More from Tigerggyy and BrickTW

Tigerggyy continues to share the test runs of the new BrickTW product. The most recent pics show off the 'skirt' pieces which have a wide variety of applications. I'm really digging the samurai custom on the right. It looks like Si-Dan may have some competition on the minfig samurai front!

(Via Tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

Huzzah! A Sneak Peek at BrickTWs Latest

Hey, I spent the day at the Ohio Renaissance Festival, what can I say?

Tigerggyy has posted two pics showing off some of the 2010/2011 product planned from BrickTW. Marked as 'test runs', these give us a sense of what the new product will look like. I'm personally very excited about the claw at the top of the pic. It would also appear we will have top knot hair pieces aplenty to choose from. Hopefully we will see production runs for this product very soon.

In the meantime you can peruse through our review of BrickTW's current line-up or check out their BrickLink store.

(Via Tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

Tigerggyy Montage Poster

I realized that it's been some time since I posted any of Tigerggyy's work here. Then I came across this poster montage on Facebook and thought I would correct that.

I'm really looking forward to the new product from BrickTW later this year (where Tiger is a designer). The latest I've heard, they are working to make everything just right. While you are waiting you can browse BrickTW's wares on their BrickLink store.

Tigerggyy's Got the (New) Goods

Tigerggyy is back with a new photo series titled "Lin's Family". The montage shown here features two warriors, one clad in black the other in white. The man in black appears to be sporting a BrickTW Saint Sword, but what's that halberd in the white warrior's hand? Could that be part of the new BrickTW collection?

I had heard that BrickTW was hoping to launch some of their new product in July. Here's hoping we just got a teaser.

(Via Tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

BrickTW Product Reviews

In May 2010, we ran a series of product reviews for custom house BrickTW. This "guide" collects those reviews for easy reference. I hope that you walk away from this experience with a better sense of BrickTW's offerings and how they can enhance your custom minifigures or LEGO MOC's.

BrickTW is a custom house out of Taiwan specializing in Oriental weapons and armor. BrickTW strives not only to develop quality items but to develop products with ties to Asian history and culture.

You may have seen the brick comics by Tigerggyy on this blog in the past. Tigerggyy is one of the designers working with BrickTW, and many of his comics feature their products.

I hope you enjoy these reviews. I personally learned a lot and had a blast putting them together.

If you would like to check out BrickTW's product, feel free to visit their website or their BrickLink store today.

May 2010 BrickTW Week

• Weapons Review
• Armor Review
• Shields & Helmets Review
• Capes Review

2011 BrickTW Reviews

• BrickTW Body Gear Review

Tigerggyy Patrols the Manchu-Russian Border

Tigerggy is back with a new brick comic focused on the Manchu-Russian border skirmishes. According to the all knowing Oracle (aka Wikipedia):

The Russian-Manchu border conflicts (1643-1689) were a series of intermittent skirmishes between the Manchus and the Cossacks in which the Cossacks tried and failed to gain the land north of the Amur River. The hostilities culminated in the Manchu siege of the Cossack fort of Albazin (1686) and resulted in the Treaty of Nerchinsk, concluded between the Russia and the Qing Empire in 1689.

The main character in this composition is armed with a cross dragon spear and round-style fighting shield form BrickTW. The Ching Dynasty armor and helm are also from this custom house.

(Via 樂高漫畫黨 lego comics's Photos - 漫畫測試)

BrickTW Announces Plans Through 2012

BrickTW has put out this promotional poster detailing their product plans through 2012. Although the thumbnail images are small, what you can see looks fantastic. It even looks like they plan on getting into custom firearms in 2010. I'm sure Tigerggyy will be putting out more promotional posters featuring these new items soon. Expect to start seeing some of these items for sale around July.

On a separate but related note, it looks like BrickTW will be attending BrickCon 2010 in Seattle. Posted via Facebook, this will give you the opportunity to pick up some of these items without shipping and handling. If you are planning on attending in October, look for them there!

(Via BrickTW Flickr stream)

BrickTW's Terra Cotta Army

Tigerggyy continues to post more promotional posters for the July new product launch for BrickTW. Today's entry shows off a new spear/halberd design and information on the famed terra cotta warriors.

(Via Tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

The Bride with the White Hair

Tigerggyy continues to post new promotional posters highlighting new BrickTW product due out later this summer.

