Brickmania Blog

No German Navy is complete without the Kriegsmarine! While the Germans are often famous for U-Boats, they also fielded a modest navy with warships crewed by these sailors. This Brickmania exclusive minifigure features a printed Gold Kriegsmarine Eagle Stahlhelm helmet and a textured life vest.

This figure uses only genuine LEGO® and BrickArms® Elements with custom printing done in house at Brickmania’s HQ in Minneapolis, MN.

This WWII German Kriegsmarine features exclusive custom-printed artwork designed by Lando.

LEGO and the LEGO Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site or these products.

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Special Offer:

Buy the Mark A “Whippet” by November 13 and get free shipping on your entire order*

*Within the USA free shipping means delivery by the United States Postal Service using First Class Mail (packages up to 8 ounces) and Priority Mail (packages over 8 ounces). Select Countries: Free Economy Mail delivery (4-8 weeks) is also being offered to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

About the Mark A “Whippet” – WWI Medium Tank:

Eight miles per hour may not sound fast, but the Medium Tank Mk A “Whippet” was the fastest tank on the field in 1917. Armed with three to four Hotchkiss machine guns and manned by a crew of three, the Whippet presented a new opportunity for Allied forces to break through the stalemate that had plagued military commanders for several years.

Much like other tanks of its time, the Whippet was primitive in design. Each tread had its own engine, which required the driver to perform a complicated juggling act of operating two clutch pedals at the same time. The tank would often fill with fumes from the engine, requiring the crew to wear gas masks. Tanks often broke down, forcing their crews to abandon the vehicle and making them easy targets for German field guns.

Nonetheless, the tank performed well in wreaking havoc behind enemy lines. One such example was a Whippet named “Musical Box”, commanded by Lieutenant C. B. Arnold. Arnold took his Whippet behind German lines and went on a nine-hour rampage, harassing supply vehicles and attacking groups of retreating infantry.

The kit features an early war red-and-white pattern. The WWI British Tanker minifigure features an odd-looking chain-mail mask. This medieval-style mask helped protect the crew from flying, red-hot shrapnel caused by enemy machine gun fire.

Specifications:

• Crew: 3 or 4
• Weight: 14 tons
• Engine: two 45-hp Tylor four-cylinder petrol
• Maximum speed: 8.3 mph (13.4 km/h)
• Range: 160 miles (257 km)
• Armament: four Hotchkiss machine guns

Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:

The Mark A “Whippet” – WWI Medium Tank comes with the following features:

• Four BrickArms Hotchkiss Machine Guns
• Operating Hatches
• Viewable Engine Compartment
• Historically Accurate Early War Red and White Paint Scheme
• Sticker Decal Sheet
• Printed Grill Tiles
• WWI British Tanker Minfigure
• Includes 455 genuine new-condition LEGO® & BrickArms elements
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models
• Intermediate Skill Level (4-6 years of experience with LEGO is recommended)

All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited-edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.

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Preview:

Brickmania salutes Veterans world-wide with a 15% off coupon good through our website with coupon code VET17. This offer is also valid in our retail stores, but you must bring in a printed copy of this coupon or show on your mobile device.

Offer expires Sunday, November 12th, 2017 at midnight.

*Coupon not valid on Elite Membership enrollment
*Can not be used on prior purchases online and in retail locations

Perfect for MOCs and displays, get them while they last!

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About the Panther:

The Panther was a German medium tank deployed during WWII on the Eastern and Western fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war’s end in 1945. The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Nevertheless, it served alongside the Panzer IV and the heavier Tiger I until the end of the war. It is considered one of the best tanks in WWII for its excellent firepower and protection, though its reliability was less impressive.

The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same engine as the Tiger I, it had more efficient frontal hull armor, better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse through rough terrain better than the Tiger I. The trade-off was weaker side armor, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire. In addition, the Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I, and only slightly more expensive than the Panzer IV. Despite being classified as a medium tank by the Germans, it was known as a heavy tank to the Allied forces due to its thick armor, powerful gun, and weight similar to the heavy tanks used by the Allied nations.

Specifications:

• Weight: 44.8 tons
• Crew: 5 (driver, radio-operator/hull machine gunner, commander, gunner, loader)
• Armor: 80 mm
• Main armament: 1 x 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 (79 rounds)
• Secondary armament: 2 x 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns (5,100 rounds)
• Engine: V-12 petrol Maybach HL230 P30
• Operational range: 160 mi
• Speed: 34 mph (first models); 29 mph (later models)

Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:

The Panther Ausf G with Ambush Camouflage kit comes with the following features:

• Historically correct, late war “Ambush Camouflage” pattern on the hull and turret
• Three Panther crewman with “DOT44” pattern uniforms and printed hats
• Detailed interior with Maybach engine and seats for the driver and hull machine gunner
• Four opening hatches for crew and engine access
• BrickArms MG34 with Saddle Drum for anti-aircraft protection
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models.
• Includes 823 genuine new-condition LEGO® bricks and BrickArms® elements
• Advanced Skill Level (6-8 years of experience with LEGO is recommended)

All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.

