Fives

Hmmm... That set looks strange. It looks like it has more comic influence rather than what I'd expect from a film. Very bright colours, like the blues and yellows. Weird... Also, Gamora seems to just have boring black Uruk/Dumbledore hair instead of something more interesting. But that's an easy fix. There are so many better female hairpieces to choose from. The two figs I'm most excited for are Rocket Racoon and Nebula. An official minifig based on a character by Karen Gillan would be sooo flippin' epic!

So what news has be found regarding the Guardians of the Galaxy sets? I know there's three sets being released, but has any news about figs or prices surfaced?

Wow, those figs look really cool! Zeb looks really interesting. Not a huge fan of the orange outfit, but that's fine. Syndulla also looks cool. The Stormtrooper, while wierd, looks really good! I like the printing on the whole fig, although it's a shame we weren't treated to a new helmet mold. I'm most interested in the Kanan character. From his silhouette, you can easily tell he has a new hairpiece, which is always exciting. Overall, these Rebels sets are looking really good. Definitely a breath of fresh air after the CW. Can't wait for them to release the Inquisitor fig, and just more Imperial stuff in general.

We had a ton of TPM remakes in 2011 and 2012. I doubt they'll touch that film again till after Ep 7 comes out.

So the Erebor set is based on the scene in the furnace room from the end of DOS... strange move by LEGO. But, it does sound like a good set, especially if its goons be over $100. Yet while it will be a cool set, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Its just a shame that LEGO seems to be avoiding the exterior of Erebor. If LOTR and The Hobbit end without us having gotten the two major cities in the story (Minas Tirith and Erebor), I'll feel slightly robbed of a complete theme. Also, it seems strange that LEGO is releasing a DOS set in the TABA wave. Sure, this theme has had a particularly tough time with all the changes in the film and everything, but the DOS wave only featured DOS scenes (although, only two sets really represented anything shown on screen). But maybe this was their plan all along. They obviously wouldn't have been allowed to release any Erebor stuff for their DOS wave because they were likely under some contract to not reveal Smaug. But it still seems weird. To have an Esgaroth set obviously based on Smaug's attack, and not have Smaug in the set! That makes no sense! It'd be like making a Barad-Dur set and leaving the Eye out of the set. I really wish I could talk to the design team and find out what motivated them to make the choices they've made.

So this doesn't have to do with the upcoming sets, but I noticed the new spider leg pieces in the new Chima sets: http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Spinlyn-s-Cavern-70133?fromListing=listing Those would be amazing for Mirkwood spiders! I may need to get a bunch of those and make some better spiders. The ones that LEGO released kinda suck...

It obviously has something to do with the popularity of the theme. At the start, we got a full wave. 7 sets to jump start the new theme. They had to cover the Fellowship, so certain set choices were obvious to be able to achieve that. The first wave was stellar. But then some of the sets started being put on the 'Retiring Soon' list quite quickly after they were released. Usually, a set stays in production for at least a year before it starts being phased out. But by the six to eight month mark, Weathertop started to disappear. Obviously LEGO anticipated that the theme would be extremely popular, but it must not have done as well as they hoped. The second wave proves that. Only four sets? None of which passed the $100 mark? Sure, we had Orthanc, but one D2C set doesn't mean the rest of the wave can be smaller. Thats never been the case with other themes. And now here we are, with what looks like nothing on the LOTR horizon. And all this same stuff happened to The Hobbit. I wouldn't be surprised if LEGO has tons of preliminary artwork and designs for sets like the Balrog and Gondor stashed somewhere. I want to know why these themes had their waves cut down to four sets per release. What is LEGO's angle? WE NEED ANSWERS!!!

I'm guessing its because Sauron doesn't actually have a physical form. Sure, he reveals himself to Radagast as this dark figure, and shows his armoured self to Gandalf, but those may have just been ways to show who he is. As of right now, he is just billowy dark magic floating around. Its the spirit and consciousness of Sauron that survived the Battle of The Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age, so he can only exist like that without the Ring. I doubt he can actually become a physical being and fight the White Council himself, so he unleashes his servants on them. And I know that people will argue that we saw him in his armour in DOS, but like I said, that was just him revealing himself to Gandalf. There was no actual person there, just visions and magic.

