Year: 2015

Visiting Melbourne for LEGO Fans

plasticbrick Buying, LEGO Themed Travel, LUGs, Uncategorized ,

[From the questions: Are there any independent LEGO stores in Melbourne? What is there LEGO related to do in Melbourne? Where can I see some of Ryan McNaught’s work in Melbourne?]

updated 13th February 2019

Melbourne is a cosmopolitan, multi-cultural city in the South Eastern Australian state of Victoria. There is an active AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO) community and it is home to Australia’s only LEGO Certified Professional (LCP), Ryan McNaught. Here are just some of the things that might be of interest to a visiting AFOL.

Stores and Centres

I’m Rick James Bricks

imrickjamesbricks

Originally located in Traralgon, I’m Rick James Bricks is now located in Pakenham and is in its 8th year of operation. Rick mostly stocks new LEGO sets along with popular 3rd party compatible lines (Brick Arms, Light my Brick etc). There is also a popular Pick a Brick section where you can buy new bulk LEGO bricks. The store can also be found on  Facebook.

Location: 49 John Street, Pakenham, Victoria 3810

Opening hours: Tues–Fri: 10:00 – 17:00, Sat: 10:00 – 16:00, Sun: 11:00 – 16:00

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

legoland_c

The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is described as The Ultimate Indoor LEGO playground. It’s a fantastic play centre for children of all ages and has 11 build zones, 2 rides and a 4D cinema. There is also a cafe with light meals and plenty of space for the adults to sit and watch while the children play. Adults must have a child with them to attend unless they are visiting on one of the regular fun-filled Adult Nights. The LEGO store attached to the centre is filled with all of the latest LEGO sets and many rare, hard-to-find and exclusive items. Bulk LEGO parts can be purchased from the Pick-a-Brick wall inside the store. Check their Facebook page for details of LEGO set availability and special events

Location: Chadstone Shopping Centre, Level 2, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone, 3148
(near Hoyts cinema)

Opening hours: Mon-Wed: 09:30 – 17:30 (Last entry 16:00) Shop open until 17:30, Thurs-Sat: 09:30 – 19:00 (Last entry 17:00) Shop open until 9pm, Sun: 09:30 – 17:30 (Last entry 16:00) Shop open until 7pm

The LEGO Education Learning Centre (Moore Educational)

Moore_Educational

Moore Educational is a long established centre for LEGO education in Melbourne. They provide workshops for both teachers and students as well as Saturday workshops and corporate team building exercises.  LEGO Education sets, LEGO merchandise and regular LEGO sets are available from their website and their store in Docklands.

Location: 5/439 Docklands Drive, Waterfront City, Docklands, 3008

Opening hours: Tues-Sat: 10:00 – 15:00, Sun: 10:00 – 14:00
(hours may change due to school workshop schedules and school holiday activities)

Myer Melbourne

myerlogo

Myer is a well-known department store in Australia. Many of their stores in the capital cities, like Melbourne, feature special LEGO displays and are worth visiting just to see the unique models. The Melbourne City store features local icons rendered in LEGO bricks by Ryan McNaught and his team. There is also a good range of LEGO sets available to purchase.

Location: Melbourne City, 314-336 Bourke St, Melbourne, 3000

Opening hours: Mon-Wed: 9:00 – 19:00, Thurs-Fri: 9:00 – 21:00, Sat: 9:00 – 19:00, Sun: 10:00 – 19:00

Shop for Me

Shopforme

Shopforme is an independent LEGO and pop culture store that specialises in providing a “Daily Blitz” special offer at 11am. Their  physical store has limited opening hours but all stock is listed on the website for ease of purchase.  Shopforme can also be found on Facebook.

Coburg Store

Location: 23 Dawson Street, Coburg, 3058

Opening hours: Sat: 11:00 – 15:00

ToyBricks.com.au

toybricks

Toy Bricks.com.au is an indepedent LEGO retailer who  has a comprehensive range of new stock along with some retired/collectable items. They also sell the Life Lites brick lighting system, train track, and other LEGO related accessories. Individual minifigs can be purchased along with items from a bulk brick section. Toy Bricks is also associated with the ToyBricks (OzBricks) Bricklink store and any online orders placed there are be collected from their Bayswater store. Toybricks.com.au can also  be found on Facebook.

