Monsters On Main Street

Halloween will be here soon and all the ghosts, ghoulies and monsters will be out and about. In Lemax’s Monsters On Main Street it’s open season and the monsters have taken over main street and it’s a howling good time!

Lemax’s Monsters On Main Street pulls out all the stops in a spectacular way with so much ghoulish details in boggles the mind.

Two main buildings make up the street-one red brick and one primarily brown brick. Both feature dark gray slate roofs with iron posts stringing along both.

A third recessed brick building has its own skeleton skull decorated double step entrance way and heavy wooden door with gold hinges and second Petrified Pub entryway.

Above the entryway is a small balcony with a gray cast iron railing, a small window with a slime covered arm extending out of it and a Arms Hotel sign on its brick wall. On the gray shingle roof is small window, a vulture, a cast iron broken rail running along its peak. Cast iron broken railings also run along the other roof peaks.

The red building has two front bay windows accented by a red light, side windows flush with the walls and surrounded by light gray slate and lit by a extended vertical light.

A fire escape ladder descends from the left red light to the second story that has several six-pane windows and also a spooky skeleton and lights.

Another iron fire escape ladder descends to the ground floor extended shop roof.

The second floor also has several six-pane windows and a deformed hunchback is seen coming down the stairs.

The shop awning has a large sign stating: Dr. Frank’s Laboratory Supplies in white on dark green. Frankenstein stands outside the shop’s window. Inside the shop you can see various concoctions and books

There is also a left side light blue awning with a vertical sign. Under the wood enclosed awning is a mummy selling goodies in the Mummy Wraps cafe.

Next to the cafe is a stack of pumpkins and a tree that has wound itself up the side of the building to the Psychic Reading sign on the second story. A large black spider on its web clings to the bricks.

A glassed-in gazebo is also out front with a skeleton in a coffin inside along with bats and a cat. The gazebo is decorated with a circular green roof with a gold peak accent. A small coffin with skeleton, a stack of skulls and pumpkins sit out front.

The brown brick building’s top floor has roof windows, a three window extended gable with black cat, ghost and spider silhouettes against green backgrounds. Gold roof corner accents line the gray stone trim.

The second floor extends from the main building with two ornate six-pane windows with curtains and purple lights. A cow skull decoration is between the windows.

Below the windows is a large green and white accented sign that reads Drac’s Cabinet Of Oddities perched on the slated slate roof.

The bottom floor has a granite trimmed wooden door with two steps with Dracula with a cane on the top step. A granite trimmed window is to his right as well as a Ghouley News newsstand hosted by a ghoulie. Look for more skulls and pumpkins.

A small Ghouley News newsstand under a yellow and red canopy sits next to Drac’s. There is a large pumpkin and green foliage and a large vine decorates the right side of the building. Twin black balconies are on the right side one of which holds a skeleton. On the curved roof sits a bat clinging to a tree branch.

Take a good look at the the buildings and you can spot another bat. a werewolf on the roof, dilapidated and crumbling chimneys, several window signs, purple curtained windows and a street sign.

Turn on the switch and everything lights up including windows, signs, shops, spotlights and overhead and entryway lights.

It really looks cool at night.

If you’re into getting creeped out this is the set-up for you. Just look at all the ghoulie goodies. Such detail, color and astounding sculpt work all packaged in a clear front panel, flip-lid box decorated with color photos.

For more photos and a video of Monsters On Main Street click here.

Lemax does it again!

Psalms 121:1-8(A Song of degrees.) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

Book-Cafe Box

As I’ve mentioned a number of times in other product reviews my favorite stores of all time are bookstores. New books, used books, a combined cafe/bookstore-if it’s got books I’m there.

I come by it honestly. My mother was a big book reader and she passed on her book fever to me.

There’s something special about perusing the shelves and picking up a book, flipping through its pages, taking in the musty smell mixed with ink and paper and quickly glancing through text, photos and art.

Lumibricks has taken the best of a bookstore and a small cafe and combined them into one colorful, lit and cluttered Book-Cafe Box that snaps together easily, has all sorts of goodies and lots to look at.

The Book-Cafe Box sits on a cream-colored tile floor. Two walls of brown wood paneling encloses the Book-Cafe Box. On one wall is a coffee machine with three cups of varying colors, throw-away cups, two product/cost menu signs above the wall niche it all sits on and several framed pieces of art on the wall besides it.  A cash register and counter sit in front.  Use the cashier figure with its swivel head, torso and movable arms and legs to stand behind the counter. 

