Men in Black, Chain Bridge and the Big Bake collect 10,000 votes on LEGO Ideas

Men in Black, the Budapest Chain Bridge and the Great British Bake (the whole of Holland bakes) were able to impress LEGO Ideas in the last week from March 18 to 24, 2024. The three designs managed to inspire the Ideas community and garner the necessary 10,000 fan votes they needed to make it into the review. The first review phase in 2024 will run until early May, after which all models will reach the LEGO Ideas design team and be checked, evaluated and then realized as a LEGO Ideas set if necessary. However, we will not receive the results until the autumn at the earliest, so we will now take a closer look at and assess the three models from last week.

Men in Black

• Facts about the design
• Title: Men In Black: Agent K's Transforming Jet Car
• Fan Designer: PeeDeeZee
• Days: 484
• Minifigures: 0
• Number of parts:

The popular science fiction comedy Men in Black, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, was released in 1997 starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, spawning two sequels, as well as a spin-off and a Men in Black animated series. The film is based on conspiracy theories about agents in black suits who operate secret American government agencies.

A highlight of the film is Agent K's transformable car. The two officers race through New York City and take in the busy Queens-Midtown Tunnel. But the inconspicuous city car has a trick up its sleeve to avoid traffic. With a push of the 'red button' the car turns into a jet-powered supercar. Officer K drives the car past traffic on the ceiling of the tunnel while sliding to his cassette.

The LEGO Men in Black Car is a large-scale replica of the transforming car. Without assembly, it can be transformed from an inconspicuous city car into an exciting blasting machine.

If there is a fifth installment of the Men in Black series, I can even imagine that a set with two Agent minifigures could be interesting. We have two similar sets with Ghostbusters and Back to the Future. In the films, the car in question is shown as an iconic symbol in all parts of the film. Although the transformation cars are known from the Men in Black series, this exact model is only seen in the first film. I think its realization will depend mainly on a possible continuation of the Men in Black series.

Budapest Chain Bridge

Facts about the design

• Title: Széchenyi Chain Bridge (Budapest)
• Fan designer: hello_zol
• Days: 133
• Minifigures: 1
• Number of parts: 2,460

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is one of the world-famous symbols of Budapest and Hungary. It was built between 1839 and 1849. The bridge owes its name to the initiator, Count István Széchenyi, who had the idea of ​​building a permanent stone bridge over the Danube. He is often called “the greatest Hungarian” because of his active role in the urban development of Budapest and Hungary.

The classicist structure is supported by two triumphal arch-like supporting pillars through which the iron chains of the 375 meter long bridge body run. This is where the name 'chain bridge' comes from. The pillar gates have a passage width of 6.50 meters. The LEGO replica contains all the details of the original bridge and comes with an István Széchenyi minifigure.

The replica is of course well executed as a LEGO design. Considering that no landmarks or sights have been implemented as an idea set yet, I doubt the Chain Bridge will have a chance. I think there are much better known bridges in the world, some of which have been released in city models by LEGO itself via Architecture, such as the Tower Bridge in 21034 London or the Golden Gate Bridge in 21043 San Francisco.

The great British baking

Facts about the design

• Title: The Great British Bake Off
• Fan designer: timoth_e_e
• Days: 445
• Minifigures: 21
• Number of parts: 2,800

The Great British Bake Off is a television baking competition, produced by Love Productions since 2010, in which a group of amateur bakers compete against each other in various rounds and try to impress a jury with their baking skills. Sometimes 13 seasons have been released. Since 2013 there has also been a German counterpart, Das Große Backen, with Enie van de Meiklokjes.

The Ideas design shows the large tent that represents the setting of the baking show. The two sides of the tent are hinged and can be opened and unfolded for easy play or display. The front of the tent is divided into two sides: the team corner and the jury table. These two pieces can be attached to the front of the set for playability or to the back of the tent for better display.

The tent is equipped for six bakers with four large and two smaller counters. Each of the worktops is equipped with an oven/stove, proofing drawer, four storage drawers, blender and sink. In addition to the many cooking utensils, the Ideas Set also contains camera and production accessories and minifigures of the presenters Andre van Duin, Robert van Beckhoven and Janny van der Heijden (in England Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith) , some cameramen and of course the various candidates.

The Great British Baking was of course the first show of this format before it was implemented in other countries. Yet this show is only broadcast in Great Britain, Canada and the US and is only known there. I don't think this set will find an international audience and therefore I don't think its realization is likely.