Lego Otaku

I needed to vent my frustration but while parting out a set to sell on Bricklink, one box, which for all intent appeared to be factory sealed was in fact previously opened and the minifigs, all 9 of them were missing. This was the 3rd box this year that I've bought that was missing minifigs. In all 3 boxes I've bought, the seal were original and not cut so it looks like someone was able to peel them off carefully, open the box, pilfer the minifigs, reseal the box, and return for full refund. This kind of thief can be harder to catch than the thief who uses fake bar code to get lower prices but if I find out who did it, I'll fill their answering machine or voice mail with sound of crying children and mail them picture of childrens crying because the brand new LEGO set they got were missing pieces thanks to thieves. Then just for giggles, I'd get valve stem remover tool and deflate all 4 of the thief's tires. The thief would have to put the money they earned selling stolen minifigs to fixing tires. LEGO could do something about the seal to make it harder for thieves to tamper and pilfer parts then return it as sealed for full refund. Or find a way to get stores to keep close track of returns and start refusing returns if the customer has unusually high return rate.

All I got are a few waffle plates and pat. pend. era 2x4 bricks as I was born in '73. Not many variety of parts before that, excluding HO scale vehicles.

Nice L and servo. Now we're still missing just the S motor. Maybe XS (extra small) motor to replace the $40 red micro motor from over a decade ago.

I wish my local store has PAB wall that big.

So I can order anything if i wanted something in, oh say, 100,000 range? Time to see if they can make new Monorail tracks. The switch do fail after a while due to worn out cog or dust build up.

Strangely enough mouses is the proper plural for more than one computer mouse. But for rodent, it's mice.

I've noticed that the non extended version seems to offer colors that do not officially exists. I found out by accident when I was using leaf element 6x5 it came in black, yellow, and 3 trans color. The smaller leaf element also came in colors that hasn't been released. I'd guess LEGO started getting goofy with colors now that they no longer offer the option to buy from LDD.

Maybe this: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2428 and this: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2426 The rack is pretty stiff you may need to use XL motor to drive it if you don't use any gearing.

Maybe this one: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2924b

This. The early picture of this set did show the part as being included but if you checked, the current picture on LEGO.com doesn't show it. I guess it was removed at the last minute. So until it's actually released and someone can confirm and inventory it, then it'll show up on BL.

edited: no need to flame

No comment on the DHD?

I just saw this when it got front paged. And wow!!! WOW You should put that on Cuusoo!! 20k bricks may be a bit of a problem... no LEGO set have ever retailed for over $400 in USA and that was at nearly 6,000 total (Taj Mahal). This one may get expensive

LEGO never designed the switch for easy cleaning or self servicing when they start to stick so I got a couple that won't switch automatically as they jam. They still switch manually fine. Today I was checking out the latest haul and there is one switch that seems permanently stuck in one position. I've tried tapping and banging on it and tried moving it with force. Even Hercules himself wouldn't be able to make it switch. I think either something got spilled inside or the part inside got jammed the wrong way and won't un-jam unless I took it apart to straighten it out. What to do with them? If I break it apart, getting it back together won't be easy as the bottom and top parts were either glued or heat fused together. PS any chance someone can do custom production run of Monorail tracks? Patent has expired so replacement switch (with easy removable bottom), spare parts for the switch, and even the never released parts such as the X-track and different style Y switch here; monorail intermediary chassis and other chassis styles here

This vac by any chance? http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=1666-1

Updated with few more pictures and another video. Video should be ready in an hour after I post this.

You already uploaded them so go ahead and make your review, don't let the picture go to waste. I never saw a rule that stated only one review per set. Maybe your view or comment covered points that I didn't cover.

