Beautiful sacrilege & heresy in brick-building! Matte top coated Cobi set

[@JANGBRiCKS]

All really wanna know is who remembers 2011 when I was dying & painting all sorts of Hero Factory parts to make MOCs with "unreleased" colors

[@myrandomstuffchannel3390]

Rocka 2.0 was so cool to me then

[@Perradocx]

It's cool how the extant Bionicle fandom has embraced this kind of customization, as well as fabricating new parts.

[@spamhands6993]

Yup, first saw your stuff ever since the Hero Factory days. Rewatching Blanko 1.9 brought back good memories.

[@ExeSandbox]

hero factory 2011...

[@empatheticrambo4890]

I definitely remember that! It made for some smashing Mocs to reflect the show...

[@PltOffPPrune]

That Warthog looks so good now. Thank you for pushing the boundaries Jang!

[@waltherltd]

I love people using their toys the way they want to and not being beholden to the "right way" to play.

[@brainofmorbius]

Wow. It really transformed the model. I think it looks great with the matte finish

[@Auheppa]

Posting from 2036 here. My children often ask me "Dad, where were you when Jangbricks got cancelled?" and I sit down and sigh slowly and say "Oh, I remember it like yesterday. It was a beautiful hot summer day in 2024. I had just returned from the store with a minifig bag and microwavable pizza or a 'mudflap' as they are called, and a big cinnamon roll. That's when I noticed the youtube video in my feed. Back then we didn't have tiktok videos streamed straight into our subconsciousnesses by the neurolink. No, we had to link on these tiny thumbnails we called them. They were tiny pictures, yes, and they weren't AI generated either. Well not most of them. Some of them were and sometimes the man in the video would be making a shocked face. If you saw that you knew they made that face in the real life to get that picture. Now Jangbricks, he didn't really do that surprised or shocked face in the thumbnail." And usually by then they have left the room.

[@JANGBRiCKS]

RIP

[@patstuga]

@@JANGBRiCKS hey Jang, was looking today at Cobi's site for the first time and fell in love with the F22. Have you bought it or are thinking of buying? Thanks for the great content!

[@diningsock3316]

Best comment 😂😂

[@ChiefWombatCuddler]

From afar and the thumbnail you can't tell it's a bricktoy model. That's really good engineering.

[@magnuskallas]

JANGBRICKS is flirting with real scale building :) Though I think this is the issue with too realistic brick built (war) machines... At some point it would make more sense to buy a proper plastic KIT (which can be relatively cheap) and some paints and an airbrush... Or just buy a factory painted decoration model.

[@JANGBRiCKS]

I've messed with models a fair bit and have built about 150 Gundams & similar including some vintage paint & glue models and started into detailing & weathering. The time, space, equipment, ventilation, etc., needed to do anything beyond a snap kit will always be an order or two of magnitude beyond a brick-based kit, one of the reasons the traditional plastic modelling & railroad hobbies are tiny niches today compared to even a generation ago, while LEGO & the like are thriving. Accessibility is invaluable, and too often underestimated. The comparison to collectibles that are prebuilt & factory detailed though? Extremely valid; one I make often, much to the chagrin & consternation of brickbuilders who often think I'm out of my mind LOL "But... what about the build experience..."

[@SO-ym3zs]

I'm just glad you're covering some Cobi again. They make so many great sets for military vehicle and car buffs. Fwiw, I've seen some people fully paint and weather Cobi tank sets using techniques similar to traditional model making. Looks a little bizarre to me, compared to a "real" model, but de gustibus...

[@renegadeleader1]

Forget the matte coating, I thought the heresy and sacrilege here was you covering Cobi bricks and not official Cobi products. Seriously though Cobi makes some wonderful sets. My first set was a B-25 Mitchell I picked up at the USAF Museum in Dayton. Since then I've picked up a few tanks and several variants of my favorite aircraft the Vought F4U Corsair, and all of them have been amazing builds. The real mind blowers though are the ships like the USS Arizona, Yamato, Bismarck, and Enterprise. They're absolutely stunning and well detailed!

[@armandocampamartinez8307]

This was Gnaj you can’t fool us. Looks sick

[@joergfitzner]

Love your inspiring combination of determined passion, reflection on detail, and all-round expertise. ❤

[@matthewg1472]

Wow, Ive been eyeing several Cobi kits but I think this finally pushed me to make my first purchase.

[@cobi.bricks]

Thanks @JANGBRiCKS for showcasing our sets!

[@DailyWeeklyBuilds]

That matte finish looks SO good!

