Animals

This post is a review of the nanoblock Nautilus build. Nautilus is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_192 

Number of Pieces: 170

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

The Nautilus is an ancient distant relative of a squid. This is a very interesting build because it is built from the back, and the base is built into the finished build.

The build begins with a base layer that will become the back of the finished Nautilus. I laid the bricks out on my nanoblock pad.

The build goes up in very straightforward layers. The base is built off the Nautilus, added to the build, and locked into place in the next layers.

I had difficulty reading step 6 to see how the first layer was added. This is the layer where the eyes are added. Since all the bricks had an overhang on the layer before, it wasn’t clear how they were attached.

Then, I finished the main body of the Nautilus. The next several steps is adding the tentacles.

The last step is to flip the build onto its clear base so it looks like the Nautilus is floating.

Things I liked:

• I like how it looks like the Nautilus is floating

Things I didn’t like:

• I wish step 6 had been clearer for how to add the bricks to the build

This post is a review of the nanoblock Rabbit build. Rabbit is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_179 

Number of Pieces: 120

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

This kit began by laying the base layer on my nanoblock pad. The base layer was grey.

The body goes up in straightforward layers. After a few layers, white is added to create the neck of the rabbit.

The next step is to build and attach the head. Once again, I started working on my nanoblock pad. I added the nose, eyes, and ears as the head goes up in layers. Then, I flipped the head over and attached bricks to build more of the neck.

Then, I attached the head to the body of the rabbit.

The last section is to build the flowers. I found keeping the flowers square to be a bit tricky because of the rounded bricks.

Things I liked:

• I like how the rabbit has the white collar and the added details

Things I didn’t like:

• I don’t love how the rabbit’s ears look. It was ok from the front, but the pink wouldn’t be visible from the back

This post is a review of the nanoblock Sea Otter build. Sea Otter is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_110 

Number of Pieces: 90

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Based on the sign, I believe this kit was only available at the Osaka Aquarium.

This is a very unusual build because the final build isn’t attached to the base.

I began the build by laying out the body on my nanoblock pad. The body went up in straightforward layers. I also attached the tail as well.

Then I flipped the build over and added the clam and legs.

Next, I built and added the head. I also added the paws.

The final step was to place the stand on the base. Then I added the otter to the base on its back, but it didn’t connect it just lay on the stand.

I also built the sign for the Osaka Aquarium.

Things I liked:

• I really like how the body of the otter looks, and I feel that that body does look like an otter

Things I didn’t like:

• I feel that the finished head looks funny. Maybe I didn’t get it posed well

This post is a review of the nanoblock Lion build. Lion is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_170

Number of Pieces: 140

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

I began this build by laying the base layer on my nanoblock pad. It was a combination of gold and brown bricks.

I added the layers to create the body and the back of the mane of the lion.

The next step was to build the face of the lion. This section was built off the main build. It contained a bunch of off-center bricks, so I couldn’t line it up on my pad. It was a bit tricky to line everything up.

Then, I built the rest of the head and curved around to close the mane. This is also where I added the eyes and ears.

Next, I added some details to the base of the base of the build. This is where I learned that I was missing a brick and wouldn’t be able to build the Lion completely right. There is supposed to be another brick at the base of the mane. Since it wasn’t a support brick, I continued on the build and finished the rest of the build.

The next step was to build the legs. The legs are each built individually, so it looks like the lion is walking. I really like the dynamic aspect of the build.

The final step is to build the tail, which is very straightforward.

Things I liked:

• I really like how the legs look like the lion is walking because the legs aren’t symmetrical

Things I didn’t like:

• This kit didn’t have all the bricks required to build it in a new kit

This post is a review of the nanoblock Bluefin Tuna build. Bluefin Tuna is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_116 

Number of Pieces: 160

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

I believe this is a limited release and is only available at Tokyo Sea Life Park. The sticker on my package came with a sticker that said 25th anniversary, but I’m not sure which one.

The first step is building 2 base layer sections and connecting them. I tried, but I couldn’t use my nanoblock pad as a base because some squares were not lined up.

The rest of the tuna’s body goes up in layers, rounding out the body and closing it up.

Then, the fins and tail are added.

