Shining a Light on the New Lumibricks Seafood Restaurant 18010

 

Hey brick fans, we are back with another review, courtesy of Lumibricks!  

In case you're new to Lumibricks, it is an innovative alternative building block brand that caters to adult fans and hobbyists by offering detailed, display-ready sets fully compatible with LEGO system bricks. A standout feature of the brand is its reliance on 100% fully printed pieces instead of stickers,. Additionally, every major set comes equipped with a custom-engineered, integrated LED light kit and specialized channel bricks, allowing builders to easily run wiring and illuminate their creations without compromising the structural integrity of the build.

Today, we are diving into the newly released, coastal-inspired Seafood Restaurant set from the Road Trip Saltwind Coast series. This premium, two-storey modular building brings the charm of the seaside to life, complete with an integrated, custom-engineered illumination system that beautifully highlights its architectural details. In this comprehensive review, I'll will break down everything you need to know about the build experience, design aesthetics, and unique features. Here is exactly what will cover in this blog post:

• The Specs and Features
• The Unboxing
• The Minifigs
• The Signature Light Kit
• The Build
• Final Thoughts

Alright let's get into it!

The Specs and Features

Designed for moderately advanced builders, the Lumibricks Seafood Restaurant features an impressive 2,484 pieces and carries an ages 16+ rating. In true Lumibricks fashion, this set completely ditches stickers in favour of a staggering 63 fully printed pieces. Because it is a Lumibricks build, the lighting setup is a major highlight; this seaside diner comes alive at night with 15 integrated points of light, including a towering lobster sign. To top it all off, the set populates your coastal scene with four uniquely shaped minifigures

The nautical theme shines through in the building's layout, starting with a large, elevated patio positioned right at the water’s edge. An exterior side staircase leads to the second floor, which features a massive wraparound deck and expansive panoramic windows. Interestingly, this set breaks away from the standard 32x32 modular footprint, opting instead for a wider 32-stud deep by 42-stud wide base. While the extra width is welcome, the footprint actually feels a bit cramped because it struggles to comfortably showcase the sheer volume of cool seaside accessories included in the box  These accessories include:

• a small fishing boat with it's own little lamp
• seafood tanks with an assortment of fish, lobster, and crab
• fishing gear such as nets, fishing rods, and flippers
• a barbeque grill with condiments
• not one, but two dining areas

The premier feature of the Seafood Restaurant is its innovative, slide-out kitchen module, which features a level of detail that looks spectacular even when displayed completely on its own. Accenting this design is the set's signature illumination system. The crown jewel of the lighting layout is the massive, towering restaurant sign that acts as the visual anchor for the entire build. While this sign is the clear focal point, it is just the beginning; we will analyze the set's numerous other integrated lighting elements later in the post.

The Unboxing

Here is a look at the unboxing process! The front of the box showcases a stunning, high-resolution hero shot of the fully completed model. Turning the box over reveals a teaser of the other gorgeous sets in the Road Trip Saltwind Coast series, including the Sunrise Lighthouse, the Moon Bar, and the Lifeguard Tower. My specific copy features a fresh production date of  2026-05-21. Cracking it open, the box is absolutely jam-packed with two thick instruction manuals and 39 numbered parts bags sorted into building stages 1 through 14, alongside special bags labeled F and S. As a great builder-friendly touch, the S bags contain specialized elements like printed pieces, large plates, and window glass, while the F bags house your minifigure parts and the custom bricks engineered to channel the lighting wires.   Here's the inventory of parts bags:

Parts numbered bags 1 thru 4.

Parts numbered bags 5 thru 8.

Parts numbered bags 9 thru 12.

Parts numbered bags 13, 14 and F and S.

The Minifigs

The set comes with four unique minifigures, dressed in their finest 70s attire.  Two of the guys are sporting hip sunglasses and open neck shirts, and the girl is well tanned.

