Klaus-Dieter

I have to disappoint you - supposably you misunderstood me, Ferdik. There is no new picture (at least I do not have one) since I only phoned S@H. I totally agree with you, Ferdik. If there are no baseplates, snackbar, up- and down-tracks, PF stuff etc. included it perhaps might go for about 100 Euros (about 160 AUSD). Maybe it looks like that: -elevated train (without PFs) with two small stations (= glas roof with ticket machine and three seats and stairs to get downstairs to the street) and a round track circle on pillars (no moving up and down - only one level) -bus with small station (= glas roof with ticket machine and three seats) -bus driver and train driver -man (new torso from the advent calendar), woman (new torso from the City House), boy (new torso from the Small Car) and girl -some suitcases What do you think? Klaus-Dieter

You're all welcome! Exactly my thoughts, Ferdik! The only reason why I fear that this won't take place is the price point - 160 AUSD for an elevated train with tracks, pillars, two stations, a bus, bus station and minifigs?! Even if it comes without PFs (which is for sure) I bet the price would be higher. Link to the TRU poll pictures I must say that I'm very excited to see what now will be included! Hopefully we'll get a description or even better some pics soon! Klaus-Dieter

You're welcome, Rick. I totally agree with you in this point, lightningtiger! I remember that a longer time ago someone stated that if this option will win there won't be any PFs included. Like already mentioned I bet that she had not a real set picture in front of her but only the picture of the poll, lightningtiger. A bus and a tram in one set would of course be awesome. But even think about that there have to be some trackside structures (bus/tram station), too. And only the vehicles with a small station?! No, imo there at least has to be a small snackbar or something similar to that included to make it a really awesome set (which could even attact those people which might not be that keen on a tram). And there have to be tracks, accessory and minifigs. So that all for 160 AUSD?! I hope so but I highly doubt it. I personally would prefer an elevated train instead of a tram. I mean: Of course a tram would look brilliant, too, but the simple problem is the place where to put it: The street plates are that small anyway that two trucks can drive next to the other barely. So where should you put the tram?! And then even think about that you would have to heighten all your streets in otder to that all your cars drive on the same level. And then you even have to put your houses on a platform (otherwise the sidewalks and streets would be one stud heigher than the entrances). And what about curves?! As awesome looking a tram would be I'm very sure it would bring more problems than gladness. Like already mentioned before, I personally think that the "Public Transport" will be more a mixture between the City Square option and the Public Transportation Center option - meanly a bigger City Corner. Klaus-Dieter

I totally agree with Jebediahs! Sir Nadroj's is cool but the/an official one is really necessary! It could be used for a new Western theme as well as for a zoo. If one day TLG hopefully comes back with a new Wild West theme I hope we'll see a bison, too. Klaus-Dieter

Here is another confirmation that 8404 will be the Public Transportation Center: I telephoned S@H today and asked what 8404 will be. Actually I didn't expect a real answer - only "I haven't got any information until now" or "I am not allowed to give you information on this set. But the friendly woman at the phone told me that this set is indeed titled "Public Transport". It shall include a bus and a train and ... but that she can't exactly say from the picture. So I bet that she only had the picture of the poll option in front of her and not an actual set pic (since a bus and a train are imo totally unrealisitic). And she said that it shall come out soon. (The only question is what you understand under soon: one day, one week, one month, several months or half a year?!) With now having two confirmations from two different people and states I think we can be very sure that we'll get the Public Transportation Center option. What do you think it'll include? I mean: The rumor of 160 Australian Dollars is a bit bigger than last year's garage. And that's of course a lot of money but does even mean that the set will be much smaller than e. g. 10184. Klaus-Dieter

Since I'm not that much in trains: Do you think that it would be possible to buy a rechargeable battery and include it in these trains without having to put away some part of the interior (meaning not like in the Emerald Night where you had to put away the whole "interior" of the driver's cab and to use the whole tender only in order to run it with the motor and the rechargeable battery)? So you would not always have to buy new batteries but run the trains with the rechargeable battery. Klaus-Dieter

Anachir, do you mean like the Imperial Speeder Bike which was given away in some special toy shops when you bought Lego Star Wars for more than 20 Euros? So they might be a small gift to everyone who spends more than xx Euros for Lego Castle in summer? Klaus-Dieter

