Dane

After seeing the pictures I really like this theme... It has a nice color scheme and it looks like all the Galaxy squad vehicles all has some kind of transforming ability. My favorite based on these images is the main ship 70705 set. Super and nice looking ship (I don't think I have seen so much firepower on a LEGO spaceship since the space police III main cruiser) and a nice transform into smaller also nice looking fighter + wheel based vehicle.

This sounds great! - Here's my entry: This Christmas Frodo got two big surprises...

Done

It all depends on what stands in the contract but usually when one company buys another they have to buy both the rights and the obligations... You can't change/erase already made contracts just because you buy the company so I'm pretty sure Lego's new 10 year contract with Lucas is pretty waterproof. Secondly has this deal between Lucas and Disney not come over night and was probably already in the works when Lego made this deal with Lucas

Well I never seem to have the luck in raffles but still a big thanks for hosting this, it was very interesting and a big congrats to the lucky winners!

That would without any doubt be 928 Lego Space Galaxy Explorer

Sounds fun, here is my guess based on what I find possible Lego could/would make for series 9 (this is my guess list not wish list ) 1) Groom - With a ring to fit with the bride 2) Ancient Greek - This one is bound to happen any time now 3) Golfer - something from the world of sport 4) Baker - with a rolling pin and the pie 5) Silent movie comedian - My old idea for the black bowler hat use, but I'll keep the figure idea still. 6) Wolf - Re-use (Lego likes that) of the Monster wolfhead in new version for use with the little grandma visitor 7) Ballerina something for the girls... in pink 8) Hippie girl with a normal looking guitar 9) Athletic "throw"er - discos/hammer etc. and a medal 10) Jungle girl - something to fit with the jungle boy and with a new bird or fruit piece 11) Professor - with the professor hat and a book or something like that 12) Canadian Mountie - forest police hat in dark seems a bit to perfect not to use for this for Lego 13) Mexican bandit - A chance to re-use the ever popular sombrero in a perhaps more normal color. 14) Plumber - plunger and re-use of the toolbox 15) Evil or cyborg Dark version of the spacemarine parts 16) Queen - from older times with scepter and ruff

I have to say that I'm pretty surprised that so many is so critical against this series. I don't know if it is because it comes after the very popular series 7 or because peoples expectations have become unrealistic high or it's simply because Lego already have made the figures that all want and has come to the figures where the demand and interest for certain figures are more spread between the collectors interests... When I look at this series 8 and give the 1-3 stars based on originality, parts use and comparison to the general previous series I get this: Old diver - Has been one of the most requested figures on the wishlists and Lego have made a fantastic job on this one even adding a magnifying glass window to the front of the helmet to give the head that enclosed look. Would be a *** in any series. Bavarian - If the bagpipe player was considered original in series 7 so most this one and it even comes with a new pretzel piece *** Santa Claus - All previous Lego Santa's have had the same problem the pirate headpiece and also wrong beard until the fisherman's beard came. Now we finally have a original Santa with a real hat and even a new bag also a clear *** Conquistador - a fantastic looking figure, and sure it would perhaps have been a better army builder with a more plain metal looking helmet, but at least it's original and not done before like this so *** Actor - Again a original idea and a great new figure and ruff piece. A great piece for historical MOC's and can me used on both female and male figures. *** Business man - Since the blue bowler many have waited for a black version, and with a umbrella or cane he would have been 3 stars and the new printed tile is also nice so ** Pirate Captain - Pirate fans have over the time often complained that there was not any pirate themed figures in these series, so here comes the Pirate and I agree that he has a bit to much "bling" but I think the torso piece and the golden sword is nicely done so ** Fairy - I'm not sure what the problem is but something seems off with this one, but still the wing piece is new and very nicely done the same is the torso piece so a fair ** DJ - I'm surprised that this is not more popular, It has a new headphone hair piece and I don't see other realistic solutions for Lego to a useful headphone, the printed record and cover is also nice and the torso and legs have nice printing that will be very useful in city scenes. I'll still give it ** even though it probably deserved a 3 for the many new printed parts. Cowgirl - A in many ways strange figure that is very different from anything Lego have made before and even comes with a new original hat/hair piece. So based on that a ** Football Player - Highly requested and with the hockey player outfit mold it was expected sooner or later. Based on requests it's a ** but on parts use its a * Man bat - A new mold from the Monsters series where it is only found in the biggest and most expensive sets and in brown so I'm happy to get one here and I think it fits well with the vampire from the early series perhaps here in transformed form ;) * Alien Queen - Again a use of the new Alien mold for the Alien attack series and again a new version of a mold only found in the biggest sets, so again happy to get one * Skier - With 3 skaters, 2 surfers and 2 snowboards this one was expected and I guess we have waited this long because it's parts vise probable more expensive than the others. This could have been a 1 star for me if they had not made it so good. The first was a competition skier while this female is a vacation skier with purple skies and nice allround printing and that hair piece has not been in that color before I believe so ** Cheerleader - One of the most popular from the first series here in a alternative colors. A nice figure but too close to the first one so only * Robot - Since Lego often re-use special molds from this series twice this one is another example of that, Very nice printing and a new color to the bucket head but still to close to the popular orginal * Again this is my opinion and I have not taken into consideration how good or bad army builders they are. So I think there are many nice and original and good looking figures but If I count the number of new pieces I only find 9 which is much lover than series 7 where I see 15 and series 6 where there was 17... so perhaps this is part of the problem with this series even though I don't find it as bad as many try to make it - It's not the best series but hardly the worst either.

