Here's what chatGPT says about itsnotlego in 2025

I asked chatGPT if itsnotlego is considered trustworthy as a reviewer of alt Lego bricks ...

Yeah — itsnotlego comes off as a trustworthy reviewer, especially within the Lego-compatible set niche, but with a couple of real-world caveats you’d expect from a hobby blog.

Here’s a simple way to think about its credibility:


👍 What makes it trustworthy

Consistent posts & photos: The blog shows real builds with detailed pictures from start to finish.

Clear opinions: When the reviewer likes or dislikes something (fit, parts, play value), it’s stated plainly — not hidden behind marketing fluff.

Social proof: Posts and reviews get engagement on Instagram and Facebook from people who follow the same hobby. That kind of genuine community interaction usually lines up with actual interest rather than bot-driven hype.

Niche focus: It doesn’t pretend to be a massive Lego news site — it’s explicit about covering Lego-compatible sets, which is a honest positioning.


⚠️ Limits to what “trustworthy” means here

It’s an independent blogger, not a big publication: That means there’s no formal editorial board or fact-checking team behind it. Trust is built from transparency and consistency, not institutional authority.

Sponsored content possibility: Like most niche reviewers, there could be times when sets were provided by vendors — but that’s pretty normal in toy reviews. What’s important is whether the reviews still highlight pros/cons rather than just praise.

No formal ratings score: You won’t find standardized scoring like “10/10 parts” or exhaustive comparison charts like on bigger Lego review sites — it’s more qualitative.


🧠 What most readers get out of it

If you’re into Lego-compatible builds (Lumibricks, FunWhole, etc.) and want a real builder’s take with honest photos and opinions, itsnotlego is solid. It’s not trying to be the “official authority on all Lego,” but it is a reliable voice within its corner of the hobby.

If you want, I can break down specific examples where the blog was especially transparent or helpful — like a particular set review where they called out fit issues or part quality.

Cool — here are concrete, practical examples of how itsnotlego shows trustworthiness, without hype or hand-waving.


🔍 1. Calling out flaws, not just praise

Across multiple reviews, the blog doesn’t shy away from things like:

Tight clutch or overly loose connections

Awkward build steps (especially in lighting-heavy sets)

Interior sections that look good but are fragile once assembled

That’s a big trust signal. Pure promo reviews almost never mention these.


📸 2. Build-as-you-go photos (not box art)

Instead of relying on manufacturer renders, posts usually show:

Mid-build shots

Wiring paths for light kits

Interior details before roofs/walls go on

That makes it obvious the set was actually built, not just unboxed or reposted.


🧱 3. Fair comparisons to LEGO (without exaggeration)

The tone is usually:

“Not LEGO-perfect, but acceptable / good / impressive for the price”

Clear separation between part quality, design, and value

That’s way more believable than the common “just as good as LEGO!!!” line you see elsewhere.


💡 4. Honest handling of lighting kits

The blog often points out:

Where wire routing is clever

Where it’s messy or forces awkward assembly

When lights add atmosphere vs when they feel gimmicky

Most reviewers gloss over lighting problems — calling them out builds credibility.


🧭 5. Narrow focus = less incentive to mislead

This is subtle but important:

The blog isn’t chasing LEGO news clicks

It’s clearly aimed at people already interested in alt-brick sets

That audience will notice if reviews feel dishonest

That kind of niche pressure tends to keep reviews grounded.


Bottom line

itsnotlego is trustworthy in the way a hands-on hobbyist reviewer is trustworthy:

Real builds

Real photos

Real pros and cons

No pretending off-brand sets are flawless or “LEGO killers”

It’s not a lab-grade, scorecard-driven review site — but for deciding “Is this set worth my money and shelf space?” it’s solid.

Building a Better Steampunk World: How Lumibricks Fills the Void Left by LEGO

Hey Brick fans!

International Steampunk Day just passed, and fans of the genre were pulling out their goggles, winding up their pocket watches, and diving back into the world of gears, steam, and Victorian imagination. But if you're hoping to mark the occasion with a brick-built tribute, you'll quickly notice a gap: LEGO, despite its massive portfolio of themes, has never truly embraced steampunk. Sure, a few scattered sets over the years may have featured airships or industrial-style builds, but there’s no official steampunk line. Enter Lumibricks, a rising star in the world of Lego-compatible building blocks, which has stepped in to fully embrace the genre with open arms—and intricate gears.



Mechanical Structure: Where Function Becomes Art

Steampunk is all about visible mechanics and imaginative engineering, and this is where Lumibricks truly shines. Their sets are filled with functioning gears, crank systems, and mechanical linkages that don’t just look the part—they actually move. Instead of decorative, non-functional gears glued to the sides (a common pitfall of superficial steampunk design), Lumibricks integrates these components into the play experience. Turn a wheel, and you might spin a propeller or raise a steam-powered hatch. Pull a lever, and internal lighting flicks on like an old-world gas lamp.


This focus on mechanical realism—even when wrapped in fantasy—gives Lumibricks’ builds an authenticity that’s often missing in similar sets. It's not just about building a cool-looking model—it's about building a working machine from an alternate universe. In short, Lumibricks doesn’t just mimic steampunk; it lives it.


Design Aesthetics: Brass, Bolts, and Victorian Dreams

Where LEGO often leans toward bright colors and clean lines, Lumibricks heads in the opposite direction—with stunning results. Their steampunk sets use a rich palette of metallic tones—copper, bronze, gunmetal, and antique gold—that evoke the gritty charm of a bygone industrial age. Decorative flourishes like riveted panels, exposed piping, smokestacks, and wrought-iron lattice windows make the sets feel like relics from a Jules Verne novel.