In the corner niche is a comfortable light green overstuffed chair complete with a small glass-top table on which sits a coffee cup.

A small potted sits on the floor and close to the front corner of the Book-Cafe is a small black table with two black chairs upon one of which sits a brown cat.  On the table is a bowl and cup.

The far wall has multiple shelves where sit a number of books, a light over the windows that are framed by columns, open books and in front of the shelves is a long wooden table with two small stools. The table holds a glass and a treat.

Look at all the pastry goodies, cash register, clear display case and so many books!

Included with the kit is a small Phillips-head screwdriver and a clever device for taking bricks apart-just in case you make a mistake.

I’ve included a photo of the various tools I use when assembling model kits or similar kits.

The Book-Cafe Box comes shipped in a heavy cardboard box which is sealed. The kit box itself is also made of heavy gauge cardboard and features a full-color photo the Book/Cafe Box on its cover. and specs for ages 16 years and older, 436 pieces and a caution for kids about small parts and the batteries (AA not included).

I’m getting up in years and my eyesight and coordination are not what they used to be. The screwdriver came in handy and I also used tweezers and a strong light and magnifying glass.

I really enjoyed assembling this kit. It was a lot of fun. Color-coding the parts and keeping the instructions simple page-by-page added to the enjoyment. I had no problem following the instructions. Even the lighting was is easy to set up and it looks great at night when the lamp and the overhead window light strip are on.

Following the instructions I opened only the bags necessary for each phase of the build. Bags are numbered or lettered and although several bag contents may be need to complete a phase I found it best to keep each bag’s contents separate from other bags.

I took my time on the build. It took about three hours start to finish.

The small pieces were easy to identify and put together and fit together snugly. I especially like the little Cafe, the cat and the saleswoman. The figures’ heads rotate and the cashier’s body can be posed. She even swivels at her hips.

Check out the details and how colorful the Book-Cafe is. I have it displayed on my bookshelf in my man cave.

A few extra parts come with the kit. Most are used if you want to add the Book-Cafe Box to other kits. Some extra small parts are also included in case you need them. 

If you like to see what other kits Lumiblocks has to offer click here. For more photo and information about the Book-Cafe Box click here and for a video click here.

Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Kiki's Magic Emporium

Magic-is it real? Maybe, maybe not. Either way it’s a fascinating subject.

Magic elixirs, potions, spells, ancient tomes, strange creatures, white and black magic, locations that exude strange and special magical emanations, dark, steeped in shadows rooms and niches and other mystical items and locations are strangely compelling.

Who wouldn’t want to do amazing feats by uttering a phrase or reading a few words? If life was only that simple.

Mankind has always been fascinated by the supernatural-the strange, the occult and the possibility of possessing powers that are powerful but controllable.

Where does all the magic items come from? Where can they be obtained? Are there locations where someone could purchase potions and the like? Where are they and how do we find them?

In Rolife’s Kiki’s Magic Emporium you’ll find everything you need to practice magic-at least in miniature

The little cubby hole is decorated with several bookshelves, cabinets, display counters, shelves, wall drawers, signs, an overhead light, a skylight, cream colored walls and a wooden plank floor with brick steps.

Potions, elixirs, manuscripts, books, magic enriched items, a peaked wizard’s hat, herbs, enchantments, a wooden chair, a glass front cabinet filled with magic compounds, an archaic symbol rug, a side window, wall plaques and signs, a feather quill pen and ink bottle, charms and other magic brick-a-brac fill the room. There’s even a globe shaped lantern on the floor and a large six-pointed star hanging from the ceiling.

For such a small shop it is really cluttered just as you would expect with a Magic Emporium. Who needs empty shelves?

This kit had a lot of small 3D pieces-some of which like to roll. More than once I had a few roll off my kit assembly table. Good thing the wooden floor is light in color. It made it easy to find and retrieve the parts.

This particular kit required a lot of tweezers use as there are so many small parts, stickers and items. My big hands makes it difficult to pick-up tiny pieces.

Assembling the floor and wall, doors, windows were easy. Furniture was a little challenging but I persevered and managed not to break anything. All the pieces fit snugly together courtesy of tabs.

