Nanoblock is a micro-sized building block that represents the base of the toy construction line of the Japanese brand, Kawada. Despite being categorized as toys, Nanoblock provides a complex and realistic building experience, it is for ages 12+, having a lot of adults as fans amongst children. At first sight, the design of the blocks seems very similar to the creation of Lego blocks, but in miniature. Therefore, hardcore Lego fans might be thrilled of a new opportunity of building 3D detailed sculptures of a size that can be placed on someone’s hand. It is a great hobby and leisure activity for the ones who enjoy creating something that resembles a work of art with their own hands. Nanoblock created designs for projects for various themes and grouped them into collections.
Nanoblock Description
The blocks in Nanoblock sets are minuscule – the smallest 1×1 Nanoblock is only 4mmX4mmX5mm. Some of the smaller pieces can be challenging to hold, as well as assembling the pieces to the instructions. But attention for detail does wonders because a steady hand and precision can lead to creating beautiful works that also have the side benefit of taking up much less room in the house. With the small size of the blocks, comes an unfortunate possibility of losing the pieces in the process of assembly. The good thing is that sets come with a few extra bits for building other small items. But in case of losing a few blocks, the extra ones come in handy for replacement. The sets have also included instructions, which have step-by-step pictures with very little text. That means that when you want to build your nanoblock, there shouldn’t be much trouble figuring it out.
Nanoblock Collections
Mini-series Nanoblock Collection contains different topics for projects such as miniature designs of animals, musical instruments and Christmas themes. All sets have around 80-150 pieces. It is a great way to immortalize little mementos of the things that people hold dear to their hearts. Despite their small size, each set in this line varies in difficulty, so that everyone can find a suitable design for their skill level, whether it is for a beginner out or someone looking for an early challenge. Animal lovers will find all their favourite furry, feathery, and finned friends, along with other models of musical instruments, dinosaurs, monsters, and holiday memorabilia.
The Sights to See series is all about world landmarks and notable building designs. The sets ranges in size between 200-600 bricks. It recreates the most famous landmarks and architectural icons from all over the world. This collection gives the ultimate architectural experience by providing the opportunity to build favourite touristic spots: teleport to Paris for the Eiffel Tower, to Sydney and the Opera house, New York for the Chrysler Building, the Taj Mahal, the Moai statues of Easter Island or ancient Greece for the Parthenon.
Another series that feature notable buildings and landscape is The Advanced Hobby series. The only difference is that these series are on a larger scale. This particular collection demands serious skills and patience, it gives the LEGO Architecture series a run for its money, providing intricate designs, over 2,000 individual pieces, and even LED lighting. These series are relatively much larger than the average Nanoblock sets. The biggest challenge in these series is the Neuschwanstein Castle Deluxe Edition set which features up to 6,000 pieces and requires around 10 hours to complete.
Another unique set created by Kawada is based on various licenses such as The Adventures of Tintin, Pokémon, Shaun the Sheep and Sanrio characters that include Cinnamoroll, Hello Kitty, KeroKeroKeroppi and My Melody. For example, one of the first projects was released in 2013, which is the Pokemon Nanoblock. The fan favourite characters and pieces are available in 120-piece packs for collections and display.
Last Words
Nanoblock toys are an excellent alternative for people who enjoy building LEGO’s or solving puzzles. They are more on the “grown-up” aisle of the toys, by having more of a polished look for the finished product. Not only are the Nanoblock sets less expensive, but they also require less space for the assembled piece of work. They provide the various amount of designs, the fact that attracts many people by desiring to build something that fuels their interests. Also, the incredible details of the toys can serve as a decoration for the house – being an architectural masterpiece assembled by your own hands.