The last step is to connect the tuna to the base.

Things I liked:

• I like that there are a number of limited releases including this one, I feel that it would make a special souvenir while traveling. It does make it harder to collect the kits.

Things I didn’t like:

• I don’t like when bricks are stuck in ball socket joints to create eyes

This post is a review of the nanoblock Greater Flamingo build. Greater Flamingo is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_055

Number of Pieces: 110

Difficulty Rating: 3

I bought this kit used, which meant it had been opened and possibly built before. I wasn’t sure if all the pieces were included when I bought the kit. Sadly when I opened the kit, I learned that I had all the pieces, but there was some discoloration of the white and light pink bricks.

The instructions for this kit are unusual because instead of step-by-step instructions, there is a picture of the finished flamingo and instructions for how to build each section: the body, head, and leg.

The leg is the most simple section. It is simply a stack of 1×1 bricks on the base.

I built the body on my nanoblock pad. I laid out the base layer and added the layers to create and close up the top of the build. Then, I flipped the build over, added some more detail, and added the second leg. The second leg is a stack of bricks built to look like stairs.

The head and neck are very straightforward. The neck is a stack of 1x1s broken in the middle by a 2×1. The head is simply a few layers of bricks.

To complete the build, all three sections are combined to complete the finished flamingo.

Things I liked:

• I find the fact that the build is fairly stable; standing just one leg is impressive.

Things I didn’t like:

• Sadly since this is a kit I bought used, there is some discoloration of the white and light pink bricks

This post is a review of the nanoblock Racoon Dog build. Raccoon Dog is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_303

Number of Pieces: 150

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

This build has 2 major sections, the head, and the body.

I began the body by laying my base layer on my nanoblock pad. I was able to easily follow the directions for all the layers. The layers seemed a bit haphazard, and it was hard to tell what I was creating as I put the bricks together.

The top of the body has a layer of flat bricks where the head will be attached. Because there is a flat layer with only 1 stud to hold the head, the head can rotate around.

I wasn’t able to figure out how to lay the head out on my nanoblock pad, so I just built it on the table. Other than lining up the front and back sections, the head is fairly straightforward.

The final steps are to add the front legs and attach the head. The front legs are very straightforward. Figuring out exactly where to attach the head was a bit tricky but the instructions did make sense on close inspection.

Things I liked:

• I really like the stripy tail and how the head looks
• I like that the head is posable

Things I didn’t like:

• When I picked the build off my pad, I kept popping off the hind legs

This post is a review of the nanoblock Polar Bear build. Polar Bear is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_012

Number of Pieces: 120

Difficulty Rating: 2

I bought this kit used, knowing I would at least get the instructions. I ended additionally getting all the bricks to complete the kit. Sadly, however, the white has become yellow with age. The discolored bricks may be visible in my photographs.

The build begins with a layer of white bricks that I lay out on my nanoblock pad. It goes up in fairly straightforward layers, and the head of the polar bear is built into the layers.

After building the body, the feet and legs are added to the bottom of the build. For some reason, the front of the feet is black, which makes me think the paws look funny.

Things I liked:

• I feel that the polar bear is very recognizable for how early of a build this kit

Things I didn’t like:

• I don’t like the feet because the black on the feet stands out so much because the front of the feet are black

This post is a review of the nanoblock Clown Fish build. Clown Fish is part of the nanoblock Mini Collection series. Wondering what else is part of the Mini Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBC_002 

Number of Pieces: 110

Difficulty Rating: 2/3

This build is fairly unusual because the nanoblocks in the set are on their sides.

This kit contains instructions and materials to make 2 clown fish, one large and one smaller fish. They follow the same pattern for creating the fish.

Each fish begins at the back of the tail. The body is then built as a single stack of bricks. At some point, there is a 2×2 that widens the fish. Each layer adds the stripes of the clown fish.

Each fish is held up by a 1×4 clear brick on its side. It is placed at the bottom of the fish.

The kit comes with a clear blue base plate. Since there isn’t a way to attach the base, I haven’t used the provided base.

Things I liked:

• I feel that both of the fish are highly recognizable as clown fish.

Things I didn’t like:

• I wish there was a way to attach the fish to the base