The Signature Light Kit

Every Lumibricks set includes their signature orange box, which safely houses all the custom illumination components. Cracking open the box for the Seafood Restaurant reveals three numbered pouches, each packed with specialized lighting elements carefully sorted to be integrated seamlessly throughout different stages of the build.

The Build

Here are some pics I took during the various stages of the build.  Recall that there will be fourteen steps to build the Seafood restaurant.

The build kicks off with steps one and two, which focus entirely on laying down the foundation for the sandy beach and the vibrant ocean water. 

Lumibricks included a dynamic element in the shoreline: you can use the bricks to build a realistic shark fin slicing through the water, or swap it out for the little fishing boat included in the box. Honestly, this choice is exactly why I wish the baseplate had been stretched to a 48-stud width instead of the current 42 stud width; with the current layout, it is strictly an "either-or" choice, and the extra room would have let you display both the shark fin and the boat simultaneously.

By the time you finish step five, the main restaurant floor is fully laid down. This phase introduces several of those awesome seaside accessories mentioned earlier, alongside the first wave of integrated lighting components. I am leaving the wires tucked away safely for now, but we will definitely power them up and test the illumination later in the review!

Completing step seven brings us to one of the absolute highlights of the build: the fully equipped, completely removable kitchen module. The attention to detail inside is fantastic—especially the brick-built deep fryers, which look incredibly realistic. That said, I do have one burning design question: with such a great industrial layout, why on earth did the designer choose bright pink for the exhaust fan hood and fridge?

Step eight wraps up the waterfront dining patio, which comes furnished with a cozy table for two and a nicely detailed lobster dinner. This area really highlights how much an extra 6 stud baseplate extension would have improved the set's layout. With that extra space, the designer could have consolidated the seafood tanks together, leaving plenty of room to add a second outdoor table. To make things stranger, the patio umbrella is awkwardly positioned to shade the seafood tanks rather than the actual dining table where the guests sit! But, if there's no room on the patio, there's still a counter in front of the kitchen, reminiscent of a Sushi bar.

Speaking of those seafood tanks, they are absolutely teeming with  an awesome mix of fresh catches, including lobsters, crabs, and an assortment of colourful fish.

Once you wrap up step 11, the upper floor of the Seafood Restaurant is almost complete! The attention to detail up here is fantastic, featuring a ton of those premium printed pieces adorning the interior walls to give it a genuine coastal vibe. The second-story dining area is also fully furnished, serving up another impressive ocean-side crab feast ready for your minifigures.

As a quick builder's note, the set includes two additional chairs designated for the second-story dining space. I opted to omit them from the final interior arrangement, however, due to their freestanding design. Without a stud connection to anchor them to the floor, they remain entirely loose, which can make handling or moving the model a bit frustrating, plus the Lumibricks minifigs can't actually sit in them properly.

Am I being way too critical here, or are these plastic injection marks on the window glass a little too noticeable? When you are building a premium display model with big, beautiful panoramic windows, you really want that glass to look crystal clear. Seeing those injection points right in the middle of the pane is definitely a bit of a letdown.

Step 12 brings us to the absolute crown jewel of the model: the towering, epic Seafood Restaurant sign! It instantly elevates the character of the entire restaurant. As a great functional touch, this step also places a detailed grill top right at the base of the sign, making the whole assembly feel like a bustling, real-world seaside eatery.

Steps 13 and 14 bring us to the home stretch of the build, capping off the entire Seafood Restaurant with its final roof assembly.

Positioning the roof into place and turning on the lights!  Wow!

The Lighting Effects

Restaurant sign and lobster.

Side door light.

Diner sign light.

Second floor dining room and corner lighting.

Entrance lighting.

Kitchen lighting.

Under patio shimmering lighting.

Spot lighting over seafood tanks.

Overall lighting effect.

Final Thoughts

The Lumibricks Seafood Restaurant was a really fun build, even more so than the Saltwind Coast Moon Bar that I reviewed a few months ago.  The set’s biggest wins are its signature 15-point integrated LED lighting system, the lit-up crustacean sign and the plethora of printed pieces.  Lumibricks fans will also love the highly detailed, innovative slide-out kitchen module. On the downside, I would have preferred a larger footprint of 32x48 studs to provide the ability to consolidate the seafood tanks and display both the shark fin and the rowboat together.

