vynsane

I know it says not to post here, but this isn't a bug, discussion of LDD 4.1 or of discussion of 'Extended Mode' - it's a new step in the procedure required to activate 'Extended Mode' in OSX 10.7 "Lion". With this newest release of the Macintosh Operating System, the "Library" folder in each individual "User" folder is hidden by default. You will first need to unhide it in order to access the directory structure "{hard drive name}/Users/{user name}/Library/Application Support/LEGO Company/LEGO Digital Designer/preferences.ini" Open Terminal (via the 'Go' menu when in Finder and selecting 'Utilities', then double-clicking 'Terminal') and type the following (replace {user name} with your actual user name): chflags nohidden /users/{user name}/library This will unhide that directory, allowing you access to the folders therein, including the files necessary to activate 'Extended Mode' per above. Superkalle - feel free to include these steps in your original post and delete this one if deemed necessary.

Thanks, both! The wing design is based on the concept behind "SpaceShipOne" - it uses that articulated wing design to re-enter Earth's atmosphere at a lower speed than conventional spacecraft. The concept was first thought up by Burt Rutan when he was playing badminton, watching the shuttlecock soar up in the air, then turn and float gracefully downward.

SpacePlaneOne by vynsane, on Flickr SpacePlaneOne - feathered re-entry by vynsane, on Flickr SpacePlaneOne by vynsane, on Flickr Built for the Toys N Bricks "Next Generation of Space Travel" contest. Obviously directly inspired by Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites, SpaceShipOne, SpaceShipTwo, and Virgin Galactic. A couple more shots in this Flickr set.

I'd also hazard a guess that the extra space in the box above the tray is intended for all 6 of the manuals for year 1. From the looks of the promo images, it appears the manuals are all going to be the same size as the Kit 1 manual. I hope they ship them securely, or there might be a bunch of bent kit 2-6 manuals. That said, I guess anything is subject to change up to the time it arrives at your doorstep, so we'll see what the manuals look like when they arrive.

Having built all three models last night, I have to disagree - the Rocket is the most solid of the three models, in both design and stability. It uses the most parts out of all of the three builds, leading me to believe it was the 'main' design, with the other two being the 'alt' models. I was excited for the Space Fighter, but ultimately disappointed - it's bit flimsy and the wings are just odd. The Helicraft actually outranks it in my estimation, making the fighter place 3rd out of three!

I would say the best way to stock up on ADU troops is buying a wealth of 7049 Alien Striker and 30141 "Jetpack Dude", since they're guaranteed to be the set-quality of plastic. Not saying anything about the battlepack yet, but at this point you can't GUARANTEE that it will be of the same quality - we'll have to wait and see on that one.

No more so than the members here are little European kids.

It's always possible that young MBA subscribers will not be inspired to begin 'freestyle' creative building, but the books that come with each kit are much more than mere instructions - there are bound to be interviews, techniques and MOC spotlights that will inspire beyond the instructions. As an aside, Creator sets are not only cheaper because they are 'less popular' - they're cheaper because they cost less to produce, be the expense licensing fees, printing of pieces and minifigures, or production of sticker sheets. This is true, the sets these days are much more elaborate than when I was a child, but that is only natural - over time things evolve and get more complex. That said, it seems that a lot of the techniques espoused in the MBA program are some of the more advanced techniques used in the design process by the Master Builders who produce the sets themselves, so proceeding through the MBA program will bring young subscribers up to the level of detail used by older MOCers, assuming they go through the lessons in each kit's handbook and don't just build the three models and forget about it ;) It seems to me that the stand-alone Kit 1 might show up in LEGO Stores starting in June, possibly with an insert promoting the subscription for Kits 2-6. However, given the nature of the subscription, I doubt we'll see anything after Kit 1 in stores.

I think the premise behind the MBA is a really smart way to entice young LEGO fans to migrate to other themes and engender creative building, when most of them are buying Star Wars sets and leaving them built, like models. There's nothing wrong with that, per se, but the essence of LEGO has long been creative building, which seems to be going by the wayside. In comparison to Brickmaster, MBA seems to be quite a better value. BM seemed to be nothing but a series of impulse sets and a glorified LEGO Club magazine, whereas the sets in MBA have more pieces, multiple instructions, the exclusive minifigures, and less emphasis on promoting themes like Star Wars, Prince of Persia, etc and more on general building themes like 'space', 'microscale', 'creatures', etc... Really it seems like the Creator premise turned into a subscription club. As a 33 y/o AFOL who recently emerged from my dark age, I'm enticed by the pieces and minifigures, mostly, but am always looking for more tips and tricks to improve my creative building. I also feel that the MBA books will last a lot longer and hold better info for my now 4.5 y/o daughter and any future children I might have. I contacted LEGO Customer Service for more info regarding the nature of the MBA program subscription, because it seems to differ from the Brickmaster subs where you missed out if you didn't subscribe for that year's membership, and I was right in assuming that as new levels are added to the program, previous levels will still be perennially available: It's interesting to note that the stand-alone Kit 1 will only be available for a limited time, being absorbed into the full-year subscription eventually. Remember, you can order up to 5 of these stand-alone Kit 1 sets, but as of now pre-orders for Kits 2-6 are limited to 1 per customer. It's also interesting that the initial Kit 1 and Kit 2 mailings will actually be a month apart, as opposed to the 2-month gap between each proceeding kit, meaning that those who pre-order the whole shebang will get all 6 kits in 10 months as opposed to 12. Look for the Level 3/4 kit subscriptions to come online next March at the latest.

I thought I already posted in this topic without knowing! I got out of the LEGO thing by the time Ice Planet and Spyrius came around, but I loved the original Blacktron and Space Police. Blacktron was just SUCH a cool departure from everything that had come before it. It looked like Knight Rider (which was also a childhood favorite) in space. The nods to Blacktron in the aliens of SP3 were a major part of my emerging from my two-decade long dark age.

