Today we take a very quick tour of the content of the LEGO Marvel set 76276 Venom Mech Armor vs. Miles Morales, a small box of 134 pieces currently available at the public price of €14.99. As you can imagine, there is nothing to complain about about this small set without any great pretensions, this product is obviously aimed at a very young audience fond of various and varied mechs and minifigs.

LEGO here only completes a collection of exoskeletons which seems to please the target audience and it is therefore Venom's turn to have the honors of the concept.
We can imagine that the variation of the character in mech is almost appropriate here, we obtain a set which certainly has a very "robotic" appearance but which can also embody an oversized version of Venom if we forget that the head of the minifig which protrudes from the command post is no longer in scale with the rest.

You will have guessed it by looking at the photos which illustrate this article, the mobility of the mech is very limited, it is made up of elements which allow only few combinations and range of movement at the elbows and knees. However, it is more than enough to have a little fun, there are still some interesting fun possibilities and the children should find what they are looking for.

No stickers in this box, the only element with a pattern is pad-printed and, as is often the case, it suffers from a slightly disappointing color difference with a white pattern which is not really white because it is printed on a black background. This technical solution remains preferable to the presence of a sticker which in all cases would have difficulty resisting repeated handling of the mech.

As for the two figurines provided, nothing new or exclusive to this little box, whether on the side of Venom or Miles Morales. The elements that make up these two figurines are available in several other sets already on the market and we can console ourselves by saying that this product is an opportunity to obtain them at a relatively reasonable price.

In short, this small, unpretentious box will easily find its audience, it is aimed at the youngest fans who are looking for a fun aspect to these products derived from universes that they like, such as for example the Spider-Man 2 video game which features a clash between Miles Morales and Venom, and the public price of the product makes it a gift to give for a birthday or a good report card.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 21th February 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we are quickly interested in the set LEGO 910032 Parisian Street, a creation by Nicolas Carlier who is currently a finalist of the Bricklink Designer Program Series 1. With its 3532 pieces, its 7 minifigs, its 18 stickers and its price set at €289.99, this model deserves in my opinion that we linger on it for the time of a review to check if the proposal is up to the level of the amount and patience needed to obtain it.

For those who don't know Nicolas Carlier (CARLIERTI), this is the one who submitted several times in the company of his brother Thomas (BRICK PROJECT) the now famous and failed Ratatouille project on the LEGO Ideas platform. Exiting through one door to enter through another, Nicolas Carlier submitted a unique creation as part of the Bricklink Designer Program and this Parisian street today has the honors of the program with its pre-order.

LEGO sent me a very preliminary copy without box or instruction booklet, with an inventory sorted in ordinary bags, unfinalized instructions in digital format and a sheet of temporary stickers. I was therefore able to assemble this 51 cm long by 12.5 cm deep model in the company of Chloé, who those who follow us on social networks already know.

The instructions were already at a sufficiently advanced stage to limit errors and other sequence reversals, although there was still work to be done and we had to use a little deduction for certain steps. There were also a few parts missing from the hand-sorted bags provided to us, but nothing serious.

The 18 stickers included in the temporary version are not printed on the usual paper but they do the job well once in place. They adorn the signs of the various businesses, the street signs and the painter's painting with the Eiffel Tower on the floors. It's graphically nicely executed, nothing to complain about.

Assembling the model is very pleasant, we start as if for a Structure through the base plates with their sidewalks and we gradually climb the floors, alternating the sequences of construction of walls, furniture and various and varied accessories. I am not giving you a detailed list of what you will find throughout the different sequences, the photos which illustrate this article speak for themselves.

It is important to note that LEGO did not intervene in the construction itself and that the product remains that imagined by its designer except for a few parts replaced for questions of logistics and availability.

I did not notice any particularly hazardous or risky techniques, the Carlier brothers are not novices and they know their ranges. They are therefore capable of offering an experience very similar to that which would be offered by an "official" product of the brand passed into the hands of experienced designers and this is excellent news for all those who might have been worried on this specific point .

Regarding the choice to offer a "doll's house" with facades on one side and furnished and fitted out alcoves on the other, Nicolas confirms that this is a deliberate choice. There was never any question of aping the principle of Modulars usually closed on all sides and the product was deliberately designed from the start as it will be delivered to the lucky purchasers.