Yet another review. Before anyone asks, I skipped set 9472 Weathertop because the part to cost ratio was bad at a bit over 400 pieces and $80 Toys R Us cost. Since they are available online at lower cost, I'll let someone else do that set. 9476 Orc Forge was not found anywhere locally so I can't do that one yet. Maybe someone else will get it? Anyway on to the set! 776 pieces, MSRP: $80 USD Toys R Us price $100 USD Price is OK for the size of the set but I'd get one on sale if possible. Price per piece: 10.3 cents at MSRP and 12.9 cents at Toys R Us price. Content of the box. The manuals and stickers are in separate bag with cardboard backing. There are 2 manuals total and DSS (dreaded sticker sheer) with a total of 33 stickers. I haven't seen this many sticker in a single set since I got Idea book 6000 back a few decades ago. If your little kids are going to put this together, I strongly suggest adult help with stickers as some are somewhat small and can be hard to place evenly. The sticker has death grip type adhesive backing, which would make it hard to remove and reposition them. So get it right first time. Some of the stickers are numbered so you can get the right one when called for in instruction book but not all stickers has number and I had some trouble figuring which sticker to use for the instruction. Unassembled troll. The only thing missing are 2 blue technic pins with + end to join the hands to the arms. The pins are in different bag. So keep this in mind if you're going to part out and sell on BL as complete troll, the 2 pins need to be included. There are 4 bags total in this set. 3 has 2 more smaller bags inside and 4th one has 3 bags inside. First page showing how all is done. You can start with book #2 and bags #3 and 4 instead of first book without a problem. Some interesting pieces including 2x2 corner panel, square macaroni bricks, and total of 19 dark grey masonry profile bricks. The set consists of mostly grey, dark grey, some reddish brown and a few tan. A total of 2 minifig sized books in the set, one with stickers added later. Minifigs of Pippin, Gimili, and Boromir with 2 skeletons. The 3 has printed front and back head and torsos. Legolas and 2 mine orcs. All has double sided printed head and torso plus their head piece has pointed ears. I can't figure out how the orc face differs as they look exactly the same both side. Seems redundant to have the same print on both side of the head. Maybe you can find the difference? The well with a skeleton, chain, and a bucket waiting to be knocked over by a very careless hobbit. The tomb with a book. Both the well and the tomb has play feature but as you can see in the video, Skeleton don't like to be knocked down easily and I couldn't get the tomb's lid to flip. oh well. The 2 doors. I like how the bracket were used so an abandoned weapon (an axe in this set) could be used to 'lock' the door. Completed this part and as you can see, there's a long handled axe in the brackets to keep the orc from getting in quickly. Other side of the doorway. The library set done, with a hide away treasure chest under it. The chest slides out (via plate on back). Probably there for the kid fun. 2 more sets attached to either side with more features. The 2 large pillars are break away type, the lever on the back is used to knock the pillars down. The lever for knocking down the pillars and the plate to slide the treasure chest out. The pillars "falls" down fairly easily with the push of the lever. extra weapons from the final little bag, they are scattered about like abandoned or lost weapons. Nice variety there. Leftover parts. Not as many but still nice to have freebies. I'd post more pictures but the camera's battery is dead now so I got to wait to recharge it. I'll post picture and 360 video of the whole set plus the assembled troll with the club that I forgot to take picture of. Price: 4/5 could be a bit better so I'd wait on a good sale unless you need it parts: 4.5/5 lots of variety but not quite a lot of color stickers: 1/5 THIRTY-THREE STICKERS?? Thankfully no STAMP (Sticker across multiple parts) or it would have been a zero point. Aside from minifig, there is no printed part anywhere. A decent set overall. Movie accuracy: 4/5 I don't remember the hidden treasure chest. Fun factor: 4/5 The flipping tomb needs a little work to get it to flip better. The well with the skeleton could work if you place the skeleton just right. It's also tricky keeping the bucket upright with the chains pulling it down. Overall it is a decent set but not quite as much fun to build or play as Helm's Deep set so I'd wait for sale to get this set. I'd also like to see more mine orc for that battle scene. Update: more pictures and video now that my camera's got recharged. Overhead view of the entire set Another view of the entire set The troll. I found a problem with this troll. The club makes him very top heavy and unless you put him on a plate, he tips over easily. Suggestion: get a large grey baseplate and put the whole set on it, then the troll can be used anywhere for playing without having him trip over his own toes. 360 view of the set plus few action with the 2 pillars, break off wall, and the skeleton on the well. The well set can work if you position the skeleton just right but with the chain and the bucket, it's still tricky to make it just right and working at the same time. EDIT: name correction thanks for pointing it out.

