CONTENTS
// THE SORT 06 Roll out with Bumblebee 08 What’s New and Next 09 Old style, new biomes 10 Better than gold? 11 Latest from LEGO House 13 What’s new at BrickLink 14 Meet... London AFOLs 16 Gaming Download 17 The Lost Elements 18 Screen Time 19 Ideas Latest 20 The Brick Debate 22 Brick Central 23 Driving in luxury 24 Top Ten 26 In other news… 27 Secrets we’ve spotted in... 28 Contest of the Month 30 Q&A with... Brick Hut 31 Five things we’ve learned 32 This LEGO Life
// FEATURES 34 Back into space The LEGO Group is exploring the stars across different themes this year, with designers collaborating in a new way to offer a variety of unique but connected experiences.
42 An ultimate partnership The LEGO Group and McLaren demonstrate the shared values behind their long-running collaboration as they unveil 42172 McLaren P1.
52 The geometry of LEGO bricks Why are LEGO elements the size they are? The dimensions laid down more than 60 years ago determine the way that the entire System works.
62 Radio, someone still loves you Designer Hoang Huy Dang discusses translating the power of radio into a retro model for LEGO Icons.
94 Build and chat with Astrid May Graham sits down with experienced design professional Astrid May to click some bricks together as they discuss her career developing LEGO models for a variety of themes.
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4 | Blocks
Editor GRAHAM E. HANCOCK A LEGO expert who can’t remember life without the brick, Graham loves using that knowledge to bring Blocks to readers every single month. Build Expert & Historian DANIEL KONSTANSKI Both a builder and a collector, Daniel has extensively researched the LEGO Group’s history, making him an unrivalled fount of knowledge. Build Specialist SIMON PICKARD If there’s a way to put two bricks together, Simon knows it. He’s an experienced builder who is always discovering new techniques.
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Features Writer KAT REES-JAUKE This life-long brick fan is always ready to dig deep into the latest sets to find out how they were conceptualised, designed and developed. Features Writer ANTHONY WALKER-COOK With a passion for fantasy sets but a penchant for any box that features the LEGO logo, Anthony covers every aspect of the brick experience. Reviews Writer DAVE CARTLIDGE Whether it ’s from Marvel Super Heroes, Friends, Technic or any other theme, Dave has the LEGO build know-how to assess the latest sets.
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Build Curator GENEVA DURAND A 2x2 pillar of the community, Geneva is a respected member of the online creative LEGO scene with an expert eye for the best builds out there. News Writer RYAN EVERLETH This LEGO aficionado has eclectic tastes, including Star Wars, Ideas and The Lord of the Rings. He always has a take on the latest news. Photographer PHIL WRIGHTON Models never look better than when this prize-winning LEGO photographer has worked his magic to produce beautiful Blocks covers.