paanjang16

Eurobricks Citizen
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Everything posted by paanjang16

  1. paanjang16

    Boobs are a No-go on LEGO CUUSOO

    While I would like the idea of a new female mould, I feel it will limit the use of some of the armor accessories which is placed onto the torso. Eris' torso from the Chima line comes to mind. Another would be the female charactor from Agents in the Aerial Defence unit set; she wears an armor to help her rappel down from the helicopter. Friends is different since it is a brand new minifigure and there has not been an armor accessory yet. Even if there is it would be a new one and would consider space for the boobs.
  2. paanjang16

    Modular Building 10232 Palace Cinema

    Here is my opinion on the Palace Cinema:- 1) It has a fantastic exterior, but I am concern if the movie posters and signboards are stickers or printed window pieces? As far as I know all the modular buildings have not used stickers. I hope those poster and sign boards are the printed window panes similar to those used in the Fire Temple set 2) Regarding the interior, I do agree I am somewhat disappointed with it since it is no where near what I had imagine it would be. Maybe because we are spoiled by awesome MOCs such as this one , but I think TLG had to work within some budget constraints and modular building rules when designing the set. I wonder if TLG pushed the piece count a little more to 2600 pieces like the Town Hall will the result be better? I was certainly expecting stadium seating with a projector room like all cinemas out there. 3) One of the posters showed "Mysterious Monorail". Is TLG hinting it will bring back a monorail set? I sure hope they would!
  3. While I do agree the "Thundertank" looks very much like the Thundertank from the original Thundercats (the whole reason I bought Laval's Royal Fighter anyway), but I do not really think it is a true rip-off of the real Thundertank. Sure it has features like a back mounted cannon, jaw eating action, cockpit behind what looks like a lion's head, but it is not copying the original Thundertank feature by feature or have the same colors. Maybe they can argue on the jaw eating feature and having a lion's head, but the other stuff is common to all military vehicles. If that is the case any vehicle that has threads, back mounted cannon and a lion's head in the front will be like a Thundertank. The way I see it, it looks similar to the case where Games Workshop approach Blizzard to make a Warhammer RTS but the game was later canned. The end result is none other than Warcraft and Starcraft. Warcraft may look like Warhammer, Starcraft may look like 40k, but there are not the same. Similarly Chima and Thundercats may look similar, but it is very different from one another. Chima is not even close to Thundercats. Unless of course the elder lion dies like in Thundercats and characters like Tigers, Panthers and Cheetahs make an appearance or an evil mummy from a dark pyramid comes out.
  4. paanjang16

    USA Today Video/Article on LEGO investing

    I feel that there is some truth to the article as I see some sets go up in value such as the Cafe Corner, Green Grocer, UCS X-Wing, 8421 Mobile Crane and even the latest 8258 Crane truck. It all depends if TLG will reissue the set or make a new set to make the original set out of date. The biggest example I see the re-issuance of the Batman sets under the DC superhero line where you no longer have to pay through your nose for a simple batman figure. However there are some exception to the Batman case as TLG has not issued another full size tumbler. The one in the Batman and Bane set is tiny compared to the one in the Joker Ice-cream truck set. So unless TLG decided to burst the bubble for the UCS MF, UCS X-wing by re-releasing or by releasing a whole new model, the prices for these set will continue to rise. I would love TLG to re-release the Cafe Corner and Green Grocer for example. Some set will always go up in value like the flagship Technic sets which are hard to find and command a premium price even at retail. I still feel the 8421 Mobile crane will still command a high price unless its successor can beat it eg. more advanced, have pneumatics, remote control etc. Another example is the price for the 8880 supercar due to its rarity and how advanced it is compared to present Technic set. Take note that the value increases if you keep it MISB, which is something I find very hard to do if I am lacking space.
  5. V-LV-53A Thanks to the ongoing Shell Lego promotion in my country, I managed to snag a few of the Shell Lego polybags. However being more of a City/Town AFOL collector, I decided to modify the vehicles with some extra parts so that it is still 4 stud wide but able to fit a minifigure. The driver must be able to enter through the doors and drive the vehicle with a steering wheel. I use the compact spring pulled motor as the baseplate and work up from there. I used the 458 Italia, F40, 250 and the FXX. My personal favourite is the F40 since the white piece allows it to blend in with the classic town Shell sets. I did not stick the stickers since I the cars looks great without the stickers. As I mentioned earlier, the F40 has the same livery as the old Shell Classic Town sets.
  6. Ya, I am from Subang. I am guessing you saw pictures of my MOC on the Lowyat Forum and on Brick Fan of Malaysia yes?
  7. paanjang16

