Ep. 182 - 30 Amazing Sets…But These Are My TOP 5 | BrickLink Designer Series 11

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: Barweer has provided a 5% discount code for BrickCast viewers! Use code Steve5 at checkout to save on your purchase. Stinger Mantis: https://www.barweer.com/products/barweer-bwr101-ultimate-playset-scale-stinger-mantis-movie?DIST=QURAFVs%3D 3,006 pieces. An iconic Star Wars spaceship. And a price tag that might make LEGO fans do a double take! In this week's Wild Card Wednesday episode of BrickCast, we're taking a break from traditional LEGO sets to explore something a little different: the Barweer BWR101 V2 Stinger Mantis! Inspired by the unforgettable spacecraft from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor, this massive brick-built model brings Cal Kestis's legendary ship to life with an incredible amount of detail, impressive functionality, and a price that seems almost too good to be true. But is it actually any good? Originally designed by the talented 2BricksOfficial, this 3,006-piece model features rotating wings, retractable landing gear, a fully detailed interior, and 22 printed elements without a single sticker in sight. And with a price of just $125.38 in the United States, including free shipping, it comes in at an astonishing 4.17 cents per piece! If LEGO produced a comparable set at its typical premium pricing, could we be looking at something closer to $350 or even $360? Of course, there's much more to this story than just the price. In this episode, I'll take you through the history of the Stinger Mantis, explore its connections to the Star Wars universe, examine the building experience, and put this impressive model through my usual review categories: Playability, Displayability, Build Experience, and Value. I'll also share what surprised me, what could have been better, and whether this is a legitimate alternative for Star Wars collectors who want something LEGO has never officially produced. And yes, clutch power and brick quality will be covered! So is the Stinger Mantis one of the best values in the building block world, or is there a catch hiding behind that incredibly low price? You'll have to watch to find out! If you enjoy LEGO reviews, Star Wars collectibles, alternative building block brands, and honest discussions about what makes a great building set, make sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and join us every Monday and Wednesday for more BrickCast! Music Credit: Youtube Music Library Disclosure: This set was provided for review by Barweer. All opinions, criticisms, and ratings are entirely my own. #StarWars #StingerMantis #Barweer #JediFallenOrder #JediSurvivor #CalKestis #LEGOStarWars #LEGOAlternative #BuildingBlocks #BrickCast #TheImaginationBrickshop

2027 is shaping up to be an EPIC year for LEGO, and this week's BrickCast is packed with exciting new reveals, surprising sales figures, and some incredible rumors that could make next year one of the most memorable yet! In this episode, we're diving into the latest LEGO news and rumors, starting with the official confirmation of LEGO Insiders Weekend and a look at the FINAL sales numbers from BrickLink Designer Program Series 9. With nearly $26 MILLION in sales across five incredible sets, which designs dominated the competition, and which ones struggled to keep up? Some of these results might surprise you! We're also taking a closer look at the newly revealed LEGO ICONS Venetian Neighborhood, a massive 5,682-piece architectural masterpiece featuring some fascinating details and innovative building techniques. But is this incredible new addition to the LEGO lineup worth its $550 price tag? And then there's LEGO Pokémon! With new information emerging about several highly anticipated 2027 releases, including some iconic Pokémon characters and a mysterious new collectible series, there's plenty to get excited about. But what exactly does LEGO have planned for this groundbreaking new partnership? Meanwhile, LEGO is bringing together two of the biggest entertainment franchises in history with the Marvel × Star Wars: Hope Assembles Challenge! Imagine combining your favorite Marvel superheroes with characters, vehicles, and locations from a galaxy far, far away. We're breaking down this unusual crossover, its creative possibilities, and some surprising restrictions that could make this challenge particularly interesting. Finally, for our Brickshop Alternative Set of the Week, we're traveling to Middle-earth to explore an incredible upcoming Lord of the Rings-inspired building set featuring one of the most iconic landmarks from Tolkien's legendary world. If you're a fan of LEGO Lord of the Rings, this is definitely one you'll want to see! From exciting new LEGO releases and surprising sales figures to Pokémon, Star Wars, Marvel, and The Lord of the Rings, there's a LOT to talk about this week! So grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair, and join me for another episode of BrickCast, where we talk all things LEGO! If you enjoy LEGO news, rumors, reviews, and discussions, don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and join The Imagination Brickshop community! Music Credit: YouTube Music Library #LEGO #LEGONews #LEGORumors #LEGO2027 #BrickCast #LEGOPokemon #LEGOStarWars #LEGOMarvel #LEGOLordOfTheRings #BrickLinkDesignerProgram #LEGOIcons #TheImaginationBrickshop

