Tag: Pokemon - Page 4 - Shy Gal's Building Blog

Review of nanoblock Ho-Oh NBPM_033

December 13, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Ho-Oh build. Ho-Oh is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Names:

English: Ho-Oh
Japanese: Houou

Number: NBPM_033

Number of Pieces: 180

Difficulty Rating: 4/5

Ho-Oh is an unusual nanoblock Pokemon build because it has a difficulty of 4/5. I think it is because it is a challenge to build the wings and tail and getting things to line up correctly. The build has 5 major sections to this nanoblock build. There is a head, a body, 2 wings, and a tail.

The first step is to build the body. It starts with a base layer of white bricks. As you build the body in layers, you will add red for the top of the body and green for the neck.

The second step is to build the head. The head starts is a narrow layer of bricks, and then you build up the head in layers. I really like how the eyes are added to the head. The final step in building the head is adding the crown using yellow bricks. You attach the head to the body but be warned it will now fall over if you try and set it on the base.

The next step is to build the wings. The process is mirrored between the two wings. The wings are built by having bricks hanging over in each layer. I had some difficulty tracking which layer I was on when I set down the wing for a few minutes, and I picked it up again. I also had a hard time squaring up the white and green bricks. Each wing gets attached, and the build will sit stably when both wings are attached.

Next, you have a quick step to add the feet. It is very straightforward and clear.

The final step is to build the tail. It comes together by putting several small chunks together to create the idea of an open tail. Overall, each chunk is straightforward. However, I had some difficulty telling where exactly to attach to the chunk. I’ve also noticed that each chunk of the tail seems to be loosely connected, so it moves every time I move the build.

Things I liked:

There is a lot of detail for how early in the Pokemon collection this build is.

Things I didn’t like:

Overall the build just seems a little loose, and I’m worried about how well it will stay in place long-term. The tail has already shifted without me moving it much.

Review of nanoblock Lugia NBPM_032

December 6, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Lugia build. Lugia is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Number: NBPM_32

Number of Pieces: 210

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

Lugia is one of the 2 legendary Pokemon from generation 2. Lugia is the mascot Pokemon for Pokemon Silver.

The Lugia build is the first build where the directions went onto the backside of the pages for a total of 46 total steps. Unlike a lot of builds, it isn’t broken down into smaller steps.

Some of the steps are hard to tell precisely where the bricks go on a layer. I found Lugia’s arms much easier to build than Charizard’s wings.

Overall I liked Lugia. I think its arms are a bit clumpy compared to the fluid arms you see in the anime.

Things I liked:

The coloring is fairly accurate

Things I didn’t like:

Arms are super clumpy

Link to order: Amazon

Review of nanoblock Celebi NBPM_054

November 29, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Celebi build. Celebi is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Number: NBPM_054

Number of Pieces: 130

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Celebi is the mythical Pokemon that was released in generation 2. It was the second mythical Pokemon, with the first being Mew. Celebi is known to have the power to control time. This set is one of 3 that were/are only available at Pokemon Centers in Singapore; the other 2 are the Crystal Gyarados and the Crystal Lapras.

Celebi, unlike most builds, begins with the middle of the head. There is a base layer in the head, and from there, you build up until you have completed the top of the head. Then you turn it over and finish the bottom of the head, be careful not to knock the antenna off. Next, you build the little body by creating layers of nanoblocks. I like the detail of the clear blocks to making little wings. Once you connect the head to the body, it’s time to add on the little feet and attach the base.

As a heads up, Celebi is a slightly top-heavy build that is likely to fall if you bump the table it’s sitting on. Overall I’m glad I went through the extra work required to get this set because it comes out so cute. It also uses colors you don’t see very often in Pokemon builds.

Things I liked:

The detail of the wings

Things I didn’t like:

Easy to knock over on accident

Review of nanoblock Cyndaquil NBPM_029

November 22, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Cyndaquil build. Cyndaquil is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Names:

English: Cyndaquil
Japanese: Hinoarashi

Number: NBPM_029

Number of Pieces: 150

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Cyndaquil is the fire-type starter from generation 2. It is a starter along with Totodile and Chikorita. It is also one of the starters in the new Pokemon Legends: Arceus game. Cyndaquil is generally shown as a very shy Pokemon.

The build begins with a base of bricks. In the second layer, you start to add the dark on the back. You continue to build layers of bricks, and eventually, you begin the flame on the back. The next step is to start building the head. You build the head up from a base in layers circling and creating rings for the head.

Once you have the started head, attach it to the body you built earlier. Next, you close up the head and make the flame on the back. Once you have completed closing up the head, you add more details to the flame. The final step is to add the details of the feet and the clear bricks that keep the build from tipping.

Overall I think this is a super cute build. Cyndaquil has always been one of my favorites, so I was worried about how the figure would turn out. I like the amount of detail in the flame between the orange and clear red bricks. I wish they had used a lighter color for the light part of his body. It seems really dark compared to the photo.

Things I liked:

The amount of detail in the flame

Things I didn’t like:

The light section of the body is too dark

Review of nanoblock Totodile NBPM_031

November 15, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Totodile build. Totodile is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Names:

English: Totodile
Japanese: Waninoko

Number: NBPM_031

Number of Pieces: 150

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Totodile is the water starter from generation 2. It is light blue with orange spikes going down his back.

