Tag: NBC

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

Review of nanoblock Snowman NBC_064

December 26, 2024March 12, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_064

Number of Pieces: 160

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

The build begins with a layer of white bricks that I laid out on my nanoblock pad. Layers were added to create a round bottom of the Snowman.

Next is creating the head. The head is once again layered with white bricks with different colors to create the scarf, mouth, nose, and eyes.

The final layers are to create the hat. Most of the bricks are black, but there is a blue ribbon around the base of the hat.

The final step is to add some details. First, there are the arms with mittens on the end. The mittens look a little odd with the section just sticking out from the red square. The last detail is to add some more layers to the scarf.

Things I liked:

I like the details, like the blue ribbon on the hat and the stripes of the scarf

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t love how the mittens on the arms look

Review of nanoblock Santa Claus NBC_041

December 19, 2024March 12, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_041

Number of Pieces: 140

Difficulty Rating: 2

I bought this kit used, knowing I would at least get the instructions. I also ended up 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.

This build goes straight up from the bottom of the shoes on the base. The first step is to place the feet on the base. Then, legs are added to the feet.

Next, the lower hips are added. Then the bag that Santa Claus is holding is built and added to the build. From there, the build continues to go up, creating the head and hat.

The final step is to add the left arm holding a gift. The gift has a lot of detail, considering how small the gift is.

Things I liked:

I like the box that Santa is holding. There are nice details, like how the ribbon goes around and goes up to create a bow.

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like the bag that Santa Claus is holding on his back. It seems to just float there instead of being held

Review of nanoblock X’mas Tree NBC_029

December 12, 2024March 12, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_029

Difficulty Rating: 1

This is a limited-release kit that was available at only George’s. I’m not sure what kind of shop it is, but several of the early nanoblock kits were only at George’s.

I bought this kit used, so I don’t have the package. When I purchased the kit, I knew I would be getting the instructions, which was the key thing I was looking for. I ended up getting the instructions and all the bricks to build the kit.

The first step is to build the truck of the tree. It starts with a 10×10 base. Brown bricks are added in layers to create the trunk.

The next step is to build the green main section of the tree. The tree begins with a small section that spreads out after a couple of layers.

Once the tree reaches its maximum diameter, the tree goes up in layers. Every couple of layers, the circumference gets a bit smaller. In every layer, a few tree decorations are added using 1×1 clear round pieces. It is important not to accidentally rotate the tree because the tree decorations wouldn’t be in the right place.

The tree is then connected to the trunk.

The final step is to build the star on top of the tree. In my opinion, the star is too big for the overall tree. The star is very straightforward to build.

Things I liked:

I like how many decorations are on the tree. Each layer seems to have some decorations on every edge

Things I didn’t like:

The star is way too big for the rest of the tree. I’m not sure how to make it smaller, but it is just too big

Review of nanoblock X’mas Wreath NBC_046

December 5, 2024March 19, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_046

Number of Pieces: 120

Difficulty Rating: 1

The sale of this kit was limited to George’s, which I understand is a store in Japan.

The wreath is a few layers of bricks tall. I lay the base layer of green bricks on my nanoblock pad. It would need to be the larger pad to be able to lay out the base layer.

When I got to the second layer, I built the bell in the center of the wreath. After adding the bell, I added the second and third layers of green.

The final layer is all the decorations on the wreath. They are spread out around the wreath in a matter that looks somewhat random.

The final step is to add the bow on the top of the wealth.

Things I liked:

I like how nanoblock creates the curved circle. Creating circles with squares isn’t super easy

Things I didn’t like:

I’m not sure what the brown decorations are supposed to be. They seem really large and random

Review of nanoblock Greater Flamingo NBC_055

November 28, 2024March 20, 2024shygal

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

Review of nanoblock Dinonix NBC_182

November 21, 2024March 20, 2024shygal

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

Number: NBC_182

Number of Pieces: 110

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

The build begins by building the body. Unlike a lot of builds, the legs are not symmetrical, so the body isn’t the same from side to side. The build goes up in fairly straightforward layers, including adding the front arms.

There is a step where the tail is added. I initially missed there was more to the step than just the tail, so I needed to go back and finish the step. I think it’s because the additional instructions were on the edge; I missed them.

Then, the head is built. The head is fairly straightforward, other than most of the build being off-center. The head is then attached to the head. I found the directions for where to add the head as really rough. It wasn’t clear where to attach the head to the body. I think if they had given a different view of the Dinonix, it would be much clearer how to attach the head.

The last step is to build the legs. They are a bit tricky because there are bricks just hanging out and hanging off the legs. The legs are not symmetrical, which is a nice detail to the build.

Things I liked:

I like that the legs are not symmetrical. This is a nice detail to the build

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like the directions for attaching the head to the body