Dark Brick

Everybodys a critic, no? As for your replica, I definitely like it. Much more realistic than what TLC had in mind. I too like the larger front cab. Very good usage of space in the compartments. Cheers! DB

So I just got back from a LEGO retail store near me and man was it crowded. When I was in there, I got a chance to see the Cafe Corner, built as a display. The manager knows me now pretty well, so we were discussing the flaws in the product, mainly the color issue. I have to say that she did not even know about these problems. So she asked if I would like to take a closer look at the model that was on display. Now I can definitely confirm the different shades in the colors that dunamis wrote about in his review. So is this a production problem that someone just ignored in the QA department?! The clear plastic window pieces also had the bubble as well. After a few more words with her, I came to my own conclusion about this set. In the BrickJournal 7 interview, it was mentioned that this was modeled after buildings ciraca 1920's-30's. The different shades of the colors might actually go well for this set due to the time setting. Although I am not advocating that TLC should just send out crap to make a profit, but in the case of this set, the flaw can actually be seen as a boon to the model as it would be seen if you walked down a street corner in those days. Basicly if you feel so strongly about the colors being wrong, then just do not purchase this item. As for the rest of us, I guess writing to LEGO and finding out what the deal is with the issue would be the first step. I for one am more concerned with the clear window pieces having that bubble(I wonder if TLC was aiming for the mafia look about the windows :-P ). To conclude I did purchase mine, but I also saved $25 with coupons and such, so that helped lessen some of the cost of the set, not to mention I got another gift card. Cheers! DB

Dunamis, thanks for the great review of this incredible set. As pointed out in another thread, the colors are a bit off, but that does not deter from the overall model by the looks of your pictures. I knew earlier on that I would be getting this set no matter what, now this is clear more than ever. Your review is clear and concise, you pointed out the pros and the cons, and I will also agree that TLC could have added 2 more figures to the set as well. Regardless of anything else, the price is definitely right at $139.99US for all those pieces that come with it. Although at this point buying more than one set is really pointless. Other than that I wonder if the next building will be just as interesting, it would be great to know if we can mix and match the floors with the different buildings to come(if and when each arrives). Cheers! DB

I do not usually visit this forum, much less make comments on the threads within, but I was always a big history buff in High School and I could not help but make a comment on this piece. This is very well done for this plane. Early 20th Century engineering was very impressive indeed and you, oo7, captured it in spades. From the wings to the tail end to the landing gear and cockpit, this is truly wonderful. The minifig adds to the timeline with the garb that he is wearing and makes a great addition to the plane as a whole. *wub* *y* I am sure that you will concur that the Red Baron plane made by TLC was damn good too. Cheers! DB

With all these packs, I am sure that would get very expensive after awhile, even for the hardcore Star Wars fans. I currently have only bought one of each of the packs for the Clone Wars and I tell you that maybe I will buy 2 more of each, but that will be the end of it. I would definitely purchase an animal pack or 2, especially if I was to do a Mos Eisley or a Hoth MOC. Oh, as far as the droid pack is concerned, I believe I forgot to include the tredwell droid. Remember too much of a good thing will put you in debt. Unless of course you are *vader* and you may have to sell your wife to keep up. X-D >:-) (JK) :-P DB

Not to rain on the Dark Sides' reign during the roaring 1920's, But I would like to point out something that is great for all of us AFOL. The Corner Cafe is now at 5th place in the top 25 on S@H. :-D *y* Congrats to all those that have purchesed one, I personally will be getting mine this weekend. Cheers! Oh and I love the B&W photos as well. DB

Hey I just looked at the box to 6211 and that is one big box.

Just to clarify things, here in the U.S. they did not sell the BNSF or SF in any TRU store(at least within the Chicago area they did not), although it was available at S@H and LEGO retail stores. Got mine through S@H, but ordered it at a LEGO store. DB

It may not be on topic, but I still have all those chairs. X-D That is quite funny, but not as funny as watching a friend of mine ask for autographs at concerts. She is good at it though. I thought about getting more white chairs now just to see if this works well or not. It is definitely a nifty idea, although one has to wonder if this is sturdy. Oh yeah, I go to Woodfield Mall once in a while, but I prefer to go to the LEGO store in Northbrook, because of the larger PAB wall and the fact that the tax is less. It is good to know another Chicago AFOLer and Eurobricks member. :-D Sorry but that last bit is off topic. :-P Cheers! DB

Personally it does not matter to me whether they come out or not. DB

Well during the holidays here in the states, if you made a purchase of $50.00 or more you got a box to use at the PAB wall. Well after spending nearly $1200 just in December >:-) , I earned quite a bit of those boxes, so when the time came I filled one of those boxes with mostly chairs. I guess in a way they are not completely free since you still have to make a purchase to get said box, but getting parts from the PAB wall of your choice for free is great in my opinion. So I guess I know what I can do with all those chairs now. DB

I voted for transportation too. I may have a fear of flying, but I do love airplanes and the technology behind them. Plus I love the new airplane, but I do not like the new airport, but I do have the older one with the yellow cargo copter. 10159 Holodoc, I feel your pain that is why I have not even purchased the new hospital, instead I bought the Truama Team 1896. DB