Possible playability was one of the important criteria for its designer who therefore allowed himself to reserve one side for playful possibilities. The whole could therefore end its career by serving as a background layout in a diorama based on Modulars classics, the finish offered here being largely up to the standards offered at LEGO.

We also get here a real street, with several aligned buildings, the presence of a narrow alley with a staircase as well as a passage under one of the buildings. I find it all very successful with a nice mix of different architectures actually visible in the streets of Paris and the feeling of being in a real neighborhood, a point on which the set 10243 Parisian Restaurant left me hungry.

The colors used here are well chosen, the walls have character, the roofs are legible thanks to the contrast between beige and blue and the storefronts know how to stand out with their signs and their equipment which are also quite contrasting.

Nicolas Carlier was not stingy with the various internal arrangements, the furniture is very well designed and of the usual LEGO production level, the accessories are numerous and each space is therefore logically easily identifiable. The regulars of Modulars will be here on familiar ground with furniture of very good quality and a fairly successful use of the different spaces available, some of which are really very cramped.

All the alcoves are framed by an arch which guarantees exemplary solidity of the entire model, without the risk of the intermediate plates bending under the weight of the construction. For those wondering, the different floors and roofs are not designed to be separated from the model, with access to the interior spaces being defined on the rear side of the street.

The construction is accompanied by a large handful of figurines which brings a little animation to this shopping street, the different characters are well chosen and their accessories are matched. It's always a good idea for lovers of dense dioramas to find what they're looking for.

You will have understood, I find this product sufficiently accomplished to deserve our interest. It remains to accept the idea of ​​spending €290 on a set which is ultimately not an "official" product in the usual sense of the term.

We can obviously consider that the Bricklink Designer Program is a direct extension of the LEGO inventory, the platform having been bought by the Danish manufacturer, but I know that some fans remain resistant to these products and it is up to everyone to evaluate the relevance of the price in relation to the positioning of the sets concerned.

If you like the aesthetic and artistic touch of the Carlier siblings, don't hesitate to take a look at their site Brick Valley, you will find the instructions for other proposals of the same barrel as well as those for a series of mini Modulars which I find very successful. The two brothers also released two books on the theme of minis Modulars, you will find them on sale at Amazon:

LEGO Mini Modulars: Around The World

24.25 €

BUY

LEGO CITY - Mini Modulars book (Volume 2)

26.36 €

BUY

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 16th February 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.
Please note, I can only provide the complete inventory without instructions for the moment, you will have to wait for LEGO to officially make the relevant file available.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO ICONS set 10327 Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter, a box of 1369 pieces available since February 1, 2024 on the official store at the public price of €164.99. As usual, there is no question of revealing too much about what this product has in store for you; you have to give everyone who spends their money in these boxes the privilege of discovering the techniques and surprises that they offer. Just know that this model from the LEGO ICONS range has a little more to offer than a simple static construction destined to collect dust on the corner of a shelf.

We could indeed have been satisfied with a relatively faithful but static reproduction of the machine flying across the desert of Arrakis seen on the screen, many fans would not have been choosy. The designer has gone a little further here in treating his subject and we are not going to complain about it with on arrival a real pleasure in the assembly process and a real satisfaction in the discovery of the reasons for the complexity of certain construction sequences.

It will also be necessary to remain vigilant during certain phases so as not to be disappointed at the end of the thick instruction booklet, but we can say here without having the impression of being in the emphasis that the assembly of the product offers a truly unique experience for a product in this range.

This is indeed a set intended for adult customers looking for a model with an accomplished design, but the model intelligently combines bricks considered "classic" and numerous elements from the LEGO Technic universe to offer a little more than just a tasteless ornithopter.

My advice: take your time, enjoy the successful integration of the built-in mechanisms and don't hesitate to test how well they work along the way. Don't worry about the wing moving function, it will seem almost inactive during the first few editing sequences and you may wonder if you have made a mistake at some point. other, you will understand what makes it so satisfactory at the end of the process when it comes to attaching the flexible wings to the cabin.

The amplitude of the movement is in fact very small at the fixation points and it is the extension of the different appendages which causes the expected movement. You have an overview of the different functions in the reel below:

 

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The mechanism which synchronizes the deployment of the landing gears with that of the access ramp to the ship is also perfectly designed, the offset wheel on the side of the machine makes it easy to handle and we will have fun for a few minutes with just for the pleasure of enjoying the elegance of the solution used which allows you to obtain a quite stunning effect.

