LEGO Star Wars Super Star Destroyer time-lapse build

Took about 7 hours to build LEGO's 10221 SSD, and you get to see it happen in 3 minutes.  Thankfully I had all manner of auto racing coverage on DVR to keep me going!

• Video: LEGO Star Wars SUPER Star Destroyer build in 3 minutes!

Random question of curiosity:  Why do many folks refer to time-lapse videos like this as "reviews?"  Nowadays it seems just about anything that's put on YouTube is titled "review."  Builds, unboxings, show-off of one's own MOC, webcam footage of a person talking about a picture of an upcoming product, slideshow of photos of an upcoming product, anything!  We need a new word for an actual product review, since the original word has practically lost its meaning.

"What is thy bidding, my mahsta?"

LEGO City 4204 "The Mine" set review!

It's perfect timing that recently a few viewers have asked me to review this 2012 set that is still in stores today.  I just picked it up a week ago, so here's the video already!

• Video: LEGO City 4204 "The Mine" set review!

As a bonus for today, you can also check out a new Bricklink haul!

LEGO Classic Town 6306 Road Signs mini-review

Awhile back I shared a Bricklink haul that included this little LEGO town accessory set from 1980, something I had my eyes on for quite some time.  It's perhaps not as useful with modern-scale stuff as I had hoped, but I'm still happy to have gotten it!

• Video: LEGO Classic Town 6306 Road Signs

LEGO Dino 5888 Ocean Interceptor + Pteranodon set review

Local Toys R Us stores have been blowing out LEGO Dino sets on clearance, and I picked up a few a couple months ago.  Why not, right?  These are definitely for the younger crowd, of course.

• Video: LEGO Dino 5888 Ocean Interceptor + Pteranodon set review! 

LEGO System 4002 Riptide Racer boat set from 1996

Here's another review of an old set, a LEGO speed boat from the mid-1990s. This was a time when LEGO was losing some of its charm, many people (myself included) feel.

• Video: LEGO System 4002 Riptide Racer boat from 1996

LEGO Classic Town 6674 Crane Truck reviewed

Here's another classic LEGOLAND set from the 1980s, a heavy wrecker / tow truck in 4-stud-wide scale.

• Video: LEGO Classic Town 6674 Crane Truck from 1988!

LEGO Technic 42006 Excavator set review

My first ever full official LEGO Technic set build, and review!  Let me know if you'd like to see more in the future, during the "slow" times between major releases.

• Video: LEGO Technic 42006 Excavator set review!

As a bonus, today I also put up another Bricklink haul that excited me.

LEGO Hero Factory 40116 Mini-Model polybag set

I saw this obscure Invasion from Below polybag on Brickset and realized that hmm, I can build that!

• Video: LEGO Hero Factory 40116 Mini-Model polybag set!

Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06858 Ghosts Helicopter reviewed

When I first saw this Blackhawk model unveiled, I didn't think Mega Bloks really needed another modern-era helicopter set yet for their Call of Duty series.  However, this is nothing like the Chopper Strike set from the first year of the toy line.  This UH-60 model inspired by CoD: Ghosts is massive in person!

• Video: Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06858 Ghosts Tactical Helicopter set review

LEGO Creator 31009 Small Cottage 3-in-1 house review!

Another LEGO set that's not new, but still available in stores.  I got help with assembly & dis-assembly and cover all three versions of the build in this video.

• Video: LEGO Creator 31009 Small Cottage 3-in-1 house review!

As a bonus for today, check out another quick Simpsons mystery pack opening!

Power Functions -> 9V conversions underway

Yikes, I did not realize how blurry and terrible that camera phone pic was going to be until I downloaded it.  Oh well.

As previously hinted, I've started converting some of my trains over to the old 9V system, my newest custom passenger train being the first to receive the transplant.  I was very happy to be using modern Power Functions components in moderately stealthy ways in my trains, and I really enjoyed the ability to command all of them at once from a single controller.  However, some other realities of the system have been a drag.  Even with engines that have easy, external power button triggers, to just get a couple of default trains running around my two loops for a little update video, I need to crawl under my tables & physically turn each on.  Then I crawl back out & go through the little dance of setting the right controller channel & setting the desired speed.  It gets old after awhile.

Since I invested so much money up front into laying all electrified rail for my standard-gauge layouts, it's time for me to actually use it.  I don't know if I'll convert every engine to 9V over time, but likely most of them will get the treatment. This way I'll end up actually running the trains more frequently, thanks to the convenience of it, which you all will get to see & enjoy.  It'll also make the building of new custom trains much easier, and that's something I'm very much looking forward to!

