Extra Pieces - LEGO® Conversations & Perspectives

Welcome Back to Brickvention 2025. While Jay is away in Japan attending Star Wars Celebration, the time has come to catch up with interviews we held on the convention floor at Brickvention 2025, here in Melbourne, Australia back in January. We had visitors from all over Australia and all round the world attending Australia’s Premier LEGO Fan Event. Here are conversations with a few of them.… We hope you enjoy this episode. If you do, please leave a 5-star review on your chosen podcast player: it helps get the word out. We love your feedback - you can send an email to [email protected] We look forward to catching up again soon.

10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire And we are back. We’d like to thank you for your your ongoing support, but if you are a first time listener - Welcome. After a chat about Jay’s upcoming trip to Star Wars Celebration, we launch headlong into a discussion about 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire. The latest LEGO® ICONs set to depict a location from The Lord of the Rings was released this week, and we both had the chance to put it together and gather some thoughts. Richard’s initial thought (as well as the tale of how he discovered The Lord of the Rings) can be read here: https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/03/26/a-long-awaited-party-10354-the-shire-revealed/ If you are on the fence about purchasing the set, you can listen to our thoughts about its strengths and weaknesses. We had the chance to catch up with Model designer Kenyon Brady and Graphic Designer Ashwin Visser, a small part of the overall team that designed this set, at the Fan Media days in Billund last year. It was great to hear their insights into the set, and understand some of the thinking that went into the final design of the set. You can read our reviews on our blogs at Jay’s Review: https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-10354-the-shire-bag-end/ Richard’‘s Two part review: https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/03/28/10354-the-shire-minifigures/ https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/04/02/10354-the-shire-part-2-the-build/ Of Course, there is a gift with purchase: possibly the darkest scene depicted in a LEGO set - 40761 Sméagol and Déagol. You can read our reviews here: https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/04/03/40761-the-lord-of-the-rings-smeagol-and-deagol-hands-on-review/ https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-40761-smeagol-and-deagol-gwp/ Thanks for joining us, and if you have enjoyed the show, please leave a 5 star review to help other fans find the show. You support means the world to us. Thanks to

Gotta Catch 'Em All! Welcome back. We'd like to start by apologizing for the long time between episodes: Life gets in the way sometimes. Jay is really excited about the LEGO Group's announcement of their ongoing partnership with Pokémon Company International from next year. He's been collecting the cards and playing the games since the first generation was released in 1996. https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-pokemon-sets-officially-announced-coming-2026/ Richard is possibly a little too old to have cared when they first arrived, but his kids played Diamond/Pearl on their Nintendo DS despite his insistence in this episode that they played a different version. Today, we discuss how Pokémon have evolved over the years, preexisting brick building sets, and their cross-generational appeal. We also speculate how the LEGO Group might put its unique spin on the world's largest franchise when they launch info the Pokemon 30th anniversary. https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/what-lego-pokemon-sets-could-we-see-in-2026-and-beyond/ Will Pokémon be the greatest thing to happen to LEGO® bricks, since the arrival of LEGO Star Wars? We hope you enjoy the episode: if you do, be sure to leave a review on your favorite podcasting platform, and share it with your Pokémon loving friends. And we hope to see you soon. We love your feedback. Please send us an email with your LEGO Pokemon Hopes and Dreams to [email protected]