JPFANS Affiliate Link: https://jpfans.com/register?ref=800884367 421 incredible LEGO designs. Only FIVE will make the cut. But which ones deserve to become official BrickLink Designer Program sets? In this week's Wild Card Wednesday episode of BrickCast, I'm taking a deep dive into the upcoming 2028 Wave 1 BrickLink Designer Program, and after reviewing all 421 submissions, I've narrowed the field down to my personal TOP FIVE finalists! And believe me, this was NOT an easy decision! From medieval castles and pirate ships to incredible architecture, unique vehicles, and some truly imaginative creations, this wave features an amazing variety of designs from talented LEGO builders around the world. But with only five designs ultimately being selected, some fantastic creations are inevitably going to be left behind. I started with 421 submissions, narrowed those down to 72 designs I absolutely loved, and then began the difficult process of separating the good from the great. I divided my favorites into three categories based on piece count, evaluated what made each design special, and ultimately selected the five creations I believe deserve a place in the BrickLink Designer Program. Along the way, I'll share some incredible designs that caught my attention, discuss what makes a submission stand out, and reveal a few surprises that made narrowing down my choices especially difficult. Some of my final selections might surprise you! With crowd voting wrapping up on October 14th and the official five finalists scheduled to be announced on November 12th, there's no better time to take a closer look at what could become some of the most exciting LEGO sets of 2028. But here's the big question: Will any of my five picks actually make the cut? Watch the episode to discover my selections, and then head to the comments to tell me which five designs YOU would choose. Did I overlook a masterpiece? Did I include something that doesn't deserve to make it? I want to hear your thoughts! Explore the 421 submissions here:https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/2028-wave-1/main.page If you enjoy LEGO news, rumors, set reviews, and discussions about everything happening in the world of LEGO, be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and join us here at The Imagination Brickshop for more episodes of BrickCast every week! Music Credit: YouTube Music Library #LEGO #bricklinkdesignerprogram #BrickLink #LEGO2028 #LEGOIdeas #LEGOCommunity #BrickCast #TheImaginationBrickshop #LEGOMOC #AFOL #JPFans

The LEGO rumors just keep getting BIGGER, and this week we have some massive developments surrounding the future of LEGO Lord of the Rings and the BrickLink Designer Program! In BrickCast Episode, we're diving into the latest LEGO news, rumors, and reveals, starting with some incredible new information about what could be coming to Middle-earth in 2027. We've already heard rumors about an Oliphaunt Battle and the Prancing Pony, but now new details about an enormous Helm's Deep have emerged. Just how massive could this set be, and what might it mean for the future of LEGO Lord of the Rings? If these rumors turn out to be true, collectors could have some difficult decisions ahead! Meanwhile, the BrickLink Designer Program is making headlines of its own! Series 9 preorders are underway, and the latest sales figures reveal some very interesting trends. Some sets are performing exactly as you might expect, while others might surprise you. We're breaking down the numbers, looking at which designs are generating the most excitement, and discussing what these results could mean for future releases. And with an astonishing 421 submissions competing for a spot in the first wave of 2028, the competition is only getting started! Don't forget, we'll be taking a closer look at those submissions in Wednesday's episode of BrickCast. But that's just the beginning! A massive new LEGO Icons set has leaked, bringing one of the world's most recognizable cities to life in brick form. We also have official images of two upcoming LEGO releases from the DC and Marvel universes, including a striking interpretation of one of Batman's most infamous villains and a skyline packed with recognizable Marvel landmarks. Are these sets destined to become must-haves, or will they leave collectors wanting more? We'll also take a look at some upcoming LEGO promotions, including the return of double LEGO Insiders points and the latest addition to the Restaurants of the World gift-with-purchase collection. And finally, for our Alternative Set of the Week, we're stepping outside the LEGO universe to examine a fascinating creation from Pantasy that combines nostalgia, engineering, and an impressive display piece. Could this be one of the more interesting alternatives to LEGO we've featured? From massive Middle-earth rumors and surprising BrickLink sales figures to leaked sets and exciting new reveals, there's plenty to talk about in this week's episode of BrickCast! What are you most excited about? Are you looking forward to the rumored LEGO Lord of the Rings sets, or have the latest BrickLink Designer Program developments caught your attention? Let me know in the comments! If you enjoy LEGO news, rumors, reviews, and discussions, be sure to like, subscribe, and join us every Monday for LEGO News & Rumors and every Wednesday for another episode of BrickCast! Music Credit: YouTube Music Library NEW BrickShop Merch: https://imaginationbrickshop-shop.fourthwall.com/ #LEGO #LEGONews #LEGORumors #BrickLinkDesignerProgram #LEGOLordOfTheRings #HelmsDeep #LEGO2027 #BrickCast #LEGOLeaks #LEGOIcons #TheImaginationBrickshop

What actually makes a LEGO set…good? We all do it. We see a new LEGO set and almost instantly decide whether we love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in between. But what exactly is our brain calculating in those few seconds? Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s concept of “thin-slicing” from Blink, I decided to put that instinct to the test by creating The 7 Levels of LEGO. And yes…I fully expect some of you to disagree with me. We’re starting at Level 1, where LEGO sets go when something has gone terribly, terribly wrong. From infamous themes of LEGO’s past to some questionable modern decisions, these are the sets that make you wonder: Who thought this was a good idea? Then comes Level 2, which might contain my most controversial LEGO opinion yet. There are beloved themes here. Historically important sets. Sets I personally have nostalgia for. But nostalgia and importance don’t necessarily make something good. By Level 3, we arrive where the overwhelming majority of LEGO has always lived—and that’s not an insult. In fact, this might be the level that best represents what LEGO has meant to generations of kids. Level 4 is where things start getting REALLY good. Level 5 is where LEGO sets become the centerpieces of collections. UCS. Icons. Modulars. Ideas. BrickLink Designer Program. But size and price alone aren’t enough to get you here. Then there’s Level 6. These are the rare ones. The sets that separate themselves from everything around them. In a great year, LEGO might only produce one or two sets truly worthy of this level. So what could possibly sit ABOVE those? That brings us to Level 7. And I’m not telling you what it is. Because once we get there, I think it changes the entire question we started with. What makes a LEGO set good? Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question all along. Welcome to The 7 Levels of LEGO. Music Credit: YouTube Music Library #LEGO #BrickCast #AFOL #LEGOCollection #LEGOSets #LEGORanking #LEGOCreator #LEGOUCS #LEGOMOC