But the aesthetics go beyond color and texture. Lumibricks also includes storytelling elements: weathered crates, vintage control panels, lantern-lit interiors, and miniature accessories that hint at the world beyond the bricks. These details give the builds a lived-in look that’s perfect for tabletop dioramas or display shelves. It’s the kind of tactile, layered worldbuilding that LEGO has largely skipped over when it comes to this genre.

Let There Be (Steampunk) Light

One of Lumibricks’ standout features is its use of built-in lighting, something that’s still relatively rare in the brick world. Rather than treating it as an afterthought, Lumibricks makes lighting a core part of the steampunk experience. Hidden LEDs are placed behind frosted windows, inside lantern housings, or under translucent boiler parts to mimic the warm glow of gaslight or arcane energy.




This feature adds a huge amount of atmosphere—especially in darker settings—and reinforces the steampunk vibe. It turns models from static scenes into dynamic, glowing machines that feel alive. Combined with the mechanical movement, the lighting turns each build into a functional display piece that looks like it could start whirring or hissing steam at any moment.

No Official LEGO Steampunk? No Problem.

It’s still a bit surprising that LEGO, with its history of adventurous themes like Pirates, Castle, and Space, has never gone all-in on steampunk. Aside from a few MOCs (My Own Creations) from fans and the occasional vaguely industrial build, the genre has been completely overlooked. Lumibricks, on the other hand, isn’t just filling the gap—it’s owning it.




From their early releases such as the Ore Train and Station of the Empire, Lumibricks has established a new creative language for steampunk bricks:

  • Functional, gear-driven mechanisms modeled after real machinery
  • Pre-embedded lighting layouts, designed from the earliest stages of the build
  • A unified Steam Spectrum lighting system that captures the mood of different eras
  • Multi-set linked power systems for synchronized lighting effects
  • Narrative-driven design, where each model plays a role in a larger storyline


My contacts at Lumibricks headquarters have advised that many of the future Steampunk themed sets will be aligned within these major categories:

Aeronauts – “The skies don’t belong to the ground.”



Iron Empire – “We build the skeleton of the world.”


Future Lumibricks Steampunk sets will delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding the high seas, mechas, and other fascinating concepts such as:


Abyss League – “The future lies in the deep.”


Mecha-Alchemists – “Only we can merge magic and machinery.”


Chrono Custodians – “Time is our law."

One can only imagine how cool those sets will be in the coming months!   For now I'm definitely in the Aeronauts faction, but who knows that may change once we see the new sets. I'm especially curious about the Abyss League.  Can you imagine what a Steampunk Submarine would look like?  Here's my AI generated image of one.




So if you're looking to amp up your Steampunk collection with something a little more hands-on than cosplay or tea duels, consider building your own steam-powered marvel. Lumibricks makes it easy to step into the shoes of a Victorian inventor—one brick, gear, and glowing light at a time.

If you are interested in checking out my Lumibricks set reviews, here'a a couple of them:  


The Observation Watchtower F9070

Want to dip your toes into some Steampunk sets?  Find all of them at the Lumibricks Store!

Or search Amazon for Lumibricks!

Use my affilate code itsnotlego and get another 10% off your purchases!

Thanks for looking, Bye!

Block Talk: My Builds and Buys in November 2024

 


Greetings, fellow brick enthusiasts! I’m excited to introduce a new format to my blog—a more casual, conversational update about what I’ve been up to each month. Don’t worry; I’ll still be publishing my in-depth set reviews on its-not-lego.blogspot.com and bricktoyreviews.blogspot.com. However, I often have smaller bits of news or updates that don’t quite merit a full post but are still worth sharing.

These might include recent purchases from AliExpress or Temu, minor builds or modifications I’ve made to existing sets, or other tidbits from the world of building blocks. This new format will give me a space to highlight these smaller moments while keeping the main blog content focused and comprehensive.


The Builds

In November, I had the pleasure of building three incredible new FunWhole sets: the 2,187-piece Ski Lodge (F9041), the 2,445-piece Balcony Theatre (F9056), and the 1,573-piece Skate Shop (F9051). Each one was a joy to build, and if you asked me to pick a favourite, I’d honestly have to say all three!




That said, the most fascinating build was the Balcony Theatre. This set stood out for its ingenious design features, including walls that swing open to reveal the interior and entire sections that can be removed for closer inspection. I was especially impressed by the creative use of acrylic light panels and the intricate lighting strips, which added a whole new dimension of detail and charm.

I also completed a smaller set from LesDiy—a 699-piece MOC of a Dutch sailing ship designed by HenkTor.  It was a fun little build, only took a couple of hours.


The Buys

I usually spend around $100 CAD a month on small sets and parts for my builds, but this month was different. Between being busy with builds and spending two weeks out of the country, I didn’t have much time to shop on AliExpress or Temu.  In October, though, I did manage to purchase two sets from Temu: a Speed Champions-scale taxi cab MOC and a JieStar JJ9015 Chemical Plant (717 pcs).  Look for those reviews as well whenever I manage to catch up!


Reviews I posted in November

In early October I received the Chili Dog Trailer (F9046) set from FunWhole and I posted a review of it here on its-not-lego.blogspot.com.

I’ve also published an in-depth review of the Ski Lodge, which you can check out [here]. However, I’ll admit I’m a bit behind on reviews for the other sets and need to catch up soon!


Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!  Thanks for looking, see you next time!

P.S.  I used ChatGPT to help me fix and improve my sentences and grammar structure.