Happy New Year: Welcome to 2025.Episode Notes Welcome back after the...’ break’. Well, it was a break from podcast recording, anyway. We hope you got some great LEGO®sets for Christmas. Pardon the quality of Richard's voice. It is getting much better! While we are getting ready to attend Brickvention in Melbourne next weekend, we look at some of the January Releases. The new modular building, 10350 Tudor Corner https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-10350-tudor-corner-modular-building/ https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/12/12/10350-tudor-corner-rambling-review/ The revamped 10355 Blacktron Renegade set https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/12/22/10355-blacktron-rengade-construction-criticism-and-creative-prompts/ https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-10355-blacktron-renegade-2025/ Richard has taken a closer look at some of the new Mario Kart-themed LEGO sets https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/01/01/lego-mario-kart-a-new-paradigm-with-72032-standard-kart/ https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/01/02/explore-the-interactive-features-of-72031yoshis-bike/ The new LEGO City soapbox derby vehicles and race ramp sets We have been having so much fun playing with them that we have failed to write reviews yet! We also consider the recently announced LEGO Nintendo Game Boy set, and just what other things 2025 might hold in store for the LEGO/Nintendo collaboration. https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-nintendo-game-boy-set-announced-for-october-2025/ Finally, this weekend (17-19 January) sees Brickvention 2025 in Melbourne. Jay and Richard will both be there. Come and tap us on the shoulder if you see us. Who knows, there may be merch!

We're approaching the End of the Year! Amidst the LEGO Insiders Weekend and Black Friday shopping madness, Richard and Jay discuss some of the big launches coming soon, including new 2025 sets! Sets discussed include: 10335 The Endurance LEGO Minifigures Series 27 Lunar New Year 2025 sets LEGO Ideas Minerals DIsplay revealed 10359 Fountain Garden and more! We hope you enjoy the episode. We love your feedback: please leave a review or comment on your favourite podcast platform, or get in touch with us via @extrapiecespod

Extra Pieces in Denmark for Fan Media Days 2024! Richard and Jay are back from our pilgrimage to Denmark for Fan Media Days 2024! We recount our experiences at Fan Media Days, however most of the juiciest things we saw can't be discussed yet for obvious reasons. We were lucky enough to attend AFOL Day at the LEGO House, which kicks off Skaerbaek Fan Weekend. Richard was on the ground at Skaerbaek speaking and we both spoke to a bunch of lovely people that we met on the ground! This episode contains snippets of those conversations, asking people about their experience at the LEGO House, and Skaerbaek Fan Weekend! You might hear a voice or two (or three or four!) that you might be very familiar with! Special thanks to everyone that was happy to be featured! If you enjoy the episode, we would be grateful if you could spare a moment to give it a quick review: those 5 stars, as well as any comments you leave, really help to make it visible to others who might enjoy it (or even just tell your friends.)

September's Super LEGO sets! Welcome back! This is Richard and Jay's final episode recorded in Australia before we both head off to Billund, Denmark for Fan Media Days 2025. We'll be interviewing and chatting to LEGO Designers, so let us know if there's any specific questions you'd like us to ask! In today's episode, we cover some of the recent September 2024 releases! Sets discussed include: LEGO Legend of Zelda: Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 The Nightmare Before Christmas Harry Potter: The Burrow 71486 Castle Nocturnia 71484 Coopers Robot Dinosaur C. Rex We hope you enjoy the episode. We love your feedback: please leave a review or comment on your favourite podcast platform, or get in touch with us via @extrapiecespod And if you are at The AFOL Day at the LEGO House, or Skaerbaek Fan Weekend next weekend, tap us on the shoulder. We might have some tiles to give away.

