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BrickLink new LEGO build & design features

by Thita (admin) on July 13, 2017

in Useful Resources

BrickLink has been the go-to place for LEGO fans to buy retired LEGO sets, LEGO elements and minifigures by the piece, sticker-sheets, building instructions and more. Founded by Daniel Jezek in the year 2000, the website has grown into a community of buyer and sellers from all over the world. After Dan’s tragic passing in 2010, BrickLink was bought from the Jezek family by South Korean billionaire Jung-Ju “Jay” Kim, who is a LEGO fan himself. A team of developers started working on the very busy but aging website to give it a more modern look, while also maintaining Dan’s legacy. You can read more about Dan and the history of BrickLink here. 🙂

While BrickLink continues to be the largest online marketplace for buying and selling LEGO, they are also adding new, compatible features. The first of these side ventures was the BrickLink MOC Shop, which allows LEGO fans to upload their own creations (MOC stands for “My Own Creation”), and BrickLink sellers who have the parts can sell these custom models as building kits in their own stores. (The original creator, the seller, and BrickLink share commission from the sale). This feature of BrickLink is particularly popular around the Chrismas holidays when people are looking to buy something unique for their friends and family. You can check it out here: VISIT BRICKLINK MOC SHOP

The second unique feature that was added to BrickLink is called Stud.io. Similar to LEGO Digital Designer, Stud.io allows you to design your LEGO models digitally. Once you finish your model, Stud.io’s direct integration to BrickLink’s catalog and marketplace makes bringing your virtual creation to life easy. Check if a color exists for a certain part or view the price of each element to see how it affects the total estimated price of the model. Once you are done tweaking, you can buy the pieces you need easily from BrickLink sellers. Stud.io is also fully compatible with LDraw and LEGO Digital Designer, so you can import your file from those platforms, and pick up where you left off in Stud.io. The software is currently in open beta testing phase and works quite well, with regular updates to smooth out any issues before a full launch. You can learn more about this feature and give it a try here: VISIT BRICKLINK STUD.IO

The third feature that was just recently added to BrickLink is called Mosaick. It allows you to upload and image, turn it into a LEGO mosaic using plates, tiles, or bricks, and purchase the parts you need to build it. While this service is not as advanced as some of the other LEGO mosaic software we have talked about previously (see links at the end of this post), if you just need to quickly and easily turn an image into a LEGO mosaic, it works just fine. I particularly like that the estimated price for the project shows up right on the page. This helps to decide what size mosaic and what kind of pieces to choose depending on your budget. If you are interested, take a look here: VISIT BRICKLINK MOSAICK

The new owner and management of BrickLink seem to be committed to keeping the website the largest online LEGO marketplace, and these new features will only enhance and complement the basic LEGO buying and selling that BrickLink is known for. The BrickLink MOC Shop gives LEGO artists a venue for listing their own models without having to sell them personally, and for those who are looking for a unique LEGO gift, it’s a very interesting marketplace. Stud.io is an excellent alternative to LEGO Digital Designer to work on your LEGO models digitally, and Mosaick is a quick and easy way to turn any image into a LEGO mosaic and then buy the needed parts. All three of these features also benefit BrickLink sellers as it allows them to sell their inventory in a different way. So it’s a win-win for everyone.

What do you think? Do you use BrickLink to buy and sell LEGO? How do you like these new features? Did you try out any of them already? Are you planning to? Feel free to share your thoughts and own review in the comment section below! 😉

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

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LEGO Old Style Diner with Arcade & more!

by Thita (admin) on July 12, 2017

in Featured LEGO Creations

I recently ran across a really nice project on LEGO Ideas that I thought to share with you. The LEGO Old Diner with Arcade by LEGO fan Astronaut Avila already got over 2K supporters since it was uploaded to LEGO Ideas a month ago. Even if you don’t care for diners, there are so many interesting details and building techniques used here, that it’s worth checking out the project. And of course, if you do decide to support it with your vote, there is a chance it may become an official LEGO set. 🙂

What I found most striking on the outside of the Old Diner is the lettering done with the new type of curved tile pieces in translucent colors. We talked about lettering with these tiles just the other day (see: Lettering with LEGO Using New Tile Shapes), and this project is a perfect example of how useful these new tiles are.

The bonus 6-stud-wide old sports car that comes with the Old Diner also looks great, with a similar size and styling as the LEGO Speed Champions vehicles.

Going inside the diner, there is so much to see! There are milkshakes, hotdogs and candy machines for hungry customers. And there are plenty of games for entertainment, including air hockey, a dance game, a claw machine, and arcade machines. A jukebox provides music while everyone is having a good time.

I’m particularly impressed by the ingenious construction of the milkshake machine, taking advantage of some new LEGO elements. All the indoor and outdoor furniture pieces are really nicely done as well.

Speaking of furniture, also notice the tasteful color combinations. The dark-blue, sand-blue, and white checkered floor tiling, combined with the orange-holstered furniture, and light-nougat tables, countertops, and flooring in the arcade area. These are not common LEGO colors, especially all in one LEGO set, but here they come together beautifully.

If you are working on furnishing your own LEGO restaurant, arcade, or similar establishment, this diner is full of great examples that you can use for inspiration. If you would like to see more details and support the project, you can check it out on LEGO Ideas, and I also encourage you to take a look at Astronaut Avila’s other LEGO models both on LEGO Ideas and on flickr, because they are all really excellent. And you can also browse the currently available LEGO Ideas sets originally submitted by LEGO fans under the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.

What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Old Diner with Arcade? Are there any specific details that you really like? Did you notice some unusual building techniques that you would like to use in your own LEGO models? Would you like this project to become an official LEGO set? 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:

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BrickLink new LEGO build & design features

LEGO Old Style Diner with Arcade & more!

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