ISSUE 113 // 2024 MEET THE TEAM EDITOR // GRAHAM E. HANCOCK A LEGO expert who can’t remember life without the brick, Graham loves using that knowledge to bring Blocks to the shelf every single month. BUILD EXPERT AND HISTORIAN // DANIEL KONSTANSKI Lifelong LEGO obsessive passionate about collecting. With a thorough knowledge of LEGO over the years, he is Blocks' historian. BUILD SPECIALIST // SIMON PICKARD Our experienced MOC expert who is a regular on the show circuit. If there’s a way to build it, then he can show you how. PHOTOGRAPHER // PHIL WRIGHTON Models never look better than when this prize winning LEGO photographer has worked his magic to produce beautiful Blocks covers. REVIEWS WRITER // KAT-REES JAUKE Kat uses her LEGO knowledge to cast a discerning eye over the latest sets to see if they are satisfying to build and look impressive on display. REVIEWS WRITER // DAVE CARTLIDGE Whether it’s from Marvel Super Heroes, Friends, Technic or any other theme, Dave has the LEGO know-how to assess the latest sets. CONTRIBUTORS Geneva Durand, Ryan Everleth, Will Tachick, Anthony Walker-Cook, Chris Wharfe ART EDITOR Keith Wood, Hype Creative PUBLISHER Tom Saunders tom@silverbackpublishing.rocks +447841 412199 ADVERTISING Andrew Welch andrew@blocksmag.com +447585 877534 THANKS TO The LEGO Group, Tommy Andreasen, Søren Bering Andersen, Carter Luce Baldwin, Freddy Charters, Gitte Cort, John Cramp, Grant Davis, Sven Franic, Gareth Gidman, Graham Gidman, Peter Ilmrud, Ids de Jong, Vincent Kiew, Jonas Kramm, John Longbottom, Eann McCurdy, Trine Kinch Møller, Mikael Montelius, Samuel New, Jordan Paxton, Kosmas Santosa, Jordan Scott, Isaac Snyder, John Snyder, Marina Stampoli, Timofey Tkachev, Illia Zubashev INDEPENDENCE Blocks is published by Silverback Publishing Ltd for fans and enthusiasts of LEGO. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the brick and knob configurations, and the minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse Blocks magazine. DISTRIBUTION If you have trouble finding Blocks please call +447841 412199 or email subs@silverbackpublishing.rocks. While every effort is made in compiling Blocks, the publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any storage or retrieval system, without the consent of the publisher. WELCOME BUILD FOR THE BABY: LEGO SPACE DART BABY: RT D CRAF DES FTIN DESIGNER INSIGHTS: CRAFTING A KINGFISHER Seeing the LEGO Group launch the new Red Telephone Box at Trafalgar Square was a real reminder of how far Ideas has come. It started out as a little experiment to help fans realise their dreams and now every set in the theme is a big deal. INTERVIEW LONDON CALLING HOW A FAN’S TELEPHONE BOX BUILD BECAME AN OFFICIAL LEGO MODEL WIN!WTHE ICONIC TELEPHONE BOX MONORAIL UNSEEN DESIGNS SEE WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE ULTIMATE 1980s TRANSPORTATION ISSUE 113 // £6.49 Cover Pic: Phil Wrighton In Blocks magazine’s exclusive interview, fan designer John Cramp reveals how he came with the concept and Designer Marina Stampoli explains what it took to make it LEGO official. It turns out that capturing a British icon is quite the challenge! What’s great about the LEGO portfolio though is that every model is different – and 10331 Kingfisher is about as far removed from a telephone box as you can get. Senior Designer Sven Franic talks about delivering the organic form of this distinctive bird in a new style of Icons set. IT TURNS OUT THAT CAPTURING A BRITISH ICON IS QUITE THE CHALLENGE Not all LEGO sets are for display though and this month’s Reviews section will leave you in no doubt of that. Inventive new minifigures, NINJAGO mechs, a City assault course, Nightmare Shark Ship and Yavin IV Rebel Base are great examples of what fun a good play model can be. Three LEGO playsets that have earned legendary status are the monorails that wowed children of the 1980s and 1990s. While those sets may have been impressive, it turns out that the designers had a whole system of monorail parts planned that would have gone way beyond what was actually released – and we’re taking a deep dive into what could have been. There’s plenty more than that inside Blocks this month, including a look at LEGO House’s newest experience, insight into why printed parts aren't more common and MOCs that look so tasty you’ll wish they were edible. Leg godt! Graham E. Hancock Ed itor // graham@blocksmag.com 22 © 2024 Silverback Publishing www.blocksmag.com Issue 113 Blocks 3