Klaus-Dieter

Thank you all very much for your nice comments and wishes! Thanks, TheOtters. It's really a pity that you haven't got the chance to participate in the EBCTC, too. What about only a little scenery, somethings that needs lees time to build? In other respects I hope that you'll at least have to take part in the next contest. I had the big luck that this great contest started in the last week of my semester holidays. So it was a bit curtly but nevertheless I had the chance to build this my entry in the last days of my semester holidays. If the entry started after the beginning of my semester I wouldn't have been aible to participate in the EBCTC, too. Klaus-Dieter

I'm a bit sceptical about that, The Bricksmith. On the one hand you could be right: There are some natives in one of the IJ sets, too. So it is not excluded that they'd release a licensed theme with Greeks in it. On the other hand - and that is what I mainly think - I can't imagine that TLG would run huge costs for making new molds and printing new torsos for Greek soldiers and mythology creatures if they then only include a few in these licensed sets. No, I think that if TLG releases some Greeks then only in a regular and complete theme. But of course I might be even wrong. And I really hope that I'm wrong but with Greeks not being an own theme this would theoretically open us the opportunity to get some Western sets. Btw: What City subthemes do you could think of TLG releasing next year? Do you think that if TLG releases trains as a City subtheme then we'd get some train based sets like e. g. a station, a cargo loading station, a depot, an engine shed, a train level crossing, ..., too? Klaus-Dieter

It's great to see so many people interested in this topic! I of course voted for Yes, of course - TLG should release more "green" sets! (otherwise I wouldn't have started this topic ) You mentioned a lot of great ideas to reduce environmental polution and useless waste of natural ressources - great. I totally agree with the most of you that TLG really should reduce the seize of the boxes of Lego sets since the most of them are much too large for what is included. And apart from that big boxes rise the price for TLG but even for us customers it uselessly polutes the environment and waste without use our natural ressources. (When the boxes are bigger they need more place when transporting them via trucks and plane. But trucks need gas and planes need kerosine. Both fuels polute our environment with CO2 and other toxic gases and they are made out of oil - one of our high demanded natural ressources.) I remember when I bought the last version of the AT-ST in 2007 the box was maximum 1/4 full - that's really absurd. But not only the boxes of licensed sets such as SW are much too big for their indegriedants but even the boxes of regular themes and mainly the boxes of regular bricks in the Creator theme! The first set of the last years I remember where the big size of the box was really justified was the awesome 10184 Town Plan since the box was filled nearly until the top. If TLG thinks that their sets won't sell that good if they make the boxes much smaller then I'd say that they err: Experienced Lego fans such as we but even kids which have been playing or building with Lego for a long time know the high quality of TLG's products. And for those who are irritated by the smaller box size (right when the size of boxes of other toy companies perhaps doesn't change) TLG could add a sign on every box which points out that the boxes are now smaller not because the quality or quantity of the sets got worse but because TLG wants to do something for protecting our environment - the sign could perhaps have the writing "Attention! Smaller box for protecting our environment!". What do you think about this idea? But not only with changes in the producing, transportating and selling process could be done a lot - even with more environmental sets such as 4999, 7641 and 7747. The idea of adding some solar cells as stickers on top of a house in the City theme would surely be a great idea. But even better would be imo to release a City set with a family house which has a real solar cell on its roof. When the power of the sun or electric light then shines on it some lights at the entrance or maybe even inside the house light up. This set would imo sell very well since it would combine the nice with the utile: Many, many AFOLs (me included) wait for a new, big and more detailed family house with great minifigs, a family car and some nice accessory now for years. And JFOLs surely would like a family house, too, since for many of them it's the place they are living in or if not it's at least something of their every day life. So even Lego fans which would not buy a set which included only environmental indegriedants would buy this set since they would like to get a family house anyway. Do you agree or not? For the Castle theme there could be released an ancient windmill in the lines of the 10193. For the Western theme there could be released a Western farm with wind wheel. Klaus-Dieter

