29 February 2024

LEGO® Icons review: 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna

Posted by Zachary Hill

Few Formula 1 cars have ever come close to the dominance displayed by the McLaren MP4/4. In the 1988 season, teammates Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost drove the cars to win the World Constructors' Championship with more than triple the points of their closest competitor; a feat never again seen in F1.


This legendary car and its drivers have been immortalized in many forms, but 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna is its first time as a LEGO® set. It's also the first LEGO® Icons car to include a minifigure. Their scales don't match but display stands are included for both and nothing's stopping you from putting tiny Senna in the larger car. Several new moulds and printed elements form the wheels, suspension, bodywork and iconic helmet. Even in a bare-bones F1 car, some areas such as the engine bay still pack in the detail expected of LEGO Icons vehicles.

27 February 2024

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43249 Stitch

Posted by Thomas Jenkins

Say 'Aloha!' to LEGO® Disney™43248 Stitch, a brick-built version of the mischievous extra-terrestrial. Today we take a look at all the recoloured elements and techniques used to build the little critter.

24 February 2024

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43239 Mirabel's Photo Frame and Jewelry Box & 43237 Isabela's Flowerpot

Posted by Eero

The Walt Disney Animation Studios film Encanto was featured in three LEGO® sets – one large house and two small storybooks – in 2021. It is therefore surprising that two more sets are soon to be released; 43239 Mirabel's Photo Frame and Jewelry Box and 43237 Isabela's Flowerpot. Furthermore, these sets borrow their idea and style from the LEGO® Botanical Collection and the discontinued LEGO® DOTS theme. This double-feature article takes a look at both sets.


22 February 2024

LEGO® Disney™ set review: 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage

Posted by tobymac

"Heigh-ho, heigh-ho! It’s home from work we go!"

The cozy house from that memorable song to is now featured in LEGO® Disney™ 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage. Based on the revolutionary movie from 1937, this set depicts the little house in the woods Snow White stumbles upon after being chased away by the huntsman. So grab your pickaxe and join me in song as we march home to explore all the new elements.

19 February 2024

LEGO® Pick a Brick: new elements added in February 2024

Posted by Admin
The long-awaited first parts update to LEGO® Pick a Brick of the year happened from 19 February 2024.

The list of 252 elements includes new pieces from September and October 2023 LEGO sets, many of which were supposed to be added in January, but a warehouse upgrade delayed the update. 

Browse the images of the 252 new elements below, each with a handy link direct to the element on Pick a Brick. Availability may vary over time and from country to country.

16 February 2024

LEGO® Friends review: 42604 Heartlake City Shopping Mall

Posted by Eero

The LEGO® Friends theme was rebooted last year and in addition to brand new set concepts like 42605 Mars Space Base and Rocket it has brought many new takes on sets from earlier years. During its 12 year run, LEGO Friends has given us 41058 Heartlake Shopping Mall in 2014 – remembered for its Pearl Gold palm leaves, and 41450 Heartlake City Shopping Mall in 2021 – a surprisingly recent model that shares the same name, layout and escalator system as the new mall I'm reviewing today: 42604 Heartlake City Shopping Mall.

 

All of the rebooted LEGO Friends sets seem to be large improvements over their predecessors; so how does this mall fare?

12 February 2024

LEGO® Minecraft™ review: 21257 The Devourer Showdown

Posted by Elspeth De Montes

One of the more intriguing new sets released under the LEGO® Minecraft™ theme in January 2024 was 21257 The Devourer Showdown, based on this year's Minecraft™ Legends video game.

The 420 piece set features new moulds, new prints and some new recolours that currently remain exclusive to this set. It's definitely worth taking a closer look, even if Minecraft, the disgusting Devourer or mucus projectiles are not your thing.

11 February 2024

LEGO® Icons build review: 10327 Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter

Posted by Zachary Hill

The definition of Frank Herbert's Dune series may be found in its myriad of sophisticated analogue technology. Of all this tech, ornithopters are arguably the most iconic. Their dragonfly-like movements provide relatively safe passage over the treacherous sands of the desert planet Arrakis and are a key pillar of the House Atreides "desert power."


Their rhythmic undulations are no longer a thing of science fiction with the release of LEGO® Icons 10327 Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter. While the hefty set doesn't fly, it doesn't let down fans who have long yearned to see 'thopter wings move in complex reality. With an overview of the sand-skipping ornithopter's parts and minifigures completed, New Elementary swoops in again for a look at this fascinating set's build and functions.

08 February 2024

Temporary changes to LEGO® Pick a Brick in 2024

Posted by Admin

Many of you have been asking here on the site and across our social channels about the delays in adding new elements to the LEGO®  Pick a Brick (PaB) online service. We have an update from LEGO, and it is not good news in the short term.


In early January 2024 we received a list of new elements that were to be added later that month to PaB, but this didn't happen. Furthermore, readers say some 5000 existing elements have now been removed from the PaB "Standard" assortment. These elements will return, and the new parts will be added - but the estimated date for this is now March. 

05 February 2024

LEGO® Friends review: 42621 Heartlake City Hospital

Posted by Eero

While the LEGO® Friends theme often portrays small, independent businesses, it also gets a fair share of public services. The health services take place in 42621 Heartlake City Hospital which is a name that might sound familiar to you as there is a LEGO Friends set from 2020 with the exactly same name - 41394 Heartlake City Hospital. Comparisons with it show just how far the LEGO Friends theme has come; not only during its 12-year run, but also just within this decade. Heartlake City has been rebooted, so let's find out how its hospital has changed with it.

01 February 2024

What are the new LEGO® parts for February 2024?

Posted by tobymac

I've created a list showing all 80 new LEGO® elements added in February 2024, with links to which sets they come in so you can check for the ones you might be interested in. And for those of you who instead prefer our list of sets showing which contain the most new elements, click here.

LEGO® Icons parts and minifigures review: 10327 Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter

Posted by Zachary Hill

The expansive Dune universe has expanded into LEGO® form and to make that happen, new parts must flow as the spice does. 10327 Atreides Royal Ornithopter reaches wide with impressive wings and comes with equally prolific minifigures, each navigating the sands in detailed and newly printed garb. Today we take a look at the new parts and minifigures within.