    After buying Lucasfilm, Disney now goes for Hasbro

    No No No. As much as Hasbro would like to have Kre-O Star Wars I do not think the fans of Star Wars will like such an idea. The Kre-O battleship and soon to be released GI Joe sets look pathetic in comparison to the SW sets made by Lego. Hasbro even had the nerve to "repaint" a Kre-O battleship set into a GI Joe set. Google "KRE-O G.I. JOE COBRA ARMORED ASSAULT set" and "KRE-O Battleship Mine Stryker set". You don't see this kind of laziness on Lego's part. Imagine an LOTR set using an old catapult or carriage from the Castle line. I fear that if Hasbro had its way some Battleship or GI Joe design could end up being Star Wars sets since Hasbro and Disney are the same party. Also if this news is true then all the Lego Star Wars sets will go up in value faster than Apple stock.
  8. paanjang16

    Lego Licensed Photography Thread

    After Boromir was introduced in Lego minifig form, it is inevitable that a meme about him is made. I think what he said is true, not many personalities or characters can be a Lego minifig.
  9. paanjang16

    Legends of Chima 2013

    The Lion tank reminds me very much of the Thundertank from the 80s Thundercats with its lion head and cannon in the rear. What impressed me most if the fact the whole head is brick built unlike the Ninjago dragons where it is 1 large piece. Also the eagle plane and the eagle tank looks great! Thundercats+Ninjago+Fabuland= Legends of Chima So any chance Lego might get the Thundercats licence now that they have lion minifigs? They now have TMNT due to Ninjago.
  10. paanjang16