I always like to have a few extra tools around as the photo shows. Tweezers and a Phillips-head screwdriver are included in the kit. Be sure to work in a well-lit area and follow the instructions page-by-page and never taken out more parts than necessary.

Look for 3D object bags, flats, stickers, folded paper containers, wiring and a light (no batteries included) and plenty of other cool stuff.

Rolife’s Kiki's Magic Emporium box has some cool photos and information on it including age suggest, materials used and important instructions to adults about assisting kids with the build. Kiki's Magic Emporium has a Level two and one half star rating.

Put a little magic into your life and buy Kiki's Magic Emporium.

For a little more magical miniature merriment be sure to check out Rolife’s site, move on over to the Kiki's Magic Emporium page and check out the photos and video and for even more enchanted fun don’t forget to visit Robotime.

Psalms 34:4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Petrified Forest Tree House

There was a forest not far from where I lived in Milford, Michigan when I was a kid. It was dark, foreboding and scary.

Imagine that deep in that woods there is a tree house. But, not just any tree house-a tree house frequented by ghosts and other Halloween denizens of the night.

Lemax taps into that fear with its deluxe kit: Petrified Forest Tree House. My daughter (who is a big Halloween fan) saw this set-up and immediately claimed it as her own. Her family loves Halloween and the tree house will make a fine addition on that spooky night.

Before I get into the kit itself I’d like to talk about the packaging. The tree house comes in a long vertical box decorated with color photos on all side. Inside the box is the main body of the tree house protected by two form-fitted cardboard section and held together with Velcro. The other box contains several small boxes holding the various accessorizes separate from the tree house.

They include a full moon on a long black pole (that lights up when the power is turned on), a pumpkin scarecrow, a skeleton in a rocking chair and holding a guitar, a cow skull sits at its feet, a Keep Out sign with pumpkins and a crow, Twin tree trunks both with green lit up eyes and pumpkins perched on stone bases, a grinning pumpkin patch, a large tree with orange foliage and a bare tree with no leaves.

All are highly detailed, colorful and a little bit creepy. Such an awesome and spooky set-up! the entire tree house lights up when the poser is turned on. It’s really creepy in the dark.

The base of the tree house sits on a brown dirt platform with green grass with various snakes, skulls, rocks and critters around the base of the tree.

The tree is huge, so huge that it has a set of stone steps, with rails and ladders all the way up to the tree house perched at its summit.

Large gnarly roots seems to twist and turn almost like its sentient. A single pole light is on the left just above a tire swing.. Skulls are embedded in the tree.

The lower level of the house has an open wooden door with a skeleton peeking out and the boarded up window cracks has green eyes peering out of it. A ghoul in overalls climbs the steps to the next level. His head is just about even with the grass roof of the lower level. The roof is made of green grass with a cow skull on the front.

The upper most level of the house has a large brown wooden slat door with a small balcony where a black clad, grinning skull reaper stands with his sickle. A green and purple light highlights the upper level. A single window is just below the eve of the gray shingle roof. A Keep Out sign with a skull and crossbones warns visitors away.

The patched roof with its brick chimney also has a separate metal chimney with cap and a scraggly pine tree at its peak. Another side light is on the upper left. Behind the tree house is a large deep tree.

The roof has patches with wood boards. The small building enclosure has barricaded windows, moss trimming and just below it a rickety balcony with a red and brown railing. Part of the tree’s foliage integrated itself into the tree house.

On the opposite side of the tree house are steps coming down the second story that abruptly end several feet off the ground. At the top of the stairs is a barricaded door with a skeleton peering between the wooden slats. The roof has several metal chimneys, the top of the tree pops through the roof and the tree’s limbs and tendrils wrap the tree house.

Look for hidden skeletons, a rope swing with a tire decorated with spikes, red railing and plenty of Keep Out! signs.

Once assembled all the interconnecting parts light up. It’s easy to assemble, is beautifully deigned, sculpted and colored and is a real showcase for the artisans at Lemax.

Matthew 10:28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Baking Kitchen

Back when I was a young teenager the mother of my brother’s wife came to live with us. She and my mother were good friends and being two old ladies with limited funds between them they thought it wise to share expenses.

At the time my mother and I were on government aid and each month we would receive government surplus food.

