Review - 75165 Imperial Trooper Battle Pack

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Review - 75165 Imperial Trooper Battle Pack

Our second review for March, we're looking at one of the two winter battle packs.  If you like stormtroopers, this is the pack for you!  Even better, it features the new Imperial Death Troopers.  Retailing for $15.00 in the US, this set packs a punch with its 4 figures and 112 pieces!  I believe a closer look is in order. . .

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Review - 75170 The Phantom

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Review - 75170 The Phantom

It's been a while since we've reviewed a set here on BrickNerd. . .  Let's change that!

Today we're looking at a 2017 Star Wars release, the second version of the Phantom seen on Star Wars Rebels.  This set features 3 minifigures (or 2 plus a droid character), 269 pieces, and is priced for $30.00 in the US.  Let's take a closer look!

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A New Beginning for the Jedi. . .

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The vibe is strong with this build. . .  There's such a neat atmosphere included with this beautiful creation by Inthert.  "Hidden deep within the jungles of Yavin 4, Luke Skywalker gathers his first four students under the ancient Massassi structure: ‘The Praxeum Arch’ to begin their training…"  We don't know much about Luke Skywalker's creation of a new Jedi Academy, but I'm sure the knowledge we seek is not behind us, but ahead.  This allows builders like Inthert to fantasize and create their own interpretation.  There's much to admire about this build, from the perfectly rounded base, that very unique archway, and those intriguing trees made out of Mixel joints.  Never seen that before!  An awesome build by a fan wanting more from Star Wars. . .

Jedi Search - 5/5 : The Master
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Battle In Hyllyard City

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I've never really gotten into the books of Star Wars. I remember reading Splinter of the Mind's Eye as a kid, and I know I listened to the audio book of Heir to the Empire, but didn't really get into either of them. But I know the Thrawn Trilogy is hugely popular, and builder markus19840420 is clearly a fan based on this marvelous MOC depicting the eternal struggle of rebels vs Empire. 

"Mel"

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In mankind's never ending drive to recreate itself artificially, I suppose the inevitable outcome will be robots with less than desirable traits (hopefully murder will not be among them). Think about it, if we want our creations to have emotional characteristics like happiness, compassion and ambition, it stands to reason that they might also have depression, anxiety and anger. This robot by builder justin_m_winn has been nicknamed "Mel" because he tends to be melancholic. I don't know what his primary function is, but I hope it's useful enough to overlook his tendency to be down in the dumps.

Melancholic Robot

Chibi In A Half Shell

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The world has sorta gone chibi wild these days. Between several AFOL form factors and the official LEGO Brickheadz sets, these squat little large head dudes are everywhere. So I suppose it was only a matter of time before everyone's favorite adolescent reptilian crimefighters made an appearance. Builder DOGOD Brick Design brings us the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

nEO_IMG_DOGOD_Ninja_Turtles_01
nEO_IMG_DOGOD_Ninja_Turtles_05

An Ace Build

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Tim Lydy, the LEGO Builder of Gotham City, built an incredible scene containing acid, yet will not burn you (for it is too awesome).  A place of chemicals, a place of origin. . .Ace Chemicals is famous in the world of Batman, mostly for what it didn't produce intentionally.  That's right, Ace Chemicals is where the Joker became disfigured in a dramatic fight with the Caped Crusader.  This recreation is detailed to another level entirely.  Covered in so many styles of greebling, it's hard to find any simple, standard bricks in the walls.  Take a minute and zoom in to really appreciate all the detail packed into this build.  Careful not to fall in, though!

ACE, "The Chemical Place"
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Up On Your Toes

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Cam M.'s "Exo-Skeleton Prototype" looks like it could perform some serious dance moves.  Or, I suppose it's possible that it's simply on its toes, prepared for anything.  The mech's pilot has an interesting screen projection, and he seems to be defying gravity.  Exo-Skeletons are no easy task, so they're always interesting to see from different angles.  The builder has graciously given us a view of the rear, side, and front of the mech, providing viewers with an idea of how he accomplished his latest design. 

Exo-Skeleton Prototype
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Holy Wall Climbers!

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It's the simplest of gags, build a wall surface on it's side, add a backdrop of a city turned sideways and then turn the camera on it's side, voila! But even though it was completely obvious how it was done, we were always captivated by these scenes in the original Batman series. And the thing  I love most about this MOC by redfern1950s, is that it was accomplished the exact same way, brilliant!

original Batman & Robin
original Batman & Robin ( behind the scenes )

Proto-Leo

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Late last night my cat Crash went sorta bonkers, like he does. One minute he's resting quietly on my chest, purring softly. Then suddenly he's off, there's a clatter in the bathroom, meow, a mad dash to the closet, meow, streaks across the room to the cat condo, meow, back to the bed, meow. Now normally I'm just thinking "what the hell is wrong with you cat?" But I think next time I'll imagine he's pretending he's this fabulous mech by builder Moko, battling some unseen enemy. That way we're both entertained.

