Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for call my attention, BlueBard. The same happened in the topic about this year's SW sets - supposably it's because I always do already think about next year's sets. I'm sorry. My favourite 2009 City set is the 7641 City Corner since it looks really classical, includes a 2,5 floor big building, a bus with station. It's great that TLG offered a civilian City set as a regular set this year, too! After 10184 Town Plan this is imo even the best City set ever! My Top-Three City sets of this year are: 1. 7641 City Corner 2. 10199 Winter Toy Shop 3. 7747 Wind Turbine Transport Klaus-Dieter

Hello everybody! Since now all City sets for 2009 are released and we already have got great reviews of these sets I thought that it would be interesting to know which your favourite City set of this year is and whether there is one prefered one among us City fans. (I didn't add the promo sets to this poll since only very few people can get them. And I didn't add the Fire Brigard to this poll since this shall be a poll only about City sets in the classic City/Town style (buildings without backwalls).) So please vote! Comments are welcome! Klaus-Dieter

I totally agree with you, Macoco - a new really huge train station is really needed (since the one from 2007 was a flop)! Here is a new idea I can't remember that has been posted before: Soda Truck 20 Euros Did you ever know how the pizzeria gets its coke and water? Yes, the soda truck delivers bottles of water, apple juice and coke to them! Load and enload the pallets with the bottles and drive them through the city. a truck built very similar to the one in 7733 but with car doors and without trailer and forklift including a pallet transportation vehicle (like in the 2008 advent calendar), a pallet with trans-white bottles (= water), a pallet with trans-yellow bottles (= apple juice) and a pallet with dark-trans bottles (= coke) minifigs: worker and truck driver This could even be an additional set to a depot/warehouse/cargo center, an additional set to a cargo train/cargo loading station or even simply a stand alone set as an additional civilian City set. Klaus-Dieter

If so I will be very happy, too and the overkill of Fire and Airport wouldn't bother me, too. The only question is whether this is only my wishful thinking since to tell the truth I highly doubt that we'll get an elevated train as a regular train set and the City Square as exclusive set. Klaus-Dieter

This is a great idea, starwarsfanatic! At least for the end of the SW license a Yavin Base has to be released! The only three things I'd add to your set description would be the Red Leader (minifig), a small transport vehicle with cargo stuff and the room where Han and Luke get their awards. Imo Chewy, the two Rebel Troopers and R2 are in this set not needed. Then we would already have 9 minifigs included (General Dodonna, Red Leader, Biggs, Luke, Leia, Han, R2 and two Rebel Technicans) - and more is unrealistic to await anyway. The preliminary design of a set like this - but which regrettably has been never released - can be found on the last pages of the Visual Dictionary. Klaus-Dieter

These are all great entries! My vote goes to Diesel Shunter simply because it does look like an official set designed by TLG, since it looks very classical and since it doesn't look that heavy brick-built. My second vote would have been the Open Auto Rack. Klaus-Dieter

These are all great creations! My favourite one - for which I even voted - is the Gantry Signal Box Klaus-Dieter

That's an awesome MOC, Matija Grguric! I really it! The landscape as well as the architecture of the house look absolutely realsitic and the details are stunning! I especially like how you built the vine plants - great idea. Very, very well done! :thumbup: Btw: Does the house have some interior? If so, can you please show us some pics of it? Klaus-Dieter

Although I'm not familiar with the story I really this your vignette, TheBrickster! The minifigs look very well designed. But even more than the minifigs I like the little scenery. It reminds me - supposably because of its colors - of the Graveyard Duel from the HP theme. The light bricks are a great addition. Very well done! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for the picture of the new Hoth Rebel Trooper's helmet, commdr_neyo! The new helmet looks indeed great and much better than all helmets before. The only thing which disturbs me is that we get nearly every year a new helmet which then looks really strange in addition to the older version. Investing the money and time in designing a Hoth Rebel Commander/Captain's torso would imo be much better! I ask myself why TLG did not already include the new helemt in this year's Echo Base. Klaus-Dieter

