Flexo Kickstarter 2.0
Posted by FlagsNZ,
Just over a year ago, a New Zealand based company introduced Flexo to the plastic brick construction world. Flexo has had an amazing uptake by some awesome creators all over the world.
As I have suggested before, there are some people who will not mix their LEGO with any other third-party brick system, but there are others who will welcome the functionality that Flexo will add to their models.
Read on as I promote the Flexo Kickstarter 2.0 project which, if fulfilled, will allow Flexo to introduce new parts into their expanding range in some new and exciting colours. I also reveal the Flexo success story in their first year of production.
What is Flexo and what does it do?
Flexo started its journey with a Kickstarter project late last year: they successfully raised enough money needed to create this innovative new product.
Flexo is a toy-brick construction system that opens up an exciting new area of brick building and brick play. Flexo is 100% compatible with all major brick brands, including LEGO, and it was designed to enhance the amazing experience that is toy-brick building.
A year on and Flexo have released another Kickstarter project for the two new brick shapes (plates) they will be releasing in a new range of colours. There is also new glow-in-the dark tendons to take your Flexo builds to a whole new level.
Check out some of the amazing things other people have made with Flexo and their LEGO.
To get a real feel for how Flexo can enhance your models have a look at some of the short videos from the Flexo YouTube Channel.
Flexo is at its best when it is used with your existing brick collection to introduce flexibility, bounce, tension, new angles and the ability to expand you creativity. The system consists of toy building bricks with extra recesses in the top to enable flexible tendons to join the bricks together.
When connected in such a way it allows for movement. This is only the beginning of the possibilities and creativity that Flexo will open.
Australian Toy Association Toy of the Year Award
Earlier this year Flexo won the Australian Toy Association Toy of the Year – Construction Range 2017 at the Melbourne Toy Fair.
This was a wonderful recognition of what Flexo is and what it offers to toy-brick builders. Flexo is not another brick company looking to copy the top players in the market; they are looking to bring further innovation to the market and work in with what people already love and use.
Flexo does not see themselves as a clone brand but rather an enhancement to the existing LEGO experience.
Flexo Kickstarter 2.0
Flexo plan to expand their parts range and so they are therefore utilising another Kickstarter fund raising project.
This Kickstarter project is to develop new Flexo construction bricks with innovative new shapes and also introducing new colours. The new parts include:
- A revolutionary triangular brick shape
- A 2x2 circle piece with axle hole
- Parts in new colours
- Glow-in-the dark tendons
These new parts will take your Flexo models to a whole new level! Watch the Flexo Kickstarter 2.0 video that demonstrates how versatile these new pieces will be.
The Kickstarter project closes at Tuesday 24 October 1.30am BST (Tuesday 24 October 1.30pm NZDT).
The Flexo team are confident that the Kickstarter target will be reached. With eight days to go, they need only NZD $5000 (USD $3500, GBP £2700, Euro €3000) to reach their goal.
Flexo tool
The Flexo team have also created a new tool for inserting the tendons into the Flexo bricks.
This new tool will compliment any brick separator tool that you might own.
Buy Flexo
Flexo have a range of parts packs that are available from NZD $5-$489 (USD $4-$345, GBP £3-£262, Euro €3-€293).
Delivery times vary depending on location and delivery method but are typically between two to ten working days.
Visit their online shop to order your Flexo pack.
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in the Flexo company. I am simply wanting to support a great kiwi project, and believe this product will go a long way to compliment LEGO and other brick systems.
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21 comments on this article
Very interesting, certainly buy some once UK distributor as I think to pay £40 delivery + import duty is a little too much (this is based on their pricing from their online shop not the kickstarter levels)
I remember reading about this when it was first posted on Brickset. Has to be one of, if not the best lego compatible part out there (in my opinion anyway).
I'm sure the flexibility offered by Flexo will appeal to many MOCers. But for those who will never mix any other brand with the genuine lego bricks. But, according to me, this concept, as we see with few examples and applications on video, opens new perspectives to construction. And can also stand alone, even if the choice with parts is reduced by now.
