Pandora

Thank you for the kind comment and the pass, Hinckley. As to the killing of Alopex, my reasons and my degree of certainty may best be discussed after the game is over. It's nice to cheer for Town, this time

Number – 4644 Name – Marina Theme – City Year – 2011 Minifigs – Five Pieces – 294 Price – GB £41.99 Links: BrickLink, Brickset, LEGO Shop@Home So I’m clearly not the quickest of reviewers, but once again, having started, I’d thought I’d finish! On yet another Saturday afternoon I find myself in TRU looking for LEGO. This time it was the Alien Conquest sets we were after, however, in the City section, gleaming invitingly was this set: 4644 Marina. Fresh from my exploits reviewing 5770 Lighthouse Island, this set made me want to continue with my attempts at reviewing, and I was still feeling ever so slightly... nautical LEGO City Marina 4644 The front of the box shows all the different buildings in the set, which are joined together by a raised footbridge. It also shows the various characters as they go about their business, be that windsurfing or deep-sea diving. Additionally, you can see that TLG proudly proclaim that the boat really floats! Really?! I’m not putting my LEGO in a filthy pond, but I might just remember that next time I take a bath. The back of the box shows lots of smaller pictures, and a demonstration that the overall build is “divided into sub-models for easy start”, and that these sub-models are contained in numbered poly-bags. Click for a link to a high-res picture. The top of the box shows all five minifigs in action poses, and with their respective accessories. Inside the box are two instruction booklets. Book one contains instructions for the boat and the windsurfer, and shows as much on the front. You can just spot the quad bike in the background of the picture, and indeed its instructions are here, too. Inside the booklet you can see which bag to grab and which “extra” parts are also needed. The back shows the final stages of the build. The second instruction booklet is for the remainder of the build – the buildings and structure of the Marina. The back shows everyone’s favourite KFOL. (Not shown) Towards the back of the second booklet, there’s a full inventory spread over two pages. I’ve put them side by side but there’s a link to high-res pictures if you want to see more. The sticker sheet, unlike the instruction booklets, was in perfect condition. In fact it had cloned itself; I got two. I’m still not applying them, though. Now onto the LEGO itself. One bag is unnumbered and contains two tan plates, the boat body, a red flexible pipe for the boat and the windsurf sail. Each numbered bag contains a smaller polybag within, and you can just about make them out. Here they are: A better look at the parts inside the unnumbered bag, including the nice tan plates, and the boat that really floats: The main parts of bag 1 contain some interesting parts, particularly the printed console. Here’s a closer look at the printed console. The smaller poly-bag within contains mainly minifigs accessories and parts for detailing. The minifigs comprise of two divers, identical apart from facial expressions, hats and accessories, and a dodgy bloke in his vest and pants, with a slightly sinister coastguard. To start you off gently, the first build is the wind-surfer and his board, complete with a solitary buoy for him to windsurf around. This is extremely simple. This is followed up with the cute little quad bike, that looks a bit more like a dune buggy to me with its roll-bars. There’s even a tow bar on the back in case any vehicles or boats need to be towed out of the sea. It’s a very simple build, with a pleasing end result. Building the boat really just consists of adding the steering section, some seats and some details to the large boat part. Having said that, the addition of these pieces really does transform it into a divers’ boat. Here’s a better view of the steering section: The back, with the two powerful engines: And the front, where you can see how much these chaps are enjoying themselves. At the end, not much is left over save for a few extra accessories and 1x1 trans plates. Bag number 2 contains the parts for the coastguard watchtower, with a couple of handy staircases, lots of brown plates and a moulded green roof part. There are also three 1x1x5 dark grey bricks and a couple of Technic bricks in blue. The smaller poly-bag again contains items for detailing, including three flags used to denote the water safety, and a life preserver part. The second bag also contains the fifth minifigs, who is my favourite, probably because she has my sig-fig’s head. I like to think of her as Pandora on holiday by the sea... The parts of the big and little poly-bags are combined with the first tan plate to build the Coastguard Watchtower with its sandy driveway, the raised bridge and a small pier with a beacon. A view of the Coastguard Watchtower from the front. It makes you want to hum the Baywatch theme... and the Lifeguard from collectable minifigs series 2 would be right at home here, I think. There are interchangeable coloured flags, depending on the warnings required for the beach, plus a life-preserver ready to grab and throw to a hapless swimmer. The quad bike fits nicely under the stilted hut. The bridge is quite simple, And connects to an equally simple pier or jetty, where holidaying Pandora contemplates the murky depths below. There is also a beacon to prevent the divers in the blue boat from accidentally crashing into said pier/jetty. The