I, too, was already thinking about the price problems that would appear if TLG really released its regular Train sets with only PF. Fact is that if TLG releases the regular Train sets (meaning the Train sets which you can often find in regular toy shops, too) with the PF train motor, recharegeable battery, battery recharger, light bricks, rechargeable battery box, infrared sensor, remote control and tracks these sets won't be sold very much (at least not in the regular toy shops) because most people wouldn't be aible to afford these sets. But fact is even that if TLG will sell the regular train sets without motor, RC and tracks they surely won't be sold very much in regular toy shops since the main audience (namely JFOLs) want a set with which they can immediately play - plus adults surely don't want to buy hundreds of additional sets only in order to that the train runs. But that TLG will disconinue selling regular train sets sounds to me unbelievable since trains have been one of the themes - like Fire, Police, ... - which appear again and again. And I even bet that the regular train sets are sold very well (although they are of course not cheap - but what is today stil cheap?!). The items which do not sell very well on regular toy shops are single locomotives, single train cars etc. which do not belong to a certain big train set being only a short while ago released. I can well imagine the solution: TLG released this new train motor this year. In the set description it says that it works with the new PFs as well as with a regular battery box (like in the RC sets). TLG will take that train motor, add a regular battery box and a remote control and tracks to it - meaning: for the regular train sets there won't be changing that much - at least no complete change from RC to PF but a mixture between both. For the additional Train sets we might hopefully get (such as e. g. a cargo loading station) I could well imagine TLG including the new PF functions. And of course there will be some new exclusive train sets, too. Klaus-Dieter

That's a great MOC, Calvin! I really it! It looks very realistic and is indeed really huge! Only two ideas for improvement: I wouldn't use archs above the entrances - in this way it looks somehow like an ancient building. And some sort of VIP longue and TV news studio with big walls out of glas on top of the seats would be a great addition. Otherwise it's great! Very well done! Klaus-Dieter

I have an interesting theory: If TLG really released new Train sets in summer and doesn't want that a possible new passenger train competes with a possible exclusive nelevated train: May it not be that TLG will release an elevated train (meaning the Public Transportation Center option) as regular train set (as/instead of a passenger train) and release the City Square as the TRU Exclusive?! Imo this would make much sense: 1. No competition between new regular passenger train and new exclusive elevated train since there only will be the elevated train - but as regular train set. 2. JFOLs would very much like an elevated train as much as AFOLs - an elevated train is even much more interesting and something much more in particular than the common regular passenger trains. So JFOLs as well as AFOLs would buy this set. 3. The fans of civilian City sets would be pleased since they will get their exlusive City Square set. Imo this would be the perfect deal for TLG itself as well as for their customers - AFOLs as well as JFOLs: kids get their passenger train set which will this time be an elevated train, adult train fans get their beloved new elevated train and (adult) civilian City fans get their beloved exklusive City Square set. So everybody is happy and TLG probably will sell two sets instead of perhaps only one since many AFOLs then would not only buy the elevated train but even the City Square, too. What do you think? Klaus-Dieter

You're supposably right, KimT. But if the AT-AT was firstly released in fall 2010 - what's then with the Cloud City set which came up as rumor earlier? Since we know now all regular SW sets for 2010 and since there will supposably be an AT-AT as Exclusive this would mean that another OT set - at least a big and/or exclusive one - is highly unlikeable. So this would even mean that we'll see no Cloud City set. And if we saw no Cloud City set in 2010 (wherer ESB has its birthday!) we surely will - if TLG stops its SW license after 2011 - even not see one in 2011 since this would then be the last year for Lego SW where mainly the most famous ships (MF, X-Wing, regular TIE-Fighter) and some re-designs of famous locations (I bet for Jabba's Palace) will appear. At the moment we already have the second version of the AT-AT. If TLG did not include some rooms from the rebel's base and some exclusive minifigs in the possible third version I really ask myself which sense this set then should make - even since Cloud City was only done one time and offers a lot more playability than a third version of an AT-AT. Klaus-Dieter