Location: 697 Mountain Highway, Bayswater, 3153

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 10:00 – 17:00, Sat: 9:00 – 17:00, Sun: Closed

Other items of interest

Brickvention

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First held in 2006, Brickvention is Australia’s premier LEGO fan event and is held every January at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. Public Expo tickets are usually available from mid-year but it varies so check the Facebook page to confirm. The event is popular amongst the local AFOL community and attracts exhibitors and general attendees for all over Australia and around the world.  Further information is available from the website.

Melbourne LEGO User Group (MUGs)

MUGs LOGO 1

The Melbourne LEGO User Group (MUGs) was first established in 2000 and has been meeting regularly ever since. It is an active community with many members both within Melbourne and the wider Victorian community. Meetings are free to attend and are held on the second Sunday of the month at the Baseplate in Irene Street, Preston. In addition to monthly meetings, there are also special events held throughout the year. Check the Facebook group for more information.

The Melbourne Class W2 Tram Model

melbourne tram

The Melbourne Tram model was constructed many years ago and has travelled to a number of locations across Victoria. The model consists of over 7500 bricks and took nearly 180 hours to build. Although the model needs a little bit of TLC, it is quite unique and worth visiting if you are in the area.

Location: Myer Northland, 2-50 Murray Road East, Preston, 3072

Opening hours: Mon-Wed: 9:00 – 17:30, Thurs -Fri: 9:00 – 21:00, Sat: 9:00 – 17:30: Sun: 10:00 – 17:00

Ryan McNaught (The Brickman) Models

Ryan McNaught is Australia’s only LEGO Certified Professional and is responsible for many of the LEGO sculptures seen around Australia. If you are interested in seeing some of his work whilst visiting Melbourne, these are some of the more accessible locations.

Melbourne Star Model

Wheel2sml

Based on the design of the actual observation wheel, this model can be found in the gift shop at the base of the Melbourne Star in Docklands.

Location: 101 Waterfront Way, Docklands, 3008 (near Costco)

Opening hours: Daily from: 10:00 – 22:00 (subject to weather conditions)

Toyworld Southland

TobyToyworld hotdogguy giraffes3

Toby the Toyworld mascot features in this display at Toyworld in the Southland Shopping Centre. He is currently located in the front window of the store. There is also a side window display which features a large minifigure with a hotdog and a large yellow LEGO brick that were also constructed by Ryan and his team. The two Duplo-style giraffes in the same display were constructed overseas.

Location: Toyworld, Level 2, Shop 2060, Southland Shopping Centre, Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham, 3192

Opening hours: Mon-Wed: 9:00 – 17:30, Thurs – Fri: 9:00 – 21:00, Sat: 9:00 – 17:00, Sun: 10:00 – 17:00

Myer Melbourne

(see listing above)

 

Some hints and tips for displaying your creation at a LEGO fan event

plasticbrick Building, LUGs , , ,

[From the Questions: How do I make my display look impressive? What are some things I need to know about displaying?]

palletwwrap

Here are some hints and tips for displaying & transporting your exhibits at LEGO fan events or displays:

1) Always ensure your display is labelled with an Exhibit Info Card (aka MOC Card, Info Card etc) so people know who is responsible for the build. If everyone is printing in colour, you should aim to do that too. Some events will supply a standard stand for you. For others, you will need to purchase a stand. Check with the event organisers if they haven’t already mentioned it.

2) If you have a group of collected exhibits, only use one card for the whole layout/display and not one for every single item. For example: a group of spaceships by the same person could be called “The Galactic Armada” rather than naming each ship. This request is to prevent your display looking cluttered with Exhibit Info Cards which may detract from the actual models.

3) Try not to put too much on your display. If possible, link items together in a diorama rather than it just being a display of models. Using the spaceship example again, rather than having individual spaceships, create a space base or a hanger so there is some cohesion between the models. Make sure there is plenty of space between each model. Don’t try to fill every bit of your table with lots of models. If you put too much on your display, nobody will be able to focus on the detail of each model.

