Tag: Sights to See

Review of nanoblock Citta Del Vaticano NBH_152

January 22, 2026July 25, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Citta Del Vaticano build. Citta Del Vaticano is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_152

Country: Vatican City

Number of Pieces: 780

Difficulty Rating: 4/5

This build is split into 2 sections. There is the building and the plaza.

Overall, telling which brown to use was a bit tricky for the Camel and Gold Brown. Sometimes the instructions said which color to use, but other times, they didn’t tell me.

The first section that the instructions cover is the actual building. The first step was to raise the 20×20 by a level. This meant when I was connecting the 2 bases, I had a very solid connection.

The next step is to lay out the base layer of bricks on the 20×20 level.

The building goes up in straightforward layers. I like the detail that goes into each layer so the building looks more detailed.

After adding several layers, I added the roof over a few steps.

Then, I added the blue dome to the roof.

The next step is to build the plaza. I found the plaza surprisingly tricky.

The first step is laying out the white and grey brick base layer on the 20×20 baseplate.

Next, I added the semicircles around the plaza. Building the chains was pretty straightforward, but curling the bricks wasn’t very clear. I’m unsure I got things lined up properly when I attached them to the base.

The kit comes with a couple nanoids that I didn’t include because I’m relatively sure they don’t match the scale.

Things I liked:

I like that one of the bases is raised, so when the bases were connected, there was a solid base

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like how it wasn’t clear when to use which brown in some steps

Review of nanoblock Florence NBH_164

January 15, 2026January 28, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Florence build. Florence is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_164

Country: Italy

Number of Pieces: 730

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

This kit is used to build the Duomo, which is a massive cathedral in Florence.

The kit begins building the base, which is 1 20×20 base and 2 10×10 bases. The outline of the building is also laid out in the first step.

The church goes up in fairly straightforward layers.

The next step is to build the dome from a couple of rings of bricks. Each ring connects in the center of the tower.

Then, some details are built around rings to create a base for the dome.

The final step of the main building is to build the dome. I wish I had built it on my nanoblock pad because the edge sections kept popping off.

Next, the details of the main complex will be added.

First is to build the small building out front. It is very straightforward.

Second is to build the tall tower off to the side. This is a bit tricky because some of the steps are unclear as to which light grey bricks to use.

Finally, the last details are all. This includes the roof of the outer buildings and the trees. There is also a nanoid, which I didn’t include because it didn’t match the scale.

Things I liked:

How the dome is built with the rings

Things I didn’t like:

In looking at photos of Florence, I have no idea how there are trees near the building

Review of nanoblock Pine Bonsai NBH_133

January 8, 2026January 28, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Pine Bonsai build. Pine Bonsai is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_133

Country: Japan

Number of Pieces: Japan

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

This is the first and so far only kit I have been so frustrated with that I packed it up to build it another time. I think I had it put away for over a year. Making the branches was very difficult because bricks kept popping off as I added new bricks because the bricks were so tight.

The kit begins by creating the table and the pot that the tree is sitting in. Building the pot was a little difficult because I was having to guess when bricks would overhang the base because it wasn’t super clear where the new clicked in depth wise.

After building the pot I added moss, a rock and the base of the tree. This was pretty straightforward.

Now for the main section of the build the actual bonsai tree.

Each step of the tree includes creating new branches and the pine needles.

Overall the branch instructions are very clear. This means that the support of the tree is solid and stable.

When it came to the pine needles, I personally had a hard time reading the instructions because the pieces in the instructions were at a different angle than my actual build was at. I had an additional struggle where my bricks kept falling off as I added new bricks to the pine needles.

The final step is to connect the roots in the pot.

Things I liked:

I liked how clear it was when to use which shade of green in each step. This is because the coloring in the instructions is different enough that it is super helpful

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like that it looks like the finished base looks about ready to collapse. I think additional bricks on the bottom would have been helpful

Review of nanoblock Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 NBH_143

January 1, 2026January 28, 2025shygal

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 build and box

This post is a review of the nanoblock Review of nanoblock Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 NBH_143 build. Review of nanoblock Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 NBH_143 is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_143

Country: Taiwan

Number of Pieces: 620

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 build front view

When I opened the kit I was surprised that there were three 20×20 plates. This is by far the largest base I’ve had for the NBH collection.

This kit comes with 2 stickers. I didn’t put them on the build because they cover several bricks, which means I can’t take the building apart to store it.

The first step is to build the actual memorial on one 20×20 base.

First, I laid the outline of the building on the base plate. This creates the platform the memorial is on.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 build side view

After completing the platform in the first couple steps, I laid out the outline of the memorial in the center of the platform.

