In the Kre-O/Lego wars

[Malikon]

I recently got into brick building maybe 6 weeks ago and have amassed a pretty even split between Kre-o and Lego.

I see online that Kre-o doesn't seem to be very popular with the die-hard Lego fans, but as someone new to building with these little bricks (and someone who likes Transformers) I had to get a couple sets.

One thing I really have positive to say about them, and I only mention this because I see such negative things said, is that they really have great boxes. It's real nice to be able to open them up and use them as a sorting tray for building.

I've even started using the boxes when I'm using the Lego brand building bricks because they're so convenient.

Not that I'm trying to start any debate or talk bad about either brand, since I have and enjoy both...but I do wish the Lego kits I've bought had better boxes instead of tear open flaps.

I've ended up cutting tongue and groove sections into the flaps so I can keep it closed.

I imagine a lot of people throw out the boxes and just sort the new elements into their existing collection, but as someone who's new to all this and doesn't have a big collection of parts,..I've been keeping all the kits intact and storing the pieces in freezer bags inside the boxes.

This morning I dismantled last nights Kre-O build and as I was sorting the pieces into the box for bagging it really dawned on me how something as simple as having a good box to build out of impresses me.

Only own 6 kits at the moment, half and half Lego/Kre-o,...I've been getting a new kit pretty much every weekend for the past 6 weeks.

...this weekend I'm torn between the Creator Mountain Cabin and the Star Wars AT-RT.

Anyway just wanted to say for all the negative things I see online about brands that aren't Lego brand,..one area where a "clone" got it very right, imo,..is that Hasbro is putting them in really good boxes that make great sorting trays.

Not a problem I'm sure for big collectors, but for someone new to the hobby it really makes a big difference being able to store them and use the box itself as a 'building tool.'

I have to admit just the fact I couldn't close the Lego box I found somewhat annoying. (which is why I cut a tongue and groove into the flap.)

..also all the Lego books are creased and folded which makes laying them flat more difficult, they keep wanting to close and I have to 'smoosh' them to stay open. The Kre-o books (at least the 3 I have) all came flat in the box and stay open while building.

I know and respect that Lego is the top #1 brand and originator of the brick building toy,..but I have to admit since I find myself paying more for Lego brand I wish the packaging was as good as their competitor.

Lego brand is awesome but the packaging and folded instructions leave a bit to be desired.

Edited March 28, 2014 by Malikon

[sithewok]

So far, I have only purchased Lego.

But as a huge Joe fan, if I lived somewhere Kreo G.I. Joe was available, I would probably not be sticking to Lego only.

[Meatman]

My kids have some of the G.I. Joe sets. They are Ok.

I'll take better designed quality sets over box quality any day.

[DuckBricks]

I'll take better designed quality sets over box quality any day.

Same! I am a purist about using only LEGO though, so I might be a bit biased against Kreo and M*ga Blo**s

[Fritzy]

What is your take on the Kre-O Transformers sets you've tried? I've been curious about them but not enough to make a purchase.

Edited March 28, 2014 by Fritzy

[Malikon]

I like the vehicle modes, the robot modes leave a bit to be desired proportionally. I picked up Starscream, Megatron and the large Optimus Prime model.

The design aspect seems fine to me, the vehicle modes are nice, very thick and solid with tons of layered plates.

Honestly I've been picking up the bigger sets mostly because I wanted a good volume of bricks for the price.

...I'm sort of viewing the bricks as clay for my own art projects, so I've just been trying to get a bunch of them at one time.

I didn't have Lego as a kid so I don't harbor any true 'purist' feelings. I'm just an artist/musician that recently discovered brick building so I've just been having fun with them.

honestly I really don't see much difference between the sets (other then visual), they feel the same, clutch the same, and even make the same sound when you drop them.

So far my favorite Lego set is the Creator Treehouse,..I just wish the box was better and the instructions weren't folded in half.

...all I have so far are Creator and City Lego bricks.

...but I've probably got 20 more Lego sets bookmarked and only about 3-4 more Kre-o sets bookmarked. (Enterprise, Devastator and Sentinel Prime)

I've actually been somewhat surprised at how reviled Kre-o seems to be,..but then again I was surprised at how large and loyal a following Lego has with adults.

