Review: Mr. Figster Brick Boards
Posted by MeganL,
There have been many solutions produced to store a minifigure collection. The latest entry to this space is Mr. Figster Brick Boards.
They are marketed as a way to keep minifigures tidy and out from underfoot. The manufacturer has kindly sent us a copy so we can take a closer look.
The packaging is quite colourful, with a transparent panel showing the storage solution. I originally thought that the minifigure shapes were on the background, but it turned out only to be drawn on a plastic sheet on the inside of the box.
The back of the box provides more of the detail in full colour.
Out of the box, the display area is a 9"x11" (approx. 23x28 cm) piece of acrylic in a high quality frame. The frame and backdrop/bricks are quite sturdy. Minifigures can be placed any one of nineteen platforms that resemble 2x3 LEGO bricks. They are LEGO compatible (no telltale LEGO on top of the studs), and it appears that the background and bricks are all one mold. I originally thought they were bricks glued or otherwise attached to the background, but I can't find a connection point. The bricks are LEGO compatible not only on top but underneath, though I haven't showed that in any of the pictures.
The back of the board is similar high quality, and offers the option to hang the board on the wall or to display it easel-style on a table.
Since it's the Hallowe'en season, I thought it would be a good opportunity to break out my Series 14 Monster minifigures and see how they looked. With the 2x3 bricks, there's plenty of room for the minifigures. However, there isn't much room for add-on accessories unless they were in the back. However, with the extra room I can add the witch's black cat on its own brick.
Trying another CMF series, I thought I'd try Series 18, which has some minifigures that require depth as well as width. Here as well, there was plenty of room for the most part, with the exception of the dragon costume, which needed to be angled a bit in order to accommodate the tail. Sadly, there wasn't room for the presents that came with two of the minifigures in this series.
Finally, since I was getting my CMF series out, I tried it with the Muppet minifigures. Not quite as many of these, so there was more room, especially since many had accessories. It turns out that with the 2x3 bricks, there's plenty of room for the minifigure stands as well.
Overall thoughts
I've focused on putting CMF series on the Brick Boards, but clearly the intent is for a child to put their collection on the board to keep them out of the way. For this purpose it works well; it's an attractive frame. The materials are high quality and durable (not to mention easy to clean). I like that there are options to hang the board as well as a solid easel to display on a table (I rather like this option myself).
I'm not sure of the practicality of the Brick Board for AFOLs, who generally want something that will not only be good for display purposes but also keep the minifigures dust free. However, if you change your minifigs frequently, or are looking for something for your children to use, this might be the solution for you.
According to the Mr. Figster website as of this writing, Brick Boards are available for order at $32 each.
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42 comments on this article
Thanks for the review. Shame the figures are not enclosed by the unit. That would negate a purchase from me. However, as you say, it may suit some fans who swap out their CMFs regularly. I also notice the website is pretty devoid of info so I'm not so sure they'll ship outside The US.
This is my solution
https://flic.kr/p/2puEZCd
That's a ridiculous price; I'd expect an enclosed case for that money. You could glue bricks to a board or bracket them off a genuine baseplate for a few minutes' effort and a fraction of that cost, and end up with something much better looking and more versatile.
Seems a bit expensive for what you get. The price is not far off the display case they are selling in Smyths with 5 levels that can fit about 80 minifigs. I've gotten two and there's plenty of room for accessories and oddly shaped figs.
Since the pedistals can’t be rearanged, addeded to or removed, it is not versitile enough. I would prefer if LEGO rereleased the Minifigure Display Frame 5005359 from 2018 (they also did an Avengers one in 2016, 853611 and a LEGO Batman Movie one in 2017, 853638). While I like thos frames, my method of displaying my minifigures is a grid of baseplates that have been glued to the wall with the minifigure stands stuck between the studs. If the minifigure is too deep, I use a Tile, Modified 4 x 4 with Studs on Edge instead.