Well, it depends on what qualifies as castle. Castle theme has 2 sets with more pieces: 10193 Medieval Market Village 1565 Parts, 8 Minifigs, 2009 10223 Kingdoms Joust 1533 Parts, 9 Minifigs, 2012 neither a true castle but a side theme. The largest *castle* is just a hair under 1,000 pieces. and for Harry Potter line: 10217 Diagon Alley 1977 Parts, 12 Minifigs, 2011 again not a true castle either. HP castle (4th ed) has 1228 pieces which is smaller than Helm's Deep. So for actual castle, Helm's Deep is the largest in piece count. For all castle themed sets, 3 beats Helm's Deep set.

Hmmm... that is hard. I liked them all. But only 5 points among 33 entries? Fortunately there is NO minimum point specified in the rule, only maximum of 3 points so I'll take the easy way out and award as follow: 01) 0.15 points 02) 0.15 points 03) 0.15 points 04) 0.15 points 05) 0.15 points 06) 0.15 points 07) 0.15 points 08) 0.15 points 09) 0.15 points 10) 0.15 points 11) 0.15 points 12) 0.15 points 13) 0.15 points 14) 0.15 points 15) 0.15 points 16) 0.15 points 17) 0.15 points 18) 0.15 points 19) 0.15 points 20) 0.15 points 21) 0.15 points 22) 0.15 points 23) 0.15 points 24) 0.15 points 25) 0.15 points 26) 0.15 points 27) 0.15 points 28) 0.15 points 29) 0.15 points 30) 0.15 points 31) 0.15 points 32) 0.15 points 33) 0.15 points *whistles*

Thanks for the kind reviews. I have more pictures and a 360° video of it plus quick video of exploding wall section coming up soon as I am done uploading. I'll edit the first page with new details and pictures.

