ChocolateFrogs

Thanks, everyone! My day was pretty great! -CF

I would like piece #10, and piece #2 if there aren't enough volunteers. -CF

I'll sign up for a piece! I can probably pull off slot 4, 7, or 10 without needing to make a BrickLink order. Just let me know. -CF

Awesome! Congratulations, Roa! I'm extremely pleased the gold mask is going to a BZPer! Can't wait to see what kind of set-up you build to display it. -CF

The biggest problem with the Onua mosaic is I can't see his mask. It's just some torso flailing around. I like Pohatu's the best, as Gali's still seemed fuzzy when zoomed out, but when taking a second look I think it will still be fine (if you can gather 12 slots). I don't think making the backgrounds greyscale would add anything to the image. As they are, it acts as an elemental backdrop. -CF

I'd be interested, if I'm coming. I'd prefer an iconic shot like a headpiece instead of the island, but I feel like Tahu would be cliche. Maybe Lewa? Whatever is chosen though would be fun to join in on. I'm also totally fine with doing something old to call back on the roots of Bionicle. But using a still from the current animations makes tons of sense for it being easier. -CF

I built a few small things to show off my early-received Bionicle pieces at December's WAMALUG* meeting (remember?). While that's not much to brag about now, I still enjoyed breaking out the Bionicle pieces and trying a few things out, and at the very least making use of new masks, weapons, and ideas. I had been wanting to use Gali's new golden mask (especially on red), and saw this as a great chance. (Hand design borrowed from Bundalings.) You've heard of Figbarfs? Fiddling with minifigs to see what gets made? Think of these as Bioni-barfs. And I've been doing a little bit more building too. I should have some new stuff for BrickFair! -CF *My local LEGO Users Group

WOW! Those look great! -CF

As I see my mom's classic Winter Village display, I'm suddenly regretting not collecting the winter sets LEGO makes just like these. This will have to do: Because really, that's an impossibly absurd amount of snow. -CF (This almost as great as me putting a TARDIS in the Creche under the tree.)

You know now we're all expecting all kinds of exclusive LEGOLAND merch and stuff. Congratulations! That's so cool! -CF

$15! I'm definitely aiming to get this! Nice review, too! -CF

As you may know, LEGO and DC Comics released 22 variant covers for their comics in November to promote LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham. I, of course, had to have some of these for my collection! Here's what I was able to snag: (^Link. Also: Flickr.) Some of these are gracing my collection (and will look great when/if I frame some favorite covers), some are being donated to the BrickFair charity auction, and some I'm saving for sale/trade later (or now, PM me). Some of the variant covers paid homage to covers that appeared a few years back: And just to be clear, only these variant covers are LEGO-ized. The contents are the exact same normal art as one would find in the regular cover comic. While variant covers are most certainly an easy gimmick to boost sales and perhaps gain new readers to a title, sometimes the price is right and the cover is cool enough to accept that. (What I won't do it pay way too much for a cover.) LEGO did this with Marvel last year for LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, and I was able to grab two (donating Wolverine to BrickFair's auction). What's next? I'll continue to collect and build superhero minifigs from all my favorite titles! -CF

I'm looking into getting a larger clear case where I can display all kinds of minifigs. I'll probably get the Green Arrow fig, because it's cooler than mine, but I think my Cyborg and Hawkman are better. I'm aiming for the Supergirl set. -CF

Sure! Thanks! I got it from 55555. Where he got it is his story to tell. -CF

You know when you're working on something cool hoping it never gets usurped by official things? Well, I just want to go on record as having made Green Arrow, Cyborg, Supergirl, Captain Cold, and Hawkman minifigs. Because. Hehe. Seriously though, I'm becoming obsessed with making my own figs from DC and Marvel comics, and have a list of 20 more I want to make. Good guys, bad guys, known or obscure. And as soon as I figure out water-slide decals, they'll look even cooler. -CF

I built a Toa team back in 2008. They've appeared at BrickFair many times since then, but I never posted them because I always wanted to do something more with them. Enough procrastinating though, I'm not solid on some of these names and don't have backstories for half, but I like what I've built (though will probably experiment with CCBS shells, especially with the Water Toa's torso). I've put pictures on BrickShelf and Flickr. The team itself is composed on six Toa who were the last surviving members of their respective teams. They've banded together with a new destiny as a new team. My goal while building was to give them some similar characteristics (due to my building preferences), but make them all different given their origins. I gave them all Rahkshi legs and Mata feet since those are my favorite, but after that anything was fair game. Lekia, Toa of Air, nimble and wielding a boomerang. Korou, Toa of Earth, inspired by other diggers. (Rahkshi legs on the arms here instead, but those are arguably more powerful on Onu-Toa.) Kapiro, Toa of Fire: Kapiro likes to make a solid flame sword and, when necessary, spirals of fire. (His mask of telekinesis helps with this.) He has also forged his own backup blade (just in case). Koji, Toa of Ice: Koji fought to his last breath--before being wrapped in a cocoon of ice. While the rest of his team fell while defending their home island from an invasion, he released a nova blast of ice, first drawing in the cold to make the surrounding area molten hot, and then releasing a wave of ice that enveloped the whole island, stopped his enemies, and encasing him for a millennium in ice. When he finally thawed and emerged on a new island, where he would meet his new team, the ice had become a part of him and his armor. Roxoro, Toa of Stone, as tough as they get. Makoa, Toa of Water Makoa is only partially healed from being infected with Visorak venom. While she was able to get the cure before being permanently transformed into a Hordika, the rest of her team was not so lucky, and she still has flecks of her Hordika side in her armor and mentality. A fin resides on her back and blades on her arms, along with her "shark's tooth" stinger. Furthermore, she has a bit of a taste-for-blood temper, which is especially present when moving through the water. (This was my first attempt at a movable waist, but I need to implement it better.) I realize since these MOCs are 6+ years old, CC for something where my skills have changed is a moot point ("It seemed good at the time"). But I don't mind small tidbits anyway. Mostly I just wanted to finally post these officially, before I change them. (I might also dismantle a few to make way for new MOCs. "Kill your darlings" and all that.) And a reminder, I've put pictures on BrickShelf and Flickr. -CF