Mrs. Nolan, my brother’s wife’s mom, was an excellent cook and baker.

Many a day I would come home from school or work and Mrs. Nolan would have performed her magic in the kitchen using the surplus food.

Her dinner rolls were to die for and her pies, cakes and other baked goodies made every meal a treat. I am a sucker for good baked goods.

Rolife’s Baking Kitchen kit reminds me of the kitchen Mrs. Nolan used to cook her meals at. 

The kit consists of 359 pieces and is best suited for those 14 years old an older to build. It should take about three hours to build. There are a lot of small pieces so take your time and be sure to follow the Instructions to the letter.

First things first. Take a moment to look over the slip-sheet on the flip lid kit box. You’ll discover some interesting specs like materials used in the kit: plywood, paper and plastic.

Like all of Rolife’s kits be sure to have tweezers (included in this kit), a pointed tool, a strong light, a magnifying device, liquid glue and a brush, both a Phillips Head screwdriver (included also) and a Flathead screwdriver for poking out pieces (especially the wooden furniture slats) and a lot of patience when assembling the Baking Kitchen.

I like to familiarize myself with any kit by first looking at the photos on the kit’s box. It gives me a good feel as to what to expect and what the final kit should look like.

Once I opened the kit I checked to make sure all the parts were there, familiarized myself with lighting (it can be a little tricky) and made sure I had all the tools I needed.

A good trick to remember is when building a kit if you get interrupted and are away from you kit build be sure to put all the pieces you currently have on your well-lit working surface into the part bags. It’s easy to loose parts if you are not careful.

You can imagine how many times I get called away.  Writing a blog is time-consuming, especially when trying to review as many products as I do. So you can see being organized and careful can really pay off.

I like to work on a white or light surface table or tray pushed up against a wall in order to make losing parts minimal. Those that do fall usually fall in my lap.

Speaking of parts-did you know you can take Rolife’s kits apart fairly easily-except for the stickers of course. Should you want to give a kit to someone to build they can start from scratch or you can rebuild the kit yourself. It’s great for dexterity, concentration, tool manipulation and eye-to-hand coordination.

I started the kit out by first tackling the smaller furniture-specifically the table and chair. Some parts were small so I used tweezers. They snapped together easily.

Larger furniture took a little more effort because there was a lot of pop-out wooden parts from slats. Following the numbering on the Instructions made it easy.

I then went on to build a few appliances like the refrigerator and mixer and sorted through the various 3D printed small objects like plates, food items, etc.

It’s important to build the kit in the exact order the Instructions illustrate. By following the bag and part numbers the kit goes together fairly easily. I have a slight vision problem so I used a magnifying glass when necessary and since my hand nimbleness is not what it used to be I used tweezers and an X-Acto knife (especially for stickers). It made peeling them and the adhesive strips off their sheets much easier.

I didn’t need any glue but it doesn’t hurt to have some on hand. Accidents do happen.

The kit contained several bags filled with parts, a sealed package of slats and larger furniture parts, sticker sheets, folded paper product sheets, Instructions, a Material List, Product Safety Instructions and an Icon Illustration Sheet.

Check out the interior of Rolife’s Baking Kitchen. Can’t you just smell and almost taste the baked goodies?

I love the way the kitchen is laid out-especially the slanted multi-pane window on its right wall.

The deep brown wooden lower cabinet that wraps around in a ‘L’ shape accompanied by the three cabinets above it really gives the kitchen a cozy, down-home feel.

The cabinet have several items behind its glass windows, dishes sit vertical in the wooden slots while teacups sit on the shelf above and the two door upper cabinets contains all sorts of kitchen goodies.. I especially like the checkered sign on its doors and look at all the brass fittings!

The counter top is packed with foodstuffs, a bread box, a tray, a mixer and on its back-splash tiled wall hangs breadboards, towels and even a heart-shaped little sign.

Lower cabinets are filled with more cooking and baking items and the multi-drawer cream colored island table with its thick wooden top holds cheeses, fruit, mixing bowls and a scale. Take a peek in the drawers and shelves-more goodies!

The checkerboard floor complements the cabinetry and a well placed cocoa flavor shopping bag sets off the whole assemble.

Take a good look at the overhead fancy light-shade and curtained window, homespun framed signs and yellow wooden chair next to the old-timey refrigerator.