I totally agree with you, Raphy! A new Western theme (no rereleases!) would be absolutely :wub: ! And surely JFOLs as well as AFOLs would like it! But after having seen the Greek board game I don't see it happen in the next two years - and even some Factory Western sets are not realistic to await before 2011. It seems as if TLG prefers to release a complete new theme although we have a topic here on EB with tons of awesome ideas for new Western and Indian sets. The last years there was always a City advent calendar, Lordofdragonss, so I bet that there'll be one in 2010, too. Since there surely will be another advent calendar I'd think that it will be either a "Castle" advent calendar (when TLG releases a new Elves fraction there are then new minifigs so a new advent calendar would make sense) or an advent calendar of the new "historical" or historical theme - highly supposably regrettbaly Greeks mythology. Sorry Mark - but I with the Disney license next year I really don't see it happen that TLG will offer another licensed items to us (and btw I'm even glad that this is surely the case since too much licenses aren't good and get boring!). Klaus-Dieter

That's a great Western scene, 74louloute! It looks very funny! The details are very well built. I especially like the printings on the saloon - they look perfect and like official stickers! Very well done! Klaus-Dieter

Hello everybody! With the awesome promo set 4999 Vestas Wind Power Plant , the brilliant 7747 Wind Turbine Transport , the excellent bus in the great 7641 City Life set and the option for a Public Transportation Center as a City fan's choice set in summer 2010 it's obvious that TLG wants to put a sign for less polution and more use of rechargeable energy resources and public tranportation vehicles. In my opinion - and I think and hope that the most of youbagree with me - this is a very welcome decision to become award of more using these options which will be very important of the future of us and our (future) children. Now the question arises what else TLG could do to go more "green". So please vote in the poll above whether you'd like some more "green" sets and please share your thoughts and ideas for Lego sets and measures TLG could do in their production and selling process! Klaus-Dieter

I agree. Mythology is a great theme for LEGO. Egyptian would be cool, but Johnny Thunder kind of covered that, and I think a Greek or Roman theme would be fresher. I wouldn't mind a full-fledged Egyptian theme, though, since Egyptian mythology can be very cool. I'd probably buy a LEGO pyramid. I don't see TLG releasing an Egypt theme next year since I really doubt they'd relase a hitorically correct one and an Egypt adventures theme (like the great one around 200) is imo not very supposably since there is still IJ which is some sort of adventure theme (licensed but nevertheless). I bet that we'll get some Greeks sets. Although I'd prefer Romans I'd like Greeks, too. The only problem is that whereas Romans could be a theme which could be done historically correct, Greek surely will be the same like the current "Castle" theme - pure fantasy . One thing at least is clear: There is no chance that we'll get two "historical" or historical sets. So either Western or Romans or Adventures in Egypt or Greeks fantasy. And because of the hint the Minotauris board game gave us I fear that Greeks fantasy will be the new theme. As for the City theme I bet that we'll see many redesigns of older sets. Perhaps a yacht harbor, a cargo loading station and a family house. Btw: Do you think that we'll get another "Lego Green" set (meaning environmental set) next year, too? A family house or depot with some sun real sun collectors on top to power some lights at the entrance of the building would be awesome! Klaus-Dieter

