LEGO today unveils the LEGO Ideas set 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay, a box freely inspired by the project The Pirate Bay by Pablo Sánchez Jiménez alias Bricky_Brick. The project in question had in its time gathered the 10.000 supports necessary for its passage to the examination phase in just 25 days and it had finally been definitively validated by LEGO in September 2019.

Nostalgic fans of the Pirates range then found something to plead their case with the manufacturer and all their hopes were placed in Pablo Sánchez Jiménez's project. The manufacturer confirms that he has heard the message and is now offering a set that I believe can satisfy even the most demanding of fans.

For those who have a feeling of déjà-vu, this new set of 2545 pieces with its vintage packaging at will features the Black Seas Barracuda ordered by Captain Redbeard, seen in the set 6285 marketed in 1989 and reissued in 2002 under the reference 10040. This is not the first tribute to the set of 1989, a micro version of the Black Seas Barracuda was indeed present in the set. 40290 60 Years of the Brick offered in February 2018 by LEGO.

We therefore discover that the boat has run aground on an island and that it is now used as headquarters for Captain Redbeard and seven other characters all inspired by the Pirates range including Lady Anchor, Robin Loot, Tattooga, Quartermaster Riggins, Jack "Dark Shark" Doobloons and the Port and Starboard twins. Some animals also populate the place with a shark, a pig, two parrots, three crabs, and two frogs. No pirates without corpses, two skeletons are provided.

The real stroke of genius of the set is to offer the possibility of relaunching the Black Seas Barracuda by dissociating it from the island on which it is stranded. The hull divided into three modules can be recomposed to obtain a presentable boat that will prevent latecomers from spending their money in the secondary market to afford the initial version of the Black Seas Barracuda. The full model displays respectable measurements at 64cm wide, 32cm deep and 59cm high.

I sometimes criticize LEGO for straying a little too far from the spirit of the reference project when it comes to adapting an idea that has brought together many fans, but I think that here it was necessary, on the contrary, to frankly go with a clear and crisp reference to the Pirates range launched over 30 years ago. It is now done and even the most nostalgic fans who expected a lot from this box should largely find what they are looking for.

Nostalgia also comes at a price: the LEGO Ideas set 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay will be available from April 1, 2020 on the official online store at the public price of 199.99 € / 209.00 CHF.

21322 PIRATES OF BARRACUDA BAY ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

THE SET IN BELGIUM >> THE SET IN SWITZERLAND >>

As promised, LEGO has just announced the result of the second phase of evaluation 2019 and the two selected LEGO Ideas projects are Medieval Blacksmith by Namirob and Winnie the Pooh (Winnie the Pooh) by benlouisa.

I won't hide from you that I am a little disappointed with the selection made by the members of the team in charge of the evaluation of the competing projects, but I think that some of you will not be of the same opinion with d 'on the one hand, a set that should appeal to nostalgic fans of the universe Castle and on the other, something to delight those who appreciate everything related to the world of Disney cartoons.

Project anatomy by Stephanix, who was on borrowed time up to now, is definitely rejected like the 8 other projects of this review phase.

While waiting for the official versions of these two new projects to arrive on the shelves, we still have to find out what LEGO has done with projects already validated in the past: The Pirate Bay, 123 Sesame Street et Playable LEGO Piano.

It is LEGO which announces it, the result of the second phase of review 2019 of the LEGO Ideas projects which in their time gathered the 10.000 necessary supports will be unveiled live on the facebook page dedicated to the program on Wednesday February 12 at 16:00 p.m.

10 projects are in the running and, personally, I hope that The Office ou Thunderbirds Are Go (or both) will be selected. I believe that we have largely covered the topic "space" and I am not a fan of the other proposals of this wave of projects. I'll let you go about your predictions in the comments.

If you have a facebook account, you can also Comment on the announcement made by LEGO (also on twitter) for a chance to win one of three copies of the LEGO Ideas set 21320 Dinosaur Fossils set signed by fan designer Jonathan Brunn.

Below is the list of the ten competing projects (joined by the Anatomini project which had remained under evaluation during the previous review):

As expected, the LEGO Ideas set 21321 International Space Station (864 pieces - 69.99 € / 74.99 € / 89.90 CHF) is now available on the official online store.

What was not planned is the increase in the public price of the set which took place these last ones, the price going discreetly from 59.99 € to 69.99 € on the product sheet without really knowing why.

This increase, which aligns the public price of the set in France with the price charged in Germany, should not put off space conquest fans or those who collect all the sets sold in the LEGO Ideas range. The most patient will possibly wait a few months for this box to be available at Amazon and benefit from a more attractive price.

The commemorative patch with the reference 5006148 is automatically added to the basket if you are a member of the VIP program and order the set 21321 International Space Station. You also benefit from the offer that allows you to obtain the LEGO Hidden Side set 40408 Drag Racer from 45 € / 50 CHF of purchase.

Otherwise, you can also treat yourself to the novelties of the BrickHeadz range: 40377 Donald Duck (€ 9.99), 40378 Goofy & Pluto (14.99 €) or even 40380 Easter Sheep (9.99 €).

THE LEGO IDEAS 21321 ISS SET ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

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

We now know the gift that will be offered by LEGO to members of the VIP program on the occasion of the launch of the set. 21321 International Space Station (864 pieces - 69.99 € / 74.99 € / 89.90 CHF) from next February 1: this is a commemorative patch bearing the reference 5006148.

Those who bought the LEGO Creator Expert set 10266 NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander as soon as it goes on sale in June 2019 remember of the gift received with the box, a patch similar to the one that will be offered this year.

Evil tongues will say that there was probably better to do in terms of promotional product (a polybag?) Than this patch to sew on your favorite denim jacket, but that's always taken for LEGO fans and of space conquest and it is in the spirit of what the various space agencies regularly do to celebrate a mission or an anniversary.

The offer will theoretically be valid until February 9, but we all know that the stock of available patches will run out in a matter of hours as of February 1.