A2L

Please tell me some good ways to learn building army related stuff, mostly vehicles, troop carriers, tanks and artillery. Are there any blogs or sites or books? I do not like or endorse wars, its the sheer beauty of the carriers from an engineering (and modelling) point of view, just like a crane or a train engine, that draws me to them.

Very interesting discussion here. I do not know whether to be happy or distressed. I see no win-win situation here. Lets think about these points (some have been mentioned above). Till we get clear answers to them, I do not know how to react. 1. The quality of ABS used. 2. Why only serve the Asian market? a. Only because of proximity and hence cutting down delivery miles? For TLG cost does not depend on deliverymiles. Look at prices in Denmark, Netherlands and surrounding ones vs USA. b. LEGO never mentioned the sets are going to be cheaper, but if I assume so, will the quality remain the same? If many of you enthusiasts say an emphatic Yes, then my response is: Some LEGO fans will get same (high) quality at lower cost, while others will be left out. If your answer is No, then will we have 2 versions of the same sets, one at lesser quality and others at better? Will they have country of origin mark to differentiate? 3. What about safety standards? As it is some companies like Playmobil mentions testing by independent body, I do not see any such thing in LEGO toys other than the voluntary CE mark. (Can aomeone confirm if the US sets carry ASTM mark?). Quality issues have been repeatedly noticed in products manufactured in some Asian countries by global MNCs some of which are worldwide case studies in quality control. Creeping high levels of lead, cadmium etc being the most common in case of toys. Before some of you say it happens across the world, please take some time off to check the publicly available detail of recalls (including toys) in the last 5 years along with the country of manufature, you will get the picture. 4. It is also mentioned in many public documents how suddenly companies in such spring up with similar technologies and *quality* challenging the original companies in their own arena. But that is a business decision of TLG after due diligence, so as an AFOL its not my concern. Poor IP protection in some countries has been discussed by so many of you here on EB. 5. If cost is the sole issue, and if reports of 70% margin are to be believed, TLG can easily penetrate the lower cost markets by reducing their margin substantially and yet make up by sheer volume growth. So to sum it up, most of my arguments will become invalid if TLG manufactures parts in China to distribute across all product lines across the globe. But Made in China only for Asia is a cause for confusion if not concern. Anyway TLG knows that a few AFOLs that they may lose, if at all these concerns ever turn to reality, it will be more than made up by addition of 1000s of new fans there. And whatever said and done the **lowest** quality offered by TLG will be the **among the best, if not the best ever** that consumers in such countries will have access to!

What is the best way to store minifigures with their capes on? Storing in zip pouches bends and curl the capes around the figures' bodies on the sides. Keeping them open with other elements results in nicks. These are not on display and need to be stored. As of now I am removing the capes and storing them, but I would like to store them with the cape on, without dedicating too much space like individual small box for each.

Yes, horse seems to be the only animal that gets such treatment, be it the older one or the newer one with movable legs. Maybe because horses are a necessity across different themes, and TLG can't give the same prints forever. Of course TLG doesn't go purely by necessities. If I remember correctly goats and chickens came in Mill Village Raid, not in any farm sets, where they would have been major elements. I am not complaining though, let them give wherever they want as long they keep on coming. Hopefully in the next few years when the farm theme comes back, we may see new cow prints again..

Is it only me or does any of you find the Friend's minidolls hands stretched outward a bit too much? When a minifig holds a mike or a telescope or binoculars, they are very well aligned with their faces. However this is just not possible in the minidolls as the hands are wide apart. Even a steering wheel doesn't fit in both hands and the figure looks funny holding the reins with outstretched hands. This is not a rant. I would love to know why TLG did not align the hands of the minidolls closer to the body like that of the minifigures when there's a very high possibility of sharing accessories and come in sets having elements similar to the ones with minifigures like cars, horses, boats etc.

Can the original poster (OP) or a kind member with the OP's permission, post a pdf document of the slides, unless there is accompanying audio of course.

