Alt Bricks

[WhichDawg]

Alternative Bricks are non Lego brands and instead of hijacking the Lego thread I thought I’d start a new one 

I really like Cobi bricks (especially for military stuff) and I’m learning about GoBricks and stores that sell them, like Eske Kouri who sell mocs made from GoBricks.

So I’ve just ordered 2 sets, a winter Christmas tree on base (my wife luvs it) and a Robbie the Robot. Small inexpensive sets but ones I can easily review and scrutinize for us all 

I will post pictures in a minute. Stay turned 

[WhichDawg]

pics of the 2 sets I just ordered:

(their pictures)

Winter Fir Christmas tree (963 pieces)


Robbie the Robot (108 pieces)

[Vidar]

How are the bricks or brands compared to Lego quality wise? Do they stick as well (and with Lego?), even straight sizes, color conformity and so on. Are there types of bricks not available from Lego? That could be interesting.

[WhichDawg]

How are the bricks or brands compared to Lego quality wise? Do they stick as well (and with Lego?), even straight sizes, color conformity and so on. Are there types of bricks not available from Lego? That could be interesting.

What I’m reading and seeing on YouTube videos is the quality is very similar. Some say the fit (like a brick on a large plate) is slightly tighter than Lego, which to most is much better than loose.

Color is very close but some shades are slightly off maybe due to age, no one is saying bad or poor.

And GoBricks have more colors and price is not based on uniqueness or rareness but availability, if they make it it will be inexpensive. I like that.

[Vidar]

Sounds promising. You'll get some hands on to tell the tale I guess. For gifts it would be interesting to know the level of the manuals/ instructions too.

[Farmer X]

Aside from Nanoblocks (what ever happened to those?), I haven't had any alt-bricks. The Christmas tree does look kinda cool.

[Whoey]

Whatever you do, don't look up Sluban, Mould King or Nifeliz...

[Vidar]

You might as well have placed a big red button with "Do not push!" in front of me.   

[Whoey]

well I did warn you, and I didn't link them!

[WhichDawg]

Whatever you do, don't look up Sluban, Mould King or Nifeliz...

I got a tank by Sluban, looked good when done but brick fit was terrible and the instructions were very poor, I’d never buy from them again. Mould King looks okay but nothing I really wanted. Nifeliz has bad reviews so no thanks 

[PitCarver]

The most recent alternate block kit came in the other day.  It's a flower that I got for my wife.
387 itty bitty bricks.
Fit on these was fairly good fitting together but the. Instructions were barely adequate.

Sorted out all the pieces with my Alox Alcan executive.
 

20241109_130400.jpg (Filesize: 302.32 KB)

Not s great picture but I was pleased with it.
 

20241109_161149.jpg (Filesize: 186.08 KB)

The dome on it is really nice.
 

20241109_161104.jpg (Filesize: 202.36 KB)

[PitCarver]

I've also got s rose kit that I need to put together too.

[PitCarver]

Got one of those mech robots coming soon.
Y'all are such enablers.

[WhichDawg]

WoW! very cool   

Which reminds me I got some lego flower kits for my wife that we need to put together 

and maybe tomorrow my alt brand tree & robot come in! 

[pfrsantos]

WoW! very cool   

Which reminds me I got some lego flower kits for my wife that we need to put together 

and maybe tomorrow my alt brand tree & robot come in! 

+1

Thanks for sharing, fellows!

 

[PitCarver]

WoW! very cool   

Which reminds me I got some lego flower kits for my wife that we need to put together 

and maybe tomorrow my alt brand tree & robot come in! 

I wanna see Robbie.

Oh, I just ordered a camera kit off of the Temu.
Just because.

[WhichDawg]

Looks like Robbie and the Tree are still on the way 
maybe another couple of days.

And I just ordered some alt/non-Lego Orcs from AliExpress!


here's a YouTube video about them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mP58zzoGro
 
They have a years best sale going on now and I got 3 sets (24 orcs) for $19.26 USD free shipping 
Lego won't make orc battle packs and I wanted more to go with my Lego Lord of the Rings Black Gate and Barad-dûr set.

