identified by name that makes this minifigure exclusive: The head and the hair in Dark Tan are currently exclusive to this set. The outfit is however identical to that of the generic pilot of the Blue Squadron delivered in the sets. 75155 Rebel U-Wing Fighter (2016) 75162 Y-Wing Microfighter (2017) et 75172 Y-Wing Starfighter (2017)

The Antoc Merrick helmet (without integrated visor) is also for the moment exclusive to this box and is in box N ° 24, it dresses the head of the "festive" snowman.

Too bad, this year LEGO is not providing a real festive minifig in Santa Claus outfit.