The whole 'fandom' aspect of it surprised me really.

Like all fandoms though I understand the loyalty, as a guitarist each guitar also has it's own large fanbase. (Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, etc.)

as an artist though, .. I just see bricks that make it so I can create stuff at night for fun.

Eventually I hope to get together enough black bricks to make a lifesize H.R.Giger 'Alien' head, with a snapping mouth/tongue.

...gonna be awhile before I have that many black bricks though. Hahahaha

I noticed the giant black Lego Lord of the Rings tower this week and had to bookmark that one for that reason. I think a lot of those black bricks will come in handy.

...mostly I just see clay in little plastic brick form. The engineering aspects of using them as an art medium is really intriguing to me.

It's not just sculpting them into form, but arranging them in a way that's durable and holds together best I really enjoy the challenge of.

Fun stuff.

I'm glad my GF picked up Lego set 30225 (the seaplane) on a lark. I probably never would've touched a Lego brick if she hadn't done that.

..of course 6 weeks and 6 sets later she may be regretting that. Hahaha

Edited March 28, 2014 by Malikon

[DPrime]

I'm a huge GI Joe fan, and Transformers too, so naturally I've been getting both lines. I will admit - the sets have been okay, but not great for the most part. I get them mainly for the Kreon minifigs - but this might change soon. The upcoming GI Joe wave looks spectacular, especially the Terrordrome! :)

Funny thing, I started buying Lego again after Kreo - it transitioned me out of my dark age! That can't be a bad thing, even if you're a Lego purist...

Edited March 28, 2014 by DPrime

[Fritzy]

I like the vehicle modes, the robot modes leave a bit to be desired proportionally. I picked up Starscream, Megatron and the large Optimus Prime model.

Yeah, I just had a look at some renders of Starscream and the robot form looks wonky to me. The Kreon minifigs look appealing, though. Will keep an eye out for those.

[Malikon]

The kreon figs are cool. I like their 'personality' and how posable they are.

[Inzane]

It is the GI-Joe license that attracted me to Kre-O. And I must say, of all the lego-clone products I've encountered up until now, Kre-O takes the cake as the best of the rest IMO.

The parts/pieces themselves seem to be of decent quality and the fitment is quite good. Color consistency is also excellent.

Where Kre-O really shines though is the minifigs (Kreons). They have done a spectacular job with the Joe and Cobra characters so far. I can't wait to add more to my collection.

[rob-cubed]

We can debate the quality of "off-brands" all day, but as long as LEGO won't touch these particular themes, I'll buy them!

[Malikon]

One of the odd things about Lego is the 'no war' rule, or whatever.

I don't really get that. I mean there's lots of Pirates, Spaceships, Castles with catapults, Ninjas, Star Wars gunships, etc. There's 'violence' (if you want to view it that way) through a lot of the lego sets in a sense.

Even Lego City has a strong police presence, so the crime there must be brutal.

Seems like a weird double standard to me.

"We don't want Military themes,..now pay no attention to all the passably violent themes we release."

I get why they don't have Lego Transformers or GI Joe,...Hasbro would no doubt not want to give them the license,..they're competing toy companies.

But what's the difference between a Lego Spaceship with missiles, or a Ninja with swords, or a Star Wars Gunship...from a Green Soldier and a Tank?

...just seems a bit weird to me. Especially just with the Star Wars line alone,....that's a war theme.

*shrugs*

I don't know,..not worth worrying about, but I do find it odd.

...mostly because I'd love to see some Lego Mechs and Tanks.

Edited March 28, 2014 by Malikon

[N-4K0]

I'll take better designed quality sets over box quality any day.

[Kliq]

Yeah, I have a strong dislike for the boxes that LEGO come in. Sure, it is what's inside that counts, but I'd love to have an upgraded box. Something you can actually use. I keep all of my boxes. I open both ends and have them flattened out in storage. I do that immediately after dumping out the pieces, instructions, stickers, etc. Oh well, I guess one can dream.

[Artifex]

I'm a big fan of GI Joe, and when Kre-o announced there was going to be a Kre-O GI Joe line, they got me interested. I read all the reviews around and I even asked here at Eurobricks if there was a good compatibility between the two brands.

