10243 Parisian Restaurant

10243 Parisian Restaurant, a photo by gambort on Flickr.

BRAND NEW SET From LEGO!

Pics of the early 2014 modular building have been released, and this one is impressive. It is the first to use such a supply of Olive Green basic elements, making for another remarkable store of parts. Nonetheless, the look is so realistic and the model is so detailed that this is growing to be one of my favorite Modulars. I'll definitely pen a copy. I highly recommend this set. It should carry the same or slightly higher price point as other traditional modulars.

LEGO Pick A Brick - European Goodies IN US

Over the past couple of weeks, pictures have popped up on Flickr and most recently a friend's Facebook Account showing a bunch of goodies from US store pick a brick walls.

As was much anticipated since the Spring changes to the catalog, parts that have been fairly exclusive to European markets are finally beginning to pop up in the US.

These include parts like:

• Medium Stone Grey Round 1x1 Tile
• Olive Green Cheese Slope
• Trans-Light Blue 1x2 Tile
• Pink 1x2 Brick, tile, and 1x1 studs.
• Gold Grills and cones
• Medium Lavender 1x2 Plate
• Medium Stone Grey Mortar Bricks (Good thing I didn't bulk it!)
• White 2x2 "Jumpers"
• Dark purple "studs"
• Palm Leaves

Other assorted parts that have been noted throughout the year, as a reminder, include:

• Medium Stone Grey 2x2 Tile and 1x2 Plain Brick
• Dark Green 1x1 Brick
• Dark Pink 1x4 Brick
• Dark Purple 1x2 Tile (which apparently is a big deal even though I racked a lot of them up)
• Trans-Black Wide 4x3x1 Windscreens

Now, one thing is for the interesting breadth of pieces that showed up in Spring to exist. (and still I haven't found them all). But this batch of pieces that were only seen in Germany, UK, and Denmark is much more fascinating and opens up more possibilities. Unfortunately this lowers the value of the pieces as long as they last but I want to build MOCs with these. Shamefully, I bulked in the past the dark purple 1x2s, pretty much all the Medium Stone Grey elements, and the like but thankfully none of those pieces held one of my limited part "spots", for lack of a better term. 

We have collectors and diehard builders. Here are some of the uses you can consider:

• Purple elements - details, accents. Lavender is perfect as a color trim for various modern buildings especially SoBe art decos.
• Pink bricks perfect for SoBe and Miami faded pastel buildings. Still trying to get lucky with pink 1x2, but no luck.
• Pink tile can be fresh cobblestone. I used nougat for the Element section of Franklin St. but will feel more comfy with the bright pink.
• Olive green cheese can be used as detailed roof accents, wall decor, and other misc. city uses.
• Gold stuff can be used for building accents.
• White jumpers can be used almost anywhere and any how.
• Trans Blue tile - well be careful, if you do a skylight you're going to have to have an opaque piece below or a messy mix of clear 1x2 below the tile. Anything modern/posh can benefit from this piece.
• Palm Leaves - beach resorts
• bley stuff - for the mortar profiles, I'd prefer to use the non brick side for classic looking facade details

It's like LEGO wants us to build... um... paradise. (Cue Lana Del Rey's album "Born to Die: the Paradise Album"). Regardless, I shot an email to my local store's manager to see to getting some of these.... pronto. ;)

Curiosity on LEGO Digital Designer

As I have used the designer to do a couple key MOCs lately, I did notice something interesting.

When you make instructions for your model, the applet in HTML will graciously provide you a full inventory of what's in your build, like a conventional LEGO Set. I have noticed that for every part in conventional LDD, the 6 or 7 digit part ID in LEGO's book is provided. For every part you chip in from "LDD Extended" there is no number, however. Also, parts that LDD 4.2 predated, namely parts in Olive Green don't show in LDD. IE: when I did my Tri-Rails, the Medium Azure pieces from the 41015 Dolphin Cruiser were not ID'd.

