Building my train part 2

 I sat today up to my tolerance and worked on my blue santa fe train.  Still trying to sort to make or just search each piece while making the train.  Still working but here's what I was able to do today

Below:The pieces are so difficult to move if needed to reposition the piece...here's what shows my effort:ouch! Shredded my thumbnail! The clutch power isn't too bad in these non lego pieces.  (Too tight for a brick separating)

I finished 2 cars today only 3 cars left!

Building my train Part 1

I have wanted the Lego santa fe set but cannot afford $500 for just one car.  I was thrilled to find letbricks had a version of it.

The only problem is that there were 3 bags but the majority of the parts were in bags withoug numbered bags, just mixed pieces. 

Above is the result of 2 hours of work which caused back pain and leg spasms (first day)

I learned from all this a few things 

1) I should have spent a few hours sorting the pieces in small bowls before trying to find pieces when I was building (2777 pieces)

2) keep pieces of blue yellow and gray/dark gray separated.

3) sort pieces that are transparent or pieces that are rarely used in a separate place

4) separate plates from beams

5) keep modified bricks separate 

After 4 hours over 2 days I came to this point

Trying the last 3 cars was a challenge as several pieces were missing...ive sent a note to let bricks so we'll see what happens..more to come!

I've got 5 more cars to go!

Reasons why it's easy to collect lego sets but not put them together

I'm sitting here tonight with black Friday purchases and want to build them but lack the "umpph" to get started..  in my head I have narrowed it down to multiple reasons:

1) too hard to see instructions at times, fear of mistakes

2) laziness and lack of initiation/self discipline 

3) feel guilty just wanting to dump all pieces on floor and make a moc

4) dream the sets are of such value that I'll make a fortune...although local fb marketplace may not be that lucrative 

5) tend to shake in hands (tremor) and the pieces are so small to manipulate at times

6) intimated by multiple steps that look insurmountable 

7) hard to find a place to leave a mess while building over a few days

8) so hard to go back and problem solve a misplaced piece steps ago

9) concentration limits to about an hour

10) worry where finished model will fit

11) enjoying sorting and greebling more than assembling

12) hate color combinations sometimes 

13) stopping to think why I'm an adult playing with kids toys

14) feeling inferior to master builders on the internet 

15) feel like I take way longer than the average person 

I would be interested if anyone has any ideas to overcome these feelings and are able to just jump right in

Black Friday deals!

Black Friday deals 2025

Unbelievably lucky today!!

$164 for all of these from Meijers above

$160 for boutique hotel below

Thanks to family for a great lego day...unexpected surprise!

Impressed with gobricks factory direct so far

 Impressed with gobricks 

After ordering from webrick.com I thought I'd try gobricks factory direct.  So far I've been happy with it although there's a few things I'm confused about.  I got a notification that a refund occurred but my invoice doesn't reflect it.  However there were 2 minifigs that they added..I guess to compensate for 1 missing.  

Some pieces were carefully wrapped in bags but most bricks were just in a large bag

The real time delivery tracker was kept up to date

I really believe the pieces were handpicked vs computer driven ordering fulfillment 

I ordered quite a few minifigs accessories and brackets since these are newer pieces I don't have as many of.

Again although I had a positive experience, the availability and prompt customer service and timeliness was good, I think Lego will always be the best.

Reasons why I'm not on Lego masters!

 Reasons why I could never be on lego masters 

1) no clue how to do power functions and gears i.e. roller coaster moc

2) difficulty thinking in 3d

3) wouldn't begin to know how to make a full size lego race car or real life size car

4) wouldn't know how to make the blue wave model

5) would have trouble making structure stability for taller buildings 

6) difficulty planning/visualizing finished projects

7) lack of SNOT knowledge incorporated into models

8) difficulty making 1 part of a model move distant from where the motion would be i.e. a steering column or differential 

9) difficulty planning ahead to create attachments for i.e. decorative elements done on a Christmas sleigh

10) hiding structural bases under the visible model part

11 Difficulty making lego figures and faces

Makes me really appreciate the lego masters..I'll leave it to the pros!

Egyptian moc

 My wife plans to see the pyramids next year.  I gave her a sneak preview

Final product above: skeleton is wedged...pith helmet attached to curiously wandering insect!  And umbrella for afterlife!

Beginning before additional pieces to anchor skeleton in.

I tried to use lego masters ideas..color, tell a story (I was going to have an explorer zip line in because of a broken ladder but didn't have parts) and. Layers with a focal point.  I used trapping of the skeleton so that it isn't connected but stays in place!

Trying webrick

 I have just received my first order from webrick.com and am delighted.  They kept me informed literally to the minute.

I only have 2 issues with these bricks

1) The exact precise fit of Lego wasn't as present in the pieces, when I stacked two motor parts together, there was a gap and when fully pressed together, the top tube of the motor was bigger on the right side (below) and the 2 tops of the motors when stacked were slightly uneven until I gave firm pressure to connect the two.

2) the color was slightly uneven with streaks of darker area mixed in with the silver as seen in the radar dishes below

Below is the whole list of what I ordered-great for greebling on a spaceship! (sorry it's so small!)

The company (Webrick..which carries "Go Bricks") kept myself informed of where the delivery was and when it left China, when it cleared in customs and when it was shipped to each of the mail service areas in the U.S..  I would buy from them again.  I was so afraid my order wouldn't come because the bricks I initially wanted came to $144 approximately on Amazon vs. approx $35 in the Webrick site. Some of the pieces I wanted were less in cost than the shippping cost on Amazon. (Webrick acquired "Go Bricks" from what I understand which might be part of the reason for the savings?) but with Pick a Brick at Lego affected by the tariff issues, it seemed\reasonable alternative with even different pieces than Pick a Brick.  

I feel bad "cheating" on Lego and I definitely acknowledge quality of "Go Bricks" vs. Lego quality is not comparable with Lego winning hands down.  However, at the time when Lego is introducing $1000 sets, it's getting to where I can't afford Lego even when sets are on clearance or sale like I could in the past.  Unless I've found pieces I like at the store in the Pick a Brick Wall, the online version doesn't seem like a good value at all which puts people who don't live near a Lego store at a disadvantage.