JackJonespaw

Name: Target Gift Card 3 in 1 Theme: LEGO Creator Year: 2011 Pieces: 48 Price: USD$10.00 (Minimum) Brickset Bricklink This year, Target and Lego expanded their boundaries to include not only Bullseye, like they did in 2010, but a polar bear and a snowman. This set follows the Lego Creator way: 3 in 1. With a gift card, and enough bricks to build Bullseye, a polar bear, and a snowman,(but not all at once) is this set worth $5.00? (Gift Card value not included.) The Box I really like the front of the box, with the Target ribbon tied on it. You can see the instructions through the clear box. A neat way to hold on the gift card. Just slide it in and you're ready to go! The Instructions This set has two booklets. One of them has instructions for the polar bear on one side, and the three models on the other. The second booklet has instructions for the snowman on the front, and instructions for Bullseye on the back. The Pieces As you can see, a lot of white and slopes. The Models Let's start with the polar bear. This shows the slopes making him look like he's in mid-step. I like the cheese slopes for the ears. It's simple, but nice. This polar bear is a simple build, using a bit of SNOT-ing on the nose and the arms. Bullseye The use of teeth for ears is a bit strange, but, in this case, it will do. Bullseye also uses some SNOT-ing, and includes the only rare piece, the Target 1 x 1 brick. The Snowman My only issue with this model is the scarf. I would have liked something other than a circle. I also wish there was a way to cover up those studs. My favorite of the three, this snowman is just about perfect. This was my first broom, so I was quite excited to see it. Conclusion Design: 10/10 (I'm amazed that you can make three models out of only 48 pieces.) Price: 8/10 (I've seen cheaper sets with more pieces and rarer parts.) Pieces: 9/10 (You can never have to much white, can you?) Overall: 9/10 This is a great set that I would recommend picking up if you see it. Plus, you get a gift card, too! And, finally, for something to send you off with:

Name: Mailbox Theme: Friends Year: 2012 Pieces: 37 Minidolls: 1 Price: $3.99 Brickset Bricklink A Friends set that I only just recently discovered and picked up at Target, this Valentine's-themed set is a great way to get a nice minidoll in an inexpensive way. The Bag Something that everyone will notice who has ever bought a set in the $3-$4 range, the polybag. I think this is a great way to show all of the parts of a set to stir up interest in the buyer, and it saves the hassle of having numerous boxes lying around. This bag is colored in the now-familiar Friends logo, with the five girls in the top right corner, and the "girly" Friends type with the Lego logo on the top left. The design, with all the curves, is a nice touch for girls who may be interested in the theme. I also like the soothing purple, instead of a dark or regular purple. All of the set info, set picture, and CHOKING HAZARD things take up the bottom three-fourths. The Instructions As anyone who has bought a polybag will also know, the bags don't include nice stapled instructions, but a folded up printed sheet of paper. The front of the fold shows the same image as the bag, minus the set info, and the rest is taken up with instructions. The only down side to this is trying to fold this back up to take a picture for a review. The Pieces A quite colorful piece selection in this set, with a lot of white, some red, pink, and a few other color pieces. Buying sets in this day I feel like I don't really get the colored piece collection as was in some old sets. So, I'm quite happy with all of the pieces in this set. New/Interesting Pieces None of the pieces are new to the Lego universe, but certainly new to my collection. Now added is the nice pearl gold telescope, (Two are included in this set.) a dark pink 2 x 1 x 1 slope brick, (also, two are included) a dark pink flower, (three adorn the flower stem) and a pink 1 x 1 cheese slope. (check out four of them on the mailbox) All of these pieces can be picked up in other sets, but if you want a cheap way, here you go. Meet Stephanie, the Minidoll Quite surprising to me as I built Stephanie was the rubbery hair. I hadn't had a piece like this since Plo Koon, and before that, Kit Fisto. Luckily, there is no printing to rub off on this piece. The rest of Stephanie is regular, good ol' Lego plastic. Unfortunately, there is no way this can connect to a minifig. I feel that the hands are a bit disproportional to the rest of the body, especially the skinny arms, but I guess there had to be some way to let the minidolls hold regular accessories. However unfortunate, the minidolls have no back printing. But the hair probably covers up what every back printing there would be, anyways. The Components This is an ingenious mailbox, formed with only seven pieces. I think it is very recognizable, more a mailbox than a submarine or a GNK droid. This Valentine's stand holds a box of chocolates and some flowers. The telescopes aren't actually used as what they are, but as stands, like we saw in 4191 Captain's Cabin. Other than that, the stand is a nice build, with some nice piece usage. And that's all for this review and this set. Playability: 7/10 (Fun if you like opening a mailbox.) Design: 9.5/10 (Good designs for just 37 pieces. I can tell what everything is.) Minidolls: 10/10 (It's a minidoll. Enough said.) Pieces: 9.5/10 (Pretty good pieces, although they could have been a small bit better.) Overall: 9/10 If you're looking for a minidoll to add to your collection, or just another Friends set, then pick up this set. Other than that, you can skip right over this set and go for a bigger one. Happy Valentine's Day!