Well I too found the cabin rather interesting in design regardless of who did it. The windows though do not really mesh well. At least now I know what to do with all those chairs/seats that I got for free at the LEGO store during the holidays. Thanks for the pic Hobbes. DB

I have to agree with Hobbes to some extent here. With the advent of the Corner Cafe and the fact that TLG is finally giving the AFOL community what it most desires, has in a way forshadowed things to come. So I would not be too suprised to see Skyscrapers or other unique buildings within the coming years as long as they sell. Yes it would be too expensive to make one out right, but buying sections would be very much welcomed. Given the current situation with the Cafe Corner, I would have to say that this would get very expensive if you have to buy more than one of a certain set to make it look better than was intended. In my case it is not the money that I am worried about, but the fact that so much of the sets could be wasted just to get one better looking building and that would go the same for a skyscraper. Finally throwing in Mini-Figs would be great, but to help keep the costs down, maybe TLG would not add in additional figures into these larger sets. Just my two cents. DB

No prob, Hob. X-D

I will definitely be buying at least one if not two and MOC the other one into something else. There is one downside to it and that is they could have thrown in another lamp post and an extra figure or two. Otherwise this set is great, shows us that LEGO does have some care for us big kids at heart. Oh and Hobbes, according to Peeron's inventory, the stairs are reddish-brown. I hope that helps. DB

I kind of like it, although like Hobbes has mentioned, it is not the type of station for a spraling city that hustles and bustles. This station is more like one that is near a farming community or some other small town that may be a stop for goods and services. It is definitely cute otherwise, but I do agree with the other poster, where are the women?! Lack of women has led me to make up my own. I may not buy it, due to price or if it does not fit my future layout. DB

I read through this thread and I have to say that up close Playmobile is quite nice. I agree that AFOL wishes may have fallen on deaf ears, but I did do some thinking about how TLG seems to retire themes and Playmobile does not. As I child I only knew of LEGO as a building type toy. In high school I can recall going into this mom and pop store that sold LEGO and Playmobile. I would say that they had more Playmobile than LEGO at the time. But I would also say that they sold more Playmobile. As I kept coming in over the years I realized that LEGO was just more expensive and parents were not in the mood to buy expensive toys for little Johnny and Suzy. More recently after discovering another LEGO store within the Chicago area, I also found a store called Galt Toys. Both are located next to each other within the mall. I have to say that everytime I go to the LEGO store, I always want to go in and take a look around, but then I think of the guilt I would have if I did not buy anything and so I never go in and press on to the LEGO store. My point being is that I never really see anyone in there at all. So I too wonder how well Playmobile is doing. But the LEGO store is always packed, the brand is synonymous with kids. I would say that Star Wars brought on that fervor for LEGO this decade. This brings me to my initial thought, LEGO most likely retires sets/themes to make room for new ones. Eventually they may bring Pirates back or something else when they decide to retire another or when they realize one theme is not very popular over the others. More importantly LEGO likes to create new themes, which has been quite obvious within the last decade or so. Thier main flagships of Town/City/Train and Castle remain in place because of the obvious profit that they gain from the 2 themes. Well at least this is what I suspect. Oh just so no one says that I hate/dislike Playmobile, I would say that if there was room/space or a budget set up for it I would collect this too, but too much of a good thing will put me in debt. DB

Here are my two cents. Since everyone has stated pretty much every conconceivable Empire and Rebel pack within the Star Wars universe, here are a few things I would like to see. An animal pack: 2 Taun Tauns, a Dewback, a Bantha and maybe the mounts. *wub* A pack with just the Wampa and Rancor. Maybe? A pack with various astromech, probe and other droids and maybe a mouse droid. Finally a weapons pack: 4 blaster rifles, 2 sniper rifles, 2 light sabers, and 2 binoculars. *y* Really any kind of combination of this pack would work, especially since a lot of the old figures do not have the newer blasters. Great ideas from everyone overall. DB

That would be a great addition to any town airport or hospital. *wub* I have to say that I have called airlines in the past and just recently, but no one could tell me how I can get these promotional items, nor could they tell me who I should contact. I will do some more snooping if I find out anything I will post it here >:-) . For now hang in there, I know I will. DB

I am not trying to be completely off topic, but I have to say something about ER. I loved the first two seasons of it, then about the third season it became boring and it had nothing to do with patients as much as it had to do with what doctor was doing who and too many of thier own personal problems. It became like the Soap Opera, "General Hopital", only that it is on prime time. Plus a lot of the good characters and actors left and that made the show just plain boring. House on the other hand is just great. Yes he(House) does have personal demons to contend with, so as not to say the show is all about patients, but the cases are much better in my opinion than what they had on ER or any other medical drama on TV. Don't get me started with Grey's Anatomy. >:-( DB

Very nice news. Although I am not warming up to the prices yet, but then again that is what tax returns are for. X-D

I too have voted for Star Wars. With a new Falcon in the Fall and a possible AT-AT, this year is definitely going to Star Wars. *wub* City is a very close second. *y* DB

I would never have thought that they would do this. When I ordered my BNSF from the LEGO store in Chicago, I did not get any stamps, although I did not ask about it either. I thought that you only got stamps for in store purchases and online purchases do not count. I will most likely be going to go to the LEGO store this weekend. I will ask them and see what they say. Either way, dunamis, I am greatful for the information you and provided me and fellow Eurobrickers. Thanks! :-) DB