Artanis I

Congrats on the rank guys, and since there's nothing new coming out in this area that gives you heaps of opportunity to get something done...

No. It is what you quoted.

So Orc Forge is "hard to find" contains a light brick and images & parts are still preliminary. I didn't notice anyone else mentioning this yet but the figures listed on the box are: Mordor Orc x3, Isengard Uruk Hai, Lurtz. The Rohan banner in Helms Deep looks really nice, and there's a cool little throne with printed or stickered tile by the look of things. The exploding wall is awesome, but like others I'm not so excited about the berserker's head print. I'd rather it had a real helmet piece, but understand it would probably never be reused in another set. The AFOL level of detail in the walls makes this and similar sets look great. As with the bases, all that rock slope work. Theoden's prints are amazing. Haldir honestly doesn't look like Haldir to me. I wouldn't be the first to mention all the stickers in Mines of Moria, which I hate, but they do make a huge difference in improving the detail. The troll looks great, the two-faced orcs is good news too. Boromir still looks like Theoden to me though. Like many, still not sure what the bottom part of Weathertop is supposed to be. As someone else mentioned it reminds me of the barrows but what that has to do with this scene I don't know. The horses look awesome, but unfortunately won't have much reuse for mocs other than evil horses. It is a pity there aren't any normal faced new black horses. It also doesn't look like the old horae helmets will work well with the new horses. Will have to wait and see. Lots of plain microfigs there. Someone on Flickr alerted me to the new bracket piece used in the Uruk Hai Army set on the ballista or grappling hook shooty thing whatever it is. That looks like a very useful part! I don't know why Shelob has wheels, and I'm a bit disappointed that black string is used however the box has white so maybe that's what we'll end up with, but the printed wedge slope brick is excellent! Frodo's other face is awesome too. Gandalf's beard part probably lacks long hair because the cape wouldn't fit well with it. Okay, all sets look excellent, looking forward to building them!

Yeah that's awesome. Not sure how this set (and the other exclusives) was leaked from a catalogue though, that's unusual.

Now I am sad, because the Pre Vizla set has no Ahsoka either. So another year of no new Ahsoka. These sets look great, but I won't be getting any thanks to LOTR.

I did too... but you'd think their horns would be brown too. Maybe the colour just sinks into the skin. Also on this occasion, the standard is supposed to be visible since this is not a hidden bunker like the others. More angles are available by clicking the link to flickr.

Good point. I forgot he'd said that too.

You've done an amazing job so far Taz. Zikka Sron Resort: Arcanis I knows he has to keep his troops in high morale. (sorry about the colour, most of the photos came out all yellow, I'm new to adjusting so I just fiddled a bit to try to improve it.)

I think expecting TLG to release exactly 9 identical nazgul minifigs is a bit silly. If you really think about it, over the entire 3 films there was only 1 scene where all 9 were present. Every other time it was 1, 4 or 5. How hard is it to make one out of existing parts from BL? Not very. Black horse, black hood, black cape, black head, black legs, black torso, black arms, black hands. None of that is rare. Use 2 or more from the sets and make your own of the rest if you need 9. They won't be exactly the same, but they won't look out of place. The horse is the biggest risk there.

Keeping in mind that Mace Windu et al weren't just barging into the Chancellor's office to kill him for being a Sith Lord, they were going there to escort him to the senate to relinquish his "emergency powers" (that continue well past the compulsory end-of-term - a la dictatorship) because the war was now over with the deaths of Separatist leader Dooku & droid commander Grievous. The idea that he wasn't going to go quietly due to possibly being a sith was what turned it from "time to hang up yer boots mate" to "you are under arrest", which in turn was met with "it's treason, then" & "nyo, nyo, you will DIEEE" The line "he's too dangerous to be kept alive" was made after he'd just bumped off 3 Jedi Masters.

Like a Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch?

Another great little ship. I see you have put up a wall to keep your wife's town away! Maybe you could put more microfigs on the corners next to the black rails instead of the brown round bricks for posts?

It is a rather slow movie to begin with, that is a shame. And Return of the Je King ends even slower. I nearly died at the cinema from boredom. That's not even to mention that the credits go forever after that, listing EVERY NAME in the Tolkien fan club. But everything in between is excellent. Except maybe Pippin & Denethor at Minas Tirith. Regarding horses, I also don't see how any more could've been included here considering the scene depicted. If we take a look at recent years it's incredibly rare to get more than 1 in a set. Far gone are the days of 4 mounted knights per castle.

Interesting point. Although, I had always thought he was already too far gone by the end of Ep2 after the Tusken slaughter & deliberate disobedience of the Jedi code with the wedding etc. Unfortunately we already know that the assassination attempt will be unsuccessful. Even more disappointing because it's the outcome I would like... the Jedi are not doing themselves any favours trying to keep him alive!

Who said there would only be 100? George Lucas said there would be at least 100.

I think you need to learn to share

Mystic Isles... that explains the lack of green. Maybe it's just an optical illusion visible only to friendlies, because it looks like there's one here too:Zikka Sron 12: (stagnant pond - a bit less glamorous place to be posted)

Shoot it while it was still moving in a straight line?

Some great stuff over the weekend guys! I like the embassies, tower & trade cart. Evil Stu: you're right, it looks very Monster Fighters & not very Historica but it's a great build regardless. Angeli: looks awesome, but where in Avalonia is that supposed to be possible? Haha, just pretend the flag isn't there in real life... I do! I suppose I could've just added a logo to the image or something, didn't think of it at the time.

I thought the way Obi Wan shot the moving targets even though they did a last moment change of direction was pretty dangerous thing to do in front of Dooku. It's not something that you could do due to shooting skill, it's definitely a force thing. And the way Dooku said "Obi Wan..." (or similar) makes me think he's suspicious.

The length & condition of my thumb nails provided enough proof that I had not engaged in much physical Lego activity of late. (They break and tear from repeated attempts to separate plates.) So here we have one of possibly a few mini scenes. I don't have a lot of parts available at the moment so I'll do a little bit, pull it apart and do another little bit etc and we can all pretend it is part of a greater whole. This also gives me a chance to improve on my awesome skills. Zikka Sron is the name given to a network of ambush bunkers under Arcanis I's responsibility not far from the Kel-Ra Labyrinths manned by ever watchful minotaurs. Many brave (foolish) combatants try to enter the labyrinths in the forested areas away from the common roads, to avoid the attention of the guards/toll collectors. Little do they realise that they place themselves in deeper peril - the minotaurs don't ask questions or take prisoners. Zikka Sron 7: 3 minotaurs on short-term watch. I will put everything in one topic with additional pics when I've done some more.

Interesting that much of the shrine is upside-down! I like how you've used the blue slopes & white plates sideways too. Looks good.

It is as I expected, so far I have seen only 1 Death Star. If it is still there tonight I will grab it, if not no biggie, I don't want it too badly. (It was hiding behind an entire system of Tatooines & Naboos.) Target had a big almost empty shelf space where planets had been (a real Death Star must've been through there recently ).

We can rule out "goblin" - clearly we are presented with (green) "Moria Orc" & (brown) "Mordor Orc" ... so that debate is over. Interesting to see that they all have the standard legs. It appears that the orcs have the same hairpiece+ears as the elf - so if you wanted a green elf with black hair... Not too sure with Gollum, his eyes are huge. Is he in the next episode of The Clone Wars? Haha. About the ring, looks like you can both hold it in the claw, and sit it on the hand. (And it is not a %$#% printed tile - which we knew last week already.) Gaahh! My eyes! Yes it is an upside down diamond.