Spyderlord

I agree, but you need a link to tease the collective subconscious of the audience, and I don't see a better candidate for that than MF. Besides, I don't think they are making a real size version of the ship with full interior in the UK just for kicks

I am quite astonished that TLG shows such a disdain for SW line to not even make an official announcement of the Winter wave before shipping the line to retailers. I am very dissapointed at how little attention was dedicated to this line, and three The Lego Movie(s) couldn't justify it. Lousy, sloppy job TLG, for one of your three best-selling lines.

Well, I think that 2008-2012 were the years with some amazing Lego Star Wars sets around that probably drew out a lot of '80s generations from their Dark Ages (me included, and I know of others around me), therefore the market is much larger then in 2007 (I believe Eurobricks membership statistics would be revealing in that respect...) Also, from a technical point of view, Lego made quite some molding and printing breakthroughs in the recent years, and this is reflected in whole more accurate models. What I'm trying to say is that if a new UCS MF was released it would be mindbogglingly more accurate (as in would actually have a cockpit ) and sleeker looking then the original with lower piece count (and higher price ). But, not everything speaks in favor of a re-release, economic crisis is taking its toll on people's buying power, fewer can afford to drop 400 bucks on a toy (blasphemy, I know ) So will they do it? Without a doubt, IMHO. To somewhat the same purpose as in 2007: a statement. Like an X-Wing on Times Square. And I think we all have a pretty good idea when exactly How will it fare? Difficult to say But, with the accumulated experience and data, as well as the vastly improved marketing, I think they darn well know what they are doing now.

Tell that to the Death Star But, joke aside, it is a healthy business logic ofc, the above set is just the exception that confirms the rule.

Especially given that they are making a full-scale replica of that ship with full interior this time in the UK for the Episode VII

That is hats off the best solution accuracy-wise, I didn't even know that piece existed... Here's dark grey, dark bluish grey is not made anymore

No, I don't think so. Episode VII has been pushed to December 18, from marketing standpoint it makes zero sense to start making sets based on that movie before Winter 2016 (which would most definitely see an early release in December!) I'm even unsure if TLG had time to prepare for Rebels and devise a marketing strategy for the upcoming Summer wave 2014. There would be two good months difference between July sets release and Rebels premiere (end September), and although there was some gap in 2008 when The Clone Wars was due (the movie premiered mid-August), it was easier to bridge it, and it was a theatrical release, unlike Rebels (simply more coverage). I believe we'll have a balanced RoTS, CW and OT release in Summer 2014, a heavily OT and Rebels based 2015 in both waves and then the fanfare for Winter 2016... Yes, but honestly, though I really love CW, I can't abide by that obscure childish vehicle with zero SW vibe to it (translucent red, wth?! ). I'll skip it, and bricklink Ahsoka if they don't put her in a nicer CW set in the summer wave It's not even the matter of price, just that the sets she appears in are not very appealing to me...

One Dutch site has the AT-AP listed in pre-order as 74.99€, and as they usually apply a high margin, I guess the official Lego price for it would be 69.99 $/€. As for the gunship no info as of yet, just rumors. As for your other question, probably marketing reasons, introduce new things progressively, see how they fare instead of making radical changes...

I was kinda hoping we would get the Separatists' super-tank from the episode Droid Factory, given how heavy on Geonosis TLG has been thus far... They could put Commander Cody in it, a tactical droid and few other droids as well, perhaps a Geonosian. I also hope for a cheaper set featuring new Ahsoka (I know that Mortis set would be too much to hope for but I'd settle for Onderon or Citadel one ) And it's true that there certainly will be a set featuring Commander Wolff in Phase II armor (my guess is it would be something in Republic Frigate price range), everything points towards it.

And also @Infernum: It isn't actually that bad with the 1x1 holed stud, I didn't know that you could also "push" harder inside the hole with the LDD. There's still some space between the hand-guard and the hilt, but I prefer this to Lego light-saber solution. Judge it for yourself:

Euh, yes, that's exactly what I wrote under the pic?!

Not quite. That hand-guard spoils the fun pretty badly: I tried it also with different intermediate pieces between the hilt and the rapier like holed 1x1 round pieces, no way to smooth the passage from the handle-guard to the hilt

If you are referring to the rapier piece, it would indeed be of the right size with nice pointy blade part, but the problem is the "guard" part which is molded with it and non-removable

Yes, you are right, that's more accurate. I tried it with antenna piece in LDD, and though elegant-looking it is way too big

The dunes work is stunning and Sarlac is just Outstanding MOC all in all, congratulations!

Agree about the need for updates of some classic OT sets like Mos Eisley, Bespin or even Dagobah that are long overdue. But somehow, everyone seems to forget Clone Wars lately, and in my humble opinion, there is no way TLG would leave us without Commanders Cody and Wolff in new Phase II outfits, given the recent trend. Also I don't believe we've seen the last of the RoTS-based sets yet.

For example. But now that I think twice of it, it's a rather an AFOL point of view of a minifig for display purposes. Imagine a kids spear fight with antenna pieces, how many contacts before they break, fragile as they are?

Ok, wow, that looks horrible!! Yoda is No, I didn't order from there and was paying proper value for each trooper, so hopefully there won't be any surprises, but good to know to double check every time, I was completely unaware that Chinese were making fake Lego minifigs as well I guess rather naive ignorance, given the popularity... Thanks a lot for your link!

I agree, I believe it would have been more accurate if they put the grey antenna piece (Part ID: 256949), with black base if bi-coloration of one piece is technically feasible.

Now you scare me, I just ordered some 501st troopers from ebay! How can you tell a difference if it's a real Lego or a fake, never had a Chinese one in hands?

Yes, completely agree, nice post. While simultaneously allowing current year large summer sets to be the culprits for that Xmas credit card overdrafts

Oh that, yes indeed (ROTJ you mean ). So, let's hope for a Coruscant BP then, I'd certainly love to see a mix of 501st and regular phase II clones

What do you mean by "non-accurate mix of troopers", they are all Death Star "residents" so to speak?

Hahaha, there's a suggestion for TLG for improved testing procedures I do not swoosh them either generally, but there's something about this TIE, it calls you to swoosh it and make that stupid sound

Mm, are you sure you built everything ok? In my experience this is a very sturdy and swooshable set, whoever came to my place played with it swooshing it around and wing pins hold perfectly...