The idea this suggests is that beyond the wealth of parts that are already immediately available, there are more that have an ID with LEGO.

Here's a visual of what I'm talking about:

And as such, I'm wondering if one can order parts like these direct or say, through LUGBULK. Frankly, if so it would be GREAT... I could definitely use a broader variety of pieces for my Tri-Rail rotems, for example These are parts that could have been produced in order to make company models, ie. Miniland.

Most obviously parts that are no longer in production will not be available. But we're talking future parts here, so this is something to think of and perhaps to research for the coming year.

Is Dark Azure the New Medium Blue? And My Thought on the "Outburst of Colors"

In years past LEGO has fancied "Medium Blue" as the baby blue of sorts when marketing their creator line. I have just learned thanks to some browsing on online Pick-A-Brick that the two shades of blue in LEGO Creator product now are plain Blue and the newer Dark Azure.

Sets 10662, 10663, and similar boast the newer color. This boasts the question as to whether LEGO is no longer willing to brand out Medium Blue in its Make and Create, and if DkAzure will be a more common color in the future. Besides, the Azure family are much stronger than the dull, pale MdBlue so it's gotta be more appealing right?

Dark Azure is a nice color and perfect for models like the St. Augustine. Well, since I ordered some 1x6 in Medium Azure (Motto: "you know how but don't know how"), I thought that would do the job since I plan on replicating FEC's Office Car fleet with my Heritage Unit, but as I learned when Brand Ribboning the Spongebob boat that it was actually Dark Azure that did the job.

On the subject but branching out, still, I found and thought out an even more perfect yet ambitious (since a cab car will be a PITA) use for my MdAzure swag, and with this motive complemented it.

Regardless, all nagging aside, LEGO has gone haywire with its color possibilities, and "I'm lovin' it". In 2012 one could say we've hit a new golden age for color. Out like a swarm of fleas came colors like Olive Green, Medium AND Dark Azure, "Flame Yellowish Orange", magenta, lavender, light aqua, and light yellow. Friends pioneered the purging of a delicious variety of elements in these zippy colors (as I have similarly named my PAB of late) while TMNT AND Chima followed in 2013. Even so, I didn't know the dark magenta was even a color until ending up with slopes of it from a grab bag. LEGO also refreshed "Bright Pink" so as to stand out as opposed to "light pink".

Here are some ideal applications of colors to inspire the noggin:

• Flame Yellowish Orange: Anything you want a stronger, bolder yellow to. My thoughts: CSX engines in the new YN3 scheme, taxis, new looking school buses, Union Pacific engines (even though regular yellow works). Good to say, as of the 2013 line, one can model ALL of those.
• Bright Pink: Miami-style pastel faded warehouses and buildings, art deco, houses, rooms, interiors. Ice cream trucks maybe?
• Lavender: I don't know, accents? Night clubs? lol...Don't even think I wound up with parts of this color.
• Olive green: The leaves are great for dull landscapes. Otherwise military equipment, landscaping, maybe a boxcar or two if you get a hold of a lot of brick. Graffiti possibly?
• Dark magenta: Best on accents. Awnings, Dunkin Donuts locations, etc. Steals the show from Dark Pink.
• MdAzure: Maersk renditions if you missed the sets, Tri-Rail, Sky related items. Maybe a faded boxcar.
• Dark Azure: Anything pretty much. I'd like to see many more pieces in this and much more availability.

Aside from that it's nice to see more parts getting whipped out in such colors like Dark Tan (Sand Yellow), Medium Dark Flesh, Dark Orange and Dark Brown. These just have many uses in the city and add so much depth and realism.

The only downside to these colors are that they do make the hobby more expensive... and more spoiled too. There's less of a challenge to, say, getting the Dulux Gold on CSX correct (see Flame Yellowish Orange). Unless you get hookups from your LUG or the company, obtaining good amounts of these parts directly can be pricey or if you long for that one to two in that one set, the old-fashioned way,  be prepared to fork out quite a bit of cash. But still this is an overall positive development in LEGO.

