WaysofSorting

Eurobricks Citizen
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Everything posted by WaysofSorting

  1. WaysofSorting

    Beware of fake minifigures

    I am in the camp with Large88 - I only buy LEGO products - but also think I'm close to swaying over. I remember in the early 20-aughts, nobody would even dare think of using clone or other brand bricks. Now there are compatible products made by passionate third-parties, with quality and care. Even some of the clone companies at least put out some pieces using good plastic and design. Who's to say what's right and wrong anymore. Also - worth noting that in my perception the quality of some LEGO elements has indeed declined since back in my youth. Here I mean opacity and color strength, as well as general "softness" of the plastic. Not terribly, but again - when the CMF line is sometimes so poor in quality, who is to say a knock-off is bad in comparison (Especially when they could have possibly been made with the same-sourced materials) But ultimately, I think counterfeits are worse than clone brands. I've seen multiple ebay auctions that were clearly stolen from the bad QC pile from a factory or blatant knock-offs. Tempted sometimes (Just to feel the quality in-hand...maybe it's close?!). If anyone does buy one of these I'd enjoy hearing how the "not lego but fits lego" disclaimer matches up...I always heard tell of discarded molds being shopped on a black-market for other toys - I in no way doubt that LEGO molds are finding their way out in the wild as well. Worth noting - some cool Iron Man Variants in the seller's "portfolio." I wonder who generated those designs. I think if they came from another community member, I'd be more upset about THAT theft than from TLG or Marvel.
  2. WaysofSorting

    Modular Space ship

    Nice. The tail-fin buttresses (That's all I can think to call them) give them a gothic, almost Sandlin-like 3vil quality. Gives it a bit of edge. Also really reminds me of a great old PC Game, Star Control II, where your capitol/colony ship was essentially this modular frame you kept adding pods too. (Well, at least in my foggy memory, that's what I did). I had wished Galaxy Squad would have been more like this - allowing the teams to plug into each other, Voltron style. Maybe it was? I didn't get enough of the sets to ultimately find out with sets in hand. Maybe LEGO will drop "conflict" as theme and go back to "modular" as theme for a new space collection.
  3. Toy customizers often do this simple trick - not for purists, but it should work - Superglue (hear me out) - take the ball joint and apply a very thin amount and let it dry completely. Repeat if you need more thickness. This may add just the amount of friction to give a bit more "hold" to the joint. Useful for displays and such, I would imagine. Superglue also useful for sealing paint (for you super-customizers) around or on moving joints - less obvious than varnish, and often much stronger. I haven't tried this on HF or Bionicle pieces myself...so caveat.
  4. WaysofSorting

    [MOC] M-Tron Mine

    ssss.plendid! Wow. Took me a while to get the word out of my mouth, so awestruck. Great build and all details are consistent to M-Tron original scale and level of detail - all seems right in place with an early 90's building environment. This could and should have been a catalog photo! Alternate universe. This may be the year of M-Tron - I love the many builds that it's been getting lately. Superb everywhere - I can't begin to say what I like best. Thanks!
  5. WaysofSorting

    Would you like the Vikings theme to return?

    Yes, please bring them back - I enjoyed the "Vikings versus Monster" theme from the original, but would much prefer the second approach being advocated for - the villages and life. I've really enjoyed the Banner Saga videogames. Beautiful animation with a viking theme - Would love to see that much love for the genre/history returned in brick form.
  6. WaysofSorting

    Mattel buys Megabloks

    Yes - seems like way late in the game for Mattel to be coming into this arena. But this is probably in both companies' interests...Mega would get some marketing and licensing power behind them, while Mattel gets the established team from Mega Brands. Even though I really hate the product Mega puts out, I have been impressed at the speed and flexibility they have shown in obtaining licenses and brands. A few years ago I might have argued that MEGA had a leg up on TLG. Since then, the gap has clearly closed and it seems like MEGA is flailing. The Call of Duty line recently released seemed very "off brand" to me. But it probably works best where MEGA is strongest - value oriented discount box stores like Walmart and BigLots.
  7. WaysofSorting

    Bring back Alien Conquest!