[@ThreeFoldPath]

Really good results from such a simple idea. Excellent job as always Jang.

[@hopin8krzys]

Tbh painting and modifying the sets is somewhat popular in COBI community. People make different camo patterns, add different colours to reflect particular times in the war, even add things like nets and twigs using glue

[@Tranquilityin2024]

Thanks for going beyond boundaries. This looks so awesome.

[@LolbitTheGoof]

That looks super wonderful! I didn't know how good matte brick based builds would look until now!

[@traintrax]

Makes me want to go out and get a Cobi Warthog just to try this.

[@lady_macbrick]

Thank you very much for a well balanced view of the options of optimising a build. I never would have thought of it. Thank you for explaining the risks as well as the benefits of the different options.

[@mastterby]

Really enjoyed this, love watching you be excited about stuff like this!

[@Dreadwolf3155]

love the quality of cobi bricks

[@Kurlija]

Wow, that looks so much better! Now I wonder what some of the Star Wars sets would look like matte coated.

[@mrgizmo182]

Great! Now I HAVE to do this to all of my Cobi models!

[@martingothberg3593]

That looks great! I'm sitting here looking at my own Cobi models while watching the video and feel like this is something I have to try out

[@AlbertoDsign]

It looks amazing! And heck yeah for painting pieces! I painted chrome the inside of the bay doors on my Shuttle Discovery, and it looks 100x better than with the stickers, more realistic and with no white plastic showing through on the vanes and nerves where there would be no sticker. And same for completing printed pieces to get rid of gaps.

[@TheStugbit]

Jang, that thing you made is revolutionary. Look how great the bricks look with the matte. This can also work very well for many different kinds of sets other than military, too. Architectural Lego sets and the like. Castle sets, you name it. It also looks like in the video game. And it can work for stuff like anime sets, colors in anime characters and ambiance are usually matte as well. I wonder if manufacturers could ever develop some sort of matte plastic in these standards you achieved.

[@nutherefurlong]

It does look good. It functions as a model quite well, even the seams add to it somehow. I'd worry about decals and mabye covering my hands up when holding the thing but this isn't like people chucking them off of their roof or whatever :)

[@Mr_Buzz_Aldrin]

If you're familiar with Warhammer 40K, Citadel miniatures paint, primers, and coats work great for painting LEGO pieces. Any equivalent plastic miniature paint will also work.

[@ChancellorLott06]

The A-10 looks amazing

[@Klaevin]

I like how COBI allows you to buy the kinds of things LEGO would never sell because of their own brand image as a "family friendly" company. Plus, they're usually cheaper than LEGO but having hyper specialized parts, like that F16 cockpit makes me wonder what they're trying to sell. - If they're trying to sell "military Lego" then having a specialized cockpit part isn't "LEGO". I mean, "LEGO" would be about getting the shape almost perfect with the parts that are already available, so that somebody looking at the model goes "wow, the shaping is incredible! how did you do it?" - If COBI are going after the "scale replica" market, then the brick-built thing is annoying and looks bad - If somebody wants to "build" a model, then model kits are more hands-on. I'm saying this as somebody who does a bit of model making and has a lot of fun painting WWII planes and trying to get the details exactly right, and using a knife to remove the flashing, and using metal rods when the plastic "guns" are bad... I love building stuff and I have reasonable expectations of how close to perfect lego bricks will get me, and how much closer, and at smaller scale I can get with an Italeri kit will get me. - If somebody wants to build a model that looks good, but they're bad at model making... I mean sorry, there is no substitute to being good at a skill. The only thing to do, is to "git gud, scrub" Sorry this comment wasn't about the technique you show off in the video. I wonder what risks you run, of dissolving the parts with the solvant in the spray can? I mean, I guess that the desired end effect is matte, so there isn't much of a worry. I also think I will do this on Lego sets I KNOW I will never take apart.

[@trippsallee]

I have a Cobi B-17 “Memphis Belle” (kinda UCS-like) model that I’m now considering doing this to. Thanks for showing this!

[@YensR]

Looks very good! There are some brick builders on instagram who build their MOCs and then paint them, often in subassemblies, with greebles in different colours, much like a plastic model kit. I think it's great and adds another option to the toolset we have for our hobbies.

[@TAZEROXFORD]

Remember- if there were actual rules for plastic toy bricks then Legoland wouldn’t be supergluing all of their brick built attractions together

[@martinevans9757]

Kudos to you for doing what YOU want with YOUR toys! Also, the Mr Hobby sprays are excellent for killing plasticy shine. 💯

[@LONDONBRIDGEBRICKS]

Wow - I never knew such a 'clear paint' existed - Interesting and defo makes it better and an interesting look at an alternative brand. Recently, I was in Chicago and visited a Brickmania store - in said store they sold their custom military LEGO as well as Cobi as well both being good in their own circumstances showing there is a market out there for Brick built military construction sets.

