Exciting News - JasBrick's New MinifigWorkshop.com

While reading through the comments of JasBrick's latest printed masterpiece, he revealed that his 'very expensive printer' with 'very expensive ink' will be used to provide items via his new website Minifig Workshop and FireStar Toys.

If you've been follow Jas' latest uploads on Flickr, you'll have seen the variety of printed designs he's been developing. This is very exciting as there are only a few places where you can get custom minifigures with print versus waterslide decals or paint!

It sounds like Minifig Workshop will also be a site where the budding customizer can come to learn new techniques and practice their craft. New customization tutorials are always welcome.

The site is still 'coming soon' but you can continue to check in at MinifigWorkshop.com or FireStar Toys for these great new items.

You can also check out Jas' Flickr stream to see all the designs he's been cooking up over the past few weeks.

Citizen Brick Review on Brother's Brick

It seems the folks at Citizen Brick set Nannan up with some printed minifigures, bricks, and tiles. In turn, Nannan has put together a review of their products on The Brothers Brick.

If you've been considering a purchase, but wanted a the opinion of an unbiased third-party...well now you have it! I personally think that there's a lot of potential from this relatively new company, given the inventive and witty nature of their products to date.

You can see the full review on The Brother's Brick, or just cut to the chase and visit Citizen Brick today.

Series 4 'Rares' in Store Now

Late last week I mentioned that I was able to purchase some Series 4 Collectible Minifigures. I've recently finished taking guide pictures for all of the 'rare' figures and placed them for sale on my BrickLink store. I currently have The Lawn Gnome, The Ice Skater, The Hockey Player, The Viking, and The Crazy Scientist (alas The Musketeer still evades me). I've attempted to price the figures competitively, plus I have flat rate shipping*. You can purchase more, but shipping costs will stay the same.

I only have one of each figure, so hurry down and take a look. There are also a few other figures like The Werewolf and Soccer Player still available as well.

You can check it all out on BrickLink.

*See 'store terms' for full details

Black Lodge Customs for Bricks by the Bay Announced

Badger has announced the two Black Lodge Customs figs that he'll be bringing to Bricks by the Bay next weekend. Fans will be able to pick up a redesigned version of the Neo-Tokyo Street Punk and the all new Royal Rifleman. 

You get quite a bit in each package. The Street Punk offers up several BrickArms custom accessories, including four prototypes, for $25 USD, while the new Royal Rifleman at $15 USD gives you an opportunity to score a prototype musket along with other goodies.

Badger makes mention that the Heavy Laser Cannon prototype mold suffered some damage while producing these figs, so the value of these babies just went way up!

The figures will be on sale at the Brickmania booth on Friday and will be first come, first served.

Bricks by the Bay will be the first major AFOL convention of the season and starts next weekend. If you would like to learn more about the event, check out the interview with Bill Ward on the Ka-GO blog (a seriously good AFOL site that Ka.lego has just started).

You can see more about the Black Lodge Customs on Badger's Flickr stream.

Series 4 Collectible Minifigures Available In Store

I was fortunate enough to come across a few Series 4 Collectible Minifigures today. I've placed a small selection up for sale on my BrickLink store. If you have certain figures that you really must have, you may want to check out our supply. The stand and all accessories are included, but they do not come in sealed bags.

Visit The Ugly Duckling for more details.

New Ninjago Spinner Sets at ToysRUs

Toys N Bricks is reporting that the newer Ninjago spinners are showing up at ToysRUs stores in the US. 

Cole DX and Zane DX have been seen so far, but the Nuckal and Nya spinners shouldn't be far behind. Do be aware that the spinner minifigures appear to manufactured differently from those that come with the main sets (take that for what you will). Skeleton spinners, like Nuckal, also have a different arm configuration so the figure can hold weapons out to the side. If these details aren't a concern, this is a less expensive way to add these figures to your collection.

There are several TRU LEGO deals this week with free sets and price off deals. ToysRUs has also lowered their threshold for free shipping from $100 down to $75. You can see all the details at Toys N Bricks, or you can go straight to ToysRUs.com.

Grand Opening Minifigs...I Like It!

Ace of FBTB reports on the LEGO Store grand opening this weekend at the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. The planned events seem to cover the standard fare for a new brand store - A Master Builder event, in this case Yoda, and some free exclusive items with qualifying purchases. It's the Saturday promotion which I find most intriguing...

When the LEGO Store opened in Cincinnati, OH there was a small brick-built model that you could get with a qualifying purchase (I think it was a 'flying pig'...don't ask). It would seem that LEGO has foregone the brick built model in Costa Mesa for an exclusive 3-pack of minifigures. On Saturday, be one of the first 300 people to make a purchase of $35 or more to receive the figures (hopefully given the time difference you can make your way down and still take advantage of this).

