Thetford
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Everything posted by Thetford
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Forgive my assumptions and limited knowledge - and I'm trying to word this in a respectful and polite manner, and I know nothing I write will be new information to people here - but from what I've read on here and elsewhere online, I'm sort of under the impression that AFOLs (or at least the train focused ones) who wanted the Orient Express, didn't actually want the the Orient Express - they wanted a highly detailed model of a locomotive, any locomotive, to the extent the Orient Express hardly even appears on the cover of the Mould Kings Orient Express set. From what I understand of the history of the Orient Express, it is only the coaches - it's even the company name: "Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits", the locomotive power was simply contracted out to the various state railways. It would make sense therefore that any set depicting it would therefore focus on the sleeping and dining cars - to omit either one in favour of a bigger locomotive, which I've seen people suggest, would miss the entire point of the Orient Express. Then, if the coaches must be the centrepiece, sacrifices had to be made elsewhere. Supposedly, the IP holder (which I believe currently is 50% SNCF and 50% Accor Hotels, who are planning to officially relaunch the service in 2025) had a much greater input than normal compared to other IP holders, and, according to one video I have seen from someone who attended the Lego Press event, chose the specific engine they wanted it to be based off, and what colour it should be (the video never said which locomotive it was only that the Lego designers didn't have access to it as it was off doing Orient Express things and we're provided with schematics and images instead - which I'm guessing is pointing towards the locomotive pointed out by @LEGOTrainBuilderSG. Why they decided on this is anyone's guess, but aside from economics at Lego and real world exhibitions, I also imagine it was a question of balance. In the original submission and the Mould Kings set, the locomotive is the centrepiece, it dominates over coaches, and much more attention and detail is put into it than the more boxy looking coaches - it arguably detracts from the Orient Express by pulling focus away from it instead of complementing it. You can easily see why an IP holder would want something with their brand be the focus of it rather than the accessory. I have to be a bit cynical here, but I'm doubtful this set would have made it without the Orient Express name - looking at the Ideas website, the Mallard and Flying Scotsman seemingly have plateaued at around 5k votes with time quickly running out, and they are famous named locomotives the general public are most likely to have heard of. The only other train sets that seem to have a better chance are those with an attached IP, such as the Polar Express. So a random unnamed French railway locomotive would have no chance. Apologies for rambling on, it's late. Especially as the conversation has moved on from the locomotive to the locomotion.
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I actually didn't notice the hair, and thought the flag was for the woman who is a tour guide and uses it so her group can see her ...
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Let me guess, it was made very cheaply, and everyone can see the end of it coming?
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Am I the only one who read this and hoped that there will be a Lego lady pinup poster printed tile covering the escape route?
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We also have to remember that it will likely have to be buoyant as well, if it is another one of Lego's bath time ships, so probably not too tall and easily capsized.
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Bricklink prices only reveal how much AFOLs, and AFOLs alone, are willing to pay for a set. The prices and methods of payments are beyond that of your average KFOL and most TFOLs, and no parent in their right mind (who is not themselves an AFOL) will be willing to pay above retail price for a set they can easily substitute for one available.
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We have to question, when rereleasing a set (or even releasing one to begin with), what is more viable. This includes the size of markets (which I have no figures on so this is purely random guessing, if anyone does that would be great), which in this case, would be AFOLs and kids (or rather, parents of said kids who themselves are not AFOLs), what will they sell more of: a large single set geared towards adults, or the eqiuvalent retail price of smaller sets geared towards kids? The aftermarket price becomes rather a moot point if you are considering sets for kids, as the guardians of the pursestrings - the parents, are not going to go for the aftermarket prices, unless it is for some highly must have toy such as that of the Cabbage Patch Dolls, Teletubbies or Elsa dolls. In the mind of a parent, would an alternate suffice instead? For example my mother - I can't comment on her Lego buying days because those were over a decade ago but rather that of current gifts - resented paying £30 for a toy school set for her partner's granddaughter given the number of contents - similar thing when she tried to beat the system and bought me a second hand copy of a video game, not knowing about the concept of online activation. I can just imagine her going on to Bricklink or eBay, taking one look at the price tag of any aftermarket set and saying "Bloody hell, you can forget that" and finding something similar to what is currently available.
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Question, is the WV series actually targeted at adults? At least, in the same manner as the modular series is?