back shows where the long blue Technic brick is used and it is placed to allow attachment of the built contents of the third bag. There are, surprisingly, no leftovers from this bag. Bag 3 is combined with the second, remaining tan plate to build a little surf shop selling watersports equipment. The larger parts: The contents of the smaller poly-bag within: More flippers! And a harpoon! I can see that being useful.. Note also the printed parts. Here’s a better view of the printed parts, including a back view of the 2x2 plate showing its attachment. Once the parts are combined, a charming little surf shop is formed, complete with cash-register and a few supplies for sale. There are even a couple of cupboards. A sticker to denote this as a surf shop is placed on the white 1x16 brick at the front of the shop. The front also shows that another long blue Technic brick is used here to allow the Technic pins to join the shop to the jetty. The view from the back shows the back of the cash register and the cupboards more clearly. Here you can see the surf shop attached to the jetty from the second build, and you can also see the dark grey plates with widely spaced studs to allow attachment of the built contents of the fourth bag. Once again very few parts remain, and once again, they’re mostly flippers The fourth and final bag contains fewer parts, but does contain some nice dark grey windows, two long aerials in black and an unusual lime green radar dish. The smaller poly-bag has a few trans-clear 1x2x1 panels, a couple of mugs and a red loud-hailer, along with sparse bits and pieces. The first thing to build for the Paradise Cafe is the coffee machine I have never been so delighted to see a coffee machine that’s incapable of producing coffee! It only requires a few parts, but it is instantly recognisable. The rest of the cafe is put together rather simply, and uses two more of the moulded green roof parts. The largest of the stickers is supposed to be placed on the roof to identify this as the Paradise Cafe, and there is a menu sticker to apply on a wall inside. Both are placed on single bricks. The name Paradise Cafe harks back somewhat to bygone Paradisa sets. However, a bit of Technic jiggery-pokery, and the roof is able to rotate and open. The Paradise Cafe has a flip-top lid! This provides an unexpected feature and allows better access into the cafe itself for moving things around. The back view shows the interior better, along with the small terrace with a table and umbrella and a couple of chairs. This is supposed to sit on top of the surf shop, but the only possible way up is via the ladder used to display life-preservers. The top of that ladder finishes under the green roof part at the front. How on earth are these minifigs supposed to get their coffee? At the bottom of Bag 4, only a black aerial is spare. Here’s a view of all four modules joined together, with the additional vehicles and accessories. They do make a nice scene together, and the use of the bridge to imply water works well, but one can’t help feeling that there’s a whole lot of sea missing Conclusion The new Harbour range within the City theme provides the opportunity to expand your town with coast-line themed buildings and boats. This set, Marina, provides the more commercial and recreational side to the buildings with both a surf shop, and the Paradise Cafe, in addition to the Watchtower. To me this is an interesting direction for City. There’s still the element of excitement and rescue with the other Harbour sets, as one would have with the Police and Fire lines, but the addition of this more recreational side is more appealing to me. Design – 7/10 I can’t help but feel this could have been so much more, and then I feel bad as there’s a cute little quad bike, and a windsurfer, and a big blue boat, not to mention the kitted out surf shop and cafe, but it still feels a little bare. The modular approach is nice and means elements can be moved around to some degree, and although it’s not new I’m delighted with the coffee machine. Build – 7/10 nothing about this build was challenging, each sub-model was quickly and easily assembled. It was almost like four impulse sets joined together. Minifigs – 8/10 there are five, including vest and pants man (the windsurfer) who I’ve not seen before, and the diver’s outfits are quite nice. There are plenty of accessories, too. Parts – 8/10 there aren’t that many parts, all things considered, but there are some interesting pieces and, as mentioned, accessories. Stand out favourites would be the harpoon and the printed console piece and tiles, and if you need orange and lime-green flippers then this is the set for you. Playability – 7/10 there’s a strange sense of incompleteness, as if the other Harbour sets are required to make a story. There are no real play-features except for the Paradise Cafe’s flip-top lid, but you can zoom around in the boat. You could even take the boat in the bath! Price – 7/10 for the parts and interest it’s reasonable value for money, especially compared with other City sets. I wouldn’t be tempted to buy two, though. Overall 73% It’s a pleasant set that would be nice enough to provide a starting point for a coast-line at least. It really was very simple to build and looks nice once built, but being spread out in a long line makes it awkward to display. The lack of any real sea element makes it seem a little odd. I’m pleased with it, and I did enjoy building it, but I think it’ll be sorted for parts before too long. Comments very welcome.