MFS-07 Proto-Leo
MFS-07 Proto-Leo

Bike Be Packin'

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"The hubless wheel design allows you to store luggage inside the wheels," says Robert Heim, who happens to be the builder of this "Concept Bike."  What an interesting concept, indeed. . .  Certainly fixes a common problem for riders.  Focusing attention to the bike itself, interesting parts were chosen to create this bike that is a cross between futuristic and modern day styles, at least in my opinion.   Just remember to make sure that your packages are sealed and secure before you start rollin'. . .

Concept Bike
Concept Bike
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Dun-da Dun Dun-da Da-Dun!

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Okay, so that may have not been one of the greatest written representation of an amazing soundtrack, but it's the best I could do.  Similarly, Zed has done his best to create a historical moment for our favorite archaeologist.  See what I did there?  The texturing to the ruins is executed so well, using common parts that most have in even basic collections.  My favorite little detail is that design right over the doorway, using 1x2 plates with "tracks."  Indy looks like he's about to lose his hat, but we all know that he will narrowly escape danger and retrieve it before it's lost.  Does this build give you some ideas for some ancient ruins?  What's your favorite Indiana Jones film?  How would you write out his theme song?  I'm genuinely curious. . .

Indiana Jones temple escape
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Vintage Formats

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"Hey dad, what's a floppy?" Yes, we've come to that. Magnetically stored information isn't totally a thing of the past yet (some hard drives still spin) but we're getting there. Things like the floppy disk, VHS tape and cassette tape, brilliantly recreated here by builder J.B.F. are all memories, and I can't say I miss them. The quality was bad, the storage was minimal and the durability sucked. I don't think there's a modern day equivalent of handing a good friend or special someone a good mix tape. It was a way of conveying emotion and intention that had a soundtrack. I don't think a link to a playlist resonates quite the same.

Abandoned Formats

The Micro Village of Kashyyyk

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"Aaahhhrrrr rrhahhrr!"  Chewbacca approves.  Kevin Wollert presents the only microscale representation I've ever seen of the Wookie village that appeared in Revenge of the Sith.  The most interesting parts usage is the brown "crown" elements that mimic the platforms from the film.  The large tree also has the noticeable platforms and village-like structures incorporated into the "bark."  Despite its size, these Wookies and their culture are well represented here. 

KASHYYYK - The Home World of the Wookiees
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Microfight in Jedha City

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Boba-1980 really impressed me with this awesome piece!  Here we are witnesses to a brutal battle in Jedha City between our underdog heroes and some well-designed microfighters!  The iconic Jedha city appearance is getting easier to instantly recognize, instead of it simply being labelled "a Star Wars city..."  However, it does look like the inhabitants might be thinking about moving. . .  Visit Boba on his Flikr page and show this build some love!

IDSMO - R2 - Jedha

These are awesome!

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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

A Link to a New Game

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Brace yourself, Zelda fans. . .There's a really cute Link figure ahead of you.  In honor of the release of the newest installment of the Legends of Zelda video game series, BrickinNick built a little Link display piece!  Using simple pieces and techniques (hey, there's nothing wrong with a simple build!), the builder captured a likable and greatly posed figurine.  Did you get the game yet? 

Link from Zelda: Breath of the Wild
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

LEGO Glimpse Into Star Wars Lore

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A Mandalorian territory, Concord Dawn is a world in the Star Wars universe that many fans are not familiar with (unless you really delve into the lore).   Builds like these are creations that I would really like to see more of in the community, bringing life and shining light into the shadows of this great franchise.  I personally would like to thank Vaionaut for creating this beautiful creation representing a (sort of) forgotten aspect of the universe.  The build is highly detailed, implementing an interesting color scheme, lots of Nice Parts Usage (NPU), and a hidden secret that I think was actually by accident?  Could be wrong on that.  (Hint, it's in the upper left portion of the building.)   For those who are interested, Concord Dawn recently became canon thanks to some of the latest episodes of Star Wars Rebels. 

Concord Dawn
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Bat-Tastic!

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BrickNerd's own Roy of Floremheim has come up with this nifty version of the Dark Knight.  Watching over Gotham, the figure stands at one foot tall.  What I like most is his fully loaded utility belt, complete with Batarang, Batlight, and Batclaw.  I even think there's a Bat-toothbrush on there, too.  Because remember, kids, even Superheroes need good oral hygiene!