Rating

4.8 / 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lumibricks Seafood Restaurant earns a stellar 4.8 out of 5 stars. It sets an incredibly high standard as a Lumibricks set, only missing a perfect score due to inadequate baseplate sizing and slight window molding marks.

• Design & Aesthetics: 4.8 / 5 
• Build Experience: 4.8 / 5 (Engaging 14-stage build with an awesome modular slide-out kitchen)
• Value & Parts Quality: 4.9 / 5 (63 printed pieces and a 15-point light kit offer massive value)
• Displayability: 4.8 / 5 (Unbeatable nighttime ambiance, four unique minifigs)

The Lumibricks Seafood Restaurant is available in their Amazon stores:

 https://go.lumibricks.com/amazon-us and also on their official website:

 https://go.lumibricks.com/itsnotlego for the excellent price of $129.99 USD.

Feel free to use my affiliate code itsnotlego to save another 10% off your purchases from the Lumibricks website.

Thanks for looking and see you next time, Bye!

#lumibricks #lumibrickskoc

Review of the LesDIY Custom Star Wars Clone Turbo Tank building block set

 

Hey brick fans!

Big alternate brick sets are always a gamble—especially when you’re dealing with a 3000+ piece MOC of something as complex as a Star Wars Clone Turbo Tank. LesDiy’s version of the Brick_Boss designed 3298-piece version promises an enormous, detailed build, but size alone doesn’t guarantee a good experience. Let’s see how this one actually performs once the bricks start going together.

Background

*(I asked  chatgpt for a brief overview of the turbo tank)*

The Clone Turbo Tank, officially designated the HAVw A6 Juggernaut, was one of the Republic’s largest and most heavily armored ground assault vehicles during the Clone Wars. Designed by Kuat Drive Yards, the enormous ten-wheeled transport served as a mobile command center, troop carrier, and battlefield assault platform capable of traversing harsh terrain while carrying clone troopers, walkers, and heavy equipment into combat. Its thick armor and powerful laser cannons made it especially effective during large-scale planetary battles.

The vehicle became especially memorable through its appearances in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where it was frequently deployed on dangerous frontline missions. Fans of the franchise often regard the Clone Turbo Tank as one of the most iconic Republic vehicles thanks to its imposing design, massive wheel system, and ability to function almost like a moving fortress on the battlefield.

The popularity of the Clone Turbo Tank in the Star Wars universe naturally led to several official LEGO recreations over the years. Beginning in 2005, LEGO introduced its first version of the massive Republic vehicle, capturing the tank’s distinctive ten-wheel design and heavy armored appearance in brick form. Later releases in 2010 and 2016 refined the model with improved shaping, more detailed interiors, upgraded play features, and increasingly desirable minifigure selections drawn from both Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Among collectors, the 2010 Clone Turbo Tank is often considered the definitive official version due to its larger size and expanded interior sections, while the 2016 release offered a more compact but highly detailed redesign inspired by the Battle of Kashyyyk. Over time, the vehicle has become one of the most recognizable and sought-after Republic army builds in the LEGO Star Wars lineup, inspiring not only official sets but also enormous fan-made custom creations that push the scale and detail far beyond what LEGO has officially produced.

For sheer size, hachiroku24's custom behemoth of the turbo tank takes the cake using over 15,700 pieces.

Version	Year	Piece Count	Notes
LEGO Clone Turbo Tank 7261	2005	801	First official version based on Revenge of the Sith. Included Mace Windu and Phase II Clone Troopers.
LEGO Clone Turbo Tank 8098	2010	1,141	Largest official version with detailed interior. Included Anakin, Ahsoka, Cad Bane, and Aayla Secura.
LEGO Clone Turbo Tank 75151	2016	903	More compact redesign with Kashyyyk styling. Included Commander Gree and Quinlan Vos.
Hachiroku24 Custom Clone Turbo Tank	Custom Build 2026	~15,700	Massive fan-made minifigure-scale Clone Turbo Tank created by YouTuber Hachiroku24. Estimated weight close to 40 lbs.