With the two polybag sets that were recently unveiled, it seems unlikely that the theme is a one-and-done - it doesn't make sense for polybags to come out after the main line is all but over, since their purpose is to serve as cheap introductions to the larger theme. The idea for future waves to feature the same characters in different situations/backdrops, similar to the original 'Adventurers' line, is a fun notion. It will be interesting to see what comes next, if this happens.

Assuming you don't buy the original set, you'll also be able to download the instructions from Brickset, and buy the pieces necessary to make just the fighter via BrickLink.

Is it just me or are there less face prints available in LDD 4.1 Extended than there were in LDD 4.0 Universe? Shouldn't all prints be available in Extended? Or is the point that you need to switch themes if you want other pieces/prints? I would think Extended would just incorporate everything the other themes offer.

So you're saying TLG is okay with violence as long as it's xenophobic violence? ;)

A-20 Red Zephyr Red Zephyr composite by JonHall18, on Flickr LDD File Flickr set Original Pictorial Instructions Issues with this file (other than stickers and printed items): The entire fuselage is one plate taller than the original version, to accommodate the click-hinge bubble canopy available in LDD (original used a finger-hinge bubble canopy) Piston housings (minifig binocs) are connected (presumably) 'illegally' to a piece that doesn't exist in LDD anyway - completely left out. 2x2 dish won't connect to the front of the 'greebles' inside the bubble canopy, blocked by the 'mudguard' arch 1x1 w/vertical clip won't connect to the bar w/claw attached to the 'rocketboard' V-22 Phoenix V-22 Phoenix 01 by JonHall18, on Flickr LDD File Flickr set Original Pictorial Instructions Issues with this file (other than stickers and printed items): Engine/Tail assembly is different due to incompatible connections 'Straps' on the cockpit aren't flexible, so laid on the 'ground'. The bubble canopy is 'floating' in front of the build.

I have two more nearly complete (A-20 Red Zephyr and V-22 Phoenix), and I think that's all for his Sky-Fi MOCS that have instruction photosets.

I've noticed this from the top as well as the bottom.

OMG I'm getting so many of those... I think it's funny that everyone's talking about how this is a kiddie theme... I'm in love with this theme and I'm 33! (Although that's just my physical age... if you ask my wife, I'm 12, so maybe I'm just still part of the target demographic).

I think you sort of negated your own point about Blacktron never returning - it could always return, coupled against another faction! I find it funny that this year we're getting a CITY-themed Spaceport theme, then right after that we are getting a sci-fi 'alien invasion' action theme. It's like we first explored space and the aliens attacked us, so we had to improve our technology. What if it progresses like that, and after Alien Conquest, we get a deep-space exploration theme akin to Classic Space? Then we meet up with other aliens and the Blacktron Empire! It can happen... not saying it's probable, but it's possible.

I don't understand why they don't give you more payment options - I would buy credits of playtime over a monthly subscription model, I just don't have the spare time to justify a charge that's going to go relatively unused each month. They should have a $10/month unlimited plan, and a $0.50 per hour plan or something.

Thanks, Lalror - there's definitely more coming, including this one right now! P-79 Steel Wind Steel Wind 01 by JonHall18, on Flickr LDD File Flickr set Original Picture Instructions Issues with this file (other than stickers and printed items): Forward landing gear connection won't work in LDD Some fudging/reconstruction of the rear section to accommodate the angle of the wings and the rear landing gear - the hinges the gear attach to have been moved forward one plate, and gaps filled with other plates. The two 1x4's used to hold the wings at the correct angle had to be removed, as LDD wouldn't allow them to occupy that space The 'Ammo belt' for each wing gun is not attached. It won't allow the connection to the 1x1 w/clip and the robot claw that is supposed to hold the other end won't connect to the gun where it does in the picture instructions. I'm not sure I have the purple color correct - the difference between the 'official' color names and those at Bricklink/AFOL vernacular are infuriating sometimes

I always love LEGO cars that seat more than one - good show, great designs.

So, is this a UK-only thing then? Drat... I was hoping to get a copy. EDIT: Darth Yorec over at Brickset confirmed he received two copies, one with each catalog they received in Canada. Looks like there's hope for The States yet!

Interesting, I wonder if it's tied to a certain dollar amount spent via VIP, or if all VIP members will receive it. That does seem like a more reasonable way to do it. I don't have the time to play enough of the game each month to justify a monthly charge, but would like to check it out. Until they do something like this, if I get a free disk, it will just gather dust. Most likely now that TLG has taken over control of the game, we will see incremental updates in the direction you're talking about. As new themes arise, new 'worlds' that correspond to those themes could be developed, to both promote the physical builds and also build upon the game.

H-44 Blue Lightning Blue Lightning 01 by JonHall18, on Flickr LDD File Flickr set Original Picture Instructions Issues with this file: There is a hollow section in the wing, above the landing gear, where the SNOT technique used just couldn't be replicated in an LDD-accepted way. The panels on either side of the forward fuselage should be angled in towards the 2x2 dish stack, but LDD didn't want to do it. There are also a couple of missing pieces inside that assembly (two headlight bricks with 1x1 tiles attached to the forward-stud) that facilitated keeping the angle on those panels aligned. I can't get the pilot in the forward station. LDD just won't do it. Assembly of each engine is missing a 3x3 dish w/hole due to use of a technic rod instead of a thinner rod (again, LDD wouldn't allow the connection) There is a gap between the top half and bottom half of the fuselage where the white and blue stripes arch over the top and down the sides - LDD didn't think 3 studs could fit, so I replaced the side-stripes with 1x2 tiles.