Lego Ferrari F40

The latest large scale vehicle model in the Creator Expert line has been revealed, and this time they've moved away from the more retro feel of the previous releases (Mini Cooper, VW Camper, and Beetle) to a more modern classic, in 10248 Ferrari F40.

Bild (via Neoape) took the honour of revealing the set to the world, and also highlighted some of the features of the build, which include a new screen piece with printed angled sides, new hubcaps, pop-up headlights, and an opening back to revealed the detailed engine within, plus a tool-kit in the luggage compartment.

UPDATE: And now the full suite of images has been released (via The Brick Fan), plus the designer video, continue below to scrutinise every detail of the model:

Detective's Office

Lego have announced the latest Creator Expert set, and the tenth set in the modular building series, and have really gone to town detailing this one, 10246 Detective's Office. The building is in fact multi-use, with the office taking up the first floor, opposite a period toilet, while below you'll find a pool hall and barber shop. The third floor has a kitchen and roof area, complete with skylight and water tower.

As is customary in the modular building series, there are some really creative building techniques and parts use, including using Unikitty's tail element for architectural detailing, and making use of the new mini-ball hinges to hold up columns. There are new parts in the form of scissors and a large reflective mirror tile. Plus lots of great printed parts, including lots of newspapers, a dart board, and a brilliantly generic wanted poster, and the window of Ace Brickman's detective agency.. There are six minifigures, including the detective, a police-woman, and barber.

Check out the designer video to see some of the highlights of the set, and the candy-smuggling narrative that ties everything together:

New seasonal sets

Lego have several new seasonal sets on the way, and some out now, ready for the forthcoming autumn and winter festivities. Here's a look at the various holiday sets:

First up there's a new brick-built reindeer, with two Christmas presents, in set 40092. This set continues a range of seasonal sets this year which feature brick-built animals paired with some sort of accessory, following the Valentines bear (40085) and Easter bunny (40086) earlier this year, and other sets you'll see down page.

And even longer running seasonal range is Lego's series of Christmas tree baubles. Each one contains miniature Lego build, held within a bespoke Lego ball. At least two new designs are coming this year, a cat and log cabin:

Continue after the jump for more Christmas sets, plus Halloween and Thanksgiving builds:

Santa's Workshop revealed

Lego have announced their latest Creator Expert set, and what at at small stretch might be considered the newest  to the winter village collection - It's certainly wintery, but I think maybe Santa's Workshop is a bit removed from village life? Anywho, the set (10245 Santa's Workshop) does have all the usual charm and and festive features of a winter village set. It is comprised of Santa and Mrs Claus' home and workshop, which is manned by a team of four elves. Plus there's a band of reindeer to pull the sleigh, and a baby one waiting to join the team. It also comes with a toy machine, North Pole sign, and Christmas tree, and of course has lots of interesting parts (the printed backs of the reindeer look most promising to me).

Here's the designer video:



Continue after the jump for more images:

How to build the Sydney Opera House

Lego have released a new time-lapse video, showing the construction of the recently released Creator: Expert set 10234 Sydney Opera House, the latest release in Lego's occasional large scale landmark series:



This massive set is a vast improvement on the diddly impressionistic Architecture series rendition of the Opera House form last year. More pictures of the remarkably curvaceous build after the jump:

2014 set rumours

All of a sudden there seem to be a lot of rumours detailing some of the late-2013 and early-2014 Lego sets. Below you'll find details and set lists for new themes including Disney Princess, The Simpsons, The Lego Movie, as well as all the returning themes: Star Wars, The Hobbit, Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Friends, City, Legends of Chima, Ninjago, Junior, and Creator. Keep in mind though these are rumours at this stage.

Continue after the jump for a theme by theme listing. Updated October 9th.

A market comes to the winter village

Lego have announced the fifth set in their annual winter village series of Lego exclusive sets. This year's set, 10235 Winter Village Market, brings a classic Christmas market to the village; complete with a variety of stallholders and entertainment. This time the set is being released under the Creator theme, specifically the Expert line, which was introduced this year as a catch-all for the more advanced/exclusive sets. Here's the box art (images via Eurobricks):

And here's the designer video to introduce you to all the set's features:



The centerpiece of the set is of course the carousel, which includes two horses with a lovely new bridle design, both of which move up and down with the mechanism of the ride.

Here's a better look at one of those new horses:

Continue after the jump for a closer look at the other elements of the set:

The latest exclusive and promotional Lego sets

In my attempts to keep up to date on all the Lego sets that are to exist I have got a bit behind with the odd promotional and exclusive sets. So here's a little catch up:

The big news, a couple of months ago, was that the first Lego CUUSOO proposal in the international version of the platform got to the 10000 vote mark, and was oked by the Lego team. Coming some time this summer will be a Lego set based on the game Minecraft:

21102 Minecraft Micro World

There are a couple of Lego shop at home special sets on the way too. Here's a video with the designers of the big new R2-D2 set:

10225 R2-D2

The other is their latest aircraft sculpture; a new Sopwith Camel, a sequel of sorts to the previous 2001 edition.

10226 Sopwith Camel

Also in the more specialist arena is the latest set in Lego's Architecture range: Big Ben. This one should be out just in time to cash in on extra British tourism for the Olympics. I'd rather have the entire Palace of Westminster though; looks a bit odd just chopping off the end bit.

21013 Big Ben

Also targeting tourists is a new airline promotional set, a neat little glider to add to your city airport. These are currently available from Virgin Atlantic and TUIfly.

4442 Glider

Getting even more exclusive, there's a special mini Statue of Liberty set available from the New York Lego store, and several newly opening Lego stores have had limited supplies of Lego Store Lego sets:

40026 Statue of Liberty

3300003 Brand Retail Store

Also exclusive to Lego stores, as well as Lego's online shop, will be two promotional minifigures with purchases of Star Wars and Super Heroes sets, during in promotional periods:

TC-14

Hulk

Already out in the wild is a special Darth Maul minifigure, so far made available at the New York Toy Fair and Legoland Windsor:

Darth Maul

At some point there is also to be a single figure release of the Ninjago minifigure Rattla. (I'm hoping this will be a release I can get hold of as it's a figure I really like for it's Stargate Jaffa looks, but comes in sets I'm not interested in)

30088 Rattla

Finishing off the minifigure releases, there has also been a pack of firefighters at bulk out your city team:

853378 Firefighters

Finally there have been a few seasonal releases for Easter and Valentine's Day, plus there's a tiny cake due at some point:

40029 Valentine's Day Box

40030 Duck with Ducklings

40031 Bunny and Chick

40048 Birthday Cake