[@Kingme]

looks cool, creative

[@scottdadswell282]

I’ve been doing the same thing to Cobi jets since I started dulling down Star Wars Black Series. Looks so much better

[@Bucketroo]

That looks fantastic. I've been thinking of getting some Cobi sets once my circumstances improve. The A-10 is my second-favorite airplane, the XB-70 Valkyrie being the first.

[@AmrXcellent]

The outcome A10 looks amazing!

[@skyler2762]

thats amazing, it looks so different!

[@garethhubbarde8644]

After watching this video I went out and bought 2 cobi sets. Lol. I honestly never knew such things existed. Big thanks Jang for expanding the brick building universe.

[@CartoonyAndor]

Using mixed mediums for your stuff, such as brick-built models, is NEVER WRONG! That’s the beauty of art, after all! I always jokingly reject Kraggle (because of the movie), but I’d say, the model’s yours, go ahead!! I usually mod my sets a lot so I wouldn’t do this just in case, since I’d likely take something apart eventually, but this is really nice! I might do this with some Star Wars Black Series figures

[@i-muts]

It looks very cool, it's a nice life hack for those who are looking for more realism.

[@PinwheelGBC]

Not being into Gunpla, I didn’t know about hobby-tier matte sprays. Looks like you did an excellent job applying it. The finished product looks amazing!

[@brzeczyszczykiewicz4476]

I cement my cobi models with tamiya extra thin. Only in the weak areas though. Prevents accidental breakage during moving.

[@michaelcasserly5861]

I love it. It looks really good.

[@Wisewolfbruh]

Looks extremely neat

[@Zenlore6499]

Oh, that looks awesome, Jang!

[@Isteak80]

The matte coat looks VERY good on the A-10; and it makes sense because a set like this is literally you make it once, and it sits as a display forever. Its not a set you are going to raid for parts for a MOC anyway.

[@xenovious]

I've always thought about painting my lego like gunpla for customization years ago but there wasn't much info tips n tricks etc so didnt try it now that you did this i guess its time to try out 👀

[@danielleanderson6371]

Hey Jang I just want to say thank you for keeping the modified pride set displayed prominently on your shelf. You're a pillar of the community, and I appreciate that you make people like me feel welcome.

[@MrKlawUK]

I have a black warthog - I think it was Cobi - didn't know they did a green one. That is a fabulous result and now I may need to buy another. The A10 is perhaps my favourite (SR71 up there too)

[@BradleyJSimmons]

Cobi looks pretty cool

[@WizardOfOss]

Kinda mixed feelings. True: on that Warthog it looks great, can't deny that. And Cobi indeed makes extremely shiny pieces. On the other hand....the closer those models get to a proper scale model, the more the inaccuracies start to stand out. And that's kinda the same reason why I'm not a fan of such big very specialized pieces, and why I don't mind a few studs here and there.

[@Stud-Lord]

Never done it. Love the look of it. Sold! Thanks 👍

[@AugustusFGraham]

OOOOHHHHHH YYEEEEEAAAAHH MACHO MAN

[@EMCUEAY]

that looks so good Jang.

[@warrennewman5325]

Thunderbolt looks EPIC did awesome job there jang 👍

[@vincentwiddershoven2122]

That, good sir, is a briliant idea! And the results arw awsome. 😁

[@ninjaawesomebattlepower]

That looks really good!

[@ven950]

oh golly! i didn't even think this was a brick built thing in the thumbnail, i thought this was just a video about a regular model plane haha

[@dl_bricks]

Looks amazing!

[@FanboyCantina]

That looks amazing!

[@hardyhuang7791]

haha i often wonder about that, like matt-coatting the bat mobile or something, thanks for posting this !

[@hardyhuang7791]

and it looks GOOOOOOD. REAL GOOD. did it change the bricks in anyway and is it not possible to take it part (i dont believe the top coat will bind the bricks together? just curious what it would look like.

[@Jjgm69]

Those are some good looking kits, I'm glad that we are in the time where Lego alternatives are so good, also nah jang don't worry, painting and modifying is how the prototypes of pieces and sets were made :D, also one thing I wanted to mention is that Airfix has this line that is relatively new and is easy to build the important thing is that it is literally a model kit made of lego looking blocks and well, they are not bad, they look good, very good video jang 😎👍 Edit: Fun fact, the warthog has an arctic camouflage, this one was intended for cold weather but it was only tested and never used... It is literally a black camouflage with white dots and one or another of Brown and gray color, it looks like a cow XD

[@HNBGamer]

I know it's the template (0:04 disclaimer) but I found it funny that there is an implication that someone might think Lego paid you to review a Cobi set

[@gus_abreu]

Looks great.