The cockpit glazing is packaged separately and this is the assurance that the large panels will not be too scratched on arrival even if it is not perfect in my case. As usual, do not hesitate to contact the brand's customer service if the condition of the parts you received does not seem to meet your requirements in relation to the price paid for this box.

I know that some will consider that this model leaves too many studs visible to really convince, I myself had this impression, particularly at the level of the tail of the device which seems to me almost a little too basic compared to the rest of the model. the model. You end up getting used to it after a few hours and the smooth wings visually compensate a little for this impression of a too pronounced presence of tenons in certain places.

Same remark for the numerous red colored elements which remain clearly visible on the body of the device: some fans will consider that it is an almost essential "signature" effect of the LEGO Technic universe whereas others will only appreciate moderately this visual “pollution” on a high-end model. Everyone has their own perception and tolerance regarding the limits of realism in LEGO products.

On arrival, the 57 cm long and 80 cm wingspan model with its wings extended is strong enough to be handled without losing parts, so it is also a toy for adults that will hold up without any problem. to repeated activations of integrated mechanisms. The product is obviously reserved for a category of fans of the treated universe who also like LEGO sets but in my opinion it sets a new milestone by redefining what a LEGO model can be which really takes advantage of all the possibilities offered by the ecosystem of available elements combined with the know-how of the most motivated designers.

If Dune is not your cup of tea, don't look away, the assembly of this machine remains in my opinion one of the most accomplished experiences to date of what we find in this range and you might be missing out on a few very entertaining and satisfying hours.

The supply of minifigs in this box is relatively substantial with 8 characters but it seems almost anecdotal to me, we discover each of the characters through the bags and we quickly put them in a corner to take advantage of the machine. The casting is well chosen, fans of Zendaya (Chani), Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides) or Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho) will be served but I personally remained focused on the ornithopter more than on the presence of this handful of figurines which are graphically very well executed.

You already know since the announcement of the product, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is perched on a transparent support which allows the toga which covers the minifig made up of neutral pieces to be lowered. It's visually interesting although I'm not a big fan of these capes and other clothing attributes that aren't made of plastic.

The pad prints are all very accomplished, we feel the care taken in the creation of these figurines and the result seems very convincing to me except for Lady Jessica whose "real" rendering is a little less flamboyant and contrasted than in the very promising official visuals. but obviously retouched.

What is perhaps missing is a small display stand to place the figurines on and not be forced to simply line them up around the model. No one will play with them and they would have deserved a real highlight with, for example, a colored support Tan (beige) reminiscent of the dunes of the Arrakis desert. Some will also regret the absence of an identification plate giving some facts about the machine, just to give character to this toy for older children.

You will have understood, I am nevertheless really won over by this proposal which in my opinion brings together the best of both worlds when it comes to LEGO models: A very acceptable finish based on "classic" bricks and the integration successful elements of the Technic universe which makes it possible to offer some real functions to a machine which could, for example, have been satisfied with a manual wing deployment system without anyone being offended.

This product risks making me even more demanding in the future, especially with the LEGO Star Wars range which would cope well with some creations of the same barrel, it sets the bar very high and embodies in my eyes what a set should be for adults in 2024, without compromise or shortcuts.

I'll say it again, if you intend to fall for this box, keep the pleasure of discovery and don't spoil too much which is the whole point of it. Take my word for it, you will not be disappointed with both the assembly process and the final result, the 165 € spent will seem justified to you. This is not always the case at LEGO.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 14th February 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we take a very quick tour of the content of the LEGO Marvel set 76280 Spider-Man vs. Sandman Final Battle, a small box of 347 pieces available since the beginning of January at the public price of €37.99.

The question will quickly become clear, this construction is in reality only a minimalist extension of the contents of the set 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle. The problem you suspect: mixing the two will not make the whole thing more readable and even less more successful. Here we find the principle of the black base and a few accessories piled on top to create a relatively dynamic scene designed to be admired from all angles.

On this specific point, it's successful, we can actually enjoy the scene from all angles without faulting the construction except perhaps at Sandman's back, an area which only benefits from a very basic finish. compared to the rest of the product.

The articulated half-figure of Sandman is also content to use the codes of the others Action Figures of the range, but without the hips and legs. The character's trunk is simply inserted into the base, it can be easily removed to integrate the diorama of the set 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle.