[Chako]

So far, I have built a Mold King big pirate ship Black Pearl and really had not many issues with it, I was forced to glue together parts of the ransom as it was too weak and came apart often enough to make me curse. A little rubber cement and that problem ceased to exist. With Nefeliz, never had an issue with them. I have built 2 trains and a big tank with no issues. I would not hesitate in buying more from them in the future. I did buy off of Temu a very cheap 2100 piece tecnique blue car,. It hasn't arrived yet, but for the price, I could not say no.

[PitCarver]

I got my wife to get me all the Lego Christmas train sets last year and I mixed and matched them to make a larger set.  Can't find any of the pics I took last year.  I guess they didn't transfer over to my new phone.
🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
I got this little train, as a freebie, from the Temu.
It was a 6 in one build that uses all the parts to build the larger train.   It's ok but I'm definitely gonna do something else with it.  There's a gap in the boiler that doesn't look right.  I'll either shorten it up or order another one to get it like I'd like.

[WhichDawg]

luv brick trains! 

[Chako]

These are my 2. A Nifeliz TH 10 up front and a Nifeliz Big Boy just behind. I would love to do more but the bigger boy behind requires his space.

20241116_070015A by Chako, on Flickr

20241116_070038A by Chako, on Flickr

[PitCarver]

I love those, Chako.  The little blue steam locomotive looks awesome.  My only obstacle is money, oh and of course my granddaughters.

[Chako]

 

[PitCarver]

I saw this MOC Tensegrity Sculpture on some site a few years ago.  Guy took parts and pieces from different Lego sets and made it.  The Temu had this one, using Lego compatible pieces, for just a few bucks, so I had added it to my last order.  Fun little build that took less than 15 minutes.

[Chako]

Just got in a very fast Temu package in today, and I had to laugh at the packaging, This 2100 piece car kit came in a baggy. I was sort of expecting a box. I just hope everything is there. Won't know until I start to build it lol.

20241117_151823 by Chako, on Flickr

20241117_151831 by Chako, on Flickr

20241117_151851 by Chako, on Flickr

It is a good start, 

[Chako]

I decided to get into the package. The outermost shell was sealed fairly good and was water tight with tape which is a good thing, because the inner bag's zip lock was wide open. I gather this is a warehouse setup with large bins full of bags, Model so and so is ordered. A worker gathers the parts and places them into a giant zip lock bag, and into another for shipping, Why bother zip locking the bag after filling it? That is my guess.

The kit came in 4 larger bags, a manual, and 4 tyres and rims. 3 of the bags are numbered 1, 2, and 3. The manual is broken up into 3 sections. These kits will never be as good as those that come with LEGO, but then these are always a fraction of the cost. Besides, there is a bit of added difficulty when you have to search through more pieces per step.

I now know the model is from K Box. I have never heard of them, so there is that.

20241118_000811 by Chako, on Flickr

20241118_000832 by Chako, on Flickr

At least the instructions are in colour.

20241118_000904 by Chako, on Flickr

20241118_001122 by Chako, on Flickr

Inside the almost 200 page manual are stickers,

20241118_001336 by Chako, on Flickr

Here is bag 1 front and back. Each bag contains numerous smaller bags.

20241118_001410 by Chako, on Flickr

20241118_001426 by Chako, on Flickr

These tires are a good size. I can see where this car will be 20.2 inches long.

20241118_001505 by Chako, on Flickr

Should be a fun build.

[PitCarver]

It's hit and miss with Temu on boxes.  Most times it's stated somewhere in the description.  Sometimes you'll read about it in the reviews.
2100 pieces would be all over the place if my cats saw them.   Keep us posted.

[Chako]

Started the build today, and stiill on bag 1 of 3. The instructions are very good with any questions on what parts to use answered after looking at the drawings closely. So far having fun.

20241124_062528A by Chako, on Flickr

20241124_065604A by Chako, on Flickr

20241124_074133A by Chako, on Flickr

20241124_095632A by Chako, on Flickr

[PitCarver]

That does look like a fun build, Chako.

Got into my other flower build, for the wife, today.
Even though it may have been made by the same company that made the other kit,  there were some definite fitment issues.  I'll be taking it back apart to fix it with some super glue.

[Chako]

That looks very nice.