LEGO Space Police 5974 Galactic Enforcer reviewed

Here's another LEGO spacecraft set I built quite some time ago, and it's a big one!

• Video: LEGO Space Police 5974 Galactic Enforcer reviewed!

LEGO Star Wars 9495 Y-Wing (2012 version) reviewed

I've had this set built for a couple months now, and since I've finally gotten through all of the Summer release sets I could get my hands on up to now, it's time to pick up where I left off before the deluge hit!

• Video: LEGO Star Wars 9495 Gold Leader's Y-Wing Starfighter reviewed (2012 version)

LEGO Classic Town 6521 Emergency Repair Truck review

Here's a small vintage LEGOLAND set from back in the day.  It's pretty incredible just how many small sets like these were made in the 80s.

• Video: LEGO Classic Town 6521 Emergency Repair Truck from 1987!

Summer 2014 LEGO Legends of Chima Speedorz reviews! ALL of them!

I've completed videos of every LEGO Legends of Chima Speedorz set for the Summer 2014 series!  Since the Speedorz themselves feature an all-new design, I've also done a separate video showing how they're built now, and comparing them to their predecessors. The builds have changed and the play patterns & rules have changed.  Some of these sets I rather like, others seem pretty boring to me.  Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!

• ALL LEGO Chima Summer 2014 Speedorz -- new design & comparison!
• LEGO Chima Speedorz 70151 Frozen Spikes review! Summer 2014
• LEGO Chima Speedorz 70150 Flaming Claws review! Summer 2014
• LEGO Chima Speedorz 70155 Inferno Pit review! Summer 2014
• LEGO Chima Speedorz 70149 Scorching Blades review! Summer 2014
• LEGO Chima Speedorz 70156 Fire vs Ice reviewed! Summer 2014

Finish line is in sight for another leg of the race

On May 11th, I posted my first proper Summer 2014 LEGO set review to kick off the big release season.  In the short time since then, I've published over 90 additional reviews, plus about 30 other videos of MOCs & hauls & comparisons & such.  Never before, in my entire life, have I produced so much work product so quickly.

In these 5 weeks & change, viewers like you have watched a net of over 3,600 weeks (around 70 years) worth of construction toy video footage from me, and attention rates (how long folks stay watching each video) are the highest I've ever seen them. This week we passed 100 million total views, and statistical aggregation sites now report that y'all are watching my videos fully twice as frequently as the next similar channel on YouTube.

The work has been difficult, and I've even pulled some true all-nighters along the way, but every single indicator is telling me to just keep it up.  Best of all, even though I'm putting a tremendous amount of effort into this stuff, I'm still enjoying it and looking forward to what's next.

This evening I filmed reviews for the last batch of Summer 2014 products I had on hand.  There are still two more series of LEGO sets yet to come (Hero Factory & Friends), and Mega Bloks will add almost 30 sets to the queue with exciting new Halo and Call of Duty releases.  Nevertheless, I see light at the end of the tunnel, and it is rapidly getting brighter.  Calmer times are coming again; times to disassemble sets, sort parts, and best of all, go absolutely bonkers making MOCs!  W00t!

LEGO Star Wars 75049 Snowspeeder 2014 review

LEGO has made a fair number of Snowspeeders, the most recent just last year, but here's yet another!

• Video: LEGO Star Wars 75049 Snowspeeder 2014 review!

I believe this is also my last Summer 2014 Star Wars set review, so as a random bonus, I've also uploaded a Simpsons minifig mystery pack opening video today.

LEGO Chima 70135 Cragger's Fire Striker review

This is the last of my Summer 2014 Chima medium/large vehicle set reviews, finally!  More videos on the way!

• Video: LEGO Chima 70135 Cragger's Fire Striker review! Summer 2014

As a little celebratory bonus, check out today's new Bricklink haul.

Classic & new LEGO brand truck sets compared!

It's a showdown for/of the ages, LEGO sets 6692 from 1983, 2148 from 1997 (re-released as 10156 in 2004), and the most recent 3221.  They're all proudly LEGO-branded with the white-on-red logo contrasting against pure yellow, but the similarities quickly disappear from there!

• Official LEGO Trucks compared! 1983 vs. 1997 vs. 2010!

LEGO Chima 70141 Vardy's Ice Vulture Glider review

Another Chima vehicle/craft set with a 2-in-1 feature, this one airing almost uncomfortably on the Inception side of things.  I'm a fan of one of the minifigs, but the rest of this set leaves me a bit unsatisfied.