The single moving scaffolding, the inclined yellow beam and the portal add a little volume to the model and contribute to the overall staging by hiding the aesthetic shortcuts of the central character.

As you can see in the photos above, the sticker sheet provided remains relatively reasonable and Sandman's face is pad printed. This face seems totally ridiculous to me in the LEGO context, even if we can see an almost faithful interpretation of the features of the character seen on the screen.

However, I personally find the pattern completely unsuccessful with a carnival mask effect which, in my opinion, lends itself more to smiling than to credibly embodying the expression of the sandman. The few gray pieces that remain clearly visible at the level of the character's arms or neck only reinforce the impression that everything was a little botched.

The Spider-Man minifig is the one already seen in the sets 76185 Spider-Man at the Sanctum Workshop (2021) et 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle (2023). The Electro figurine also comes in the set 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle and only the Lizard remains to bring a little novelty to this product.

Was it absolutely necessary to make it a minifigure or rather move towards a BigFig like the Hulk? I lean towards the second proposition and with a suitable molded head, in my opinion the character would have had some character. As it stands, it's Legends of Chima with a Marvel twist, it's tasteless and far too generic to convince me even if I readily agree that the subject requires a graphic treatment in the spirit of that proposed.

So in my opinion there is no reason to get up at night and rush to the nearest toy store to buy this simple extension which should have been integrated from the start into the other box that it completes.

I understand LEGO's strategy which aims to dissociate certain elements which only deserve to be supplied in the same box to maximize its margin and encourage purchases but in this specific case it is, in my opinion, frankly far-fetched. and this separation of the two constructions is not justified.

Moral of the story: if you have already purchased the set 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle and you find certain advantages in it, this extension will undoubtedly seem essential to you to finish visually fleshing out the thing and making it a compact but complete diorama in homage to the film No way home. Otherwise, you can skip it without regrets, the only new minifig delivered in this box does not necessarily justify spending €38 in my eyes.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 3th February 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we are quickly interested in the contents of the LEGO Jurassic World set 76964 Dinosaur Fossils: T-rex Skull, a box of 577 pieces available since January 1, 2024 at the public price of €39.99.

You already know if you follow me, I had expressed my interest in this derivative product as soon as it was announced, the proposal seemed to satisfy my desire to reduce the quantity of products that I display at home and to concentrate on emblematic constructions worlds that attract me. I have not changed my mind after assembling the proposed construction, this product totally meets my expectations taking into account its limited inventory and its price positioning.

We know that LEGO is now putting lifestyle in all its ranges with proposals which ultimately boil down to more or less successful exhibition products depending on the subjects covered. This seems very convincing to me and it demonstrates that it is not always necessary to overbid pieces to obtain something presentable capable of attracting an audience of demanding collectors keen to exhibit only their prettiest pieces. .

The contents of this box are quickly assembled and the six bags are shipped in less than an hour. We start with the base decorated with the black support on which we will install the skull, we continue with the imprint and we finish with the skull of the T-rex.

There is only one sticker to stick here, that of the small plate which gives a "collector" side to the product and which distills some facts about the fossil. It's graphically very well executed, the sticker really gives character to the whole thing.

The fossilized impression is perfectly designed, the result is astonishingly realistic and only a few visible tenons are preserved with a perfectly managed visual balance. This very neat sub-assembly really contributes to the atmosphere of the product and is not just a slightly sloppy showcase, it is appreciable.

The skull is also detailed enough not to appear sloppy. Even if we remain on a LEGO product which does not necessarily seek to become a museum piece by tracking realism down to the smallest details, we see that the designer of the set has done his homework and that the skull reproduces the known bones rather well of the T-rex.

Assembling the skull remains entertaining with a logical and very satisfying progression. We finally install the skull on the support and finally obtain the expected object in its entirety. Fans of fun details will also find a piece of amber placed on the back of the print, the detail is interesting and it will fuel conversations between friends around this model.

To summarize, there is frankly no reason to ignore this nice derivative product which allows you to demonstrate your affinity with the Jurassic Park / Jurassic World universe without making a ton of it by cluttering up more imposing products. . The price charged by LEGO seems relatively reasonable to me given the potential of the product, the assembly experience is interesting with a nice effect for the imprint and a very successful skeleton of the skull, it's mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned Concern, I am seduced.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 27th January 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.