10234- Sydney Opera House™

And LEGO could not have found a person better than Jamie to present it.

Just recently revealed is the LEGO Sydney Opera House. I highly encourage you guys to take a look at the video and revel in this simple... uh... awesomeness. The technique and details are just impressive. A bit pricey though, the model is 320 USD for just about 3,000 pieces but with this gorgeous selection of pieces, it's well worth it. ENJOY.

LEGO CUUSOO Fall 2012 Review Results: Announcing LEGO CUUSOO #005

These are the results of the review of the CUUSOO projects that made the 10000 supporter threshold last fall.

I knew right off the bat Curiosity was going to win... and I was right. According to the speaker in this video, LEGO has four considerations for product review.... and Curiosity snugly fit in all four.

Not only does it meet the four requirements, it is also a very educational set. It teaches the mechanics of the rover and meanwhile inspires knowledge and outreach with respect to Space.

I know fans may think that there is a bias towards Space products, but I see it as though it is what works.

Regardless congrats to the creator of this project and I will be sure to purchase one of these soon.

LEGO Bricks and Pieces Online Ordering

One thing I discovered when researching parts for an order is that LEGO now has one bettered Pick-A-Brick online. For any sets currently in production, you can now buy individual parts direct. Only thing is, the limit is 200 parts.

https://service.lego.com/en-us/replacementparts/#BasicInfo

I believe that this is no secret -- Brickset has this site listed as a way to buy virtually any part.

How this works is that after selecting age and location, and selecting "BUY A PIECE" you search a set #, place an order for a part, and list the desired quantity (again, up to 200). You then go to checkout by placing contact info and they will give you a quote. You end up paying - somehow - then they mail it to you. It'll take a while though, I'm sure, as the parts come from Europe.

Only thing is, I don't know how good it is. It raises some questions:

Are the parts marked up? ie: $0.25 for a 1x4 brick in Sand Green...

Will you get a better deal the more you place an order on a certain element?

Regardless, the system looks pretty good. I have to try it out.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, a photo by brickbuilder711 on Flickr.

( NEW LEGO City 2013 60009 Helicopter Arrest )

Dis set ( NEW LEGO City 2013 60009 Helicopter Arrest ), a photo by LegoIiner PiIot on Flickr.

Shared by Colby M to Flickr.
New Helicopter set. Sort of under wraps but now the cat has left the back.

All I can say is AWESOME. This is something I could consider getting.

Announcement: LEGO Christmas Layout

For the umpteenth time, I am proud to have another under-the-tree layout for the Holiday season this year! A tradition that started in HO in 1999, then migrated over to LEGO Trains when I discovered them in 2001, I usually run one or two loops (2005) of trains under the tree.

This year I am looking forward to operating one elongated loop of trains. There is a chance it will be one extended dumbbell loop.

There are a couple of new things planned for this year. One of them is the addition of a footbridge done with classic Spanish architecture, which will peek over a double track mainline and carry the electrical wiring that will power the tree and tracks. The bridge is complete and for the most part under wraps. Another will be the addition of LED lighting for the Tree, which has been powered by incandescent lights for ages. This will be a hybrid as the lights don't come cheap, but an improvement nonetheless. The Fortress, a 2010 Restaurant MOC, may be replaced in its position by a recently built McDonalds while that undergoes a renovation. I also plan to make good on landscaping and beautifying the layout as the previous years' were not very much landscaped. There may be an industrial spur or mini yard. I will also make good on posting video to YouTube, and may throw together a similar layout from '07 in a separate package.

LEGO Grab Bags to be Discontinued

Despite the exciting news of the 10233 Horizon Express which I will be very happy to have, I have some bad news from the man himself, K. Hinkle.