Looks fine, but a bit home made. And if something looks home made then I'd make it at home.... for a fraction of the price! (a bit like light kits)
That is a crazy price and also a crazy number of slots. 19 slots? Doesn't match any CMF series and is a strange number of figures to display per case. The Muppets one for example looks like characters are missing as there are big gaps, yet to put other franchise figures in with them would look messy.
It looks like a poorly though out product.
They stick out really far... I use the https://brickset.com/parts/design-18971 part for holding my rare minifigs, so one minor bump and they're done for
@Spike730 said:
"This is my solution https://flic.kr/p/2puEZCd"
Niiiiice! Minimal use of parts and completely effective.
Mind if I steal that idea...? ;-)
Not enough space between the figs, what's about Medusa in series 10 for the tail?
Naah thanks
I won’t sleep tonight after noticing that Statlers baseplate isn’t centred on the mounting brick…
Looks untidy, there are much better enclosed frames, like those currently supplied by smyths, which are far better value for money: at £35, its enclosed, has LEDs, room for bigger figs/accessories, and can hold way more figs.
I can't see this selling well, especially not to AFOLs
I have a way better version of this that is custom made by a friend. It fits 50 minifigs (with minimal accessories) and is completely enclosed.
Not impressed by this because, as pointed out, it doesn't accomodate certain figures or accessories easily.
For my personal cheap solution lately, I've been getting the display cases from Smyths Toys in the UK.
https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/construction-and-cars/storage-and-display-units/build-it-5-level-minifigure-display-case-with-led-lights/p/220532
Depending on how you arrange things, can easily fit up to 100 figs in a case. Only added expense is for the batteries for the LED's.
@vizzitor: Missed your post when posting mine. lol. The Smyths cases are great, I've gotten 100 figs in a case, though I'd probably recommend 15 on a shelf if you don't want them too crammed.
I make my own using the IKEA shadow boxes. they look really awesome!
@Mmccreadie said:
"I won’t sleep tonight after noticing that Statlers baseplate isn’t centred on the mounting brick… "
Also, Statler is holding Waldorf's 'zzz' tile and Waldorf is holding Statler's book
I was happy to see the sad gargoyle 71010-14
@ickleb
These Mr Figster 'brick boards' are all well and good, but how do they compare to the shadow box version?
@CCC said:
"That is a crazy price and also a crazy number of slots. 19 slots? Doesn't match any CMF series and is a strange number of figures to display per case. The Muppets one for example looks like characters are missing as there are big gaps, yet to put other franchise figures in with them would look messy.
It looks like a poorly though out product."
I get staggering the rows, but 7-6-7 gives you an even 20 positions vs 6-7-6, and occupies the same size frame. I think the only CMF waves that would exactly fill the space would be ones with 18 minifigs, including one with an alternate look that you could display twice (Disney 100’s Miguel has an alive look and a “dead” sugar skull look).
I think it would be more interesting when those bricks weren't fixed in place, but like mounted with magnets, with a more flexible grid behind it to ensure proper alignment.
@HJB2810 said:
" @Mmccreadie said:
"I won’t sleep tonight after noticing that Statlers baseplate isn’t centred on the mounting brick… "
Also, Statler is holding Waldorf's 'zzz' tile and Waldorf is holding Statler's book
I was happy to see the sad gargoyle 71010-14"
Fozzie is missing his microphone stand as well.
@ickleb said:
"I make my own using the IKEA shadow boxes. they look really awesome!"
Yeah, I agree with you. That has totally been a thing for quite a few years. And seems like a far better solution than this. And you can choose whether or not even close them.
Somebody ring the figster?
I feel so bad for companies that try to sell a new display frame so send one to Brickset for review, only to be eviscerated in the comments.