4) If possible, give your display some height so it is visually appealing. This might be via a mountain side if building a landscape or via some form of small plinth or stand if displaying individual models. There are many ways this can be achieved and it will make your display stand out and draw the attention away from those that are all the same height.

5) Make sure your exhibit is clean and has most of the dust removed. People will notice the dust. A paint brush or make up brush are good dusting tools. Try to do this before you get to the venue.

6) Ensure your display looks tidy throughout the weekend. Avoid leaving coffee cups and drink cans on the table. Check your display every few hours to see if anything has fallen over or needs repairing etc. Although most patrons are usually pretty good, it is easy to bump a table and disrupt a display.

7) If you are worried about a particular minifig being on your display because it is valuable, then don’t display it.

8) Where possible, avoid placing items close to the edge of your display. If your display goes right to the edge of the table, consider requesting a second table so your display can comfortably sit on the tables without having to worry about it being bumped.

9) When transporting exhibits, make sure they are securely packed in a strong box. Custom made boxes often work best with large exhibits. We recommend the use of plastic wrap (glad wrap or specialised postal/pallet wrap) to hold the model together and bubblewrap to avoid bumps in transit. It also helps to place smaller models in individual ziplock bags. Do not trust that a model will survive in the back seat of your car or an ordinary suitcase.

10) For larger exhibits, we recommend modularising the build so it is easier to transport.

Visiting London for LEGO fans

plasticbrick LEGO Themed Travel, Legoland , , , , , , ,

[From the questions: Is there anything to do LEGO fan wise in London? Where are the LEGO stores in London? Where is the place with the LEGO statues?]

Updated 10th September 2015

Considering the size of the population, London is not very well serviced in terms of things to see and do for the visiting LEGO Fan. If you only have limited time in London, there is bound to be something you are able to see and do.

Official LEGO Brand stores

If you have never been to an official LEGO Brand Retail store, then you really need to go to at least one of these, as they are both reasonably easy to access. There’s not a lot of difference between the two and you could happily visit one without visiting the other. They are both located in large, busy shopping complexes so be prepared for potential crowds if visiting on the weekend. If you are able to visit early in the month you’ll be able to build the Mini Monthly Model Build. This is often very popular so it may be a busy time. Check the store calendar for exact dates. You can expect the store to have a large range of sets from various currently available themes. They may have some items that are not normally available from retailers in your country – like polybags, key chains, magnets and other LEGO themed products. There will also be a “Pick a Brick” wall where you can purchase LEGO pieces in bulk.

Details of the two stores:

London Westfield

Location: Ariel Way, Shepherds Bush, UNIT 1081, W12 7GF, London

Nearest Tube stations: Shepherds Bush; Wood Lane

Opening hours:  Mon-Sat: 10:00 – 22:00,  Sun:12:00 – 18:00

London Stratford

Location: Westfield Stratford Shopping Ctr, E20 1EH, Westfield Stratford City

Nearest train station: Stratford (Overground and DLR); Stratford International (DLR)

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 10:00 – 21:00, Sat:9:00 – 21:00, Sun:12:00 – 18:00

Hamleys

Hamleys2

Hamleys Toy Store is infamous for being the first place LEGO was sold in the UK. It should be high on the list of places to visit for any LEGO fan passing through London. Not only do they have a great range but the staff are also very friendly and helpful. Highlight of the visit is the display of LEGO sculptures featuring the Royal Family and a classic red telephone box.

Location:  188-196 Regent Street, London, W1B 5BT

Nearest tube stations are: Bond Street; Oxford Circus; Piccadilly Circus,

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 10:00 – 21:00, Sat: 09:30 – 21:00, Sunday 12:00 – 18:00

LEGOLAND Windsor

windsor logo

LEGOLAND Windsor is located outside of London but is worth a visit if you have a day or two spare. Check the website for opening hours as it varies according to the time of the year and the day of the week. The park is usually closed over winter. Advance ticket purchase via the website may save you some time and money.

The park primarily caters for children so this will be reflected in the attractions. Having said that, each ride contains LEGO sculptures and artwork that may not otherwise be visible making it worthwhile visiting them all no matter your age! The Miniland section of the park is full of fantastic models and it is very easy to spend hours looking at all of the details. The Star Wars Miniland display is the best of the three European LEGOLANDs and is worth including as part of your visit to the park. We recommend clearing the memory of your camera and taking extra batteries, as there is a lot to photograph!