Here's another question from me concerning animals. I have already discussed how TLG releases very few animals every year and put them in expensive sets. But I cannot understand why they don't release different prints of the same animals across different sets in the same series or over successive years? Thats sure to increase the sales. For example the goat can come in different prints in diffetent sets. Same with the cow (thankfully already in 2 variants, but room for many more) and the pig (in 2 variants over differenr years). They have tried it once in a while, like the hen, but this has not been the norm, rather an exception. I feel there is lot more potential. A case in point is the horse. And cost wise this is more efficient as the decision involves only the print, the mold is already there. And this also fits TLG's philosophy (if any in reality, but apparent from set releases) not to recycle animals like dolphin, manta ray, octopus etc., over successive years. Hopefully the upcoming release of the dolphin in Friends in two variants become the norm. Does anyone know if TLG has just overlooked it, did not try it out yet or have taken a position on this? Sorry for the typo in title, just realized (and read policy) that I cannot edit it! have to be more careful.

When you refuse to turn away from Eurobricks or Bricklink to reply to your sopuse's SMS. When you plan to buy LEGO for your spouse's birthday (and get yelled at for that!)

I don't know exactly what you are referring to, but generally speaking 1. Some sets are released in few countries first followed by others 2. There are no sellers willing to sell that figure yet. It is pretty common, e.g. the dalmatian dog, white facet (only US based sellers when I last cheked a few days back). For a long time I did not find any LOTR or Superheroes figures in Poland or Germany.

Thanks a lot, I'll go ahead and get it.

Bofur, for his headgear. Bifur and Oin will closely follow for their beard!

Hello, An unusual request for sure, but I am unable to find any other option. My seller intends to ship a figure of Mr. Freeze in a large envelope from the US, whose maximum allowed thickness is 3/4 inches or around 1.90cm. I cannot make out the thickness of the headgear by looking at the picture, but it seems pretty thick to me. I will be obliged if any of you who own the figure can let me know the actual thickness of the headgear. Thanks in advance.

I couldn't have said it better. Yes, yes and yes. It is the eyes, color and mouth. The mold is pretty good. If TLG decides to give it a nature identical and neutral look and feel, it should fit in very well.

Its a question in my mind, after seeing the release of animal series # in Friends? So is it lots of cartoonized animals or almost none at all? Or is it a temporary phase? I have nothing against sweet looking, smiley eyed (unreal) animals, but I just cant put a few of those tortoises next to Jack Sparrow and company on a beach. What are your thoughts on this?

Does the license specify the size of accompanying construction parts per figure included to differentiate it from anaction figure toy? If TLG wants it can easily do it. Its not being done for some reason unknown to us. And we can only speculate. To the posts above, let me say that it is not at all a struggle to find relevant construction material with battle packs. A seige machine with 5 orcs, a catapault or stone thrower with 4 Gondor soldiers and big boulders, a tent and few utensils with 5 Rohan soldiers (camp before Theoden King leaves for Minas Tirith), a stable with 2-3 horses and 5 Rohirrims (check sp.) etc., the list can go on and on.

I do not know if this has been discussed before, someone can point me to it if its there. Now that new Hobbit sets are coming in Dec 2013, is there any chance of getting any ponies? I find the big horses a total mismatch for dwarves and hobbits. What are you fellow Hobbit enthusiasts using? The big horses from LOTR and older themes? Do you feel the same way, or is it only me?

I don't know how relevant it is to revive this thread, but I just checked that TLG first introduced circus in DUPLO in 1987 or 1988, with the first animal in circus in 1994 and a full fledged DUPLO circus in 2008 with animals and ringmaster (as per search results on BL). So I don't think TLG is avoiding this theme.

I love the new horse. Good to see that the old horse has been retired finally.

My main concern about Chinese parts are not so much to do with their texture and color. Yes these are very annoying, but every time I have been told that such problems existed even before production was shifted/sourced to/from China. My main concern is high levels of lead, cadmium and other harmful chemicals (**if any**) similar to those found in many other Chinese manufactured toys. Though it is mainly a concern for children (and parents) and not (mostly present here) AFOLs, I'd still like to know of any tests that the TLC performs on all the parts and particularly the Chinese parts. Does anyone know about them. other than the generic statements available on TLC's site?

