Peppermint_M

Funny you should mention that, I started reviewing clone brands because his ones just got on my nerves a little. For some reason, I am very good at remembering parts, especially uncommon ones, so he would have what was not a bootleg lego set and treat it as such but I would notice the generic parts for what they were and a few searches would lead to proof that the set was a simple clone, not a bootleg. Not saying all of them are clone not bootlegs, but I got a little tired of my replies to the post that pointed to the source being ignored. Feel free to browse my other reviews in the Clone Brands Index (linked in my sig) if you haven't read them before

Shipping was free! This is why I was able to get such a large set through eBay. The seller I used had free shipping on all their items, so I am going to have to take a longer look later .

I do really like the gear, it is the major reason I bought the set which always is the case with many sets I own. The rocking bridge is a little unsteady at times as the pins are not very well frictioned and the flags are only printed on one side. Brick Quality is a match to most clones, not too bad but not excellent. I hope to create a mixed media MOC to showcase the effect less glossy bricks can have on a model, in contrast to Lego figures.

I remember finding that set in a small shop on holiday. Sadly we didn't have much money and that set was just too expensive. I hope to one day find it somewhere. Thank you for the review

Snow maybe? I was thinking it had something to do with the Aztec headgear and the mountains, Andes maybe? I hope to build an arctic MOC using them now

You know, I should get more sigfigs so everyone gets a chance to model accessories for me As for the other question? I think you'll need to ask him yourself I did like the brickbuilt mountain over BURPS, those things can get tiresome.

Yup, the horses are icky and are very flimsy looking. I neary split one down the middle. They are the major failing really. The helmets feel near the same to aftermarket customs, so they are certainly good for castle figures, the black ones are the best but the pirate hat was a random addition. The weapons feel the same as the recent output from Lego and are similar in colour to the pearl silver short swords, as are the shields. I hope to soon have a big comparison of weapons across the brands, so watch this space! Edit: ZO6, I thought I knew the design, I was just a little unsure, what with the small variations. I guess this pushes it more into bootleg, but the randomness of the theme and presentation that isn't trying for brand confusion makes it a little better.

Toyriffic Castle. As I was a-browsing eBay one day, with my favourite search terms “Like Lego”, “Fit Lego” and “Brick Toy” I happened upon this set. It was so wonderfully random, I just had to have it! Is it Aztecs vs. Barbarians? Aztecs vs. Very rough Conquistadors? I didn’t really care, it was so funky looking and at £7.97 a bargain. Today it arrived. The box reveals very little, just age advice and another picture. The parts came in a cardboard sleeve, the instructions tucked away at the bottom, a layer of large plates and two baseplates and the polybags. A page of the A4 instruction book. The instructions are linear and do their best to point out where parts go and how many are needed. The muted colour palette made it hard to discern which brick was used where in some instances, and I made a few mistakes evidenced in a wrong colour brick in one place and some “missing” 1x1 bricks when I came to the last few steps. The parts were nothing new or exciting, a fair few odd choices, like a 1x3 and a 1x1 in a row instead of a 1x4 but nothing to write home about. Until the last step... A 1x2 plate. With studs on both sides. A part a fair few have been requesting. On to the completed set. Printed Flags, palm leaf bedecked towers, two draw bridges and a bridge that tips. All nice little action features which turn up in Lego Castle. The accessories and animals came on sprues, all silver in colour. The bats a profoundly odd but I like the giant snake. One sword is a definite Lego copy but all the other weapons are not. Two bows and two crossbows, a staff, a spear, a sword and an axe. The figures were... Interesting. Their arms had an interesting tendency to fall off, the hands slid out and other irritating things. They look to be copies of Oxford figures. The printing is nice and in theme and the headgear a mix of Lego copies and other random bits. The shields were nice additions and were moulded not printed. Horsies! These are unprinted and a bit flimsy feeling and certainly copies from Lego but as part of a set for £7.97 I am unconcerned. All accessories are fully minifig compatible. Quarryman will be our model for today: Quarry The Barbarian. God Emperor Quarryman, bow before him! The skull helmet is quite a cool one and the headdress is good for Aztec themed MOCs. Apart from eBay, nothing much comes up under Toyriffic, I shall continue investigation to try and find some more information. Overall this set is ok, variable grip from the bricks and low quality figures but a nice range of accessories and animals for a cheap set. The low price was certainly attractive and it is so damn funky looking! The silver is consistent and the colours, though a bit dull, suit the set. The plastic quality was fine, accessories a little flexible and the bricks more matt than gloss but still good. I do believe this was “harvested” from a variety of manufacturers, but the set design is seemingly unique so it sits in a grey area on my clone-bootleg scale. I liked this set, it was fun to build and I have a pile of great parts for custom minifigs. It is significantly cheaper and not too slim on quality to be unbearable so I would recommend it to anyone who wants a brick toy on a budget. Hope you enjoyed this review! Two in one day has to be a record for me, but this arrived today and I was eager to build it and the Best Lock set photos have been on my hard disk since late November... Coming soon: A Sluban Historic Themed set.

