LEGO 10226 Sopwith Camel

[SuperSirLink]

This is a must buy for me! Been wishing they would release more of these. I have the original and the Fokker, will look nice together...

[Sid Sidious]

WWI machinery ok, but WWII not?In that way, lego is "little" hypocritical.I dont see problem in that, this exclusive models are for older buyers not for kids.

In WWI, planes were mostly used for scouting and other non-combat missions. They were not very deadly, and killed few people who weren't in them when they inevitably crashed. Planes in WWII were one of the main reasons that war was so deadly. They were one of the main reasons the war covered such a large geographic area, and were responsible for thousands of casualties.

[Algernon]

In WWI, planes were mostly used for scouting and other non-combat missions. They were not very deadly, and killed few people who weren't in them when they inevitably crashed. Planes in WWII were one of the main reasons that war was so deadly. They were one of the main reasons the war covered such a large geographic area, and were responsible for thousands of casualties.

A warplane is a warplane. That said, the purpose of this particular set isn't a "war" theme, it's just a collectors item aimed at AFOLs. It's like LEGO collector trains. Can they kill cattle who stray onto the tracks? Yes, but that's not the purpose of the set.

[GRogall]

Added more pics!

[Blondie-Wan]

WWI machinery ok, but WWII not?In that way, lego is "little" hypocritical.I dont see problem in that, this exclusive models are for older buyers not for kids.

I don't think "hypocritical" is the word; it's not like TLG is admonishing other toy companies for producing war toys and then turning around and making their own. "Inconsistent" would be a better fit, although even that doesn't exactly apply in a clear, cut-and-dried fashion - this is a one-off set of a historical machine, from about a century ago, and doesn't exactly reflect contemporary conflict situations kids are likely to encounter in real life. Contemporary war machinery and such is a different matter.

I've been told in discussions with LEGO employees that the reason Indiana Jones ended was it didn't sell very well in Germany, LEGO's biggest market. Part of the problem with it was the WWII vehicles. It's not hypocritical to choose to make sets that are more likely to sell. I'd love a BF109E myself, but I doubt I'll ever see an official LEGO model of one.

Ugh, really? That doesn't bode well for the eventual return of LEGO Indy. I do know it was big in the US, though; hopefully that counts for something (i.e., the US sales offsetting the German ones), to the point it's deemed worth doing again if/when there's a fifth movie. Hopefully the fact any further productions will be set even later (and thus farther from WWII) would help swing it...

Anyway... wow, what a beautiful set.

[Fuppylodders]

this is a one-off set of a historical machine, from about a century ago, and doesn't exactly reflect contemporary conflict situations kids are likely to encounter in real life. Contemporary war machinery and such is a different matter.

I quite disagree with this being a reason why it is ok for WW1 but not WW2.

Quite strongly, contemporary war machinery and such is of the very same matter as it directly affects contemporary conflict situations and how they are played out differently to WW1/2 conflict.

It was only very early in the war they were mainly used for scout planes. After they started adding machine guns, that is when the majority of use for these planes became as fighters. Both eras of WW1 and WW2 used machine guns mounted on their planes to kill people in opposite side planes/strafing. Both eras had propeller driven planes (OK, WW2 ventured into jet but it wasn't anything that hugely contributed to anything, rather than a short term hindrance that was very short lived.) Both eras planes had the same basic design principle of structure, although WW1 majority had bi-plane wings, WW2 were monoplane.

Conflict of WW1/2 era? That was mostly aim your plane and shoot at the one in front of you and hope to hit it with your bullets, and either damage the plane beyond flyability or kill the pilot with a lucky bullet shot. Very much the same. The same goes for their heavy bombers. Loaded with bombs, gunner positions situated throughout various positions which point and aim at incoming bandits.

Contemporary conflict? Jets with mostly swept back wings that mainly use guided missiles with a bit of gatling/chaingun thrown in for good measure every now and then, chafe flares, proper ejector seats, air-air refueling for even further range. Contemporary fighting of this modern era?

Lock on and fire away. (ofc with the usual acrobatic dancing to get into that position first but it leaves a lot larger room for not having to have the enemy directly in front)

Missile coming? Throw your chafes out and move the plane the hell out of there

Bombing? Sure! Just load A-G missiles/bombs instead of A-A missiles on the fighter jet instead!

(And yeah, I do know that fighters of WW2 sometimes carried bombs, but this was not often as they usually required range to escort the actual bombers that were doing the bombing thus carried droptanks instead. And even less frequently, yes I do know about droptanks and bombs at the same time too, but very rarely used together )

This modern era couldn't be further removed from the comparison of WW1/2.

