Lego Haul - Disneyland

For my wife's birthday in June, we went to Disneyland in Anaheim for the week.  We had a blast.  Seeing characters, going on some rides, just relaxing and not having to worry about a damn thing.  We also did some shopping too, hitting up the Lego store in Downtown Disney, just a couple blocks from our hotel.

The Lego haul from Downtown Disney in June 2017

I got the 60153 People Pack - Fun at the beach minifig pack.  15 people to set up at the beach where they're having fun.  It'd made me refine my design for a beachfront area.  Once all the craziness this summer has brought is over, I can pick up and finish off that design and build.

60153 People Pack - Fun at the beach contents

With my purchase, I got a free bonus pack with a minifig and all the accessories one might need for summer fun.  Scuba gear, a fishing rod, a surfboard, and a chair and grill.  There were also some idea thought balloons and a little passport thing with pictures of this dude and his adventures.

Contents of the minifigure summer vacation accessory pack

I finally opened everything up and put it all together last night.  I'm looking forward to September coming around when I can get back into a regular Lego schedule.  We'll see how things shake out as summer fades away.

All sorts of fun going on at the beach this summer

Lego Haul - 4/14/17

Yesterday was Good Friday.  But it wasn't just good, it was great.  I had the day off.

After surprising my wife for lunch, I stopped at the Lego Store at the MOA on my way home to see what was on the shelves.

I'm glad it was just me, as it appeared that everyone else had the day off too.  The Lego store was quite packed (and perhaps that could be due to the fact that it was a Friday afternoon and not a holiday).  As such, it was a bit of slim pickings in a mad house, but I found what I was looking for.

The haul from 4/14/17

I grabbed a 76078 Hulk vs. Red Hulk and a free 40252 Mini Volkswagen Beetle for spending more than $50.

I got a Lego set with Hulk in it to complete my team of the primary Avengers team.  Those in the first Marvel Cinematic Universe flick. Now he can team up with Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, and Hawkeye.  I can also pair Bruce up with Thor and Dr. Steven Strange to prepare for Ragnarok.

76078 Hulk vs. Red Hulk contents (left) and fully assembled (right)

The 40252 Mini Volkswagen Beetle resembles the models manufactured in the 50's and the 60's.  It'll just be a display piece, as there is no room to put a minifigure in it.  It's too big to sit in my Lego city.  No matter though.  Not everything I acquire is going to fit in my Lego town.  I got a 12" R2-D2; what exactly would that do?

40252 Mini Volkswagen Beetle contents (left) and fully assembled (right)

That's it for now.  Once I get paid again, I'll head back to the Lego store for more sets.  It's a never ending cycle...

She-Hulk and Hulk, the Beetle, and Red Hulk and Red She-Hulk.

Lego Haul - 3/31/17

My wife and I ran out to Target Friday night to pick up some groceries, and they had some Lego sets 20% off.  To help complete my collection of Batman villains, I got the 70906 The Joker Notorious Lowrider.  Harley and Joker will go well with my Catwoman.

70906 The Joker Notorious Lowrider

March was pretty busy for me with work, school, planning to move, Pokemon Go...  It's been a bit too much lately.  Lego's have been very low on my priority list lately.  Once school is done for the semester in mid-May, I'll be able to focus on Lego blogging again.

The Joker Notorious Lowrider contents (left) and fully assembled (right)

Spending time putting Lego's together and writing about it is a luxury I can't afford right now.  I'm sure I could if I gave up the Pokemon Go, but I need the exercise.  Not that there's anything wrong with my body or I'm ashamed of it in any way.  It's just nice to go outside and walk, especially with the unusually warm winter we had in Minnesota this year.  It makes me happy.  Like Lego's do, but in a different way.

Harley Quinn and Batgirl battling on the hood of The Joker's lowrider

Once I finish school for the semester, I'll get back to regular Lego blog posting.  I've still got a few Waterfront buildings to go over.  Then it's onto the Marines and Plaza.

Lego Haul - 3/18/17

My wife and I were at Target again this morning, and I was feeling lucky.   I thought I could find the last Lego Batman Movie minifigure to complete my collection.  It only took five bags, but I found Commissioner Gordon.

The Lego Batman Movie minifigure pack and the Commissioner Gordon that was inside it.

Now that I have a complete collection, I can determine what I want to do with them all.  Most of them will be civilians hanging out at the Grandstand, enjoying the rock show and chilling with friends.  And the Glam Metal Batman may have to get on stage  The Gordon's, Barbara and the Commish, may become police officers.  I got plenty of those already.  Dick Grayson might work in the Research Lab or something (though I don't know how handy Robin is with designing tools and such; Wayne Industries come up with all those wonderful toys). 

