Lego Brickmaster Replacement – Lego MBA

Posted on by
2

The replacement to the Lego Brickmaster program has been announced. Lego MBA. From the press release:

As you know, LEGO® Brickmaster has been discontinued to make room for a program unlike anything the LEGO Group has ever offered. We promised that you would be the first to know about it and we’re too excited to keep it a secret any longer.

So we are proud to announce, to you current and former Brickmaster families first -
The LEGO Master Builder Academy!

We’re bringing you the building and design secrets of real LEGO Master Builders. You’ve never experienced anything like this before.

The LEGO Master Builder Academy (LEGO MBA for short) is a series of sets, guidebooks and online experiences engineered to teach fans 8+ to become better and more creative builders. Learn how to create your own sets using the world around you as inspiration, just like the LEGO Master Builders do.

LEGO MBA begins in June, and preorders begin May 1st. Purchase the first set in LEGO Stores or through LEGO Shop At Home. Subscribe to receive 5 more LEGO Master Builder Academy kits this year.

Watch for updates at the new LEGO Club site (www.club.lego.com) Club code: LEGOMBA.

When you follow the club link and enter the promo, you get a little more info, but it’s still vague what they are going for…

Hey out there, LEGO Club and LEGO BrickMaster members! Here at The LEGO Group, we’re busy getting ready to launch something new that we think you’ll really like: the LEGO Master Builder Academy!

The mission of the LEGO Master Builder Academy program is simple: “Take Your Building to the Next Level”. And what do we mean by that? We want to help you use the expertise and official techniques of the real LEGO Master Builders to discover how to create better, stronger and cooler-looking models that you design all by yourself!

LEGO MBA will be a multi-level LEGO training experience. You know how in martial arts like karate, there are different colored belts that signify a level of achievement and rank? LEGO MBA will be like that too, with multiple levels of achievement. Each level has its own special color, but instead of a belt, you’ll receive a new exclusive MBA Minifigure in the color of the latest building skill level that you’ve achieved!

The first year of the LEGO MBA program features two skill levels – green Level 1 and yellow Level 2 – with more to come later on. You’ll master each level through exclusive LEGO MBA building kits and technique-filled Design Handbooks, three per level, each including pieces and instructions dedicated to a famous theme like space, robots, cars and more.

You’ll be able to find additional challenges and building ideas on the LEGO MBA website, along with skill tests to level up your building even more. As you meet and beat each challenge, your friends and family will be amazed at how much your building skills and creativity have advanced!

So what do you say? Want to take your LEGO building to the next level? Get ready, because the all-new LEGO Master Builder Academy launches this June in the US with plans to expand to other markets next year!

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Pharaoh’s Quest Overall Thoughts

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve been fortunate enough to grab almost an entire series of Lego sets recently. The Pharaoh’s Quest line feels like a re-imagining of the Egypt sub-theme of Lego Adventurers. You know, the ol’ Johnny Thunder days. This time we get some interesting variations on the theme.

At this stage of my collecting and play, I’m trying to add variety to my minifigure collection. I have been known to buy bulk brick (40lbs) before, so I have a good amount to build from, but of course never enough…

These sets don’t disappoint. Although there is some repetition in figures when one acquires the whole series, the accessories help make them feel different, and it’s perfect for quickly building small armies. The overall theme hints at a steampunk feel, but more colorful and not as steam powered. With slight modifications the sets could shine.

When I placed my order, I missed the small scarab set, and have since been told not to order anything else for myself because of the upcoming holiday. Because of this I’ll speak like I have the full series, but any of you eagle eyed followers will be aware of the slight untruth. This review also currently excludes the battle pack. It’s not yet available at the time of writing in the US, and I’m not sure I count these as sets, although I love being able to buy straight up minifig packs.

Total figure count for the sets comes to 20 while you only get 1771 pieces if you buy one of each set. I’ll be using the names for them that come from Brickpedia, since otherwise, I have no idea how to name them. What I find interesting, is that out of 20 Figures, only 1 is female. I’m surprised in this day and age we continue to see a clear indication that women can’t be explorers? Either way, the breakdown and totals for the figs is in the table bellow.

What can get a little confusing is there are two variations of one of the human males (Jake) and 3 variations of mummies, the mummies all with the same kind of printing on the torsos and equipped with different accessories. Because of that, I’ve tried to indicate the variations bellow, while trying to give a clear cut total of each figure across the series in the right most column. In addition, a total figures per set is the last row of the table. I apologize, too many years of providing dense statistical reports to managers has ruined the way I work with data…

Click: Set names for reviews. Figure names for Brickpedia article 7305 (44 pcs) 7306 (70 pcs) 7307 (125 pcs) 7325 (213 pcs 7326 (527 pcs) 7327 (792 pcs) Total Figures for full series

Human

              

Professor Archibald Hale

           Only Set 1
Helena Tova       Only Set     1
Mac Mcloud   1       1 2
Jake Raines Amo Belt Torso   RAF Jacket Torso Amo Belt Torso RAF Jacket Torso Amo Belt Torso 5 (in 2 variations)
Mummy              
Amset-Ra           Only Set 1
Mummy (Pharaoh’s Quest)   2 (2) (1) 2 (1) 4 regular /(8 in 3 variations)
* Snake Charmer Mummy       1     1
* Winged Mummy     2     1 3
Anubis Creature           2 2
Total Figs in Set 1 3 3 3 3 7 20 Total Figs

*Because the mummies use the same base fig I will give total mummy count and indicate the number of variations in each set. For total count, only include the Mummy (Pharaoh’s Quest) row.