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Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion
Thetford replied to The Jersey Brick Guy's topic in LEGO Town
I just wonder why Lego store employees would have a clue (where a few of these rumours seem to come from other than the above), after watching a documentary about Lego, they shutter all the windows and lock down when they see a stranger on campus (well, at least a stranger with a camera crew). How far in advance do these stores get notified about new content? -
I like the use of the binoculars, I struggled to think of an alternate solution when designing a New York inspired taxi, I just ended up using a single light instead of two on each side. Seems so obvious now.
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Lego themes that we would like to happen
Thetford replied to YellowCorvette's topic in General LEGO Discussion
If Lego want to avoid the ethical questions of zoos (though to be fair, I am not aware of that many involving major zoos, only that issue with that Seaworld place), they could do a natural world theme, based on animals and their habitats all across the world in different biomes, perhaps with only a biologist or documentary TV crew if minifigures are needed at all. Add that with the countless police stations people no doubt own with their bars, transparent panels etc, then you get an instant zoo. Another theme that would be nice but would never happen would be modular towers, ie, like the modulars but have the floors sold separately, so one set would be the ground floor and roof (for example, a fancy foyer/lobby, or a storefront), and other sets are apartments/commercial buildings that can fit on top of each other due to same facade and stair placement, focussing on detailed interiors (cat lady's apartment/frat pad/newlyweds etc). Though I can't see much of a market for it. A licensed theme I would like to see is Tomb Raider, though I doubt it will ever happen due to the focus on gunplay, even in the earlier puzzle and exploration focussed Core Design games, it would likely be too violent with all enemies, shooting and butler popsicles -
@ilikeboomerang1, yeah I have that set too, I wonder why they didn't use those road pieces more often, I guess they must have been pricey to produce, and not long afterwards introduced the wider road plates we have today. I accidentally destroyed one of the crane A frames when I left it in front of the warm air vent, I have been wondering how to utilising the surviving frame, best idea I have so far is to use it as exposed framework in front of an office building. @Agent 86, yeah, I'm not 100% sure about that floor either, it feels a bit empty. I think I will keep it to one cell, though I might add more rooms on that floor, with a similar floorplan to the forensic lab,narrow hallway, four wide room next to it, and add more stuff to the bay window office, might turn that into an interview room, and move the vending machine down into the foyer. I'm a little surprised about the praise for the lab, it was a last minute addition as it was originally going to be a command/emergency response centre (similar to NASA mission control is how I could describe it), with the evidence locker being a server room, but I just didn't want another floor full of desks.
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Command Post Central, the police station of the Town Jr era, distinctive by its use of trans green windows, released in 1998, was my first ever Lego set. As such, the set set earns a special place in my Lego collection (which since joining here, I have realised is quite meagre). Anyway, as you may know, the Town Jr era was criticised for its use of simplified building techniques and large pieces, and sets released during this period get heavily mocked today. To combat this, I have created an LDD* model heavily inspired by Command Post Central's aesthetic, using the Creator Modular Building guidelines (in regards to sidewalks, connections, storey heights and access). I have designed it in a way that uses more common, hopefully cheaper, bricks (cue many posters saying x brick is now hugely expensive on Bricklink), that when I do eventually decide to build this, it will be fairly reasonable to. OK, there aren't any fancy building techniques, and does not have the cute storybook gingerbread details like the modulars, but I'm content with it. I guess it also could be converted to an office building. Apologies in advance for the awful pictures, LDD can be a nightmare to get decent camera angles in. 2942 pieces. This MOC is fairly modern in style, incorporating many modernistic elements (I think ... I'm a town planner not an architect!) utilising clean lines, floor to ceiling windows that rise up the entire building. The tower is four storeys high (each floor exactly 10 bricks tall). The top three floors are interchangeable, (and can even be ommitted if a one storey building is desired), as each floor has the same footprint, and staircase located in the same place. Ground Floor: Foyer For public enquiries, the foyer has a front desk and waiting area, and a notice board for community information. In addition, the ground floor also contains access and a car port for patrol cars. First Floor: Holding Cell Features a cell with sliding door to hold any suspects, complete with a utilitarian bed, also has a waitig area for the public, bailers and the yet to be locked up, as well as a vending machine and water cooler for the thirsty. Second Floor: Squad Room Using the latest in computing technology, the police can track down suspects from the (dis)comfort of their office chairs, this floor also includes the break room to fill up on coffee and steal yoghurts, and the Chief's office, with panoramic windows to observe all. Third Floor: Forensic Lab Where all the actual detective work is done according to modern television, here is where the lab rats find the killer who always uses a highly new and exclusive product, made by only one manufacturer and sold in only one store in the city, that happens to keep a record of its customers, which includes the only person they met since the murder occurred. The lab includes the central work table thing with a microscope, a fridge to store evidence, as well as the evidence locker which is protected from tampering. Comments, criticisms and opinions welcome. *Due to being a financially strapped student, any and all brick built models will have to wait until I graduate and commence a career. Though I do wonder how extortionately expensive the modulars of today will be by then.
