Lyichir

I wonder if the new sets will include any other Gum Gum powers for Luffy. The long arms were definitely a great touch but I think it would also be cool to get a fig of him using his Gum Gum Balloon (maybe built sort of like the Aunt Marge fig from Lego Harry Potter).

Pics of the upscaled Classic Space fig are out! The blue 1x6x5 panel with logo is very nice and since it's blue it should be good for non-upscaled MOCs as well (perhaps on the side of a base or SHIP). From a cursory look at the build, most of the parts to build it in red, black, and white as well, but sadly the 4x4x2 2/3 domes used for the helmet don't come in yellow yet. Though on second glance I'm not sure what piece is used for the chinstrap. Looks almost like an intermediate arch between the 1x3x1 2/3 version and the 1x5x3 1/3 version. If so it's a welcome piece, but will sadly mean recolors will have to wait.

Even as an adult, I find that modular swapping is a nice feature compared to rebuilding from scratch if for no other reason than it being less of a commitment. It's the difference between trying out a new combination in a matter of moments versus committing hours to disassembling a set fully and then reassembling it as an alternate model. And the former can still encourage creativity, since those connection points for add-ons work just as well with small custom modules as they do with the ones that come with the set by default. Dreamzzz actually tends to have a nice combination of all of these approaches—a base model that typically stays consistent between builds, alternate builds that involve disassembling the rest of the set (instead of having to fully disassemble it all), and occasionally modular weapons or accessories that can work with either build or mixed and matched with other sets.

That's one of the reasons I don't particularly mind it even when it doesn't contribute all that much or make all that much sense. A lot of Lego sets tend to be assembled in sections anyway (to make them easier for kids to build, especially with medium-to-large sets that they might not want to do in one sitting), so having sets where those sections are designed with compatible connection points so that you can swap them around between sets if you so choose doesn't detract that much overall.

With the modules in sets like Dreamzzz the idea is that weapons, accessories, etc. can be mixed and matched between sets. 71497 is certainly one of the most extreme examples (with two builds fully composed of swappable modules instead of a base model with a more involved rebuild in most other Dreamzzz sets), but you can see it to a lesser extent in a lot of other recent Dreamzzz sets as well (for example, the fins, engines, and detachable flyers on the Tiger Shark Tank set). The intention isn't really the same as something like a modular building where each part can function independently, but then again the modules aren't sold as standalone pieces like with modular buildings either—each set with these sorts of connections has enough components to create one "complete" build. Personally I really like this feature. Its execution in 71497 wasn't my favorite but with other sets it's neat and in some cases influences which model I choose to keep together (usually opting for the model with more swappable modules when it varies between builds).

My guess is that the extra pieces could maybe be to add some color detailing (i.e replacing some larger slopes with smaller ones to add some tabby-esque stripes).

Sure, I'd expect you'd either have to custom print one or maybe make a custom sticker for that.

I think I'll stick to just one. Better question: how many people are gonna take the design and recolor it to make some other classic space colors to join it?

Built both models of the Tiger Shark Tank over the past few days while catching up on the rest of Season 3 of the show. Second half of Season 3 I liked more than the first, and it had some nice moments for all of the characters. Still no word on whether there will be a season based on this year's sets, but if there were it's not too big a stretch to assume the Undreamt might have been planned to have something to do with the Nightmare King's ascension to Nightmare Emperor.

Just one rumored set... and not a super big one either. Wonder what it could possibly be. $59.99 is bigger than most single house sets but smaller than most sets with two buildings, or large buildings like the museum. Maybe a single building with a greater portion of side builds/landscaping/customization options than usual? Or maybe a set based entirely on customization (the price is kind of comparable to the "maker sets" from the Super Mario theme). Or it could maybe be something completely different, like a brick-built character or something. No idea.

Oh! Lego posted a teaser for the Mario Kart 8 D2C, and while it has a brick-built Luigi as reported it also seems to have the Mach 8 kart with Slim tires instead of the Standard Kart that some of the rumors assumed. Should make for a much more interesting set (a Standard Bike could've been another cool iconic option, but presumably because it's another kart Mario and Luigi can be swappable since they'd be in the same seated position).

Having watched the show now it's a little bit of a shame what didn't make it to sets. I get why they chose the sets they did (it's a nice range of subject matter and price points and nails a ton of the most important scenes), but I can't help but wish some of the gorgeous live-action set design like Alvida's ship the Miss Love Duck, Kaya's mansion, Axe Hand Morgan's Marine outpost, or Garp's Marine ship didn't make it into any of the Lego sets. Obviously for a long-running series there's still time for some of that stuff to appear (having started the manga and read through the end of the arc Season 2 is based on, I hope maybe we get an Alvida minifigure since her design in the wanted poster looks great). But it doesn't look like they're doing sets based on any of the earlier episodes so unless certain subjects reappear in later chapters, we might not see them. Of course, there's always MOCs. I'm very tempted to try MOCing the Miss Love Duck (how cool would a bright pink pirate ship be in Lego?), but sadly my MOCing skills are kind of atrophied and I haven't done anything as big as a pirate ship that I've been happy with in years (even less so with a detailed brick-built hull like this theme tends to favor). Apparently there's an artbook detailing the making of the first two seasons of the show coming out this summer, and I'm tempted to try to pick that up for more inspiration. This is all despite not even having any of the actual One Piece sets myself—I love the designs but I'm not sure there's room in my budget for another licensed theme right now.

Very late to the party, but I recently finally watched the Netflix series after hemming and hawing for a while about whether it'd be more appropriate to start with the long-running manga or anime. Really impressed, gives me a new appreciation for the set and fig designs Lego came up with. Hoping they do just as good a job with Season 2.

Pretty sure it's regular orange (with reddish orange used for the lava on the stand underneath). The triple axle connectors on the wings are definitely new, the other two seem to be more common. Pikachu also has the ball joint with through hole in yellow.

Just was looking at the new Pokémon sets and Blastoise introduces 7241 in Reddish Brown, which could be useful if you wanted to add a removable lower hull like that in the recent Black Pearl set to a ship with a reddish brown hull.