This most recent pic shows off a torso that is meant to simulate the female figure and a new hair style. The text on the poster itself muses on the differences of the male and female form. The text, however, that accompanies this post on Flickr is much more interesting:

Baifa Monü Zhuan 白髮魔女

Baifa Monü Zhuan (simplified Chinese: 白发魔女传; traditional Chinese: 白髮魔女傳; Mandarin Pinyin: Bái Fà Mó Nǚ Zhuàn; Jyutping: Baak6 Faat3 Mo1 Neoi5 Zyun6), also known as Romance of the White Haired Maiden, The Bride with White Hair or Legend of the White Haired Demoness from its adaptations, is a Wuxia novel serialized by Liang Yusheng between August 5, 1957 and September 8, 1958. It is closely related to another two works Qijian Xia Tianshan (七劍下天山) and Saiwai Qixia Zhuan (塞外奇俠傳) as its characters appear in these novels as well. There have been a few adaptations of the novel, most notably being the film The Bride with White Hair.

(Via Tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

BrickTW Week: Capes

Welcome back to our final installment of BrickTW week, where we've been reviewing the various products produced by this great custom house. Our final review will look at the selection of capes they have on sale today.

The design of their king capes are quite unique given the addition of a high collar. It takes a little bit of patient folding to get them positioned on the minifigure head post, but once on there are no issues. In theory you could modify the capes by cutting the collar away leaving a more traditional cape design.

The capes come in a variety of styles and colors. Of the samples I received, the leather cape (shown here) was my favorite. I like the embossed pattern, which added a certain degree of style to the overall design. As you can see here it also worked well when paired with on of BrickTW's custom helms.

Unlike the armor and weapons shown earlier in the week, the capes might be hard to find. There are a couple of styles available on the BrickTW BrickLink store, and the BrickTW website lists that some of the Wizard capes from the Eastern War series will be available as promotional items. If there's a cape you've seen in BrickTW promotional materials or in Tigerggyy's brick comics, I would suggest contacting BrickTW directly.

This ends our coverage of BrickTW's current line. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. A big thanks to the fine folks as BrickTW for providing the products you've seen here. If you like what you've seen please support BrickTW, and other custom houses, by buying their products today.

(Back to the BrickTW Product Review Guide)

BrickTW: Zhou Dynasty

As we review the best that BrickTW has to offer this week, we are getting a sneak preview of what's to come from this custom house on Tigerggyy's Flickr stream.

Last week we shared the promotional poster for BrickTW's Qin Dynasty armor. Today we have another teaser poster, this time for armor from the Zhou Dynasty.

The product presentation is great with the improved images and historical details in English. I'm really liking the metallic burgundy color of this piece. I also can't wait to see the new hair pieces that Tiger seems to be showing on these rendered models.

The folks at BrickTW tell me that they are hoping to have these new products available around July. If the recent promo pics are any indication, its going to be a long, hot Summer!

(Via Tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

BrickTW: Qin Dynasty

Tigerggyy has updated his Flickr stream with this promotional poster for Qin Dynasty armor from BrickTW. This armor has not been available previously from this custom house.

I really like the poster itself as it now has some of the historical background in English! You'll also notice the images of the famous terracotta warriors. Talk about "Army Building Potential"! Imagine recreating the tomb of The First Emperor of Qin in LEGO bricks. You'll only need to order 8,000 units of armor from BrickTW's store...and brick-build 130 chariots, along with 670 horses. Oh! Tan minifigs, you'll need a few of those...

The items are not up on the BrickTW website yet, but given the image here, look for them soon.

(Via Tigerggyy's Flickr stream and Wikipedia)

BrickTW Will Soon Enforce "The Rule of Heaven"

Tigerggyy has posted this rendered photo of a Zhou Dynasty warrior on Flickr, suggesting that BrickTW is soon to launch a new series.

The last great dynasty before Imperial rule, the Zhou dynasty represented the height of Chinese bronze technology. Taking place from 1045 to 256 BC, Zhou military kings enforced the "Rule of Heaven" through military might, including the major units of "The Six Armies of the West" and "The Eight Armies of Chengzhou", while adopting the use of chariots in battle.

From the picture here, it looks like we'll at least be getting some new armor and hairpieces.

