TeriXeri

That just shows how much it varies per region, for The Netherlands, the last Nexo Magazine (issue 9 of 2018) came out 20 December 2018.

If true, releasing some new Pirate sets would make a lot of sense with the release of Pirate Bay, especially when drawing in new fans or people who were out of LEGO for a long time.

To me the true fun of LEGO comes from building with whatever parts are owned. Digitally designing with only using parts that are owned is of course a middle ground. However that does not mean that designing digitally and then ordering parts to build it in bricks is a bad thing, it's just a very different approach.

It's not so much PC that's in the current and newer themes, it's that pretty much each recent theme is based on some form of TV Show, has an app, kids' books or a magazine aimed at kids to go alongside it. Just speaking of non-licensed themes here. Themes with named characters existed to a lesser extent with Pirates and Adventurers way back in the 80s and 90s, but the focus wasn't as wide as it's now, and it's not simply the fact the characters have names. 2013 Castle and 2015 Pirates were short lived, and had little to no large media attention in comparison. Compared to the current run of themes 2013-now, like Friends, Ninjago, Hidden Side and former themes like Chima, Nexo Knights, Elves, all of which at least has one of those features, often multiple : TV Show App Books Magazines Merchandise like clocks, keyrings, dolls, toy weapons etc. Even City got official named characters now, and a TV show with LEGO City Adventures, and has more frequent magazines in 2019 (12 instead of 6 this year in NL at least) I'm not saying that the LEGO sets of such themes are bad, but I think the chances of getting "Classic" themes without much media are either going to be very short lived (like 2013 Castle / 2015 Pirates) , or not exist at all. IDEAS and the recent aquisition of LEGO Bricklink might give LEGO a better picture of demand for more "Classic" themes hopefully, beyond just sales numbers of current sets, they can have data on how older themes circulate. Also as an AFOL, I'm not saying that books and magazines are a bad thing, I have multiple Nexo Knight books and Collected all the magazines 2016-2018, and now City Magazines, however, I see those as additional LEGO content, not 100% required to enjoy a Castle or City theme. I just hope that themes like Classic and Creator are staying around and possibly improved. I could see Creator being one way to give us more Pirate/Castle/Space sets once in a while without needing an entire theme dedicated to it. Besides IDEAS. I really liked the 60th anniversary LEGO sets as well, as they did actually include throwbacks to Pirates/Castle/Space.

Oh yes , I agree it's one of the best large City sets where I actually like 100% of it.

This hopefully will play some role, as sets of now-retired themes still circulate on Bricklink, hopefully LEGO will get a better picture of demand/interest for "classic" themes. Kids might not be the main target for classic Castle/Pirate/Space builds at this point, most of the recent LEGO in-house themes all been built off some App or TV show, alongside kids books etc, hopefully they'll see that adults don't always need all that extra fluff and just want great sets. 2013 Castle and 2015 Pirates were some of the last themes that didn't have an app, tv show, or magazine to go alongside it, and now even City has a TV show with LCA.

I'd say a ship like that, before the age of gunpowder/cannons would fit under Historical correctly.

I hope this will lead to a better online streamlining of services like Bricks&Pieces, Pick a Brick and Bricklink, at least for common parts but I doubt that. On the other hand, it also might allow more Bricklink sets like Löwenstein Castle and better local distribution/shipping for such sets, as they were shipped from US, import taxes played a role.

That set is 100 pieces larger then both the Donut Shop and Ski Resort which were $90 USD (on the US Lego.com) , this has 3-4 less minifigs, but I still expect $90-$100 US price. Of course I wish it'd be less then that myself as well, I still expect it to be around €85-€100 here as well.

Maybe it's an island on the southern hemisphere where it's pretty much mid-summer around Christmas Anyway, lovely build.

Big factor to look at are Import Taxes , Shipping Cost and eventual VAT before anything, as they don't often show just at Ebay itself, you have to calculate it depending on product and origin. It varies per country. Example for my country, if I order from outside the EU, I'd automaticly have to pay 21% VAT if it's from outside the EU, over €22, so a €22.01 purchase from for example a LEGO set from the USA would cost me €22.01 +21% = €26.63 instead. Even more complicated if Import Tax is added, which is another seperate calculation.

I suppose some of the light yellow pieces on 2019 fire and 2020 police vehicles could be a bit of European influence as vehicles sometimes have neon yellow stripes in some european countries. This color comes close (but might be too green) but that's now used for ghost features in hidden side, so would be a bit odd This color comes closer to real neon but isn't used for regular LEGO parts: Source : https://brickset.com/colours/family-Green I'd love a neon green ambulance or medical helicopter one day.

Stickered headlights again, but maybe there are technical reasons why they haven't made parts like 2x1 curved slope/wedges transparent.

I was in the dark age during this theme, but I mostly remember Adventurers from the 1998 Desert/Egypt theme, and it was the only theme I got adventurer sets from. Looking at those sets from an AFOL 2019 perspective I like those sets/builds. LEGO seems to like the design of the Cobra as they made a similar Ninjago Cobra this year, altho more Fiery.

Surfboard was in the Xtra sea accessoire pack. Skateboard was in the Xtra Bicycles pack. So I don't mind them missing in this as long as those other Xtra packs are still sold, of course they could be different color but I understand they chose different sports. I'll probably end up buying 2 of this sports pack as there's usually spare parts of the ice and rollerskate, and ski-pole parts, so you end up with an even number (6) if you buy 2 polybags.

That cat polybag is nice, even as a parts pack. For such a small set it has a lot of possible builds with those clips/ball joints. The train still looks good for such a small thing.

I know it's not City, but I just noticed 2 new Xtra polybags on brickset, Sports and another Botanical, Xtra is pretty much City-accesoires. https://brickset.com/sets/40375-1/Sports-Accessories https://brickset.com/sets/40376-1/Botanical-Accessories Great to see them continued, and the botanical one is different enough from the last one, and very massable again.

So we were talking about City Sports earlier, and now I noticed this on brickset : A new Xtra 40375: Sports Accessories (yes that's the best picture they have right now) https://brickset.com/sets/40375-1/Sports-Accessories

Amazing sets, all 4 of them. Stunt Team, simple but it works. Race Cars certainly has a Speed Champions vibe, and Octan E seems City's Electric car brand. Service Station could have had a larger building but still fine, the Surfer van and SUV are good. Tuning Workshop, fantastic collection of vehicles, figures and building, for a mega-set I'm impressed, I love all the vehicles, figures and building/sidebuilds. Now with speed champions moving to 8 wide, I see City can certainly still design very good 4-6 wide vehicles.

Indeed, if there's any pattern at all, it seems to be: 2017 Friends Hospital 2018 City Hospital set + Ski Ambulance Helicopter set 2019 City Ski Resort Rescue Base with Snow Mobile & 4x4 Ambulance 2020 Friends Hospital 2021 ?? Overall, I think medical theme is more represented lately.

No, that's a 4+ set using just a simpler chain on a stud

With the magnets, at least a set with a crane seems very possible. Could be anything from containers cargo truck/ship, to junkyard or construction/demolition.

I have one of those 2x4 brick lunchbox type containers and it says PP 05 (Polypropylene) , not ABS.

It's still sold at the online LEGO store $24.99 in US https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/microscale-lego-brand-store-40305

Not sure, but some sites list those 4 sets are january 2020 (set 60255-60258). Piece count and names for set 60260-60266 aren't known, so I assume those are summer, 60259 isn't listed.