That's a great and very interesting topic, The Chronicler! I really the forestmen theme! It was a great theme with excellent minifigs and awesome locations! Regrettably I do only own the headquarters and the treehouse - but the forestmen sets are that expensive to buy (even when they are already used). I partly agree with you, ImperialShadows. Of course returning the old mold for the forestman's hat would be quite expensive. But: 1. If TLG really wanted to release a new forestmen theme they could return the old mold - even when it is expensive (so the sets then have to be a bit more expensive, too, but nobody would complain to pay a bit more for some Castle sets which include these awesome forestmen). 2. If TLG really wanted to release a new forestmen theme why do they have to return the old mold but not make a new one?! There was a new Western hat mold created for the IJ and Farm themes - so why shouldn't be there a new mold for a forestman's hat, too?! I agree with you, Lordofdragonss. If TLG releases an Elves theme (which is very supposably next year) then they surely will include some sort of trees, treehouses, ... But for someone who really liked Classic Castle and Forestmen and who doesn't like the current "Castle" theme (me included) this is no solution! I partly agree with you, badboytje88. I, too, regrettably don't see it happen. And the next years it's really excluded. But who knows in which direction TLG will go with the Castle theme after they have been releasing the Elves subtheme?! I mean: After Elves there could be a stop of the ugly fantasy erea for Castle. And this might be the chance to get some more classic sets and so perhaps even some forestmen sets. Nobody thought that TLG will offer us a medieval civilian set in the next years - but TLG surprised us with the awesome 10193 Medieval Market Village. So you can never no - perhaps TLG will even surprise us with some new forestmen sets in five years. But before that I regrettably don't see it happen, too. But I really don't think that kids wouldn't like a new forestmen theme. It's right that many of today's kids aren't familiar with fairy tales, legends and other to the most of us AFOLs known stories because of the bad dominance of video games and computer games and even because many parents don't care that much about their children. But even if they don't know who Robin Hood is that does not mean that they wouldn't like a new forestmen set: 1. The forestmen theme is no theme which is a licensed theme. So you do not neccessarily have to know the stories around Robin Hood in order to have fun to play with these sets. 2. Forestmen on their own would be problematic, that's right. But TLG could add this self-explaining character to these sets like they do in the current "Castle" theme: e. g. forestmen against the king's soldiers. And then the kids themselves can decide who is the bad and who is the good. There would be plenty of ideas for sets which could include this conflict - to mention only two: -hold-up on the king's carriage (big tree with forestmen jumping down and hold up the king's carriage with the treasure) -attack on the forestmen's headquarter (forestmen's headquarter which is attacked by the king's soldiers with one of their catapults) Klaus-Dieter

Thanks, Whitefang! You supposably meant the post officer with his yellow bicycle. He empties the mail box in order to collect the letters to bring them to the post office. Klaus-Dieter

That's a great and very interesting topic, Darth Legolas! I voted for Star Wars since I'm a big (Lego) Star Wars (but not Clone Wars!!!) fan. Of course Pirates is an amazing theme, too, and in fact I normally prefer non-licensed themes since they are less expensive and offer much more creativity and playabilty. But since I haven't got enough place and money to begin collecting Pirates, too, I only own the S@H version of the Black Seas Barracuda (before Xmas I owned three other sets, too, but I sold them). SW I began to collect in 2001 and I'm still collecting SW sets. Klaus-Dieter

That's a great Western scene, rupi! It looks very - especially with the many details you added to it: the pipe for the old man, the chicken, ... Very well done! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you all very much for your nice comments! I'm very happy that you like it! Thanks, BlueBard! Thanks, svelte_corps! Since this should be a classic town layout I thought that there has to be an ancient buidling - the restaurant. But I even thought that it would be nice to add something special to it. So I had the idea of adding a winter garden to it which combines the ancient style with a new style. Thanks, TheBrickster! The ancient building with the restaurant was my first idea. Then I originally wanted to add a post office to the layout. But in the style I wanted to build it I didn't have the right bricks (which I remembered too late for a PaB order) but even the 8x... baseplate would have been too little. So I immediately had the idea of a hotel - which should be a content of every complete city, too. Since there is in the most big sets something food related included I thought it would be nice to have a bakery (ok, it's not a real bakery, it's more only a baker's shop - but nevertheless) - and a hot dog stand would surely make well, too. And yes, you're right - the blue car is built after an instruction of a Town set (regrettably I don't find its number that fast but I think from the beginning of the 90ths or end of the 80ths) but I changed it a bit (without roof fence, with different baseplate). Thanks, MdrnMrvls! Thanks, Whitefang! And thank you very much to adding it to Classic-Town.net! You're right - the flower stand is very similar built to my market stand in last year's Classic Castle contest. But I changed the it a bit. Originally I wanted to have a white-red roof to it but I didn't have the bricks. About the link: I did only take those three pictures. But when I've got time I'll take some more pics, add them to my BS gallery and will then post a link here (but surely not before next weekend - sorry ). Btw: What street cleaner do you mean? I didn't add one to my layout. Klaus-Dieter

