Shy Gal’s Building Blog

Review of nanoblock Polar Bear NBC_012

October 10, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_012

Number of Pieces: 120

Difficulty Rating: 2

I bought this kit used, knowing I would at least get the instructions. I ended additionally getting all the bricks to complete the kit. Sadly, however, the white has become yellow with age. The discolored bricks may be visible in my photographs.

The build begins with a layer of white bricks that I lay out on my nanoblock pad. It goes up in fairly straightforward layers, and the head of the polar bear is built into the layers.

After building the body, the feet and legs are added to the bottom of the build. For some reason, the front of the feet is black, which makes me think the paws look funny.

Things I liked:

I feel that the polar bear is very recognizable for how early of a build this kit

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like the feet because the black on the feet stands out so much because the front of the feet are black

Review of nanoblock Maneki-neko Black NBC_067

October 3, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Maneki-neko Black build. Maneki-neko Black is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_067

Number of Pieces: 140

Difficulty Rating: 2

This build comes with four stickers, each representing a different kind of luck. I bought this kit used, so the sticker for the cat had already been selected. I’m not sure what kind of luck charm was used.

This kit begins with a base brick, followed by a layer of black bricks to form the bottom of the cat. Tassels are also added to the base to create the effect that the Maneki-neko is sitting on the pillow they traditionally sit on.

The cat’s body is built in simple, straightforward layers. The instructions are very clear. After most of the body is built, you build the charm and select the sticker. The body is finished, and the raised paw is added.

The next section is the head of the Maneki-neko. It begins with a layer of black bricks. The head goes up in straightforward layers. The second step of the head is a bit confusing because there are so many arrows in the instructions.

Things I liked:

I like that the cat is sitting on a pillow

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like kits that use stickers. I much prefer the custom-printed blocks that come with new kits

Review of nanoblock Clown Fish NBC_002

September 26, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_002

Number of Pieces: 110

Difficulty Rating: 2/3

This build is fairly unusual because the nanoblocks in the set are on their sides.

This kit contains instructions and materials to make 2 clown fish, one large and one smaller fish. They follow the same pattern for creating the fish.

Each fish begins at the back of the tail. The body is then built as a single stack of bricks. At some point, there is a 2×2 that widens the fish. Each layer adds the stripes of the clown fish.

Each fish is held up by a 1×4 clear brick on its side. It is placed at the bottom of the fish.

The kit comes with a clear blue base plate. Since there isn’t a way to attach the base, I haven’t used the provided base.

Things I liked:

I feel that both of the fish are highly recognizable as clown fish.

Things I didn’t like:

I wish there was a way to attach the fish to the base

Review of nanoblock Grand Piano White NBC_053

September 19, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Grand Piano White build. Grand Piano White is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_053

Number of Pieces: 130

Difficulty Rating: 2

This build is identical to the Grand Piano (NBC_017) build. The only difference is that in NBC_017, the main color is black. In this build, the black bricks are white. However, the instructions are identical.

The build begins with creating the main body of the piano. It is a simple three-layer brick structure that can easily be built on the nanoblock pad.

Next, the legs are added. It is a little hard to see where exactly to connect the bricks to the main body. Getting things lined up is important because the main piano can be connected to a 10×10 base that is provided with the kit.

The next part is the trickiest part of the build. It is building the piano cover. It is tricky because it isn’t actually connected to the main body of the piano. The large section can be built on the nanoblock pad. It was straightforward, but getting a clean line at the edge of the top section was a bit tricky. The top section lays at angles on the top of the piano. It creates the image that the Grand Piano is open.

The final step is to build the stool for the piano. It is very straightforward.

Things I liked:

I like how the piano appears to be open even though it is created by just laying a section on top of another section

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like how there is a base for the piano but not the stool, so the matching set is at different heights

Review of nanoblock Eurasian Eagle Owl NBC_059

September 12, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Eurasian Eagle Owl build. Eurasian Eagle Owl is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_059

Number of Pieces: 140

Difficulty Rating: 2

This build is unique because it sits on a little perch. Most nanoblock builds just have the animal, but this one has a perch that holds the animal.

This build has 3 major sections. There is the body of the owl, the head, and the perch.

The body was a layer of cream bricks that I laid out on my nanoblock pad. The body of the owl goes out in layers. The trickiest part is telling whether to use cream or white bricks. The colors look very similar both printed and as bricks, so at a quick glance, it is easy to pick the wrong color.

After building the owl’s body, I flipped it over and added the feet. I also added the bar for the perch to the body section because I knew it would be easier to add it now than later.

The head section is also very straightforward. I built it easily on my nanoblock pad. I really like the yellow in the eyes, which gives them extra depth.

I finished the build by creating the perch. On the perch, there is a simple stack of grey bricks. Unlike most nanoblock builds, this set of instructions doesn’t say how many grey bricks are in the tower.

