Si-MOCs

Very cool indeed. I love how you've incorporated it into the furniture. Too bad LEGO isn't really your priority anymore. Just don't sell any - it'll be there waiting for your return.

Yeah if Fairview does open up a store, I'll head to that all the time - though the Sherway guys are pretty nice - I'll probably drop by and check out the PAB/talk to them once in awhile. Oh I've done the calculations many times between USD/CAD pricing and for the most part doesn't work out in our favour. But it could be worse - Denmark - ironically - 50% of their sets is just slightly cheaper than US (though you do have the built in VAT, so maybe more like 35%) So it actually the Billund Employee Store kinda sucked (for sets). So yeah I'm with ya - when I go to the states I lug back as much LEGO as my wittle arms can carry. And I think I have one more LEGO shopping extravaganza left in me this year, I'll probably pick up all the remaining sets I want this year with my brickfete discount and call it quits. I've blown this year's LEGO budget by a far margin... I'd seek professional help - but I spent the money on LEGO.

I will most certainly be there, and will have a car full of MOC's scattered every which way :)

I'll try to take it apart and take some pics when i get some time (and when I have the table space again!), but basically it's a ramp that's on vertical hinges that makes the little pieces drop down into the basket. If you look at the picture from above you can see the little chute that you drop 1x1 rounds into. there's another mechanism that pushes it into the the 'mould' then there's the handle that moves the mould back and forth (in otherwords once you 'open' the mould, the piece drops in to the hole, down the ramp, and into the basket!). Check out the video, you can see the inside. I'll try to throw together a tour review... I think ultimately it depends on how big of a fan are you, and if you can afford it. If you're a fan, it's a dream. Simply put. To see everything and meet everyone - it was just awesome. and yes it's a pretty crammed schedule. It's not something that I would do every year (even if I could afford it - though there is one guy that does). but I would like to try to go again in maybe 10 years if I can save up again. Keep in mind that it's about the experience, not the loot you get from it. You can buy a LOT of LEGO for the same amount (though if you live in EU/Denmark in particular, you can save a lot on sets. not as much of a savings as Americans, and lesser extent Canadians).

Awww that's too bad. I wanted an excuse to go to store again... (I went through about 1000 green bricks on the weekend, need more!) I guess I'll just have to meet all the new people @ Brickfête or run into them @ the Store. :)

Hehe. It’s funny how you find things when you’re least expecting it... Reminds me of the time when I was on vacation in Portugal, I was in a small town hanging out in this awesome town square, old cobblestones and ancient church, few miles out from a UNESCO site, and I’m strolling along and peaking out around the corner and saw completely unexpected sighte: a minifig cut out – it was an independent store selling only LEGO. I think it’s the only store I saw in all of Portugal that sold LEGO. (And, no I didn't buy anything)

hehe good read. I'm firmly Stuck at 20 - only because anything more would require me to move into a house... Though it definitely helps the sorting process to get most pieces from Bricklink – which for most part comes pre-sorted :D Just need to stack them/add them to the existing baggy.

Hey Def, I'll def(inately) come out and meet you guys. We just had the Toronto LUG dinner on Friday, but I'm always up for a good TFOL/AFOL meet & greet. I'll even bring the Moulder Machine so people can play with (it was a big hit the other night). And Fives - I believe they do have 1x4 lgt bley bricks - at least they did on Friday :P Just let me know when -- Edit: Just skimming through this thread for the first time (I'm a new, what can I say?). and thre's a lot of discussion of the Distance of Sherway - yes it's far for east/downtown people - but has anyone considered flipping this into an oppurtunity? My favorite store activity is PAB stacking - but that's lame by yourself - anyone interested in carpooling / want a ride over there (I'm near college station)? If I'm going to go I might as well drag someone with me so I don't look nearly as bad :P

Thanks everyone for the kind words, I'm very glad I was able to share this with you all... If enough people were interested, I could certainly do that, it'll take me longer (and I'd have to figure out which forum to stick it in!). Though I would hate to ruin the surprise people that might actually go on the tour... Unfortunately I don't have a scanner - not to mention there doesn't seem to be any other instructions out there for LIT models - I'd have to get the OK from TLG first - not to mention LEGO knows where I live... Sorry no LDD either, I did the best I could to document most of the building - the timelapse should give you a pretty idea how it was built :) Not only keep, but displayed with it! Though I got another set - the SPIII heist one - nothing special - except it was my 'prize' for the building competition - and it's signed by everyone on the tour - and LEGO personnel - that one is still sealed and on display. :) The missing warehouse was (like everything else) super cool. Rows and rows and rows of pieces. Interesting note that they keep parts for x number of years after they've been discontinued - just in case. I'm not sure if the Design By Me is the same group as Customer Service (I would imagine they are), I might have to order one now and see what I get :) No - I did not 'help myself' to anything - though I was very very tempting at times. But we did get some other nice items during the tour. Actually only one of the signatures is from the designer, the other is from a LEGO Moulding Engineer that came by to talk to us / introduce the set. I felt it was appropriate to get him to sign it too. I think I'm the first person to ask him for his autograph :P Bingo. I was disappointed I missed it - they'll only ever be one grand opening, there might be re-openings or other stores, but this'll be the first - "my" LBR store. But I guess I'm not going to get much sympathy eh? Hey - you going to RTL dinner tomorrow ? I'm going to bring the model out to show everyone.