Another review to do since no one else did it yet. I had a choice of this or other 2 sets from Toys R Us. $80 for Attack on Weathertop seemed terrible with just a bit over 400 pieces total so I'll let someone else do it. I did get the Mines of Moria in addition to this one but I'll do Mines later as it's well past my bed time Battle of Helm's Deep is the biggest of all Lord of the Ring sets so far and I spent some 2 and 1/2 hours on it including time wasted admiring the design and taking pictures. PS if you have a 6 month old hyperactive kitten and a cheap pajama on, don't drop any piece!!! I hope I can still have children after what happened tonight... On to the review. A fairly large box, about the biggest standard LEGO box size that aren't LEGO exclusive. 1,368 pieces (excluding ridiculous amount of extra pieces) MSRP: $130 USD. Toys R Us price: $150 USD That comes to about 9.5 cents per piece MSRP and 11 cents per piece TRU price. Decent price-piece ratio but I'd wait for a good sale. There wasn't much empty space inside the box. The manuals and sticker (ACK!!! DSS!!! EVIL!!! ) were in its own bag with cardboard backing to keep them from coming in wrinkled. A total of 9 bags, each with 1 or 2 smaller bags inside. 4 instruction books for the entire build. I remember when a 1,000 piece build could be done in a single 20 page book. Now that was challenging. Today's instruction have you doing 2 or 3 unique pieces (as many as 8 or 10 each) per step. The color is clear and there's very little chance of missing a step or something. All the black pieces are outlined in white. evil dreaded sticker sheet. Only 6 stickers total on the sheet, the smallest one goes onto a 2x3 tile with clip. So it's not hard to apply them straight and no STAMP (sticker across multiple parts) 8 minifigs total. King has printed breastplate in addition to printed torso. Also the King and Gimili has printed helmet. Nice detail too. Haldir's pointed ear are on the yellow head piece so the ear is transferable to any minifig with flesh colored head. All of the heads and torso have 2 sided prints. That's a lot of printing! New horse with pose-able hind legs. This set comes with brown horse that otherwise looks similar to classic brown horse. First couple pages of the instruction showing the 9 bags and 9 main sections to build the set. This set has lots of square macaroni bricks (36), masonry profile bricks (40), sand green parts (53 1X1, 10 1X4, 24 1X2 tile, and 2 1x2 inverted slope) and more 1x4 hinged brick and plates than you would ever need. End of first bag. I really liked the brick built wall and using 1x2xn° panels used sideway to make narrow silted windows. I did find one minor issue with building the walls. It is fairly flimsy until you install the plates on top. These part could prove a bit challenging for little kids who likes to assembled roughly or push pieces together hard as the wall can break apart. Other angle of the first part, with the flipper on the side. Hint: Gimili still don't like it. brick built wooden doors for the front entry way. Front view with the door and flaps on top added. Curved ramp leading to the front door One side of the curved wall done. This is after completing bag #3. Notice the secret door where the heroic duo can sneak out to jump on the army and try to stop them from breaking down the main doors. I liked the use of sand green to give an appearance of lichen covered rocks. An easter egg? A skull hidden under the ramp. Brick built ladder. The hook on the end does not rotate like the movie but it still hooks into the wall just fine as pictured below. Bag #4 done, shown with ladder. Honkin' big horn there. Creative use of elephant's trunk for mouth piece. The crate at the bottom is empty so probably just to add decoration. The one big weakness of Helm's deep with a bomb next to it ready to go off! Same section, reverse side. The grey lever there triggers the "explosion" like in the movie. ...and after it's been blown up. Easy to reassemble. Easy to blow up again. more interesting parts Here is where I got gripe with LEGO. After beautifully brick built walls and sections, they get cheap in the last part and give us 7 prefab wall panels. Maybe the R&D spent too much time making the front look good and rushed the last part? Brick built throne looks nice and is adjustable so even Jabba the Hutt would be able to sit there. Front view of throne room. The plate on the side swings out and is used as walkway to reach other part of the keep. Top view of the completed keep And now the left over parts: One extra cloak may have been a fluke because 2 I got were stuck together. I almost never get extra cloak in little white box. 5 flame, 6 dark green cheese wedges, 7 bley cheese wedges, and a few others. Overall I enjoyed the build and picked up a few new trick. Playability: this Keep should have decent play factor with catapults (one to toss the dwarf), exploding wall section, and uses technic pin to connect sections differently. The box even suggested getting 9471 army set to connect with this. Or you could buy another Helm's Deep set and combine them for larger and more fancy keep. If you do buy second Helm's Deep set, be sure to replace the cheap looking 7 wall panels with better walls. This set is defiantly good to buy and the price is not too bad for the size of the set with 8 minifigs. Although you could wait for a good sale and buy the army set along with this to have more minifigs and more playability. Pieces: there are numerous interesting pieces. Sand green isn't common color and this set has lots of it. Lots of masonry wall bricks, bley cheese slopes, and 1x2 bley cheese slopes, etc should be good for parting out for castle mocs. price: 4.5/5 (get it on sale if you can wait) Fun factor: 5/5 part variety: 5/5 movie accuracy: 4.5/5 (could have used a battering ram) Now it's bed time for me. I'll do Mines of Moria next if no one else posts em. EDIT: I forgot to mention this set comes with a new orange brick separator! UPDATED WITH NEW PICTURES!! And... (upload still in process, ready by about 7 PM EDT) http://youtube.com/q3BvfD1Tq1I

IMO LDD is more user friendly and easier to get started but it's more limited in certain situation plus occasionally LDD won't let me place the part exactly where I want it. Instead LDD may assume I want it below the entire project, or off to the side 100 studs away, etc. LDraw is a bit more tricky to get it working with all the parts as not everything are in one convenient install package and I had some trouble getting it working the first couple times. People less experienced with computer will likely find LDraw too hard to start using. LDD has some quirks but you probably should start with LDD if you're not used to working in 3D enviroment.

Transparent fig just won't happen unless it's fixed (non poseable) because polycarbonate (PC for short) that LEGO uses for transparent color are very stiff and it will not flex at all. That would make it very hard to install arms and legs without cracking any part. Plus PC seems to bind to each other, which is why it's considered illegal build if you slide a trans 1x1 round or cone brick onto a 3mm trans rod.

I've seen it at one Toys R Us sometime ago but it was Bionicle theme not Star Wars. It is very cool and I would like one. It is pretty simple to make one. Set up LEGO display, put in a glass at about 45° from bottom front to top rear. Then mount LCD panel facing down on top of the display. The image will be reflected onto the glass giving illusion of holograph. Doing the animation is a whole another challenge.