A new project has just launched on Kickstarter to produce LEGO-compatible magnetic bricks, called Mbriks.

Bricks with magnets in them are nothing new but these have been designed to be easily incorporated into your models and to affix to magnetically receptive surfaces on all six sides, which makes them extremely versatile, allowing for building in all directions.

I've been sent a sample of the patent-pending blocks to try out.

The box I received contains four magnetic bricks but those available via Kickstarter will contain six.

View image at flickr

Left to their own devices they will attach to each other.

View image at flickr

I had to use Blu-Tac to prevent them doing so to take this picture!

They are fully compatible with LEGO, taller than a normal brick: 1 brick and 1 plate high.

View image at flickr

They are well made with no sharp corners, moulding seams or anything else. The magnet inside can move freely which enables the block to attach to another, or a magnetically receptive surface, on all six faces, even the top.

View image at flickr

Because the magnets can attach by any side you can incorporate them into your models any way you like, or use them to mount minifigures in a various ways, as I have here.

View image at flickr

A six-pack of magnets is said to be able to support models containing around 300 pieces, but a lot will depend on the friction of the surface. Here I've used four to mount Elsa BrickHeadz.

For maximum adhesion the magnets should be apart, otherwise their polarity is aligned with each other and not the board, hence using a 6x6 plate with one in each corner here.

View image at flickr

They can be easily incorporated into your models.

View image at flickr

They could also be used as a means of connecting sections of larger models together, but easily separable.

View image at flickr

Overall, then, they are pretty versatile and provide a neat means of displaying your models on the wall or fridge door.

The Kickstarter page provides these images to show what's possible with more imagination and time than I had yesterday when I took the photos above!

A single box of 6 can be yours for $12 / £9, or you can get two packs for $22 / £17, which seems reasonable given you don't need vast quantities of them. Packs containing magnetic boards and a bag of 'compatible blocks' are also available, starting at $25.

Head on over to Kickstarter to pledge your support: you have until November 23rd to do so.

Thanks to Evan for sending the bricks to review. All opinions expressed are my own.