I partly agree with you, Macoco. On the other hand I disagree with you according to the possible contents of the different poll options: TLG somehow was a bit unhandy with what they included in those three pics and what not. Mainly the City Square option did nearly inlcude only sets we already got this and last year (toy shop, sports car, town hall and the architectual design of the cafe) although many boxart pics of all these City sets (apart from the awesome 10199 WTS) were at that time already on the web. What I want to say with that: The pics were only ideas for possible contents of the three poll options and no final list of their contents. So you can't say that only because of we already got or will get this and that set it's unlikely that we will get the poll option which showed a very similar content to this set already in the picture. On the one hand I totally agree with you: If the Public Transporation Center won we will surely get a modern version of the Airport Shuttle. I only am a bit sceptical whether a possible re-design of the Airport Shuttle wouldn't compete against other new regular train sets out in summer since many people then surely would only buy one. But if TLG released the City Square people would nevertheless buy some of the new (regular) train sets. Well, only time will show. Hopefully we'll soon get a hint which option won. Clear is that we'll see the final result at the earliest around Toy Fair - perhaps even later since the (exclusive) City sets are most of the time shown much later than e. g. the SW sets. Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for these pics, Legoliner! Legomilk wrote "City Trains" - so these will be train sets belonging to the City theme, Legoist. I can't imagine TLG releasing regular Train sets from now on only via S@H since this would surely shorten their sales. Either they release a complete new Trains line (with the more to JFOLs orientated train sets like e. g. in 2006) of which the sets will be available in every toy shop - or they will not release a complete new Trains theme but only one or two exclusive Trains sets (mainly orientated on AFOL's wishes, e. g. as addition(s) to the Emerald Night) every year. I totally agree with you, Macoco! TLG will surely sell a cargo train and a passenger train. And I even think that they'll be in about the same price class like the ones from 2006 - perhaps they will even be a bit more expensive (about 10 or 20 Euros) if TLG hopefully designed them in a more classic style, with doors to open, a little track side structure, more minifigs and more additional stuff. Trackside structures are indeed absolutely necessary! In the last Trains theme there appeared only one - the train station from 2007 - which even had a very bad architectual style and nearly no interior. I hope that we'll see next year or at least in 2011 a decent big train station (like the classic yellow train station from around 1990), a cargo loading station, a warehouse and a modern engine shed. If they came as regular sets or as Exclusives is imo equal as long as they will appear. MVV was released this year and not in 2008. You're right that there surely won't be only the TRU Exclusive as City Exclusvie next year, Dr. Brick. For 2010 I could well imagine to see as City Exclusives: -one or two train car(s) as addition for the Emerald Night -CC styled building (no idea what - but I even don't care about it) -TRU Exclusive (either elevated train or City Square) -Winter set (possibly a bakery?) I'm not that sure about that, Dr. Brick. Of course kids are more interested in fire, police, construction site and emergency than about some shops and family houses. But that does not mean that they are not interested in some shops and family houses. Legoliner and I do not demand from TLG to stop producing fire, police etc. sets and only sell civilian sets. We only complain about that it's getting boring when there is one year when we'll very supposably (apart from perhaps one set - or if we have got many luck two sets) get no civilian buildings. E. g. post office and a bank with security truck surely would be very demanded at kids, too! And do only look at what Playmobil has been releasing in the last years for city sets: different shops, zoo sets, circus sets, family house(s) and school sets are all selling very well. So why shouldn't civilian Lego sets do, too?! Klaus-Dieter

This is a good question, Legoliner! It's definately too expensive - only compare it to the awesome 10199 Winter Toy Shop which is 10 Euros cheaper but which is much more realistic and lovelier designed. But the buildings of this Farm set (against my former aim I built it up last Friday) are very <insert that tiresome argument>, the cowshed is much too small and the barn looks really minimalistic. Nevertheless the tractor and the cows and the additional stuff included in this set are great! And like TheBrickster already mentioned: with the new great pigs enclosure and the farmer Impulse set it would look very well - and surely even better than only this set on its own. To put it in a nutshell: The Farm set is highly overpriced for what it contains - but nevertheless it would really be a pity to miss it if you have the money and place - since every city needs some farms where the food for the citizens is produced. And who knows whether TLG will bring back the Farm theme after having finished this line next year or the year after next year? Nobody knows. Klaus-Dieter

But for a fan of Classic-Town-styled cars this is even the thing which makes it that appealing. Klaus-Dieter

If TLG did them in that nice way - meaning with car doors, nice accessory and minifigs - like in the Wind Turbine Transport set or in the Truck And Forklift set I wouldn't mind them, too, Striker. But since we already have got a gas station there supposably wouldn't be much exciting and new in a truck stop. Imo a depot/warehouse/cargo center (like the awesome one from some decades ago) with a big depot, an office, a forklift and two trucks would be much more interesting and appeal much more to kids as well as adults, too. I totally agree with you, Rick! A tram would be really nice! But I see a big problem there - namely how to make baseplates with tracks already inside but which should be on the same level like the baseplates of the buildings?! If you asked me, a tram will surely not happen. But you never know. An elevated train would be awesome! But that TLG uses the up-down tracks from the IJ set is very unsupposably since (if I'm not wrong) they are much too short: if a train wants to drive up and down them its wheels will leave the tracks (or the train (parts) are only aible to be around 6-8 stucks wide - but how would that look like?!). Nevertheless TLG could use the curved tracks and create two new molds: one straight and one bigger up-and-down-going. Like already mentioned I think that it whether we'll get the Public Transportation Center or the City Square will very much depend on wether we'll get many Train sets in summer or not. If there are two new train sets in summer I can't imagine that TLG will release another train set as an Exclusive, too. If the City Square won I could well imagine - and even hope - it including a cafe, a shop (but no idea of which kind - perhaps a grocery?), a hotel, a small park, a taxi, another car, a bicycle and some minifigs. That it will include a post office and/or a bank is imo not very supposably since these were sets in which even JFOLs are interested very much - so it'd be better to release them as/in regular sets. Klaus-Dieter

