When I heard about the new Icons set, the only description I received was that it was "music-related". To be perfectly frank, I thought Huw was sending me another writing exercise, similar to when I reviewed the Elvis Presley art set, or the iconic Rolling Stones logo. However, on opening the box for 10334 Retro Radio, it looks like I hit the jackpot, and was queen for a day.
Could this review be another fun opportunity to work in references to the subject matter?
Welcome to "What's Up With That...?", the article series where I, ex-LEGO designer James and host of new YouTube channel TUBESIDE, will explore some of the frequently asked questions from AFOLs about the mysteries of the design decisions of The LEGO Group.
One of the hottest topics in the AFOL community which gets discussed every time a new set is reviewed is “why are there so many stickers in this set?” or “this set is all prints, why can't they all be like this?” In my YouTube videos (like and subscribe), this is one of the most common questions I get asked too.
So today, let's try and demystify this and figure out: what’s up with that...?
Today's random minifigure is pln099Plain White Torso with White Arms, White Legs, Black Pigtails Hair, a Town figure that came in one set, 208 Mother with baby, released during 1978.
Our members collectively own a total of 158 of them. If you'd like to buy one you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $18.50.
LEGO Harry Potter returned in 2018 and nearly everything featured in the older sets, produced between 2001 and 2011, has subsequently been revisited. However, the famed Durmstrang Ship has been an exception, other than a couple of microscale designs.
At last, the vessel returns at minifigure-scale in 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival, long after its memorable predecessor, 4768 The Durmstrang Ship, from 2005. This model appears accurate to the movie and quite unlike previous LEGO sailing ships, while an updated version of the Beauxbatons carriage is also included, with suitable minifigures for each vehicle.
A trio of Star Wars mechs arrived last year and drew a mixed reception. 75369 Boba Fett Mech was broadly well received and includes a highly desirable minifigure, but the other mechs seem lacking in personality, borrowing only superficial features from their drivers.
75390 Luke Skywalker X-wing Mech appears far more interesting in that respect, translating the famous features of an X-wing Starfighter into mech form! The combination appears effective and the Luke Skywalker minifigure is welcome, rarely appearing in such small sets.
LEGO has announced a new Icons set, arriving on the 1st of June. The press release follows:
10334 Retro Radio
906 pieces, rated 18+
€99.99 / US$99.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.99 / CA$129.99
Released on June 1st
Escape to an era of retro reverie with LEGO Icons Retro Radio
Today the LEGO Group unveils the LEGO Icons Retro Radio set, a nostalgic nod to the iconic music styles of the 1950s and 1960s. The retro radio promises a delightful voyage through musical time, combining vintage charm with contemporary functionality.
This 906-piece set brings the summer vibes and offers a unique and novel experience to music, art and nostalgia aficionados. Once the build is complete, the build features a dial to turn the sound on/off or switch between different pre-recorded sounds in a sound brick – mimicking a real retro radio. With a modern twist, music fans can insert and hide a mobile phone via the radio’s back panel to play tunes.
LEGO has just published pictures of a forthcoming gift with purchase. There are no details yet about when the 239-piece 40687 Alien Space Diner will be offered, but if I had to guess, I'd say it will coincide with the release of 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System and 31212 The Milky Way Galaxy on the 15th May.
It looks like a fun set but the most notable thing about it is the inclusion of an orange classic space minifigure which, until now, has only been available bundled with the DK book LEGO Minifigure: A Visual History. Unfortunately, though, it does not appear to come with air tanks.
All eyes will be on Paris this year with the Olympics taking place in the French capital during the summer, so it is perhaps not surprising that LEGO is releasing a model of one of its most important buildings as well as one of its most famous art exhibits.
21061 Notre-Dame de Paris is significant because it's the first model of a place of worship released since a church in 1958 [1]. This puts an end to LEGO's policy of not making models of religious buildings and, in my opinion, not before time given their architectural significance and beauty.
Some new Marvel sets, arriving on the 1st of August, were revealed last week. These sets have now been added to LEGO.com, so we have more images and pricing information to share.
75581 Minions' Music Party Bus certainly offers the party atmosphere often associated with the Minions, packing a surprising level of detail with some enjoyable functions into a relatively small vehicle. Chief among these functions is a clever transformation.
As its name suggests, the model can transform from a relatively traditional bus into the stage for a party, which offers definite play potential. Four figures are supplied as well, although this selection is arguably inferior to those in other minifigure-scale Despicable Me 4 sets.
For the first time since 1958 LEGO is releasing a model of a place of worship. Here's the press release, which does not acknowledge the significance of this:
The LEGO Architecture Notre-Dame de Paris makes for the perfect new addition to the home of any fan of travel, history and classical architecture. The building experience and instruction booklet takes the builder on a journey through the architectural evolution of this iconic Parisian landmark, beginning in 1163, when the first stone was laid, through architect Viollet-le-Duc’s redesign work in the 19th century to Notre-Dame’s majestic appearance before the fire of 2019.
