jonwil

It wouldn't be the first time TLG have used parts not otherwise available in producing a non-set creation for a display or otherwise. Several of the items shown here http://www.brickpile.com/2006/07/25/lego-embraces-moonbase/ use parts not otherwise available such as: The large trans-orange dome on the Ice Planet module This piece http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=52041 in pink, blue and green in the Hungry Hungry Hippos The trans-red quarter saucer panels on the squid module So TLG and their designers have a history of building "MOCs" (i.e. designs not intended for production as such, just to show off) using parts not available in regular sets. In fact, I think the people who got to take that factory tour got to see the element room where all these special pieces were kept (and may have even gotten to take some home with them) I have some trans-clear 2 x 2 round tiles that never existed in any set and may have come from the factory tour (or from the similar behind-the-scenes tour of Legoland) and then passed to me via a purchase from somewhere.

This train has them with trans-smoke class, the previous trains with red windscreens have had trans-clear glass.

It appeared as though there was someone unpacking stuff when I was there.

I used the feel-the-bag trick to find many of my S3 figs and will be doing so again with S4. Many of the unique S4 parts shouldn't be that hard to find (surfboard, skateboard, guitar/hairpiece etc)

The problem is, if TLG puts all these extra parts in (cannon wheels etc) it pushes the set up into the next price bracket. Which reduces the potential target market.

For those in Perth looking, the Target store in the CBD has restocked including the police chase and Minifigures S3

Looking at those pictures, the tail, window pieces and front part on the spy plane look stickered (which is a good thing as I could use that tail piece in more colors. Now we just need to hope TLG produces it in RED :)

The fact that this is using parts previously non-existent means it has to come from TLG. The windscreen on the engine has never come in red with trans-black glass before, that's another new part. What parts are they using for the black conveyor belt in the hopper loader thing? Also what are the tan parts on the side of that with the technic holes? Its not a piece I have ever seen before. As for price, its got an engine, boxcar, hopper, low-loader flatbed, maintenance vehicle, loading conveyor and possibly more, so its going to cost at least as much as the cargo train (especially as it has the expensive PF elements in it). If its a store exclusive, its likely to cost even more.

The current rabbit piece is too big compared to other animals like the cat and dog. I would like to see TLG produce a new rabbit piece comparable in size to the current rat element (something the right size to fit with the top hat for my magic show would be ideal) They might put snakes in the pet shop (lots of people have snakes as pets)

I heard a rumor over on another forum "Just heard from one of my suppliers that Lego are re-introducing the Grand Carousel set soon."

Something along the lines of that giant mecha from Agents would look good...

Around here the harry potter sets have been selling like hotcakes.

Nice review. Doesn't really have any parts in it that make it worth buying though (have no interest whatsoever in the trike or the sports car and the cop car, I have all the parts I need to replicate it right here plus I build 6-wide and not 4-wide :)

Not sure if its been noted before but today I spotted the new Hero Factory 2.0 sets in MYER. Any further reports on who will be getting the bank robbery set?

Most of my 2011 sets (police, Atlantis etc) still have the spare parts

There is also the parrot piece and various fish elements (although their suitability for pet shop fish is debatable)

My advice unless you absolutely HAVE to have it now is to wait until the mid year toy sales and see who has it and at what price.

Given that LEGO usually only releases 2 advent calendars a year and they have already announced a Star Wars calendar, I dont think another Kingdoms one will happen.

I am definatly getting the Battle for Hogwarts (too many cool parts to say no to) and almost certainly the knight bus and forbidden forest too. The figs in these sets have even MORE nice Minifig parts :)

If you mean the windscreen piece, that was available in red in last years train station.

Thanks for the info, I am definatly going to get the tripod set for the guy with the blue suit and possibly the alien abduction for the farmer (and that new pitchfork :) May even get several tripods (the cool glasses head on the blue guy is worth the price of admission by itself IMO :)

The spy jet looks cool just for the airplane (depending on whether the black tail piece is a sticker or printing) Anyone know what the things stuck to the side of the red and green cars in the Spy Jet set are supposed to be?

Can anyone tell me which sets include which civilian minifigs (i.e. any fig that isn't an alien or a astronaut) preferably with some pics of the figs? So far I saw the farmer in the alien abduction and the blue-suit-guy in the tripod, what other civilian figs exist?

I think its the door that hinges. If you look at the opening you can see that its a pair of doors that both hinge open with tiles on the top. The hilltop house may actually be worth buying after all (its got tan and red, both colors I have enough of to do something usefull with) plus some potentially usefull green bits. Will need to see a part inventory to be sure how good it is though (and it may get pushed to the back of the list by Alien Conquest, Harry Potter and others)

The side panels on the engine are likely one of these: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=6178 then one of these turned vertically http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=6180