My full collection of Lego Batman Movie minifigures

I haven't seen the Lego Batman Movie yet.  I should probably do that before my wife and I go to California again.  Maybe we'll Netflix or DirecTV or buy the DVD.

Lego Haul - 3/11/17

It's Double VIP points time at the Lego store again.  Of course I had to go buy some sets.  Who wouldn't?

The Lego Haul from 3/11/17

 
There's a lot on my want list these days.  I've paid off my wife's engagement ring, and I'm getting a small raise at work, so I've got a bit more disposable income these days.  I debated about what to get, constantly flip flopping between a few different items to purchase.  Fortunately, my wife had a wonderful suggestion.  "Get sets that you don't expect someone else to buy for you".

Or something like that.  It really helped.  For example, I don't expect to ever get Lego Classic sets for any occasion.  They're just totes with loose bricks.  I NEED bricks.  Not necessarily the ones that come in these sets.  But they do have their uses.

Contents of 10698 Lego Large Creative Brick Box

 
The bricks of interest from my 10698 Lego Large Creative Brick Box include some bright purple roof tiles and cool yellow bricks to add onto the 10686 Family House I got for Christmas a few years ago.  The flame yellowish orange bricks will be used as hay at the Pony Farm.  Yeah, hay isn't orange, but so what?  They're my bricks, I can do what I want with them.  The yellow roof tiles will be used for the Pyramid nightclub.  The other yellow pieces I have in the picture below could be used for my School Bus idea.

I also built the camera from the instructions included with this set.  Well, not included.  They are online.  If you wanna check it out, just visit the Lego website.  They are at https://www.lego.com/en-us/classic/activities/booklets/10698-camera-d2d6ba9de3924aefbaa6b5f648a69d9f.

The best bricks from 10698 Lego Large Creative Brick Box

I also thought about the release dates of sets on my wanted list.  I should get the oldest sets first.  So I picked up 76060 Doctor Strange's Sanctum Santorum.

 76060 Doctor Strange's Sanctum Santorum contents (left) and fully assembled (right)

That's one more Marvel superhero marked off the list.  Lego now has a 76078 Hulk vs. Red Hulk, so that'll help me mark another one off.  And Guardians of the Galaxy sets are out now as well, ahead of the Volume 2 movie release in May.  Just need a Black Panther, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, and Vision.  Oh, and Agent "Phil" Coulson.

Lego was also giving away free 30351 Police Helicopter sets.  I wish they'd choose something besides police helicopters.  I have plenty already.

30351 Police Helicopter contents (left) and fully assembled (right)

I need to take all the police helicopters I have an build a bigger one.  One to rival the size of the 60010 Fire Helicopter...  Hmmm...

Marina Shop and Beach

As I was coming up with a model for my Marina area, the first building I came up with was my Marina Office.  I figured it could handle all the business that people going out on the water would need.

Then I found a 4644 Marina set at a Toys'R'Us.

The Marina Shop and Beach

It was a great solution for handling all the equipment rental business, while the Marina Office could handle boat rentals.  This also allowed me to get a lifeguard and a seaside cafe as well, to give the oceanfront a bit more character.

The lifeguard tower and rescue personal watercraft ready to save someone out in the water

The shop has a great array of equipment for rental.  A fishing rod, swim flippers, life jackets, a speargun, SCUBA tanks.  Now sure, if you're renting a boat, you'd have to haul all that stuff all the way over to the docks, then haul it back in after returning to shore.  Kind of a pain in the ass, especially at the end of the day.  Those days I've sent in a boat all afternoon in the sun, I've felt quite rundown.  Not sure how to fix this any time soon, but I could figure something out.

 The marina shop, front (left) and rear (right) views

The Paradise Cafe sitting above the marina shop works as is, but I've also considered making it an office for the lifeguards.  An idea inspired by the TV show Baywatch.  Maybe if I had a David Hasselhoff minifigure...

 The Paradise Cafe inside (left) and outside (right)

I know I said I have a beach here too, but that's still in development.  I'll also have to figure out how to connect it to the area under the lifeguard tower.  Like everything else, it's a work in progress.  Stay tuned...

Sets used: 4644

Lego Haul - 2/26/17

My wife and I went to Target this morning, and we found some Lego Batman Movie minifigures there.  I didn't spend much time going through them all but I did find The Mime.  I just need a Commissioner Gordon to finish the collection.

The Lego Batman Movie minifigure pack and The Mime that was inside it.

That's it.  Nothing more to see here.  Move along...