Non Lego 3rd Party Building Blocks

[renegadeleader1]

Well, the Lego purists asked that I create a new topic for any building block set that isn't Lego, so here we go.

Got the Cobi F-14A Tomcat Top Gun movie tie in today alongside the Mega Blocks XF-14F GI Joe set with the bonus HISS tank in the mail today. It's going to be interesting to see how they compare once I get them put together. I might kickstart my youtube channel with it.

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

Brickmania recently released their own line of kits, based on mini sized Lego pieces:

[Froy]

It is just me or their sets are a bit expensive?

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

It's not just you, BM's prices are generally expensive for me too.  I only buy a set from them if it's an aircraft I truly desire in Lego form.  From previous postings of BM's owner, the bulk of the cost comes from manufacturer lincensing costs and custom printing prices.

This new Atom brick line is a little better on the wallet.  If a F-14 kit is made for it, I might bite.

[danth]

On 8/1/2025 at 12:49 PM, renegadeleader1 said:

Got the Cobi F-14A Tomcat Top Gun movie tie in today alongside the Mega Blocks XF-14F GI Joe set with the bonus HISS tank in the mail today. It's going to be interesting to see how they compare once I get them put together. I might kickstart my youtube channel with it.

As a Joe fan I look forward to seeing/hearing what you think of these!

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

Got lucky at Walmart:

The other Brick Shop kits look pretty cool and the added Hot Wheels car is a nice bonus.  This was the first kit in the lineup that starred a car that I truly liked though.

[danth]

1 hour ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Got lucky at Walmart:

The other Brick Shop kits look pretty cool and the added Hot Wheels car is a nice bonus.  This was the first kit in the lineup that starred a car that I truly liked though.

That does look nice! I'm interested to know the ratio of printed parts to stickers.

[David Hingtgen]

I think all the "main" parts are printed.  Stickers are just for tuning/customization options, like stripes etc.  

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

11 hours ago, danth said:

That does look nice! I'm interested to know the ratio of printed parts to stickers.

I was curious about that too, and here's what the sticker sheet includes:

Everything else (lights, door handles, and manufacturer symbols) are printed.

Great effort on Mattel's part for this kit: there's a thick, well illustrated instruction book with a history lesson on the car, a metal plaque that can double as a keychain, and the bonus Hot Wheels toy looks slick.  The options of building a left or right hand drive NSX along with matching manufacturer symbols are nice touches:

Mattel could do better with the brick pieces themselves, however.  The red bricks are simply aren't as lustrous and deeply colored as Lego pieces.  Just a minor niggle, nothing to make me stop looking forward to future kits especially with Mattel renewing their partnership with Ferrari.

[danth]

4 hours ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Everything else (lights, door handles, and manufacturer symbols) are printed.

Wow, nice. So they're doing much better than Lego on that front. 

[M'Kyuun]

1 hour ago, danth said:

Wow, nice. So they're doing much better than Lego on that front. 

I concur. I just put together the second of the Speed Champions Lamborghini two-pack (the blue one) and applying the decals was a pain. Moreover, there are, TBF, a fair number of printed parts included in the set as well, but as it turns out, one must exercise diligence in applying the stickers so that they match up with corresponding printed parts. I didn't realize until after I'd already applied the ones on the slopes of the hood and they misaligned with the printed complex slopes forming the edges of the front end. Thus I had to pull the one off and reapply it so that it lined up. The other one was close enough so I didn't bother, but it's stuff like that that sticks in the craw. I get why LEGO maintains the sticker option, but on livery or detail heavy sets like the SC line, I kinda wish they'd just print everything for a smoother frustration-free build process.

I'm looking at that Mattel Honda set and thinking how useful any number of those parts would be if LEGO made them too.

I like that Mega Skystriker/H.I.S.S. Tank set.

[Scyla]

22 hours ago, danth said:

That does look nice! I'm interested to know the ratio of printed parts to stickers.

If you want to have a detailed look and discussion of the set here is a review by Jang: 

Edited September 17 by Scyla

[renegadeleader1]

Got a medieval Watchtower made by Fun Whole/Lumibricks from a local mom & pop toy store. The reviews I've seen online have been glowing(pun not intended) for these sets.

[danth]

I don't love the minifig design. I think if a non-Lego brand wants to take off, they have to have a minifig design that is somehow "better" than Lego. 

I've always been impressed with Mega(Blocks)'s minifigures. But they might almost be "too good", if that makes any sense. Closer to a small action figure than something compatible with bricks. 

I think they need something cute and blocky and charming to hit the sweet spot, but also ball-jointed to be "better" than Lego.

If a company could do that, and put out non-licensed sci-fi Space sets, I'd be tempted to jump ship. Lego's treatment of its legacy themes is f*cking disgraceful. 

 

[M'Kyuun]

7 hours ago, danth said:

I don't love the minifig design. I think if a non-Lego brand wants to take off, they have to have a minifig design that is somehow "better" than Lego. 

I've always been impressed with Mega(Blocks)'s minifigures. But they might almost be "too good", if that makes any sense. Closer to a small action figure than something compatible with bricks. 

I think they need something cute and blocky and charming to hit the sweet spot, but also ball-jointed to be "better" than Lego.

If a company could do that, and put out non-licensed sci-fi Space sets, I'd be tempted to jump ship. Lego's treatment of its legacy themes is f*cking disgraceful. 

 

I have long entertained the opinion that the Minifigure, iconic and beloved as it is, is an anachronism, nonetheless. Its limitations are manifest when compared to Mega Blok's stylized but highly articulated figures whose pose ability make them far more fun to play with, IMHO. I have long thought that LEGO should develop a new improved figure to enhance some of their action-oriented lines, at the least. I'm not saying get rid of the Minifig, but incorporate a new more pose-able fig to accentuate and compliment certain lines where a far more dynamic figure might enhance the playability of certain themes and sets. 

And, yeah, LEGO's unofficial retirement of Castle and Space, the latter my favorite theme, two of the three original Minifigure-based themes released in 1979 that drove LEGO to meteoric success is, I won't say disgraceful, but certainly dismaying and disappointing. It's analogous to Disney's retiring Mickey Mouse by just fading him out of existence except for an anniversary or the infrequent special occasion.