Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for this great review, mikey! I voted for Above Average Cons: - very expensive (in comparison to e. g. the CG 4wrd And Jetski which was 10 Euros) - blue lights (this is a tow truck and no emergency vehicle such as police) - with its 6 stucks too wide for a tow truck of this size Pros: + nice accessory + very realistic looking + car doors If the Tow Truck was only 4 stuck wide it would have been perfect! Klaus-Dieter

Sorry guys but I'm a bit confused: The 10198 Tantive 4 is already (unofficially) confirmed - so speculating about whether there'll be this set coming out this year ot not is imo needless. The "clouded set" was a quote from an interview which was made before we got the news of the RBR (please correct me if I'm wrong). I don't see any chance that we'll get another (big) exclusive (OT) set this year - or did you mean 2010? Klaus-Dieter

??? Sorry, SWMAN, but what has that to do with this topic?! Btw: It's already confirmed that TLG will produce Toy Story, Cars and Prince of Persia licensed products. Klaus-Dieter

That's a great and very interesting topic, Joey Lock! I don't think so. The last years TLG offered only fantasy creatures as enemies for the crownies. So if the current "Castle" line will offer new sets next year, too, I bet that we'll see some new fantasy creatures (very supposably elves since a lot of you seem to wish them so much). I'm not sure whether I'd like this nevertheless possible fraciton. Of course it'll be much better than again some fantasy creatures. But to choose correctly you would need to see pics of the whole sets with the castles, the war machines, the landscape, the accessory and everything other. It might well be that they'll be called "Wildmen". But that they'd be some sort of new forestmen is imo totally excluded! Forestmen are something totally different in comparison to these figs. These "Wildmen" would live in Scotland - so a landscape of hills and rocks with very little foliage plants is highly supposably - but surely not something like a Sherwood Forest. Klaus-Dieter

That's a great and very interesting topic, Emperor claduis rome! I of course voted for Romans 1. Greeks were never my big interest in history - and they still aren't. 2. Another fantasy theme like the current "Castle" theme would be ! 3. Romans are known to everybody and kids (mainly boys) like to play with Roman soldiers and the other military stuff which belongs to them. 4. For the war line there are many fractions of enemies possible: Gauls, Egypts, Teutons, Vandals, ... 5. A Roman theme would (theoretically) open up great possibilities to get a lot of war stuff (soldiers, ships, fortress, ...) on the one hand and even a lot of civilian stuff (colosseum with gladiators, Circus Maximus with carriages, big Roman villa, other civilian buildings) on the other hand. Btw: Welcome to EB, Emperor claduis rome! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for that news, achris! No, not again another licensed theme!!! :thumbdown: There are already really enough licensed sets TLG is producing! TLG should more concentrate on its own themes instead of only turning other ideas into Lego bricks! Instead of introducing more and more licensed themes TLG should better bring back its old and reinforced themes (such as Western, Adventures or Aqua Mission) or release complete new not licensed themes (such as Romans, Egypts or new knights fractions)! Klaus-Dieter

That's a great and very interesting topic, Tom Bricks! I totally agree with you, svelte_corps! I, too, don't think that the Toy Story theme will have no effect on a possible new WW theme: Toy Story includes mximum three WW related minifigs and the story doesn't play in the WW - so there is no reason why it should be a barrier for a new WW theme since it is something totally different. In this point I disagree with you, svelte_corps" To 1): I doubted that before legomilk posted that there'll be two new themes next year, too. But since we know now that there'll be two new themes there has to be one "historical" or historical theme under them since there aren't much other possibilities for new themes left. And since TLG releases that Minotaurus board game this year and included some for a new WW theme very useful pieces this and last year it's very supposably that we'll see a new WW theme or a Greek (fantasy) theme next year. And I even don't think that the Pirates and Castle line will reduce the sells of sets of a new "historial" or historical theme since there surely won't be more than three Pirates sets next year (a new fraction (like e. g. islanders or blue imperial guards) is very unsupposably - so there surely will only be a ship for the imperials, perhaps an add-on to the fort and a bigger treasure island) and whether there'll be a new "Caslte" line is not yet confirmed (I don't think that TLG will not release any new "Castle" sets next year but it may nevertheless be). To 2): 1. It's right that it's not unproblematic with political reasons. But who says that Indians always have to be the bad fraction?! They could even be the good fraction! Besides a child plays in this way with contents of a set it likes to. So it might even play "Indians vs. soldiers" if they were released in seperate sets. Apart from that I anyway doubt that TLG will release some Indians already in the first wave of a possible new WW theme. 2. Who says that a new WW theme will be cowboys/soldiers vs. Indians?! Perhaps there won't be any soldiers in a first new wave but only cowboys and bandits to create some Western street scenes. Besides they could release Indian sets seperately - perhaps two Indian fractions which could fight against. But if TLG releases a new WW theme I bet that firstly they will release a wave with cowboys vs. bandits. If these sell well - which I bet - then they possibly release a second wave with soldiers and a third wave with Indians. Klaus-Dieter

