BANBAO #8473 - EIFFEL TOWER

Overall an impressive model, there are however issues with the bricks. Opening the box we were optimistic at the feel and of the blocks and the quality there of, unfortunately a couple of 'misformed' blocks were discovered. Only closer inspection compatibility issues with other brands were noted.

Studs are slightly higher and results in plates not fitting flush. Blocks are slightly taller than other brands.

PIECES:  1800

                               VALUE:   ZAR 450 (ZAR 0.250 per brick)
ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  8/10
               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  2/10
                             QUALITY:  4/10
                  INSTRUCTIONS:  6/10
             MINI CHARACTERS:  5/10
                           OVERALL:  4/10

Playability of the model is increased with the inclusion of 5 mini figures, a couple of dogs, a cat and what seems to be a 'radio controlled helicopter'.

There is also the possibility of building the Arc de Triomphe from the set, there are however no instructions included for this and nothing available on-line.

MOC: SUB STATION

Progress on Luboville has been slow of late much as a result of not having the right bricks. The sub-station has been a nagging challenge and was finally completed yesterday...

Now that it is completed, the next obstacle to overcome is to find enough bricks to complete the supporting buildings for the Luboville power station.

BELA #9734 - NINJA THUNDER SWORDSMAN

PIECES:  377

                               VALUE:   ZAR 159.00 (ZAR 0.422 per brick)
ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  9/10
               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  8/10
                             QUALITY:  7/10
                  INSTRUCTIONS:  7/10
             MINI CHARACTERS:  8/10
                           OVERALL:  7/10

Some interesting pieces with the set offering a lot of playability with the moving parts and hidden traps and includes playing cards.

LEGO CITY # 60000 FIRE MOTORBIKE

PIECES:  39

                               VALUE:   ZAR 29.00 (ZAR 0.744 per brick)
ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  9/10
               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  8/10
                             QUALITY:  9/10
                  INSTRUCTIONS:  9/10
             MINI CHARACTERS:  9/10
                           OVERALL:  9/10

DECOO #3332 EXPLOITER

Huge fans of the Lego® Technique range and bought this with hesitation. Quality is fair, the model does though miss the level of detail found in the technique range.

PIECES:  678

                               VALUE:   ZAR 330.00 (ZAR 0.487 per brick)
ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  8/10
               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  8/10
                             QUALITY:  7/10
                  INSTRUCTIONS:  8/10
             MINI CHARACTERS:  -
                           OVERALL:  7/10

XSZ HERO FACTORY 4 - BREEZ

Not something we would normally purchase, curiosity did however the get the better of us...

                               VALUE:   ZAR 35.00
ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  9/10
               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  7/10
                             QUALITY:  8/10
                  INSTRUCTIONS:  8/10
             MINI CHARACTERS:  -
                           OVERALL:  7/10

A blatant copy and not sure how the quality compares to the Lego® range. Simple single page instruction sheet and a quick build with the final model study affording good playability.

WANGE #8011 - THE PETRONAS TOWERS

This build turned out to be a little finicky, with parts falling down the center of the tower and disassemble required to retrieve them at times. The build also tended to be a bit monotonous with each section simply a repetition of the previous.

 PIECES:  1 160

                               VALUE:   ZAR 350.00 (ZAR 0.302 per brick)
ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  8/10
               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  -
                             QUALITY:  8/10
                  INSTRUCTIONS:  7/10
             MINI CHARACTERS:  -

                           OVERALL:  7/10

STREET ART

Not even Luboville is safe from graffiti!

WHAT WOULD YOU BUILD

Given an unlimited source of bricks, we were contemplating what we would build...
The first consideration was a Buddhist Monastery or Temple,

The Bates Motel is definetley high on the list

After exploring various blogs and images it dawned us that it would be great to build models based on buildings specific to South Africa;

1. Sun Coast Casino in Durban

2. Cape of Good Hope Fort in Capetown

3. Capetown's Old Station

4.Court House in Durban

5.  Old Post Office in Capetown

6. King Shaka International Airport

7. Union Buildings in Pretoria

Just some of the ideas that we contemplated... its great to dream!

ENLIGHTEN #128 RIOT TRACKING CAR

PIECES:  325

                               VALUE:   ZAR 149.00 (ZAR 0.459 per brick)

ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  9/10

               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  8/10

                             QUALITY:  8/10

                  INSTRUCTIONS:  5/10

             MINI CHARACTERS:  6/10

                           OVERALL:  7/10

A simple one page instruction sheet and a quick build. This enlighten set is a clear copy of Lego® set #7728 with a few minor changes.

MOC WIND-TURBINE

Oh these bricks are amazing and frustrating at the same time. After many an hour of attempting to fix the blades to the motor and many failures, we finally figured it out!

At that remains now is to build the control room and sub-station.

PS VITA

A PC gamer and never been willing to convert to console! Then again with all the traveling what better way to finally play some of the Lego games.

Oh how we love ordering online; click click, ding dong and Kalahari arrives at the door with the latest parcel.

Unit charged and memory card in, only to discover the Lego collection of games has to be downloaded.

So now the wonderful wait, been three hours and still some way to go.

KAZI #KY84007 - G1 SCOUT PLANE

After seeing the G1 Scout on the web, we were pleased to find it on our recent trip to Johannesburg. In terms of the Kazi brick, we were a little disappointed - some of the pieces tend to be a little flimsy and there are a couple of alignment issues. The instruction book is a single sheet and is seriously confusing and may make the build difficult for a younger audience.

PIECES:  281

                               VALUE:   ZAR 89.00 (ZAR 0.317 per brick)

ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  8/10

               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  7/10

                             QUALITY:  6/10

                  INSTRUCTIONS:  4/10

             MINI CHARACTERS:  5/10

                           OVERALL:  5/10

 

 

WIP - LUBOVILLE UPDATE

So many distractions and so little time... Sunday the weather was pretty miserable and hence a day for the Lego room.

 

Invariably 'The Stairway Deli" was again torn down and rebuilt, it is so frustrating knowing what in your head and what you want and then not having the bricks to create it!

 

Time was then taken to start building a wind turbine for Luboville, which progressed quite nicely even with trying figure out the blades. Now to attach them to the motor at the top... no way don't have the part and couldn't figure a way around it!

LEGO® 60057 - CAMPER VAN

PIECES:  195

                                         VALUE:   ZAR 249.99 (ZAR 1.282 per brick)

ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  10/10

                   FUN/PLAYABILITY:    8/10

                                    QUALITY:    9/10

                        INSTRUCTIONS:  10/10

               MINI CHARACTERS:    8/10

                                  OVERALL:    9/10

 

 

ENLIGHTEN # 311 - CORSAIR SERIES - KING OF THE SEAS

PIECES:  487

                               VALUE:   ZAR 300.00 (ZAR 0.616 per brick)

ACCURACY OF PACKAGING:  9/10

               FUN/PLAYABILITY:  8/10

                             QUALITY:  8/10

                  INSTRUCTIONS:  8/10

             MINI CHARACTERS:  7/10

                           OVERALL:  8/10

 

This model has been on the shelf for a while and we finally got round to the build over the weekend. Again the quality of the Enlighten bricks is evident with no alignment of clutching problems. All designs are etched on the bricks which saves having to deal with stickers. The two cannons on the deck are spring-loaded and adds to the overall playability.

The only downside is that the hull is made in three complete sections which reduces build time and limits a little of the creativity.