Surely only one of the two new themes will be a "historical" or historical theme, Peppermint_M. So there's space for something else, too, supposably even for something only fantasy related such as a remake of Exo-Force or all that other similar stuff. Klaus-Dieter

That's a great and very interesting topic, TheBrickster! For me the choice was very simple: I voted for Town Of course every bigger and better Lego City layout needs some trains, train stations, train level crossings and much other stuff that belongs to trains. But first of all there has to be a decent city. So there are mainly two reaons because of which I prefer the Town/City theme over the Trains theme: 1. Train sets are much more expensive than regular City sets (only look at the new Emerald Night to which the prices for all that PF stuff you need to drive it cost a fortune! ). Of course that's justified because of the expensive functions to drive them. But the financial aspect is nevertheless very important. And when there is more included in a City set than in a Trains set for the same price it's at me most of the time the City set which wins. 2. There are still so many Town/City sets which TLG hasn't released until now (or did release a very long time ago and which are now - at least complete and in a good condition - not payable or which were build in a very minimalistic style that I'd prefer some new ones) that I want to equip my Lego City with them first - and firstly when they're all there (e. g. new bank, new post office, green grocer (not CC styled!), supermarket, family houses, new yacht harbor and more shops in general) then I would or even will (more) concentrate on Trains. Klaus-Dieter

Apart from that I really didn't like Dino 2010 I don't see TLG releasing this theme since there are already three non-licensed themes which contain fantasy creatures and whichs sets will be available minimum until next year: Castle, Power Miners and Space Police. When you look on legomilk's list on the first page you can see that there'll be two new themes in addition to the Disney line, legoindy01. Although I'd so much like a new Western theme :wub: I highly doubt that we'll see one next year . After having seen the picture of the Minotauris board game I bet that TLG is going to release a Greek fantasy theme next year - which would mean that then there'll be no Western before 2012. I think and even hope that TLG will not release neither a new airport nor a new fire theme, Grevious. Last year TLG asked us for our ideas for new City sets for 2010. These should have been ideas for sets which haven't been appearing for 10 years or sets which haven't been there before. So which sense would this campaign make when TLG then decides to release only the common sets they released the last 10 years?! No, imo 2010 surely will be a year when there'll be totally new themes (at least in comparison to the last 10 years) (btw: when you look on legomilk's list you can see that legomilk already wrote that there'll be new City themes ). Of course that doesn't mean that there can not be the one or other set of a current theme. Your proposal of some smaller planes sounds good: I could well imagine TLG releasing a yacht harbor with a water plane. I could well imagine that we'll see some sort of winter theme since 1. that would be something completely new and 2. the included stuff (Rescue HQ, pisten plate, snow plow, ... perhaps even a cable car ) would offer a lot of action and playability for JFOLs. Btw: When I browse the web I can see many FOLs (me included) wanting a family house . Do you think that TLG will offer us a whole housing area or at least one family house next year? I totally agree with you, Grevious! Imo a new bigger, more complete and closed version of Jabba's Palace is the set I can well imagine TLG releasing in summer 2010. Some Hoth sets are very unrealistic. I fear that we even won't get an Ewok Village since Chief Chirpa is already included in this year's Endor set. If TLG releases a new version of the Slave 1 with the carbonite freezing chamber then there even won't be a new Cloud City in the next years. So the only sets which remain are the vehicles themselves (remake of TIE Fighter, X-Wing, Y-Wing), perhaps and hopefully a little Yavin base and some Tatooine sets. The idea of the cantina is great - but I could well imagine that TLG doesn't want to produce many new OT minifigs in 2010 since we get a lot of this year. On the other hand they'll have to produce a lot of new CW minfigs for their new CW sets. So it would be only fair when we OT fans get some new minifigs, too. Like already mentioned I bet that one of the new themes will regrettably be a Greeks fantasy theme. To your argument for new Western sets: It's right that we couldn't await some Indian sets in the first year of the possible release of a new Western theme. Perhaps even not in the second year. But if it sells well - which I bet - then there surely would be some Indian sets coming out later, too (like I even bet that if the new Pirates sets this and next year sell well then there'll surely be some native sets in 2011). I totally agree with you, svelte_corps! Legomilk's list is surely only a list of these themes he knows that surely will come. Nevertheless I think that there surely won't be more than three new themes next year. Klaus-Dieter

