Brickmania Blog

Special Offer:

Buy the WWI German Machine Gun Pill Box by May 1st 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 WWI German Machine Gun Pill Box:

World War I quickly bogged down into the stalemate of trench warfare all along the Western front during the early months of the war. Each side devised a system of defensive fortifications on their respective sides of the “no-man’s land” in between the opposing sides. The German defensive line, dubbed the “Hindenburg Line” by the Allies, was an extremely effective system of interlocking defense made up of a series of trenches, concrete bunkers, and regularly spaced machine gun pillboxes.

Brickmania has created a model based off one of the more common machine gun pillbox patterns used by the German building battalions. It has a removable roof to access the interior, great-looking camouflage on the exterior, five opening gun ports, and a custom two-man crew for the included prototype BrickArms MG08 Machine Gun. Only a small number of this premium-quality kit will be produced, coinciding with the release of Brickmania’s newest book The Great War: Instructions for WWI models using LEGO® Bricks.

Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:

The WWI German Machine Gun Pill Box comes with the following features:

• Historically accurate hexagonal shape and camouflage
• Opening door and five machine gun ports
• Opening roof allows play access to the interior
• Prototype MG08 Machine Gun from BrickArms
• Two custom printed WWI German Army minifigures
• Designed by Daniel Siskind
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models (Wingspan of 6.2 inches, Overall length of 9.75 inches)
• Includes 529 genuine new-condition LEGO® bricks and BrickArms® elements
• Intermediate Skill Level (3-4 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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Special Offer:

Buy the M7B1 Priest – 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage by April 24th 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 M7B1 Priest – 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage:

The M7 Priest was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle produced during WWII. Witnessing the events of the war, U.S. Army observers realized that they would need a self-propelled artillery vehicle with sufficient firepower to support armored operations. The pilot vehicles used the M3 chassis with an open-topped superstructure, mounting an M1A2 105 mm howitzer, and following trials, adding a machine gun. As the M4 Sherman tank replaced the M3, it was decided to continue production using the M4 chassis. The British had logistical problems with the M7, as it used U.S. ammunition that was not compatible with other British guns and had to be supplied to units.

During the Battle of the Bulge, each U.S. armored division had three battalions of M7s, giving them unparalleled mobile artillery support. To maintain a low silhouette, the howitzer’s elevation had to be restricted to 35°. In British service, some M7s carried a radio set, which required the removal of 24 rounds of ammunition.

Specifications:

• Weight: 50,640 lb
• Crew: 5-7
• Armor: 12-62mm
• Main armament: 105 mm M1/M2 Howitzer w/ 69 rounds
• Secondary armament: 1x 0.5 in M2 Browning machine gun w/ 300 rounds
• Engine: Continental R-975 C1 w/ 400 or 340 hp
• Suspension: Vertical volute spring
• Operational range: 120 mi
• Speed: 24 mph (on road); 15 mph (off road)

Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:

The M7B1 Priest – 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage comes with the following features:

• Contains M2HB + 9 shells
• Swiveling man gun with realistic elevation and depression
• Includes 4 custom-printed minifigures specifically designed for the M7 Priest
• Working suspension function as seen with other kits
• Storage tools and boxes included
• Designed by Cody Osell
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models.
• Includes 648 genuine new-condition LEGO® bricks and BrickArms® elements
• Intermediate skill level (4-5 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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Add our official M7 Priest Micro-armor to your arsenal for our Micro Brick Battle tabletop game. This kit includes the parts and instructions to build the game piece, as well as an exclusive M7 Priest collectible game card for our upcoming Bricks of War card game.

About “Stalin’s Sledgehammer”:

The M1931 (B-4) 203mm Howitzer, better known as “Stalin’s Sledgehammer”, was a Soviet heavy artillery piece. It earned its nickname by devastating German bunkers along the Eastern Front. It was used through the end of the war, at the Battle of Berlin the Red Army would bring the guns to point blank range to smash through German fortifications with heavy 203mm shells. The howitzer was part of Soviet High Command’s strategic reserve. It was designed in 1931 by Russian engineer Nikolai Nikititsch Magdesiew, and was produced from 1932 throughout the course of the war, 871 were built in total. Though it could only fire one round per minute, the 203mm high-explosive rounds weighed 220 lbs a piece and were disastrous for German defense.

Additional information about this Brickmania custom Lego® kit:

The M1931 (B-4) 203mm Howitzer has the following features:

• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models
• Includes 398 genuine new-condition LEGO® and BrickArms® elements

• 1 WWII Russian Infantry Mid War minifigure with Gunmetal PPSh

• Intermediate Skill Level (2-4 years of experience with LEGO is recommended)

All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes completed 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 Panzer III

Designed to be Germany’s tanks for fighting other tanks, the Panzer III saw it’s successful battlefield debut during the invasion of Poland. It proved to be a reliable and wining design and was continually upgraded and refined throughout the war. The Panzer III’s hull and chassis was also used to create the highly successful series of low-profile StuG III assault guns and tank destroyers.

The Panzer III is one of Brickmania’s most popular kits and we are constantly making upgrades and improvements. This edition incorporates a lot of upgrades over the previously more austere version. There are lots of nice “extra” features such the new 1.5 wide Brickmania Track Links, a BrickArms MG-34 on the anti-aircraft mount (in addition to the one in the hull), accessible interior spaces (upper and lower hull sections separate to reveal the interior), and more.

