Month: May 2015

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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Replacement parts

plasticbrick Buying , ,

[From the questions: What do I do if my set is missing parts? Where can I get replacement parts? One of my pieces is damaged, what do I do?]

Despite the best efforts of those who are responsible for the manufacture of LEGO sets, there is sometimes an item missing or damaged in your set. It could be an individual LEGO piece; it could be the instructions or the sticker sheet. LEGO are aware this happens. That’s one of the reasons they include extras for the little pieces – they know the parts are easy to lose. They also have changed their packaging so the stickers and instructions are better protected whilst in the box.

Things can still be damaged or missing, though, so LEGO has a service via their website from where you can order replacement parts. The pieces will be replaced free of charge but we recommend that you only use the service if you have a genuine missing or damaged part. Do not abuse the service.

Some parts will not be available via the LEGO replacement parts service, even though they may be from a new set. If that is the case, you may have some luck purchasing what you need from either Bricklink or Brick Owl. It would also be worth trying members of your local LUG or a local LEGO buy/sell/swap/trade group on Facebook. You can also purchase individual or bulk parts directly from the LEGO online store – either from their Bricks and Pieces selection or via their online Pick a Brick site.

Buying boxes of collectable minifigs

plasticbrick Buying ,

[From the question: Where can I buy a box of collectables minifigs?]

Unless you have an account with LEGO, you are limited to how you can purchase a full, unopened box of collectables minifigs.

You have three main options.

  • Local Toy Store or Department store – If you are lucky and the store owner/manager knows you well, you may be able to purchase an unopened box from your local toy store. They may expect you to pay full retail for the box but it is becoming increasingly common for them to provide a discount for purchasing a full box.
  • Bricklink – Until recently, this was the most common way to purchase a complete box. The initial price may be below regular retail but it will increase as each series goes out of production. Particularly useful if you don’t have a local independent toy store or LEGO retailer. Some of the early series are now worth a lot of money.
  • Ebay – Much like Bricklink, the quicker you purchase the box, the better the price will be.

Spotting LEGO selling scams

plasticbrick Buying , , , ,

[From the question: How do I know if this great offer is legit?]

It’s an unfortunate reality of our modern era that there are people out to scam others in order to make money.

It is very easy to get caught up in believing you have found a brilliant bargain when you see a LEGO set listed for a great price. Scammers seem to target those who are new to the hobby and are not sure about pricing or how to recognize a dodgy listing. It can happen in Facebook trading groups, on eBay, online classifieds and/or Bricklink. Even experienced purchasers of LEGO sets can be caught up if it involves something they have been after for quite a long time.

Here are some telltale signs:

  • It’s a set that normally sells for a high price. It can be a currently available set or something that has been retired. The listed price will be considerably cheaper than retail and sometimes cheaper than the wholesale cost
  • The person has multiple copies of the same high price set at a cheap price
  • Or they have a range of hard to find sets at good prices
  • (On Bricklink) a store that has low feedback but appears to have lots of high price sets
  • A seller that only accepts Western Union for payment
  • The products are copies or fake LEGO sets but they have listed them as being genuine LEGO products
  • (Possible stolen goods) A seller with a large range of LEGO product for cheap prices (below wholesale) where the seller does not seem to know very much about the product. They may use incorrect terms or claim to be able to get hold of an item in bulk when they are not normally available in such a way.

Note: someone selling products with inflated prices is not a scammer. They are just someone who wants a high return on their investment.

How to avoid buying from scammers:

  • purchase from well-known sellers or from the LEGO store online
  • only buy high price items from people with more than 100 feedback on Bricklink or eBay
  • Ask friends if they think it’s a legitimate listing. There are often discussions about this on the Bricklink forum
  • Assume anything that seems like a real bargain is likely to be a scam
  • Ask for photos of the set (not the standard set photos)
  • Make your payment via Paypal or offer to pick up in person

LEGO User Group meetings

plasticbrick LUGs ,

[From the question: What happens at a LUG meeting?]

LUG (LEGO User Group) Meetings are different in different parts of the world. Even within the same country/state/region they can vary. There is no “typical” type of meeting.