Pricing for LEGO products is comparative to other retail outlets in Europe but you may find a bargain in the Last Chance Marketplace.

Location: Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4AY

Nearest train station: (from London Paddington) Windsor & Eton Central via Slough on the First Great Western; (from London Waterloo) Windsor & Eton Riverside on South West Trains. There is a shuttle bus service to the park near to the two train stations. There is an additional fee to catch the bus.

Harrods Toy Department

Harrodslogo

Hidden away in the toy department of the iconic London Department store, Harrods, is a magnificent scale model of the store built out of LEGO bricks by the team from Bright Bricks.

harrodsmodel

Location: 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL

Nearest train station: Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line. Use the Brompton Road exit. The store is also only a short walk from South Kensington station on the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines, and Sloane Square, on the District and Circle lines.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 10am – 9pm, Sun: 11.30am – 6pm (browsing only until 12pm)

London AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO) meetups

londonAFOLS2

The Adult Fans of LEGO in London have regular meetups on the second Monday of the month at the Princess Louise pub in Holborn from 6pm. Activities may include building with LEGO bricks, swapping minifigs or generally chatting about LEGO products. You must be over 18 to attend these meetings.

Further details can be found at the group’s Meetup page.

Magazines

Though not strictly a LEGO themed activity, you might like to visit a newsagent (or larger supermarket) to look through the English magazines. There are currently four titles aimed at children (Friends, Chima, Ninjago and Star Wars) that may come with a free gift. Additionally, you may be able to pick up the latest edition of Blocks magazine.

Applying stickers

plasticbrick Building , ,

[From the questions: How do you get the stickers straight? What’s the best way to apply stickers? How do I remove stickers if I have made a mistake?]

Applying stickers to LEGO creations whether they are sets or original creations can be rather challenging. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if they are slightly crooked but other times it can ruin the appearance of a model if they are not quite straight.

Once you have applied the stickers, it can be difficult to remove them to reposition them and, sometimes, you still won’t get it correct. Even worse, if the sticker has a clear backing, you may end up with visible fingerprints on the clear part of the sticker.

There is no correct method or way of applying stickers that guarantees they will be always applied straight but there are a couple of techniques that are recommended by seasoned sticker users. These techniques should improve your chances of correctly placing a sticker or easily removing it if you have made a mistake.

The main key to ensuring sticker success is to use some sort of a tool to which the corner of the sticker can be partially applied. Recommended tools include the edge of the brick separator, the tip of a paper cutter, knife or blade, tweezers, a toothpick or the edge of the original sticker sheet. With each tool only a small part of the sticker is attached so the majority of it can be applied to the LEGO piece. If a mistake is made, the sticker can then be easily be removed from the LEGO piece and reapplied.

applying stickers

Apart from issues with ensuring the sticker is straight, you may also encounter issues with the piece moving as you attempt to apply the sticker. To avoid this, attach the part to be stickered to a larger plate or similar where you can easily hold it in place without your hands being anywhere near the actual LEGO piece.

Removing permanent marker from LEGO pieces

plasticbrick Washing , ,

[From the question: How do I remove permanent marker or Texta from LEGO bricks? How to I remove ink from LEGO bricks? How do I remove pen or Biro marks?]

When working with older or second-hand LEGO bricks, it is not unusual to find some of the pieces have been marked with a permanent marker. This can be difficult to remove if it has been on the bricks for some time.

Ben Tomlins from Brickoholics has recommended the use of hand sanitizer to remove permanent marker. He found it was removed without any damage to the print – something that is quite important to those wishing to use the parts for other creations.

handgel2
Photo credit: Ben Tomlins

The active ingredient is a form of ethanol (alcohol), which dissolves the ink. If you don’t have any hand sanitizer to hand, the following products will produce a similar result:

  • Whiteboard markers – draw over the permanent marker and wipe off. This is the method commonly used by teachers to remove permanent marker from whiteboards
  • Isopropyl Alcohol – available from some supermarkets and pharmacies. Use on the end of a cotton bud or cloth
  • Hand or sanitizing wipes (such as Wet Ones) – check that it has alcohol as an active ingredient as there are a number of brands that are “alcohol free”
  • Methylated spirits
  • Shaving foam/lotion/creme  – most of these contain low levels of alcohol in the form of glycerol

Other products that can be used to a lesser extent include:

  • Eucalyptus oil – use sparingly as it may melt the LEGO brick
  • Magic Eraser (white sponges) – will remove the ink but may also remove the print and may dull the surface of the brick.

