The wait is over: today, Will announced the production release of the most eagerly-anticipated Brickarms prototype ever, the Minigun. And once again thanks to Will's peerless generosity, I have the honor of sharing with you a detailed look at this latest masterpiece of Will's. When I say the minigun has been the most eagerly-anticipated ever, it's no exaggeration. Some people have been so desperate to get their hands on one, they've paid shocking sums of money to buy one on the black market.

Well, as awesome as the prototype was, let me tell you: the production version goes to 11. The prototype had many issues that made it problematic as a production item--it was thick, solid ABS, which tends to dimple and is prone to short shots. It was difficult to get detail in certain places, particularly the definition in the barrels and the ends of the barrels themselves. Will's solution to all of these problems was sheer brilliance--he made the minigun a modular weapon. It's composed of four basic parts: the foregrip, the body, the barrels, and a detailed end cap for the barrels.




For its initial production release, the Minigun is being sold in black as a kit for a MSRP of $8. The kit includes the minigun body and barrel parts, L-shaped foregrip with textured handle, an endcap with exposed barrels like the one on the original prototype, and something new: an alternate end cap with a flash hider shroud, suitable for mounting on aircraft or other vehicles. The kit also includes three buildable ammo chain links in gunmetal with matching U-clips.

For those of you who loved the prototype, you can relax--not much has changed on the outside. The barrel of the production minigun is about 1/16" longer than the prototype. Aside from the obvious fact that it's now molded in multiple parts, you can also see a number of other minor changes for the better: the ridged stops at either end of the foregrip are gone, which is helpful for getting creative with posing the minigun. The grippable protrusion on the side where an ammo chain could be attached has been replaced with a much nicer-looking bar with a notched recess to allow room for the clip to rotate, so that the chain doesn't have to stick straight out.



Although it isn't obvious in the previous photo, the hole in the body of the minigun goes all the way through, allowing the foregrip handle to be inserted from either side. This makes the minigun effectively ambidextrous.

As always, lefties should be eternally vigilant in the event they end up paired with a loader with a wicked sense of humor.



The fact that the hole goes all the way through the body allows for numerous possibilities that go beyond a man-portable minigun. A couple monopods, a U-clip, and a set of TLC motorcycle handlebars quickly turn the minigun into a mounted weapon--either for an emplacement or for a vehicle. The interchangeable barrel endcaps come in handy here as well.



Military and sci-fi builders alike will love the design of the minigun, with its interchangeable parts. Since each minigun comes with two barrel endcaps, and all of the connections are Lego-compatible bars, you have extras that can be put to use to give your brick-built guns some oomph.

The gun on the left uses two 1x1 round bricks connected back-to-back with a black friction pin, connected to the body of the minigun where the barrel would go and with the exposed barrels endcap attached at the other end of the sandwich. The gun on the right uses two minigun barrels with the shrouded endcap attached to a gun that is otherwise entirely brick-built.

I anticipate seeing the parts of the minigun used in MOCs of all sorts before long.



Although the minigun is initially only available in black, other colors are sure to follow at some point (please don't ask about a release date; there isn't one yet). The modular design of the minigun makes for some very interesting mix-and-match possibilities. For example, trans-red barrels and a trans-neon-orange endcap attached to a normal-color body does an excellent job of simulating overheated barrels.




Even trans-clear has its uses. Chell gets tired of thinking with portals after a while. No hard feelings, right?



Thanks to standard Lego bar-compatible grip points for every attachment, you don't have to use the buildable ammo chain as your minigun's source of ammunition. The drum magazine of the Brickarms MGL makes a great stand-in for a minigun drum mag--but he'll really burn through that quickly. You can also combine any color minigun with any color of ammo chain and U-clips to stand in for different kinds of ammunition.



Including radioactive rounds. This glow-in-the-dark minigun and its ammo are so hot that you need a hazard suit to handle them.



Other colors glow in the dark too--but through fluorescence rather than the phosphorescence of true glow-in-the-dark. Trans-neon-orange is one such color, and yes, the minigun will eventually be sold in it--please don't ask when. The interesting thing about the minigun is that the plastic is so thick, it actually blocks most of the UV from transmitting through it, creating a striking effect when the light is only falling on it from one direction.




Trans-neon-green is another fluorescent color, and it goes exceptionally well with the new Alien Conquest theme that Lego recently released. Just be sure to get some in regular colors so that the ADU isn't hopelessly outgunned.



So do you want one yet? The good news is, you don't have to wait until June 1st. G.I. Brick, ToyWiz and Brickmania have the minigun in stock right now!



And now that you've seen that, there's nothing more to write, because most of you will have already clicked away to go get your own. :) Enjoy!

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Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsy/
Aliens Smartgunner, Incinerator & Motion Tracker | XM8 Variants | Bioshock Syringe | VSS Vintorez | Spetsnaz Sniper | Fallout 3 Plasma Rifle
You do not need to ask my permission to try reproducing (or improving on) anything I build.

Nice review! My next order will definately include a Minigun! Or two. Or three......I love the way that you set up your reviews! As soon as I saw how long this was, I was thinking, "I'll just look at the pictures, and maybe read a little." But, as soon as I started reading, I couldn't stop! Are you using some kind of mind control? The Jedi Mind Trick? What's your secret to making an excellent review? *Clears throat* Back on topic. You are one lucky son of a gun, Catsy! I envy your GITD Minigun, as well as the rest, since I know I can't pick up one for a little while. I think, no, I know that your overheat effect will catch on! Great review, and keep 'em coming!

