jonwil

Actually, that usage was seen in the Indiana Jones Jungle Duel set.

In addition to the cost savings of plastic track vs metal track, the other reason for the switch to battery powered trains is that there are safety issues (either real or perceived by parents) for toys that plug into the wall for smaller kids so by being battery powered it allows them to market to younger kids than is the case for trains that plug into the wall

I would say Target is most likely for the pirate ship since they had pirates first this year and they got the Medieval Market Village. I suspect K-Mart will get the blockade runner in the middle of next year like they did with the AT-OT and the Death Star. If anyone gets the Fire Station, it would likely be David Jones or maybe Toyworld (those are the only stores I know of that got the modular houses)

Can someone who has bought the new Small Car set post either an inventory or a grab of the inventory page in the instructions?

The passenger plane, tanker truck and at least one of the traveler are definatly going on my wishlist (although I wish they had chosen a different torso for the traveler) The blue torso in the farm set is likely this one: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=973pb09c02 or this one: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=973pb201c01

K-Mart in Joondalup has a LOT of stock of the combine harvester. Seems they cant move it even at the ridiculous clearance price they had it at (even that price wasnt low enough for me to take the plunge) Also, a LOT of stock of the city bulldozer without a clearance tag (if the set goes below 40, it MIGHT be worth it for parts but at the price K-Mart wants for it, forget it)

All these sales and discounts may indicate that we will see less lego on the shelves in 2010 (i.e. that the stores won't stock as much) I just wish I had cash to buy more stuff :)

The part in question first appeared in the Blacktron II line of sets.

Just saw a TV ad, the MYER sale is for 25% off all LEGO.

There is aparently a sale at MYER that starts tomorrow. I dont know details, what happened is that I was in MYER in Morley buying the police helicopter and the person said "If you come back tomorrow to buy one there is a sale" (I bought it anyway, any saving on a set that small wouldn't be enough to make the difference)

If anyone wants the Lamborghini at the k-mart price, good luck finding one. NONE of the K-marts I can easily get to have any in stock :(

Cool that you found it, at that price I may have to finally pick one up myself for parts :)

Fire Nation Ship doesn't count for this IMO as its not a sailing ship, it clearly has a boiler and some kind of engine. The others all have sails. My favorite is the Emperors ship (as its the only one I own :)

It may also be about maximizing the use of the mold (molds dont come cheap remember)

The figure with the revolvers is clearly a Cowboy and not an adventurer type guy, he has a longhorn cattle buckle the size of texas on his belt. LEGO probably used the fedora and not the cowboy hat because it was cheaper to produce a part they already were using in other sets than it was to restore the cowboy hat (a part they arent using in any set)

Macoco, the picture shown there of the Smart Car is preliminary and old and the pictures seen on Amazon and elsewhere (which are not marked "preliminary") show the new figure with the hoodie. The preliminary pictures probably used that fig (with the red torso) because the new torso was not ready at the time.

As others have said the pictures from the catalog are older and more preliminary than pictures seen on Amazon and elsewhere. Look on brickset to see a picture of what it will actually look like (including the fig)

Aviator (not a pilot, someone like Lindburgh or Charles Kingsford-Smith or the like, someone who would fit the cockpit of a biplane). Would have the aviator cap and goggles as the headgear, no idea about the accessory. Scientist with lab coat. For accessory, have some piece of scientific equipment like a beaker or test tube Pop star with whacked out hairstyle (microphone being accessory)

Nice pics, I definatly want the small car, the repair truck, the passenger plane, the Octan truck, the traveler impulse, the farmer impulse, both Atlantis impulse sets, the little green truck, the little helicopter and the house.

If he is a magician or plans to do magic tricks, Top Hat definatly. Otherwise go for the bowler.

A better way for LEGO to go would be to put all these train parts on Factory (those that arent there already) and let the fans make cars for their trains. If LEGO made a train car like this as a set, it would take up an SKU that could otherwise be used for the next Emerald Night, Medieval Market Village, Imperial Flagship, Town Plan or other cool huge exclusive set.

At some point in the past (memory is hazy on the details) I was in a school class where there was one of those large denim type sacks full of classic space that the kids played with.

Nice, makes me wish I had some M&Ms right now :P As for the red M&M, the only problem is finding suitable red eyes.

Flights and accommodation are sorted and just registered for Brickvention itself. Will be good to mingle and mix with other AFOLs.

Surprised to see the 1h 09 Indy sets on the list to go. Mindstorms NXT going away makes sense with the 2.0 now out. Very surprised to see the helicopter transporter and dozer (the heli is a 2h 09 set and the dozer is a 1h 09 set assuming they are the sets I am thinking of) As for pirates, I am VERY surprised they are discontinuing them so quickly given that they have been one of the hottest selling non-licenced themes in years. My guess is that TLG have some kind of tie-in with the next Pirates Of The Caribbean film (due july 2011) and want to make sure all the Pirates product is gone before the POTC product hits. I just hope the fast-discontinuation of Pirates means I can pick up a cheap redcoat base for parts...