The Ikea frame modding instructions by @RonnyN should be a permalink on all of these articles:
https://brickset.com/article/48370/building-display-cases-for-lego-minifigures-using-ikea-ribba-picture-frames
(Edit: IKEA's photo frames are now called 'sannahed')
@bananaworld said:
"I feel so bad for companies that try to sell a new display frame so send one to Brickset for review, only to be eviscerated in the comments."
Not to be mean to them, but perhaps its a lesson that they should look at the products that are available out there and how much they cost before doing so? If I was ever going to try and manufacture my own minifig display for sale, I'd certainly be looking at whats already out there, and what the end user is actually buying and wanting before trying to make something better, rather then just rehashing an already existing product without improving on it.
@bananaworld said:
"I feel so bad for companies that try to sell a new display frame so send one to Brickset for review, only to be eviscerated in the comments."
I wouldn't feel too bad. It all raises awareness for the company. The opinions of a few negative people in the comments section is pretty irrelevant. So long as the pictures, price and address are out there, it's promo done.
Even for Lego themselves, if they thought negative reviews or comments might hurt them, they wouldn't send out free promo sets.
All publicity is good publicity!
quote from website... "...made from high quality acrylic and Lego compatible bricks."
So they are not even using real Lego bricks for the stands?
@legopete said:
"quote from website... "...made from high quality acrylic and Lego compatible bricks."
So they are not even using real Lego bricks for the stands? "
Quote from review
"They are LEGO compatible"
@legopete said:
"quote from website... "...made from high quality acrylic and Lego compatible bricks."
So they are not even using real Lego bricks for the stands? "
Buying LEGO bricks, repackaging them with not-LEGO products, and selling the result has gotten a few people in trouble. TLG recognizes that, as long as their logo can be found molded into any portion of the end product, it’s difficult for them to prove they aren’t legally responsible for any death and dismemberment the result may cause. So if you create such a legal vulnerability for them, they’ll sic the lawyers on you until you stop. If nothing else, it gets everything on the public record, so they can point fingers with corroborating evidence if anything does happen down the road.
Now, if you use “compatible” bricks, and sell it as “compatible with leading brand(s)”, then they’re sufficiently distanced from any blowback by the simple fact that there aren’t any logos that anyone can point to when trying to pin it on them.
@PurpleDave said:
" @legopete said:
"quote from website... "...made from high quality acrylic and Lego compatible bricks."
So they are not even using real Lego bricks for the stands? "
Buying LEGO bricks, repackaging them with not-LEGO products, and selling the result has gotten a few people in trouble. TLG recognizes that, as long as their logo can be found molded into any portion of the end product, it’s difficult for them to prove they aren’t legally responsible for any death and dismemberment the result may cause. So if you create such a legal vulnerability for them, they’ll sic the lawyers on you until you stop. If nothing else, it gets everything on the public record, so they can point fingers with corroborating evidence if anything does happen down the road.
Now, if you use “compatible” bricks, and sell it as “compatible with leading brand(s)”, then they’re sufficiently distanced from any blowback by the simple fact that there aren’t any logos that anyone can point to when trying to pin it on them."
If limiting liability is the issue, then why is it only an issue when packaging the LEGO bricks with non-LEGO products? Why would the same not apply to LEGO bricks used when selling custom MOCs? For that matter, why would the same not apply to the selling of second-hand LEGO bricks? I’m not certain what the limiting factor is here.
@Librarian1976 said:
"If limiting liability is the issue, then why is it only an issue when packaging the LEGO bricks with non-LEGO products? Why would the same not apply to LEGO bricks used when selling custom MOCs? For that matter, why would the same not apply to the selling of second-hand LEGO bricks? I’m not certain what the limiting factor is here."
As I recall from when this came up recently, it was about how the presence of LEGO bricks made the entire product appear to be legitimate LEGO merch, but they had no hand in quality or safety testing the add-on items that got bundled with their stuff. Think of it like this. If you go buy an IKEA chair, and the IKEA logo is on the seat, the seat back, the legs, and the wheels, are you going to assume the fasteners were also supplied by IKEA, or are you going to assume they’re some aftermarket product that someone packaged with legitimate IKEA parts and sold as “an IKEA chair”? Now, if those screws happen to be highly radioactive, who are you going to sue when you get sick? That’s the situation TLG is trying to shut down before it happens.