So do you think that 8404 will be some sort of mixture of all three voting options? Like e. g.: -bus, taxi and taxi/bus station (perhaps with a small office) (=> Public Transportation Center) -small gas station to pump up the bus (=> Truck Stop) -cafe and a small park (=> City Square) Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for the pics of the BM sets, whung! Target Practise Attack Wagon It's reall a shame that these will be BM sets (which I surely won't be aible to get). These would be the perfect Impulse sets and so definitely be the sets we should get as Impulse sets! Btw: I agree with you that there is a lack of shields - mainly which concerns the lion knights. I'm still hoping that so we'll get two soldier Impulse sets (dragon, lion) in 2011. Klaus-Dieter

If TLG decided to release this option I'm 100 percent sure it'll be an elevated train (but not monorail), Rapseflaps. Do only think about how angry we AFOLs would get if we don't get an elevated train as a Public Transportation Center set. And a bus was already released last year and a taxi will be released this year - so the PTC would have to include an elevated train. Thank you very much for this information, peterab! Nevertheless I fear that this information is wrong. I's without any doubts that an elevated train would sell the most of these three options. But the simple reason for this my high doubts is that we already will get a passenger train this year which looks very similar to an elevated train. So TLG would concure within its own products (since trains are always very expensive and so many of us would have to decide whether to buy the passenger train or the elevated train). It's really not nice of TLG to not let us know which option they'll now release. I mean: The Mon Cal Cruiser (which is a fan choice set, too and from a licensed theme - namely Star Wars) was shown at NY TF last year, too. Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for your comments and votes so far! I of course voted for I want an unlicensed Western theme like the classic one from 1996/97. Reasons: 1. Nearly endless possibilities for sets The number of licensed sets is very limited since there are mainly only main scenes put into Lego sets since other scenes wouldn't be that interesting and attractive to replay. Like you can see e. g. with the Star Wars or Harry Potter sets: of course there is nearly always something new in new sets (a new minfig, a better or more detailed design of the vehicle, more accessory or an additional scenery) - but all in all the most sets are only re-designs and no real new sets. When you on the other hand look into the report TheBrickster and I wrote to TLG and when you read through the two topics for Wild West sets you can see that there are nearly endless possibilities and wishes for new Western sets. And they all make sense, include a lot of playability. 2. Use your own imagination and nearly endless possibilities for playing Of course you can play with Lego sets, buildings, vehicles, minifigs and parts whether they are licensed or not whatever you want. But nevertheless you always think about the plot of the movie, computer game, book, comic etc. when you play with these sets and so most of the time only replay the story. In contrast to that, unlicensed sets are not connected with a special plot. Of course there are some "hints" what to play with these sets (e. g. clear characters for bad guys vs. good guys or even the box printing) but nevertheless you are not limited. You can play whatever you want without always having a special given plot of a movei etc. in your brain. So you can use your imagination, play one day this story, the next day that story - and this is even the conviction for which TLG always promotes with its productes: "just imagine". Keep in mind: it's "just imagine" and not "just replay". 3. More buildings, vehicles, animals, minifigs and accessory Of course you can not generalise that but most of the time in licensed sets there are (because of financial and licensing reasons) less buildings, vehicles, animals, minifigs and accessory included than in unlicensed sets. 4. Better possibilities to get extra minifigs, animals and accessory If you want to get some extra minifigs, animals and accessory of a licensed sets this is in many cases nearly unpossible or at least very, very expensive. But unlicensed sets have the opportunity to offer some Battle Packs or Impulse sets that aren't that expensive and offer you the extra minifigs of which you need plenty (e. g. for army building). And the chances to get some extra minifigs etc. not included in these Battle Packs or Impulse sets for a reasonable is much higher. 5. Not that expensive sets This is for sure the most least argument. Nevertheless it can't be denied that licensed sets are always more expensive than unlicensed sets. The Old Triology of Star Wars is really no longer really recent - but still that popular that sets sell very well (I'm besides a huge fan of the OT - the only licensed theme of which I collect sets). So they could even search for the Western movie which is the most popular. And it's unlikely but nevertheless: Who knows whether there won't be released a new Western movie, comic etc. this year, next year or in 2012? That's a neat idea, polarbomber. But I think TLG would use a name with which you immediately can connect something. And honestly said, with "frontier" I can not connect that much - at least not a Western theme. Apart from that I'm hundred percent sure that if TLG hopefully brings back the Western theme, the first wave of sets would be only cowboy vs. bandits based, maybe some soldiers - but I even doubt that. Firstly in a possible and hopefully existing second, third and fourth wave there then would be soldiers, Indians, a Ghost Town subtheme and maybe some Mexican styled sets. Klaus-Dieter