LEGO instructions

plasticbrick Building, Buying , , , , , , , , , , ,

[From the questions: Where can I get hold of replacement instructions? Where can I get ideas to build other stuff? Where can I get copies of the instructions I had as a child?]

There may be times when you need to locate a copy of a set of LEGO instructions. Reasons vary – your existing ones may be damaged or lost; you want to recreate a set from your childhood; or you wish to build a set from parts.

Finding Original LEGO Instructions

From where you source these instructions is dependent on whether you are happy to read a PDF or prefer to read the instructions in the original paper format.

If you prefer to use the original paper instructions, your best bet is to purchase a copy via an online marketplace like Bricklink or Brick Owl. You can find both recent and vintage instructions for most themes. There is also a chance someone in your local LUG or Buy/Sell/Swap/Trade group on Facebook may have a copy they can sell or give to you. Not everyone keeps the instructions and many people are happy to see them go to a good home rather than the recycling bin.

PDF copies of instructions may be acquired from a number of different sites. It’s worthwhile bookmarking a couple of the different sites because they don’t always have everything and, sometimes, the files may not work on one page but do on another.

Popular sites include:

  • LEGO Website – perfect for any set produced after 2002. Search for the set number on their Customer Service page. PDF downloads are available
  • Brickinstructions.com – has a reasonable selection of sets going back to the mid-1960s but is not comprehensive. More recent sets have a downloadable PDF available but older sets are represented by scans of the instructions.
  • letsbuilditagain.com – mostly concentrates on instructions from popular themes of the last 20 years but does have some older instructions. Well presented and includes a gallery to original creations made by kids.
  • The Brickfactory – an older site that also includes catalogs, posters and stickers amongst their scans. It has a more comprehensive range of older sets but the site can be a little slow to load.
  • swooshable.com – still in its BETA stage but it will search all of the popular sites for the availability of instructions. Will save you the effort of visiting each of the above sites individually.

Original creations

It can be hard to decide what to build next when you have run out of ideas. Many years ago, LEGO used to provide alternative builds on the back of the instructions or the LEGO set box. Themes like the Creator series can provide alternate builds but, for the most part, you need to rely on your own imagination.

Websites

Luckily, there is a fantastic site called Rebrickable where you can enter the details of the sets you already have and it will provide you with instructions for other sets and original creations you can build with the same LEGO bricks. It will also give you a compatibility measure so you know how many extra bricks you need to obtain before you can build the item.

If you are looking for a different source of inspiration, you might like to consider purchasing original instructions from a number of different sites. Some recommended sites include:

Books

In the past, LEGO produced a series of “Ideas” books. These are long out of print but may be purchased via reseller sites like Bricklink or BrickOwl. There are also a large number of books that provide instructions and ideas for building. Some of the title available include:

  • The LEGO Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz
  • The LEGO Neighborhood Book by Brian and Jason Lyles – fantastic for Modular building ideas and techniques
  • Totally Cool Creations by Sean Kenney
  • The LEGO Adventure Books by Megan H. Rothrock


  • The Brick series by Warren Elsmore



LEGO themed magazines

plasticbrick Buying

[From the question: Are there any LEGO Magazines available?]

Here are the details of the LEGO themed magazines that are currently available.

Lego-Logo-Club

The LEGO Club magazine is an official publication produced by the LEGO Group. There are multiple variants of this magazine available around the world. There are regional versions as well as versions for girls and younger children. In most countries, it can be ordered via the website at no cost. For those in the Australia and New Zealand there is an initial cost of $19.95 AUD, which covers you for all future issues – so long as you remember to renew it when required. Subscription forms can often be found in toy departments of major retailers, in toy stores or from the special LEGO Club Australia website. You can also subscribe via the isubscribe magazine subscription service. LEGO Australia regularly provides free subscriptions at special promotional events or as competition prizes. The main magazine is published quarterly.

