Welcome to part two of our three-part review of BrickArms’ new items (check out Part I: Western & Colonial Weapons). In this installment, we’re going to be covering weapons from the recent past. I lumped them in a vague sort of “World War II / Vietnam” time frame, but don’t get too hung up on the years here.
Sten
The Sten is the first item I’ll review that has a removable magazine. I was really, really excited about this feature before receiving this item, and I’m happy to report that it’s just as cool in person as the photos would have you believe.
The weapon itself is fantastically designed; I particularly love the wire stock. While this fits best in World War II creations, the Bren is such an interestingly designed gun that it wouldn’t be out of place in sci-fi and post-apocalyptic MOCs.
MG34
The predecessor of Germany’s outstanding MG42, the MG34 is a heck of a cool looking weapon. This version boasts a great removable magazine that snaps onto the top of the weapon. Like the Sten, this was build and used in the first half of the 20th century, but its design has a sci-fi feel to it. This would look great in Star Wars creations.
Tommy Gun
BrickArms already makes one Thomson Submachine Gun, but that one is an older, less detailed model. It also has the stick magazine, which you’ll generally see in war movies. This updated Tommy Gun has the drum magazine instead, which most of us know from old gangster flicks. It’s also a much more detailed model. The removable drum magazine is just icing on the cake.
Want to do zombies versus mobsters? Then pick up a couple of these. The zeds won’t stand a chance against the Chicago Typewriter.
Tokarev
I really dig the Tokarev not for it’s historical significance (although that’s cool too), but for the fact that it gives us a couple new options when it comes to semi-automatic handguns. Don’t get me wrong, I love the 1911, but a little variety is never a bad thing.
Panzerfaust
Got a tank problem? Why not try out the Panzerfaust? The design is simple, but then so was the real-life weapon. It’s instantly recognizable to anyone with a decent familiarity with the weapons of the Second World War (history buffs, gamers, etc). While it’s probably best suited in its historic role, this piece would also work nicely as a warhead on a plane or space fighter.
It also marries nicely with the Monopod, as illustrated in the second photo.
M79 Bloop Gun
The Bloop Gun is a strange item. The design of this accessory perfectly matches the historic weapon, right down to the upside-down looking stock. If only it had a fold-up leaf site. While thoroughly antiquated now, historic builders should really love this item, especially since it fits so well within the confines of the Vietnam War.
KAR98
I absolutely love BrickArms full-sized rifles. I know that minifigs can’t really hold them correctly, but they’re all just beautifully made. Unlike some of the smaller weapons, they feature a full stock and seem a lot more proportionate than things like the Tommy Gun (still cool, but for different reasons).
The KAR98 is perfect for your German soldiers, but the simple, bolt-action design makes it ideal for a civilian weapon. The thing just looks like a hunting rifle being pushing into service to fight off the zombies, and you all know what a fan I am of that.
M1 Carbine (full stock)
Like the Tommy Gun, the M1 Carbine is a different version of an existing product. In this case, we now get a full, wood stock instead of the wire stock we’re used to. I’m a big fan of the original M1 Carbine (I use it in the comic), so I’m always excited to see variations on the theme.
Where the wire-stocked version is perfect for paratroopers or anyone needing a super-compact weapon, this version offers a more traditional look. I think fans can find uses for both versions of the weapon in their collection.
M97 trench gun
I run a LEGO® zombie comic here, so it goes without saying that I’m a big fan of shotguns. In this release, we’re getting four pretty great ones (check back next week for the SABR Shotgun and the ACS). This model, the M97 Trench Gun, is a nasty looking thing. Between the holes (baffles? breaks? someone who knows guns help me out here) along the barrel to the arched rest on the front, the Trench Gun just looks mean. And when you consider the thing is flinging 00 buck at your face, you know that those nasty looks are just the beginning.
Final Thoughts
While I don’t tend to build a lot of World War II or Vietnam-era stuff, I am a big fan of the history. Seeing these weapons come alive in brick form is just awesome. Each and every one of these guns is beautifully realized. They’re all detailed without being too detailed to fit in with your average LEGO® minifigs. While not all of these are idea for your typical civilian anti-zombie weapon, a few are. And those that aren’t are just too cool to pass up.
If you’re interested in picking a few of these up (and why wouldn’t you be?), then check out GI Brick.
UPDATE
I just got an email from GI Brick offering a special coupon code to Bricks of the Dead readers. Use BOTDGIB12 on check out to receive 15% off your order. This expires on September 30th, 2012
Are these prototypes; or have they made it into full production? I was a big fan of the MG34 before; but not a fan of the prototype prices that kept me from ordering one. Same goes for their previous shotguns.