You should see the Fire truck I have at the same price. It is a classic 4-wide construction, a lovely little design but the main 2x6 plate that stretches the length of it Will. Not. Stay. Down. It isn't warped and one end always connects, but the back end sticks up about half a plate width. The early bricks were murder to take apart, these new ones have a super varied grip. I think it may be due to the different suppliers of the parts. Now a police boat was a nice set with no problems. So like I said, varies too much.

Best Lock Racing Car. Best Lock are a brick brand that underwent some changes over the years. A few years ago they had strange figures and off scale bricks, that while they did fit, were not the same heights as Lego bricks and plates. Their clutch method was an internal grid and studs. Recently I came across some impulse sized sets in Poundland and purchased a few. Of these I decided to review this Racing Car. 50 parts for £1 is a bargain when you check Lego price per piece. The box photo also informs us of the extra bricks provided for extra play. Here are the contents of the box, two bags of parts and a badly folded black and white instruction sheet. The linear instructions were easy to follow but being black and white made it a little hard to choose parts. The sticker sheet inside the bag was intact but not very useful, I never bother applying stickers to these sets anyway. The figure. He has a nose. His helmet visor wouldn’t stay on and his hands look like they are about to fall out. As all non-Lego sets have shown, nothing is a patch on the Minifig. The built set. How I loath thee. It took four attempts to get it to stay together, the bricks had no clutching power at all as you can see. The design is reminiscent of classic town and it is all bricks, no moulded sections, which is a plus. Overall, this set was very poor. It was not as horrifying as the Tatco set but it wasn’t the best. The extra bricks were a nice touch and actively encourage creativity. However the black and white instructions, poor clutch and figure all detracted from it. I bought all of the impulse sets and probably should have reviewed one of the nicer ones... Well, I hope this was informative and suchlike. Best Lock is one of the cheapest brands out there and must surely bring joy to some children somewhere, which in the end is all that matters.

Should we look for torches? Or another confusing puzzle that might possibly lead to torches? Where to begin?

Blogged! I do like these mods, if only Lego were to make those parts in even more colours

I hope the promo turns up with The Daily Mirror and I am loving the dust cart. I am going to have a hard time choosing what to buy.

Well, you certainly made a splash in the pirates forum. Hope you enjoy it here.

Ladytron - Light and Magic. How I love electro-synth pop musics that sound about 20 or so years old

I really should find a good emoticon to use to imply amusement/slight reprimand. It's not the person who started a tangent but those who continue it... *hard stare in certain members direction* Here is a pertinent question for Zelda fans. Do you like the oldest ones, the mid aged N64 + games and the cel shaded toon ones? Or just one? My friend loves the DS games and I was thinking of finding out if she had a Wii so I could buy her Windwaker and a gamecube controller or just get a gamecube for her to play it on. Is there a good version of Metroid I can play on my DS? I am stuck in my ways game wise and find it hard to branch out after a few mistakes in choices.

Guys!! Topic derailment much? (and Fellows too, shame on you). Lets see. I have played some Metroid and Samus is my character of choice in Smash Bro's (I love being all ninja in zero suit mode in Brawl). I like Legend if Zelda and doodle characters when I am bored. I have played it a little and my friend adores the DS games, so I play download play with her. Mario is Mario, I played a few of them. As for pokemans? I have played all but Gold/Silver (soon to be solved) and love to play it. I am a sure collector and I like training.

Quarryman should have remembered the one rule of really good "gifts"... Always look up... The colourscheme should have set of one or two alarm bells.

You need to put it in an oven too, lemon juice on its own doesn't work. So even if we did have lemon... Sorry I took the scroll

As of yesterday: Blogged That is a great MOC you made.

I went into the city and bought some really tacky/awesome high tops, a book and some clothes. I looked in vain for Lego, as I have already bought all sets of interest in the area.

Rammstein/TaTu mixes. Strangely good in an odd way. Also Dommin, (mmmmm goth guys) and a smattering of 30 Seconds to Mars.

Whatever you do, be gentle, be careful. I have only ever damaged one arm when removing it, the hand broke out, cracking the side of the arm. Otherwise, no issues. I only ever once took legs apart and never wish to try it again. It was a disaster and very inadvisable.

Thats a good thing. Lego has spent too long with only the most basic or strange looking tools, MB and Oxford have overtaken them with many more attractively moulded accessories. I am happy we get a new raygun instead of another megaphone/blaster/torch thing.

Spaceman! Spaceman! The figure I want a slight percentage more than any of the others! (I really do want like, all of them many times over...) Looks great and also shiny. You lucky dog!