    I agree with you - I think it was a great concept and could/should definitely be revisited. Videogames saw a nice revival of XCom, an alien themed strategy game (along with 1950's spin-off). The original TOPPS Attack From Mars products are having their own revival this year - I'd really like to see some more ADF versus the brainy alien overlords some time soon. Can you link to the Flickr gallery you're referring to? Is that in a recent thread?
  8. WaysofSorting

    Hulk_Smash's Customs

    These are cool. Thanks for keeping purist - I'm with you on appreciating that aspect...even if TLG seems to be making it more and more a moot point to do so. Anyway - love how that visor works with the Samurai helmet. The avengers group shot (with Improved Hawkeye) is great, as is Dr. Strange and Ghost Rider...I'm gonna see that guy everytime I hear the old Rollins Band version of the song, Ghostrider
  9. WaysofSorting

    Mixels Mash and Nixelray

    These all look great - your MOC and the regular figs. Quite a number of extra pieces! Thanks for the build. You have certainly turned me on to this line - I will have to explore them more and keep my eyes open at the store.
  10. WaysofSorting

    MOC: Brute Heavy Lifter Mech

    Nice build. Blocky and ready for some hard labor. Do both hands splay, or is it just the one? Regardless, adds nice variety. Also - the feet are sweet. I really enjoy how the angles interact. Good use of the clicky sockets - from a knights figure or something? - I have never clearly decided which I prefer - the ease of integrating those with System builds, or the flexibility of the Bionicle ball-n-sockets (Despite the extra thinking it usually takes to integrate) but maybe all will be fine come the introduction of the Mixel ball and sockets. Hard for me to see the old builder mechs without thinking about the upcoming Construction mech from the lego Movie - but this has all I need. The chicken-leg knee angles sell me so well.
  11. WaysofSorting

    Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary CUUSOO set Discussion

    Okay. Wow. I think the price point is a bit high - but what I was expecting with the four minifigs and all. I just think this was an excellent fit with the LEGO universe - glad it's getting made - I can hopefully pick this one up on a sale later in the year...The car is a great detail and yes - having all the pieces printed seems like a must - here's hoping. Also - I was worried the backpacks wouldn't work out -but they look great, especially with the printed round piece.
  12. WaysofSorting

    News The LEGO Movie: 70810 MetalBeard's Sea Cow

    This set is great. I was immediately sold on Benny's ship - but more for Nostalgia. This ship trumps it on pure awesome and I'll pass (and save..) on SPACESHIP! to get this. Maybe for new-nostalgia for the movie, but also because I really like the ship itself. Creative and weird, and totally fits with my style of building and play. Done.
  13. WaysofSorting

    Future The LEGO Movie Sets - Wishlist

    spoilers. Do I even need to say? Can they build the double decker couch? I guess it would be part of the crazy submarine. I know we get some summer sets - like the flying SwatCop assault thing and Emmetts big Mech- Will it come with Angry-Uni Kitty? If not, then Anger Kitty Giant-Mouth eats some Micromanagers with a couple other "Bricksburg" builders fighting back battle pack. 19.99.
  14. I got Unikitty, but I knew that would happen. Thanks for the quiz!
  15. WaysofSorting

    The Lego Movie and canon

    Just saw the movie myself. Two claw-hands up. Uh...spoilers? TC - you do a great job of not spoiling it - and your words are well chosen - I went into it expecting a twist, but what I was thinking of was eliminated within the first five or six minutes. (minutes 7 through 9 were me feeling stupid for even considering it, minute 10 I was back to enjoying the film). The denouement of the movie was well done. - though I was surprised and worried they wouldn't be able to pull it off. Also - nice spoiler in itself - I was so hyped about the video I had to wiki-google Vitruvius the historical figure to see why they named the wizard after him. edit - to keep on track with the canon talk, post viewing - I went into it thinking I wouldn't care what the movie expressed. I came out the same way - the movie plays tongue-in-cheek with some non-system themes, and certainly ribs the AFOLs. This was a great movie about generations - something you'd expect from LEGO, where family has always been important. When it comes to canon, then, I left movie the same way - this was all someone else's MoCanon/headcanon. Mine is safely mine, no need to even worry about the movie.
  16. WaysofSorting

    My Lego City. A small layout for childs play

    Adam, Thanks for sharing - awesome and inspirational. I share your philosophy of play - this is how I play with my daughter (Just over 2 years old now) though nowhere near as nice as your layout. I do have an old "train table" that I picked up at a thrift store. It's about the right height...but I definitely need to check on how many standard baseplates it will hold. My wife does not like LEGO, but my daughter's enthusiasm for it is slowly winning her over (Where I have failed for 10 years!). I love the idea of the subterranean train! It really adds a great new dimension to the city. Literally, even. Just to ask...how high from the floor is the street level? And can your son reach into the interior on his own? Or does he stand on something? Can he sit on top? (sorry if these are dumb questions)
  17. WaysofSorting

    Did this minifig hair ever exist in real life?