[@EvanMoon]

That A-10 warthog looks so good

[@jimm244]

Well done!

[@RxCustoms]

Wowwwwww That’s Amazing Jang

[@Dr.Alligator]

Looks great!

[@RileyRieker8593]

I wish it was easier to get Cobi sets in Canada, these planes just look soooooo good 🥲

[@Tigershark_3082]

Wow, the A-10 now looks like it's wearing ACTUAL EURO-1, as opposed to an airshow livery

[@Judah-ew7rv]

Wow! awesome! Who says the bricks in"JANGBRICKS" means only Lego! that's super cool, love the mat finish.

[@floydforthought9998]

Amazing! Not a bad choice for those that want models, but find Model Kits too difficult or take to long to make.

[@SO-ym3zs]

True. Cobi sets are generally excellently designed, fun to build, and manufactured to quality standards that outstrip Lego at this point. They're a fun, relaxing way to build a model tank, plane, or ship if plastic model kits are too intimidating. (And as a model maker, I can say from experience that as fun as model kits are, they are vastly more demanding in terms of knowledge, techniques, creativity, tools, etc.)

[@natemanock3775]

That looks like a phenomenal way to add value to a more realistic display piece. Particularly the glossy transparent windscreen I’m always surprised by how offended people online can become when people play with their models and/or treat them like models.

[@thereddye]

That looks fantastic!

[@JediBob609]

I paint model kits and can confirm: this is a great modification. It will not be the same product after, but it will be a good option for those who dont want to model. I will say: do multiple light coats and treat the model carefully. DO NOT overspray. Look up how to spray paint before you screw this up.

[@Monacomaverick]

Looks great! I have the Lego-adjacent AV-8B Harrier from a few years ago.

[@wedgelonestar]

This really looks great. Next step is to change the colors.

[@swynty777]

Going to have to pick some of those up

[@Adeadoornail7226]

Nice work!

[@garrettgarrett9365]

That looks awesome.

[@MartyBricks]

Wow! That looks so much better! 😮 They should make matte pieces.

[@pallas5987]

If you have time you can always spray all exterior parts separate and then assemble the set

[@danielkorbel717]

Hello from Poland, home of Cobi 🙂

[@the_royal_frick634]

What I've been thinking about a lot in regards to matte painting lego is using it for minifigure heads using reddish brown. The black printing of the facial details is hard to see on the very reflective pieces in most lighting.

[@0x0404]

Rustoleum has a clear spray but I don’t imagine it goes on so clean

[@angelikat655]

Looks great 😉

[@gavdawiziscool]

Having previously worked as a Lego builder so I get the hate on painting but at home I Drum laquer gold painted all the flamish-yellow on the Collectors Hogwarts Express and man does that thing look amazing now!

[@carllawson5043]

Good job man!

[@DarthKanye]

looks like an actual model

[@HALLish-jl5mo]

Could you please experiment with doing this to studded surfaces and then trying to assemble them? Im just curious if it messes up the tolerances too much.

[@jamesblaze21]

Even a little bit of paint can mess up tolerances, any paint you put on the studs might scratch off when you assemble something with the parts too.

[@thewelshdragon1567]

It will for sure. Happens with gunpla and Lego bricks are in a similar tolerance band. Assembling painted bricks will just scratch the paint off the surfaces

[@M0torsagmannen]

it probably will, or if not it will ruin the paint

[@Lukusprime]

Wait, I always thought matt clear paint just didn’t *add* any gloss/shine. You’re telling me it *removes* it? Like, it makes shiny things matt? That’s an awesome tip, really helps me with a problem I’ve had for a while now

[@luisemoralesfalcon4716]

This would be great if I had an Army men diorama.

[@nt1441]

Nice!

[@Solbrick]

I use dust to deal with how shiny Cobi is.

[@brokencigarette3017]

Very cool. Are you gonna do this with more things in the future?

[@JaoGamerYT]

It is kind of strange that cobi doesn't have matte pieces for all the military stuff they make

[@FFinalAAeon]

Looks real good. Does it attract dust more?

[@Robotfan987]

Man, Mr. Hobby looks like such a quality brand but I can never justify the price of importing it. Results speak for themselves though.