The torso prints are the real win here with designs I've not seen before. There's also back printing with the date and store to commemorate the event. Now I don't know if these prints will make an appearance in the 'Mini Build Bin' anytime soon, but future stores may have their own figures to look forward to.

If you are in the Costa Mesa area and want to read more about the event, head on over to read the full article at FBTB.net.

Tiny Tactical Restock Today (3/11/11)

Just a reminder that Tiny Tactical is planning on re-stocking their shelves around 2pm PST today (3/11). The BA-G36 upgrades, gas masks, and flame thrower kits should also be available at that time.

Don't forget to visit Tiny Tactical on BrickLink in just a few hours!

Tiny Tactical is Back!

Well they never really went anywhere, but Steve has returned with new custom accessories. First up we have the flamethrower kit that was shown as a prototype back in September 2010. The final product looks great in olive drab green and will hopefully be up on Tiny Tactical before the end of next week.

But wait, there's more. Steve also has upgrade accessories for the BrickArms G36 including a drum magazine, grenade launcher, launcher sight, and folding stock. The only question I have is where can you get BA G36's, as they appear to be sold out at BrickArms.com?!

You can see more pictures on Flickr. You can also check out the Tiny Tactical store on BrickLink.

UPDATE: Badger clarifies in the comments on a few places where you can pick up the G36 (also known as the 'assault carbine'). It can also be found at FireStar Toys.

New Screenprint Characters at CustomMinifigs.com

While I was out Jonathan (Shmails) launched some new custom minifigures at CustomMinifigs.com. Several characters feature great screenprinted accessories like Eranion the Centaur above.

I also have to give a shout to Miss Kitty, who give you access to one of the great trends in the custom minifig community right now - post-apocalyptic warrior women.

You can check these and all the other custom minifigures for sale on CustomMinifigs.com.

New JasBrick Customs at FireStar Toys

The folks at FireStar Toys have just put up 27 new JasBrick custom minifigure designs for sale. Each figure is designed by Jas himself and come with hand-painted custom accessories. In addition to the newer designs, there are also several pages of other custom minifigures to choose from.

FireStar also carries a wide selection of official LEGO minifigures and parts in addition to custom pieces from BrickArms, BrickForge, Tiny Tactical, Arealight, Amazing Armory Ltd...the list goes on and on.

You can see them all at FireStar Toys.

From Wings of Darkness I Strike at Thee

I've fallen head over heals with figures that incorporate these Warhammer wings on custom minifigures since seeing them for the first time in JasBrick's work. The love affair continues in Josh's (Family Bricks) latest, The Dark Elf Lord.

A great combination of official TLG and custom parts from top to bottom. The scroll is an especially nice touch.

You can see another 'dark elf' creation on Josh's Flickr stream, or visit the  Family Bricks site and check out all the products for sale.

Product Review - Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Armor

It is hard to believe, but this will be the first product review we have done for Hazel Fantasy and Amazing Armory Ltd.. This review will cover the Cyborg Armor set and Cyborg Shield. We will also have a review of customizer Pedro's work in painting one of these sets. The intent of this review is to give you the information you need to decide if these products are right for you.

Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Armor - 360 View (Click to Enlarge)

The Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Armor is sold as a set that includes both body gear and helmet. The body armor fits on the fig in the same way that standard LEGO gear might, over the head post. The connection holds firm to the body with no issues. The pauldrons and back pack are all part of a single, molded, ABS piece. The level of detail on the body gear are astounding.

There's plenty of room inside the neck/head guard of the armor to allow for helmets of various shapes and sizes.

Max Forward Arm Movement (left); Max Rear Movement (right)

Full arm movement is restricted due to the pauldrons and the back pack. The picture above shows the full range of arm movement available.

Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Armor Helmet - 360 View (Click to Enlarge)

The helmet, also made of ABS plastic, has full coverage of the minifigure head with an opening for the mouth. Again the piece is nicely detailed and there was a firm connection with the head with no issues.

Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Armor Set - 360 View (Click to Enlarge)

The pictures above show how the body armor and helmet come together for the final effect.

Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Shield - Front and Back (Click to Enlarge)

The Cyborg Shield (sold separately) can be paired with Cyborg Armor set or used for other builds. The shield is held via a handle on the back of the shield (shown above). The connection was good within the fig's hand and there were no connection issues. As with the Cyborg Armor set, the piece is molded in ABS plastic and comes nicely detailed.

The Cyborg Armor set and Shield only come in Dark Blueish Gray. Many customizers will often paint these pieces to provide variety and add color. Customizer Pedro, who is also the owner of the North American reseller of Hazel Fantasy, United Armory, provided us with a hand painted custom version of the Cyborg Armor set. We will review Pedro's work to both give you a sense of what can be accomplished with these pieces. Pedro will often sell custom minifigures through United Armory, so this can also give you an understanding of the quality craftsmanship that goes into his work.

