Alexandrina

"Lower your expectations" doesn't necessarily mean "the sets are bad". There's a great big expanse of possibility between "bad sets" and "£250 Gringotts D2C".

Let's face it, the GWP would have to be a Dobby minifigure. "Here lies Dobby, a free* elf *with £250 purchase of bigger Dobby"

More hurt by the knife, to be honest.

The thing is, just because the popular theories aren't what's happening, it doesn't necessarily follow that what is happening is terrible stuff like Dobby's Sock. It's entirely possible that the love-or-hate comment is spot on: something's coming that nobody's guessed yet, that some people will love and some people will hate. It might be something based on a book-only scene (the Hufflepuff common room/kitchens/Winky/Peeves). It might be based on a forgotten film scene (the underpass from Order of the Phoenix). It might be based on JK's unpublished notes (UCS bust of Sally-Anne Perks).

Who says it's ending? Perhaps this is like the rebooted Doctor Who, moving into the fourth year where there are a few bright sparks but in general it's an absolute mess - but the next five years will be outstanding! And then Lego had best end it before they get to the Chibnall part of the timeline...

If he answers in the affirmative, you just know somebody will scrape the entire thread and put every suggestion in a Word document - and every time one of the suggestions is ruled out, it can be crossed off. Given how suggestions have coalesced around the trifecta of Gringotts/Belltower/Grimmauld Place, it wouldn't take long for process of elimination to tell us the answer. It's probably not worth their access to information to give us this, since the confirmation will leave a finite amount of possibilities and back them into a corner in terms of not lying and also not telling us exactly what's coming.

Likely so Lego don't clamp down on their source of information, either by cutting them off or by in some way punishing the person who provided their information. I for one would rather have a couple of people who know what's coming and can drop little titbits, having their fun taunting us all in the meantime, than have literally nothing at all until the sets are announced. As for the prospect that Gringott's won't come: I welcome it. I've never understood people's eagerness to see it, the building is nothing special imo and all the possible figures are things we've seen before (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Bellatrix). I'd much rather get something left-field - perhaps a Riddle House D2C?

Not sure if this is the right thread, since I'm fairly sure I have identified what the part is, but I recently acquired a job lot with some parts whose authenticity I'm not sure of (images spoilered since I'm having a hard time making them not prohibitively large): Now, I'm fairly sure they're Part 71076, and colour-wise they are a perfect match for known legitimate bricks in the old Light Grey. Bricklink recognises the existence of this part in the old Light Grey. Fabulous. What gets me suspicious is the fact that they're not included in any set inventory in Light Grey, and the few they have are going for several quid. That to me implies that these aren't common bricks, so finding three in a job lot is unlikely. Unfortunately, I've not got any others to compare against, and while there's no visible Lego logo, there often isn't on parts with a blocked open stud like this seems to have. So failing that, is there any way to be sure whether or not these are legitimate Lego? It's worth mentioning that the job lot appears to be mostly legitimate Lego, though a significant minority of the parts were other brands. Apologies if this is the wrong thread!

I've never designed an Ideas project (because I've never been able to think of anything new and groundbreaking) but when I work on MOCs or film sets, I tend to design it digitally without regard to the cost of the bricks, though I do often build small sections of the model to check that what I'm doing is physically possible. I know if I were to put a project on Ideas, I would likely only have the render to hand, especially if there are recoloured parts in there. Obviously I would try to get the real thing built, but it's often the way that sourcing the right parts is prohibitively expensive - especially if they're parts that you will have limited utility for outside of one specific MOC. I don't have an issue with renders, as long as they're time is taken to show the model from decent angles. But that's no different to being less than keen on MOCs with photographed building that have been poorly photographed so you can't really see what's what.

It's been a while since I've read through this thread, and even longer since I've bought a Clone Wars set. I've noticed a few comments saying that Bo Katan is confirmed to not be in Gideon's ship, only the Mando fighter (which as I understand it is a Clone Wars ship). Does that mean there's a risk of the figure having that horrible Clone Wars art style that seemed to be everywhere on Star Wars figures a few years back, or have they switched to making the figures fit with live-action characters? It would be a shame to finally get Bo Katan and have her not be compatible with the other characters from her most widely-seen appearance.

