If you are into challenging LEGO building sets that aren’t just build-and-display, well then, you may want to check out this LEGO-compatible set from JMBricklayer, dubbed Steampunk Marble Run (70003). I surely did not see this (a Great Ball Contraption set) coming from JMBricklayer but here it is, a set that promised to provide you with a challenging build and a therapeutic experience when completed.
For the uninitiated, Great Ball Contraption, or GBC, is a roller coaster made from interlocking plastic bricks designed for tiny balls to travel around. As you can imagine, it can be a very therapeutic experience just watching these tiny balls rolling in a roller coaster-like structure.
As the product name implies, JMBricklayer Steampunk Great Ball Contraption is of steampunk theme. In fact, it is more than a steampunk-themed GBC; it also incorporates dinosaur elements—or a dino factory to be precise, and as such it is also called Steampunk Marble Run Dinosaur Factory.
Packing over 5,391+ pieces, it features a dual-motor system that powers various lift and barrier systems, and decorative elements that bring the set to life. It is a closed-loop marble run system which means it will keep running as long there is a battery and the power is switched on.
Unlike typical GBC, the routes that the tiny orange marble takes aren’t fixed. It may take on different routes depending on when it reaches certain points.
The set features two types of lift systems, a “Lava” tunnel, cranes that you can operate manually, a “chemical tank”, dinosaur bones, a “flamethrower”, a “storage tank”, a “reactor”, a dynamic T-rex, moving stairs, a rotating Pterosaur – just to name a few.
The JMBricklayer Steampunk Great Ball Contraption is not for the faint of heart in terms of build. Not only that. This set demands a fairly large shelf space. When completed, it measures 24.8 inches (63 cm) tall and has a footprint of 21.26 inches by 22.05 inches (54 x 56 cm).
Obviously, we are not doing justice to this majestic set with this post. That said, you can learn in-depth about the JMBricklayer Steampunk Great Ball Contraption on Kickstarter where you can also secure a unit for up to 18% off at 1,232 Hong Kong dollars (about US$158) by pledging for a product. The campaign is, not surprisingly, funded. It has attracted over 600 backers contributing nearly 100K. The campaign has 18 days left on the calendar.
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Images: JMBricklayer.
