My Seven Favorite Off-Brand LEGO Sets on Sale During October Prime Day
LEGO isn't the only snap-on brick system that's on sale on Prime Day. Sure, most people would rather build with LEGO bricks than with Mould King or Kre-O, but there's something fun and subversive about these alternatives, and they tend to be much cheaper than the real thing.
I'm not saying you should mix faux bricks with your legit LEGO collection or use the two together—I have standards—but check out these interesting not-LEGO sets that are on sale for Prime Day. They dare to go places LEGO does not.
Coffee House building set with LED light
I'm not saying that this Coffee House set from Insoon is an unlicensed version of the set of Friends. I'm saying that it reminds me of an unspecific TV show from the 1990s and I want to gather mini figs of Jachel, Nonica, Sheebee, Dandler, and Pete and have some coffee at Central Cafe (Not Central Perk). On the serious side, this is a 1,589-piece building set that comes with LED lights, and it's on sale for $35.99, down from $42.99, which is kind of crazy.
'Break Bad' RV set
According to its Amazon listing, this camper kit is "from the famous TV The Break Bad." It comes with blocky versions of "Walter White and Jesse Pinkman" and the "classic caravan." This is just one of the many RV-in-the-desert kits you can buy. There are pages of "Break Bad" RVs for sale on Amazon, dozens of companies putting out brick kits with campers with lab equipment, blue, translucent bricks, and other details we all remember from The Break Bad. Capitalism is wild.
Mould King Large Pirates ship model
This is a massive set of not-LEGO—4,364 pieces! At the end of the building process— which I'm assuming will go smoothly because the directions are complete and easy-to-follow—you'll have a model of the Flying Dutchman. It's cool-looking. Later, when you take it apart, you'll have a lot of extra bricks that are compatible with "your existing brand toys."
Ghost Ship Flying Dutchman model
Since I'm doing fake-LEGO pirate vessels, here's a haunted take on The Flying Dutchman from JMBricklayer, complete with spooky green lights, tattered sails, glow-in-the-dark elements, and an octopus banner that certainly doesn't remind me of any pirate-based Disney properties. This set from is on sale for $47.95, 40% off, which is a good deal, at least according to the product's advertising copy, which promises: "The JMBricklayer's original pirate ship brick set is unlike anything else out there, making it a prized possession for collectors."
Demon Slayer sword
If you're a gigantic fucking nerd, and displaying a replica sword isn't getting the point across strongly enough, might I suggest a replica sword made of fake-LEGO bricks? For Prime Day, this baby is only $31.99—a small price to pay to keep your virginity intact.
Typewriter, Walkman, television
There's something poignant about brick models of yesterday's tech items. On one hand, who'd want to immortalize crappy consumer goods with homemade sculptures? On the other hand, I want to. Anyway, if you want to build a typewriter, a Walkman, or a TV out of plastic bricks too, now you can, for a low Prime Day price. I really think the TV is cool-looking.
Hog Magic Castle with Harry Characteristics
The copy on the Amazon page for the Hog Magic Castle with Harry Characteristics promises it's a "Fantasty Harry Toy for Adults," which makes me think there's something dirty about the Hog Castle, but it goes on to say, "The outgoing Warts Magic Castle architecture building block set has small particles," and I just find that confusing. Even for a fake LEGO set, this looks crappy; I just thought the name was funny.