LEGO® Technic review & MOC: 42152 Firefighter Aircraft

The largest and loftiest of the LEGO® Technic sets launched in March 2023 has taken to the skies, but New Elementary is calling it into to the hangar for inspection. Before we clear this airplane for takeoff, why not refit it into something a little more whimsical? Keep reading to see the features of 42152 Firefighter Aircraft; one of which inspired me to repurpose its parts into a giant dragonfly.

LEGO® ICONS™ set review: 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell

In a previous article, I took a careful look at the numerous new element designs, decorations, and recolours that appear in the forthcoming 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set from the LEGO® ICONS™ theme. Today, I'll be expanding upon that by taking a look at the building process and finished model, with additional insight from Senior Graphic Designer, Ashwin Visser, who New Elementary spoke to at Recognized LEGO Fan Media Days in September 2022.

LEGO® NINJAGO® review: 71783 Kai's Mech Rider EVO

I like bikes, I like mechs and I like models that can be configured in different ways, so this LEGO® NINJAGO® set has a few of my boxes ticked. I don't think I've seen a mech on a motorbike in a LEGO set before and I like the quirkiness of that fun idea. 

 

Hop on for a pillion ride; we'll take this beast for a spin and see if it takes the corners well.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43217 'Up' House

The Disney·Pixar animated movie Up was released back in 2009 and won a couple of Oscars that year as well as a Best Picture nomination. Nearly 14 years have passed since its release,  but recently LEGO® Disney 43217 'Up' House was revealed as part the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary this year.

LEGO® Friends 41711 Emma's Art School

After all of our recent LEGO® Friends 2023 set reviews, today we are going "old skool" and looking back at one from 2022. 41711 Emma's Art School was one of five sets released last year which told the story of where the original five Friends characters would be furthering their education; the others being 41713 Olivia's Space Academy, 41714 Andrea's Theatre School, 41716 Stephanie's Sailing Adventure and 41717 Mia's Wildlife Rescue.

 

LEGO® NINJAGO® review and MOD: 71785 Jay's Titan Mech

Gundam! Jay’s Titan Mech looks great. This Beautiful Blue Bot is the second largest of January’s LEGO® NINJAGO® releases. Let's take a look at what this set has to offer, and see whether my idea for a modified version is successful. 

LEGO® Friends review: 41728 & 41733: Thought for Food

I’ve reviewed so many sets from the January 2023 wave of LEGO® Friends, I’m in need of some food and a drink... which these two sets will provide.

41728 Heartlake Downtown Diner has some great sandwiches for me, and 41733 Mobile Bubble Tea Shop serves a refreshing beverage which, according to my children, is made of a combination of milk, tea, flavored syrup and tapioca pearls for a chewy texture. I’ll have a coffee, black.

LEGO® Technic parts review and MOC: 42140 App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle

The LEGO® Technic line of simple "ripsaw"-like remote-controlled vehicles began in 2017 with 42065 RC Tracked Racer, which was an excellent source of Power Functions elements. The latest entry in this line is 2022's 42140 App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle, which I am dissecting for its inventory of juicy parts, before trying to come up with a very different use for it.

LEGO® element design interview: 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell

No single designer is ever wholly responsible for a LEGO® set, so to get a better understanding of the new elements in 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell, we spoke to four of them! Our very own ‘Council of Elements’ comprises three element designers: LEGO Senior Designer Mani Zamani, LEGO Senior Designer Gitte Thorsen and LEGO Design Master Yoel Mazur; as well as one of the model designers, LEGO Design Master Wes Talbott.

LEGO® Monkie Kid™ review & MOC: 80037 Dragon of the East

Released as the smallest set in the mid-2022 wave of LEGO® Monkie Kid™ Series 3, 80037 Dragon of the East is a fun playset featuring two baddies pitted against our hero Monkie Kid and Mr Tang. Let's take a look at the interesting elements found in the set, before I use some of them in a creation of my own!