The good news is I organized by bookshelves that I've improved the storage capacity, mostly by stacking mass markets up and putting hardbacks behind other hardbacks. (Sure, I can't see all the mass markets at once, but I've put the important ones on the top.) The bad news is I will probably just have to lay any new books out flat on top of stacks rather than spine out. The good news is I probably shouldn't be buying any more books anyway? The bad news is I have about 60 unread books. The good news is I'm working on reading books I believe I'd be inclined to give away/lend which means they won't be on my shelves then. The bad news my structure of reading every day in 2013 kind of fell to pieces in 2014 with LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, LEGO building for a March display and then BrickFair and then a non-existent January 2015 display. The good news is I want to change that and read every day and hopefully knock out a bunch of those books! The bad news is I'd feel kind of bad not reading books given to me as gifts or books I've bought (so, all of them), which means I'm not going to just ignore some in favor of others. The good news is: books! -CF

It's neither. I wanted to use the trans orange of the mask, the blue of the newly colored shell, and the gunmetal of the jetarangs. -CF

Showed off some things at WAMALUG yesterday. LEGO comic covers, custom purist minifigs, and some experimentation with the new 2015 Bionicle parts: I also got to hang out with 55555 after, continuing to prove that meeting people from the internet isn't a bad life decision! (Seriously though, kids, be careful.) More photos to come! -CF

These are really cool! And at $15, surprisingly reasonable. -CF (I wonder if anyone would want to trade me the Superboy minifig....)

Let's not forget about the upcoming Arrow DLC based on the TV show! So excited for that! A Blackest Night level would be awesome! -CF

Way way way back (like two years) an AFOL made a Kickstarter project for LEGO trading cards, called STUDS, to showcase various renowned builders in the fandom and their MOCs, among other aspects like conventions, publications, and achievements. Through a few LEGO conventions I was able to collect a handful of cards from people who had contributed early and had their own card(s) or packs to sell. Fun stuff! They finally made them available to the public and I eagerly ordered some (splitting shipping costs with a LUG friend and 55555). With some luck and a bit of trading I've got some cool stuff: On the back of the cards is a short bio of the creator/thing. My favorite is Paul Lee's LEGO Avengers card, which I'm showing off in the middle of a sheet. I also obtained 4 of Nathan Sawaya's cards. I've had a few things like Cajun's card and Norbert's card. After getting lucky and getting a signed card (by Bram Lambrecht, who I think was at BrickFest '06), I realized there were quite a few here I should have had signed when I first received them. Oh well. Some of these are just plain cool (Cole Blaq's Dragon, Mark Borlase's Hoth), some of them are from people I know personally (Dan Rubin's mech and Cajun's HR Giger), some I've met briefly (like meeting Megan Rothrock at NYCC for her LEGO Adventure Book we have at work), and others for other reasons either IRL or online. My goal is to put these on my wall like a poster to show off some cool LEGO art. (And I've got a few I'm still willing to trade, mostly in those last two pictures.) I'm quite happy with these additions to my LEGO collection. -CF (PS, Arpy is hidden in one of these cards!)

Chima has some great humanoid, anthropomorphic animal characters, and the sets are really cool too. But we all know LEGO could do more. We've seen snakes in Ninjago. Atlantis had some great aquatic life minifigs. The Collectible Minifig Series has had their fair share of animal figs. So let's see the exploration and go deeper into the jungle: Not only can we dive deep with some stingrays (and sharks, which I don't have), but buzzing around with bugs makes sense too. Mosquitoes and other creepy-crawlies found in the jungle. But let's not stop at things like snakes and lizard-men. Embrace mythology and throw in the legendary Lost Griffon Tribe (and maybe search the maze for the Minotaur, but watch out for the Medusa (or rather, don't watch out)). And of course, let's have some samurai pandas. Time to make some Chima MOCs? -CF

Man, that Toa Lhikan Hordika guy is awesome. Especially when he (and Turakii #1 Lavasurfer, maybe?) decides to send me a LEGO set not found in the USA! Realizing I desired the micro Tantive IV (with Alderaan globe) from the last LEGO Star Wars Micro Planets series, which was not released in the states, he kindly set me up with one! Sure, he builds up his own LEGO collection bit by bit, but then making sure his friends have some cool additions to theirs as well? It's great knowing he's got me covered with the little things. I love all sorts of micro sets because it lets me show off some cool ships and vehicles without having to break the bank (and find shelf space) on the larger ones. Plus building in microscale is so fun because of all the details implied by clever uses of pieces. My current lineup of micro (and midi) Star Wars ships and vehicles: -CF (I've also got a micro Batman Tumbler I'm debating giving to my brother or keeping for myself.)

It sounds like the game is awesome though. -CF