That's a clever build you've got going on there! (And a happy looking dog, too - he looks such a sweetie! ) You mentioned that the collar is your favourite part, and I can see why, it really is perfect for the MOC. What part is it, out of interest? It doesn't look like one I've come across myself.

If we get all the leaks now, what are we going to discuss for the next ten months of the year?

Don't worry, I was being facetious. The head you used is perfect, imo. Admittedly I'm no expert on US presidents, but Teddy Roosevelt was the most recognisable of the three to me, based entirely on the head.

I love it! Who's the fella between Lincoln and Roosevelt (who I assume is the little black bear)?

Just to add to the chorus, that's not dark purple, not even close. It does look exactly like many blue bricks I have myself from my childhood (so the 2001-2010 period) that have been stored in drawers not exposed to sunlight for much of their lifespan. Blue bricks naturally discolour, and I think that is what you have

I don't want to put my horse into this race, but my inner pedant compels me to bring up this quote (emphasis mine) and reply that this is a very bold statement. I have no doubt that there are plenty of builders who have the ability to use System and Bionicle parts together, and some who do so in every MOC, but I suspect there are a lot more who combine the two types of part where the MOC demands but don't always do so.

My initial instinct was to check the Bricklink listing and see if it came in any similar colours. The closest colours Bricklink lists are trans-purple and lavender. I haven't got any trans-purple on hand to check against, but I suspect you'd know if it was transparent. As for lavender, it's hard to mistake it for dark purple. So that idea's a bust. Are you certain that the parts came from a set? If they were part of a job lot, it's possible they originated from a Pick a Brick wall at some point, or were a test done at some point that escaped the factory and found its way to market. Though if this was the case - especially if it was ever part of the Pick a Brick selection - I suspect Bricklink would have at least a record of it having been listed for sale at one point. That it doesn't - changing the URL to point directly to Dark Purple's colour ID yields this page, which has no image of the brick and no record of any sales or anything at all - suggests that you're correct and the part doesn't exist in Dark Purple. Or at least, it's not supposed to. Clearly it does if you have some. Are the bricks definitely genuine Lego? Can you perhaps attach a photo? The only likely answer I can think of is that they're from another manufacturer - the Lego logo on the studs would confirm this to not be the case, but I don't know where else they might have come from.

More frustrating: one Harry and one Moody, so you have to buy seven copies of the set to recreate the scene - and then you have seven Moodys

76391 - The Ministry of Magic [DH] - containing Harry, Ron, Hermione (all in dual-sided heads with the people they were disguised as), Yaxley, Scrimgeour, Umbridge, Mrs Cattermole, 2 x Dementors 76392 - Buildable model of the Firebolt/Nimbus 2000 76393 - The Battle of the Astronomy Tower [HBP] - containing Harry, Dumbledore, Bill Weasley, Ernie, Hannah, Rowle, Malfoy 76394 - remake of 2018's Quidditch Match [OotP] - containing Harry, Angelina, Terrence Higgs, Marcus Flint 76395 - remake of 2001's Gryffindor [PS] - containing Harry, Ron, Percy

Add Angelina and Ernie (and Alicia, because if you're getting Angelina you might as well have the whole Gryffindor team) and you're probably spot on. No doubt they'll throw in some more minor characters (Scabior, Yaxley, Cattermole, etc.) at some point

I'd just like to say that this is perhaps the most useful tidbit of information I've ever come across on this forum. I have medieval-set fiction projects on the go in multiple media Lego and otherwise, and this isn't something I'd even have thought to research.

That's a delightful torso. A pity it doesn't seem to be on Bricklink anywhere - I'll definitely be popping off to my nearest Lego shop as soon as UK lockdown restrictions ease enough to allow it, because I need one.

Was that ever possible for most kids? I never wanted for anything growing up, but I had pretty much no chance of ever getting any set with a RRP higher than £50 or so, unless I saved up for it myself - and on pocket money of £2 a week I never got close to the expensive sets. It never stopped me dreaming of having all the sets, but there was an acceptance that I'd have to pick and choose which sets I wanted, I couldn't realistically hope to get the whole line. For me that ability to get more of what I want is the biggest perk of being an AFOL and having more of my own money to spend.

Which torso is this? I've not had a chance to visit a Lego shop since 2019, and I'm always on the look out for medieval fig parts

The more the merrier. Justin in 2021, and next year let's hope for an Ernie and a new print for Hannah