Once again, you've delivered a brilliant game Hinckley, and I'm just really pleased to have been a part of it, if only for a short while. Thank you so much for letting me play. I think you know I thought my time was up

Congratulations both! Well deserved, indeed!

We all can swim is correct but less natural. Might be said in response to the question "Can we all swim?" where one would put emphasis on the word "can". Similarly, We can all swim. (Question would be "Can you all swim?") It really depends on the meaning of can in the phrase; whether it means skilled, allowed, or physically able as that changes the word order, to some extent.

Soon I will have to go off and plant some more petunias, not that they seem to grow around here, but that's probably because the ground is like dust around Hunter's Pub. Randy, much as you are adorable, your recent comments have failed to make me reconsider enough to change my vote. I'm sorry. There is a possibility you may be town, we none of us are sure of anything, but given that no-one else has pricked up my cute little piggy ears, and that I fear the wrath of the almighty, my vote stays where it is.

Hi Jed, I still hope my folks will discover an untapped mine of LEGO in the loft too, but I think I've got all of my childhood LEGO, now. Great idea with the wooden advent calendar, but a daily mini-build from the official LEGO calendar is great fun too and a big hit in my house. Themes other than City can also yield interesting parts and minifigs. Enjoy your time here, and don't forget to post some of the MOCs you have on display

On the plus side, the models made me laugh. Surely EBers (albeit not this one) can do better....??

Some relevant points have already been made. Evan, you have crystallised my thoughts with another sensible statement. I would still like to hear from Randy, but I have a feeling we're likely to have a repeat of yesterday. So I'm sorry Betsy, I vote: Randy Rabbit (Alex the Great)

Randy, where are you? As far as I can remember you haven't said anything today and poor Betsy must be sick with worry! Surely delivering bread can't take all day? And Lily dear, I think proof at this stage is likely to be a little hard to come by, but if anyone has any I'd urge them to come forward to someone they trust.

At the end of play today, we're one for one (i.e. we have a poly-bag for you ) and we'll try to continue the success for the remaining days. Don't worry, I won't update daily , just thought you'd like to know we're off to a good start! Really sorry things haven't worked out for Superkalle and family (different thread), but we'll also take lots of pictures, I'm sure.

I wander in here every so often, and never had any intentions to post, but given the fact that Clone O'Patra has made me laugh out loud twice on one page warranted a quick message to say how much I liked them. Plus as always, they're great pictures. I must admit, my sense of humour is really on the same level as Praiter Yed , so while I'm here let me say I enjoy yours, too, and I also like your pictures. Please, both, keep them coming!

Hi LEGO Shop Girl, nice to see another en-pinkened bod around (loving Peppermint's new word) especially one who works for TLG. I've had to listen to a Sound Brick over and over and over, so here's some info: You can hear it here too, in Rufus' Review of 5771 Hillside House (there's a video part way in). You have to press the button (made into a doorbell in the build) to make it work, just like a Light Brick, however you just have to press and release for the whole sound to play (just like a real doorbell) rather than hold down the button as you would with a Light Brick. It seems the slightest pressure will set it off and it's very easy to set it off during building the set. You can get an idea of the length of sound from the video. As to whether it can be re-programmed - I doubt it but a more knowledgeable technical person will no doubt answer that in due course.

