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LEGO Creator Carousel available now!

Just a quick update that the #10257 LEGO Creator Carousel is now available for LEGO VIP members (general release will be on June 1st). We have talked about the set before, and you can see the designer-video and other basic information here: LEGO Ideas Apollo & LEGO Creator Carousel. I have also added some additional information below. 🙂

Here is the official description of the set: Experience the majestic Carousel with a wealth of delightful features, including a large textile canopy, ornate reflective rounding boards with blue and gold detailing, reflective center panels, and a 2-tier deck comprising a raised boarding platform with handrail and a main platform with 5 buildable animal rides, including a white swan and 4 moving animals. Turn the crank and see the elephant, tiger, flamingo and frog move up and down as the carousel rotates. This delightful LEGO Creator Expert model has an iconic elegance that evokes feelings of nostalgia, romance and adventure. Upgrade with LEGO Power Functions for fully motorized operation. Includes 7 minifigures: a ride operator, mom, dad, boy, girl, grandmother and a granddaughter. Measures over 12” (32cm) high, 14” (38cm) wide and 13” (35cm) deep. 2670 pieces. Price: $199.99 – BUY HERE

William is going to write a review of the set as soon as he has a chance to build it, however in the meantime I thought to share with you this really nicely done stop-motion animation of the building process. You will notice some very interesting little details, and it’s fun to watch how the set comes together.

You can also motorize the carousel with the #8883 LEGO Power Functions Medium Motor and #88000 LEGO Power Functions AAA Battery Box (not included), which you can get at the LEGO Upower Functions section of the Online LEGO Shop.

The #10257 LEGO Creator Carousel is a perfect match to the #10247 LEGO Creator Ferris Wheel with the same color-scheme. Either or both sets can be a beautiful addition to any LEGO City layout, or LEGO Modular Building display. While the new carousel is smaller than the #10196 LEGO Grand Carousel released in 2009, I think it looks brighter and more fun, and it is also easier to incorporate into a display because of the smaller size.

What do you think? How do you like the #10257 LEGO Creator Carousel? And how do you think it compares to the previous version? Do you have the Ferris wheel already? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

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The LEGO reverse engineering challenge

There is a very interesting LEGO fan group on flickr that I became aware of through the LEGO Ambassador Forum. It’s called the LEGO Reverse Engineering Challenge. The idea is to figure out how small but complex LEGO creations were built. Once a challenge is posted, members submit their solutions, which are then shared in the group for everyone to see, discuss and critique. 🙂

The group was started by LEGO fan and graphic designer Ryan Howerter (a.k.a. eldeem on flickr), and has over 400 members who participated in previous challenges. While there are no contests posted currently, the group’s gallery is a smorgasbord of very interesting ideas and techniques. I find it particularly fascinating how many ways there is to solve a problem. The group has strict rules to keep the solutions “purist” – meaning no stickers, rubber-bands, cutting elements, and any other unconventional techniques are allowed.

If you like to doodle with LEGO pieces, learn unusual building techniques, or have a dream of becoming a LEGO designers, this group can be a great resource. You can also browse the gallery to find solutions to problems you face while working on your own LEGO models. In addition, the challenges can give you ideas to use during LEGO club meetings and other LEGO related events and get-togethers.

Ryan also shares that he is working on a book, which will contain lots of LEGO reverse engineering puzzles similar to what was used in the online challenges. Whether this will actually happen and when is not known at this point, but I’m definitely going to keep an eye on it. LEGO puzzles are fun!

What do you think? Do you like to solve LEGO building problems? Are you comfortable with using advanced building techniques with LEGO? Did you eve come up with a solution that you are really proud of? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

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

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