Tag: NBC

Review of nanoblock Violin NBC_018

August 28, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_018

Number of Pieces: 180

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

I began building the violin from the base of the instrument. I didn’t pay much attention and goofed up lining up studs in the first step. I needed to redo the step, carefully following the arrows as the bottom of the violin grew larger.

The next couple of steps are straightforward layers that were simple to follow. The hardest part is there are a few bricks that aren’t pinned between layers, so they can easily fall off.

The next step is to build the black neck and the strings of the violin. These are tall stacks of bricks in either black or clear. Since each is a multiple of 3, I built sections of 3 and connected the sections together to make sure I had tall enough stacks.

The next step is to build and attach the scroll of the violin.

The final step is to build the bow. This is a basic 2 layers of bricks and is very straightforward.

Next, I attached the violin to the base. It isn’t possible to connect the bow to the base how the instructions show the bow connected to the base. I wish nanoblock didn’t show builds on bases in impossible formats.

Things I liked:

I like how the scroll looks. I feel like it is the most accurate part of the build

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like how the bow is “attached” to the base in the instructions since I can’t connect my bow to the base that way
The sides of the build are very blocky, and it makes the violin look like it has random sections popping out

Review of nanoblock Magellanic Penguins NBC_068

August 21, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_068

Number of Pieces: 130

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

This kit has 3 penguins. There are 2 baby penguins and an adult. This build is unusual because the finished build’s front is on an angle.

First, I’ll discuss the adult penguin. I began by laying the base layer of bricks on my nanoblock pad. Then, I added the layers to build the body.

Magellanic Penguins build front 3/4 view

The next step is to add the wings. The wings hung down and added more layers, so it was tricky not to push the bottom of the wings out of place.

The rest of the adult penguin goes up in fairly straightforward layers. Then, the feet are added to the bottom of the build.

Next, there are 2 penguin chicks. They are built completely the same. Each chick is a straightforward collection of layers of bricks.

Things I liked:

I really like how many penguins are a part of this build

Things I didn’t like:

The area with the breaks is a bit funny because the whole build is on an angle

Review of nanoblock Acoustic Guitar NBC_096

August 14, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_096

Number of Pieces: 150

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

I began by laying the may layer of bricks on my nanoblock pad. It had a light brown front and a dark brown back.

I built the body of the guitar in layers. The layers added more details to make the guitar very recognizable. I was surprised that the sound hole in the center of the garage was hollow because it didn’t look that way in the pictures.

The next step was to add the neck. I really like the use of clear bricks to create strings because it adds depth to the strings.

The final step was to build the head of the guitar. I found these instructions slightly confusing for some reason, but I was able to build the head.

Things I liked:

I liked the use of clear bricks to represent the strings
I liked the fact that the guitar is hollow with a hole in the main body

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t love the random brown brick in the middle of the strings. In my head, the strings go all the way along without being interrupted

Review nanoblock Alto Saxophone NBC_106

August 7, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_106

Number of Pieces: 120

Difficulty Rating: 1

I’m not sure I agree this is a level 1 difficulty. I found it more difficult than several of the 2/5 that I have completed.

The Alto Saxophone is built in several steps to create large chunks that are all connected in the end to finish the build.

The first section that is built is the body of the Alto Saxophone. A bunch of round bricks created the body. It was a bit tricky because the body rotates, but there isn’t a note in the instructions that says it gets rotated.

The next step is to build the neck and mouthpieces of the instrument. These steps were very straightforward and simple to build.

The next step is to build the bell in 2 sections. The first section is to build very straightforward. In the second section, I had difficulty figuring out what step one was. It was marked, but I still had difficulty figuring it out.

The next step is to build the stand for the Alto Saxophone. This was very straightforward.

Finally, I connected all the pieces to create a finished Alto Saxophone. I liked how the instrument is on an angle so it looks like it can be played.

Things I liked:

I like how the finished build is at an angle

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like how unclear step 12 was when I was building the instrument.

Review of nanoblock Nautilus NBC_192

July 31, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Review of nanoblock Rabbit NBC_179

July 24, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Review of nanoblock Sea Otter NBC_110

July 17, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Review of nanoblock Lion NBC_170

July 10, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Review of nanoblock Bluefin Tuna NBC_116

July 3, 2025August 21, 2024shygal

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

Review of nanoblock Daruma NBC_045

January 2, 2025March 20, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_045

Number of Pieces: 180

Difficulty Rating: 2

This build begins with a layer of red bricks that I lay out on my nanoblock pad. The body goes up in layers of red and, eventually, yellow. It is a bit tricky to follow what exactly happens because, in several places, pieces are added to the underside of a brick that is being added.

After a few layers, the base of the face is added. From that point, only the side and back are added to the build until the sections begin to curve in.

The next step is to build the face. This was by far the hardest part of the build because the instructions aren’t clear as to what size brick to use. It took my quite a bit of guessing and trial and error to find the right combination.

After building the face, the face section gets added to the body section. The body section is then closed up, and the build is complete.

This kit comes with 3 Kanji stickers. Since I’m not sure what the stickers say and I don’t normally put stickers on my builds, I chose not to put a sticker on this build.

Things I liked:

I really like how the finished face looks for so small of a build

Things I didn’t like:

I wish that the instructions had been clearer in several places