Mr Bill

An inside connection I know has told me TBBR has not yet been greenlighted... Pre-production stuff is happening, but whether it goes into production or not will likely depend on how well TLM2 does. TLBM and TLNM did not do as well as expected, but hopes are high for TLM2. Plus the original deal was for a total of four movies, so... with TLM2 being #4, we shall see. Good box office will lead to more movies whether they (WB) sign off for them one at a time or sign for multiples. Keep your fingers crossed! --Mr Bill

Release dates for CMFs have more or less always been January 1st. May 1st and September 1st (every four months) but honestly I have always found them on the racks in the previous month (December, April and August) often as early as the first of the previous month but never later than the third week... --Mr Bill.

My guess for the second review would be the Space Shuttle because "real" space sets sell well and the crazy success for the ideas Saturn V would likely make it a winner. The others have limited appeal or licensing issues -- not always the death knell (BBT, BttF, GB, Beatles YS), but Gilmore Girls? Really? Not to mention that "newish rule" about licensed submissions in existing themes kinda voids I Am Your Father... But it WOULD be a nice set. For the third review I say Pop-Up book because it's different in the same way that designer's maze set was different. And they like "different" at Lego Ideas. If not that one then I could see the Jaguar happening as it would fit well with Caterham and with the other large cars they've done (VW Bus, Bug and Mini Cooper). I would love to see the three Fishing village sets happen. The Old Fishing Store is probably my favorite build of 2017 and I'd love to have a whole row of similarly themed buildings along my city shoreline. But I think it's too soon after OFS for another one; plus having three at once only makes them compete with themselves. What I COULD see happening is these getting their own product line with an annual or semi-annual release. The same sort of deal Mr. Reed landed with his Architecture series. At the very least, the designers could make a few $ selling the plans online should the sets never materialize. Here's hoping! --Mr Bill

LoL! In my Lego City (which my wife allows me to place in about 33% of our living room) my MiniFigures and MiniDolls cohabitate. Only Jack Stone-style figures are exiled/ostracized.... --Mr Bill

My responses to the 8 questions: 1 - I don't really find anything too odd in recolours... As a LL Master Builder I welcome more pieces in more colors as they enhance what we can do... The snot brick with stud on two adjacent sides has been a blessing! Hopefully it will become available in more colors in the coming year(s). I am still waiting for a green 1x1 with one stud on the side. It is the only one of the "10 regular" colors that does not yet have this piece. If we need it we have to figure a way to use a "headlight brick (real name: angular brick) or go with another shade of green and hope it is sufficiently hidden. 2 - Agreed. Medium Nougat is becoming a more versatile option to regular brown! It (along with dark orange #38) is becoming a fave of mine. 3 through 6 - I don't really have an opinion on. The more colors a piece becomes available in, the happier any builder should be. Our boss often hands us a part for each project and gives us the chjallenge on incorporating it into our build. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's a pain. 7 - I personally like Spring Yellowish Green... That Elf castle works well for what it is within its theme. The one color I absolutely despise is Aqua (#323). While I have used it (Queen Elizabet's gown in my Wax Museum build) I stay away from it. If I made a replica of Baskin Robbins dacquiri Ice ice cream cone it would be an exact match... I wasn't a fan of either Azur when they appeared either but I have warmed to them over time. I first noticed them with the 2011 Sponge Bob sets and Alien Conquest sets (also 2011). There are few short-lived colors from the early to mid 2000s I'm not crazy about, but that's mainly because there are not a lot of parts available in those colors. 8 - My favorite color to work with lately has been (as I mentioned) Dark Orange (#38). I recently built a Tiki Restaurant for a new area of the park using it and a roof of Sand Green. These two colors look absolutely gorgeous together. The Tiki Mask motifs I built out of Dark Tan (sand yellow #138) accent the walls very nicely. I will post more pictures as soon as I am allowed to do so. I also like Bright Green (#37), but alas, we have more regular elements available to us than are in most (any?) commercial sets. --Mr. Bill

I'm not all that keen on the new flower part (yet). I'll reserve judgement until I see an actual part with my own eyes! I DO like this new triple leaf part that is coming in some 2018 sets, though. Doing our monthly part order for our model shop at LegoLand I discovered the "old" flower was no longer available when I was trying to boost our supply (and get it in 194 medium stone grey, as comes with Saturn V). BTW the "old" flower part's official name is "Bracelet Upper Part" which I suspect stems from its origins as a Click-Its element... Seeing the return of 107 Teal/Turquoise is the best news, though. The October parts list only had basic brick and plate, but the November list has about a dozen more elements -- almost all tailored toward Nexo, Elves and Friends! --Mr. Bill