And then I bought my first Kre-O set.

Overall, I'm really glad about it, but mostly because it's GI Joe, and because the sets are Kre-O replicas of real GI Joe sets (although some sets are entirely new) that I can add to my Lego Town.

I like the boxes too, and the Kreons (the Kre-O minifigures) are differente and interesting (they have chins and their legs move sideways). The boxes are useful like the OP said, and the building manuals are just like Lego's.

But I don't think the plastic is as good as Lego's. It's got a different feel to it. And a different shine. It looks a little cheap in comparison, although it's got a good grip. Actually, I feel the plastic is a little harder than Lego's, but I'm not sure that's better -- I felt more than once that a brick was going to break while I was connecting to others.

But I have nothing bad to say about the Kre-O GI Joe sets. The ones I bought are already part of my Lego town.

I have mixed the bricks of the two brands to see what happened, and it's just like kissing a cousin -- it feels good, but it also feels wrong. Just kidding; kissing a cousin feels great!

[N-4K0]

Well, to me the box is just that - a cardboard box that the set comes in. I usually throw the box away.

[fred67]

I w wouldn't care about the boxes either, but if the quality was decent, I'm not adverse to the idea of buying other bricks.

[Laura Beinbrech]

Kre-O/Lego wars?! I say all your powers combined:

This is one (of several) MOCs I made using both Kre-O and LEGO parts. This one was made from one of the Battleship sets that I converted into a Vic Viper. I also have two USS Missouri sets that I'm working on making into Destroyers (one of which is nearly finished), and have used a number of the Battleship aliens in other MOCs and such (I don't care for the usual Kreon figures, but I LOVE the aliens).

[Malikon]

Some great responses. Judging from what I'd read online I was sort of bracing myself to get slammed for even mentioning Kre-o.

Hikaro that's a cool MOC. I may have to rethink the Battleship Missouri set. When I first saw it all I noticed was that the bottom half of the ship looked like one big solid piece,..which was a bit of a turn off.

[Dr Leg O Brick]

I'm fine with Kre-O, as long as they away from my Lego storage boxes. As a Star Trek fan, if they make anything from pre-2009 Abrams I'd consider reengineering the set in Lego (i.e. getting the set, using the instructions to build a Lego version, and using any Kre-O parts that Lego has nothing like as a last resort).

[Laura Beinbrech]

Hikaro that's a cool MOC. I may have to rethink the Battleship Missouri set. When I first saw it all I noticed was that the bottom half of the ship looked like one big solid piece,..which was a bit of a turn off.

I did a review of the Missouri set here a while back (which unfortunately never got indexed in the Clone Review Index), but here's a few relevant pics:

First and early WIP of my destroyer project (which in actuality is MUCH further along, has the radar masts switched in position, and the bridge & 02 Level platform lengthened and moved forwards a bit):

...And second, a comparison of the Missouri's Hull with a ship project (that is on indefinite hold) using the Black Pearl's hull with 2 extra sections and the LEGO City standard-sized boat hull (the 12x51 boat hulls used in most larger City floating boat sets recently):

As you can see, it fits in pretty well, size wise: I use the 12x51 hulls for Corvettes (the skinny version of the hull) and Frigates (the wider version of said hull), the Kre-O Missouri hulls for Destroyer class ships, and larger hulls (such as the LEGO Pirate 16 stud wide sectional hulls & that Oxford Korean navy ship set hull) for cruisers...

[Malikon]

are they actually supposed to float? Is that why the bottom sections are solid?

That makes sense but it seems like such a large, one purpose piece of plastic.

[AmperZand]

Kre-O/Lego wars?! I say all your powers combined...

Same here.

I generally prefer LEGO, but if TLG doesn't or can't make a part or someone else has a better design, I'll go with other brands. These two minifigs are examples. They're LEGO torsos and legs, Kre-o heads & hair (& bases), and third party pieces from four companies:

[Fritzy]

I picked up one of the Kreon minifigs based on your recommendation, TC. I'll let you know what I think!

[Faefrost]

My only complaint with Kreons is they don't always seem to seat or clutch onto studs as well as I would like. Particularly the back of the legs seem finicky for sitting. Plastic quality and printing are good. Design aesthetics can be hit or miss.