Painted Cyborg Armor Set for UD by Pedro (Click to Enlarge)

Here we have a 360 view of the painted Cyborg Armor. Pedro has used Mr. Color paints on this piece to nice effect, incorporating the colors of our site into the armor. Pedro uses both Mr. Color and Citadel brands in his work. The lines are extremely clean with no issues. Pedro has also added two additional custom touches, first he's added several tiny holes in the neck/head guard to give some additional character to the piece. Second he's added a waterslide decal on the right pauldron of the Ugly Duckling logo - both features are nicely done.

There are no sealants used, as Pedro feels it can alter the appearance and texture of the piece; however, he can add a sealant upon request. Also although extensive play is not recommended, the piece should withstand some light play and posing.

Cyborg Shield Painted (Left) and Unpainted (Right)

Pedro included a painted version of the shield and a FAMAS rifle (not reviewed here). The two pictures show the difference between the painted and unpainted pieces.

Hazel Fantasy FAMAS Painted (Bottom) and Unpainted (Top)

Another factor to consider when buying a full custom minfigure is the quality of the minifigure itself. There were no issues here as the Space Police III minifigure that was used seemed brand new and the head was of quality.

Pedro will take requests for custom minifigures, but he asks for payment in advance. You can contact him via Flickr or United Armory.

Overall these pieces are fantastic from top to bottom. Good connections, highly detailed parts with ABS construction. Although they only come in dark blueish gray, you can always paint the parts and add your own custom look. If painting is not your thing, you could always purchase one of Pedro's custom pieces. The Cyborg Armor set, shield, and Pedro's custom work are all highly recommended.

Additional Stats - Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Armor Set
Website: United Armory
Location: United States
International Shipping: US and Canada only
Products & Colors: Dark Blueish Gray
Retail Price: $8.80 USD

Additional Stats - Hazel Fantasy Cyborg Shield
Products & Colors: Dark Blueish Gray
Retail Price: $4.00 USD

BrickForge Unveils New Color - Steel

Armothe has released pics of six BrickForge items in their newest color - 'Steel'. Most comparable to 'gunmetal' or 'dark pear gray', you can now purchase the falcata, knight's shield, military helmet, round pauldrons, vambraces, and wizard's staff in this new shade.

You can see all this and more at the BrickForge store and on Flickr.

Bricks & Customs Restocks Minifig Capes

Minifigure cloth customizer Lamanda has restocked her BrickLink store with new capes and shoulder extensions aplenty. A great way to upgrade your Series 3 Elf or custom faction.

You can find her store, Bricks & Customs, on BrickLink.

ORRANGE is Back in the Game

It looks like ORRANGE is back at the bench and sculpting fantastic custom accessories from game series like Killzone, Dead Space, and Half Life.

What's nice is the Dead Space helmet would be just as much at home on a jousting field as an abandoned space colony. The Killzone sniper coat also has a lot of custom possibility.

It seems that United Armory will be busy with orders for ORRANGE's customs this year.

(Via ORRANGE's Flickr stream)

Arealight Printed Helmets and Torsos Now on Sale

Just a quick reminder that Arealight now has their range of printed Sci-Fi Helmets and Female Mando Torsos up for sale today. A wide variety to choose from and the colors work wonderfully with official TLG items (as you can see above).

Head on over to the Arealight store today!

BrickTW's Hearts of Hope

BrickTW has come out in support of Child Welfare in Taiwan. Winter can be a difficult time for one an all, but those in disadvantaged situations can feel the bit even more.

BrickTW has put together a package of custom minifigure accessories and items for sale whereby a portion of the proceeds will go to help child welfare in these tough times.

For more information, visit BrickTW's Flickr stream.

Two Big Announcements from Arealight

Wow. I had suspected that Arealight was preparing printed offerings of clone and Mando troopers when they released their sci-fi helmet collection last year, but now that I see these pictures I am blown away. 

Not only will the printed Sci-Fi Helmets be available tomorrow, but so too will be the printed Mando helmets and torsos. The clone trooper and Mando pics show a mix of official TLG and Arealight parts.

This is an astounding accomplishment and firmly marks Arealight as one of the best custom houses out there. 

You can see more on the Arealight Flickr stream. You can see our review of the sci-fi helmet and Mando jet pack set here, or you can just cut to the chase and spend that Valentines Day money at the Arealight store ("I'm sorry dear, but we'll need to downgrade our romantic evening. How do you feel about Big Macs...") All of this will be available on February 15th.

FireStar Toys Official European Distributor of BrickForge

Armothe has officially announced that FireStar Toys is the official European distributor for BrickForge. This means that European customers can receive their custom accessories faster than ordering from BrickForge directly.

Not only will delivery be better, but you can mix and match your favorite BrickForge accessories with items from other custom houses like BrickArms, Si-Dan, Tiny Tactical, Brick Command, and Amazing Armory Ltd.

FireStar is also continuing their huge clearance sale with hundreds of items marked down to make way for all that 2011 has to offer.

So hurry on down to FireStar Toys today.