Looks really good. And nice to see Batman enjoying the harbor view!

Yes that's what they should do with the existing animals like cows, sheep, goats, camels. They can also gauge the demand for animals this way. A set is never an indication. Again I am not sure about the higher demand for horses vs. other animals. A price check on BL confirms that the demand for goats, cows and camels are much higher than supply selling at $3 to 5+. Otherwise their price would have definitely come down by now. However some horses are available very cheap (higher supply by TLG in lower priced sets). Finally has anyone taken a look at this http://www.brickanimals.com/ ? Good to see that more entrepreneurs are coming forward to fill the gap left by TLG. May be someday this thread will become irrelevant as all (LEGO compatible) animals will be available from 3rd parties just like mil. arms and accessories.

Can anyone tell me if the presence of "conflict" is an official LEGO thought? Many of you have talked about routine, regular, unexciting, without conflict etc., and yeah I even agree with you. But I don't agree that TLG doesn't even look at sets where conflict is absent. It is not even that such themes get a passing glance. On the contrary such themes have been the mainstay for years, even when conflict based themes have come and gone! How is road repair, fire fighting, street sweeper, garbage collection, pizza corner, airport, fishing boat, harbor, camping, city bus, garage or even ambulance/hospital (replace with animal clinic and vet) be full of conflict? And TLG has been doing this in CITY theme for 15 years or even longer, nonstop! Again animals need not be confined to a zoo. It can be a vet clininc, animal sanctuary, bird sanctuary, photo safari (like DUPLO), recreation/amusement park (like Seaworld) etc. A question that has been asked many times, but replies seem rare!

Thanks a lot! I completely forgot about Playmobil. I checked after a year or so and I was amazed to see their extensive collection of animals. I also noticed that they have recently introduced many small sets containing 2 or 3 animals each. Doesn't this mean that there is a market for this? So can't TLG take it up? @Blondi-Wan: Your observations are bang on! And that is the confusing part. For Dino there are new moulds every few years. For others new moulds are considered expensive. And again some moulds (like the cow, camel etc) are used for only 2 animals in a set, never to be seen again (really wondering about cost effectiveness).

I am sure you are aware (being a COUNT!!!) that TLG gives a whole range of sets from smallest to the largest (often in a set of 5 in a subtheme like police, fire etc). To reply to your post very briefly, I guess its simple economics. There are fans and fanboys and fanatics of LEGO (including myself). As long as people are willing to buy them, a few of high priced, high margin sets give more returns than a low margin volume play. Attach exclusivity and must-have mania to a set and create a buzz around it, and you have a lot of buyers running after them. Also its not just hype. TLG does add exclusive and some of the best elements/parts/animals to these sets, making the sets really desirable. If a day comes when very few people are willing to buy these large sets, while the low cost sets are flying off the shelves, TLG may align its production accordingly. But again, we have to realize that bigger scenarios can be delivered only as a large set e.g. Hogwarts castle in HP, to justify the cost of design and production. If delivered in a modular way, you may just be content in buying 2 towers of a castle out of 4, even though TLG incurred the entire design and production costs. Of course everything in this post is my guess as I dont know the margins and marketing decisions of TLG. Now leaving possible marketing logic aside, personally I hope that your wish comes true someday as any day I would prefer to buy many small sets and join them together to make a bigger one. But unfortunately I do not see that happening soon.

+1 TLG does dissapoint very often. A sweeping statement I know, but just when you expect more of something, voila its gone. It may be a marketing, production or business decision, who knows. Road plates/base plates in sets will obviously increase cost, but TLG never shies away from high cost sets. Actually I mostly hear the opposite that more affordable sets are needed. Having said that, if high cost is the concern, nothing prevents TLG to put out more road plates/base plates separately in the market. Again if demand is the concern, then why did TLG go ahead and introduce DUPLO plates this year? Won't city road plates sell more than DUPLO building plates? Honestly I don't know. I don't know TLG's decision making process, and I hope someone can enlighten me. Somewhere on this forum I read that there is a move to encourage joining of smaller plates to achieve the same effect (not valid for road plates of course). So may be thats it. But I'd love to get more base plates and definitely road plates.