Things I liked:

I like that the bird is raised on a perch
I like how the eyes have extra depth due to the yellow bricks behind the black brick

Things I didn’t like:

There wasn’t a count for how many bricks to use for the perch, which is unusual for nanoblock directions

Review of nanoblock My Grandfather’s Clock NBC_091

September 5, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

My Grandfather's Clock build and package

This post is a review of the nanoblock My Grandfather’s Clock build. My Grandfather’s Clock is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_091

Number of Pieces: 100

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

I bought this kit used, so it was missing a couple bricks. I was able to fill in the missing bricks with bricks from other kits.

This kit was part of the nanoblock 5th anniversary. The person I bought the kit from said they got it from the contest. I’m not sure if the kit was ever in shops or the type of contest the kit was awarded for.

I began building the kit by laying out the back of the clock on my nanoblock pad. It took up most of my large nanoblock pad.

The clock is then built up in layers making the clock face and the cabinet for the pendulum.

The next step is to add the hands to the clock. The pendulum is also built. Because of the round bricks, getting everything lined up cleanly for the pendulum is a little tricky.

The pendulum is then connected to the clock body. The final step is to put the clock on its edge so that it looks like a regular grandfather clock. The pendulum is able to move freely in the cabinet.

My Grandfather's Clock build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

Putting a finished build on its edge is fairly unique and is not very common
I like how the pendulum is still able to move and is not locked in place

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t really enjoy building the pendulum because it was a bit tricky to get everything lined up properly

Review of nanoblock Dachshund Pure Cream NBC_039

August 29, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Dachshund Pure Cream build. Dachshund Pure Cream is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_039

Number of Pieces: 80

Difficulty Rating: 2

This kit’s instructions were in black and white with the colors labeled in Japanese. It was still fairly easy to put the kit together because most of the build is the golden brick color.

The build begins with a layer of golden yellow bricks. I lay the bricks out on my nanoblock pad. The body of the dog goes up in layers to create the entire body.

The next step is to build the head. The head is constructed in straightforward layers. Black details create the eyes and nose. The head is flipped over, and the ears are added.

The dog’s body is flipped over, and the legs and paws are added. I attached the head to the body, and then I attached the finished dog to the build.

The final step is to build the food bowl and bone. The bowl is very straightforward, and the bone is loose and can fall out.

Dachshund Pure Cream build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I really like the color of the Dachshund

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like that the bone is loose. I never like it when there are loose parts to the build

Review of nanoblock Electric Bass NBC_051

August 22, 2024March 12, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_051

Number of Pieces: 140

Difficulty Rating: 2

This build is simply a tower of bricks that are 2-3 bricks deep. This allows there to be some depth and detail but still has the trim body of an electric bass.

The build begins with the base of the guitar. The build then goes up in layers to create the bass’s body. I needed to be careful to make sure I completed each layer correctly. It was a bit tricky to tell exactly which brick to use.

After building the body, the neck is added. The neck is two brick towers, one clear and one golden yellow.

The last step is to build the head of the bass. It was fairly straightforward and simple to build. I don’t really like how the finished neck looks on the finished guitar.

Things I liked:

I really like that the build came with a pair of bricks to create a base for the bass

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t really like how the head of the bass looks

Review of nanoblock Seven-spot Ladybird IST_007

August 20, 2024May 28, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Seven-spot Ladybird build. Seven-spot Ladybird is part of the nanoblock Insect collection. Wondering what else is part of the Insect collection? Click here for a list.

Number: IST_007

Number of Pieces: 100

Difficulty Rating: 1

Seven-spot Ladybird build front 3/4 view

This build has 2 major sections. There is a leaf and the Ladybird.

The leaf begins with a layer of green bricks. A top layer of bricks is added by overhanging the base layer of bricks. There are clear bricks are added to hold the actual ladybird once it is finished. Then the leaf is flipped over, and some bricks are added to add some height under the leaf.

The actual ladybird is a simple 5 or so layers of mostly red and black bricks. I started by trying to lay the bricks out on the nanoblock pad. However, because of how the front of the ladybug is laid out, I wasn’t able to use just the nanoblock pad. After the base layers were created, the rest of the ladybird was added in layers.

Things I liked:

I love the amount of detail in the bug and how the leaf gives an idea of scale

Things I didn’t like:

Overall, I’m very happy with the build and don’t really have any complaints

Review of nanoblock White Snake NBC_066

August 15, 2024March 12, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_066

Number of Pieces: 180

Difficulty Rating: 1

This kit is part of the original Zodiac collection and was rereleased in the Zodiac Collection.

I bought this kit used, knowing I would at least get the instructions. I also ended up getting all the bricks to complete the kit. Sadly, however, the white has become yellow with age. The discolored bricks may be visible in my photographs.

This build has 2 sections. There is a snake and a bamboo decoration.

The bamboo decoration is very pretty straightforward. The most difficult part is counting the various sections of bamboo.

The snake has three sections, each very straightforward. There is a head and tail section. The main body is made of 15 sections. All of these body sections have yellow details that make the snake’s scales. All of the sections are connected with ball-and-socket joints.

The photo of the completed snake shows a highly posed snake. I’m unsure if it’s because my kit had older joints, but my finished build wasn’t very posable.

Things I liked:

I like the little detail in the main sections of the body of the snake

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like that the snake isn’t posable