Chewk

Hi all! I've been a bit AWOL recently, but here is something I threw together recently. The Willys MB US Army Jeep was manufactured from 1941 to 1945. The small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian Jeep. Its counterpart in the German army was the Volkswagen Kübelwagen, also based on a small automobile, but which used an air-cooled engine and lacked 4 wheel drive. It comfortably fits 2 figs in front, and 1-2 depending on seating arrangement in back (2 if both figs are on the edge), and all wheels roll smoothly. The canopy from the Indiana Jones Shanghai set could hypothetically fit over the two in the front, but the one I have is ripped so I didn't make it a priority to try. Also, all of the dark grey you see is old dark grey. More pics on Flickr! Enjoy! -Chewk

It is important to remember that Lego is and probably always will be a foreign export of Europe. As some people have pointed out before me, the prices we get hear in the good ol' U.S. of A. very much cancel out this minor qualm that you and many other people (including myself at times) have :)

New Cars 2 commercial featuring the Spy Jet Escape and Big Bentley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaPAYajGUyg&feature=BFp&list=WL540A3CD9FD17BF6E&index=1

Am I the only one bothered by the apparent lack of any sort of features that would make the Mothership a true "Mothership"? Namely small vehicles, a big interior with a command center, etc. like the UFO theme had? -Chewk

Isn't that just the same hockey pad piece that was used a few years back?

Printed statue :D

I wonder if Mace Windu's starfighter can break apart like Plo Koon's starfigher into attack mode.

Has this image been seen yet? Apparently, they are figures from the theme. EDIT: Nevermind, they are fake.

I'm curious to see if the obelisk from the biplane set and the shrine from the cobra set can and are meant to be placed on the 6x6 openings on the snake and scorpion pits in the pyramid set.

Does anyone else find it odd that the police station has a helipad but no helicopter?

Please refer to this FBTB article: http://www.fbtb.net/2010/08/10/the-minifigures-youll-never-get-george-lucas-r2-kt/

Personal opinion? I like that they have the same charm as Brickarms but are more customizable. On the flip side, they appear to be more expensive.

A small outpost somewhere in the Holy Land. Nothing too special or impressive here. Some figs for your pleasure. -Chewk

Correct me if I am wrong, but judging by the torso print and the use of plate armor, I believe this vignette is meant to evoke Assassins Creed II.

I don't understand the big deal. If the gun were the standard rifle, I would understand, but its just the musket. Clearly it is supposed to be a toy. -Chewk

Great review. I really wish I had bought this set when I had the chance. By the way, does anybody know the difference between Lion Knights and Crusaders? Aren't they the same?

The idea sounds great, but the figs don't really resemble the factions you mentioned. Templars should have white surcoats with a red cross on it, with grey arms to represent chain mail (plate armor wasn't really prevalent until the late 1400s). However, the torsos you have now would work great for generic crusaders. As for the Hospitaliers, the same idea applies, only with a black surcoat and white cross. I also think the Crownie torsos would work well as Jerusalem knights. I would suggest using the checkered pattern torsos only. Here are reference images: As for the Islam forces, I would suggest putting a tiny-turbos tire on a viking helmet, as it is much cheaper (and probably a little more accurate) than getting persian helmets in bulk. This is what I mean (center): If you aren't a stickler for historical accuracy, however, I would at least go for some sort of uniformity among the figs. It doesn't seem like you have a ton for either faction, so uniformity will go a long way. Good luck; I hope you take my suggestions into account.

Prison Carriage Rescue is available at the US S@H: http://shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Product.aspx?...cn=640&d=70

Does a Brickmaster set count?

Nice Ecto-1, especially with the constraints of LDD. Also, nice job with the clever title.

A Hassassin, Saracen, and Crusader from the Crusades. I took some liberties with the Hassassin, which is more or less ripped straight from Assassin's Creed. -Chewk

Maybe thats because it is a Lego Star Wars forum? -Chewk

It is! 7418 Scorpion Palace -Chewk

Keep in mind that the Toy Fair is mainly a tradeshow for major toy retailers, and a press event secondly. Furthermore, the official position of TLC is that this is probably the first time that the sets have been revealed. Bringing Lego-shop exclusives to a trade event, while done in the past, doesn't make a huge amount of sense.

I think the white Boba Fett may be a callback to the original concept art by Ralph McQuarrie.