Hehe my sentiments exactly. This almost feels like an 'Architecture' set - cool, expensive, and a set that sits on a desk/display case rarely to be played with. And ya for Sci-fi-castles! Well hopefully someone who had multiples (re: parents who took their kids) might sell one giving the community a chance to buy, but I wouldn't expect too many. Thanks, glad to finally have something useful to contribute to this great forum :) Cheers, Simon

First review... here goes: So I was able to fulfill one of my life long dream and go on the Lego Inside Tour in Billund. I would in a heart beat recommend this to any LEGO fan. For those that can't afford to go, there's a nice little documentary that National Geographic made that does show a lot of stuff that I saw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCPGlM9TJyo&feature=related Every year the Lego Insider Tour has run, the participants have received an exclusive set. In the past they have been cars - some even designed by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (current owner, and grandson of Ole Kirk Christiansen) - houses, and for the 2011 year, LEGO has created highly appropriate (and amusing) set to go along with the Inside Tour: LEGO model of the LEGO moulding Machines that made the LEGO bricks that made this LEGO set :) There are two moulding machines, the smaller is the original hand crank machine that dates back to 1949. The second larger moulding machine is an example of the current ones that are being used today to create the bricks we love. Info: Set: #4000001 Moulding Machines Pieces: 795 Price: Free with Inside Tour Minifigs: None. New Pieces: None, custom Sticker sheet. Packaging: The first thing I noticed when I received it was how HEAVY it was - at over 800 pieces (including spare parts), it's probably the most densely packed set I've ever seen. The front of the box shows the assembled set (I did find it amusing that even Lego Designers suck at applying stickers). And the top shows pictures of the actual machines: The back provides some nice information on the Mould Machines, as well a group pictures of the Lego Insider Group #14 (dedacted for privacy) as well as the KKK himself playing with it :) I actually debated a good 3 weeks before I decided opening this set. Originally I had grand illusions that I would keep it Mint In Box forever. But I realized I would never sell it, so what's the point of keeping it sealed? I'd rather enjoy it and share it with the community. When I finally opened it, I was surprised at what I saw. First it was a slip box - which wasn't standard LEGO packaging - but it makes sense as it's a super small run (68 only), secondly instead of the standard polybags I encountered a series of LEGO ziplock bags: Anyone who has had to order missing parts would be familiar with these bags, they are the bags that are used by customer service to fulfill missing part orders (which we saw on the tour). I suspect that these sets were litteraly assembled by customer service. It also explains why the set was so densly packed - as there were no air pockets in these bags. Along with the bricks were two instructions and a little sticker set. The Instructions are pretty nice, but not the same quality as the mass produced ones - both in paper quality and instructional quality. There was a odd disclaimer proclaiming the instructions were generated through proprietary means - which could mean that the instructions were auto-generated - probably something similar to the DesignByMe instuctions (though I've never actually done a DesignByMe, so I'm not sure). The Build: Timelapse of build The build was pretty quick, and had some nice wrinkles and some advanced techniques, while it's officially 10+ (according to the box) interms of standard LEGO sets, the build rates slightly higher, as there is some snot work and some nice greebling (though i'm sure it's actually on the real thing, not just to make it look cool). What really stuck out for me during the build was the attention to detail - even for parts that are hard to see. For instance on the larger Moulder Machine - the mould has some nice work - simple cheese wedges - but much better than say simply tiling it. I was also impressed at the accuracy of it, when I saw the box art, it's instantly recognizable as THE moulding machine - that we had seen just a day before. Both models are fantastic. Of the other Inside Tour sets, it's probably either best or second best (Ole Kirk's house the other notable set). Conclusion They're not as swooshy as some of the other stuff Lego has produced (in general and for the Tour). While there is some playability very nicely built into the set- it's really not something I see many kids playing with for extended periods of time. Set in action: It feels like something I would put on my office desk (if it wasn't secured in my bullet proof glass display case). It's definitely feels like an AFOL set - which course makes sense, as it was designed by an AFOL LEGO designer (see the smiley on the front for signature!). Ultimately, is this set worth the admission price? - absolutely not. I would never pay that much for this. But the Tour isn't about getting this set, the tour is about seeing LEGO and how things are made, how it's done, and meeting the people that "have the best job in the world". THAT was well worth the price of admission. Though this set does make one kick-butt souvenir. see flickr stream for additional pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/si-mocs/ Cheers, Simon /Si-MOCs