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"When in doubt, C4." --James Hyneman, Mythbusters
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AWESOME!!! I totally want one. Thanks for the awesome review. :)

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I made this signature. If you want one, PM me!
Please join my Custom Minifigs with Brickarms group on Flickr.

Awesome review, Catsy! The Minigun was one of my favorite prototypes, and I was so excited to learn that it had hit mass production! You did a great job showcasing all the different colors, as well as the neat functions and similarities between the proto and production versions.

The Brick Guy

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"See you Space Cowboy"

Scoot over, mystery pack! You can wait! I'm gettin' TWO of these bad boys!

-sam

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Youtube
In a race between a rock and a pig, don't varnish your clams.
When life gives you lemons, chuck 'em back and find your own.

Very nice review, sir, and i'm still attempting to get my brain about the number of miniguns he gave you....

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Xbox Live Name-KayEhn

I have a Mocpages- http://www.mocpages.com/home.php/17294

What a fabulous review! I now know that I NEED to pick at least one of these up. Thanks Catsy!

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The best way to write; I freestyled a 7 page fictional narrative for English class the weekend before it was due, and it ended up getting a 97%.



That is true, but some releases stay mostly the way they are; the Modern Combat packs are a testament to that.
However, I'm perfectly fine with how it is now. And remember the old saying: "You can have any color you want, as long as it's black."



How many did you get from Will? Do you really need more? Granted, they are awesome, but still... :)

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The superstitious laxbro.
Warning: Contents of this forum post are too hot for the average human to handle. Please stare with caution.
GT is 'pimpingreenhat'. PM me on live saying you're from BA if you want to do zombies (WaW or BO)

funny building with minigun

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"devi essere chi sei non chi pensi di essere"-an italian proverb of my dear grandfather : i like this fantastic custom signature ! all merits to my friend Ale

i am making my own custom zombie map , i need weapons for it , if you have something for me PM me and we will schange ours mails and E-MAILS.
My favourite creations:KAR-98K,MW2 style AK-47,L96A1 (AWM),Intervention Cheytach-M200,FAMAS,Steyr AUG,M16A4,Mini tactical SCAR-L,G-17,SVD Dragunov,M14 EBR.
-albo98ita

The connections are very snug, particularly where the foregrip inserts into the body. They will not fall off.

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Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsy/
Aliens Smartgunner, Incinerator & Motion Tracker | XM8 Variants | Bioshock Syringe | VSS Vintorez | Spetsnaz Sniper | Fallout 3 Plasma Rifle
You do not need to ask my permission to try reproducing (or improving on) anything I build.

You don't have to wait, you know.

G.I. Brick and ToyWiz are both taking pre-orders, and it will make its way to the other official resellers over the next few weeks.

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Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsy/
Aliens Smartgunner, Incinerator & Motion Tracker | XM8 Variants | Bioshock Syringe | VSS Vintorez | Spetsnaz Sniper | Fallout 3 Plasma Rifle
You do not need to ask my permission to try reproducing (or improving on) anything I build.

Nice review! One question, though. Are the barrels thicker on the proto than the production?

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DARRKNESS

This is easily, without doubt, the best production BA in history. I can't even begin to describe how awesome a MODULAR minigun is and all the different uses it has. I've spent all night trying to figure out a theme or figure this won't fit into! (Well besides castle, but I'm sure a time-travelling wizard can get the knights some updated weaponary!) I'm eagerly awaiting my 4 to come, I have so many ideas and vehicles I want to try them on, the wait is just toooooo much! As a proud owner of a prototype minigun, mine have brought me joy ever since I first held it, and finally after all this time everyone can share my love of this wonderful gun.


Little do people know that Catsy actually has superhero powers. Ever since he first touched a glow-in-the-dark radioactive prototype he's had the ability the attract awesome BA from across the globe. I've woken up several times to find some of my BA missing, and little gun-shaped holes in my wall. I now keep my BA locked underground in a 1m thick bunker made of Megabloks, no BA wants to touch that. ;-)

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I have absolutely no money what soever right now! I got to get money to buy one of these.

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I'm so lonely on the forums now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 words. THANK YOU. Without this I would not know until much later.
Sadly, I just made an order, so I may not place one for a while.

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Geronimo!!!!!

As always, this is an outstanding review, Catsy.
You're photography is top-notch, and your writing style really draws the reader in.


I'm really looking forward to picking a few of these up, but I'll need to make some money first. ;D

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Amazing review Catsy!
Not that I would have expected anything less. ;)
What I love about you, and this review, is how you use rare colors.
Too often people are like "Oh, it's such a weird color, I can't use it in a MOC."
You, Catsy, just proved them all wrong!
;D

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How do the radioactive rounds work? Like do they melt skin like really deadly acid or does it melt them to liquid?

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You fighting zombies aim for the head.
Fighting tanks aim for the cannon, turret, tracks, or engine.
Fighting me don't bother doing anything.

I've heard that they increase cooldown times for your target's abilities.

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Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsy/
Aliens Smartgunner, Incinerator & Motion Tracker | XM8 Variants | Bioshock Syringe | VSS Vintorez | Spetsnaz Sniper | Fallout 3 Plasma Rifle
You do not need to ask my permission to try reproducing (or improving on) anything I build.

Team fortress 2 anyone?

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"That's a very nice everything you have there... It would be a shame if something were to happen to it all.. sssssssSSSSSSSSS...