Good point, Mirandir, but remark that these are collections of classic minifigures! And although we saw a Ninja in the last minifigure collection we didn't get a new Ninja theme. So I think that you can regrettably not reason only from that old cowboy hat that we're getting a new Western theme next year. There are many other new elements this and last year which would make a new Western theme very supposably - but when TLG doesn't want to then it does even no happen. Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for that news and the pic, Mirandir! The first minifigure collection was really , the second was but this one is awesome! I mainly like the Union soldier and the Black Falcon soldier and the chef are , too! Perhaps I'll buy this set although it surely will be totally overpriced like the former to ones. I totally agree with you, Mirandir! Hopefully Western will make it into a comeback next year! I totally agree with you, Freddie! Why does a spaceman have to appear in every minifigure collection?! There are so many other minifigs they could include! I think it's because of producing costs since when they include many similar minifigs which only have different printings it's cheaper than to include different minifigs with even different head gears and accessory. Klaus-Dieter

That's a great and very interesting topic, Tom Bricks! It's indeed very hard to say since there have been such many fractions until now. But I wouldn't say that a king could represent this theme since the first king minifugure firstly appeared in 1995. Since the Black Falcons are a fraction which you always think about when talking about older Castle sets I'd think that for me it would be a common Black Falcon soldier (not knight!). Klaus-Dieter

Oh, thanks for pointing that out, Justin! Since I'm not interested in SpongeBob I did not realise that these parts still exist! So there's now nearly every brick there which is needed to release some new Western sets! If only TLG wanted to! Klaus-Dieter

You're absolutely right, Etzel! That's even the reason why I and cagri are thinking of the second exlusive Castle set may be a minifigure collection or at least only something very small. Well, at least it should go with the awesome 10193 MVV - something totally different would not be good! Btw: I really like that golden knight and the queen and even the orc shaman! Of course the golden knight is somehow useless and of course no minifigure for fighting. But in a king's procession where the king rides on his horse guarded by a huge amount of knights, soldiers and his royal household he'd make surely good! I'll try to get these three seperately since I really don't like the regular current "Castle". Klaus-Dieter

Do you only think that there might be a set with Hoth Luke and the Wampa or do you know that, Ras 74? I really hope that we'll see the Wampa's Cave with Hoth Luke, the Wampa and a skeletton animal next year. And since it's the year of ESB celebrating and we haven't got yet neither a Hoth Luke nor a Wampa it would be very logical. But many things would be logical. Plus notice that for the Wampa a new mold is needed. So I don't know - might be, might even not be. I totally agree with you, Ras 74! If TLG one day hopefully releases a big and complete Hoth Base with many new minifigs and some rooms with furnished interiors this bacta tank should - in addition with a medical droid - of course be included there, too! I totally agree with you, Lordofdragonss! It's really a shame that TLG announces that they want to do something for protecting our environment and therefore diminish the box sizes. But what's with the box size of that set?! Klaus-Dieter

I don't know why Playmobil released it. Perhaps in the Legends line in order to sell it to some older customers which already own the old sets and would like this to get as an addition. But it surely would make a good set in Lego, too! I totally agree with you, Richie! Some sets based on the confederates would be awesome! Playmobil did release confederates and unions - so why shouldn't TLG, too?! Klaus-Dieter