The memorial goes up in layers that are fairly straightforward. In one step, I added a 10×10 plate. I had difficulty adding the plate. I think this is because the building was slightly not square, so it couldn’t land on the track.

After building the white building, I added the blue roof. The roof was very straightforward.

Then, it was time to create the rest of the base. This began by laying out bricks on the base, connecting the 2 remaining base plates together.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 build back view

The next step is to build the gate at the front of the base plates. The hardest part was telling that the bricks were laid out so they hung over on both sides.

After finishing the gates, I added the trees.

The kit comes with several nanoids, but I didn’t include them because they don’t match the scale of the building.

The last step is to connect the walkway to the memorial building. There is a bit of overhang on the walkway to connect the 2 plates.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Ver 2.0 3/4 view at the back at the building

Things I liked:

I like how the build has a very long walkway by having 3 20×20 plates in a row

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t like the stickers, and I wish it had the printed bricks that newer kits have

Review of nanoblock Christmas Night NBH_191

December 25, 2025November 29, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Christmas Night build. Christmas Night is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_191

Number of Pieces: 530

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

This kit is made up of several smaller sections that are all placed on the baseplate.

The first section is to build the house on the left. I bought this kit used so it was a bit difficult to tell where to use the tan vs the golden single bricks. I guess that the tan bricks were the more peachy-looking bricks on the instructions. Other than the coloring questions, this house was very straightforward.

The second section is the house on the right. Once again, I was guessing about the colors, but overall, the instructions were clear.

The next section is to lay out the base. This was a bit tricky because the photos were so small it was a bit tricky to keep track of where the bricks went. After laying out the fences, sections 1 and 2 were attached to the base.

Then, some trees and a plant pot were added to the base.

The next section is the sleigh. There were 2 problems with my sleigh. First, the base of my sleigh wasn’t very secure until I attached the runners at a much later step. Secondly, it looked to me like there was no gap between the seat and the presents, but when I built it, I had a gap.

The next section was the reindeer. He was very clear overall, including when attached to the sleigh.

After building the reindeer and sleigh, the sleigh runners are finally added. The structure that holds up the sleigh is also added.

The last major section to build is the Christmas tree right out front.

This kit also came with a nanobbit dressed up as Santa. Since I bought the kit used it was already put together. He sits nicely in the sleigh but will fall out with any movement.

Things I liked:

I really like the amount of height and the various heights throughout the build. I feel that it adds a lot

Things I didn’t like:

I don’t love the combining of clear and solid bricks. I don’t feel that it adds a lot, nor do I think that so many bricks are clear is marked clearly in the instructions

Review nanoblock Play in the Snow NBH_165

December 18, 2025November 29, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Play in the Snow build. Play in the Snow is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_165

Number of Pieces: 360

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

I bought this kit used, knowing I would at least get the instructions. Sadly, the bricks had yellowed, which may be visible in the photos. There are bricks that can’t be bought individually, so I couldn’t use my spare white bricks.

This build is broken up into 3 different sections. There is the snowball, the snowman, and the tree.

The first step is to prepare the base. It begins by laying a layer of clear and white bricks out on the white 20×20 base. I like how there is an indent where the path of the snowball that is being rolled would be. A couple more layers of white and clear bricks are added to the base.

The next step is to build the snowball. The snowball goes up in straightforward layers, creating a rounded shape.

The next step is to build the snowman. The snowman has a body and a head. The most difficult thing about building the snowman is that there are 2 different slanted bricks. One is steeper than the other. The instructions used a symbol to denote which brick to use, but I kept getting the colors of the symbol confused.

The body of the snowman is built on the base plate. There are several layers of white bricks, but eventually, various colors are used to create the scarf, arms, and gloves.

The head was pretty straightforward. I like that the snowman is smiling and how his carrot nose sicks out. After building the head, it it attached to the body.

The tree was built off the base plate. It begins with a layer of green that quickly turns to white to show how the tree is snow-covered. The tree goes up in straightforward layers of white. The only tricky part was when there was an overhang making sure that the right amount was overhanging. Then, the tree is flipped over, and the truck is added. Then, the tree is attached to the base by the trunk.

A nice detail of the kit is that it comes with a nanobit. Since I got the kit used, it has already been built. It was easy to pose the nanobit so that it looked like he was rolling the snowball.

Things I liked:

I really like the details of the various depths in the base plate, so it looks like the nanobit is walking in a trench made by the snowball

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t enjoy all the slanted pieces, but it’s my fault for buying a used kit

Review of nanoblock The Grand Hotel Taipei NBH_096

November 27, 2025November 29, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock The Grand Hotel Taipei build. The Grand Hotel Taipei is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_096

Country: Taiwan

Number of Pieces: 1030

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

This kit came with a Grand Hotel sticker with a number, so I’m assuming this kit was a limited run and was only available in Taiwan.