    New Chinese Knock off LEGO company

    I think these knock off companies are getting better and better at what they do. Some are even giving features Lego never did. Like recently I bought this Enlighten battle tank from a Mr. DIY store for RM 40. A Lego set worth RM 50 will only net you the 4x4 mining pickup with 1 minifig. Now for RM 40 you get 5 minifigs, a fully equipped battle tank with suspension and lots of accessories. The suspension part blew my mind. Of course there are some questionable stuff like the enemies this set is trying to portray. Also this is the first military set with a female soldier I know. Then there is a 'Lego' school which Lego never made. I feel Lego is really upping their game with better sets, both licences and home grown themes. But as I observed when I was in the place where I bought the tank, children are attracted to the Enlighten sets although it is clearly a knock-off/clone brick. It also does not help Lego in Malaysia is super dooper expensive compared to the US or EU.
  11. The PAB wall is absolutely rubbish. I was expecting it to be as large as the ones in Billund or in any Lego shop overseas and was disappointed to see such a pathetic selection. Seriously, the first Legoland in ASIA and this is the best they can offer for PAB? I didn't manage to go, but seeing some parts of the park is lacking I am glad I did not go. I do agree from the pictures and feedback from my fellow AFOLS that it is extremely hot since the trees are not yet mature and the displays are all outdoors. Then the price in the Big shop which is similar to the prices outside, which makes me less incline to spend in the Big Shop since I can get stuff cheaper online or across the causeway. Might pay a visit some time in the future when I have some free time. Hopefully by then there is more shade.
  12. "Let's go to school! Ferry the school children to school in the school bus! Play basketball on the outdoor court! Then learn about road safety and the ABCs!" Manufacturer: Sluban Set no: M38-B0333 No. of piecs : 486 Price: RM 99.90 ***WARNING!! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW WILL CAUSE SEVERE RAGE AMONG LEGO PURIST. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED*** I was browsing through Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur when I came across this particular set. This is a place well known for knock-offs & other types toys. One shop in particular had this huge array of Sluban sets ranging from transportation, miltary to ancient far east sets. The reason this set caught my eye beside the fact it looks like a certain Lego City set is because it fills what many in the Lego community has demanded from Lego-a school. For years we haven't had a Lego school where we can sent our Lego kids and out of the blue this clone brick company though of this and came out with this set. But will it be good enough that the Lego City parents will sent their kids to this school or Lego kids are better off home schooled as before? The box The front of the box shows the school with all the kids, teacher & bus driver with the school bus. I got no idea what the Chinese charactors say The back shows the variety of play features and some marketing talk on how it improves your child's mental development Zooming into the play features, you will realized that the kids have only a torso while sitting on the chair! I will explain later in the review on that. Also the picture of the kids boarding the bus looks kind of familier... Inside the box there is a cardboard tray- something that current Lego sets sadly lack. Photo taken after I have open and assembled the set hence no picture of all the pieces still in the bags. Dreaded Sticker Sheet I was expecting this Chines clone brick set to have printed bricks but alas I was dissapointed. I did not stick them because most of the pieces are placed over several bricks. Would be very useful for future MOCs though. Instruction Manual The front page is similar to the front page box. No surprises here. The instruction guides you by showing the bricks to be placed onto the model. New bricks in their original color are placed over the bricks from the previous step which is similar in color to the background. Notice any similar pieces to Lego? Another step showing the building of the school. A step showing how the overhead projector is installed onto the floor above. Good to see a set keeping up with the times. Minifigs we get 7 minifigs in this set. The variety is very good with 2 different school girls with different haircuts and a school bully. We also get a perky bus driver with a school teacher. The other 2 school boys have a generic haircut and face. There is no back printing nor double sided head unfortunately. Are the figures compatible with Lego minifigures and vice versa? From the pciture below the heads and head gear can be interchange with one another. Batman isn't please with the new haristyle. Legs are little more complicated. While the Lego minifig leg can fit the Sluban figure, the Sluban torso have a curve above the leg area under the arms. Also if the Sluban leg is attached to the Lego minifigure torso, the slight curve will not result of a proper fit. I also got no idea why the short legs of the Sluban figure was designed this way. The school bus The school bus is an 8 stud wide bus that can seat up to 9 passengers and 1 driver. I like how the top of the bus has a curve roof and how roomy the bus is. The frame of the bus are almost similar to that of Lego as well comes with a stop sign on its side (sadly a sticker), wing mirrors and a huge door to enter. The driver has a steering wheel with a center column and gear lever. Now the bad part, as nice as it looks, the small tires makes it terribly off scale and akward. I would prefer the tires are bigger and more to scale of the bus. Unlike a certain yellow bus from the pizza corner set, you will have to remove the entire section of roof to place the minifigs inside. There are no easy removal of the roof and the whole top section might break apart when doing so. Also since the minifigs cannnot sit properly on the sits , this is how most of them travel the majority of the time. The school We now proceed to the focal point of this review, the school building. The style of the building os very obviously copied from the Pizza corner building. It is clear that the Sluban set designers is going for a redesign rather than making an entirely new design. The front door can be opened fully and is flanked on the side by a very lovely flower bed. The 1x1 circular plate looks like a new piece to me. There are also bollards on the left and right of the entrance. On the side of the building is a fairly simple basketball court. Green 1x6 tiles mark the play area for our little boy there. But where is the ball? Apparently there is no ball included! The ball on the box is somewhat photoshopped into the box art. As you can see, the roof design isn't as complex as the pizza corner. But I do like the shade of brown and the way Sluban has designed the building overall. A rear shot of the classrooms. I am assuming that the class on the Ground floor is a computer lab while the one aobe (1st floor) is a normal classroom. The 2nd floor is empty since it is too low for anything. Needless to say, the classroom is well equipped with a blackboard, desks, chairs, teacher's table and even overhead projectors! After placing the minifigs inside the classroom, you will see a problem with the chairs; the kids with the small legs will either have to stand on them or leave them somewhere else like on the box art. I am wondering if the folks at Lego are not keen to release a school or kindergarden simply because the kid minifig cannot sit down and be forced to stand all the time? I guess I will never know. Another shot of the school without the minifigures. A big difference between this building and the pizza corner is that the buidling is not modular. The whole school is 1 big piece which can be lifted up. Leftover pieces Yes, that's ALOT of leftover pieces! I am wondering if I have misbuild something but after checking I found no misbuild anywhere. Sluban must have added some extra pieces just to be safe. Conclusion So how is a copy of a well known Lego City set? I was surprised at the quality of the bricks as it had no sharp edges and color consistancy is good. Clutch power is still a step below Lego but noneteless is able to keep the model in 1 piece and not fall apart. Design wise there are a few surprises here and there like the overhead projector and overall layout of the school.However during the building of the school bus it becomes apparent why Lego employ skilled people to design and prepare instructions as well as check the models. You see, many times during the build of the bus some pieces are well supported until later when the entire section is completed. Till then, the section is prone to coming apart although the clutch power is good. This is more a design issue than the quality of the bricks. Then there is playbility of the bus due to the lack of easy removal of the roof. Now the question is, is the school suitable enough for the Lego City kids? The answer is yes! The set is that good if you can overlook the some minor design and playability issues.
  13. paanjang16

