Packaging Design Explanation for LEGO Star Wars UCS Sandcrawler 75059
The LEGO Marketing department has given an explanation of the Ultimate Collector’s Series seal on the new LEGO Star Wars Sandcrawler (75059).
“The decision has been made to change the packaging for future “LEGO exclusive” Star Wars sets to include the UCS seal and de-link from the core Star Wars packaging. In addition to the packaging change an update has been made to the building instructions. The building instructions will have additional pages detailing the model’s connection to the movie and its development process. Much as the Creator Expert badge differentiates the larger models from the core assortment the goal of this change is to better communicate to builders that these sets represent our biggest building challenge in the LEGO Star Wars theme.”
**Via Brickset**
LEGO Technic Volvo L350F Wheel Loader (42030) Promo Video & Press Release
Volvo has released a press release and a video of how The LEGO Group and Volvo teamed up to create the Technic Volvo L350F Wheel Loader (42030). It seems that Eurobricks forum member Johan Sahlström, aka Superkalle who is also a Volvo engineer, had a hand in helping in the design of the set. As we’ve seen before, the L350F was revealed at the 2014 Nuremberg Toy Fair earlier this year.
**Via Eurobricks**
LEGO The Simpsons Collectible Minifigures (71005) Details
Amazon.uk may have given us a clue of which characters are included in the LEGO The Simpsons Collectible Minifigures (71005).
Woo-hoo! It’s The Simpsons! The LEGO Minifigures series continues with this great collection of 16 of your favorite characters from TV’s longest-running comedy. There’s Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson, as well as Grampa, Ned Flanders, Ralph Wiggum, Nelson Muntz, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief Wiggum, Krusty the Clown, Itchy & Scratchy, Mr. Burns and Milhouse. Each The Simpsons minifigure comes in a sealed ‘mystery’ bag with its own special accessories, display plate and collector’s leaflet. Buy a bag, open it up and see which one you get!
One thing to note about the list above is that some of the characters are different from what was reported last year from Nerdly.co.uk. They listed Moe as one of the minifigures but he isn’t on the list above so we’ll have to see which one is correct. I’m guess he won’t be cause of the job that he has as a bartender which isn’t really suitable for children.
**Via Eurobricks**
LEGO Store Fashion Valley Named Brand Retail Store of the Year 2013
I’ve just gotten news that my local LEGO Store in Fashion Valley (San Diego, CA) has won the LEGO Brand Retail Store of the Year for 2013! LEGO takes in many factors to choose the winner and the surveys we fill out after our purchases do factor into account. It isn’t a surprise that the Fashion Valley store won because the staff there is simply awesome from all the Brick Specialists and to Mike the Store Manager. I hang out there a lot (more often than I should) and I’ve seen first-hand of how the employees take care of their customers from answering questions customers may have to a simple thing like the check out process. If you have a chance to go to this store in Fashion Valley, show your support by congratulating the staff there. They do great work and they truly deserve the award!
Here’s Genevieve holding the trophy.
Here’s KJ, Michael, and Mario with the award.
Here’s a young customer and KJ intensely monitoring the store.
LEGO Star Wars UCS Sandcrawler (75059) Officially Announced
As we predicted, the new LEGO Star Wars Sandcrawler (75059) has been revealed at Brick Cascade 2014 in Portland, Oregon. The set is indeed labeled an Ultimate Collector’s Series set. Check out the press release, the designer video, and the official images below.
75059 Sandcrawler™
Ages 14+ 3,296 Pieces
US $299.99 – CA $349.99 – DE 299.99€ – UK £249.99 – DK 2,799.00 DKK
*Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing.Collect a true icon of the classic Star Wars™ universe – the mighty Sandcrawler™!
Recreate unforgettable scenes from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope with this amazing LEGO® incarnation of the Jawas’ desert-going vehicle, the Sandcrawler™. Turn the knob at the rear and steer the Sandcrawler into position, lower the front ramp and offload the droids using the 2 working cranes. Luke Skywalker™ and his Uncle, Owen Lars, are sure to be impressed with the selection on offer: there’s R2-D2, an R1-series Droid, an R2 unit, R5-D4™, a Treadwell Droid™, Gonk Droid™ and even C-3PO™. When the sale is complete, lift the side panels and top to reveal more great features inside, like the engine, storage bay, cockpit and more. There’s even a speeder bike for when the Jawas need to venture outside. Includes 7 minifigures: Luke Skywalker™, Uncle Owen, C-3PO™ and 4 Jawas™, plus R2-D2™, R2 unit, an R1-series Droid™, Gonk Droid™, R5-D4™ and a Treadwell Droid™.