I hope so, Trexxen, but am not sure. Do you think that TLG will offer a bank, a post office and a greengrocer or supermarket to us? I don't see some Harry Potter sets coming. Only remember the last movie: There was only one big exclusive set about it and nothing other. Since I'm not familar with Rock Band: Would that be a licensed theme (like IJ or Star Wars) or a regular theme? If it was a regular theme I'd really like it - but if so I'd even fear that TLG wouldn't release it because of the lack of action elements . If it was a licensed theme I really don't see it happen since there'll already be this big Disney license plus the most of the other licences will supposably stay, too. Lord of the rings would imo be absolutely ! Apart from that I don't see it happen since 1. there are enough other licenses so far and 2. the current "Castle" theme is nearly the same like Lord of the rings - pure fantasy . I totally agree with you, Clone O'Patra! Some non-licensed sets based on a rock band - perhaps even in combination with a new TV theme (there are nearly always camera men at the big rock events) would be something totally new and really ! Klaus-Dieter

I totally agree with you, mania3! When you look at the (last ) 10 years of Lego SW you can see that the most of the (OT) sets - especially the vehicles - had minimum one re-design. Since TLG released Darth Vader's TIE Fighter this year it would be only logical that they'll offer us a black-grey TIE Fighter next year - perhaps even in the combination with a (new) X- or Y-Wing - or alone in the January wave (since there are mostly only the little and medium sized sets). Apart from that a new TIE Fighter would give us the opportunity to get an Imperial Engineer minifig - although I fear that TLG will never offer one to us. Thank you very much for that information, legomilk! So there'll be in addition to the Disney line two new themes. And it seems as if Trains becomes a regular City subtheme - I only wonder how TLG wants to sell these overpriced PF driven trains then to JFOLs rather to their parents?! I totally agree with you, MaxGoof! Palpatine's Arrest seems to have followed only very curtly after Home One. That means that a lot of people would like and buy this set and are perhaps even disappointed that it didn't won. So it would be unwise if TLG doesn't release this set since with releasing it 1. their fans are pleased and 2. they could make good profit with it. Slave One is one of the best known vehicles from the OT. So why shouldn't TLG release a new version of it?! There are surely some younger JFOLs which would like it and some AFOLs which missed the last version (me included), too. Plus they could include one or two new minifigs (e. g. an ugunauth if they add the carbonite freezing chamber to this set - although I'd really prefer to get a seperate new complete Cloud City set). I totally agree with you, darkrebellion! The "Public Transportation Center" surely won the poll. I'd really like to see a new elevated train (a re-design of the monorail system is absolutely unrealistic) - this would be a perfect addition to our Cities. The only thing I fear is that TLG perhaps then wouldn't release many shops because "City Square" lost the poll - and a bank, a post office and a greengrocer and/or supermarket are so much needed! Well, let's see. Klaus-Dieter