There is also a range of magazines available in digital format via the LEGO website.

BJ banner.logo

Brick Journal was the first major independent LEGO fan magazine. It started as a digital only publication in 2005 and became available in both print and digital formats in 2007. Editor, Joe Meno, describes it as “ ultimate resource for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages. It spotlights all aspects of the LEGO Community, showcasing events, people, and models in every issue, with contributions and how-to articles by top builders worldwide, new product intros, and more”. The magazine now has an Italian version and there are plans for expansion into other markets in the near future.  Brick Journal is available bi-monthly.

blockslogo2

Blocks magazine first appeared in late 2014 and quickly gained a popular following amongst LEGO fans and the wider community. This is in part due to its availability in local newsagents as well as via a subscription. It can be purchased either as a print or digital subscription. It describes itself as “as celebration of everything LEGO. Aimed at enthusiasts young and old it is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the world of plastic bricks”. Blocks magazine is published monthly.

brickslogo      bricksculturelogo

Bricks and it’s sister publication, Bricks Culture, are the newest of the LEGO themed publications. Bricks enables one to “Immerse yourself in the world of LEGO fandom” and Bricks Culture focuses on “Recognising and celebrating the culture of LEGO and its place in the world”. Both magazines cover sets, themes, building, events and people. Bricks concentrates more on LEGO news with a strong focus on collecting and building whereas Bricks Culture is “artier” with a stronger focus on people and their stories. Bricks will be published monthly from August 2015 and Bricks Culture will be available quarterly. Print and digital subscriptions are available from their website.

Logo Hispabrick Magazine logo

Starting in 2008, HispaBrick magazine was originally established as a means of sharing and retaining the works of Spanish AFOLs. The publication was originally available only in Spanish but, due to interest from other countries, the magazine became available in both English and Spanish from issue 3. It covers all aspects of the LEGO hobby including reviews, AFOLs, clubs, LEGO employees, events, and special uses of LEGO Bricks. There is a special emphasis on Mindstorms and Technic. HispaBrick magazine is published every four months and is available as a free digital download from their website.

railbrickslogo

RailBricks is a specialist magazine that caters for the LEGO Train enthusiast. The magazine commenced in 2007 and is published irregularly.  Although there hasn’t been an issue since mid-2014, there are plans to revitalise the magazine in the near future. Past issues are available as a free digital download or as a print edition from their website.

Other magazines

Also available to a limited market of the UK and Ireland are magazines for kids on the themes of Ninjago, Chima and Friends. These began publication in 2014 and may feature a “free gift” with each issue. Recently, a Star Wars themed magazine with a “free gift” has become available in Europe.

Insuring your LEGO collection

plasticbrick Buying

[From the questions: Do you insure your LEGO? Should I insure my collection?]

Declaration: this post only contains general information and does not include any specific information for any particular insurance companies. Experiences with insurance companies may vary from those listed below.

lego money2

At some point in time, you may wish to consider insuring your LEGO collection. Not everyone insures their collection and not everyone sees it as being necessary. If your LEGO collection is predominately used by children and only occupies a couple of large tubs, then it probably isn’t worth your time to have a separate insurance policy or a special provision within your regular policy. However, if you collection is predominately used by adults (AFOLs) or occupies a separate room, then it is probably worth considering insurance.

Your choice of insurer and policy will be somewhat dependent on your financial situation and where you are located (country, region etc). Insurers that cater for specialist collections are more likely to have the appropriate structures in place to adequately value and insure your collection.

Documenting and valuing your collection is one of the key features of ensuring adequate coverage in your policy. With something like LEGO bricks and sets, it is important to consider the replacement cost of your collection rather than the actual cost you paid. For example, if your collection contains  something like a Café Corner or Market Street modular building, you would want to be able to replace them if they are damaged or stolen. Documentation requirements may vary from one company to another. Some may require photos and listings of your collections. Others may require receipts as proof of purchase. Likewise, valuation requirements may vary between companies. Some may be happy with your valuation (perhaps using a specialist site like Bricklink) or others may require an independent valuation.