Extra Pieces: Awesome August - Technic, Dungeons and Dragons, Jaws Welcome back to the Extra Pieces, bringing you the latest views and reviews from Jay's Brick Blog and the Rambling Brick. Today we kick off by considering the newLEGO® Technic 42174 Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht, the Team New Zealand entry in the 2024 America's Cup, due to get underway at the end of August. Richard gets nostalgic over Australia's victory in 1983 and the declaration by our Prime Minister that it would be somewhat churlish for any employer to sack a worker for not turning up that day. https://youtu.be/s8mdHO2_Zo8?si=8Rg7IoPpMSCfjXVk We take a look at the latest LEGO Ideas submissions to progress to the development phase - https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-ideas-selects-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-and-italian-rivieria-as-your-next-sets/ We take a look at the August Technic Range The Rambling Brick has been churning through the latest Technic Releases including the 42172 McLaren P1, which Richard finally finished building after a few distractions https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/31/42172-mclaren-p1-pt-2/ 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolute - in two colours https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/21/technic-42173-koenigsegg-jesko-absolut/ https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/08/04/42184-white-koenigsegg-jesko-absolut-its-been-recoloured-but-how-different-is-white/ 42176 Porsche GT-4 Electric Race Car with its new Powered Up Technic Move hub https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/28/42176-porsche/ 42182 Apollo LRV lunar rover, which interestingly enough scales fairly nicely with the Creator 3in 1 Space Astronaut. https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/20/42182-apollo-lrv/ https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/22/is-lego-creator-3in1-31152-space-astronaut-compatible-with-the-lego-technic-42182-lunar-rover/ 42177 Mercedes-Benz G500 Professional Line https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/26/now-i-get-it-42177-mercedes-benz-g500-professional-line/ Jay has put together the LEGO Ideas Jaws set, which brings together a well designed shark, a brillliant boat design, tying them together in a diorama befitting a 50 year tribute (which is technically next year) https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-21350-jaws/ He also previews the Dungeons and Dragons Minifigures and consider what a D&D based theme might begin to look like. https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/lego-collectible-minifigures-series-dungeons-and-dragons/ If you enjoy the episode, we would be grateful if you could spare a moment to give it a quick review: those 5 stars, as well as any comments you leave, really help to make it visible to others who might enjoy it (or even just tell your friends.) We will see you soon

Welcome back. This prolonged break has been brought to you by travel and winter sickness! Richard went to visit Japan Brickfest in Kobe on the second weekend in June. Some of his highlights include: @fukutaku10‘s amazing phoenix and dragon Orchestra by Sachiko Akinaga Masao Hidaka's monorail Great Ball contraption Check out Planet AFOL on Youtube for coverage of the entire event. Once Richard saw a life-size Gundam outside a shopping centre, he came to realise that 60421 Robot World was not such a far-fetched thing. https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/01/60421-lego-city-robot-world-nostalgic-callbacks-and-more/ Richard has also been building the 42172 LEGO Technic McLaren P1 Supercar. So far, the experience has not been without its challenges. https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/07/15/42172-lego-technic-mclaren-p1-unboxing-and-build-experience- In the meantime, Jay has been looking at the upcoming Jaws set from LEGO IDEAS. Stephen Spielberg’s Jaws has been given the Ideas/18+ diorama treatment. Between Jaws, Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark, we speculate about what might come next. https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-21350-jaws-officially-unveiled-youre-gonna-need-a-bigger-shelf/ We hope you enjoy the episode. If you do, please leave a 5 star review on your pod-paying platform of choice, as it helps others to find the podcast. We love your questions and feedback, too: leave your comments on our socials @extrapiecespod and or send an email to [email protected]

Barad Dûr: A Slice of Life in Mordor Welcome back to another special episode of Extra Pieces! Today's episode takes us to the Land of Mordor, where the shadows lie, any by shadows, we mean a 5,471-piece 73cm tall Barad-Dur LEGO set, that's due to be released on the 1st of June! Last year, we dedicated an entire episode to Rivendell, and we felt like we had to do the same for Barad-Dur, lest we upset the Dark Lord Sauron, so here's a deep geeky dive into all things Barad-Dur, Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings! LEGO Barad-Dur Reveal: https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-unveils-10333-barad-dur-a-towering-5471-piece-model-of-saurons-stronghold/ How Tall Is Barad-Dur? https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/heres-how-tall-lego-10333-barad-dur-is-plus-how-it-compares-to-orthanc-and-other-tall-sets/ The Rambling Brick's Reveal, Spaculation and Costing out of full play set range vs Annual commitment: https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/05/15/10333barad-dur-revealed-new-minifigures450usd-speculation/ We hope you enjoy the episode. If you do, please leave a 5 star review on your pod-paying platform of choice, as it helps others to find the podcast. We love your questions and feedback, too: leave your comments on our socials @extrapiecespod and or send an email to [email protected]