Overall the build is an average build from a solid base. There are a lot of areas with different colors, such as dark red for the eyes and dark grey to make his nostrils. The most challenging part I had was getting the fangs to correctly line up because it is just a 1×1 brick hanging off a 2×3 brick.

Totodile is very recognizable as the little water dragon he is. He does have an excellent line of red going down his back which helps to make it clear which Pokemon you are looking at. I notice his eyes seem to be huge compared to the rest of the Pokemon.

Things I liked:

How the spikes ended up looking

Things I didn’t like:

Eyes seem super large compared to the rest of the nanoblock pokemon

Link to order: Amazon

Review of nanoblock Chikorita NBPM_030

November 8, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Chikorita build. Chikorita is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Names:

English: Chikorita
Japanese: Chicorita

Number: NBPM_030

Number of Pieces: 90

Difficulty Rating: 1/5

Chikorita is one of the starter Pokemon for generation 2, and like most grass-type starters, it’s green. Chikorita has 2 notable features that I hoped would be incorporated into the build. First, there is a large leaf hanging off Chikorita’s head. It also has a collar of spikes going around its neck.

Overall the build was fairly simple, which is what I would expect from a level 1 build. I was happy to see that both the collar and the leaf were completely intact. The collar is created by studs sticking out of the main body. Once the main body is built, you build a leaf and attach it to the head.

Things I liked:

How the leaf looks floating of its head

Things I didn’t like:

One Thing

Link to order: Amazon

Review of nanoblock Pichu NBPM_028

November 1, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Pichu build. Pichu is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Number: NBPM_028

Number of Pieces: 90

Difficulty Rating: 1/5

Pichu was the first Pokemon build that had a difficulty level of 1 I built. It is a simple build made up of 2 parts, the head, and body.

The body is a simple few layers of mostly yellow with a little bit of black to make the stripes.

The head is generally a cube that creates a face with black-tipped ears. Overall it was a simple build that took very little time to build.

Things I liked:

Cute simple build

Link to order: Amazon

Review of nanoblock Greninja NBPM_070

October 25, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Greninja build. Greninja is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Names:

English: Greninja
Japanese: Gekkouga

Number: NBPM_070

Number of Pieces: 180

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

Greninja is the 3rd evolution of the generation 6 starter Froakie. There is a unique form known as Ash-Greninja, with the center fin on its head being red instead of blue. While there is not a model for Ash-Greninja, I think if you have a few red bricks, you can customize the build to create that form.

The build is different from many other Pokemon because it is not based on a sphere on a rectangle Greninja is posed like a ninja. All of the instructions are different and detailed because nothing is mirrored. However, building him was tippy, and he couldn’t stand up reliably until the final hand was attached. It was also hard to use my pad to build, which meant my bricks were shifting more than usual.

Overall I enjoyed the build and liked the final result. I’m not sure how much it looks like Greninja from the games or the anime, but it was a fun build.

Things I liked:

How he is posed means, there was no mirroring in the build

Things I didn’t like:

How it didn’t want to stand up until the final step was completed

Link to order: Amazon

Review of nanoblock Dragonite NBPM_011

October 18, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Dragonite build. Dragonite is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Names:

English: Dragonite
Japanese: Kairyu

Number: NBPM_011

Number of Pieces: 190

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

Dragonite is the original endgame dragon from generation 1. He is a lot rounder and more cartoon-looking than the dragons later in the series. In the Pokemon games and TV show, Dragonite can both transport mail and people.

This build starts with the head. You start with a base and build the dragon up. The head has the tricky part of getting the antenna lined up correctly and keeping them in place for the rest of the build.

Next, you build the body in a matter similar to the head.

Once you have a body and head, you attach them to each other. The next step is to build the wings. These are the most challenging part because of the amount of detail to create the illusion that the tan is all on one side and the teal is on the other.

I think the Dragonite build does an excellent job of capturing the fat round dragon, which is how it appears in the games.

Things I liked:

I think the build captures the round dragon well

Things I didn’t like:

The wings took me a couple tries to get right

Review of nanoblock Psyduck NBPM_024

October 11, 2022March 3, 2023shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Psyduck build. Psyduck is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon Collection? Click Here for a list.

Number: NBPM_024

Number of Pieces: 130

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Psyduck is a generation 1 pokemon that is known for having constant headaches. The headaches give Psyduck access to psychic abilities. Misty had a Psyduck that would always pop out of the Pokeball in the Anime.

Overall the build for Psyduck is building up from the bottom layer. Each layer builds on itself until you get up to the head. You separately make the duck beak and attach it to the head. After connecting the beak, you continue to add layers until you have a sealed-up duck. Then all that is left is to add the little black feathers at the top of its head.

I like the Psyduck build because it is recognizable. However, in my mind, Psyduck is more of a bright crayon yellow, and the color of the bricks used in the build are more of goldenrod. I do think the little feathers on the head are cute.

Things I liked:

The black bricks used to add the feather detail to the head

Things I didn’t like:

I wish he was more yellow