There is so much to take in-so much detail! Every part of the kit is perfectly in scale, looks exactly like its larger counterpart and shows off the amount of detail work, craftsmanship and talent it took to design and package such a kit.

Check out the photos and a video of the Baking Kitchen. Rolife has a wide range of kits and look over Robotime’s other kits.  Click on the highlighted text and look at each.

The build was fun, a challenge to my dexterity and patience and a pleasant journey down Memory Lane.

Mark 11:24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Dr. Dreadmoor’s Castle

When I requested a reviewer sample of Lemax’s Dr. Dreadmoor’s Castle Spooky Town Halloween table decoration I based my request on a small photo of the castle.

At that time larger photographs were not available. I received the review sample and all I can say is, “Wow!’ There is no better word that I can use to describe just how impressive Dr. Dreadmoor’s Castle is.

There is so much going on with the castle: lighting, action, music and lots to look at.

It’s night, there’s a storm brewing, lightning flashes and there in the deep shadows you spot a building.

It’s a castle. It’s huge stone walls seem to beckon you to come closer. You walk up to the huge door and cautiously knock. Will someone or something answer?

It is a humongous castle! The castle sits on a segmented stone base that blends into the smaller stone masonry of the castle. Pumpkins, a skeleton and ooze populate the lower level.

Speaking of the stones that make up the castle. There is such a large variety and so many! Cobblestones, flat fascia stones, rough hewn tower stones with restraining metal bands, step stones and raw, unaltered foundation stones-some boulders. The castle sits upon a precipice of stone that the castle nestles into.

There are balconies, walkways, spiraling stairs with short railings, huge entry stone stairs, small stone-framed, multi-pane windows and doorways (I count 20).

A massive set of doors of wood with metal hinges is open revealing the crouched pumpkin on wooden legs and draped with vines. When the set is turned on the double door swings open and then shut as the pumpkin man comes from within. Above the door way is a light. Twin lights illuminate the heavy metal and wood, ten-pane windows on each side of the door.

Just right of the right window on the side of the castle is an alcove where a large electrical panel can be seen. It is filled with gauges and buttons along with power lines. A huge broken glass canister sits next to it, green ooze seeps from under it on to the stone floor.

The large second level of the castle has two mechanized and electrified transporter mechanisms with a large fly and a mad scientist in each. When activated the man and fly switch places in the heavy brass and metal transporter canisters as the triple blue light flicker.

In the middle of the castle is a large barred opening where two yellow eyes peer out, next to them is a chalkboard with schematics and calculations. Light flicker making the eyes look like they are opening and shutting-creepy! Above the eyes is an extended balcony where Dr. Dreadmoor’s library can be seen illuminated by lights.

Traveling upward in the middle of the high castle is another large opening covered by a gable roof. Three small round towers with four-pane windows decorate the upper portion.

On top of the heavy shingle roof is a platform with electrodes and wiring leading to a table holding a mummy-wrapped monster waiting for its next jolt of electricity. Turning on the power the monster is lowered and raised beneath two large metal doors that open and close.

To its right is a glass enclosed container of metal with green ooze inside. It is lit up. An eerie purple light fills in the gaps. Inside is a strange alien-like creature captured in the container’s ooze.

The chamber sits on a high tower. Part of the tower’s lower section is broken away. revealing a series of translucent tower conductors that glow.

Other features of the multi-tower unit include small vegetation and vines scattered on and about the castle. Decorative posters are near the entry way, a large centipede crawls on one of the windows. the roofs of the towers are purple wood and slat, Igor sits on the balcony on the left of the castle adjusting a glowing blue electrode, all the windows glow from inner lights, several spotlights are arranged around the entryways, a human skeleton sits next to main entryway sign, next to the sign is a Keep Out sign, the main door has large metal hinges and twin door knockers and metal railing sits beside the opening doors that reveal the mummy wrapped monster on the roof.

The units comes securely packed and strapped in a two-section form-fitted cardboard container inside a flip-lid box decorated with photos of the castle on all side. It’s an impressive Halloween display that kids, family, friends and visitors are sure to love.

The craftsmanship and imagination that went into the design of the castle is astounding. Graphic designers, artists, craftsmen, sculptors, package designers and printers-all of them did outstanding jobs creating and packaging the castle.

John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.