• Video: LEGO Chima 70141 Vardy's Ice Vulture Glider review! Summer 2014

Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06849 Zombies Outbreak review

More zombies for the horde hoarder!

• Video: Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06849 Zombies Outbreak reviewed!

LEGO custom light space fighter craft MOCs

Here are the latest additions to the Planetary Defense Force for my custom LEGO city!  These three identical light fighters each have two flight modes and can work in atmosphere or out in space, and they can be launched vertically (launcher MOC to come later) or in a slightly more conventional V/STOL style.

• Video: LEGO custom light space fighter craft MOCs!

The LEGO Movie exclusive Vitruvius minifig!

With the higher-priced "Everything is Awesome Edition" packaging of The LEGO Movie on Blu-Ray & DVD, you get this exclusive pre-blinding version of Vitruvius in genuine minifig form!  In this video I show the figure and also compare it to the previous Vitruvius fig.

• Video: The LEGO Movie exclusive Vitruvius minifig!

Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06852 Ghillie Suit Sniper review!

You'll never see this guy coming, because he'll hit you from a mile away!  Tiny new Mega Bloks CoD set that's basically just a figure with a weapon, plus some terrain to pose him on or around.

• Video: Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06852 Ghillie Suit Sniper review!

LEGO Chima 70147 Sir Fangar's Ice Fortress review

Here's my review of what at this time was the largest of the remaining LEGO Legends of Chima sets for the season. Enjoy!

• Video: LEGO Chima 70147 Sir Fangar's Ice Fortress review! Summer 2014

Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06856 APC Invasion set review

It's a not-FV721 “APC” with non-“not” Hudson, but actually an AFV and not an APC, and not in CoD, but still OK by me, as you'll see:

• Video: Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06856 APC Invasion set review!

Official "LEGO Truck" review - set 2148 or 10156

This truck was first unleashed in 1997, followed by a full-on re-release in 2004.  Though there have been other fully LEGO-branded trucks, this was the only one to get the official designation of "LEGO Truck."

• Video: LEGO City official "LEGO Truck" review - set #2148 / 10156

LEGO Classic Town 6504 Tractor from 1988!

Another review of a tiny vintage LEGO set from the 1980s!  Gotta love the name, just "Tractor."

• Video: LEGO Classic Town 6504 Tractor from 1988!

LEGO City 30310 Arctic Scout review!

At last, the collection is complete!  This LEGO City set completes the rebooted Arctic theme with a little polybag-borne open-cockpit airplane.

• Video: LEGO City 30310 Arctic Scout review! Summer 2014

Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06863 ODIN Space Station Strike review

From Mega Bloks' Summer/Fall 2014 lineup, here's one of the more memorable things from Call of Duty: Ghosts, in brick-built form!

• Video: Mega Bloks Call of Duty 06863 ODIN Space Station Strike reviewed!

LEGO custom high-speed Train MOC #2!

Here's my latest custom LEGO passenger train MOC, now in what I'm calling 99% complete state.  It's an electric multiple unit, intended to be run in a realistic 2- or 3-car configuration, but compatible with the middle car from my older train as well.  It's also infrared remote controlled using current Power Functions components.  The video shows the overall design as well as plenty of running footage around both loops of my layout..

• Video: LEGO custom high-speed Train MOC #2!

As always, things will surely be tweaked over time!

LEGO Chima 70143 Sir Fangar's Saber-Tooth Walker review

Yet another LEGO Legends of Chima rideable thing/vehicle set for Summer 2014, with a couple more to go yet!  Note that some regions spell it "saber," others "sabre," neither is incorrect!

• Video: LEGO Chima 70143 Sir Fangar's Saber-Tooth Walker review! Summer 2014

LEGO Creator 40108 Balloon Cart reviewed!

Nice little bonus with qualifying purchases from the official LEGO Shop!

• Video: LEGO Creator 40108 Balloon Cart reviewed!

Final LEGO Chima action figure combination models

These are the last of the Summer 2014 Chima "constraction" combiners!  Of course just as I finish them up, LEGO UK releases the official instructions on their site!  Ah well :)

• LEGO Chima Chi Mungus + Sir Fangar combination 2014
• LEGO Chima Chi Vardy + Sir Fangar combination 2014

LEGO Star Wars 75050 B-Wing 2014 edition reviewed!

The above isn't the most flattering view of the latest LEGO B-Wing starfighter, but fear not, in the video review I do "lock s-foils in attack position!"  A mixed reference, I know, but it works :)

• Video: LEGO Star Wars 75050 B-Wing 2014 edition reviewed!

