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If you have been around the LEGO fan community for some years, you probably remember The Brick Show, a popular YouTube channel that pioneered LEGO news and review videos a decade ago. The channel is still alive, although with not as much new content as in the past. A side-project of The Brick Show is an online shop called Build Better Bricks, where they sell custom LEGO instructions by creative and talented LEGO fans, as well as custom printed minifigures and accessories.

We discussed the shop a few years back (see links at the end of this post), so today I only wanted to highlight some of the latest cool additions that recently became available.

CUSTOM LEGO TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES INSTRUCTIONS: These halfshell heroes are ready to party! Lots of articulation let you pose them in classic ninja poses. Files have been provided so you can order parts for all four turtles, each separate turtle, or one file that has the parts for one figure and each character’s weapons and bandana colors. This allows you to change the figure to your favorite turtle. The characters are 8″ x 5″ x 4″ and use 350 pieces each. The estimated cost for getting the parts for each turtle is around $35, and the cost for the instructions, parts list, and Stud.io files is $12. (The Stud.io files allow you to easily import the parts list to BrickLink.)

CUSTOM LEGO SPIDER-MAN INSTRUCTIONS: It’s just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Spider-Man is known for his agility when swinging from his webs. So for this model, the focus is on capturing all the agile poses of Spider-Man. The model also includes instructions for a stand that allows you to pose him in flight or hanging upside-down from his web. The model is 12″ tall x 4″ wide x 3″ deep without the stand, and 12″ tall x 6″ wide x 7″ deep with the stand. The estimated cost for getting the 389 parts is around $40-$50, and the instructions, parts list, and Stud.io files are $7.

CUSTOM LEGO STAR WARS CHARACTERS INSTRUCTIONS: Some other fantastic brick-built characters are from Star Wars, including a stormtrooper, scout trooper, clone trooper, and even Commander Cody! The instructions, parts list, and Stud.io files are $7 each.

CUSTOM LEGO STAR WARS LIGHTSABER INSTRUCTIONS: There is also a whole selection of highly detailed lightsabers with stands for Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker (two versions), Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul. The instructions, parts list, and Stud.io files are also $7 each.

CUSTOM LEGO SERENITY FIREFLY INSTRUCTIONS: This is Build Better Brick’s largest custom model with just over 2,000 pieces. The goal with this model was to have it as accurate as possible while still making it playable. So it’s a great display model but also has many fun play features like opening hatches and panels to give you access to the full interior with cockpit, hallway, dining room, engine room, infirmary, cargo bay, two shuttles, rotating engines, and more. The overall size is 23″ x 16″ x 9″ and the estimated cost for the parts is $200. The instructions, parts list, and Stud.io files are $25.

There are instructions for many other fantastic custom LEGO models in the Build Better Bricks portfolio, and you can check out their website, BuildBetterBricks.com,  for the full selection. And if you already have any of the models and would like to share your review, feel free to do so in the comment section below!

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

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LEGO VIP Collectible Coins Are Back!

The LEGO VIP collectible coins are back! Since the reinvention of the LEGO VIP Program, LEGO fans had the chance to redeem their accumulated VIP Points not just for discounts on LEGO purchases, but also for various other rewards like LEGO artwork, exclusive LEGO sets, and commemorative items. One of these collectible items that proved to be very popular last year was the collectible coins collection with five beautifully designed metal alloy coins along with matching coin cases. The coins quickly ran out of stock last year and thus many LEGO fans and collectors missed out.

The good news is that LEGO is making the collectible coins and coin holders available again, tomorrow, January 11, at the LEGO VIP Rewards Center. Supplies are expected to run out quickly, just like last time. To make the distribution of the coins fair, each coin (as well as the coin holder) is only going to be available to LEGO VIP members who didn’t get any coins or weren’t able to complete their set last year. However, if demand is lower than expected, LEGO VIP members who already got their coin collection completed previously will be able to get a second set.

Although this wasn’t part of the new announcement, I expect that the coins and cases will cost the same as last time; 1,150 points (about $10) for the coins, and 700 points (about $5) for the combo case. The list of collectible coins are as follows:

  • Golden LEGO Logo Collectible Coin
  • LEGO Space Logo Collectible Coin
  • LEGO Octan Logo Collectible Coin
  • LEGO Pirates Logo Collectible Coin
  • LEGO Castle Logo Collectible Coin

The coins will be available at the following times in different regions and timezones:

  • In Australia and New Zealand: midnight Sydney time
  • In Japan: midnight local time
  • In Korea: midnight local time
  • Europe: 11am CET/10am GMT
  • The United States and Canada: 9am EST

If you are interested to get the collectible coins, you can purchase them with your redeemable points at the LEGO VIP website. Once you redeem your points, you will receive a promotional code for the item(s), which you can use with your next purchase at the Online LEGO Shop. Please note that the code(s) are valid for 60 days and must be entered during checkout in the field labeled ‘Enter Promo Code’.

As mentioned above, it is expected that this offer won’t last long, so if you would like to get your coins, visit the LEGO VIP Program Reward Center. And if you need extra points, take a look at all the new sets that were released this year at the what’s new section of the Online LEGO Shop.

What do you think? How do you like this collectible coin collection? Are you interested to get it? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below.

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

LEGO SHOP IN USA: Online LEGO Shop USA

LEGO SHOP IN CANADA: Online LEGO Shop Canada

LEGO SHOP IN UK: Online LEGO Shop UK

LEGO SHOP AUSTRALIA: Online LEGO Shop Australia

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