Bricks in my Pocket (BimP) BimPCast

Plan your MOC in the new LEGO Moleskine

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:45:00 PST

If you read my other blog, you know I am a huge fan of the Moleskine brand of planners and notebooks. Heck, even the logo for Doc’s Tech Notes includes a similarly shaped notebook. Imagine how excited I was today to learn that Amazon is taking preorders for four LEGO themed Moleskines. Here’s the product description for one of the larger notebooks:

A special limited edition collaboration between Lego and Moleskine, this large sized notebook has a black debossed cover with a red Lego screenprint on it and comes with a red Lego brick. The inside has 240 plain pages, a coloured bookmark ribbon, themed flyleaf and an inner pocket in coloured fabric. It comes with Lego themed adhesive labels.

There are currently four notebooks to choose from and all will be available on March 14th, 2012. This is the perfect notebook to plan out those simple to complex MOCs or just to show your love of the plastic brick brand. The LEGO brick on the cover and the adhesive labels are just icing on the cake; although there are sure to be some interesting designs from the many creative AFOLS out there. Head on over to Amazon and preorder yours now.

A quick review of the LEGO Black Pearl

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:33:00 PST

Today I get to welcome a new blogger to the BimP team – my daughter Katherine! Katherine is 16 and moving from child LEGO fan to AFOL. You can learn more about Katherine at:http://www.katherinecombs.com

So without further introductions, take it away Katherine!

When I awoke on Christmas morning to find the LEGO Black Pearl kit that Santa left for me under the tree, I could not have been more thrilled. This kit is ah-MA-zing! The detail is phenomenal! Click the link below to read my review and view some highlights.

->> Click o’ the brick

Day 24: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:00:00 PST

And Elf Yoda completes the 2011 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar reveal series. Yoda is by far the best of the set. Nikki has been waiting for Yoda all month – since the first day she saw this mini-fig on the box.

“The force is strong in this Santa”

This series of posts has been a “blast-er.” At the beginning of the month, I did not think I had it in me to post all 24 of these. Thanks for following along! MERRY CHRISTMAS and may your Christmas stockings be filled with LEGO! See you in the new year.

Day 23: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:00:00 PST

Today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model was very uncharacteristic of the previous models. Today we found a traditional Christmas tree complete with ornaments and a star tree topper.

It “sort of” makes sense. It is an Advent Calendar; however, we can’t help but think about what happens when you mix Star Wars and Christmas. That’s right…the Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. You can see a portion of the show by clicking the brick below. Be warned, the show takes Star Wars to a galaxy far far out there. It’s about as outrageous as our Jedi Santa.

Day 22: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:43:00 PST

Today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar appears to be Jedi Fighter. I am a bit disappointed with this one. So much so, that I’m just going to snap a picture and get this one over with. I did manage to find a black background to give it a space setting. Guess every model can’t be a winner for everyone. Nevertheless, this is still fun. Two more days to go!

Anyone else find this the weak model in the set? Drop a comment and let me know.

Day 21: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:15:00 PST

The Millennium Falcon makes a tiny appearance in today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model. If you can’t identify this one out of the box, your Star Wars geek-cred is shot like Greedo in a Mos Eisely Canteen. Below we find Chewbacca fixing whatever is broken. Only this time, he takes the VW Beetle approach to getting “under the hood.”

Day 20: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:00:00 PST

I called it yesterday. And no, I didn’t {SPOILER link ahead} peek. The December 20th (is it that close to Christmas already?) LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model is in fact a Tie Fighter, albeit the smallest version I’ve ever seen as our Imperial personnel can attest. Is it me, or does our Tie Fighter Pilot seem a bit annoyed at the diminutive size of his fighter?

Nikki counted the steps to put this one together and it was six. This model is by far the simplest of the bunch, save for the mini-figs.

Day 19: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:04:00 PST

Today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar rounds out the Empire by adding a Tie Fighter Pilot to the mix. Could this be a harbinger of a model to come? We will see in the next couple of days, unless {SPOILER link ahead} you’ve peeked already.

Day 18: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:57:00 PST

I’m running a bit late posting today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model so I’ll not drop a lot of commentary into this one. We had the X-Wing fighter earlier, so it is appropriate that the calendar would include a Y-Wing fighter to round out the fleet.

Day 17: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:15:00 PST

“The right tool for the right job,” is what today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model seems to imply. Today we garnered an equipment holder for two blasters, a pair of binoculars and a light saber. Very handy indeed.