I partly agree with you, Section8. On the one hand you're supposably right: for many - mainly junior - FOLs a tanker and a refinery would be too boring. (I'd say it might even depend on how the set is designed - because with the tank trunk you can't do much more than driving around, too.) On the other hand an oil rig would surely be a great set with could include many action elements and play features: -helicopter with landing platform -diving bell with crane -life boat which speeds downwards -boring bar to move up and down -cordination room, storage room for tools, briefing room and sleeping room -helicopter pilot, boss, diver and two workers Isn't that even more playability than in the CG Platform?! In this point I totally agree with you, Section8! And I'm even sure that if TLG included e. g. a doctor's office, a cafe, a shop and an office in a skyskraper (or let's say a house bigger than three floors) plus some cars and minifigs to play, AFOLs as well as JFOLs would like it! Speeking about tall buildings I even would like to see: TV Tower around 100 Euros (perhaps as S@H Exclusive) tower with small office (to buy tickets for the drive to upwards) downstairs, a turnable restaurant and a viewing balcony on top of the tower and an elevator inside it (the elevator and the turning function of the restaurant may both be PF functioned - but not necessarily), a small landscape with a piece of a lake and a waterside with a bench, a street lamp and some flowers including a movable ice cream stand, some tools, some tumblers, some cups, a grey suitcase, a small TV car (for the worker to repair the TV aerials on top of the tower) and a spyglass minifigs: TV worker, waitress, female ticket seller, mother, father, son, boy and ice cream seller I totally agree with you. Legoliner Pilot! These were indeed all great sets - and if TLG did modernise them and include more interior and additional stuff these would even be excellent sets! A re-design (better than re-release since these old sets often had nearly no interior and the buildings were very small, too!) of some of these sets would be awesome - esp. of the Bank, the Post Office, the Hamburger Stall, the Town Square, the Airport Shuttle and the Chocomel Factory! Yes, we need some industrial buildings, too! This is a great idea, lifeinplastic! Hopefully TLG will offer some sort of small park, an ice cream van and a street cafe to us next year! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for the pics, ILikePi and OkyWan Kenobi! When looking at blurry pics I thought that the Western town would perhaps look fine - but seeing it now it looks havy <insert that tiresome argument>. But the soldiers' car looks very realisitic and lovely! Klaus-Dieter

Legomilk wrote here that there'll be Trains in 2010. And it's even very supposably since the last trains were in 2006 and the last non-exclusvie train set in 2007. So a new Train theme is highly supposably. Btw: Since the Pirates fans will get next January this awesome 10210 Imperial Flagship there is no chance that we'll see an exclusive City set before next summer. If we really got a new Trains theme in summer 2010 I then hope that the TRU Exclusive will be the Ciy Square and not the Public Transportation Center (although I'd very much like to get an elevated train). Reason: Train sets are always very expensive. If TLG releases two new train sets in summer I bet this means that we won't get any civilian buildings (such as a bank, a post office, a grocery, ...). So I hope that then the Exclusive will at least include some civlian buildings. Please don't get me wrong: I really like the new Repair Vehicle, the Small Car is brilliant and so does the Piglets Enclosure - and the two Impulse sets surely will be great, too. But a whole year without any civilian building (apart from perhaps another winter house) would for me be really bad! Klaus-Dieter

That's a great MOC, Anders Nolberger! I really it! It looks very realistic! The cowshed looks indeed much better than the official one in the farm set! The plough you added to the red tractor looks great! Do you have some detailed pics of it? Very well done! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for this news and these pics, Bonaparte! This ship looks really awesome! :pir-wub: It's really a pity that I haven't got the money and place to begin collecting Pirates sets, too, since this would absolutely be a must-have! It's the first really decent soldiers' ship which has been appearing in the whole history of Lego - and it's outcome is really wow! -a decent number of minifigs -a new lovely looking female minifig -brilliant exterior design -awesome interior design -many accessory -price ratio performance is quite ok, too The most I like the inside of the kitchen - simply ! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for this great review, Cardinal Brick! I voted for Outstanding :wub: since this set is simply outstanding! Cons: -pilot's torso used for the singer (a complete black torso would have looked better - does the pilot have to earn some money with singing, too, since he gets that few money for flying planes?!) -the small tools would have looked better than the big hammer (does the toy shop owner want to destroy or to repair the toys?!) -too few candles and Christmas tree balls on the Christmas tree - it looks a bit empty! Pros: -seven minifigs -awesome exterior design -many awesome looking toys -brilliant interior (TLG even thought about including a cash point! ) (-possibly another winter set next year?! ) It's great to see that TLG discovered the "winter theme" and I really hope that we'll see many more winter sets in the next years! If you want to I can call the Lego Store in Munich on Monday and then write you Monday evening whether it's available there. But since it's already on S@H I can't imagine that it won't be there. Klaus-Dieter