The LESDIY Clone Turbo Tank  version fits neatly alongside the official LEGO versions as a more ambitious, display-focused take on the same iconic Republic vehicle. It keeps the familiar overall shape and ten-wheel structure that define the Turbo Tank across official sets, but expands the scale and adds a higher level of surface detail that goes beyond what typical retail LEGO sets can achieve. Despite being an unofficial build, it still feels consistent with the LEGO Star Wars aesthetic, making it easy to imagine it as a larger “next step” version sitting on the shelf next to the official 2005, 2010, and 2016 releases. 

Let's look at the key specs of the set and what comes in the package before diving into the unboxing and build quality.  A huge thanks to LesDiy for providing this set for my review!

The Specs

Set Name	LesDiy Clone HAV A6 Turbo Tank
SKU	3694999
Designer	Brick_boss_pdf
Piece Count	3298 pieces
Age Rating	16+
Minifigures	None
Printed Parts	None
Stickers	None
Lighting	None
Manual	Online PDF via QR code
Retail Price	$279.99 USD

Feel free to use my affiliate code itsnotlego20 to save 20% off your purchases at LesDiy.  It should apply on both the LesDiy.com and LesDiy.de websites.  I think Lesdiy has a cool promotion happening on their website so do check them out!

Unboxing

LesDiy packages the Clone Turbo tank set in a generic white box with a printed label as the box cover.  Instead of referring to the HAV A6 Turbo Tank name used on the website, my box was labelled as Sci-Fi 10-Wheeled.  I counted 19 bags of parts in no particular numbered sequence. Some of the parts were packaged in cellophane and other parts were contained in little ziplock bags.

To access the set instructions, a card containing a QR code is included inside the box.  Scanning the QR code will give you access to a google drive that hosts the instructions in PDF format.   While each step is numbered, you will have to dig through each of the parts bags to find the appropriate part for the the build.  I highly recommend that you open all of the bags in advance of the build and sort the parts by blocks, plates, tiles, etc by however it is meaningful to you so that your build can proceed smoothly.

The Build

There are 480 steps listed in the instructions divided over 373 pages.  The last few pages include a Lego style parts inventory for the set.

The build is broken down into what I consider are the three major components:  The Chassis, the Wheels and the Body.

The Chassis

Building the Chassis of the Turbo tank consists of applying alternating layers of technic and snot bricks with plates while attaching the 10 axles long the way.  It's quite a large component and you can see that the height of the chassis alone is about 2 minifigures high.

There will be two large pistons at each end. The two large pistons at the back were problematic as they would always fall off whenever the chassis was handled.  I was able to fix this later by attaching a 2x2 plate under each piston for extra stability.  I decided to build the other two pistons much later in case they also fell off.

The final step of the chassis section is to attach all of the panels and suspension detailing.  I was missing 1 2x4 block from the set, but luckily I had a few in my own parts stash to replace it.  My initial impression of the chassis component was that it was over engineered.  If I had to build it again, I'd probably have reduced/changed the parts usage while still preserving the structural integrity of the chassis.  

The Wheels

The next component to build are the large wheels.  These are complex constructs on their own, involving 50 parts per wheel, and then you have 10 of them to build.

Brick clutch and quality for the most part at this point in the build has been fairly decent.  However one exception were the small gray technic pins that are used to attach the circular plates to the wheels.  They had very little clutch power and I replaced a majority of them with ones from my own parts stash.  

For those of you who don't have extra technic pins, I'd probably suggest a touch of glue at each touch point, otherwise the plate assembly will come off when you try and roll the wheels.  You will need to do this on both the inner and outer plates of the wheel assembly.