Thanks for the review. One thing that I like to see with these cottage LEGO accessories is how they look and pose on minifigs. As you wrote, many of them are hard to pose and use in scenes. There are a couple of weapons that I ordered from G.I. Brick that I can’t get to work any way. One of them, as I recall, was the older M1 Thompson. Hopefully the newer one has better grip geometry.
These are, indeed, in production.
The ones I have the hardest time using are the full sized rifles. They look great, but minifigs simply can’t shoulder a rifle.
I’ll try to get some pics up with the older Thompsons showing my concerns, if I can find them in my baggies of minifig weapons (they’re not in use right now). My favorite gun for posing (and I did not think it would be) is the new M4 with the railed handguard and short optic. That thing is great. It poses in about five different ways. Pretty good for a minifig. The sidearms are all great. They don’t have the same problem.
I posted a couple of reviews to G.I. Brick; but they never published them. I guess they were too critical. 😉
Hah. Nothing wrong with a critical eye, Bo.
Yeah, but if you’ve ever read the “reviews” posted to G.I. Brick, you’ll get my point. They’re all juvenile to the point of reading like they were written in crayon, and sickeningly positive. They’re nothing objective about them. They would have to butch up to qualify as “juvenile”.
Hah, yeah I read a few for some extra research for these reviews. It seems like most reviews of items like this are basically a brief description and maybe a “I like this lots ’cause…”
More like “OMGZ! This is the BEST gun EVAR!!!1! It is so cool for modern or apoc! You should TOTALLY get one!”
*Gag!* *Vomit!*
How do these kids order stuff from the internet? Do kids have debit or credit cards these days; or do they get mommy to order the stuff for them?
I always wonder that too. When I was a kid and wanted to order stuff from catalogs, I either had to convince my parents to do it for me (good luck on that) or just keep dreaming.
Maybe they get their allowance deposited right to Paypal?
When I was a kid if I wanted something by mail order (back in the “allow six to eight weeks for delivery” days) I had to fist, save the money. Then I hiked the two miles to the closest bank and bought a money order. Luckily the post office was next door; so I could put the money order in the envelope; buy a twenty or twenty-two cent stamp, put it in the mail chute, and wait.
Now I wonder where those guns are. I was just in my baggie of random Brickarm guns this week; and I don’t remember seeing them. I bought the Thompsons because I was putting together an idea for some scenes/vignettes involving an alien invasion in the tradition of V that would start with an X-Files or Fringe motif. That is, there would be three or four factions: a shadowy government agency, a PMC (“private military contractors”), a group of “True Believers” out to warn the world, and the aliens. I got an assortment of guns for the civilian faction, including a couple of M1A! Thompsons and a Lewis gun; but I never liked the way the Thompsons looked in the figs hands. The Lewis gun was only slightly better; but I eventually replaced that character’s Lewis gun with a bazooka (which I will soon replace with an RPG).
That is a killer idea Bo, you should keep at it.
The new RPG will be reviewed next week. It’s one of my favorite items from this whole mix.
I don’t have one of their Lewis guns, but they look awesome. Im adding that to the wish list.
Does that mean they’ll put the older style RPG’s on closeout? I have a Chechen Mujahideen that needs one…
No idea on that one. I don’t think they typically get rid of older stuff, but I not positive.
Since you guys are talking about that… as you say Dave MF can’t shoulder a gun, actually they just can’t hold a gun in a shooting position with 2 hands.
So I’m having trouble using any of these guns in my scenes because it always just seems unrealistic. For instance, I’d love to use a shotgun in a zombie scene but shooting a shotgun with 1 hand is just impossible, right?
… what kind of gun can you actually shoot with 1 hand?
I’ve shot a 12 Gauge with one hand before (dumb kid stuff), so it’s possible, but not accurate, comfortable, or safe.
I typically use the long guns for carry-posing only, since they don’t work great for shooting poses.
I don’t recommend shooting any firearm with one hand (even handguns, if you can help it). That said, the only one-handed weapons that pose in a firing position are the sidearms (pistols and revolvers) and the sawed-off shotgun.
Oh, and the hand grenades 😉
The M4 I mentioned above will pose in a port arms and one-handed low ready position. It won’t pose in a firing position. Blame TLG for that one, not Brickarms…
“Blame TLG for that one, not Brickarms”
Indeed. We need a third party company to make arms and hands capable of holding long guns in a firing position.