So again, if they can't do WW2 I don't see how they can justify WW1? Other than the fact there are still a few WW2 veterans alive today and it is for these people they are respectfully holding back, of which that I can fully understand and agree with.

So, failing my latter statement, bring on the WW2 planes TLG!

*edit* sorry for going off-topic

Edited May 1, 2012 by Fuppylodders

[Peppermint_M]

*snip*

Please, can we stay on topic? Thanks

[gotoAndLego]

I consider this purchased.

I love that the props are brick-built instead of single helicopter blade pieces, assuming those are even available, used on the first one. These are the kinds of details I like in sets.

Edited May 1, 2012 by gotoAndLego

[Algernon]

News pics look great, I really hope LEGO makes a series out of this with some other WWI-era warplanes. Hopefully we'll start seeing this in stores in the next few months (before I blow my LEGO budget on other things...).

[toycardriver]

The new pictures just moved this up from my "like" to "must have!!!!" I wonder if TLG would like to just have me sign over a paycheck to them?

I really hope that this sells well and they make other aircraft of this level.

[GLVBrick]

Hello, I am new to Eurobricks. I am 40-something father of three who is finally coming out of his "Dark Ages." Until now I have just watched my kids play with LEGOs and helped out on the occasional build. It seems that it took a trip to LEGOLand Florida last Friday to wake me up! LEGOLand is incredible! I am so happy that I now live within three hours of one. Anyway, I bought a modest Creator set while I was there (6913 Blue Roadster) and thoroughly enjoyed the short build. I almost bought the Technic 8068 Rescue Helicopter, but something told me to keep it small. Now I know why: while surfng the web looking up the original Lego Sopwith Camel 3451 set (which I saw once at a train show in Jax), I found news of this new one!

This looks like a terrific model. The Camel is one of my favorite planes from childhood (thanks to Peanuts and Snoopy). Other than the working control suraces, what I like about this one vs the 3451 set are the tail shape, the enclosed cowling, and the number of cylinders (eight) that is closer to the nine of the prototype. The wings have lost the angled edges found on the prototype, but I am OK with that.

I am already considering how to modify this model to have a motorized propeller and machine gun muzzle flash (need some tiny LEDs). I hope there is some room inside.

Keep on building - Greg

[Rufus]

Hello, I am new to Eurobricks.

Welcome to Eurobricks, GLVBrick! Nice introduction; might I suggest you copy your first paragraph, and post it again in 'Hello, My Name Is....'

Have fun!

[toycardriver]

I don't know if it's been reported, but I just came back from my local LEGO store, and the June newsletter has the release date for this as June 1 here in the US. Also you get a mini Sopwith Camel model with a $75 purchase.

[GRogall]

Scan please!

[toycardriver]

Here it is:

Edited May 2, 2012 by toycardriver

[GRogall]

Here it is: -snip-

Cool! Thanks any chance of sending me the complete front and back of the newsletter!?

but thanks again!

Edited May 2, 2012 by GRogall

[Algernon]

I like the mini-model! I'll probably wind up getting it, since I am very likely to pick up this beauty on June 1st.

[freakwave]

And there is the video!

Cool thing, the engine rotates with the propeller

[GRogall]

Thanks! But I had already added the HD version to the first page!

[Vindicare]

Just watched the video. It's definitely a cool model. The functionality of it is really impressive.

[Oky]

WTF? "1x1 round slopes"? Doesn't he mean tiles?

Anyway, great model. A huge improvement over the first one. Probably wont buy it though.

That mini version is not bad, but it looks like it's carrying landmines on it's wings instead of the circle pattern. They really need to make a printed version of the 2x2 round tiles from the Pharaoh's Quest biplane.

[prateek]

Wow! The wingflaps are awesome. Really nice touch. Can't wait to see this up close, but I don't think I would be getting this either.

[Algernon]

The functionality is surely impressive. It's great to see so much care and detail put into the AFOL-oriented sets. Can't wait to pick this up!

[Legobrandon]

This time around, I downloaded the video just in case LEGO decides to pull it.

[Canada_7]

I missed out on the old one back when I was younger...I remember seeing it in the Lego magazine back when I was like 10/11 and thinking that I wanted it. Wanted to ask my parents to buy it for me but was too much to ask. Hopefully I will get a chance to get this one this time around.

at it being $130 Canadian though compared to the $100 American price tag.

Edited May 8, 2012 by Canada_7