It would be taller in the back, where the citadel and huge triangular rock is, but the front wall and gate could be very wide, especially if there is a Uruk-Hai Army style wall extension set. The main curved wall in Helm's Deep curves around and fits snug on one A baseplate. I'm hoping that a Minas Tirith set would have the wall curve a little less, so adding curved extensions would mean that a complete first level wall could comfortably cover one and a half A baseplates.

Yes, I'd prefer a smaller version. Sure, a huge D2C Minas Tirith would be amazing, but I would rather have something smaller, similar in size to Helm's Deep, that can be displayed without having to dedicate it to its own table. I have the Death Star set, and it takes up a huge amount of space. A D2C Minas Tirith would be pretty damn similar, and I just don't have the space for it. This is my current Helm's Deep setup. Hopefully the link works: https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/v/t34/1527925_10200334753410822_1040758529_n.jpg?oh=2a33659074873f5e2a4519f9519012f4&oe=52E22DF1&__gda__=1390563509_bbfab5d71532de47e43f9cedfeeae18f What I would like is for a Minas Tirith set to be able to sit nicely where Helm's Deep is (although more centred in the battlefield, but you get the idea), so something similarly sized would be ideal. That way, the battlefield itself is still quite large.

We saw the four sets at the NY toy fair last year. I remember seeing all the pics on FBTB's flickr page.

I'm not worried at all. I've basically come to terms with the fact that LEGO LOTR is dead. It kills me, because it was the one theme I had always wanted from LEGO since I was a kid when the films came out. Sure, they finally delivered, but not fully. Its like they gave us an amazing soufflé, but decided to blow an air horn right before the first bite.

Something a lot of people seem to forget is that PJ purposely made AUJ a bit funnier because he wanted to use the first film to get through the sillier, lighthearted quality of the story, so the second and third films to focus more on the darker sides of the story. His plan worked well. Sure, some things seemed like a bit much, but it is a fantasy adventure film. The suspension of disbelief is key when watching these movies.

Seeing those shields next to each other only strengthens my belief that we need a special Gondor shield mold. LEGO could easily make the shield seen in the video game.

I really doubt he'd be in a polybag. A bear (even the existing mold) is too big for a polybag, and polybag's don't ever include animals. Its not like LEGO doesn't have an idea of what he does in TABA. Sure, PJ has made changes to the story, but every major thing from the book is still essentially in the films. We all know Beorn fights at the BO5A and has a particular personal interest in Bolg. If LEGO doesn't showcase that somewhere in these sets, then I'm worried.

If past fairs are any indication, then yes. We should see all of the new figs there. Whether or not The Hobbit gets the turntable treatment, I'm not sure. They don't do that for every theme, only two or three. But the figs will also be shown alongside the sets themselves in the display. We'll get pics from Nuremberg, but they won't be as extensive as what FBTB does in New York. Still, Nuremberg will answer most of our questions. NY will allow for a more up-close and personal look at the sets. If I'm not mistaken, the main difference between the Nuremberg fair and the NY fair is that Nuremberg doesn't allow people to touch the products on display, while in NY people are allowed to move the sets and pick up the figs to get better looks at them.

Oh, I see. Yeah. I'll do some rough sketches this weekend and post them here to give people a better idea of what I imagine it would look like.

I really hope Beorn isn't in the BO5A set. If the set is intended to be an army builder, I'd rather see a Warg or Eagle than a bear. If LEGO makes a special mold for Beorn, I'd prefer him to be included in a set that's meant as a one-time purchase. Hopefully the BO5A set doesn't end up having Dain, Beorn, Bolg, and only a few soldiers. That'd be a pretty lame army builder. I have faith in the designers. They seem to know what the fans want; heck, MEA basically only exists to serve an army builder's wants and needs! I wonder if and armored Thranduil will pop up anywhere. I doubt it, but it would be cool. One thing I wish LEGO could've included on their Thranduil fig was his burns and scars from the First Age. If that had been part of his angry face printing, he would've been a much more menacing fig.

This isn't real. The three part helmet is just an idea I've had for a while. The Vader included in the ISD should have the regular helmet.

I just realized that we haven't been given any proper set names. That's kinda strange, given that usually the set names are provided with the displays.

Exactly, only smaller. Maybe the silver and black armour that rests on his upper chest could be part of this piece, as a way of both adding more detail and keeping the breather secure around the neck (so it doesn't spin around his neck).

