tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post8109312985536762678..comments2024-03-19T01:40:14.351+00:00Comments on New Elementary: LEGO® parts, sets and techniques: LEGO® review: 80023 Monkie Kid's Team DronecopterAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-5914504166159379442021-03-15T19:14:10.506+00:002021-03-15T19:14:10.506+00:00I went and read all of the designer's comments...I went and read all of the designer's comments on various models, there are some wonderful tidbits in there. A couple of comments about having to alter designs so they could be built by 5y olds, a comment about a new way of building a tractor-trailer cab, stuff like that. It just shows how even the most mundane sets can have interesting details to them.jimmytheflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10060952522546330342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-59927861391671207052021-03-15T04:18:56.723+00:002021-03-15T04:18:56.723+00:00Thanks Andrew!Thanks Andrew!jimmytheflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10060952522546330342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-41417693587956824052021-03-14T23:09:38.753+00:002021-03-14T23:09:38.753+00:00Fascinating! Great find Andrew, thanks for sharing...Fascinating! Great find Andrew, thanks for sharing. <br />For ease, here's that link again as an active link: <a href="https://brickset.com/sets/designer-Robert-Heim/page-2" rel="nofollow">Sets designed by Robert Heim</a>Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-17174564848689091372021-03-14T15:18:29.172+00:002021-03-14T15:18:29.172+00:00I found where I'd read about the reasons for i...I found where I'd read about the reasons for introducing the new grill brick—it's in the bricklist of the designer of the new City tractor: https://brickset.com/sets/designer-Robert-Heim/page-2Andrew Barnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723179808721244651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-56588088505471849382021-03-14T13:50:36.521+00:002021-03-14T13:50:36.521+00:00Good review!
One part you didn't mention in t...Good review!<br /><br />One part you didn't mention in this set that might be of interest to some people is Mr. Tang's printed "Journey to the West" book! Both the book cover and the inside page (a 1x2 tile with a picture of a spider demon) are printed. I kind of hope that future sets include that same book but with different printed pages depicting other characters and scenes from the classic story, sort of like the variety of printed pages in the 2016 Elves and Nexo Knights sets.<br /><br />Mo's little cat carrier surprised me delightfully with how effective a build it is. Not only is it snug enough that Mo will never tumble over even if you invert it, but if you tilt it forward Mo will often slide forward to poke his wittle nose right between the bars! Adorable!<br /><br />I also really like the spider container here. It's certainly not subtle, but I love features like the Technic "flaps" on the rear that allow the spring missiles to poke through (serving as triggers when it's loaded but folding flat when it isn't), and the classic radar dish that folds down snug over the 6x6 hole in the roof when the container is closed up, adding some visual interest that evokes a spiderweb!<br /><br />The heft of the set's main build is indeed impressive. With all four "wings" attached it's practically the size of a 48x48 baseplate, and it's amazing how despite that size and considerable weight, they managed to make the set's main functions operable with one hand. I like the way the rubber Technic piece introduced with the old Technic hockey figures is used in the trigger mechanism to give it a satisfying springiness without any actual springs or rubber bands.Andrew Barnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723179808721244651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-87315225277247327992021-03-14T13:33:17.067+00:002021-03-14T13:33:17.067+00:00I think I saw an explanation of that from the desi...I think I saw an explanation of that from the designer somewhere (don't remember where), that explained that the two-plate height was as much a reason for the part's existence as the textured exterior. It's not uncommon for a set to require two similarly-sized plates to be stacked to fill space in a model, but sometimes separating those plates can be a source of frustration, especially in sets for younger builders or smaller sets that don't include brick separators. So this part offers an alternative. The Technic axle hole will also probably prove useful for connecting 2x2 bricks with pin together so that a Technic beam or brick can be attached to the pins vertically, while still allowing a Technic axle hole to run through the center of the bricks. Again, a pair of 2x2 round plates could have served this purpose before, but this new brick offers a slightly more convenient alternative.<br /><br />Other two-plate high bricks that come to mind are the 2x2 and 2x3 curved slopes with studs that originated on the Knights Kingdom action figures. Those have also been used as "space filler" before in builds where something needs to be raised by two plates instead of a full brick.Andrew Barnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723179808721244651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-63180264003434894652021-03-14T06:09:28.671+00:002021-03-14T06:09:28.671+00:00Also and I don't know how to put this, but tha...Also and I don't know how to put this, but that brick is really satisfying in the hand. Like it's got a great weight and texture and the slightly different proportions and subtly softened edges are really pleasing, and you've gotta hold them not just see in pics. Maybe it's just me.<br /><br />Thanks for the review! Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06760007904631633167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-21953116004723810702021-03-14T06:05:18.755+00:002021-03-14T06:05:18.755+00:00The 2-plate height of the hay bale brick...er, pla...The 2-plate height of the hay bale brick...er, plate really surprised me. Why not just make it a full brick height? Maybe something to do with the axle hole? <br /><br />I'm trying to think of other examples of 2-plate thick bricks and can only come up with a couple of brackets, but even those are stepped in shape, not nearly so brick-like as the hay bale. Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06760007904631633167noreply@blogger.com