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Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion
Thetford replied to The Jersey Brick Guy's topic in LEGO Town
Although unlikely, could it be a shopping arcade? A shopping centre/mall lining an alley? Though a video/amusement arcade is more likely. -
Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion
Thetford replied to The Jersey Brick Guy's topic in LEGO Town
Perhaps, if it is feasibly possible, for an inverted corner, a shopping arcade that goes diagonally from the inside corner to the outside corner? It could in theory be reversible allowing for both types of corner -
But I thought that historians now believe the bear most likely killed him? EDIT: I honestly never even noticed the bear in the statue after watching the show all these years, always thought it was a rock. Would have thought the stance would be difficult replicate anyway.
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I think when they mean retired, they mean no other voice actor will replace them, as I recall, Hutz and McClure still appear in the comics? The only actor they have replaced due to death to the best of my knowledge is Lunchlady Doris.
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What Kind of Universe or Universes Do YOU Consider LEGO as Existing In
Thetford replied to Lind Whisperer's topic in General LEGO Discussion
I actually used to think as a kid that the Rock Raiders theme was in the same universe as the train theme at the time, as both had the same cave like background just in different colours on the packaging. I guess I thought they were the miners that carved out the rail tunnels. -
I suppose the issue of doing a Springfield Elementary would be the size of the building, and the number of minifigures needed. You would need at least Skinner's Office and the Krabappel's classroom definitely, and quite likely Hoover's classroom, and possibly the lunchroom, the music room would be a stretch (maybe laid out from left to right as lunchroom, Skinner, Krabappel, Hoover, or lunchroom, Krabappel, Hoover on the ground floor and Skinner's office upstairs), then you would need many more minifigures, including many new ones (Skinner, Hoover, maybe Dorris for starters, then a selection of kids to fill out the classes such as the twins, bullies, etc). I guess more plausible would be sets based on smaller buildings with one or two room interiors that would require few new minifigure molds like the Kwik E Mart. Off the top my head, there is the Android's Dungeon (with a new kid), the Krusty Burger or Aztec Theater with the Squeaky Voiced Teen, or at a stretch, the town hall with Quimby and the Jebidiah Springfield statue.
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REVIEW: 71009 LEGO Minifigures - The LEGO Simpsons Series 2
Thetford replied to WhiteFang's topic in LEGO Licensed
I believe both Homer and Marge's outfits are from the episode Some Magical Evening(?), and the X ray of Homer includes the crayon that makes him dumb. -
Female characters you want to see in the next LEGO Movie!
Thetford replied to Transparency for Effect's topic in Special LEGO Themes
Jet from Rock Raiders? http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/Jet -
Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion
Thetford replied to The Jersey Brick Guy's topic in LEGO Town
I imagine an office style building that would appeal to "playability" as you mention would be a newspaper office, with a printing press and loading bay with a truck or paper boys on the ground floor, newsroom above that, and the editor's office/boardroom on the top floor. -
They are only meant to blow the bloody doors off.
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What environment should LEGO City Police patrol next?
Thetford replied to legoman19892's topic in LEGO Town
The only "big" set I can think of for a highway subtheme would be a diner truck stop motorway service station, it would have to be a more vehicle dominated theme, though it would be nice to see a fuel tanker truck with a chrome tank. Would there be enough about a theme to justify a theme? I can't really imagine a crime aside from a car pulled over, or a truck full of stolen goods. -
Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion
Thetford replied to The Jersey Brick Guy's topic in LEGO Town
Since we are listing what types of building we want, I guess I would like to see a white streamline moderne corner building with malt shop on the ground floor, curved glass block window at the corner, and heavy use of chrome pieces.