According to a thread on Eurobricks, and with him quoted, they are no longer allowing Brand Retail to sell Grab Bags. Reason being, there are legal implications to the quality of product and they probably are following legislation to prevent any future lawsuit over "broken" parts, or maybe scratches, or some legal mumbo-jumbo. This obviously seems bad and uncomfortable for the expert builder like myself who has recently begun to live off of these (see a couple past and future entries).

I will look at it in a different eye. He says he is trying to arrange for a solution for us AFOLs, since we are a reasonable fraction of the company's clientele. What can be done?

• All schools where I am at ban the sale of food in "competition" with the cafeteria (seriously, how is someone going to run the cafeteria out of business?) Victims are fundraiser sales for clubs and "(insert holiday here) Grams". Now, if the food is "given" in another sold package (of "Balloons" for example), there is a little bit of going around it.
• In context, clients can be "Given" the parts to fill in a Paid Pick-A-Brick Cup. But to keep it within reason and compliance, I would limit it only to AFOL and people who have known staff of their store. The idea is to prevent any complaint from anyone not seriously into this (general consumer). If you are an AFOL, it is certainly understood any 1-in-1000 complaint is genuine and you're not trying to screw the company. It makes ZERO sense for anyone to inspect the contents of your pick a brick cup, so we all can get our Dark Tan 1x6 bricks there. No one is going to inspect the PAB stock sold anyway. It's just get a plastic cup and fill it with whatever you want. Gum wrappers, megablocks, or maybe real LEGO.
• Now, if the parts have to be given away to someone, maybe WE can benefit from it. The idea is stores may not profit from Grab Bag material [used brick, brick from damaged sets, excess/mistreated PAB brick]. The parts can be given to trusted LUGs as we AFOL are truly the only people that can be "trusted" with used material and will probably not complain at all like any ordinary client could. Lots of fans would not want the material to be thrown away or recycled as it is LEGO and it can last 30-40 years. Remember that this stock is already losing market value when opened and built, and that it already generated big bucks by being advertising space for said set. (Economic principle, think opportunity cost of NOT displaying it!)

I really hope something positive and helpful to us works out in the future.

-$0.02

BIG LEGO Train Surprise! 10233 Horizon Express

10233_box1_na, a photo by fbtb on Flickr.

HOT OFF THE PRESS:

LEGO has JUST unveiled cover art for a new skilled train set! This looks a lot like the TGV in France.

More info:
http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74649

Price to Piece ratio is affordable, at under 10 cents a part. I think having this as part of Creator is brilliant as it is indeed one of those types of sets.

If you ask me, I find it one of the most beautiful sets ever produced. Very realistic, sleek, and modern. I will be getting this for Christmas!

CUUSOO - Curiosity Rover and Effectiveness of Ideas

I paid a visit to the CUUSOO website just a few days ago to see what was new and came upon an interesting observation.

Modular Western, as well as several other large projects have passed the 10,000 supporter mark that is required to be considered for a set. All these 'big sets' have hit the mark easily like a knife through butter but the problem was, LEGO didn't like them.

Yet I see that this other model, a Curiosity rehash, has passed it and I think that THIS will be it.

I may be offering a little trick as to how to get your idea approved with the content of this post... So why do I think that this is it, so early into the review stage?

Look at the other sets that got approved. Their price points/sizes fall in the mid-size, $30-50 range. They are not too small yet not too big. They may require a license here and there (and Minecraft got one easily) but otherwise they are fairly generic ideas.

Curiosity serves three liberties... it's medium sized, it's not a model that would require some ridiculous licensing, and most importantly... it's educational.

I think clients will scoff when they see a set that's priced over $100.00. It would be only accessible to the richer members or the zealots of the community. While items like SW UCS sets and the Modulars have sold with flying colors, the colors are not flying high enough to match smaller sets.

I think a product idea has to be truly accessible for it to work, which is why the reviewing committee has turned down many big projects. This is something I think will be successful because it allows play while not being overwhelming (which is the flaw of a town).