You'll be happy to know that according to the parts list we use in the model shop at LEGOLAND for ordering shows Turquoise (107) returns in 2018. So far only basic brick and plate are listed. Not sure what sets these will end up in (I doubt Rock Raiders is returning) but I suspect it will be Elves and/or Nexo Knights... --Mr Bill

Yes. Reviewing the parts ordering list we use in the Model Shop at LEGOLAND, Turquoise (107) is back in 2018. Only basic brick and plate are listed so far... --Mr Bill

Speaking as a designer at LEGOLAND, I am sad to report that Lyichir is correct... That part does not exist. --Mr Bill

My future son-in-law works at a local Southern California Target and he tells me they have the Series 15 boxes in the stock room but can't put them out until January 1st. And another friend saw them out at another Target, tried buying them, but the register refused to ring them up; the cashier told him she couldn't sell them to him until January first... So I am optimistic for Jan 1 here in the US! --Mr Bill

I know there is some debate as to whether or not the Plant Guy in Series 14 is costumed or not. Lack of a zipper says not, but the fact he's holing vines in his hands says he is. Perhaps he should be included in the poll.... I voted for Piggy Guy because BACON! --Mr Bill

My apologies, L@go... A friend e-mailed me that picture so I didn't know where he go it. To ensure all credit due, everyone, the new SNOT part photo is courtesy of L@go's Flickr account. I strongly urge you to check out his Flickrstream -- he's a terrific builder with some awesome MOCs... Respectfully, --Mr Bill

Here's what the new SNOT element that holds the Corner Bricks looks like. Mod edit: Brick Bank new piece. Interesting :) by L@go, on Flickr

I own each with doubles on Green Grocer, Grand Emporium and Pet Shop. The only one I DIDN'T buy at the time was Market Street(#10190) because at the time it WASN'T listed as part of the series (even though it fit in). Later, when it was included as part of the Mini-Modulars, I decided I DID need it. Rather than buy it at the exorbitant prices on Bricklink or eBay, I built it from parts I own and by purchasing sets containing the necessary parts (hello 4 copies of Lego Creator Seaside House #7346) --Mr Bill

I'm beginning to wonder if the release date reported on some sites (February 1st vice January 1st) might actually be correct,,, in which case it'll be almost another month before we see anything... --Mr. Bill

The delay in revealing these is killing me! -- Usually the January CMFs are put out in early December because of their "Stocking Stuffer" potential... --Mr. Bill

According to BrickSet I own: 1301 sets (1171 different) consisting of: 244,041 pieces and 2595 MinFigs... The actual number is higher since PAB cups, LUGBulk orders and parts from LUG Draft sessions aren't factored in. I've been collecting since I received my first set at age 6 in 1966... I had no "dark ages." -Mr Bill

I used to keep mine in hanging folders, but once my file drawer was too packed to hold them I just started stacking them at the end of my Lego work bench. Given the variety of sizes of the books it wasn't long before it became a teetering, tottering mess. As soon as it fell over I knew it was time to rebuild my Lego work area. After I reconfigured my bench and my parts drawers, I reserved a section of four shelves where I now keep my instructions in Magazine boxes (4 for a dollar @ IKEA), seven boxes to a shelf for a total of 28 boxes. These are subdivided into themes with many boxes housing multiple themes. And (as in the case of Star Wars and City) some themes encompassing two boxes.

I'm also one that laments Lego's decision to cease the 9v line. But I must move on with the times. I have both and plan my layouts to use both as necessary. As others here have said, mixing 9v and PF can work (PF tains will run on 9v track) with proper coordination and layout planning. That is the crux of mixing the two. I won't go into the debate over which ismore pwerful or able to pull more either -- fans of each system will insist the one they're a fan of is better and will even post video demonstrations to support thier view. Bottom-line is they are both vaible means for trains and, in true Lego fashion, can work together with (as I said) proper layout planning and coordination. Keep in mind that Lego 9v straight rails are fairly expensive on the secondary (bricklink) market, as they're in great demand by Lego Train Clubs. For a while one solution was ME Models, who had some nice 3rd party 9v track at fair prices. Unfortunatley they've been out of stock for quite a long time as they seek a new manufacturing partner in their quest to devlop curved rails in the original Lego radius and at least one additional radius. But their straight rails (whicc are all they've offered for sale so far) worked superbly and a PF Train will run on them just fine. --Mr Bill

