nesquik

I'd love to see the company releasing a standard Creator 3-in-1 train, much like the Emerald Express but minifigure scale. Providing they chose some fun designs and hit the $45/£25 price point, then I honestly can't see what they would have to lose. We often talk about the problems of trying to sell multiple products to a small market (that is, small relative to the other product lines), but Creator has helped to solve this with a more traditional exploration of design. The product is then sold through a set of running themes throughout the three models, which is why the builder's attention is drawn to the design process. A single train product would therefore seem like the perfect fit for Creator. Afterall, these wouldn't be the hyper-detailed designs that we expert from the Expert series, but just bright, manageable builds for children like the rest of the Creator line. And the bonus is that it would combine many of the things that fans want in just a single product; two different train designs and rolling stock. The option of rebuilding the model into a carriage alone would be enough for both families and AFOLs to consider multiple purchases. The designers wouldn't even need to worry about Power Functions at this level. That's what the community is for afterall! But if such a release were to happen, then I think the loco from 10173 Holiday Train would seem like a standard to match for the primary model. As for the next Creator Expert train, I'm still holding out for an A4.

That's actually an excellent point While I still don't believe that we will see extra carriages/rolling stock in LEGO brand retail, there is surely an opportunity to sell those models through the Shop at Home website. If they were aimed squarely at AFOLs, then even the packaging could be as nondescript as the Power Functions AC adapter box, since merchandising is unimportant. They could even just seal the bricks in a Pick a Brick bag and plop it in a parcel - job done. This would be a haven for train enthusiasts, and those looking to plan for convention.

Fans overstate the costs of new moulds all the time, more often than not as a means to justify increased profit margins. The wheels that were introduced for the E.N have been used in sets since, so I think it's fair to assume that the product contained only one carriage for ease of presentation and to reduce the cost.

E.N retailed for £69.99, which is £10 less than H.E. Obviously inflation over the past five years could be a minor factor, but even then the set had a little over 1000 pieces, whereas the H.E has almost 1400. Creator products in general have never been as good value as what they are today, so if we were to presume that the next train is a steam-passenger, two carriages wouldn't be out of the question. But again, I think it all comes down to the style of locomotive. Carriages play an important role in the passenger train make-up, and that's why the H.E has separate lounge and buffet cars. The same formula can be repeated over and over because the USP of Creator is the building experience, and the appreciation of design.

I can't imagine TLG making the same mistake again. As far as I'm concerned, even a Creator train should have a minimum of two carriages.

You could at least just say whether it's electric, diesel or steam! Aha

Well the Creator trains are on a three year life cycle anyway, as with all exclusive products, but I imagine a Shinkansen/bullet train might just be too similar to the H.E. Fingers crossed for steam!

How would you guys feel about a 'Shinkansen' (Japanese bullet) style train? I hope this isn't a route they go down as the City passenger train seems to have filled that void.

They went all-out on the interior with the PR, which is why the scale appears small for the piece count. If you want larger buildings, then expect to pay a lot more from here on...

Because stock is still available. Products are not produced around the clock, they enter cycles of production based on demand.

The catalogue only lists a few of the most recent products available. The Grand Emporium had an end of shelf life June 1st, which means that for this year least, that will be the only building to be retired. No other EOL updates have been made for the Pet Shop or any other modular building, contrary to rumours that the Town Hall "will go early".

Because they're unique selling points, regardless of the size or colour. The red and tan ones in particular are very sought after.

Amen to that! Although given the restrictions imposed, I personally believe they changed just enough to make the new design look fresh. Can't wait to see this baby with 6+ passenger cars zooming around.

It's quite unlikely as the original release was a poor seller. Also, the branding for exclusive product's is more streamlined today, so it would be an awkward fit.

These products are not part of a system, so why should the P.R be a direct fit with other buildings? The 'modular building' reference is precisely that; it's the construction technique for the model. Adding Technic pins to the sides of the building is nothing more than a feature for marketing, hence why the pins can be removed so that the model may be enjoyed as a standalone piece. This applies to just about every Creator product, and is the defining feature of this product line - models that can become standalone memories for entire experience. It's also no different to any modular building that has been released before: Green Grocer (French), Grand Emporium (U.K, Harrods-esque), Fire Brigade (U.S, New York) et al... The only consistency is in the purpose of the product, which is to tell a story within an iconic environment, and to do so with a building experience that offers variety and interest. Although I'm rooting for a post office, a bike repair shop absolutely possible given this criteria. Then again, as the buildings have become more and more specific to that particular commerce, we'll likely see different kinds of restaurants and shops.

