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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. 74 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. 110 68 78 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. 52 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.
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// BUILDS 50 Notre-Dame The beautiful architectural masterpiece that has inspired stories, poetry and paintings for hundreds of years in miniature. 90 Great Deku Tree Use these instructions to build your own guardian of the forest, with an instantly recognisable face, from The Legend of Zelda. 94 Instruments Some talented builders are able to use LEGO bricks to recreate everyday items. These musical MOCs are clever interpretations of a violin, pianos, guitars and even a xylophone. 62 42 CONTENTS 60 // REVIEWS 68 10338 Bumblebee 72 21350 JAWS 74 76273 Batman Construction Figure and the Bat-Pod Bike 76 76270 Batman Mech Armour, 40675 Commander Cody 77 75373 Ambush on Mandalore Battle Pack, 75386 Paz Vizsla and Moff Gideon Battle 78 77046 Julian’s Birthday Party, 77047 Bunnie’s Outdoor Activities 79 77049 Isabelle’s House Visit 80 77048 Kapp’n’s Island Boat Tour, 76962 Baby Bumpy: Ankylosaurus 81 10368 Chrysanthemum, 10369 Plum Blossom 82 60317 Police Chase at the Bank 84 60421 Robot World 86 31212 The Milky Way Galaxy 88 Reviews round-up 34 32 // RETRO 104 In 2004… BIONICLE moved into Toa Metru, a Knights’ Kingdom game was influenced by Zelda and you could buy sets that skipped the building. 106 Time Cruising Western brought classic movie tropes to the brick in 1996, King Leo ruled over the kingdom in 2000 and Han Solo was in trouble in 2002. 107 Vintage print ad This advert from 1979 shows that mini models could offer big adventures as it promotes the smaller sets in the LEGO Space theme. 108 8062 Briefcase Set Some sets are just too fancy for a box. When LEGO Technic delivered a set that can build a tandem-rotor helicopter along with several other models, it came in a plastic briefcase. 110 121 Roadster Michael Mouse is driving down the Fabuland roads once again, in a refreshed version of his classic blue, red and yellow ride. 113 From the Vault Whether you know him as Zack or Jack, no mascot screamed 1990s more than the LEGO Maniac, a character who featured in television commercials and the LEGO Club magazine. righton il W Cover image: Ph ISSUE 118 // £6.49 Contributors Matt Chiles, Will Tachick, Chris Wharfe Thanks to… The LEGO Group, featured builders, Anna Bitanga, Bas Brederode, Brick Central, Hoang Huy Dang, Kristina Jacobsen, Sam Liltorp Johnson, London AFOLs, John Longbottom, Astrid May, Daniel Meehan, Caz Mockett, Jordan Paxton, Aurelian Rouffiange, Ella Russell-Kennedy, Sara Skahill, Tobias Sühlmann, David Tauzia, Annika Zarifian Advertising Manager Colin Smithson Publisher Tom Saunders tom@silverbackpublishing.rocks +447841 412199 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. Blocks | 5

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.

74

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.

110

68

78

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.

52

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.

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