That's an absolutely amazing City MOCset, lightningtiger! I really it! It's very simply - but maybe it's even that which makes it looking that classic and realistic! I really like the exterior design as well as the interior. The only thing I miss is a small table to stand outside and have your snack. Otherwise it's perfect. I really hope that TLG will offer us a snackbar or hamburger stall like this one next year! Very, very well done! :thumbup: Klaus-Dieter

Hello everybody! With the big success of the petition to bring back the Western theme and some interesting discussions with some of you I thought it would be interesting to know whether the majority of us Western fans would prefer a licensed theme based on an already existing Western movie, comic etc. or an unlicensed theme like the classic one of 1996/96 developped by TLG itself and being not based on any Western movie, comic etc. Please vote. Comments are welcome! Klaus-Dieter

These are two absolutely awesome City MOCs, DNL! I really them! They both look absolutely realistic with lots of details! The most I like the cabin cruiser. That's really which TLG should release, too, a cabin cruiser and a yacht (of course not with such many details but with some more minfigs and interior)! Very, very well done! :thumbup: Btw: Since I did not detect any pics of it on flickr - is there any interior in the yachts? 'Would be great! Klaus-Dieter

That's a totally awesome SW MOC, KimT! I really it! It looks absolutely realistic and very impressive! The most I like the architecture if your MOC - brilliant. And the many minifigs - wasn't there a burglary in one of TLG's storhouses where many SW sets are stored somewhen shortly before LegoWorld? I hope that TLG will offer us a Temple of Yavin in the next years, too, which should - apart from a hangar, the briefing room and the control room - include this final scene, too (of course not in that impressive size and not with that many minifigs). Very, very well done! :thumbup: Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for your nice comments, lightningtiger and LuxorV! I thought that kids as well as we AFOLs would prefer a chem lab instead of e. g. a hand work room with some sewing machines. Klaus-Dieter

Thank you all very much for the new pics! Train Station: -realistic looking pedestrian bridge -taxi -no decent train station building (this building is really a bad joke) -no doors inside the taxi The new "Train Station" is definitely not a set I would have awaited to be released in the line of the (in the majotiy) much better, much more classical and civilian oriented City sets of this and last year! It's a step backwards to the <insert that tiresome argument> sets of the late ninetees til 2005. Passenger Train: -very realistic style -supposably only three minifigures -no doors (at least TLG could have done some stickers that it looks like if there are doors ) This passenger train is a big improvement in comparison to the last version. It looks much more realistic and much less <insert that tiresome argument>. The only two things I miss are more passengers and doors to get inside the train. Cargo Train: -cargo loading station -container truck -two extra Smarts -very realistic looking engine and waggons -no doors inside the engine (at least TLG could have done some stickers that it looks like if there are doors ) -no doors inside the containers This cargo train is really an excellent (cargo) train set - mainly since it does not only include the train itself but even a cargo loading station (we've been waiting for since more than half a decade). Besides it even includes some very nice waggons we haven't seen for long, too: the container waggon and mainly the tank waggon are brilliant. The only two things which disturb me are that the engine includes no doors and that the containers include no doors. For next year we really need a car loading station (for the Smarts to get on the train) and a depot. Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for this information, Commander 501! It's strange that Han has to be put inside the carbonite block from below. Nevertheless the carbonite block looks imo very realistic. Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much to the link of the picture of the City House, Castle fan! I'm really surprised that we see a picture of 8403 already now. Absolutely right, metalandi! From the outside this new City House looks absolutely :wub: ! It's great to see that we are getting a (nearly) complete family with mother, father and son. The architecture of the house is brilliant. Although I would really like to get a suburban family house, too, I for now prefer to get an urban family home. The fences, the terrace with blue marquee, the bbq, the wall with arc, the bbq and the small "tree house" are very lovely additions. I agree with you concerning the bbq, the cat and the dog. But where do you see four minifigs? - I do only see three: son (with skateboard), father (at the bbq) and mother (with dog). I would prefer this set to include a daugther for the family instead of a dog. I totally agree with you, lightningtiger! It seems as if there is a blue chair behind the big window on the first floor - so supposably there is even a second chair and a table between them - plus supposably and hopefully a cooker with pan and a small cupboard with cups. Behind the left window on the second floor there might be a bed or a writing table with computer and behind the right window a toilet (but the picture is too blurry to be sure). Of course a furnished room in the attic would be great (e. g. a childerns' room) - but since there was no interior in the attic of the pizzeria in 7641 and since the attic seems to not taller than the one in the pizzeria I wouldn't count on this to not be disappointed if there is no interior. The only thing which is strange is that there is a bbq and a terrace - but there seem to be no chairs and no table to sit outside and eat the grilled sausages, bacon etc. I, too, can't await to see clearer pics - esp. of the interior. After about twenty years TLG finally comes back with a family home! Klaus-Dieter