Hello everybody! After having added the last details to my entry and taken some pics of it last weekend here it finally is - my entry to the great Eurobricks Classic Castle Contest: City Square In the middle of Lego City you can find the city square with a fountain, a flower stand, a hotel, a backery and an ancient restaurant with winter garden. Look at what's going on on the streets: A police man watches carefully the traffic, someone is hurrying fast with a blue car to work, the post officer empties the mailbox, someone makes a bicycle tour, some kids teeter while their grandmother looks after her youngest grandchild in the buggy, a man presents his wife with a bunch of flowers he bought at the flower stand before, a kid is skateboarding, another kid comes back from school while his friend is buying a hot dog at the hot dog stand, a guest leaves the hotel and a toursit walks along the sidewalk. (picture for contest and poll) Another point of view: The inside of the houses: The hotel includes a reception with lounge on the first floor, a guest room with bath room on the second room and a little conference room on the third floor. The backery simply includes a desk and a cashpoint. The ancient building includes a restaurant with bar and winter garden on the first floor, a children's room on the second floor and the attic. I hope you like it. Comments are welcome! Klaus-Dieter

That's an absolutely awesome MOC, benny! I really it! The architecture looks simply perfect! The vehicles, accessory and minifigs add a completely realistic style to your MOC! The only thing which looks a bit strange is the Western window of the sheriff's office. Otherwise it's perfect! The most I like the depot with the fish and crab boxes in front of it. If only TLG releases something similar to that! Very, very well done! Klaus-Dieter

Why not?! That was only a joke, DarthSion. KimT supposably wanted to remind me of not using shortcuts. And that's right since with that many shortcuts mainly new people here at EB don't no what we are talking about. So RBR stands for Rebel Blockade Runner (or Tantive 4). I think and hope that, too. If we firstly get pics of it about two weeks before release (like it was (please correct me if I'm wrong) with the Motoized AT-AT in 2007) this would be very hard to await. So let's hope for Brickfair! Klaus-Dieter

Thank you very much for this great review, TheBrickster! I voted for Above Average since the interior is a bit empty (e. g. no chair upstairs), there could be at least one civilian minifig crossing the passenger bridge and since I don't like the new baseplates of World City (and even not the ones of the current City theme). I really this set since it is not only a simple and functional train level crossing but much more: - it includes a decent little house with the railway control center in it - the service car (with car doors for this period of City sets very exceptional!) is a great addition - the passenger bridge is simply brilliant and an awesome and very useful idea When I saw this train level crossing and the train station which goes with it in the Lego catalogue the years when they were sold in toy shops I really wanted to buy these sets but didn't have got the money. At the moment TLG releases so many great City and SW OT sets that I need all my money for them. But perhaps somewhere in the future I'll get my hands on this excellent train level crossing - or on a re-design of it if TLG releases more train-based sets in the future. Klaus-Dieter

That's right, brickfreak. But the December items are the regular January sets. You're right, jonwil. But that's even what I don't like since the PFs are totally overpriced and I would much more have prefered an exclusive set similar to 10184. You're right, too, Dr. Brick. But 1. CC styled buidlings don't count to the City theme - they are a mixture between Creator and City - and 2. I don't like CC styled buildings. Nevertheless we're getting the awesome 7747 Wind Turbine Transport, the great 7641 City Life set, the lovely Sports Car and the nice Tow Truck this summer plus surely some great stuff inside the advent calendar - which are really excellent City sets. And I bet and hope that 2010 will be surely as good as this year, too. Klaus-Dieter

Do you think that if TLG releases the RBR this year (which I bet) that they then will reveal it at BrickFair (like the DS last year)? Klaus-Dieter

That might be the case, Tenoch. But I don't think so since TLG surely would release a jubilee set with a big proclamation that it is the jubilee set (like with last year's awesome 10184 Town Plan for City). Supposably. The only thing which we know until now is that there'll be two Castle sets this year sold via S@H (MVV is one of them) and rumours were going around that one of these exclusive Castle sets this year is a Castle jubilee set. More I don't know, too, regrettably. Klaus-Dieter

After we got the awesome 10184 Town Plan last year I'm now a bit disappointed that TLG doesn't offer exclusive big City set to us this year, too. But supposably that's because of there are a lot of big (City) sets out this year already anyway. Klaus-Dieter