Shy Gal’s Building Blog

Review of nanoblock Arc de tiomphe de l’Etoile NBH_075

October 16, 2025November 28, 2024shygal

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Arc de tiomphe de l'Etoile build and box

This post is a review of the nanoblock Arc de tiomphe de l’Etoile build. Arc de tiomphe de l’Etoile is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_075

Country: France

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Arc de tiomphe de l'Etoile build front view

I bought this kit used to all the bricks were combined into 1 bag. The fact that all the bricks were combined made building more difficult because it was hard to tell the difference between grey and dark grey. Most of the bricks are dark grey, and the grey is only used in 1 step.

The build begins by laying out the 4 base columns on the 20×20 base plate.

Arc de tiomphe de l'Etoile build side view

The 4 columns are built in very straightforward layers. In the layers, the details on the inside of the arch and statues around the outside.

Then, the columns are connected in pairs by building a structure for the main building. Then, there are 2 columns.

The 2 columns continue to go up. In several steps, the instructions say where to start the layer, which is unusual but a very nice detail.

Arc de tiomphe de l'Etoile build back view

Then, the 2 columns are connected to create the roof of the Arch. It goes up in layers. The layers switch off between dark grey and cream. At one point, the layer uses grey bricks instead of the dark grey.

The Arc de tiomphe de l’Etoile is in the center of a giant roundabout. I don’t remember there being trees or street lights in the center of the roundabout, so I left them out of the build.

Arc de tiomphe de l'Etoile build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I liked how the instructions included where to start a layer. This made it easier to keep things lined up.

Things I didn’t like:

I found it hard to tell the difference between the 2 greys, which means rebuilding the kit would be hard unless I was super careful taking the build apart in the first place

Review of nanoblock Kirby Fire NBCC_200

October 14, 2025June 23, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Kirby Fire build. Kirby Fire is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_200

Number of Pieces: 280

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

This build begins with creating the base for Kirby. There are gaps in the back where the feet will go.

After the base is created, the main body of Kirby is built. These steps use the custom-printed blocks, which I much prefer to stickers. In the steps to make the body, you also add Kirby’s arms, cheeks, and eyes.

The next step is to build Kirby’s fire crown. This proved to be surprisingly tricky. Each step included adding a ton of bricks, and sometimes, it was hard to tell when to add a 1×1. Even when I could tell to add a brick, it was tricky to tell where exactly to add it. I wish the instructions had been more spread out so there would have been more steps.

Next is to build Kirby’s feet. They are very straightforward.

The final step is to build the stand since Kirby’s feet hang below the body but can’t hold him up.

Things I liked:

I really like the use of clear bricks to create the fire crown

Things I didn’t like:

I wish the instructions for the fire crown had been more spread out

Review of nanoblock Big Tree NBH_006

October 9, 2025November 28, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Big Tree build. Big Tree is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_006

Country: USA

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

I’m honestly not sure what “Big Tree” nanoblock is referring to with this build. I live in the USA, and there are no particular trees that I know of that have national significance.

The build begins with laying out the base bricks for the 4 trees.

The next step is a pull out set of instructions to build the main body of the tree. This is the main section of the build. The base was too large for my nanoblock pad, so I laid the bricks out on the table. It took several layers for everything to all be locked into place. Once everything was connected, the rest of the tree became very straightforward.

Under the cut there is a small build in the small direction to build the trunk to connect the tree to the base. I almost missed it while I was building the tree.

The next step is to build the 3 trees in the background. The trunks are simple towers of bricks. The tops of the tree are a little tricky to build because the instructions are so cramped. I’m not sure that I got them perfect, but I know that it at least gets the point across.

There are instructions on how to build a bunch of nanoids. I didn’t include them because I’m unsure if they fit the scale of the tree.

Things I liked:

I really enjoyed building the main body of the tree. It starts as a ring with a cross in the middle and ends up in a hollow, closed dome.

Things I didn’t like:

Overall, I felt the instructions were very cramped. I wish they had been printed front and back, but this was before nanoblock was printing double-sided directions

Review of nanoblock Kirby Ice NBCC_199

October 7, 2025June 23, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Kirby Ice build. Kirby Ice is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_199

Number of Pieces: 250

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

The build begins by creating the base of the Kirby. It takes several steps to make the base.

After the base is created, the main body of Kirby is built. These steps use the custom-printed blocks, which I much prefer to stickers. In the steps to make the body, you add Kirby’s arms, cheeks, and eyes.

The following section is about building the ice crown. First, a purple base is built around Kirby’s head. Then, the clear blue and clear bricks create the spiky crown.

The next step is to build and attach Kirby’s feet. Since they are in an action pose, the legs aren’t identical.

Things I liked:

I really like how dynamic the pose is for Kirby. He really does appear to be midstep

Things I didn’t like:

I wish there was a light blue clear brick instead of using clear bricks to create the crown

Review of nanoblock Tokyo Tower Transparent ver NBH_001R

October 2, 2025November 28, 2024shygal

Tokyo Tower Transparent ver build and box

This post is a review of the nanoblock Tokyo Tower Transparent ver build. Tokyo Tower Transparent ver is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_001R

Country: Japan

Number of Pieces: 260

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Tokyo Tower Transparent ver build front view

This is a rerelease of the original Tokyo Tower (NBH_001). It was released using clear red bricks for nanoblock’s 10 anniversary.

The build began by laying bricks out on the base. This includes some tree trucks, the supports for the tower, and the building under the tower.

Tokyo Tower Transparent ver build side view

The next few steps add to the supports of the tower and create the building under the tower. I didn’t add the treetops at this point because I didn’t want to need to look out for the tree while I was building the tower.

