Peter Sripol wanted to take Nerf blasters to the next level, and in an unconventional way. So, he acquired a Nerf Elite 2.0 Turbine CS-18 motorized blaster, removed its standard electric motors and then replaced them with a Toyan 4-stroke engine designed for remote-controlled toys. Aside from sourcing the precision metallic adapters, the entire process wasn’t too much trouble, but the result is definitely worth checking out, especially with its customized gearbox. Read more for a video and additional information.
Photo credit: Laura 33697398
Alex Bailey, a 15-year-old from Dublin, Ireland, spent about 1-week recreating Manhattan using LEGO pieces. No, this wasn’t a set that he purchased from a store, but rather built entirely freehand. After visiting The City That Never Sleeps with his younger brother Ashton in 2019, it left a lasting impression to say the least. Using a combination of his memory from a helicopter ride, along with some photographs, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, One World Trade Center, and more, were recreated in brick form. Read more for a video and additional information.
It’s official, the LEGO Technic McLaren Senna GTR, consisting of 830-pieces, is the first McLaren supercar to be recreated in LEGO Technic form. Not just a simple brick recreation, this set has a V8 engine with moving pistons, sleek racing curves, dihedral doors that actually open, and a unique blue paint job. It’s the newest model to be released as part of the long partnership with McLaren Automotive that started back in 2015. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Photo credit: Teslerati
SpaceX‘s historic Crew-1 flight is currently on its way to the International Space Station, and there is one unexpected guest, Baby Yoda, or technically “The Child” from The Mandalorian. Why? It’s being used as a zero-gravity indicator to let Commander Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker from NASA and Soichi Noguchi from Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency, when they’ve reached a microgravity environment. Read more for a video and additional information.
If your love LEGO, traveling, and / or Italy, you’ll want to get this set when it’s released on Black Friday (Nov. 27th). Consisting of a massive 9,036 pieces, the Colosseum (10276) is the largest LEGO brick set launched to date and mimics the incredible architecture of the original Roman amphitheater right down to the small details, including the three levels of the original adorned with the columns of the Doric, Ionic as well as Corinthian orders. Read more for two videos, including a review / speed build, additional pictures and information.
The Ghostbusters: Afterlife film may have been pushed back to March 5, 2021, but the LEGO Group might have something to hold you over until then. A 2,352-piece Ghostbusters ECTO-1 set that is packed full of authentic details from the iconic converted 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance. Plus, it includes various tools required by any Ghostbuster to track and catch ghoulish enemies, including a moving, wheel-activated ghost sniffer, an extendable rear gunner seat, working steering wheel and a host of other paranormal detection equipment. Read more for a hands-on review, speed build, additional pictures and information.
The Mandalorian season two arrives on October 30th for Disney+ subscribers, and to celebrate, Mattel reveals “The Child Real Moves Plush”. Standing 11-inches tall, this Baby Yoda isn’t just something that sits on your desk or a shelf, but rather a remote-controlled toy that can not only move around, but wiggle its head, ears as well as arm. It comes donning the signature brown robe and Mandalorian pendant, complete with four different play modes. Read more for a video and additional information.
Technically speaking, gesture recognition refers to a computer science and language technology with the goal of interpreting human gestures via mathematical algorithms. We’ve seen this used in video games, security systems, computers, and now, remote-controlled cars. One of the earliest examples of wired gloves for the consumer market is the Nintendo Power Glove, released in 1989. This stunt car uses a gesture-sensing watch of sorts. Read more to see it in-action.
Hasbro’s next big crowdfunding campaign is here, and it’s for the HasLab Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Razor Crest. At $349.99, this ship will be one of the largest The Vintage Collection vehicles ever produced by Hasbro, measuring 30 inches long (with the main cannons), 20 inches wide, and 10.5 inches tall (when sitting on the landing gear). Fans who back this HasLab will also receive a 3.75-inch Star Wars: The Vintage Collection The Mandalorian Figure in Beskar armor with a one-of-a-kind soft goods cape. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Radio Flyer is best known for their little red wagon and tricycle, but now, they’re going a bit more high-tech with the My First Tesla Model Y: Ride-On. It’s designed for children as young as one and a half to four years old and features the authentic design of Tesla’s full-sized Model Y vehicle, complete with a honking horn, ergonomic seat, black induction wheels as well as working steering. Read more for a video and additional information.