@bananaworld said:
"I feel so bad for companies that try to sell a new display frame so send one to Brickset for review, only to be eviscerated in the comments."
Why feel bad? They are hoping to make money from LEGO fans by sending a freebie of a not particularly good product to an influencer. Maybe if they made something a bit more novel or done some research on the fans they are hoping to sell to then they'd get better comments. At least here there will be an honest review, not biased to get more freebies fromnyhem to review, and if it wasn't an honest review then it would soon be noted in the comments.
Looks like a straight copy of the concept of 5005359 Minifigure Collector Frame , but without the use as baseplate , or moving things around.
Of course, that was a GWP, and thus limited, and also already 6 years ago, I just think a baseplate on a frame is somewhat nicer as not every figure has the same dimensions (capes/wings/tails/weapons).
But of course a custom company could never do that with official LEGO pieces (anything with the LEGO logo is pretty much off-limits if it's not done under permission so you can't just buy "real" LEGO baseplate and sell it with a frame in a pack, even if it weren't glued (kragle is bad, see LEGO movie 1), but could slide in)
Not saying that 5005359 was perfect (made out of papery stuff + glued baseplate), but could still function as a framed 32x32 build area as well when horizontal, and surprised LEGO has not released something like that in brick form , seeing how they do ART, postcards and other photoframe sets already.
Way too expensive for what you get. Can build your own for less. And it'll be customizable.
I'll stick with the IKEA frames. Much cheaper, more flexible, plus including dust protection.
@GrizBe said:
"Not impressed by this because, as pointed out, it doesn't accomodate certain figures or accessories easily.
For my personal cheap solution lately, I've been getting the display cases from Smyths Toys in the UK.
https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/construction-and-cars/storage-and-display-units/build-it-5-level-minifigure-display-case-with-led-lights/p/220532
Depending on how you arrange things, can easily fit up to 100 figs in a case. Only added expense is for the batteries for the LED's.
@vizzitor: Missed your post when posting mine. lol. The Smyths cases are great, I've gotten 100 figs in a case, though I'd probably recommend 15 on a shelf if you don't want them too crammed. "
I wish those cases were available in the US at that price, I'd order at least 4 of them today.
@GrizBe said:
"Not impressed by this because, as pointed out, it doesn't accomodate certain figures or accessories easily.
For my personal cheap solution lately, I've been getting the display cases from Smyths Toys in the UK.
https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/construction-and-cars/storage-and-display-units/build-it-5-level-minifigure-display-case-with-led-lights/p/220532
Depending on how you arrange things, can easily fit up to 100 figs in a case. Only added expense is for the batteries for the LED's.
@vizzitor: Missed your post when posting mine. lol. The Smyths cases are great, I've gotten 100 figs in a case, though I'd probably recommend 15 on a shelf if you don't want them too crammed. "
Same item is available in Australia through K-Mart. Build quality have found you may need to sort through to find one that isn't badly scratched, or warped. Quality may of improved since this first was released.
@tm76:
The last K-Mart store in the US is due to close soon, if it hasn't already. The original location got turned into a parking lot a few years ago.
Most of this display cases missing place for minifigure description, like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qid47LoU2ms
Bald Master Chen on the back cover ~_~
I appreciate Brickset showcasing fan-made products in reviews but they're almost invariably extortionate. $32 is a lot of money for this and Lego - particularly CMF collecting - is already an expensive hobby.
@Agent_Brick_007_Alt said:
"Bald Master Chen on the back cover ~_~"
And bald Aquaman!
"Sadly, there wasn't room for the presents that came with two of the minifigures in this series." Just arrange things so that the kids are standing next to empty bricks, and put the presents on those.