This table is based on the initial release in November/December 2010

I question, just like good people wearing uniforms with skulls, just who are ‘the baddies‘. I mean really. The way I see it, this Pharaoh has settled in for a long Egyptian nap. All of a sudden, these Brits, as indicated by RAF symbol on plane and steering wheels on the wrong side of the cars [I'm yelling this at you Clarkson] come along with dynamite trying to steal all his bling. Seems clear cut to me…

The figures aren’t the only things that add up. In these sets you get 4 creatures all that have the only printed bricks for faces and some good articulation as needed to make them walk and destroy the enemy. The thieves come well equipped too. Armed with the old style western rifles and newer tommy gun machine guns mounted to one biplane and two wheeled/tracked vehicles and one motorcycle.

Overall, I’m in love with the series. I’m not excited about price per piece, but we get some really sweet minifigures and accessories, including the golden loot being ‘liberated in the name of history.’ I haven’t enjoyed sets, read: actually assembled them all, in a very long time. I also haven’t been excited about new figures like this since the introduction of Ritter der Drachenarmee, which before that, I don’t remember. If given the opportunity, I hope you too can get these sets. There’s no one set that is bad, they’re all great.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

7327 Scorpion Pyramid

Posted on by
Reply

7327 Scorpion Pyramid is definitely the rug that ties the room together. This play set, brings everything together in the series to make a complete adventure story. It features several items that move, including stairs that lift up to reveal a hidden space, a wall that can be knocked out (blown up) to gain access to the Pharaoh, front doors that slide open via a crank, and a pile of rocks waiting to drop from the top floor on the unlucky explorer who doesn’t ‘disarm the trap.’

The baddies come in heavily armed to pillage and plunder in this one. Coming in with a half-track with mounted machine-gun, rifles, guns and dynamite they mean business to steal the loot in the pyramid. The Pharaoh won’t give up that easy though.

A giant scorpion lays in wait to attack. Unlike most of the pieces in the set, the printed detail on this creature is painted on. The tail is nicely articulated and ginormous claws open a nd close to crush the enemy. If that’s not enough, the set also includes a flying mummy, 2 figures of Anubis and Pharaoh.

Once again we are treated to torsos painted front and back on all figures. As well as a few backwards head options for each.

 

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

7326 Rise of the Sphinx

Posted on by
Reply


7326 Rise of the Sphinx centers around a sphinx, which when the adventurers steal from it, comes to life and can ‘walk’ around. It comes with the same mummies as the rest of the series with painted torsos front and back, and the option of revealing one or both eyes by spinning the heads. As for the adventurer, it’s the same as in set 7307 Flying Mummy Attack which means you get a double sided flight jacket and a scarred soul patch face. The adventurer drives another red car that looks a bit like a roadster and caries a western style rifle and pick axe.

In each of the sets, there seems to be one special artifact, in this one it’s a gold Scimitar being held by gold scorpions.

The scimitar can be liberated with force using a flick missile type push bar that will push the scimitar holder out through a wall in the base.

The Sphinx, which can rest on the base also uses ball joints to connect up the makings of 4 legs so that it can come to life.

And of course, extra parts…

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

7325 Cursed Cobra Statue

Posted on by
Reply


7325 Cursed Cobra Statue is your only chance in 6 sets ad 13 minifigures to pick up a female adventurer in the entire Pharaoh’s Quest line. I find it odd that this is the case, but it is. Of course you also get a minifig clearly ready for battle with an amo belt and the same scared head as in 7307 Flying Mummy Attack. You also get the same mummy body and head as the other sets but in this instance you get a tan headdress with snake pattern.

The backs of the new torsos are also pained. A nice touch TLG.

The set itself comes with a red vehicle. With the steering wheel in the instructions going in on the wrong side, you hear me Jeremy Clarkson? It once again indicates the human grave robbers are Brits. I have, in assembly, fixed the situation by installing it on the correct side. ;-)

With the application of a few stickers, you get a license plate and rope detail to dress it up. This is nice because the body of the car uses the same molded part we’ve seen in other adventure themed series, but of course is in a nice red.

Maybe the most impressive piece is the living giant cobra statue protecting a golden scarab shield on a small tower.

The cobra, decorated in gold and blue with a giant plastic piece to make up the characteristic cobra look is impressive for sure. Using ball joints, it’s well articulated, and features the only piece in the set to have been painted, rather than rely on a decal.

