Your reference for LEGO and nanoblock builds
Number: NB-023
Number of Pieces: 850
Difficulty Rating: N/A
This is the only set of nanoblock I purchased that was not a kit for a specific build. This is because I wanted to get some bricks to make custom builds.
There are instructions for the builds on the front of a box. These builds can be completed using only the blocks provided in the set. The instructions also tell you which builds can be made simultaneously.
The above image shows what exactly comes with the set.
Link to order:
This post is a review of the nanoblock Mewtwo build. Mewtwo is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.
Number: NBPM_006
Number of Pieces: 130
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
Mewtwo is one of the most popular Pokemon from generation 1. It was also one of, if not the most powerful, Pokemon generation 1. It has remained a favorite over the years while most Pokemon favorites come in waves.
Overall the build was more complicated than the ones I had done before. Getting the arms to line up was the hardest part. This is because you depend on one stud holding things square, which I’ve found can be challenging if you try to go quickly.
Mewtwo stands on 2 2×2 bricks. I expected him to be highly tippy and challenging to get standing up, but he is very well balanced, and as long as you get the feet in the row, he stands up perfectly fine all by himself.
Things I liked:
Things I didn’t like:
Link to order: Amazon
This post is a review of the nanoblock Gyarados build. Gyarados is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.
Number: NBPM_023
Number of Pieces: 170
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
To me, Gyarados appears to be the fan-favorite generation 1 dragon Pokemon. It is also famous as the first shiny pokemon as the red Gyarados in generation 2, though as far as I’m aware, nanoblock hasn’t made a red version yet.
Gyarados is a more challenging build. It is built up from a small base, significantly affecting the build. When I was building the head, I found the figure kept tipping forward. It did get better when I added the tail, but it still likes to tip forward if you don’t place it on the table just so. Another thing that makes this build challenging is there are several points where you build a chain of brick to make details which can be a challenge to line up.
Overall, Gyarados is very recognizable as the pokemon is meant to represent. I think they use many uncommon techniques in the Pokemon builds, such as the use of negative space to create the inside of his mouth.
Things I liked:
Things I didn’t like:
There is a second version of this build that was released as NBPM_055 known as Crystal Gyarados.
Link to order: Amazon
With builds, sometimes you want an amount of detail that you just can’t get from bricks alone. That is is, kits include stickers. Stickers are pretty common in LEGO builds, but typically there is a ratio of one sticker per brick. This means if you ever need to take the build apart for some reason, you can. nanoblock stickers don’t work like that, and to be honest, I very rarely put the stickers that come with my nanoblock builds on. At this point, I can think of 2 builds I used stickers on, the Pokemon Quest Eevee and my light-up Kaminarimon.
Why don’t I like nanoblock stickers?
I don’t like nanoblock stickers because using them means you can never take the build down. Now I’m pretty good at finding storage solutions, so it’s not like I take builds apart all that often. But, I plan on moving at some point in the future, and I may need to take the builds apart when I do. nanoblocks are small, so a sticker is often on several bricks, which means you can’t take those bricks apart. That may not be a big deal, except nanoblocks are staggered in such a way that you end up with a cube instead of a wall of bricks. Since you end up with a cube, you really can’t take things apart.
What about the sticker themselves?
The sticker can add a lot of detail, like the kanji on the lantern for the Kaminarimon. The stickers on my Eevee give it a face and shading on his ears. So the amount of detail can be excellent.
However, the quality of the actual stickers is not the best. I’ve had them rip and affect how things look.
This post is a review of the nanoblock Eevee build. Eevee is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.
Number: NBPM_005
Number of Pieces: 130
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
As of this posting, nanoblock has released kits for all 9 eeveelutions. The builds have gotten more detailed as time has passed, so the first builds are a bit simpler. I find that all the kits are recognizable for the Pokemon they are supposed to be. Eevee is the base Pokemon that evolves into all the rest of the eeveelutions and is introduced in generation 1. It is a brown Pokemon with a cream collar and tail.
The build for Eevee starts a bit trickier than the other earlier nanoblock kits Pokemon in the evolution chains such as the Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon builds. There are a few occasions where you need to develop smaller chunks that combine to make the pieces. You are building separate parts from the second step that create Pokemon’s fluffy collar. Once you get the more custom base, you build the model from the bottom up. The ears are much easier to build than the other early evolutions because you are only building up one color, while the evolutions have 2 color ears.
Eevee is one of my favorite Pokemon, so I am happy that the build comes out cute.
Things I liked:
Things I didn’t like:
Link to order: Amazon