Finally, check the limitations of the proposed policy. Some have an upper claim limit on items and you may be required to have multiple listings in order to cover all of your collection. This is less likely to be the case if you have it listed as a special collection.

This post was prepared with the assistance of members of the Queensland LEGO User Group (QLUG).

Legoland Malaysia

plasticbrick LEGO Themed Travel, Legoland ,

[From the question: How do I get to Legoland Malaysia?]

legolandmylogo

Post edited 20th July 2015

For Australians, Legoland Malaysia (LLM) is the nearest LEGO theme park. For this reason, it is an affordable and accessible alternative to travelling to Europe or the US for one of the other parks.

Getting there

There are a number of alternative ways to get to the theme park. If travelling via Malaysia, you might like to catch the train from Kuala Lumpur (KL). This takes about 5 hours and is a great journey for train enthusiasts.

If your time is more limited, you may like to consider travelling to LLM from Singapore. The journey only takes around 60-90 minutes and is fairly straightforward.

Options include hiring a car (or going with a local who has a car), catching a coach bus or hiring a limousine or private taxi.

Coach Bus

Travelling by coach bus is one of the more popular ways to get to LLM from Singapore. WTS offer a combined entry and bus ticket. Their service operates from the base of the Singapore Flyer. You can either book in advance from home or when you arrive in Singapore. They do get busy, however, so it is worth booking in advance. Try to book a ticket for the earliest departure time in order to maximize your time at the park. You will need to be at the Flyer at least 30 mins before your departure. If you are early enough, they may put you on an earlier service. Check in with the ticket office, as they will need to give you your bus and entry tickets. On the return journey, speak to the WTS operator prior to boarding the bus to ensure you are on the right one.

The disadvantage of this service is that you will need to leave the bus in order to pass through Immigration/Customs as you leave Singapore and as you enter Malaysia (same applies for the return journey). Make sure you note the bus number as you will need it for the Immigration forms and because the bus is moved between the time you get off and back on again and it is very easy to get confused.

Private taxi

This is a lovely way to travel if you a travelling with family or a group of friends. For around $200 – $240 SGD you can travel with up to 6 people and you do not need to get out of the car at the Immigration point. There will also pick you up from and drop you back at your hotel. You will, however, need to purchase tickets for LLM once you arrive at the park. One recommended operator is sgmytaxi.

Hints and tips and things to remember when visiting LLM

  • Drink lots of water and wear light clothing – it will be warm and humid
  • Pace yourself
  • LEGO prices are similar to those in Australia but you may find some unusual LLM souvenirs or small sets that are not normally available in Australia
  • Notify your bank that you will be travelling overseas. Give them a list of the countries you will visit
  • If the ATM doesn’t work inside the park, let Guest Services know so they can give you a pass out to try the ATM outside near the ticket booth. They don’t normally provide pass outs
  • Take local currency with you rather than trying to change it when you get there. Credit cards are fine to use.
  • Remember to take your passport!
  • For the full theme park experience, you might like to stay at the Legoland Hotel in Malaysia

Thanks to JL and AM from Western Australia for the notes on their recent experiences at LLM.

Extra parts

plasticbrick Building , ,

[From the question: Why do I have leftover parts? What is this orange thing and where does it go?]

LEGO are aware that people lose small LEGO bricks all the time. That’s why they give you extras of things like 1×1 plates and 1×1 tiles. Some sets use a lot of different colours of these types of bricks and you may end up with quite a few spare parts. This is normal.

If you have extra pieces that are more like regular bricks or larger parts, then there is a chance that you may have made an error in the construction of your set. It’s not unheard of but it is really unusual for a set to contain a spare 1×6 brick (for example). Go back and have another look at the instructions. If there is a parts list at the back of the instruction booklet, see how many of that piece you are meant to have. If it is a spare, then congratulations! It doesn’t happen very often.

The exception to this rule is with the 3 in 1 Creator sets where you may have leftover bricks from building any of the models as those bricks may only be used in one of the other alternate builds.

Some sets contain a Brick Separator. These are not meant to be part of a model and are designed as tools to help you separate LEGO bricks. They are meant to stop you using your teeth or fingernails. The picture shows the most recent design. These come in green or orange. The older version comes in dark grey or green.

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