About LEGO Monthly Mini Model Build
The Monthly Mini Model Build was a free building event at LEGO Stores. Each month the store set out the parts for a small model, children built it there with the staff, and took it home in a bag. It began at the end of 2008 with a snowman, in stores in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, and spread to LEGO Stores elsewhere. The early models had MMMB numbers, and from 2012 they got ordinary set numbers in the 40000 range. The models followed the calendar, with turkeys in November, pumpkins and monsters in October and snowmen or gifts in December, and the 2020 models each marked a day of the year, such as Kindness Day and Human Rights Day. From 2016 a place had to be booked ahead. The program was retired in 2020 while LEGO Stores were closed, and the instructions for every model are still on LEGO's website.
2012 LEGO Sets
2012 was a landmark year highlighted by LEGO’s 80th anniversary and major licensed expansions. LEGO The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit joined the lineup alongside Marvel and DC Super Heroes, establishing enduring partnerships with both comic universes. LEGO Friends debuted, introducing mini-doll figures and Heartlake City, becoming one of LEGO’s most successful modern themes. Other launches included Monster Fighters, Disney Princess, and Dino. Alien Conquest, Atlantis, Pharaoh’s Quest, Kingdoms, and Harry Potter retired, though Harry Potter would later return in 2018.