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The Ordnance Quick Firing 18 Pounder (weight refers to the weight of the shell) was developed as a rapid-firing artillery piece for use by British and Dominion armies. During World War One, the 18 pounder was the standard field gun on all fronts and was praised for its lethal effectiveness.

Additional information about this Brickmania custom Lego® kit:

The Ordnance QF 18 Pounder has the following features

• Gun details include seats for two crewmen, raisable lower gun shield and collapsable hand spike
• Includes two custom-printed WW1 British mini figures
• Includes two hand-injected SMLE Rifle with Bayonet from BrickArms
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models
• Over-all color is new dark gray
• Includes 59 genuine new-condition LEGO® and BrickArms® elements
• Sophomore Skill Level (2-4 years experience with LEGO is recommended)

All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.

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About the Marder III Ausf M:

Marder III was the name for a series of WWII German tank destroyers. The III series had a more refined purpose-driven look with a stable chassis, mounting four road wheels to a side. They were mounted with either a Soviet 76mm F-22 Model 1936 divisional field gun, or a German 7.5cm PaK 40, on top of the Panzer 38(t) chassis. The Marder III offered little protection to the crew, but added significant firepower compared to contemporary German tanks. Production of the Marder III ran from 1942 to 1944 and served on all fronts until the end of the war.

This Marder III variant was based on the Geschützwagen 38(t) Ausf. M, a vehicle for self-propelled gun use. The Ausf. M offered significant improvements over previous models with its lower silhouette, sloped armor and much more functional fighting compartment. It was adequate in the ambush role, fixed defensive role or calibrated offensive artillery role from a distance. The fighting compartment could be lowered down to the bottom of the floor level, which decreased crew exposure, as well as visibility. Combat effectiveness was increased since the vehicle commander was freed from manning the gun.

Specifications:

• Weight: 23,523 lbs
• Crew: 4
• Armor: 10-50 mm
• Main armament: 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) or 7.5 cm PaK 40
• Secondary Armament: 7.92 mm MG 37(t), MG 34 or MG 42
• Engine: Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled, 6-cylinder gasoline
• Suspension: Leaf spring
• Operational range: 190-210 km
• Speed: 35-42 km/h

Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:

The Marder III Ausf M kit comes with the following features:

• Posable main gun with a realistic degree of elevation and traverse
• Fully articulated Brickmania Track Links™
• Late-war “ambush camouflage” coloration
• Accessible compartment for driver with opening hatch
• Shell racks for up to six BrickArms artillery shells (sold separately)
• Includes one fully printed “Dot 44” camouflage minifigure
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models
• Designed by Daniel Siskind
• Includes 391 genuine new-condition LEGO®, Brickmania™ and BrickArms® elements
• Intermediate Skill Level (4-6 years of experience with LEGO is recommended)

All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.

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About the Rolls-Royce Armored Car:

The outbreak of the Great War (World War I) in Europe saw the use of new technologies on the battlefield – machine guns, barbed wire, and aircraft. Among these new technologies was the Rolls Royce Armored Car. Beginning with the “Silver Ghost” open-top model, the Rolls Royce Armored Car went through several improvements including a fully covered top and commander cupola.

It was soon discovered that the Rolls Royce was not well-suited for the muddy and uneven terrain of the Western Front. Many were deployed to the Eastern Front and used against Turkish forces by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), who is quoted as saying that his squadron of armored cars were “worth more than rubies”.  These vehicles allowed Lawrence to disrupt Turkish supply lines and conduct hit-and-run operations against the Turkish military. These tactics were later noted by other desert commanders such as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

Specifications

• Weight: 4.7 tons
• Length: 4.93 m (194 in)
• Width: 1.93 m (76 in)
• Height: 2.54 m (100 in)
• Crew: 3
• Armor: 12 mm (0.47 in)
• Main armament: .303 Vickers machine gun
• Engine: 6-cylinder petrol, water-cooled; 80 hp (60 kW)
• Power/weight: 19hp/ton
• Suspension: 4×2 wheels
• Operational range: 240 km or 150 miles
• Speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)

Additional information about this Brickmania building kit:

• One custom printed WWI British Infantry minifigure 
• Lewis gun & Vickers Barrel from BrickArms®
• 1/35 scale matches other Brickmania models
• The over-all color scheme of this model is dark gray
• Intermediate skill level (4-6 years of experience recommended)
• Includes 198 LEGO® and® BrickArms elements.

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The 1/4 ton 4×4 General Purpose Utility Car (aka “Jeep”) is an American legend born during WWII. Hundreds of thousands of the jeeps were produced in during WWII and remained one of the US military’s main general purpose vehicles until the late 1980’s.

Additional information about this Brickmania custom Lego® kit:

• Hood tile has custom pad-printed US star
• Windscreen can be used in the raised or lowered position
• Has a hitch to tow a trailer or artillery piece
• 1/35 scale matches other Brickmania models
• The over-all color scheme of this model is dark gray
• Includes 124 LEGO elements.

This Brickmania model kit is made from genuine unused LEGO bricks and is shipped disassembled. Also included are full-color printed building instructions and is packaged in a sealed box. All Brickmania building kits are limited production and may be discontinued at any time.

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