This set has a nice theme. Ki-Adi-Mundi, a long-awaited minifig, and Commander Cody, who has only been released in one other set, square off against a Geonosian pilot. Quite a drastic change from the first version (released in 2002), for not only is this set missing a cannon and another Geonosian (which will come back in early 2012), but it includes two good guys. So, let's begin, eh? Name: 7959 Geonosian Starfighter Theme: LEGO Star Wars Year: 2011 Pieces: 155 Minifigs: 3 Price: $29.99/£29.99 Brickset Bricklink THE BOX Due to my getting this set back in the summer, the box has been disposed of. Therefore, the box picture has been taken from Bricklink. This set shows Ki-Adi-Mundi swinging his lightsaber and Cody shooting - but from far away. I'm sure that this doesn't do much damage to the starfighter. Other than that, you have the ship itself and the random laser beams in explosions on every single Lego Star Wars box. Since its debut in summer of 2010, I've really liked this box theme. The dark blue is a nice touch, and Captain Rex is looking great, as always. I wonder how odd it would look if it was a Lego Rex? THE INSTRUCTIONS The same artwork is featured on the booklet, minus the set information. This is a random instruction page showing the building of the engine. The background is a faded, rugged gray. Thankfully, I had no trouble telling the difference between dark bley and black. Unlike some past (and even future) instructions, this one does not feature any faded Star Wars character in the upper right hand corner of the odd pages. I enjoy this, as some sets have nothing to do with the character portrayed. THE MINIFIGS As said before, three are included in this set: Ki-Adi-Mundi, Commander Cody, and the Geonosian pilot. Cody is exactly the same. I really like Mundi's torso, a good generic Jedi tunic. Many have given skepticism about Mundi's separate head piece, but I think that it is a wise choice. There has never been a minifig head joined with another piece before, and I'm sure it will stay that way. The Geonosian has a odder head. I liked the 2002 version better. The torso is extremely decorated, with some nice leg printing. Oddly enough, the Geonoisan has the body curves that a female minifig usually has. I wonder if the printing was normal if it would look too fat. Some nice back printing on the Geonosian compliments the front part. Cody has the same regular clone trooper printing, and Mundi has a printed hood, wrinkles, and a belt. I really like Mundi's torso, and I would like to see it, along with Plo Koon's torso, (as long as there is back printing) on some more Jedi. NEW/INTERESTING PIECES The thing that drew my attention in this set was the nice dark orange and reddish brown pieces: a 2x4 tile, curved 4x1 piece, the bottom part of the sphere, and the long 16 stud wedge, all in reddish brown. In dark orange, we also get a curved 4x1 piece, and a left 6x2 wedge, and a right 6x2 wedge. Also, a new cockpit for 2011. THE BUILD I've assembled both of the sections of the starfighter together, to save on picture room. The first part forms the basic shape of the two sections, in dark bley. Right now, I feel like it looks like the bottom of a Star Destroyer. I found it surprising that two dark bley wedges were used. It is a bit insecure without bricks on top of it, but I suppose it is necessary to form the shape of the starfighter. The back curves are formed, and the front slopes are added. Also, the parts for holding the hinged flap are constructed. The tops are finished. You'll see what the hinged flap does later. It's at times like this when I really like Lego's piece usage. It is genius! (Of course, sometimes, it is not.) I would love to see a UCS Geonosian Starfighter These parts hold the ship together. One has the engine, and the other is the gun. I'm not liking the way that the gun can only move side to side. I wish there was someway to fix it, but be the same width and height. THE SHIP/FUNCTIONS Here it is, in all it's glory. The 16 stud wedges make the ship quite long. I would rather have had the printed version from the old Geonosian fighter. A front 3/4 view. This shows that the gun can move 180o right or left. The cockpit is a nice, small place, with a printed tile, and two 2x3 tiles where the Geonosian sits. I like this instead of having to pull the minifig off studs. The bottom section of the starfighter is where the main play function is - the missile! Just open that flap... ...and out comes the missile! I like this much better than the oddly placed flickfire missiles. FINAL VERDICT Playability: 9.5/10 (No flickfire missiles is a plus, but I'm sure another feature could have been added somewhere.) Design: 10/10 (A great form that is instantly recognizable!) Minifigs: 7/10 (Not a bad selection, considering Mundi and the pilot, but I would rather have a new clone than Cody.) Pieces: 10/10 (Another 10/10. Any set with a lot of both dark orange and reddish brown makes my day!) OVERALL: 9.1/10 A great piece selection, two pretty nice minifigs, and a good ship, this set is a yes in my book. If you see it, I would pick it up!

You have to sign up. Pick an open spot and build something from it. Added.

Well, I'm guessing black, or dark bley.

Really good review, Whitefang! I had the first "version" (the green diver one) and I can see that this set is a vast improvement. I should pick this up. 1x1 light bley with 2 studs?

Wow, nice mods! This is looking more like the true Falcon!

How about a huge Death Star 1?

These retro MOCs are great! This one has to be my favorite. Great job!

Ah, yes, now I get your picture! You should add a small explanation to your shots, unless they are obviously something.

Wow, this looks like a great start! The walls are very nice, good detail!

Another great pod by Rook! I like the "gothic" feel that this pod gives out.

Wow, quite nice! I like your engines for this pod.

Simply amazing, Oky! Wow!

After much head-banging, I've finally come up with a (regrettably lame) Star Wars pun! The Se-"Bulb"-A!

Wow! This is amazing. Nice job, and great building skills.

Hm...I would definitely change the rock. Build your own rocks, instead of using the huge ones.

This is very nice. I would like to see someone really build this. Of course, with parts that are available.

Wow! This is fantastic! Is the blur a photo edit?

Looks great! I would add a blanket or something for a bit of color away from brown.

Wow.... This is amazing! I really love that horse statue. But the curved base? Wonderful! Keep on building!

I'm sure a lot of that will be going on. Before LOTR, POTC has the most detailed minifigs. I, frankly, don't care about the boots. I'm just happy with the face and torso prints.

Haha, nice! I never realized that that face could be used for a drunk. Nice job!

I would love one of these! So many uses - T-C14, E2 C-3PO, and probably some droid in the EU. This "Revenge of the Fifth" thing is a bit odd. Sounds to me as either an extension date, or a comeback of the Shadow ARC.

Looks great! You must have had quite a lot of patience to do this - more patience than me!