Stash2sixx, here (sorry, only in German) someone wrote something about a Castle jubilee sets and I remember that legomilk posted here some months ago that there'll be two Castle sets sold exclusively via S@H - the first one is the awesome 10193 MVV. But what's the second one? Well, I thought that, too, cagri. It's only because we are already seeing that many exclusive sets this year and since time is far advanced and we still didn't get any information or at least a hint of set number for this one. Maybe we're even awaiting too much since it's perhaps only a very small set like e. g. a minifigure collection with only Castle minifigs of different years. Or do you think that we really will get something in about the same size and price class like the brilliant 10193 MVV? Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for this great review, jansued! I voted for average since this set is - apart from the awesome Tauntaun - totally unneccessary! Pros: + awesome Tauntaun Cons: - again a Hoth Han minifigure! - no Snow Trooper Captain/Commander/ ... to lead the Imperial troops - no Rebel Captain/Commander/ ... to lead the Rebel troops Of course this set is a brilliant BP for someone who doesn't own yet the Hoth Rebel Base. But since I do own the Hoth Rebel Base I would never have bought this set if there wasn't that lovely Tauntaun included! Imo it would have been much better to release another small OT set instead of this this year and then offer a big complete Hoth base with many and new minifigures, some rooms and interior to us next year! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for that great review, Navy Trooper Fenson! I voted for Outstanding since this set is - well - simply outstanding! Cons: - missing of one or two big brick-built trees - it's in the jungle and we don't get some trees?! - would prefer either a black-suited Imp. Officer or at least a second Imp. Navy Trooper over Chief Chirpa (who should better be included in an Ewok Town set) - AT-ST includes only one seat and no controls Pros: + two speeder bikes + excellent bunker (even with some interior!) :thumbup: + twelve awesome minifigures Comment to the OT sets this year in general: - I really miss a Hoth Luke and an Endor Luke. It's the 30ths anniversary of SW but there is no single Luke minifigure in any set - isn't that a bit strange?! + Apart from that I must say that we're getting absolutely awesome sets with many new and excellent minifigures - brilliant job, TLG! :thumbup: Klaus-Dieter

I totally agree with you both, Roncanator and Ras - a new Boba Fett minifigure with the new jetpack piece would be great! And since next year is the celebration of ESB I bet that we'll see a new version of the Slave 1 with Boba Fett and the new jetpack piece! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for the pics of the new City Advent Calendar, legomilk! That's not neccessarily the case, Rick77. When you look at what was included in last year's advent calendar with the snow mobile, the snow man and the train worker with the pallet you could well have thought that we might get a winter theme and/or some cargo train stuff. But nothing of both did happen. Nevertheless I wouldn't say that a new post office is totally unrealistic since a post office, a bank and a grocery were the most demanded "shops" mentioned here. Otherwise there are a lot of other things demanded for City (seaside, zoo and housing area) plus we know that there already will be a new City trains theme in 2010. But since a post office is that demanded among us I think and hope that TLG will release one either next year or in 2011 (at the best along with a post bicylce and a redesign of the last post car but this time please with doors!). Klaus-Dieter

I totally agree with you, iLikeSlugzz! But I personally would prefer a new studios theme to be a mixture between Studios and TV - and more concentrated on play value than on actual movie making (imo there is no need for a camera with which you can make your own movies - better only a subtheme of the current City theme). Klaus-Dieter

With the many exclusive sets this year and since there is only the number 10197 left - which will very supposably be the rumoured CC styled fire department - do you think that TLG decided (against their former intention) however not to relase that rumoured second exclusive Castle set? Klaus-Dieter

Great ideas, Justin! These are definitely two of these sets TLG regrettably missed in the last WW theme and which I really hope that TLG will release if they one day will bring back the WW theme! (which supposably won't take place before 2012 when they release a Greek theme next year ) Klaus-Dieter

Thanks, Broadside! I already mentioned that you can't change the color(s) of the baseplates available in LDD - regrettably. But nice to hear that you like it! Klaus-Dieter

Do you think that apart from the toy shop downstairs there'll be some interior upstairs, too? Hopefully there'll be at least a cashpoint downstairs. Some more sets in addition to this awesome set would be brilliant! Then we could build up a complete little winter village! A (ski) hotel, a little cafe/restaurant, a snowy family house, a cable railway (with PFs) and a bakery with gingerbread pieces would be amazing! Plus of course some more regular sets such as a piste, a Rescue HQ, a snow mower, a pisten bully, ... Klaus-Dieter

That might well be, Hinckley! I took another clearer look at the cottage and now I think that it is - a toy shop! Reasons: First of all I thought that there is a coffee machine in the left window downstairs. But do you see these three1x1 thin round grey bricks + the black round brick + the 1x2 thin transp. brick + the 1x3 thin red brick = mini locomotive! And seeing those two biy toys (the jester and the teddy) it makes sense that they do not only appear under the Christmas tree but can be added to the interior of the cottage. Klaus-Dieter