This kit comes with 2 20×20 base plates that are each built separately, and then the plates are connected.

The first plate contains the hotel building.

I began by laying out the base layer of bricks to create the foundation of the building. I needed to keep track of the number of spaces in gaps carefully.

The building goes up in a pattern. There are 2 layers of bricks with columns, then a roof layer. This repeats 5 times.

Then, I began to build the roof. There are a couple more layers to create a top of the main structure.

Then I built the roof. The roof was a bit tricky because I had a hard time knowing what a previous layer was and what an older layer was, so I wasn’t sure where to start a given layer.

The second plate is the front plaza and a gate.

I began by laying out the base layer of bricks which includes grass and columns.

Then, I built the gate. It was fairly straightforward, with clear instructions. I just needed to be careful to keep the bottom of the square bricks properly aligned.

Then, I added the trees in the courtyard.

The final step was to connect the bases. It was just a pair of 1×2 bricks, so the bases were heavy, so it was hard to move the finished build around without the bases coming apart.

Things I liked:

I really like the size of the build and that it can be used on the LED plates

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t find the instructions for the roof to be very clear and could have been much clearer

Review of nanoblock Sagrada Familia Transparent ver NBH_005R

November 20, 2025November 29, 2024shygal

Sagrada Familia Transparent ver build and box

This post is a review of the nanoblock Sagrada Familia Transparent ver build. Sagrada Familia Transparent ver is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_005R

Country: Spain

Number of Pieces: 510

Difficulty Rating: 4/5

Sagrada Familia Transparent ver build front view

This kit was one of the transparent versions that were released for nanoblock’s 10th anniversary. This kit is special because most of the bricks in the kit are transparent and come in unique colors.

Sagrada Familia Transparent ver build side view

This kit begins by laying a layer of brown bricks out on a clear yellow base.

I was surprised that most of the building was built in the center of the brown base. It builds in fairly straightforward layers. It was a bit tricky to tell which bricks to use in some steps.

Next, there is a step that adds some stair-looking things to the back. In the next steps, the steps are locked into place. When I built the back of the building, the bricks bent, so I needed to do more work to keep them in place.

Sagrada Familia Transparent ver build back view

The next step is to build the center section of the tower. I had some problems lining up the center section when I added it to my base section.

Next, some small details are added to the front section of the building.

The final step is to add the 4 spires. Building the spires was fairly straightforward. I had run out of square 1x1s, so I used round ones instead. I bought this kit used so I’m not sure if the bricks were lost or if I used square bricks where there should have been round ones.

Sagrada Familia Transparent ver build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I really like the clear bricks that were created for this kit. It makes the kit for special

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like that I was missing bricks, but I knew that was a risk getting a used kit

Review of nanoblock Burj Khalifa NBH_122

November 13, 2025November 29, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Burj Khalifa build. Burj Khalifa is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_122

Country: UAE (United Arab Emirates)

Number of Pieces: 550

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

The build begins by preparing the base layer. This consists of laying out bricks on the 20×20 clear base.

Then, I began to build the actual tower. Each step has the instructions to add 3 layers to the tower. Overall, the steps were very straightforward. however, I had two difficulties.

First, since the entire tower is built of rounded bricks sometimes the layer wasn’t completely square. I caught this as it happened and was able to squeeze the layer back to square.

The second problem was that in some steps, there was a step in so the lower layer was the top. Generally, it was fairly clear, but I sometimes had a hard time keeping each layer lined up.

After building the main body of the tower there are some bricks to add the final height to the tower.

Things I liked:

I like the use of the dark grey every few layers to add some variation to the building

Things I didn’t like:

I’m not sure if the green on the base is accurate

Review of nanoblock Tokyo Tower NBH_090

November 6, 2025November 29, 2024shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Tokyo Tower build. Tokyo Tower is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_090

Country: Japan

Number of Pieces: 280

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

This is at least the second version of Tokyo Tower. The original is NBH_001. This kit has a gap in the bottom base so it can be used with one of the LED plates.

This kit begins by preparing the base plate. It consists of laying out green on a clear 20×20 baseplate. There is a gap in the green so that the light from the LED baseplate could come through.

The next few steps create the bottom of the tower and the building directly under the tower.

This build is unusual because each section of the building is built off the base and connected.

The first section is to build the base of the tower, which goes from 4 separate legs to 1 tower. I really liked how the arches were built.

The next section is building the rest of the tower. Each step is very straightforward. I like the amount of detail in each layer.

Note: I didn’t include the trees around the base. I don’t like how the trees look, so I left them off.

Things I liked:

I really like how the points where the legs become one tower

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like the trees, so I left them off