Overall the set, when I viewed it online was my least favorite, which now has changed. I have yet to find a set I dislike in the series. The one thing that bothers me, is I had enough extra pieces that I have this odd feeling I missed something…

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

7307 Flying Mummy Attack

Posted on by
Reply


In 7307 Flying Mummy Attack, you get two flying mummies, a pilot and his biplane, and an obelisk with jewel. Loving almost all things that fly, this set is probably the one that caught my eye first. There’s nothing better than a cool plane, but FLYING MUMMIES?! Hot damn! Now we’re talking.

The mummies, are the same as in set 7306 Golden Staff Guardians, and I suspect any other mummies, but not yet proven until I open those sets. This is fine by me, because it means it’s quick to build an army of mummies, maybe to fight an army of zombies, but I digress. What makes these different is their headdress and wings. Each separate from the other making it possible to work some different combinations. It’s difficult to see, but the headdress is shaped like a hawk’s head with some painting to give it a bit of a face.

The pilot, continues the slightly bruised look of the lone adventurer in 7306 with a little facial scar. Front and back of the torso is painted with WWII type flight jacket including name tag and other details on the front, and an Eagle’s head on back with the letters SMH.

The biplane, named “Spirit of Luis” as identified by the cockpit is a nice rich cranberry red and decorated with an Eagle’s head on tail, and RAF emblems on the top of the wings. It clearly has swooshable carachteristics, and guns.

I always enjoy increasing these red parts as they always seem more realistic red than the basic red in most MOCs. All the details are decals that need to be applied, which is unfortunate. I’m never good at getting them on right, and they can peel off after a while. I also rarely add stickers when they come in a set since it limits the reuse of parts, but in this case, they look pretty awesome so I went ahead and added them.

The obelisk, probably the least interesting part in my opinion, is still pretty neat with some hyroglyphs running up the side. The idea of the set, looking at the box and having built it, is for the plane to swoop in, deploy a hook type thing, and make off with the jewel. So really, what we have here is an imediate change in perception. We’re led to believe that the mummies are the bad guys, but in reality, you have these “brits” flying around, stealing what is rightfuly the mummy’s and they’re just trying to protect it.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

7306 Golden Staff Guardians

Posted on by
Reply

The Pharaoh’s Quest Lego sets have shown up on the Toys R Us site before most of us expected. I’m starting out with the smaller set due to available time around the holiday. The Golden Staff Guardians set comes with 2 mummies and a lone adventurer on a motorcycle. The set itself consists of 70pcs and retails at 11.99 at tru but is the typical ~$10 set at most locations.

The minifigs are what first caught my eye about this series. In this one you get two mummies, as mentioned before. What’s great is they each come with reversible heads which give you the choice of one eye, or two. Front and backs of the mummies are printed rags on the torso while the front of the legs are printed with loin cloth type print. Each also comes with a pharaoh hat in black in the same mold as we recently saw in the Series 2 minifigure’s pharaoh and in older sets featuring similar themes as well as a sword and scarab shield each. The lone adventurer comes with front and back printed torso to give the appearance of suspenders over a blood stained tank-top. Overall, the adventurer looks pretty bruised and beat up, with scar/injury on face, 5′oclock shadow and blood. This particular fig has a nice steampunk or postapoc feel to it that I’m really digging.

Beyond the figs, the set comes with a little stand in which a two-pronged staff which can be knocked out of place with a flick missile

The lone adventurer rides a cranberry deep-red motorcycle armed with a rifle from the Western molds and dynamite, which I first saw in the Power Miners sets, but may have appeared earlier.

And of course, the set comes with a few extra pieces. Not shown hear is the clear headlight that fell on the ground, and has yet to be found.

Overall the set is a nice little set that gives us some cool new pieces and a couple of mummies to add to you monster collection. The overall series seems to want to lean toward steampunk, and with a few modifications would fit in to the genre very easily. I can’t wait to get the other sets open and assembled.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Pharoh’s Quest Lego available on tru.com

Posted on by
Reply

Just came to realize that TRU has the newest Pahroh’s quest sets available for order!


If your order is over a certain amount shipping is free. Since you can’t find the stuff easily I swiped a listing from http://www.brickshow.com/2011-pharoahs-quest-lego which I’ll add links to the TRU site to help out. Like usual, you need to search for the sets and they’re all but impossible to find by browsing.

You can use promo code 941747 for BOGO 50% off. You can seemingly only use the code once per account, so choose wisely. (Thanks to FBTB for the promo code.)

Also free shipping (up to $20) on orders over $49!

* Attack of the Scarab (7305) – Will include 1 mini figure and features an exploration camp.
* Race for the Golden Staff (7306) – Will include 3 mini figures and features a centre with a golden staff, motorbike and mummies.
* Duel in the Air (7307) – Will include 3 mini figures and features a red RAF biplane, Egyptian pillar, mummies with wings.
* Cursed Cobra Statue (7325) – Will include 3 mini figures and features a live Cobra statue, car, mummies and snakes.
* Mysterious Sphinx (7326) – Will include 3 mini figures and features a large Sphinx, car and mummies.
* Pyramid of the Pharaoh (7327) – Will include 7 mini figures and features a baseplate with pyramid, car and a giant scorpion.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post