Mechanical Octopus

The Mechanical Octopus is an another amazing cutaway brick set by JMBricklayer. This set has 806 pieces and is intended for ages 14 and up.

I am in LOVE with these mechanical sets. The combination of half-clear half-mechanical, combined with light up bricks is just my favorite thing to build.  This set features not one but TWO light up gimmicks, multiple points of articulation, multiple clear parts… It’s got everything I love.

Get yours at https://www.jmbricklayer.com/product/mechanical-octopus-70123/
(USE CODE JMBJoshB15 all non-sale items, 15% OFF)

OR

Amazon.com (Use Code JMBDX70123 for 15% off until Nov 25 2023)

The box shows the product nicely but really does not do it justice. The kit isn’t terribly big but there are a lot of small parts.

There’s a sticker sheet that adds a lot of detail to the kit.

Watch the video above to see the build process time lapse. The end result is packed with detail and little intricate bits. One thing I was suprised about was that the octopus body and tentacles are separate items – the tentacles are built as part of the base, and the body is a separate build that sits on top.

The octopus shell is a nice transparent part with tampo-printed details. I like that it says that this faction is the “OCTOPUS OVERLORDS”

The UFO is a separate build and is removable from the base. The connector is on a ball joint, so it can be posed on the base as well. The cockpit lid can open.

The wave effect on the base is highlighted by the clear bricks. When the base is illuminated, the clear bricks carry the light through them.

The tentacles, while jointed at every segment, have a limited range of motion due to their proximity to other parts of the build.

The lights are located in the base, and in the Octopus body. Levers activate each, and the illumination brings this kit to the next level.

The set uses clear tubes to carry light from one section to another. These tubes have a tendency to be very stiff and cause problems for builds (see Mechanical Chameleon), but here they are well-thought out and fit with no issue. Just pay attention to the tube lengths and use the one called for in the instructions.

I loved this kit, and I can’t wait for the next entry in the Mechanical series. This set is available now through Amazon (use code JMBDX70123 for 15% off through November 25 2023) or through JMBricklayer.com (code JMBJoshB15 for 15% off)