    Let's share our funny interesting photos!

    Bride and her groom on a jet ski after the wedding Not sure if it is ok here, but I figured those bunny ears might be used for another type of bunnies Bunny Girl: Thanks for lending me your bunny ears! Bunny man: No problem, I am sure the guys will love to see you in it! One of the benefits of working from home is you get to see your children grow up.
  14. paanjang16

    Lego Licensed Photography Thread

    Some single photos I took of Iron Man and Loki Iron Man: Just give up Loki! Loki: Since when you have a titan??!@#? Iron Man: Me and mini me! Batman: Pardon me, but I need to park my bat ski for a while. The new batcave ain't exactly that big.
  15. paanjang16

    REVIEW: 7346 Seaside House

    Looking at the pictures, this set looks better than went I first saw the initial spy shots. The medium blue used is better than the dark blue I thought the set will be using. So good in fact I am now contemplating to buy 3 of these just so that I can build a medium blue modular out of all the bricks!
  16. paanjang16

    Modular Madness

    Some questions about this contest:- 1) For the modular building category, is having an interior mandatory? Or a bare interior will do? 2) Is a 'shophouse' modular building where the top floor extend out over the sidewalk acceptable? By shophouse I meant the example which I have made below It does look compatible with the Green Grocer and Grand Emporium. I suggest you could advice us the required width and color of the sidewalk.
  17. I feel that even with the name change the model on its own will still sell. Remember market street? Not really a modular in its own right but the demand for it is tremendous. They can modify the building slightly to make it a modular building with the pub interior and add in a snooker table to great effect. As for minifigs TLG can come up with a few men and ladies having a good time. It does not necessarily have to be Simon Pegg or the cast of the Winchester. In fact it does not even need the Winchester name. A name like "Pub corner" or "Speakeasy" would do. Yes, I admit I want the building and the pub inside. The zombies and Simon Pegg would be a nice extra for the set.
  18. What a bummer Would love to have the pub even by itself. Hopefully TLG can take the pub design and make it into a modular building of some sort. Now they know there is a market for a tan 2 storey pub such as the Winchester. Or they could release the building on its own with nothing inside like a Creator building if a pub is too offensive. They can also release the minifigs inside the set, without the weapons of course. Still hoping it would be released in some way though.
  19. paanjang16

