jonwil

All those people asking for more X-Men or for Fantastic Four, remember that LEGO is focusing on Ultimate Spider-Man because that's what kids are being exposed to right now and what kids are more likely to recognize when they see them in the shops. There isn't any new X-Men or FF airing right now so its those guys aren't going to be as popular with the kids as characters appearing in Spider-Man.

WOW these are AWESOME. I can see the Spanish guy being the pick of the lot for army building. Personally my favorites are the bowler hat guy, DJ and Santa. Some questions for anyone who can tell the answer from the pictures: 1.What shade of trans-purple is that on the 1 x 1 round tile for the space alien laser gun? 2.Is the hat on the Cowgirl new? 3.Can anyone see if Santa has any neck-wear? And whats that in his hand? 4.Is the pretzel on the German guy the same color as the pretzel in the new Hobbit Bag End set? 5.What is the businessman holding? The tile looks like it might be a newspaper but I am not sure, is the other thing the normal suitcase or something new? and 6.Is the square tile held by the DJ meant to be a record cover or what?

(posted by mistake)

Looking at the interior picture, it still looks like the top does come off. Also I see not one but 4 new map stickers (3 in the back and one in his hand) And seeing the back confirms that the door is the 8 x 8 tile. Is that a Pretzel piece I see there on the table? This set is looking very much like a must-buy for me, I just hope I can get one on sale :)

WOW Bag End is amazing. Look at all that GREEN. The door looks like its a http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=6177 with a sticker on it (its obvious from the high-res image and from the evidence of other LOTR sets to date that the set will have stickers) The small windows look like a new part that's basically a http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=60474 with a hole in the middle. Also that map looks awesome and will have to go into my collection.

The official pictures of the City AC show Santa with the same red pirate rag cap and long beard he has had in previous sets.

I too would love to see basic male hairpieces in dark bley, light bley and white.

Great review although I will never understand why TLG makes so many helicopters (across all themes)

The Aquanauts Cephalopod Research Center is an underwater research base dedicated to the study of all things Cephalopod. Inside is a holding tank containing one black Octopus. Another black octopus is being dissected on the study table. A scientist is examining data stored in the Aquanauts databanks. An Aquanauts Cephalopod Transport Submarine has just arrived with an Octopus inside its holding tank. Another Aquanaut is in the process of trying to capture a wild Octopus that has entered the vicinity of the base. Pictures can be seen here: http://rebrick.lego.com/en-US/bookmark/aquazone-crc/rh243r (haven't figured out how to re-size them properly for embedding here) If you like this creation, please vote for me in the ReBrick building contest.

Nice job. I have always thought that this torso: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=973pb700c01 would make a good Martian Manhunter...

The last Hogwarts set is a good parts pack, especially with the medium blue of the car.

Nice. And to add fuel to the debate, I recon NX01 is the best, followed by NCC-1701-D.

You could always send TLG a request through customer service and say "I need instructions for set xyz" and see what they say. I did it before when I needed instructions for a newer set that weren't yet available. Worst they can do is say "no we dont have those instructions yet"

My favorites: S1 Nurse S7 Bagpiper S7 Computer Programmer S6 Surgeon S5 Gangster S3 Female Snowboarder

I have nothing against the orange tubes but those aliens are one of the worst LEGO pieces ever designed (not just because of their looks but the leg clips are so weak they snap off at the drop of a hat)

My vote for best sets of 2012: NinjaGo Samurai Mech. Great looking set (one of the best NinjaGo sets to date and a great selection of nice parts) Haunted House (cool looking set, great detailing and good parts choice) Helm's Deep (amazing build and amazing figs) Sydney Opera House (it may not be the best replica but its still the only Australian set ever produced by TLG) Town Hall (great modular and great parts selection) Honorable Mention goes to the City Vehicles (Recycle Truck, Ambulance, Dirt Bike Transporter, Car & Caravan)

Had no problems today convincing Toys R Us in Morley to give me the price-match plus 10% gaurantee thing on the K-Mart pricing for the Seaside House and the Shelob Attacks. The deal on the Seaside House is one of the best deals I have EVER seen.

Nice house. Reminds me that I need to take some photos of my modern house MOC :)

The K-Mart price of $29 is a couple bucks cheaper than the Target 10% off price anyway so I may as well wait until Thursday when I will be heading to K-Mart (for Shelob, the Seaside House and possibly City Mining) and Big W (possibly for the Helicopter Rescue)

I would like to see this http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=52501 in Light Bluish Grey. Also, one of the new Friends sets has a new part that's similar to this http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=87609 except that its only 2 studs wide. So far I know it exists in Light Bluish Grey, I want some in black.

No sign of LOTR at any Target around here either. Nor is there any sign of the Gandalf or Shelob sets at any MYER store. Looks like Big W (when their sale starts next week) is the best place to buy the 2 small LOTR sets, unless you can find a TRU with stock and can convince them to match the set with their price match deal. Also need to see if TRU will price match/beat on the Seaside House or not. Reading the information on the TRU site, I cant see anything in their T&Cs that would exclude either the Seaside House or the Shelob Attacks from the deal. Worst comes to worst, I go there, they wont price match, I go back to K-Mart and buy one :)

Of all the X-Men figures, the #1 that I want is Professor X himself (in wheelchair of course)

target joondalup has about 20 hp diagon alley sets at a sale price of $223 as well as about 5 r2. plenty of bridges and vws and other stock at myer perth cbd. no sign of any shelob attacks anywhere yet

Who has the best price on the LOTR Shelob Attacks set during the sales?

Always nice to see realistic looking models of aircraft done in LEGO and you have nailed it with these 2.