Can someone conclude from the pics whether Han has to be put in the carbonite block from above or from below? You're right, Ras 74, I totally forgot the MF. TLG released the last version in regular size in 2004 - so it's really time to get a new one. If TLG releases a new one I hope that it'll come this time with General Calrissian and Nien Numb. And there could and should even be a re-design of Jabba's Sail Barge and the Sandcrawler (since I regrettably missed the them the first time). But very supposably not in the same year as the MF. Besides I think that we'll see some smaller sets, too. A new regular TIE Fighter is imo overdue, too. And hopefully we'll get the medical room of Echo Base with injured Luke, the tank in which he swims, a medical droid and Major Bren Darlin - then the Echo Base would (with all Hoth sets from 2007 to 2010) be nearly complete. Mos Eisley (Cantina) and/or Obi Wan's home and/or Owen's farm is imo unrealistic to get in 2011 since we got the Landspeeder this year. Klaus-Dieter

It differs from country to country whether which sets are regulars sold, are only hard to find items or Exclusives and where they are Exclusives. In some countries it'll perhaps only be available via TRU, in others only via S@H etc. But I think it's safe to say that the Fan's Choice set will appear in every bigger country anyway. Klaus-Dieter

That's a good point, Ras 74. I could even imagine that they'll be revealed at Brickworld - at least the AT-AT. But I only see a Cloud City if 10212 will be an UCS set (which I really do not hope since after many years of waiting I finally want a decent Imp. Shuttle which is no UCS set). Two exclusive 150+ Euros from the OT plus the AT-AT (which's price will be near that, too) is imo totally unrealistic. Plus I think TLG needs still to keep some big OT Exclusives for the next years - otherwise there won't be that many ideas they could release for huge sets (only Jabba's Palace, Mos Eisley (Cantina), Yavin and a new ISD). And KimT already said that he heard that 2011 will be even much better than this year. And which exclusive OT wasn't released/redesigned in the last years but we adult LSW fans want that much?! - Cloud City. But of course you can never know. Klaus-Dieter

Sorry lightningtiger, but I have to agree concerning what jonwil and peterab already mentioned: the handles on the doors are too big. From the back the doors look excellent but when you look at them from the side they are too massive. So I, too, would give you the advise to use the doors used in the new Lego Truck - although I totally agree with you that they should be one brick taller. Klaus-Dieter

That's a good point, Rufus. I didn't take that in consideration yet. Of course this might be the case. But judging from the last years the sets with the lower numbers were released first. And since we got two 10xxx sets the last three years I simply assumed that we will see two this year, too. Klaus-Dieter

The question is whether the Truck Stop option really got the majority of all votes (at least from AFOLS I bet that it didn't get the majority of all votes) or whether TLG simply decided to release the Truck Stop because of some strategies. If the Fan's Choice set is firstly released in June/July/August then it's still a long time until then. And TLG surely did desgin minimum one preliminary version for every of those three voting options before they set up the poll on TRU. Well, you might be right. The strange thing is that TLG showed the new Train sets at Nuremberg Toy Fair. So if they wouldn't like to show all City sets released later than June then they would not have had to shown the Train sets there, too. That's all really strange. I hope that one of our ambassadors can and will clarify this confusion. Klaus-Dieter