Additional information about this Brickmania custom Lego® kit:

The Panzer III has the following features:

• Fully rotating turret with elevating main gun assembly
• Fully articulated Brickmania Track Links™ tank treads
• Three opening hatches on the turret
• Radio antenna can be displayed in raised or lowered position
• Custom pad-printed panzer commander minifig
• BrickArms MG34s in the hull MG position and the anti-aircraft mount
• Sturdy construction means lots of play possibilities
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models
• Includes 501 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, Brickmania Track Links and BrickArms elements. This model comes disassembled, includes complete full color printed building instructions, and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited edition kit and may be discontinued at any time.

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The Gaz AAA was a 6×4 Cargo truck, based on the Ford AAA model, and built in the Soviet Union in the 1930’s and 40s. During World War II it was supplied to the Soviet Army by the thousands, serving a similar role as the CCKW “Jimmy” for the American Army. Gaz trucks were a vital component to the Soviet War effort and were used in a wide ranging variety of purposes, from hauling equipment, towing artillery pieces and forming the basis for numerous specialty vehicles.

Additional information about this Brickmania custom Lego® kit

The Gaz AAA has the following features:

• Opening cab doors, functioning tail gate and fold down side rails
• One custom pad-printed Soviet soldier minifig with BrickArms PPSh
• Sturdy construction for active play
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models
• Includes 171 genuine new-condition LEGO bricks elements
• Includes Brickmania Custom Pad Printed Russian Soldier
• Sophomore Skill Level (2-4 years of experience with LEGO is recommended)

All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks and this one includes compatible weapons by BrickArms. This model comes disassembled and includes completed 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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Today’s travelers are ready for any adventure that comes their way. They have no fear of being stranded by weather, undersized seats, ridiculous baggage fees, TSA pat downs, or even  re-accommodation by bullyboy airline employees. Grab your boarding pass and fly the unfriendly skies with Brickmania’s Frequent Flyer – Re-Accommodated Edition – Minifigure!  A portion of the proceeds of this figure will be donated to the Traveler’s Aid International.

Re-accommodate, verb: To bloody a paying passenger and drag his limp body away.

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

Brick Brigade Toy Lab is joining our development team, and with that comes a ton of exciting products that will be added to our current and future offerings. Brick Brigade has developed some high-quality military and sci-fi kits as well as custom military, sci-fi and comic genre minifigures. Look for these and more as Brick Brigade joins joins forces with Brickmania! We will be offering custom minifigures by Brick Brigade at Star War Celebration in Orlando, FL this weekend, and Silicon Valley Comic Con in San Jose, CA April 21-23. Towards the end of this month, expect to see the remaining premium Brick Brigade products available one last time through Brickmania!

We are offering 15% off storewide* to celebrate spring! Use coupon code SPRING15 at checkout to receive your discount!

*Not valid in retail store locations
*Cannot be used on elite membership purchases

Special Offer:

Buy the PzKfz VI King Tiger by April 17th 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 PzKfz VI King Tiger:

The Tiger II is a German heavy tank used during WWII. It was the successor to the Tiger I, combining the latter’s thick armor with the armor sloping used on the Panther medium tank. The tank weighed almost 70 tons and was protected by 100-185 mm of armor to the front. It was armed with the long barreled 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 anti-tank cannon, and the chassis was also the basis for the Jagtiger turretless tank destroyer. The Tiger II was issued to heavy tank battalions of the Army and the Waffen-SS. It was first used in combat during the Invasion of Normandy on July 11, 1944.

Development for the tank started as far back as 1937. Two design contracts were in competition for production, with Henschel officially winning and subsequently producing all Tiger IIs. Two turret designs were used in production vehicles. The Tiger II was developed late in the war and built in relatively small numbers. Orders were placed for 1,500 Tiger IIs but production was severely disrupted by Allied bombing. Only 492 units were produced by the end of the war. The Tiger II was remarkably agile for such a heavy vehicle, with contemporary German records noting the tactical mobility was as good or better than most German or Allied tanks. There are several surviving Tiger II units at museums across the world.

Specifications:

• Weight: 68.5 tons (early turret); 69.8 tons (production turret)
• Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, radio operator, driver)
• Armor: 25-185 mm (1-7 in)
• Main armament: 1x 8.8 cm KeK 43 L/71 “Porsche” turret: 80 rounds; Production turret: 86 rounds
• Secondary armament: 2x 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 w/ 5,850 rounds
• Engine: V12 Maybach HL 230 P30 gasoline
• Transmission: Maybach OLVAR EG 40 12 16 B (8 forward and 4 reverse)
• Operational range: Road – 110 mi; cross country – 75 mi
• Maximum speed: 25.8 mph (road); 9.3-12.4 mph (cross country)

Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:

PzKfz VI King Tiger comes with the following features:

• Fully rotating turret, posable main gun, plus AA mounted MG-34 for the commander
• Detailed engine compartment and seats for tank drivers
• Includes one fully printed “Dot 44” camouflage Panzer Commander minifigure
• Custom printed “Balkenkruez” tiles plus a sticker sheet with six different sets of turret numbers
• Designed by Daniel Siskind
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models.
• Includes 1028 genuine new-condition LEGO® bricks and BrickArms® elements
• Advanced Skill Level (6-8 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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