The next couple steps of the build require building a structure of the tower and then adding that structure to the tower. There is also a tower of dark grey bricks going up the tower’s center. I don’t like how visible the grey bricks are.

Tokyo Tower Transparent ver build back view

After adding 3 structures that were built off the tower, it is time to finish the tower. The instructions for each layer are very clear.

The last step for me was to put the tops of the trees.

Tokyo Tower Transparent ver build 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I really like the clear red bricks and how they changed the color to create the tower

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like how visible the center dark grey tower is in the build

Review of nanoblock Cinnamoroll Clear Version NBCC_209

September 30, 2025January 29, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Cinnamoroll Clear Version build. Cinnamoroll Clear Version is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_209

Number of Pieces: 130

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Cinnamoroll Clear Version build front view

The first step is to build the head. It takes about 6 to make the main section of the head. At that time, I added the mouth, cheeks, and eyes.

Cinnamoroll Clear Version build side view

The next step is to build the ears. They are very straightforward and are built and attached in 1 step.

The next step is to build the body. This was fairly straightforward. When I added the legs and the clear brick to stabilize the build.

Cinnamoroll Clear Version build back view

The last step is to attach the head to the body. When I added the head, the body became very tippy.

Cinnamoroll Clear Version build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I really like the clear white bricks that are used for this build

Things I didn’t like:

The build is tippy and likes to fall over

Review of nanoblock Schloss Neuschwanstein NBH_106

September 25, 2025November 28, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Schloss Neuschwanstein build. Schloss Neuschwanstein is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_106

Country: Germany

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

This is an update of Schloss Neuschwanstein NBH_010. It includes newer bricks such as round 2×2 and a clear blue base.

This build could be lit using one of the LED base plates because it is on a clear blue base. If it was on an LED base, all the windows in the castle would light up.

The build begins by laying the green base layer out on the 20×20 base plate. A bit of the center section remains uncovered which is why I think that putting it on the LED baseplate would light the windows. There are a couple layers of green grass to represent the hill the castle is on. Then, there are a couple of layers of grey castle foundation.

While I was building the actual castle, I needed to be careful to check each instruction for when there were additional bricks scattered around that build that needed to be added. Sometimes, I missed the bricks and needed to go back and add them in when I noticed.

Then, I began adding the layers of the actual castle. In general, there are 2 kinds of layers. 1 layer is solid white, and the other alternates between white and clear bricks. Each layer is very clear and straightforward. I just needed to be careful to not lose my place while going between the directions and the build.

Schloss Neuschwanstein build front 3/4 view

After several layers to create the walls of the castle it is time to add the roof. The roof is navy blue with gold details. White is also added to finish the main body of the castle.

After the roof is added, the final details are added to the towers on the side of the castle. The towers start at the beginning of the build and rise until they are the highest point in the building.

Schloss Neuschwanstein build back 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I like the update. I feel that the towers are a lot more stable and clear than the original version

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like how the instructions kept cutting more out of the picture. It made it hard to see when to add bricks around the outside

Review of nanoblock Hangyodon NBCC_150

September 23, 2025January 29, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Hangyodon build. Hangyodon is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_150

Number of Pieces: 170

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

The build begins with the head. It begins with a layer of mint blue. Then the large eyes are started.

The head goes up in straightforward layers. I needed to be careful to watch for which slanty pieces to use because there are a lot of slanty pieces.

After building to the top of the head, I flipped the head over to add the neck details and the mouth.

The next section is to build Hangyodon’s body. It also begins with a layer of mint blue bricks.

The body goes up in fairly straightforward layers. There are more slanty pieces in the body.

After building the body, I flipped the body over to add the tail and feet.

Things I liked:

I really like the mint blue color. It isn’t a color that is used a lot
I really like how the extra large details make the character super recognizable

Things I didn’t like:

I felt the colors marking which light blue slanty pieces to use didn’t have a lot of difference, so it was unclear which to use

Review of nanoblock Lion Dance NBC_239

September 18, 2025November 28, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Lion Dance build. Lion Dance is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_239

Number of Pieces: 180

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

This build began with a base layer of a lot of little bricks, so I laid the layer out on my nanoblock pad. I like that even the rounded pieces can be laid on the pad.

I then proceeded to add the layers that created the main body of the lion. While I was building, I wasn’t sure how things would look because there were bricks coming out from everywhere on the build. This does create the hair effect the lion dance costumes have in the finished build, but it did seem a little random while building.

After building the main body, I built and attached the lower jaw.

Then, I flipped the build over and added some more details along with the legs and feet. The directions for building the feet were a bit unclear because the image was at an angle.

Next, I built the top section of the head. The instructions were clear, but again, the base was a bunch of small bricks, so I used my nanoblock pad to create the head.

The last step is to attach the head to the build. This was straightforward because the directions were so clear.

Things I liked:

I like how the build catches some of the flow of the lion dance costume

Things I didn’t like:

The instructions for the feet were a little bit confusing

Review of nanoblock Wish Me Well NBCC_149

September 16, 2025January 29, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Wish Me Well build. Wish Me Well is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_149

Number of Pieces: 190

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

The build begins with the head. I laid the base layer out on my nanoblock pad. When I added the nose, I could no longer use the pad to build the head because the nose wasn’t square with the rest of the build. The rest of the head goes up in straightforward layers.

The next step is to build the main section of the body. I once again laid the body out on the nanoblock pad. One of the first steps was to add Wish Me Well’s distinctive rainbow tail. The rest of the body is relatively straightforward.

The next step is to attach the head to the body. This was surprisingly difficult. I think it’s because most of the pieces can slide, so getting things lined up can be tricky.

The next step is to add the ears, which are mirrors of each other.

The final step is to add the legs.

Things I liked:

I like how they created Wish Me Well’s tail

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like how hard it was to attach the head