Travel the dunes with the LEGO® Star Wars™ Sandcrawler™ with working cranes, detailed interior, 7 minifigures, 5 droids and lots more!
- Includes 7 minifigures: Luke Skywalker™, Uncle Owen, C-3PO™ and 4 Jawas™, plus R2-D2™, R2 unit, an R1-series Droid™, Gonk Droid™, R5-D4™ and a Treadwell Droid™
- Features 8 tracks with steering function, lowering front ramp, opening side flaps, removable top, working cranes, speeder bike, opening hatch for easy access to the boxes, attachable handles for lifting boxes, and a detailed interior including engine bay, storage bay and cockpit
- Also includes stock for old droids and droid parts
- Weapons include a lightsaber for Luke Skywalker™
- Sell droids to Luke and his Uncle
- Keep your droids well maintained
- Pretend to suck R2-D2™ up into the Sandcrawler™ – just like in the movie!
- Own your own iconic vehicle from the classic Star Wars™ universe
- Relive classic moments from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- Measures over 9” (24cm) high, 18” (48cm) long and 6” (16cm) wide
Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning
May 2014 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone.
Bricks by the Bay is Back For the Fifth Straight Year
It is never too early to talk about LEGO conventions that are upcoming later in the year. Bricks by the Bay is back again this year for their fifth straight year and will be held on August 7-10, 2014. There are some new things happening at the event. One is the increased floor space. There is now over 33,000 square feet of LEGO goodness. There will now be two ballroom spaces for AFOLs and LEGO fans to show off their creations. There is also an extra day for attendees to participate in different events held at the convention. There will be more details of the convention as we get closer to the date. Read more about Bricks by the Bay 2014 in their press release below:
Fifth Annual BRICKS BY THE BAY Convention coming this August
LEGO® builders and fans convention August 7-10, 2014
Northern California-March 2014: It is time to mark calendars for LEGO® artists, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and fans for the Fifth Annual Bricks By the Bay convention coming this summer: August 7-10, 2014. The convention will be hosted at the Santa Clara Convention Center, in Santa Clara, California.
“This year marks a special milestone for Bricks By the Bay,” said Bill Ward, director and president of the organization. “This will be our fifth annual convention. We held our first in April of 2010 and were blown away by the incredible reception, both among LEGO® builders and fans but also the general public.
Bricks By the Bay 2014 has two new features: increased floor space – over 33,000 square feet – and an extra day. There will be two large ballroom spaces for AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO®) and other enthusiasts to show off their MOCs (aka My Own Creations) and hobnob with fellow builders. And, the attendee convention has added, this year, a third day: Thursday, August 7, giving convention attendees a third day to participate in special workshops, games and other events.
Said Russell Clark, on the Board of Directors for the convention and avid builder himself, “Our theme for this year is Fun & Games. Convention attendees are invited to create original designs that fit with the theme. I’ve seen some amazing sculpture and mosaic work done using LEGO® and can’t wait to see what people bring to the event. But in addition to that we’ll have plenty of the usual trains, spaceships, castles, and other traditional LEGO® models.”
LEGO® building clubs, also known as LUGs (LEGO® User Groups) are invited to bring group displays. “Having so much more display space, with the addition of a second ballroom, makes this possible,” said Ward.
Bricks By the Bay draws hobbyists and clubs from around the country…even internationally…and features club displays, individual MOC’s, contests, vendors, keynote speakers and the final day of convention, August 10, 2014 will include an “Open to the Public” time where the general public can come in and view the many creations on display.
Information about the event schedule, convention registration information and the Open Public Day can be found at the website: http://www.bricksbythebay.com.
### LEGO® and the Brick and Knob configurations are trademarks of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this event.
“Bricks By the Bay” and the bridge logo are trademarks of Bricks By the Bay, Inc. Logo designed by Russell Clark and Brad Kidwell.
Bricks By the Bay, Inc. is a volunteer-run non-profit corporation 501©(3).
LEGO Minecraft Teaser Video
The LEGO Minecraft team is planning on releasing some details of the next Minecraft set. In the video below, they show something that wants to burst out of a brick and wants people to guess what it is. We do know that the designers have been working on a Co-Build set and have been giving updates on it. Or could it be the revealing of the Microworld: The End (21107) set? Back in January, it was revealed that this set would be joining the current Minecraft sets. The End features bricks called End Stone and mobs called Enderman. This dimension also has a boss mob called the Ender Dragon. We’ll see soon enough what this mysterious trailer is all about in the very near future.
