hjmediastudios

Hmmm... The Phantom doesn't look to good; it appears as some sort of cross between a Y-wing and a Lambda-class shuttle. I'll have to reserve judgment on it until I see how it fits in with the Ghost.

I typically import an LDraw file into LeoCAD, then export it as a .obj file into Blender, and I haven't had any problems with it yet. If you want to export the initial .ldr file from LDD, though, be warned- there are often missing parts, although using the latest parts-translation XML file will go a long way toward solving this problem.

The psychadelic AV-7 cannon is particularly amusing.

I think it's due to the need to guarantee supply- the US is probably TLG's biggest market, and so by staggering the rollout of new sets, they're able to ensure that the initial demand in other markets has subsided to the point where chronic out-of-stock issues can be avoided

It isn't, at least not in the US. I've checked around, at it seems to be a hit-or-miss proposition: some countries don't have the winter sets out, some do, and it doesn't always correspond to store availability.

There are actually several still on the shelves in my local Target.

I've just sent you a PM.

It looks like this piece and this piece, from what I can make out; I'm pretty certain on both.

What about a clone breeding pack where you get four baby figures in four identical glass jars? Then you get a cute little build as well!

I for one am loving the looks of those Microfighters. I'll be down for the two Imperial ones and the Juggernaut... if not multiples.

I've been using MLCad and LDD in 13.04 Ubuntu using Wine without problems for years now.

An excerpt from the email I received from Tim Courtney: Essentially, they're apparently not going to release this stuff, probably to avoid alienating potential future business partners or making more information available than necessary on internal conflicts.

The new plain trooper looks better in that shot, though. The Kashyyyk trooper's helmet is just hideous, though. I hope a third-party vendor makes something better I can swap out with the official helmet.

I seriously doubt those will be the U.S. prices. The retailer catalog specifically mentions lower price points for the miniships, and such a huge jump in prices across the board would really cut down on sales, especially on battle packs.

I just ordered an RGS and an AT-TE. I'll order the same lot again to get a couple more LT's. ;)

The Clone LT's promotional availability starts tomorrow in the US; considering order and delivery times, it'll likely be a few days or about a week before the flood of butter bars starts.

A few thoughts on some characters I'd appreciate seeing: Willrow Hood. As a nod to longtime SW fans, TLG could include him in a large Cloud City playset. Grand Admiral Thrawn as well. I know TLG probably isn't into the EU (except for, it seems, the Century Tank and TIE Defender), but he's arguably one of the most prominent EU characters.

This makes sense- in the U.S. at least, our military officers don't display rank in theater for the same reason.

I will now begin saving like mad... Seriously, this is the best Star Wars wave in recent memory. The only thing I'm not thrilled about is the Death Star Troopers BP... I was hoping for at least one stormtrooper, and I don't exactly want to army-build Imperial Guards. Hopefully, we'll see a Recruitment Line (love those, by the way) set with a stormtrooper. I'll probably get loads of the Battle Packs and so on, if not a full thirty little Turbo Tanks... I'm an Episode III fan, and I have a problem.

I would suggest waiting. They're both OK sets, although the Spider droid is better. Add in a clone LT and that just seals the deal.

Does anyone know if the Clone Lieutenant is per order or per customer? If I make two separate orders, do I get two figures?

This sounds great. I'll sign up as a Stormtrooper! One quick question: would animations, etc. be allowed in a special category? I have some great ideas cooking already (as well as some actual, physical builds for once...)

There was a report that one of the designers at Comic-Con claimed that "if you like the Ewok Village, you'll like 2014" or something to that effect. Perhaps this isn't, as I first assumed, a signal that 2014 will be OT-heavy. Maybe it's signifying that there will be a lot of similar environments used- Kashyyyk, for example, is similar to Endor.

I think, given past patterns, we'll see a primarily ROTS wave. The AOTC stuff focused on Geonosis- perhaps the 2014 wave will focus on Kashyyyk as the primary battle area. The new Phase II clone helmets are growing on me after an initial unfavorable impression- with some printing that's more realistic and a lower "mouth," they're not bad at all.

What about an Order 66 Mygeeto set? A nice PT Ki-Adi Mundi, Cmdr. Bacara, two Galactic Marines, and an octuparra droid? This would be my #1 hope for the 2014 ROTS wave.