But then again, the size isn't the only factor.

I believe another requirement is the generic value of the model. Licenses are expensive and sometimes cannot work out, something I think killed the BTTF Delorean project. They are still possible, hence Minecraft, but I think a general and appealing theme/type is what the reviewers are looking for.

Hence, we have Curiosity which I can bet money will be #004. It isn't necessarily a license, as it could simply be called "space rover" or something to that effect, and it promotes a sense of research. Alas, the educational aspect. Plus, it just simply looks cool. Mechanical models can catch quite a number of eyes and the moving parts evident in the design seem to post a big plus. It is also current. As pretty much everybody would know, NASA expedited a mission to Mars with Curiosity and it landed last month. To "Relive" this experience would be a big plus for the consumer, and it teaches them history, science, and is good for the STEM side of the brain.

I will be looking forward to seeing this design go gold, and hope to have one and be able to review it for you all. Maybe this will also be an example "hint, hint" on how to make ideal and attractive models that will get CUUSOO reviewers unanimously saying "YES" to your design.

2013 January City Sets

This thread on EB has written information about the more-or-less confirmed January releases for the city line:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74000

With all due respect, LEGO... Why fire and police...again? I understand SWAT is a new look at things but already the agents line looks SWAT enough. All that this Fire, then Police, then Fire strategy is going to lead to is so much redundancy that will lead to virtually no sales. Kids turning 11 years old today would already be exposed to two maybe three fire stations since they met the 5 year old age group, starting from the 2005 Fire Station to the 2007 then the 2010 or 11 (I don't even remember!).

The only plus about the police line is that there will be a different series of sets. Instead of having a full station there will be a Museum Heist... that reminds me of LEGO Studios in 2001 with the bank set. The chase is interesting but we've seen similar sets in the past.

Now the great vehicles are OK this year. I appreciate the updates to the Tow Truck (from 2009) and the Cement Truck (from 2007) but another fuel truck, and a shorter one at that isn't necessary. If I were LEGO I would invest more into a delivery truck/van, city bus, food truck or the like. In that sense, I agree with what Klaus-Dieter opined in page three.

I hope and duly hope that in the summer of this coming year that we see some variety. If LEGO took to doing buildings such as a supermarket, post office, or corporate office, then maybe there would be interest in those. I do expect to see new LEGO trains in 2013 maybe in the summer even though the cargo train came out in 2011.

It seems like the City line is not being taken to its full potential... Not such a great move, LEGO.

A Big Reveal - CSX C40-8

I had this one planned for a few weeks as to foster a LEGO built rock train.

Recently CSX Train K996-10 stalled on a hill in Central Florida, which definitely made it a more remarkable catch in my outing. Once I saw it, the shot turned out a classic. These Standard cabs have been gaining on me as a more unique model compared to the widecab version. CSX purchased these before the C40-8W was made. If you ask me, these engines work better than the -W.

Needless to say, I saw two of these in "Fresh" YN3 lead Q453 to Miami on March 19, 2011. This shot somehow proved to be iconic due to this fresh coat and the more unusual delinquent pair of these Standard Cabs.

Hence an idea was born. Recreate a South Florida Rock Train for the Tampa layout. It would look iconic and cool to see. To start - a CSX C40-8.

This 40 stud engine uses various borrowed, old, and new techniques to draft this engine. I could say I had an epiphany with the back section there; the radiators seemed to snap in beautifully with that particular build. There are channels inside for Power Functions wires to flow and the motor is just a placeholder, to be changed to a PF Motor when possible. The cab can accommodate the new LED lights. Cab is also removable but is a bit tougher due to a limited DkBlue palette. Now the flaws. It turned out a bit taller than desired but that is so the tank can function beautifully and realistically. Also I can't find a good way to jump the nose over without requiring dk tan 1x2 tiles of which I only have one that I was lucky to find in PAB on 11-11-11. Cab windscreen design was a bit limited but I made what I could.