Too bad that other company’s figures are of such poor quality (out-gassing, soft plastic, made in China). That are a much better design.
Oh I love the LEGO minifig. I just wish they were modular arms to do different stuff. I believe a company made some that go out perpendicular to the torso, so that’s a start.
Sorry about the reviews section! I’ve been so busy with the shows lately that I haven’t approved the last few months of reviews. I’ll get those “juvenile” ones off. 😉
I thought maybe you just weren’t interested in any reviews written by someone over the age of 12.
I like a lot of Brickarms product; and have always ordered them from your site.
I have also had difficulty logging in to GI Brick dot come. Have you received any similar reports?
Multiple arms would be good for what you do, Dave, but not for playing.
Good point.
But still, good for what I do, so I want it 🙂
Cheeky bastard…
I’ll remember that when I am playing with my five year old.
Hah
Yep, that would be V&A Steamworks but it’s not really any better than the original LEGO arm IMO. If anything it’s even less realistic for posing. I have seen some cool things made with a technique called “tubing”. You cut a Lego pneumatic hose to a MF arm’s length and try playing around with it.. I tried it myself once and added a piece of metal in the hose to give the thing a small curve. But I have never seen anyone trying to make a MF with flex arms that can hold a gun with 2 hands…
The other known technique is to detach the arms from the torso and use a Lego rubber band to connect the 2 through the torso… as seen here.
Yes, those are it. Doesn’t solve the gun holding issue, but it does give you more latitude when it comes to posing.
I’ve never been a fan of tubing. It looks great in MOCs (like yours), but I don’t like doing that sort of modelling work personally.
Two Shotguns? Try four, Dave! And the vents in the Trench Gun barrel were for easier heat dispersing after firing. Some soldiers that would take that off would be a. punished, and b. have very scorched hands.
Four? What are the other two (barring the SABR and the Trench Gun)?
You’re forgetting the Model 1887 and ACS. I’ll let you slide, though; they don’t really look like Shotguns.
Ooh, shit. Yes, I totally forgot both. I’m a dumbass.
You should have seen me in Modern Warfare 2 back when I was a gun moron. “This Winchester Rifle has horrible accuracy! You’d think it’s a Shotgun or something!”
The .30-30 WCF is a legitimate 300 meter round. After that, not so much. Ballisticallly it is on par with the 7.62x39mm, not exactly a slouch, but with a great arcing trajectory (like my dad used to say “The ballistics of a thrown rock!”, referring to its arc).
Interesting fact about the Thompson submachine gun, the drum magazine was refused by the military due to it making excessive rattling when moved, being difficult to reload, and making it nearly impossible to clear jams.
I didn’t know that. Cool trivia!
And that it’s a heavy mother——; and drums are inherently unreliable. I wouldn’t have one if they were free (all hype from the Aurora shooting aside). Give me a good stick magazine over a drum any day.
I might make an exception for a belt-fed, as the MG34, above.
But Bo, it looks cool!
Welcome to America: form over function.
LOL.
Damn straight!
The main reason that gangsters would use them was that they could purchase the drums insanely cheap due to there being an excessive amount that weren’t being used. They later developed a 30 round magazine to replace the 20 round magazine. Also, with the thompson drum, you had to slide it in from the side, made it a b!tch to reload.
And it was a fickle bitch. If you didn’t tension the spring just so, it would go TU (that’s “tits up” for you, Dave).
nice abs dave, is that what you do when your not working on the comic?
Situps.
i know a lot of guns, like that looters shotgun, that was a Spas-12, i sure do know my guns(FINAL COMMENT) i know every gun in the comic, some of my ”typical” friends said that there should be an AK-47 in the comic, but im really not a fan of those guns
Don’t like AKs? I’ve been trying to convince the wife to let me buy one for a while now. They look like a hell of a lot of fun.
But I have a soft spot for Russian stuff.
Too bad the good ones have become as expensive as AR’s. Avoid the CAI (Century Arms) like the Plague itself.
What about WASRs?
Those are Century builds.
Ah, I didn’t realize that.
So what sort of AK would you recommend?
You should send me an email or chat ID (AIM, Yahoo, Google chat, etc.), because whenever I post a link, it has to go through moderation.
This is the type of AKM I would get, an Arsenal-build Izhmash receiver: http://www.k-var.com/shop/SGL21-Series-7.62×39-Caliber-Russian-Stamped-Receiver-AK-47-Variant-Rifles.html
I would not get the folding stock version. The receiver lacks the factory reinforcing plate the folding stock might need to prevent damage should the folding stock over-torque the receiver wall.