The official release date is June 1st, but many of the summer wave products have been released early. The next Creator train should have a Jan 1st full release.

I would respectfully disagree with your final comment if sales data was taken into account. I work in brand retail and Creator is regularly in the top three selling themes throughout the fiscal year; customers love the value of these products. Not only this, but a good majority of the customers are parents who are buying on behalf of their children, because they approve of "the simpler" LEGO that, in their mindset, is more a catalyst for the builder's imagination, and also reminds them of their own youth. The products are also the go-to area of the store for those either new to the LEGO system, looking for a gift or just in need of pure construction! It's quite a therapeutic range Above all Creator is a vital brand asset, because there are no stringent rules with regards to line compatibility, which I believe is very important to appeal of these products. With regards to market research, this obviously applies to every product line. But the comments I made were purely subjective - I just believe that a lot of the licensed products today are absolute tat that is packaged with very deceiving artwork. Having to remain neutral is the most difficult aspect my job, as children have a quite different impression to how large or epic a model is going to be in comparison to the box artwork. And for as long as families allow their children to buy into this deception, and the need to pay more money for components/minifigures that the company apply brand tax to, the "demand" will always exist, and I find that very upsetting. Anyway, best keeping the discussion to trains...

That is very true. I think it speaks volumes about the direction that this company has taken when, due to the expectations of different audiences, they need a separate theme solely for products that focus on the construction of a model. Creator is surely the most important product line they offer, and the pricing model brings to light just how much profit just be made from other lines. With regards to the train's nose cone, I personally think it's suitable for a City model. Let's not forget the all passenger/cargo planes in City also have large moulded cones, and of course the wings to match! They're not pretty to look at from a system-wide perspective, but the target audience (young children, small hands) only cares about the playability. And if the pieces then make the models easier to reconstruct, then that's a good thing.

I'd suggest that a Post Office (P.O.) would be a strong contender for a future modular building. As I've argued in earlier comments, the theme has evolved swiftly and now has greater emphasis on how the storyline accompanies the environment. So while the architecture is still integral to the product, the designers have come to realise that the models work better as a complete stage for characters to be the stars of. This is almost a complete opposite to Café Corner, which although still looks pretty, has no interior and no backstory. The modular buildings then were more or less an attempt at market research, and didn't have the same level of anticipation or draw to a vast age group as today. Keeping all this in mind, I believe a P.O. would fit the bill perfectly as There are enough iconic templates for how a P.O. should look like in the eyes of the builder. I'd pick out just one example of how older P.Os have a tradition in England for being situated in small, cosy streets, where it's normal to see housing built around them. That alone creates a lot of potential for the design and construction. And who could forget the red Telephone box and letterbox?... While vehicles have rarely been impressive parts of these products, there's a good opportunity to design a classic parcel van for the mail to be delivered with. During the 1950's and even earlier, when village Post Offices were usually dependant on Morris Minor mail vans. There is nothing the least bit controversial about Post Offices in general. Other kinds of building such as Police Stations have already been interpreted in other themes (such as City), and while this is true about fire stations, the Fire Brigade modular building was an entirely iconic design that fans could associate with, because it evoked a time and place. That is the reward with these products - not being able to reconstruct a city with necessities. The products are designed to work independently; libraries, gyms, casinos, banks, dentists are simply not iconic enough to follow the previous modular buildings as marketable Creator products. Not only this, but you also have to consider the build experience. A library may seem good in the imagination, but not a single LEGO designer would expect the customer to have to build bookcase after bookcase after... These buildings are supposed to be fun to construct with lots of variation. Finally, a village Post Office would be the perfect scale for the current modular building line-up. The ground floor would contain a small shop and collection/drop-off kiosk, the first floor would be a living space and there could even be a loft area.

I imagine that we'll have some sort of leak/info regarding the next set towards the end of this year. There's been a two year gap between new products beginning with the Emerald Night (2009), Maersk (2011) and then the H. Express (2013).

Makes me wonder why the designer can't just continue to use...

How did you get on with the A4, Lazarus?

Inflation is a certain consideration with many products, though I believe train sets tend be an exception simply because of the scale. Like other toy companies, TLG play on the fact that - despite having few pieces than models of a similar cost - the fact that the completed model takes up a larger space warrants the extra cost. As such, customers make themselves believe that the product really justifies its value just because "it's big".

The focus of that model is the architecture, rather than the purpose of the building.

In the UK they're not officially released until June 1st, so it would appear the US either has permission to sell early, or retailers are pushing their luck...