A new truck design was crafted, kind of on the footsteps of 10219 (Maersk) but with the personal touch of yellow grills. In the front since it uses the wheels it works but out back it doesn't; there is a one stud overlap.

The dark tan was a nice experiment to see what it would do to the engine. Many cameras distort light; add ambient light to the function and you could have a really different hue. If taken just right, Dark Tan will look precisely like Dulux Gold, which is the color listed in YN3. I kept reflective stripes yellow since it is a bright tone. Otherwise it is a completely different approach.

With two existing engines and a shell of a third, I was quite limited in my parts palette. Luckily I had the aid of the Star Wars Droid Tri-Fighter to serve in some wedges and 4-stud tiles. I couldn't find many 1x1 and 1x4 plates which are fewer in number but was able to do with almost none of them. This model celebrates five years of an era I moved into in Summer of 07. With an online order of Dk Blue brick, plus ~6,000 parts of Pick-A-Brick in three sittings out of Orlando, I  entered what I call the "Modular" era which began to instill earth tones (dkblue, dktan, dkgreen, tan, dark red, et al) to my MOCs. I miss those days on PAB when we had all sorts of fancy shmancy variety (I have Dark Green 2x4s from there!) but at least we're reliving some of it with today's palette. 

Comments... suggestions... the like... All appreciated.

Winter Village Cottage - My $0.02

Photos have surfaced all over Eurobricks of the new Winter Village Cottage, 10229.
Key Deeplinks
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/grogall/10229/c_10229_detail_1.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/grogall/10229/d_10229_detail_2.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/grogall/10229/h_10229_detail_6.jpg

There are more featured on this thread: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=72048

I really like this set and may consider it for purchase. It is like a townhouse but set to winter.

It continues to deliver technique such as roof SNOT which has been mainly seen in this series.

Dark tan elements and dark blue ones number well. If I get this one I will have quite a number of DkBlue 1x1 tiles. Brick bricks in DkTan also number well, laid out in the facade and chimney.

Playability does not disappoint, though I know I won't be playing ;) ... It comes with all that a house has be it kitchen, living room, bedroom. The fireplace will be light-able as happens in most of these sets. There are even accessories like gold sinks, toy planes, and bread.

The look is classic and it promises a nice holiday treat for any family. I think this large one is up there as a favorite from this series, even though I don't have any of the sets... Yet, I've seen the Post Office, the Bakery, and the Toy Shop.

I Like Grab Bags

Grab bags are the loose part bags LEGO Brand Retail sells. In these are parts from old floor models, PAB wall selections, or sets damaged in transit.

I bought three of them on Thursday and they were well supplied with common and uncommon parts. They were a great way to stock up on supporting basic bricks for Element while getting the value on rarer elements. 24 dollars (I'll say 21.50 to split the 5 bucks VIP rewards that was used on the purchase of this and PAB) bought these three and the total parts count was 674.

Bag 1 was probably the best and most numbered bag. In there were 1 light brick, several orange bricks (like in all 15), a dark pink slope, dark tan 2x2, lots of the greens and rare elements in md blue (like cheese and arches). 270 pcs.

Bag 2 was a Friends laden bag with the pink 8x16 and the slopes. Had several parts of interest and few more in the grays, white, and black. Also a hidden brick brick in DkTan and 1 silver antenna. 225pcs

Bag 3 was varied in color. Azure, pink, trans light blue elements plus a friends torso. 179 pcs. When I had this taken parts like a bright green 8x16 were in the box already. Ugh.

Not too bad where as the cost per part was 3.2 cents after the discount.

I love grab bags because of the ability to have this sort of access. It takes luck and timing to get it right. No two grab bags are alike, and it serves as a little reminder to the days when 4679 had the 500 part bonus that fit this description. Those were more bizarre elements but at least this comes close to some extent. I had one with Maersk Blue elements, one with dark orange elements from the Sandcrawler, and one with some Market street parts.