    MOC: The new World Trade Center, New York

    Words cannot describe how flabbergast I am looking at your MOCs. The new WTC is awesome on its own, but to see an entire city of Lego skyscrapers in 1 row is beyond awesome, it is insane. In fact it does not look like Lego at a distance until I zoomed into the details. Are all the buildings to scale with one another? I can see that empire state, WTC, burj Khalifah etc are proportionate with each other. My jaw dropped so much I didn't really read the first post. Also, looking at some of the models, does 2 plates = 1 storey?
  20. paanjang16

    Architecture Contest: Kranhaus Süd

    The use of 1x2 tiles greatly resemble the windows of the real thing. Looks fantastic! When I first saw the photo of the real thing I thought the picture was cropped and showing only half a building. Then I saw the Lego model I thought you only made half the building Only after I relook at the real photo did it occur to me that the building was designed this way!
  21. paanjang16

    Architecture Contest: Taipei 101

    Great work! That's ALOT of trans-dark green there. Is the model to scale with the Empire State?
  22. paanjang16

    Architecture contest: Menara Maybank

    Thanks :) I do agree it is quite plain compared to the other entries, but I decided to go with this design because:- 1) I have limited amount of bricks at my disposal 2) First time building an architecture scale model. Still thinking on how to do the windows at this scale I originally wanted to use this http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3685 for the base, but found out it only appeared in some very limited sets, one of which is the UCS Imperial Shuttle. So had to make do with a hinge and plate setup like you see above. I figured that if ever TLG would make an architecture set of this building, it will be more or less be similar to my model and in the same league as the Empire State Building, Sears Tower architecture sets.
  23. Finally a contest which I have waiting for. I decided to build a landmark which is near my office. It might not be as well known nor as high as the Petronas Twin Towers, but it still stands among the most unique buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Landmark Series - Menara Maybank Name of building: Menara Maybank No. of stories: 50 Height: 243m Completed date: 1987 Taken from wikipedia on its unique architecture: Front view Back view Side view Top view A picture of the real building. More info on the building: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybank_Tower_%28Kuala_Lumpur%29 More picture: My linkhttp://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/paanjang16/lego_menara_maybank/
  24. I am not surprised if people mistook Kre-O as Lego since both are using identical bricks as Lego. Also both have minifigures which from a distance look like each other. To the untrained eye an Optimus Prime Kre-O looks almost like a Lego minifigure. It does not help Hasbro markets their stuff aggressively with huge displays at strategic positions that show the Kre-O transformers built in robot or vehicle mode. To be frank, the assembled sets look as good as Lego. I think the misunderstanding is quite apparent in a TRU I went to last week. For some unknown reason the Kre-O sets was sharing one corner of the Lego aisle. I think it is a big mistake on TRU's part though. Hope the new Lego stock come in to kick this Kre-O stuff off the Lego aisle. Our Lego arrives much later than the rest of the world so the empty shelf must have looked like a good spot for something I do agree on the embarrassing part. Kre-O is made by Oxford of South Korea as shown on the box. It so happen Oxford has an entire line-up of awesome sets which rivals Lego or even surpass Lego. Oxford also makes military sets which Lego does not such as a naval destroyer, main battle tank, attack helicopter, missile launcher, troops etc. Right now Hasbro has barely used Oxford to their maximum potential. I don't mind if Hasbro challenges Lego by bringing more Kre-O sets as this would force Lego to be more competitive. The only reason why the Kre-O sets in my area is not moving so fast is because it is as or in some cases more expensive than Lego. As for Lego working with Hasbro, I think it would only happen if either one buys each other out
  25. paanjang16

    21102 LEGO CUUSOO Minecraft

    Apparently can order it here: https://www.jinx.com/LEGOMinecraft Looks very simple to me. Maybe because I would prefer a complex model such as the Hayubusa or the modular Western theme set currently on Cuusoo. Can separate into 4 separate modules which you can arranged any way you want.