Ooh, I need that.
Anyone want to contribute to the “Buy Dave an assault rifle” fund?
See, quality AKM-pattern rifles cost as much as much as AR’s now. You’re getting what you pay for, certainly; but a real-deal AKM in Iraq or Somalia is less than a hundred dollars US.
So for a hundred bucks, I could get some beater rifle to learn on?
To learn, just get a Ruger 10/22. To fight, get a quality rifle. Where you stand depends upon where you sit. A good AKM, a good AR, FAL, G3, M14S, the choice is yours.
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
I’ve always loved the look of the FAL as well. Sweet looking rifle.
The FAL is about as long as a limousine. You can get one with a shorter barrel; but a shorter barrel means a loss of bullet velocity. I’d handle all of them before settling on one; but you’ll probably have all of them eventually. Guns tend to multiply.
Re: guns multiplying
That’s what I hear. I’m hoping to buy my first (not counting a couple shotguns that are still at my parents’ home) either later this year or early next. I’m looking at a Ruger Mark III (possible the 22/45). I figure once the floodgates have opened, things should get nice and interesting
I have about all I need, maybe not all I want, but sufficient to meet my needs, for now. Ammunition has once again become the big deal. It’s easier to choke off the ammunition supply in any WCS than the firearms. REmember the scene in The Road (don’t know if it was in the movie, too), where the dad was in the bunker, and he found a couple of rounds of .30-30 ammunition, and he was wondering if he could somehow find a way to make it work in his .38 revolver?
My goal is to never have that problem.
I haven’t seen the film in some time, but I recall the scene in the book (except there is was .45ACP).
the problem with the Century builds in not that they’re not reliable. They still run. The problem is that the assembles are so shoddy that the gas blocks are often canted, making the sights permanently canted. That means that point of aim will never equal point of impact. Now there are plenty of Century builds that do shoot straight; but if it doesn’t, you’re hosed. Caveat emptor .
I’d go with a Arsenal build on an izhmash and be done with it.
The last three guns are wall guns on WaW Zombies. I’m a fan of the M1 Carbine 🙂
What are wall guns? I’m not familiar with WaW (World at War?)
Probably “all guns”, not “wall guns”.
Oh.. yeah. That would make a hell of a lot more sense, wouldn’t it?
Now you feel sheepish, amiright?
A bit, yeah.
“Wall guns” are guns bought literally from a wall. A drawing of the gun appears on the wall, once you get close to it the give you between two or three options, for this we will use the M1 Carbine as an example; 600 points for the gun, after purchase you can then buy ammunition for 300 points, and in some maps you can upgrade your weapon for 5000 points afterwards, all upgraded ammo will be 4500 points.
The other guns are guns that you buy off the “Magic Box”. This gives you the gamble of paying 950 points for any weapon in the game mode( with the exception of wall guns in Black Ops, WaW was a b!tch and sometimes gave you a 200 point gun for a 950 points). In some occasions the Magic Box will give you a Teddy Bear, that means the Box will move from its current location to a new area in the map. As the box changes location you will hear a demonical voice of a girl laughing and afterwards saying “bye-bye”. Then your character will say a phrase line, reffering to the displacement of the box as a joke. In that case your 950 points will be given back.
That is the best way to explain it with out the need of the wiki.
So it was wall? Vindication!
In a way, yes.
Dave and I have the exact same abs. True story.
Hah!
I was hoping you’d get that.
Sadly, I’m not nearly as attractive in real life.
I am well prepared for hibernation.
That’s a great way of putting it.
sometimes life is all about phrasing
you know i bought an AK, i give it to my iraq minifigure, it suits him best
I like the look of the Panzerfaust. It looks like a rocket launcher. I’m not a gun nut or huge on having every brick model of a firearm out there. I greatly appreciate they’re there, I’m just one who’ll grab a few I like the looks of and I’m not too worried if I remember the names or not.
Throwaway rocket launchers like that keep asymmetrical warfare in business (as in Blackhawk Down, when the Somali shoots down the helicopter with an RPG. The Panzerfaust could penetrate T-34 armor, and was effective in the Finnish Winter War.
I just got an email from GI Brick offering a special coupon code to Bricks of the Dead readers. Use BOTDGIB12 on check out to receive 15% off your order. This expires on September 30th, 2012
NIIIIIIICE!
Win!
Thanks guys! I feel a minigun or two coming on… 😉
Outstanding! I still need to pick one of those things up.
Heck yeah!