Here's how the chassis looks with all of the wheels attached.  There's a small cavity inside the chassis, that is accessed by a ramp that swings downward.  I believe it's supposed to represent a stairwell and access to the upper part of the clone turbo tank.   Too bad there isn't an actual staircase or lift up to the next level.

The Body

The next sequence of pictures is just me building the sections of the tank floor and body.

Tea break!

Building up one of the cockpits.  I forgot to check my parts bin to see if I have any printed parts representing instrument clusters, as there are no printed parts provided for this set.

In true fashion, I have yet again deviated from the instructions.  The OG instructions from Lesdiy uses  bands of black plates to represent the windscreens on both cockpits (see pic above). 

 I modified my version of the build to use transparent smoked gray bricks.  I had enough bricks for one cockpit window, but not enough for the other as we will see later.

Behind the cockpit, there is a storage space where two containers are located.  Snot bricks are built up so that panels an be attached to the sides.

Here's the central box part of the build. Lots of space to hold a complement of clonetroopers or small vehicles like speeder bikes.

The cockpit at the other end is pretty much a mirror of the first, except that it sits lower.

Having pretty much completed the interior, we now focus our attention to the external panels and greebling.  In the picture above you will notice that I've left the windscreen unfinished because I ran out of the transparent gray bricks I used for the other cockpit.  I've ordered some more off Aliexpress, but it's probably going to take 3 to 4 weeks before I get them.

Adding the detailed panels to what I call the neck section.  The guns are static and don't swivel.

Adding more roof panels.

The side panels can be removed to access the interior storage space.

Minifig placement for the fun of it.  A reminder that all pictured minifigures in this review are my own, since the set comes with none.

The Lesdiy clone turbo tank set also includes parts and instructions to build two Barc speeder bikes.  I've only built one of them for now.  Oh while I remember, Lesdiy sells this kit with either the red markings to indicate the 41st Elite Corp or the blue markings to represent the 501st Battalion.  I got the blue version, but it wouldn't take much to change the markings/designations to whatever colour you liked, you'd only need a handful of tiles for the sides and front of the turbo tank and for the speeder bikes.

The Dimensions

Width is approx 8 inches.

Length is about 20 inches.

Height is about 8 inches, not including the roof mounted guns.

Final Thoughts

The LESDIY Clone HAV A6 Turbo Tank is one of those sets that really leans into size and presence. At over 3,000 pieces, it delivers a solid, detailed build that captures the bulk and silhouette of the Republic’s iconic war machine without feeling overly simplified. It’s not an official LEGO set, but it still fits comfortably alongside them on display, especially if you’re already into Clone Wars-era builds.

Where it really stands out is value and scale. You’re getting a massive, shelf-dominating model for a price that would be hard to match in official releases. The trade-offs are what you’d expect from a set like this—no printed parts, no minifigures, and a fully digital instruction process—but if your focus is the build itself and the final display piece, those don’t really take away from the experience.

I think I had one or two missing pieces but nothing noteworthy or significant.  The only real downside to the set was the lack of clutch on the short technic pins.  I would replace them or add some glue for better grip.  The pistons on the both ends of the chassis could have been designed a bit better. Other than that the brick clutch of all of the other parts used was very good.  

The Turbo tank feels sturdy when handled and I liked that you could remove the roof panels and the side panels for interior access.  The two included Barc speeders were a nice bonus.  Just for the pair of them would probably run you $20 or $30 if you had to buy them separately.  Oh and don't forget to pick up a few clonetroopers to display with the tank.

Overall, LesDiy’s version of the Clone Turbo Tank is a strong pick for builders who want a decent large sized replica without waiting for an official remake. It’s best suited for display-focused Star Wars collectors who enjoy complex builds and don’t mind going off the official LEGO path to get something bigger and more ambitious.

Let me know what you think of this set in the comments.  Thanks for looking!  Bye!

Latest Update:  Just for fun, I added some lights to the interior.  Check it out here: https://bricksandfigs.blogspot.com/2026/05/i-added-my-own-lighting-to-lesdiy-clone.html

#lesdiy #starwars #cloneturbotank