Tag: Holiday

Review of nanoblock Jack-o’-Lantern NBC_097

October 31, 2024March 12, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Jack-o’-Lantern build. Jack-o’-Lantern is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_097

Number of Pieces: 160

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

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, some of the bricks have become with age. The discolored bricks may be visible in my photographs.

This is one of several versions of a Jack-o’-Lantern. This one is unique because of the witch in the background. The Jack-o’-Lantern is also glow-in-the-dark, so it appears lit if the bricks get enough light.

The first section is to build the actual Jack-o’-Lantern. It begins with a base layer of orange bricks that I lay out on my nanoblock pad. The pumpkin section goes up in straightforward layers. The gaps in the Jack-o’-Lantern are backed in glow-in-the-dark bricks. The pumpkin is wearing a witch hat, which is once again simple layers.

The second section is the moon. The moon is a simple stack of bricks. I really like how the bricks are laid out, making the moon appear curved. The curve is very natural-looking.

The last major section is the witch riding a broom. The build is very detailed, creating a tiny human.

All three sections are connected together on a double-sized base. The base isn’t held together very tightly, so it’s possible for things to fall apart. The Moon section is very top-heavy, so you need to be careful when moving the build.

Things I liked:

I like the glow-in-the-dark bricks. I didn’t know there were glow-in-the-dark bricks
I like the curve of the moon. It looks natural

Things I didn’t like:

The 2 bases aren’t held together very well, so things can fall apart when moving

Review of nanoblock 2022 Snowman NBC_368

December 3, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

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

Number: NBC_368

Number of Pieces: 160

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

There are been several snowman builds that have been released over the years. The snowman released in 2022 is different because the snowman is made up of clear white bricks and glitter bricks. These are newer and uncommon bricks used in a few nanoblock kits. The clear white bricks create a translucent effect on the snowman, which is nice.

The build begins by laying out a base layer of clear white bricks. I started the build on my nanoblock pad. The body goes up in layers. In general, each step works on two layers at once. The final step of the beginning of the body is a ring outlining the top of the body.

The next section of the body is adding the scarf and creating curves to close up the body. Several slanted pieces are clearly marked as to which ones to use. However, I had difficulty telling where to add a 1×1 brick to get the layer lined up. I was able to figure it out after moving bricks around.

The final step of the body is to add the mittens.

The head begins with a base layer that I once again laid out on my nanoblock pad. The head goes up in layers. Again there are slanted bricks that I needed to make sure I used the right slope to build the head correctly. The head adds details such as eyes, nose, and hat.

The last step is to connect the head to the body.

Things I liked:

The use of translucent and glitter blocks in the build because they are uncommon types of bricks

Things I didn’t like:

I’m not sure I like the solid white bricks edging on the hat. Since the rest of the build is clear the solids stand out

Review of nanoblock 2022 Christmas Tree NBC_369

November 19, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

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

Number: NBC_369

Number of Pieces: 200

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

This kit was much trickier to put together than I expected. This was because so many bricks were hanging from a single brick. There are also a lot of places where things are at angles which is unusual for nanoblock.

The first step is to build the tree stand. The stand is a simple 3 layers in brown and tan.

The tree builds up in a pattern. First, some branches shoot out of the tree. The branches can take 1 or more steps in the directions. Then there are a few layers of bricks that create a trunk.

Adding the branches was a bit tricky. There are 2 reasons for this. First, the branch is added to a single stud and hangs off. This can be tricky because the instructions don’t want any of the branches to be square. Second, a lot of branches also have the white ribbon that goes around the tree. The ribbon is tricky because you need to ensure it is on the correct side so it can flow properly.

The tree repeats the pattern repeats 4 times, with the branches getting smaller with each repeat.

The opening at the top of the tree is closed up. The tree is topped with a clear yellow glitter star. The star is super straightforward.

In addition to the Christmas tree, there is also a little wreath. When I built the wreath, I curled it backward, so I had to flip all the green bricks so it was properly round. The final step is to add decorative details to the wreath.

Things I liked:

It was a nice challenge to build and get things to flow properly

Things I didn’t like:

The wreath. I don’t feel like it added much to the build, and I feel the directions for how to make it aren’t super clear

Review of nanoblock Snowman Holiday Limited Edition NBC_027

September 29, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

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

Number: NBC_027

Number of Pieces: 150

Difficulty Rating: 1/5

This is one of the few kits I have purchased used. I decided it was probably a safe purchase because, in the photos, I was able to see that the build was complete. I also noticed that the spare bricks were in the package in the photos. I bought the Snowman and hoped I would get exactly what I needed to build the Snowman. When it arrived, I had all the bricks I needed; the only problem was some age discoloration on the white bricks.

Now to look at the build. I really liked that the Snowman had a base. A base to me means that you don’t have to worry about the build tipping. As I would expect from a level 1 build, the directions were easy to follow. There is one step where you add the scarf detail and the arms where a lot is going on. It was a little hard to tell where everything went, but it lays out just fine when you start to place the bricks. Other than the one super full step, the directions were very clear.

Overall I really liked the Snowman. It was an enjoyable and straightforward build, which I hope for when its difficulty is 1/5.

Things I liked:

How the scarf has details in the front and the back

Things I didn’t like:

There is one step I think could have turned into two to make things clearer