KimT

CopMike to the rescue - maybe something like this ?!: On January 6th the World stopped turning for a short while (at least where I was). The amazing thing that we've wished for had happened. LEGO (and Merlin) had announced that they were adding LEGO Star Wars areas to Minilands in California, Billund and Günzburg. It was all started by this press release by LEGOLand California: A press release that I learned of through a friend who sent me this link to The LA Times. And along with the press release we got three pics of the models and one of the announcement being made. And then shortly after FBTB showed us pics of the models arriving at LEGOLand California - the same pics that can be seen in the LA Times article's gallery link: And now all of the sudden LEGOLand in Billund launched a press release. (it's in Danish) It says the same as the Press Release from LEGOLand California. It even has a few cool pics to go with it - showing the LEGOLand CEO Henrik Höhrmann presenting the new models and a pretty nifty picture of what seems to be Mos Eisley Starport. And finally FBTB just posted these 3 pics of more models arriving at LEGOLand California. And just when I thought we couldn't get any more pics of the models, I went to LEGOWorld in Copenhagen and found that they'd brought some of the models as a promotion for the new Miniland to open this Summer. I quickly shot some pics - which was kinda hard due to the miserable light sources there - and this is what I ended up with: So now that we've seen the pics of the models arriving at LEGOLand and we've seen pics of some of the models a little closer - what's our verdict as AFOLs? It seems that the fan community is a little torn on these models and what to think of them. In my opinion it all breaks down to 'the eyes of the beholder'. I've choosen to look at these models and the new minilands the way they are - minilands with miniland scale models. And using that perspective, I think this is friggin' awesome This for example: Looks a little huge and bulky, right? Now imagine it a few metres away and yourself being a kid - would this be awesome then? - It sure would! Minilands are made for guests in LEGOLand parks - we, as AFOLs, go there as well, but most guests are just there to have fun and be amazed. The new Star Wars Minilands will without any doubt blow the visitors away. The models are big, the areas are big and the scenes depicted go all the way back to the first move and forth to the newest Clone Wars stuff. It's a "win-win situation". Also to my knowledge the modelbuilders have a predefined amount of money to use for a model. If it gets too big, then they have to shave off something. When you invest in something like this for 3 parks around the world, then it's pricey for sure. They did spend a year building this in Germany! TLG doesn't own the parks alone anymore - Merlin Group is the people running the parks, which mean that "the old never ending stream of bricks" is over for good. Now the modelbuilder shops have to pay for their bricks, which means Merlin has to calculate every single investment and consider the pro's and con's. This actually turned out better than I'd expected it to. Kudos on a job well done in converting Star Wars into Miniland scale. Only thing that bothers me is; "Why did it take you guys so long to get this done?"

That started when I signed us up for the LEGO affiliate program. Those links can generate money for us - if you guys use them when shopping at S@H. Money that will be converted directly into prizes for contests and such. The links are being tested in some topics, but wont be cluttering the forum at all.

Yeah I noticed that when rereading your post - my bad for misunderstanding you. The overall look of EB is constantly discussed and reflected upon. As of right now other forums are more in need of an overhaul than the Star Wars Forum, so I think it might be a little while before we get the shiny bluish stars in here.

Wow this is really great. blogged My favorite parts are definately the arms and hands. Poor Imperial troops Thanks for sharing your work with us once again.

Emoticons are being worked on to my knowledge. As for the stars in the EB banner - The blue brick and yellow stars is the official EB Logo. The bluish one is made by Brickthing and inspired by the Star Wars Theme. I hope we'll be seeing that one in the Star Wars Forum soon - but probably not on EB per se.

Great - now all we need is Fallenangel to start it all and share his ideas and thoughts on how to do this.

Wow that's really great Davor. I've taken the liberty of deeplinking another picture as putting this into the MOC Index with only a teaser-pic would seem a little far-fetched. Plus I'd really like to blog this as well

That sounds like an awesome idea Fallenangel. Dunno if such a thing should be held within the Star Wars Forum or the LDD forum. If you choose to initiate this, then I'll have no issues with it being posted here in the Star Wars Forum. I guess that what I'm saying is - go for it, make a topic and see what happens along the road. A community built T47 with the lxf file to shop it directly from LEGO would be more than friggin' awesome. (or something similar)

Yeah I forgot that the "edit member" allows you to find out who messed with your account. I still have mental pics of you sling-shooting a should-be-white-pair-of-boxers at that poor bearded man in his orange rain paints.

Nope, I wouldn't call it cheating. It's not what I'd call a MOC - My Own Creation though. It looks like a display of official sets and a nice one indeed. I think I'll stick with Diorama as a description for what it is. Now the use of those glass pieces for ice is a great addition and very powerful It's looking good and you've managed to set up a combat scene without making it too crowded. Good job and thanks for sharing.

And now we've got a link that'll lead you directly to Shop@Home's Star Wars section plus a smaller one that'll take you directly to Shop@Home Sales & Deals. Can it be an easier? The banners are just the first move towards improving the blog. I agree that we have to tweak the colour scheme and I'm working on persuading someone to do it.

Happy B-Day from me too. And I'll be seeing you Holodoc at the Event

Took you long enough to swing by Wayno (sorry I'm looking after the smallest of my daughters while the wife sleeps and I've got nothing better to do than lurk here and on flickr )

This has been 'dead' since Nov 2010 and you bump it. You really should know better, shouldn't you? Enough of this.

Wow, I want that - and dozens of it please

What do you mean retire? Retire doing minis and move on to micro or midi scale? A midi scale mission for all your minis perhaps?

Yup that title sure says it all by now

Modified or not - this is a great shot that features a character we're still missing badly

Spot on CallMePie - SPOT ON!

Velkommen til Lasse.

Awesome - thanks Jamie

And stop please. Keep this about the MOC please. Enough of this should have, would have and could have stuff. This got bumped by a new member - leave it at that please. New members have to learn the ropes around here and this sure doesn't help them or you even in any way. "Stay on Target!"

The hip is glued - not the legs. Replace the legs and you're fine.

Yeah - or not. It doesn't really matter - the point is that a key chain fig is ruined for good whilst a magnet fig can be salvaged.