JMBricklayers Mechanical Chameleon (70124) Review

Stuart from BrickMcBricksworth here, with my first ever review for The Brick Post. I hope you enjoy what I have to say about this alternative brand and the set I have for you today.

We also have a discount code to use on the JMBricklayers website, pop thebrickpost15% into the box during checkout to bag yourself 15% off your basket (non-sale items only).

“There is only one brand when it comes to building with little plastic bricks!”

Well this is just not entirely true anymore.

“But other brands are poor quality compared to the brand leader!”

Not quite. Where this used to be gospel, there are many brands kicking on the heels of the top dogs. Some are relatively new! But their innovation and interesting niche products are gaining the attention of brick builders everywhere!

The latest brand I have been asked to review is JMBricklayers. “JMBricklayer??? What does that stand for?”, I’m glad you asked. Joy Makes Brilliance. Ok technically Joy Makes Brilliance-ricklayer but lets not get into it.

They sent me a set to review which was extremely kind of them and I’m here to give it an honest review. Introducing the Mechanical Chameleon (70124)!

Ok, as we are going for a full on brand and product review here, because let’s be honest it is highly likely you have never heard of JMBricklayers. First lets look at the box, we all love a good box let’s be honest. This one really does not disappoint it looks really professionally done. It’s a smart matt black background with shiny wrap on the product printing and slightly embossed. Thought has gone into the looks of the packaging there is no doubt there. On the sides and back there is the usual company info like you get on a box and info on where to source parts should there be an issue with the set.

The instructions are printed on a quality feeling paper and are extremely easy to follow and are bright and well presented. Something that other brands struggle on is the instructions, JMB are not in this category for sure, the instructions are spot on.

The set comprises of 827 pieces and is for ages 14+ on the box. But 15+ on the instructions???? Maybe to buy it you can be 14 but have to wait a year to build it? Not to give too much away just yet but it’s more of a 15+ build…

In the box there are 5 numbered bags and several unmarked bags that need to be opened at the start and used throughout the build, these are what I would consider the specialist parts. They are a mix of shiny silver and large parts.

The theme of the set is a futuristic Chameleon, where on one side it is the full body of a robot chameleon as it were. But on the other side a stripped away inner mechanical workings sort of vibe.
You start on the body and eventually get to a really neat little light brick which is a 2×2 round brick but is positionable in an on and off position. This is the mechanical heart and glows a really bright green that looks amazing when the set is finished. One critical point I have on this set in particular is the brick was slightly skewed and you can’t have the piece connected to turn it on and off, it is a minor inconvenience as you just need a little hook piece to turn it on and off.

As you build it comes together quite nicely, until you get to a really fiddly bit with some flexible pipes provided. Where all they want to do is ping pieces off across the room. I’m not going to lie at this point it was a tad stressful, but with perseverance it does eventually become sturdy and worth the effort.

Lucky JMBricklayers have put together a little tutorial on how to fit this part in the least stressful way. Click here to visit the dedicated page.

With that last part said it’s now time to tell you about the quality of the actual pieces… Colour first, and to be honest the colours of the grey are scarily close to LEGO! Like so close the only way to tell them apart is looking for the LEGO stamp on the LEGO pieces. Now you are thinking “ok the colour of plastic is one thing but the pieces must feel cheaper?” Nope. Again scary how close they are. So they feel and are the same colour as LEGO but the clutch power must be rubbish? This is seriously going to trigger some LEGO fans but again so far the clutch power is just great. Not slack but not so stiff they break your fingers trying to get them apart when you inevitably make the odd mistake building. Even if they were stiff they provide a JMBrickseperator.

STICKERS! We all hate stickers apart from the odd unhinged individuals. This bit I can’t be positive and big this up… While there was nothing wrong with the actual quality of the stickers. In some case they were stuck across multiple pieces!!! This alone is just reason to say on the sticker front it’s not a great performance.

Time for the important bit, the rating. Let’s give this marks out of 10 for certain key areas of the set:

Box printing and quality is a solid 8/10

Instructions a near perfect 9/10

Brick quality (colour and feel) 8/10

Build difficulty 7/10

Stickers 4/10 (Crossing pieces really marked this down)

finished design/look 8/10

I give it an overall 8/10!

Overall, without being too harsh because of the stickers and that one part in the middle where I almost lost my temper, it has its flaws for sure but for a set from a company that I have not heard much or anything about, it was surprisingly good and very unique. 

Thank you for reading this far, you’re truly awesome! I really appreciate your time and support and would love for you to share your thoughts and comments about the set below. Would you ever pickup an alternative brand set like this? Please do check the full range of set at JMBricklayers, from Mechanical Chameleons and Dinosaurs to Medieval, Trains, Cars and more.

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