Same. But I'm kinda glad it's not too big a set. If the build itself isn't too huge, but the price sits at $50 or something, that means that the Smaug mold won't be too small. But we don't have price points yet, only general ideas based on previous patterns. I'm excited and fearful for how the Windlance will be made. A flick-fire would be lame, and it seems that this year LEGO is making use of the new spring-shooting missiles in many of the new SW sets. Perhaps they'll make a spring-shooting missile with the tip shaped like an arrow? That'd be cool, and it seems like the spring-shooting mechanism works way better than the flick-fires ever did.

I've actually taken a lot of time to think this through. What LEGO needs to do is make Vader's helmet/mask/breather a three piece deal. Basically, the breather needs to sit around his neck, like how beards or armour attaches to figs. Then, the mask could cover his face and the top of his head, leaving the back exposed. Finally, have the helmet attach via a small peg (much like Tonto's bird) into the top bit of the mask. All together, it would look nice and detailed, but also add a whole new dimension of detail to the fig.

I agree, but this news is just too darn exciting to not discuss. One thing I'm surprised more people haven't talked about: the Arkenstone. Am I the only one who's really put off by the fact that it's just a light trans-blue jewel? LEGO missed an opportunity to make a really cool printed piece. No new molds needed. All they'd need to do is take one if the 1x1 circular tiles (used for cookies and such), in trans-clear. Print some light blue and copper coloured tendrils coming off a darker blue circle in the centre to represent the unique colour that the Arkestone gives off. It would be really cool! Also, knowing how the designers like to place as many little details as they can into these sets, does anyone wonder if Thranduil's necklace of pure starlight might be hidden somewhere in the Erebor set? That would be a cool little reference to include.

The only time I can think of a D2C set making a regular set redundant in with the Wizard Battle and Orthanc sets. The only reason that worked was because it still allowed Saruman to be available really cheap, while also having the option of the big set. Plus, it's different with creatures. Having a molded Smaug in one set, and then a big brick built version as another set is just plain stupid and wouldn't be a smart move for LEGO. One set would end up outselling the other (likely the cheaper option), and they'd have just ended up wasting money. My guess is that we won't get another LOTR D2C. We already got Orthanc. That's enough. Minas Tirith can be done like Helm's Deep. If we are lucky enough and LEGO treats us to another Middle-Earth D2C, I'd want Erebor. Hands down, it would become one of the greatest sets ever. From the sounds of it, the Erebor set that's in store for us this October will be a huge let down (people think its similar to the Balin's Tomb set). If that set focuses only on the interior of the mountain, than a D2C that features more of the outs e would be a welcome addition. LEGO could even be clever a make the Erebor interior set fit snug inside a large mountain exterior. The D2C could basically be a super sized version of the Lone Ranger mine set. Have the gate, with the two massive statues flanking either side, all in sand green with accents of dark tan and nougat to represent rust and dirt. Then, have light and dark grey rock surrounding the gate, creating the stone 'frame' that the gate sits in. This bit to go up and tapper to a point, representing the 'top' of the mountain (or at least above the gate). Then, some more stone could come out from the sides of the statues and fill out the sides. The left statue (if being viewed from the front) could have the steps that lead up to the Doorstep, which could essentially be the furthest point from the gate on the left side. The door would be there, and that would lead inside. The inside could have some details [maybe some basic connections for the smaller interior set to connect to, along with maybe a bunch of gold bricks (just basic, 2 by 4 bricks) stacked on the mountain floor to represent the piles of gold]. Then the smaller Erebor set could be fitted in sections to the inside of the mountain, filling the interior with rooms such as the Throne Room, the Guard Room/Armory (where all those corpses and skeletons were), and even a smaller version of the furnaces (just a single furnace, maybe the he aight of one and a half figs), along with walkways and pillars to connect everything together. Figs could include: Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili, and maybe some of the other Dwarves (all in their BO5A attire), perhaps Beorn in his bear form (a new mold, similar in size to the Dewback), and maybe some orcs or Bolg with a Warg or two. This list assumes that BO5A versions of Thorin and Bilbo are included in the interior Erebor set. Bolg could be in either set. LEGO has never really made a D2C that's 'modular', but Erebor would be a really cool way of introducing the idea.