By the way, “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY NIKKI!”

Lord of the Rings in LEGO!!!

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:17:00 PST

That’s right. A new LEGO teaser site is online and it suggests that the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises are about to be minifig’d. This will cause much excitement too be sure. You can check out the teaser site at:

http://thelordoftherings.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx

For now, the image to the right is about all that is available on the site. We’ll keep an eye on the page and see what surfaces.

What do you think? Have any particular mini-figs or sets you hope to see? Drop a comment and let us know.

Day 16: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:55:00 PST

It’s Clone Trooper Day for our 16th LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model. So here’s a Clone Trooper in action.

I have to say, there really have been some good models in this year’s set. Much better than I expected.

Day 15: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:19:00 PST

The day 15 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model is the familiar troop carrier from the first trilogy. No, not those three movies, the prequel films that cover the Clone Wars.

I had a bit of fun with the composition for this one. I tried a bit of green screening, but found my screen was too bright and some of the green washed onto the model. I’ll have to work on my technique. For now, enjoy today’s model.

Day 14: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:52:00 PST

We continue our droid theme with the day 14 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model. And this is the tiniest droid of them all, the Mouse Droid (yeah…that’s the official name). I remember this little guy from that classic Death Star scene (created below for your amusement) from the first movie…err…the fourth…oh drats! Let’s just call it the 1977 original film.

Day 13: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:00:00 PST

We opened the day 13 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model and saw what was obviously a droid. It looked like R2D2; however, it was black? Is this a Sith droid?

“I am not the droid you are looking for.”

Day 12: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:35:00 PST

If you follow BimP closely, some of you will notice a slight change to the day 12 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model. It will reappear on December 23rd. Suffice it to say, I OPENED THE WRONG MODEL COMPARTMENT! “So easy a child could do it.”

I have been sufficiently scolded by Nikki. Thanks for pointing out my mistake Lisa. So without further ado (or commentary), here’s today’s model.

Day 11: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:34:00 PST

We found a very familiar droid in today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model.

Is it Christmas time yet? “Roger, Roger!”

Day 10: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:43:00 PST

The Imperial Shuttle is today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model. You can compare it to the original design on the Star Wars Wiki page.

I had a hard time composing a scene for this model. I wanted to suspend the shuttle from fishing line and take a picture; however, I didn’t have any handy. So not only do you get a shot of the model, but you also get a good view of my finger balancing the model in position. That’s what you call “low tech, special effects.”

Day 9: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:42:00 PST

The Day 9 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model actually gives the Day 8 model his Christmas wish (see yesterday’s model). Only I don’t believe he is going to fit. Poor guy.

This X-Wing Fighter probably the most “difficult” model so far. Not hard to build, but could be a bit confusing for younger builders.

Day 8: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:57:00 PST

We are officially “out of control” with regards to our LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model reveals. As soon as the day eight model was out of the box, I had the composition below in mind. Let’s face it. How many of you would want to be stuck in a dark cardboard cave for 8 days? Especially separated into three pieces.

Day 7: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:03:00 PST

We are having a bit of fun with today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model. As you can see in the image below, this “exciting” scene is a composition consisting of several previous models. Today’s model was, of course, the tools and cross-bow. Look out George Lucas.

sugru + LEGO = fun!

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:28:00 PST

This Sugru commercial speaks for itself, but provides unlimited possibilities! I’ve never tried this compound, but must add it to my todo list.

Thought of another way to combine the two? Drop a comment below.

Day 6: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:50:00 PST

Today’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar model is the most recognizable character so far – that lovable fuzzball, Chewbacca. This is a simple three-step mini-fig build. We didn’t even need to view the instructions to assemble this one folks.

Click here to download a Chewbacca sound byte

Day 5: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:57:00 PST

Day 5 of our LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar reveal was the first model I could identify immediately.

For today’s image, I decided to include an image of the original Slave I ship for comparison. I’m always amazed at the amount of detail found in the LEGO micro-models.

Day 4: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

steven@bricksinmypocket.org (Steven & Nikki Combs) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:02:00 PST

This is day four of our LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar reveal. So, here’s a Star Wars “something another (spoiler link)” attacking a pine tree. Let’s hope future scenes are more interesting. Don’t count on it though.

Today’s compartment did NOT include the Christmas tree. To motivate me to continue the daily updates, I will place each model is some scene that I can prepare in a minute or less. Yesterday’s post was my first attempt.