A couple of weeks ago the folks at BrickTW sent me a sample of some of their product. Although I'm currently planning a bigger review soon, I can say the product itself is fantastic. Quality construction, unique parts, and wide variety. Although they specialize in Oriental and Chinese history, they have custom scimitars that put the LEGO Prince of Persia line to shame. The shields they produce add depth to the traditional, flat shields that come out of the Castle line. The variety of their weapons, whether its spears, staves, swords, or bows, will fit with many custom minifig warriors, past, present, or future.

As soon as I overcome my lack of photography resources, and tamp down a little OCD, then I'll share more details. They really deserve a better review than, "here's a helmet, here's another helmet, here's a sword...".

In the meantime, head on over to BrickTW's store on BrickLink and check out their wares today!

(Picture from Tigerggyy's Flickr stream; Historical info from Wikipedia)

Nobody Puts Jar Jar in a Corner

Tigerggyy steps out of the norm and shows the Gungan everyone loves to kick around, is ready to kick back.

Jar Jar's armor and hand blades look sweet. The shadow trooper's short swords are nothing to scoff at either.

The transparent cape looks like the work of BrickTW, but I can't find the other items on their store.

Who will emerge victorious? Who cares!? It's the journey not the destination.

This gives me an idea for a new show...LEGO Deadliest Warrior!

(Picture from tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

Tigers and Dragons and Trolls. Oh my!

Tigerggyy has posted some new images focusing on some of what appears to be the new translucent armor from BrickTW's Eastern War series.

The first image shows a soldier in Fire Wizard armor while a crystal tiger prowls behind.

The second image shows a trio of scenes where Trolls are attempting to run off with a crystal dragon. A small contingent of warriors in Wind Wizard armor have other ideas.

I really enjoy how Tigerggyy and BrickTW bring product and story together to really showcase a fine product.

A quick fun fact before I go...Many of Tiger's posts have the title "Deer Hunting in the Central Plain". Did you know that this phrase is often used to describe a struggle for power? Entertaining and educational!

You can create your own minifigure Middle Kingdom by visiting BrickTW's store today!

(Pictures from Tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

Elemental Wizards Unite!

Tigerggyy and BrickTW unite once more to bring you the elemental wizards in translucent armor and weapons.

Each set comes with a snazzy little card suggesting that there may be more here than meets the eye. If anyone knows, please drop us a line...

(Pictures from BrickTW Flickr stream)

Tigerggyy's Zhuang People

Tigerggyy has posted a couple of new creations based on the Zhuang people of China.

In the first we see several dramatic poses among translucent armor and weapons, including a picture with one of the new Prince of Persia ostriches!

The second collection titled 'Green Jade' features a Zhuang minifigure among a richer, deeper green arsenal.

The minifigures appear in the traditional garb of the Zhuang people. I have to admit that I'm not aware of their history, aside from what I've found via the all knowing oracle (aka Wikipedia).

I believe the armor and weapons come courtesy of BrickTW. Considering their dedication to Oriental history I'm certain there is a deep and rich story just ready to unfold.

(Picture from tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

BrickTW: A Creative Oriental Paradise

If you are regular reader of the blog, then you'll know I have a fondness for custom minifig designer 'tigerggyy'. It turns out that tigerggyy features many of the custom designs of BrickTW in his comics.

I think the words of BrickTW sum up their mission best:

This is a creative Oriental Paradise. Each of our designs deeply relates with story and history. We hope you have a joyful website experience here and gradually understand the relevant stories and histories. The best is you can create a variety of scenes via our designed parts which sold in our store. You can own your new creative plot and share these.

They are located out of Taiwan (hence the TW). They have a store on their website and now at BrickLink as well.

My LEGO dark ages ended after the great Ninja sets of the late 90's, so I only have the Collectible Minifigures now to help satisfy that need. If you have a desire to create and play in more Far Eastern locales, BrickTW will be happy to outfit your minifig Middle Kingdom.

That's Not A Sword...

...This is a sword (and cape to boot)! Tigerggyy's buster sword and dragon cape ensemble strike fear in your puny minifigure warriors.

(Pictures from tigerggyy's Flickr stream)

Tigerggyy! Rise From Your Grave!

The weirdness that is 'tigerggyy' continues with these custom translucent armor packs.

Our undead models are sporting this year's fashions, giving them an even more ghostly appearance.

The title of this scene is "Ice's War". I'd hate to see these ghouls charging across the battle field...

(Picture from tigerggyy's Flickr stream)