LEGO classic Town 6656 Tow Truck from 1985, reviewed

Flashback time!  Here's a little 53-piece LEGO utility truck from the mid 80s.

• Video: LEGO classic Town 6656 Tow Truck from 1985!

LEGO passenger train MOC work continues

The front motive car on my new passenger train was completed (for now) yesterday and next I'll be moving on to the unpowered tail cab and a middle unit.

• Video: LEGO passenger train MOC work in progress Jun 11 2014

More LEGO Legends of Chima combination models!

Three more of these Chima "constraction" combiner models down, two more to go!

• LEGO Chima Chi Cragger + Chi Fluminox combination 2014
• LEGO Chima Chi Sir Fangar + Chi Mungus combination 2014
• LEGO Chima Chi Laval + Chi Fluminox combination 2014

LEGO Chima 70210 Chi Vardy review!

This is my very last of the Summer 2014 Legends of Chima action figure reviews.  Vardy is one creepy, ice-infused vulture.

• Video: LEGO Chima 70210 Chi Vardy review!

LEGO Chima 70209 Chi Mungus review!

Here's another Legends of Chima Summer 2014 release in the buildable "constraction" action figure sub-series.  It's an interesting character, but I think they made some questionable decisions when creating this super-sized version.  What do you think?

• Video: LEGO Chima 70209 Chi Mungus review!

LEGO Chima 70212 Chi Sir Fangar review!

This Summer 2014 Legends of Chima buildable action figure is from the Saber-Tooth tribe and is the largest of the ice-aligned characters released in this wave.

• Video: LEGO Chima 70212 Chi Sir Fangar review!

LEGO Star Wars 75055 Imperial Star Destroyer reviewed

Here's my review of the latest LEGO rendition of this most iconic Imperial capital ship.  This is only the third time they've made one large enough to physically fit minifigs inside.  It's only the second of this general size, the first being #6211 from 2006.  The UCS version from 2002 is of course in a completely different class.

• Video: LEGO Star Wars 75055 Imperial Star Destroyer review! Summer 2014

Working on a new custom LEGO passenger train

Just a small project here to create a new EMU passenger train based on the wonderful cowl pieces from the official LEGO 60051 set.  I'll try to differentiate the design enough to make it look like it's from a different manufacturer.  The powered car and its unpowered mirror should be finished up pretty quickly, but I realized after doing this video that I may be short some of the orange pieces needed to finish a third car.  D'oh.  To Bricklink?

• Video: LEGO passenger train MOC work in progress Jun 8 2014

Thank you mall viewers! Records smashed!

The unveiling of my custom LEGO shopping mall MOC has been an enormous success thanks to viewers like you!  The video just went up a couple of days and already it has helped set a bunch of new personal records!

• Most single video views in a day
• Most likes in a day
• Most comments in a day
• Most favorites in a day
• Most new subscribers in a day
• Most views (cumulative, across the whole channel) in a weekend
• Most views in a rolling 30-day period
• Most likes on a single video, ever (in 2 days surpassing 4 months worth of feedback on my last custom city update) 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

JANGBRiCKS Custom LEGO City update June 2014!

Here it is, the most-requested anything ever!  :)

• JANGBRiCKS Custom LEGO City update June 2014!

It takes a lot of time to make progress on this layout, especially with hundreds of reviews being made as well.  As always, the next update will be posted the next time there's anything worth updating y'all about!

Another Arctic set review, and a complete Arctic base!

With my last major LEGO City - Arctic set review up (only an obscure polybag remains at this time), I've completed my arctic base in Mellemby and filmed it for y'all!

• LEGO City 60064 Arctic Supply Plane reviewed!
• LEGO city "Mellemby" full Arctic base update June 7, 2014

JANGBRiCKS LEGO Shopping Mall complete!

My all-custom, ~10,000 piece, 48x96, two-story, 17-store enclosed LEGO shopping mall is complete at last!  Come on in & check it out!

Two more videos yet again!

I don't know what it is with doing two videos at a time, but it seems to be working for me, for now, if unintentionally!  Check out the big City - Arctic set for this season!

• LEGO City 60062 Arctic Icebreaker set review!
• LEGO Chima Chi Panthar + Chi Fluminox combination model 2014

Two new reviews, plus an update on mall video progress

First up, two new videos were posted last night, one Mega Bloks, one LEGO.

• Mega Bloks Call of Duty Jungle Troopers set review! 06875
• LEGO Chima 70144 Laval's Fire Lion

In addition, I made good progress on shot selection and an preliminary editing pass on the mall unveiling video.  I got through an entire floor!  Again, that's just preliminary work, but it feels like a moral win :)