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I wonder if I have that 10% at home. I do not recall a magazine this go around, but that doesn't mean I don't have one. :-/
The box art looks great, and much more compelling.
I don't see "MBA set numbers" like 2-3, 4-6, etc. on the boxes. Are they trying to avoid the appearance of this being a progressive learning experience and instead, just grab whatever sets you like?
Also, I wonder if it's just a repackaging, or if any of the sets contain different pieces.
While I can't speak to the other sets, I opened up the Level 4 box and found that the three kits were packaged in the typical numbered bags that you get in any larger-sized Lego box (specifically, 1, 2 and 3, and not the kit numbers 10, 11, and 12). The original boxed versions of Kit 1 and Kit 2/3 used the large printed polybags that I believe were part of the subscription deal. While I can't say if these kits' new boxes still do, I'd bet that they probably don't.
And as an aside, I know people have commented earlier in this thread about the cost being incredibly high for what you get - I certainly do agree that they're a bit overpriced and wish there were more parts with each kit. However, I do feel that there is incredible value in the books that you get with each kit, since they give you great building tips and ideas of where else you can take your creativity. Whether or not you can benefit from said tips, though, is a different story - if you're already a skilled AFOL builder, you probably won't get much out of these sets.
Btw, thanks for the pics @Dare_Wreck, I appreciate you doing that.
--Each kit has its own minifigure, unlike the other levels, where you got the minifig in the first kit, and then simply accessories for it in the other kits of that level. I've included a photo of the side of the box that shows what they look like (the head, torso, and legs are all the same, and just the accessories vary).
--As tensor noted, the outside of the box doesn't appear to make any mention to the kit numbers. However, the 3 thick books in the box are each labeled with the appropriate kit number. That suggests that they may have already been designed and/or printed before Lego decided to change how the MBA program would work.
--I noted how there are three bags labeled 1 through 3. Turns out, there was a smaller unnumbered bag in there, too. I haven't opened any of them yet, so I don't know which kit(s) the small one goes with. Also floating free in the box was a rubber belt, noted as "Hero Factory Weapon - Ammo Belt, Flexible" on BrickLink (part #98567), which is part of Kit 10's part list.
I do miss the printed polybags and noticed the lack of Level or Kit # on the packaging, although it remains on the minifig torso print, and prominently in the manuals (which were probably produced before the decision to change the packaging and ditch the subscription). I do think there may be some confusion with labeling the bags 1/2/3 as nothing in the manuals says which bag to open, (not that opening them all is a bad thing!), but I also had to open the loose packed un-numbered bag and use the ammo belt piece to build the time machine for kit 10, which left me with no unused parts aside the usual suspects for spare parts.
Anyone know the release date for MBA Level 4 on [email protected]?
http://shop.lego.com/en-US/LEGO-Master-Builder-Academy-Invention-Designer-20215
Thanks for the pointer. I've just ordered MBA Level 1 via a relative in the US so I wasn't aware how text intensive these are. I sure lots of people in the UK and Aus/NZ would put up with US English to have access to these sets but TLG will not allow that so as you say localised versions would be necessary. Disappointing.
Unless they want to clear shelf space in the future, I wouldn't expect to see them discounted at all.
The pictorial instructions feature notes explaining why a particular piece is used in addition to highlighting different building techniques. The concepts and techniques in successive sets expand on each other, they reinforce ideas from previous sets.
The sets are intended to be built in order for this reason. I think there is value in the sets individually but they are more valuable as part of an understanding of Lego build techniques. That being said, I skipped several sets to get the Steampunk MBA.
Let me know if I can provide more info.
The $80 is a steep price, but the high quality of the books and the variety and number of model designs make it worthwhile.
My son and I have built the time machine so far. Fun build, interesting details. Now I've got to convince him to tear it down so we can use the pieces in one of the other steampunk-inspired side models in the book. But he's still playing with it.
The "concepts" the books teach were particularly interesting to my son, who just turned six years old has started building MOCs of his own.
Highly recommended.