Some things that you may expect at meetings:

  • General informal chats about LEGO and other topics. This may be about a new LEGO product or it could be about a new movie or TV series or something completely different
  • A formal section where announcements are made and there may be a discussion
  • Guest speakers or presentations
  • Sharing of building ideas and techniques
  • Trading/selling etc or LEGO sets, parts, minifigs or other items
  • Competitions (Build competitions, Tower Build, Dirty Brickster, Blind Build, Speed Build, Build in the bag etc)
  • People building a LEGO set they have bought along for that purpose (some people don’t get much time to build at home)
  • Sorting of LEGO bricks (might belong to the LUG or an individual)
  • An excursion to the local shopping centre to buy LEGO sets
  • Partsies (especially in Melbourne, Australia) or Parts Drafts
  • Brik Wars
  • Cooperative building of a model
  • Display of someone’s latest MOC

Some meetings are held in clubrooms, some are at restaurants or pubs. Others may be in private homes or rented rooms in community centres or similar buildings.

They may run all day, just for the afternoon or just in the evening. Weekends are popular for meetings but they may also be held on weeknights or whenever people are available.

Starting your own LEGO User Group

plasticbrick LUGs , , ,

[From the question: How do I start a LUG?]

With LEGO being very popular at the moment, lots of people want to join a local LUGs (LEGO User Groups) or start their own.

We recommend checking the LAN page to see if there is one in your local area. Some of the LUGs have been around for a long time and are often happy to meet fellow LEGO enthusiasts of all ages. Some LUGs are aimed at just adults whilst others are inclusive and have members of a range of ages. The LAN page will tell you if there are any Registered LUGs (RLUGs) in your region. Sometimes there will be ones in the same state/region but they may not really be close to you. If possible, try to attend some of the meetings of the nearest group to see how they operates and what sort of things they do at a meeting. This is worth doing so they can get to know you and offer some assistance in setting up a group nearer to where you live.

It can happen that there is a local LUG that is not yet registered and it would be worthwhile checking Facebook or doing a Google search to see if there is anything in your area.

If you do decide to start your own group, here are some suggestions that may help to become established:

  • Find some friends or other people with a similar interest. You may have to create a flyer to place around town to attract the attention of local LEGO enthusiasts. Local libraries or community centres can be good locations in which to promote your group. You may even choose to place an ad in the local online classifieds.
  • Find a venue in which to hold your meetings. Lots of LUGs have had their beginnings in someone’s lounge room or garage. If you require somewhere larger, you might like to consider Scout or Guide Halls, Community Centres, Church halls, Libraries or Schools. These places often rent out rooms to community groups and may be suitable. Some may be free whilst others may have a small cost involved. Share the costs amongst your attendees.
  • Create a Facebook page/group or webpage for your LUG. Remember to not use the word “LEGO” in your URL if you are creating a website. This will help promote your group and can be a good way to promote activities and meetings.
  • Attend local events organized by other groups. You may meet other people from your region who may like to join your group.
  • Once your group has at least 20 members and has been established for a year, you may like to consider registering the LUG with the LAN so other people can easily find your group. This will give you a LEGO Ambassador who will act as a direct contact with LEGO. Once registered, you LUG will be able to participate in special programs run by CEE Team from LEGO.

Reasons to join a local LEGO User Group (LUG)

plasticbrick LUGs , , ,

[From the question: Why should I join a local RLUG or LUG?]

Registered (RLUGs) and non-registered LEGO User Groups (LUGs) can be found all over the world. Most countries have multiple groups and there is likely to be one in your regional area or state. This online map may help you find one near you.

Some people are happy to not interact with other LEGO Fans or prefer to do it just on an online environment (via the Official LEGO website, Facebook, online forums or email lists). Every person is different but there are many great reasons to become part of a LUG that has meet-ups and social events.

  • It’s a great way to meet people who have similar interests to you.
  • It’s a fun social event with like minded people
  • You may be able to trade with others and pick up pieces that you need to complete sets. It might save you postage if you can pick it up at a meeting
  • Seeing someone else’s MOC in person can inspire you to create something of your own.
  • Great way to increase your knowledge on a topic or to learn new skills
  • May give you the opportunity to work collaboratively on a project
  • Advance notice of upcoming LEGO Fan events and displays involving the LUGs
  • Competitions and prizes
  • (in RLUGs) participating in LUGBULK
  • (in RLUGs) opportunity to be involved in special projects organized via LEGO
  • (in RLUGs) communication channel to LEGO via your RLUG Ambassador