jonwil

If anyone knows of a way to get these without using PayPal (e.g. by using Visa card), that would be great. I cant/wont use PayPal due to some issues I have had with it in the past.

Those who are asking for EN wheels on this thing (and all the detailing that would go with them), remember that this set is US$80, the EN is US$100. Also, this set is licensed and contains the car too. So an EN style train would cost too much.

Go for the Holden :) Don't forget a UTE in there :)

TLG continues to give exclusives to all kinds of stores because those stores are willing to pay to have an exclusive. Or in some cases a store takes a product because they are the only ones that are interested in the sets (I doubt the latter is the case with Star Wars though)

These sets really look like a modern day interpretation of Classic Castle. They have a more "classic castle" feel than Fantasy Era or other such items. Now if only TLG would do a "re-interpretation" of Classic Space, I will be SO happy :)

Pictures of the City advent calendar are going up now. That green jumper guy makes me think of Steve Jobs or Richard Branson for some reason :) Ok, all the pics are up. Not a cop, fireman or construction worker to be seen. YAY. Odd that the new City stuff (airport, tank truck) isn't available in the USA until august yet its out in Australia already. Is this the first time some other country gets product when USA does not?

Wow these are good. I like the new portcullis piece in the castle and tower (in both black and dark bley from the looks of it) And the new great helm.

Those who say the Hogwarts should have had the EN wheels need to remember that if the Hogwarts Express had EN wheels it would need to be as big (and expensive) as the EN in order for the wheels to look right. I can certainly see some people taking the EN and making it dark red and then modifying it so it looks like the Hogwarts Express.

Even though the box for the farmer impulse is watermarked, its a pretty good bet that what you see in the built model in front is what will actually be in the set.

My bet is that the new shovel will be used elsewhere (the exclusive part in that fig would be the torso I bet) and likely the new longbow will also (again the exclusive part in the archer set would be the torso I expect). Any other parts that are just new moulds of existing parts are likely to appear elsewhere next time they use that part. Its the parts like the clown hair, pom-poms, caveman club, clown horn, robot head, skis, ray gun and microphone (the parts that are only found in this series) that are likely to be exclusive, along with all the new printed parts (torsos, heads, legs).

These look great but if its anything like previous education sets, they are going to cost a fortune :)

Yeah the Toyworld in Clairmont had all the new City stuff as of yesterday.

You visit stores that sell LEGO just in case they have product worth buying (new stock, old stock etc) even if you dont have any money to spend. You have a list of items that are "buy on sight" (i.e. things you will buy if you see them new in a shop without thinking)

I dont know how funny it is but its kinda neat. I was walking down the street comming back from a LEGO club meet carrying the red airplane from the new airport and a MOD of the new passenger plane turned into a corporate jet and some random person (mother and kid IIRC) asked me about it. I ended up pointing them to a sale at a store not too far away (buy 2 get one free)

Can anyone confirm if Руб really translates to USD? And whether the prices they claim are what one would expect to pay in Russia? 123.00 for the fireman impulse? In the US you could get the entire fire station for that price... EDIT: Futher messing with the translation suggests that the prices are in Rubles and not USD (which would make more sense) Also, the site www.mindstorms.su seems connected with this site.

Looks like the TRU.ca pictures (the ones that were front-paged) got taken down (likely at the request of Disney or LEGO on behalf of Disney) Disney seems to be clamping down hard on anyone posting anything about TS3 and its storyline beyond what they have officially released.

All that we need now for the magician is a rabbit that fits inside the top hat :) And a BrickForge Saw for the "sawing a woman in half" trick :P

That's great but can I actually buy them (and if so where from?)

Remember that this set is designed to run on carpet (as well as presumably track).

Does anyone know of anyone who makes (and sells) custom minifig electric guitars? Or of a decent brick-built version? I see a lot of talk at Brickforge from people who want said guitars but they dont sell them.

I am aware of: Little Arms Shop (star wars weapons) Brick Armory (weapons) BrickArms (weapons, mostly guns) BrickForge (weapons and armor and accessories) Big Ben Bricks (train wheels) Any other customizers out there I should know about?

There is nothing to suggest that TLG will make any one fig rarer than any other fig.

That's good news.

BTW, dont buy from BTTW without checking other prices, the prices of quite a few items are above Shop @ Home prices (which themselves are above what you would pay at retail for the same item) For example, the Emerald Night is 50 bucks more expensive at BTTW than at Shop @ home. Fire helicopter is 25 bucks more. Off-road truck and boat is 20 bucks more. Police prisoner transport 10 bucks more. Fire Brigade is 50 bucks more. Grand Carousel is 60 bucks more. The fire station on the other hand is cheaper at BTTW than at Shop @ home

Can someone tell me what I would need to do to get a pair of BrickArms Cricket Bats (or any other custom made Cricket Bat accessory should one exist) and what color(s) said bats would come in? Willing to pay money for some if the price is not horrific.