You know what LEGO is. Do you know what LEGO Ideas is? This is a program where people — not normal people but Lego Ninja Expert people — propose lego builds. The builds are normally actually built, but some are just designed or have parts that are just designed. These propose builds are then vetted on a publicly available web space at LEGO. People “support” the project by providing a very simple evaluation and, basically, a vote. If a proposed build gets 10,000 votes, it goes into review. I suppose the review process is important, or all future LEGO projeects would be about Boaty McBoatface. Anyway, if the project passes review, then a limited number are produced. Unsurprisingly, a relatively large number of these proposed builds are science oriented, science fiction, or otherwise, nerdy. Most of the rest are hot cars or airplanes. These projects are usually expensive, and as noted, limited in production. But if you are willing to fork out 50 bucks or so for a very cool LEGO project, you can have some real nice ones at any given time.
Sadly, no matter how cool the project is, it eventually fades into obscurity. I should note also that you will find very few of these projects at any store. I’ve seen a few at Toys-backwardsR-Us, but most are only available on line. I’ve gone through all the currently available projects (including several that LEGO no longer produces but that are still in the pipeline) to pick out the science and nerd oriented ones, plus one that is neither but still cool. I’m going to start with one that is almost certainly impossible to get for less than 200 bucks, but there are several out there and it is one of the cooler ones ever built: The LEGO Ideas NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover (Kit 2114). It has all sorts of moving parts and a nice metallic, low-peg look. It was designed by one of the actual engineers on the Curiosity project. The Doctor Who Building Kit (model 21304) has the Tardis from the outside and the inside. It is bigger on the inside. There are, I think, two doctors and one companion.
Also, there are Daleks and a weeping angel. There is a booket about the fan who designed this build, and about the TV series. In many ways, this is one of the nicer builds because is has so much cool stuff in it. Did I mention there are Daleks? The LEGO Ideas WALL E 21303 Building Kit is destine to be a classic. Don’t tell anybody, but this is Amanda and Huxley’s christmas present this year. I’ve never seen an episode of the Big Bang theory, but you have! So maybe you would like to have a look at the LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory 21302 Building Kit. Here’s the info from the manufacturer, which, since I don’t know much about it, I’ll just pass on to you: I wasn’t sure if I should include this one or not, but on further consideration, a lot of people might like this. The LEGO Ideas 21305 Maze Building Kit (769 Piece) is an actual maze game thingie. Many LEGO kits have varying degrees of functionality, but most are minituarized versions of large things, like, say, an airplane or something, so they’ll have a prop that rotates and that’s about it.
This kit is a kit to build a thing that is a thing, not a model imitating a thing. there are not many LEGO kits that do this. Finally, I give you the LEGO Yellow SubmarineUnlimited Health Instant Boss Kills Add Lego Studs 10 Lego Canisters Batcave Lego Studs Unlock Extras Unlock Characters Enter one of the following codes at the computer in the Batcave or in Arkham Asylum at the hacked computer to activate the corresponding cheat function. Note: Unlocked characters are only available in Free Play mode. RM4PR8Fast Grapple (All Suits) JRBDCBFast Batarangs (All Suits) XWP645More Batarang Targets (All Suits) D8NYWHFlaming Batarang (Heat Protection Suit) TNTN6BMore Detonators (Demolition Suit) N8JZEKArmour Plating (Demolition Suit) THTL4XSonic Pain (Sonic Suit) TL3EKTArea Effect (Sonic Suit) XPN4NGFreeze Batarang (Water Suit) ZOLM6NFast Walk (Magnet Suit) KHJ544Piece Detector (Attract Suit) BCT229 Mr. Freeze's Kart RDT637Harley Quinn's Hammer Truck
JUK657 The Jokers Van LEA664Bruce Wayne's Private JetBeloved LEGO nerds and LEGO enablers: print this pdf, show it to your kid and let her rummage through the LEGO bins to find the seven, particular pieces. (Rummaging is part of the fun. Match the part to the pic: how many studs across and down? She can assemble the seven pieces as per the illustration. She can then add the letters. Voila: a LEGO dreidel. Should your bins not produce all these parts, just substitute. Four 2×2 bricks are the equivalent of two 2×4 bricks. If you need help, email me.* (For some people (my husband), this is rocket science, and for some people, this is like falling off a log.) This model is one of the easiest to build and to spin, but you and your kid can make a zillion different kinds. See posts, here and here for models I’ve made so far. If the image above doesn’t print big enough, click on the PDF document and print full-size: BibleBeltBalabustaLEGOdreidel (or just show the screen to your child).