    Great post and find - I've never seen the pic. I love this hairpiece and have plenty in black and one or two in red (The White one continues to elude me). Seeing this brown one - I also instantly thought it was just a carefully clipped pigtails piece. There must be an alternate lego universe somewhere where all the men have these giant bouffants - would love to see something like this in the CMF line.
  18. Snappy and clean. Elegant and classic design with lots of well-thought features and details. The interior on the blue one is especially nice. Is that a custom decal, or some 1x4 printed brick I have not seen? I really like the toothed axel cap on the clear 1x1 stud piece for the scope, and I always enjoy a turntable without the turning piece. Whatever that technique is called.
  19. WaysofSorting

    TLG employee buying from BL

    Great question - I haven't had this experience in any form. But - can you clarify yours: Were you selling parts or sets or what? I'd certainly be curious to know why they were buying pieces...but I can think of several reasons why someone at TLG may want a set...especially if that set were not easily available. Maybe, too, it was a "need now" gift for another designer or fan... I realize you probably won't want to get too specific (to continue in keeping the buyer's identity private) but still - "pieces? or set?" is all I ask.
  20. WaysofSorting

    Christmas on Spyrius

    This is great. I can't tell you how much mileage I've gotten out of that minifig face with the blue headband. And the black robot face. wow. Looking back both have played big roles in my Lego World. Thanks for reminding me they once shared a common theme! I really like the metallic tree - If I were a rich man I'd have one made life-size. (to look like giant lego, of course)
  21. WaysofSorting

    My name is Zack, I'm 22 years old, and I'm an AFOL

    Hi Zack. Zack, are you too young to be a Lego Maniac? I don't recall the timing of that, in my memories, terrible ad campaign - but I couldn't resist. But I do enjoy the tale of your journey - and yes, you suffered greatly under the pale yoke of Juniorization. But that you recognize it allows you to overcome. Here's to many years more in the obsession and I'm sure you'll be happy. The only advice I give you, in your youthful prime, is to enjoy life and LEGO but remember - it's okay if you have another dark ages, or miniature version of (Some things may take priority) - but for now, welcome back to the fold and build on.
  22. WaysofSorting

    Fabuland Hobbiton

    This build has brought me real true joy. So awesome. The paintwork on the figures is excellent and I love the depth of the interiors.
  23. WaysofSorting

    [WIP] Movie accurate cantina at full minifigure scale

    Really really great - I am envious of this model - I really like the approach and planning you took to staring this build. I am going to have to go back to some urban planning books and finding some realistic floor plans!
  24. WaysofSorting

    Tutorial How to: DIY decals

    Great post. I think I remember doing something similar with magazines to create slides for slide projectors. This was way a long time ago. This looks like a very viable and easy to manage solution. Does it matter how "old" the print is? As in, does it work better when the printing is fresh-fresh (within minutes) or older - hours or days? Just wondering as I also used to do the transfers of old photo-copiers using lacquer thinner - these had to be relatively new to transfer effectively (This was paper to paper transfer for art school). I've been wanting to make some custom minifigs but have had just enough logistical barriers (like ordering the decal paper) to keep me from doing it. I'm staring at a laser printer and roll of packaging tape right now...so no excuses! I'm totally excited. Thanks again for the post!
  25. This may be already posted here (it links to a blog post from 2010) but I couldn't find it. Sent to me by a friend, so I'm sharing it here. From a blog examining the use of source code in movies. Neat easter-egg in the movie, if true. http://deeperdesign....n-made-of-lego/ Is Iron Man Made of Lego quick quote: The sequence in the film in which this code appears suggests that the code is either being downloaded as firmware to the Iron Man suit or being used to upload firmware to an RCX Lego brick that is somehow involved in the operation of Iron Man.