As I always do, it is suggested to ask your store if they have grab bags available.

Compression... Challenge Accepted

Slightly against my wishes to maintain a square, 64x64 property, Element will very likely be under a drastic overhaul project this weekend. I am only giving myself a whopping 3 days to do it: Friday , Saturday, and Sunday. I don't want the 2 dedicated months to prove a waste in the giant's progress but I want it to fit better with Robin's Skypoint, which apparently was completed and posted on Flickr. Actually, I'm surprised it came out that short; it's supposed to be a bit taller at 375 feet.

Element can bear:

• Left and right 4 stud concrete walls dropped to 2 studs
• 6-8-6 garage bays dropped to a 4-6-4. Canopies stay the same.

The model will still take up 2 baseplates, and yes with the outside section it will hit about 56 studs. But it is going to work out well. The 4 to 2 reduction will work the same on the other sides, reducing that span from 66 to 62 studs initially, though I should end up gaining it back with the grille details at the end. The catch with the 2 baseplate occupancy though is that the outside 4 on the West side will build in to Tampa St. leaving the rest to fiddle the remaining 44 to 48 studs out. This allows Franklin to sneak in to the last 16 studs but it will S-curve right like the real deal with some innovative way. Lots of engineering but as I said, I have put 2 months and don't want to have to put those to waste. Most of these are stacked up so the transition should be smooth save for knocking the inside wall down.

Another Impostor Company Strikes....

I can really care less when a clone brand comes in and sells LEGO. Technically it's legal as the patents have expired already, but what I really hate about it is the fact that they really compromise the quality and then LEGO's the bad guy when it comes to quality issues since it's the known name.

Why I'm blogging them...
I just find it hilarious how this company has shot themselves in the foot. Their website, bythepound.ca has ripped off the company's own image of plastic bricks. While the image is not current, I have seen it in the past. You can retrieve the image by clicking on one of the buckets, of any color. If you drag the image to the URL bar, you can also identify the file name as Turnbull_Lego_large or something like that. While they may be proven innocent by the idea of making plastic bricks, they can be proven guilty real easily by simple copyright infringement. I can bet they did not get consent from the company and just copied, then reproduced the image. The image looks to be older and from a past brick bucket or brick box, indexed under "Individual Bricks/Building Accessories" on LEGO SAH.

Seeing the embedded, you can tell this company's bricks are of lower quality. Brick Show endorses this for gifting, but I endorse LEGO's parts buckets any day. Shamefully those have inflated in price, however. In 2004, set 4496 the Bricks and Creations tub was 1,000 elements and only set one back 20 USD. Now a 650 part box sets one back 30 USD. Ridiculous. My best swag was Set 4679, a variant of 4496, except with an additional 500 parts which were absolutely random and colorful. I was about to get a second one year later but had to pass as I think 7046 the Fire Boat and one of my all time favorite World City sets was on shelf.  Anyway, back on, LEGO has much better intentions.

Element = Independence Day Progress

The Fourth (Happy late 4th!) was truly the last day at which I was able to make Element, the Tampa, FL Skyscraper that I'm building, grow before this Central Florida trip. This Central Florida Trip will yield at least two expected cups of Orlando PAB with useful treats for the tower and similar projects.

Anyway, the tower is now topping off in the South Side. It is amazing how it can be constructed with one side up sky-high and the other barely a floor up. 

 Garage doors

 Straight on closeup

West side grills

Overall, the east side had a bit of work done to strengthen it.

A closeup on the building from a cool angle

 Ceiling grills up close

The Interior. It is a true super supporting mechanism. Buildings need quite a bit of stability, and truly I don't want the baseplates to topple in when I carry it.

I am leaving South Florida right now with nearly two months of progress. This level of work is truly encouraging me for the future progress and continuing to be a motivating factor in the project. In all truth it did hit a point of no return. All the money expended plus progress and stability leave it to continuing to do the job.