Isn't there an age limit for those 'tendons'? Can't find information about that anywhere. I could imagine them being easy to swallow, so this isn't suitable for young children, I'd say.
Flexo, I Brix, What next?
They need to make much smaller polybag packs as the customs fees on all those boxed sets are ridiculous.
Cool idea, but unfortunately they are not allowed to ship to Germany at the moment.
What the hell?
Just a little note: internal links don't work anymore on portable devices (Samsung Galaxy S8 and Apple iPod Touch 6G). External links in articles work fine. Internal links are not clickable anymore.
This is a great idea!!
Definitely want this when it comes out :)
^^ I'm aware of the issue but it should only be affecting you if you're not logged in. If you are logged in and still have the problem, let me know.
Has Lego ever bought smaller companies like this and integrated their stuff into their line? I have no interest in non Lego brand bricks, but I would be interested in Lego adding a new theme with something like this.
I'm a bit of a purist so this doesn't particularly interest me, but for once this looks like a company that's actually bringing some innovation to the brick building market. Kudos to them.
I invested in the initial offering and I agree that the concept is genuinely innovative--a new approach which also retrofits smoothly with established plastic bricks. Given the longevity of such parts as Lego "rubber bands," I don't think the connecting tendons are going to break any time soon--and as for an age limit on small children, there already is one on most Lego anyway. This is meant for children old enough to know there's more fun in building with plastic bits than in trying to eat them!
I'm less sure the triangular pieces and so forth are really worth an extra contribution, but I'm glad to hear they're on track to make this new kickstarter and even more glad to hear they won a big award for their initial design!
I'm one of those guys who will not mix my pure Lego with other brands. I might me a little racist on that part. (and only on that part) I also think think that these things should not get a platform on a page like this. But on the other hand... I think these things are better than rip-offs like the Chinese brands
@Corban2011 and @Beast76: you've got to be kidding.
Of course Brickset is mainly a Lego-oriented site, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be a place for news like this. It is not promoting illegal stuff like Lepin et al. after all.
This seems like a very innovative and quality product, just like that adhesive brick tape I can't remember the name of, as well as others.
None of these are knockoff or junk. They can be a valuable addition to any MOCist's inventory. Lego doesn't offer anything like this, so where's the knockoff in that?
If you don't want to mix stuff like that with your own Lego, fine, just leave it.
But don't insist that products like this should not have a platform on a page like Brickset.
I find these glimpses of what else is out there that could benefit my Lego hobby very valuable and am therefor happy that Huw and the rest of the Brickset team do not censor the news about such products just because they don't have the Lego logo on them.
My family has had experience w/only a couple non-LEGO brands, such as the Doctor Who TARDIS Console Room set from Character Building (my first experience w/non-LEGO bricks which surprised me so much in quality I still have it displayed and never bought the Ideas version, which is less than half the size and was twice the price). My daughter has enjoyed the Shopkins Kinstructions sets, which weren't offered by LEGO. I find the quality of those sets to be lacking, however it was a subject matter not avail. by LEGO. Now w/these limited endeavors into alternative building bricks I have never mixed these non-LEGO pieces into my collection, so as to not contaminate them. These Flexo bricks are the first ones that I would consider mixing and using along w/my LEGO bricks, as I can see the great potential for expanding the possibilities and flexibility of MOC's. I wish these guys the best of luck and plan on checking their website out! Also thanks to Huw and Brickset for publishing this article :)
@AustinPowers, thank you. We will promote products that are often made by LEGO fans and designed to supplement and enhance LEGO's own offering. But of course we draw the line at clone and illegal products and brands other than to belittle them.
^ “other than to belittle them”... thanks Huw, I almost sprayed coffee all over my desk! :)
Spot on, @AustinPower! I could not have said it any better. And thank you Huw for all that you do on Brickset.
Interesting, but I'd never mix my genuine Lego with this or any other clone brick.
@Huw: thank YOU and the team.
Unfortunately, for whatever legal reason, the Flexo products can't be shipped to Germany currently
:-(