Skip to main content
Read page text
page 2
page 3
MONTH IS TH This is one of those months when I am writing the magazine’s introduction as I travel back from Billund, the LEGO Group’s hometown. There’s a good argument for not writing this when sleep deprived after a few days of intense brick-related shenanigans, but there’s an even better case for doing so – I never feel more energised than when I have been in such an inspiring place. I’m not the only one who has been visiting very special locations. Dave Cartlidge and Phil Wrighton were among the first people in the world – outside of the LEGO Group and McLaren employees – to see 42172 McLaren P1 from LEGO Technic at the McLaren Technology Centre. You can see the amazing images from their adventure and read all about what they experienced from page 42. During the event, the duo had the opportunity to build the doors from the new set – but what good is a car door without the rest of the vehicle? Blocks knows how to do satisfying mini builds and this month there are three to choose from. You’ll find instructions for a mini Notre-Dame, a mini Great Deku Tree and a full sized Fabuland car. Send in pictures once you’ve tackled them. I did some building myself while in Denmark – and you can see the results in the first of a new series of interview features titled Build and Chat. The concept is as simple as it sounds; I sit down with a fascinating person who works in a creative role at the LEGO Group and we build a set together. To kick things off, I speak to Associate Creative Lead Astrid May… and it won’t spoil too much to reveal that the conversation was so engrossing that we didn’t quite finish the model. Everyone at the magazine has been putting bricks together of course, with a new slate of reviews to help you decide which sets to buy, which sets to skip… well, which sets to buy right now, which to skip for the time being. Children of the 1970s and 1980s are well catered for with 21350 JAWS and 10338 Bumblebee, while lockdown gamers can find out whether Animal Crossing successfully translates into LEGO sets. There’s no doubt that space is fertile subject matter for LEGO sets and Daniel Meehan tells us exactly how he led a group of intrepid designers, in an entirely new approach, to explore the stars across a variety of themes. While each project took their own approach, they are more connected than you might think. Leg godt! ISSUE 118 // £6.49 GRAHAM E. HANCOCK Editor graham@blocksmag.com SUBSCRIBE TO BLOCKS Get Blocks early every month with a great value subscription package. You’ll save money, be entered into a new prize draw every month and get access to our full digital archive. Browse the different options at blocksmag.com. 102 WELCOME What we’ve been building… Phil and Dave built a section of the new 42172 McLaren P1 with LEGO Design Manager Aurélien Rouffiange in the perfect setting – right next to the real car at McLaren’s headquarters. At Nathan Sawaya’s Art of the Brick exhibition, Graham sat down to put together the quintessential LEGO model – a multicoloured house. It wasn’t the most structurally sound building. Why wield a regular weapon when you can complete your costume with LEGO swords? Geneva and her sisters built a collection of mighty medieval inspired weapons and displayed them at Brickworld Chicago. A big bag of bricks can only mean one thing; a new project for Daniel. There are quite a few tan and brown bricks in there… what could they be for? You’ll have to wait for a future edition of Blocks to find out. Blocks | 3

Page Text

View plaintext

MONTH

IS

TH

This is one of those months when I am writing the magazine’s introduction as I travel back from Billund, the LEGO Group’s hometown. There’s a good argument for not writing this when sleep deprived after a few days of intense brick-related shenanigans, but there’s an even better case for doing so – I never feel more energised than when I have been in such an inspiring place.

I’m not the only one who has been visiting very special locations. Dave Cartlidge and Phil Wrighton were among the first people in the world – outside of the LEGO Group and McLaren employees – to see 42172 McLaren P1 from LEGO Technic at the McLaren Technology Centre. You can see the amazing images from their adventure and read all about what they experienced from page 42.

During the event, the duo had the opportunity to build the doors from the new set – but what good is a car door without the rest of the vehicle? Blocks knows how to do satisfying mini builds and this month there are three to choose from. You’ll find instructions for a mini Notre-Dame, a mini Great Deku Tree and a full sized Fabuland car. Send in pictures once you’ve tackled them.

I did some building myself while in Denmark – and you can see the results in the first of a new series of interview features titled Build and Chat. The concept is as simple as it sounds; I sit down with a fascinating person who works in a creative role at the LEGO Group and we build a set together. To kick things off, I speak to Associate Creative Lead Astrid May… and it won’t spoil too much to reveal that the conversation was so engrossing that we didn’t quite finish the model.

Everyone at the magazine has been putting bricks together of course, with a new slate of reviews to help you decide which sets to buy, which sets to skip… well, which sets to buy right now, which to skip for the time being. Children of the 1970s and 1980s are well catered for with 21350 JAWS and 10338 Bumblebee, while lockdown gamers can find out whether Animal Crossing successfully translates into LEGO sets.

There’s no doubt that space is fertile subject matter for LEGO sets and Daniel Meehan tells us exactly how he led a group of intrepid designers, in an entirely new approach, to explore the stars across a variety of themes. While each project took their own approach, they are more connected than you might think.

Leg godt!

ISSUE 118 // £6.49

GRAHAM E. HANCOCK Editor graham@blocksmag.com

SUBSCRIBE TO BLOCKS

Get Blocks early every month with a great value subscription package. You’ll save money, be entered into a new prize draw every month and get access to our full digital archive. Browse the different options at blocksmag.com.

102

WELCOME

What we’ve been building…

Phil and Dave built a section of the new 42172 McLaren P1 with LEGO Design Manager Aurélien Rouffiange in the perfect setting – right next to the real car at McLaren’s headquarters.

At Nathan Sawaya’s Art of the Brick exhibition, Graham sat down to put together the quintessential LEGO model – a multicoloured house. It wasn’t the most structurally sound building.

Why wield a regular weapon when you can complete your costume with LEGO swords? Geneva and her sisters built a collection of mighty medieval inspired weapons and displayed them at Brickworld Chicago.

A big bag of bricks can only mean one thing; a new project for Daniel. There are quite a few tan and brown bricks in there… what could they be for? You’ll have to wait for a future edition of Blocks to find out.

Blocks | 3

read next page

My Bookmarks

Buy this Book
Skip to main content