During my Navy career I used to pick up sets in other countries that weren't avaiable in the US... However, since the early-to-mid 1990s -- with the exception of some exclusives -- most sets are now available across all markets and catalogs are pretty much the same aside from regional/language text contained there-in. Of course, there are the occasional Lego decision to NOT market a set in a region (such as the Series 4 SW planet sets that are not going to be available in the US of A)... --Mr Bill

I initially felt the same way, but had a change of heart once I realized the minidoll hair pieces fit on minfigures as well. That got me thinking, "Well, I have 'yellow-skinned' (regular) minifigs cohabitating with my 'fleshy-skinned' (licensed) minifigs, so why couldn't slimmer female mini-figs occupy my lego city? I admit it took some getting used to, but it seems perfectly acceptable now and my lego city denizens, minifig & minidoll, are happy living together! (Some friends of mine suggested putting male minidolls and female minifigs in the more "socially progressive" part of my Lego town, but I disdain stereo-types, ). --Mr Bill

Mine reflects my points but shows "$0 available." My local store advised me to call customer service (whoihc I wil do when I have time). The issue seems to affect only the oldest VIP members and this "upgrade" they did to their system. If you have the older "chrome red" VIP card (as opposed to the litho-printed version) you're likely affected... It wasn't a big deal at the time since I wasn't using points and the purchase did indeed earn me new points... And they were kind enough to throw in the VW bus for my trouble, even though I was a few bucks short of the $75 threshold! --Mr Bill

does it sounds familiar?? Hmmm. Vaguely! Do you have a lot of LEGO sets, which occupy a lot of living space? Hells to the Yeah! Did you buy many LEGO sets, but never open. and keep it unopened for years? Only a few... Did you buy many LEGO used pieces but still sitting in the bins and never have time to sort them out? No -- I try to sort them into their proper bins within a week... having recently rebuiilt my Lego Work area, I had three large (2'x3') tubs to go thru and that took me about two months!!! (technic pins, teeth, 1x1 plates & tiles and MF tools made the bottoms of those bins take for-#!&!ing-ever!!!) Do you have have many unfinished MOCs from..like years? No. I work my MOCs until finished, one (sometimes two if I have a special project) at a time... Do you keep all the instruct books, all the boxes..even the LEGO club magazines. the sticker sheets and LEGO catalogs? even the plastic number bags?? Only Instructions, unused stickers, catalogs and magazines. No room for boxes, used sticker sheets and empty boxes! Do you think "I have too many LEGO pieces" but still buy some more when you think it is cheap enough? I do think that from time to time, but I'm just kidding myself -- there's no such thing as too much Lego. And nothing deters me from buying more except sets that are greatly over the "10c per piece" average... Do you not only buy some LEGO sets. but also some watches, key chain, playing cards, magnet or even eraser/notebook? Rarely. what do you think ? anything wrong? Nothing wrong here. I admit I have CDO (It's just the same as OCD except the letters are in alphabetical order... As they should be)! --Mr. Bill

The August first release date is good news, thoguh I WAS hoping for a July 18th release. Wasn't that the date of the original fim''s release??? My local Lego Store here in San Diego was either truly in the dark or play a good game of keeping mum about it when I asked them yesterday if it would be out this week. Of course, since my daughter was the only person in our family able to snag ComiCon tix before they sold out in 10 seconds I'll give her a few $ to get me one this weekend. Regarding modding the hood with a 4515: that will be a bit tricky with the headlight/grille space being 7 studs wide and the lower hood being 6-wide and upper hood being 8-wide. Not impossible -- just tricky! Count me among those who will probably get 3 to build each version! Too bad it doesn't have all three versions of the minifigs like the Cuusoo pitch build did! --Mr Bill

I'm convinced it's lousy parenting. At LegoLand California a couple years ago (right after the Las Vegas miniland area opened), I watched as two ladies (barely in their 20s themselves) let their two boys step over the rail and wander down the model Vegas strip, picking up cars and figures and climbing up on the buidlings. It was horrifying. I also question the parenting these two ladies receved as well what with all their tattoos and metal crap sticking in and out of their faces. But Lego is the one thing that makes me happy so I won't dwell on how human society is doomed in my favorite forum of my favorite hobby... --Mr Bill