It is worrying that two of us were lost yesterday; we sadly expected the mafia to strike against one of us, and there are numerous theories as to the reasons behind Holly's death. At the moment I, like others, am inclined to believe that a vigilante is the most likely scenario. However, this should not distract us from the fact that the mafia are still among us and soon will come the time to vote again. As the almighty has made abundantly clear, although we successfully lynched a scum yesterday, we were lucky. As Betsy has said, surely there must be some further information forthcoming from last night? If so, find someone to trust, and tell them. Rooting out the mafia should be our primary concern.

I will, of course, do my best for you; we already have a request for many copies from elsewhere, and in addition it might be tricky to coordinate one of us with the right voucher in a store that has them in stock on each day, but we'll definitely try our very best for you.

Why did you have to be scum, Marcus? Why? You knew that we, your family, loved you, why did you get yourself mixed up with the bloody mafia?!? You've brought shame on our family, clearly we're better off without you and I'll not be mourning you. Gregor and Franklin, I feel your losses; it's awful that two innocent lives have been cruelly ended, and now we seem to have stumbled one step forward but two steps back. Two of us lost last night doesn't quite seem right..

Love Nick Cave too, first dance at our wedding was to a Nick Cave song! Here's another fine Aussie export, a great pick-me-up song, even if it is a little sad:

Yay! I can now officially be excited!

Oh, you spoke over me well I'm glad you're OK Randy, but we are concerned that you haven't said too much today. Storming in and pointing fingers doesn't make you look much better..

Betsy, sweetie, I don't. And neither does my mother. I'm sure we'd all love to see Randy again, not just to ask him where he's been, but to make sure he's OK. However, if he's up to no good, then we have to protect our friends and families and note our suspicions.

Thanks again everyone for your replies, and I'm really glad you enjoyed seeing the alternate builds as I really think they are great features of the set. It's still currently in the Fish Cafe incarnation, and when I do rebuild the Lighthouse (and I know I will!) I don't really want to put the stickers on as they would be visible on the alternate builds. It'd have been nicer if LEGO had provided two extra pieces to put the stickers on so that it wouldn't matter, but I doubt they'd do that Thank you Fangy! And thanks for the co-frontpage! I am actually very interested in joining the Reviewers Academy, as I know I could learn a lot from the great Teachers there - the only thing really stopping me is lack of enough free time. I may yet sign up, but thanks for the encouragement in the meantime! Thanks again everyone!

Poor Patrick! He was such a colourful character ; I'm staying away from that bakery, it's just apples for me from now on. So we've also had a Mafia goon working in the store under our noses, but at least we know who he is, it's the ones we don't know about that worry me the most. In addition, it seems the goon was the last person seen holding Patrick's camera, so I doubt we'll be able to get hold of it, although it would great if we could. Hunter has really been acting strangely, and given that he's managed to incur the wrath of the almighty, I'm more likely to believe he's been drinking the profits of his bar again, rather than acting suspiciously, however I am not going to rule out the possibility it might be both. As many have said, I'd also love to hear more from Randy Rabbit, he's unusually quiet. However there have also been a lot of people talking about things that, given our current predicament, are by comparison a little inconsequential. I fear the consequences of not reaching a conviction; I sincerely worry what the voice in the sky will do to us, and it is more likely to disadvantage those of us who are innocent. Plus it is likely to be cruel and unusual. We are limited somewhat by time; over half the day has passed and we don't seem to be getting anywhere

Aww, thanks Mum, you're the best. Maybe if all 17 bullets had gone through his little toe... Otherwise, you'd have to be some sort of necromancer. Betsy, you wound me. I spend all my time trying to keep Fabuland ...well, fabulous, with beautiful flowers and green, green grass and nobody notices. Can we now re-focus on the fact that our idyllic lives are now in grave peril from mafia that are skilled enough to kill an FBI agent under our very noses (or snouts)?

Congratulations! I'm very proud of you and pleased for you. I know how much this means to you and I also know how much effort you will continue to put into the site, and with Fangy's leadership, you'll make a great team. Fangy, the choice of a zombie head was truly inspired!