Finally images of the series 8 and looking pretty good Trader: Finally the black bowler many have waited for since the blue clown version and a printed "financial" paper tile - Like American footballplayer: Looks like the hockey outfit in new colors and the US people is probably as disappointed on the lack of a ball as the rest of the world was with the first football player. Have no use for it but a nice addition to the series. Cheerleader: The ever popular cheerleader in red and white - Like Female alien: A nice addition to the alien series in another color and with a purple "vampire" cape - Like Conquistador: Looking very good, don't have any of those helmets - so a absolute Like Robot: a bit meh... but the print on the figure looks good for other uses. Bavarian boy: A original idea and a nice pretzel piece - Like Fairy: Don't have much use for a fariy but again a nice addition to the series - Like Cowgirl: Nice looking figure with new hair/hat - Like DJ: Very nice with headphones and printed record - Like Bat Monster: Black version of the monster set very nice - Like Old style diver: Dream classic by many and very nicely done, he even has the "heavy shoes" to keep him from floating - Like Pirate: Cool looking pirate with golden hook and sword - like Female skier: A extra skier was expected and looks OK Santa: Finally a proper Santa hat and also a nice new bag - Like Actor: Very nice old style actor and a truly nice looking new clothing piece - Like All in all a nice looking and interesting new series

I have to say that the unreasonable long difference between the North American release and the European release have made me lose interest in the LOTR sets. My plan was to get several of them, but now it will only be one or two of the smaller sets. I have simply seen too much of these sets since any fan in the US basically have them now and show them on all LEGO sites I read, while I have waited and still have to wait a small month yet and that even though all Danes basically lives within a maximum of 300 km from the LEGO Factory producing 24/7...

A bit late, but nonetheless still a big congrats on the win! Truly a epic layout

Thanks for a great review with some nice detailed images. When I watched your video before reading that it was your dishwasher, I was thinking that it almost sounded like the engine of the plane was running and a perfect "sound effect"

Uhhhh that sounds very interesting Thanks for sharing! I do believe that it would be a male diver with the swim cap like the olympic swimmer and the footballer is also new as I believe it is a american footballer (I'm guessing). So only the skier is a return. And with several skater and 2 surfers, and 2 snowboarders that had to happen once more with the skier.

I can only say: well said Adam Grabowski/Misterzumbie!!! Not so many years ago Lego development of new sets was a completely secret and closed part of LEGO with just about no contact with the fan community. These past years more and more things have become more open, we see set designers in videos presenting their creations, we hear about the thoughts behind the models and even know who designed what. Good AFOLs have even become part of the design team. All this have given us better and better models (in my opinion) and a almost golden area of LEGO at the moment. BUT if things start to go Apple in the community (patent demands on just about anything from technics, designs, colors and even basic shaps) and people start to accuse LEGO of replicating builds or certain build technics all the time. The only thing that will happen will be that LEGO again shuts of all communication about new designs/designers to protect themselves against accusations and that would be a shame for all including LEGO and the AFOL's. Just my two cents.

With Lego's increasing worldwide popularity and more and more talented AFOL's showcasing their MOC's it would be increasingly impossible for LEGO to produce these advanced and AFOL popular special sets if LEGO designers aren't allowed to be inspired and learn from skilled builds worldwide even if they say that is't the case with their models. The alternative would be that LEGO sticks to only produce simple sets for the core customers and I think that most AFOL's would find that bad. I see similarities but also several differences in the images shown and the original model, so therefore it is clearly not a copy in my opinion.

Sorry, took a small look a round and did not see it in here.

Just spotted this new set on the lego shop website. link It contains the two minifig surfers and the hula dancer from the collectible series plus a beach scene with a barbecue, palm leaves etc.

Very beautiful model!

Well sitting in Denmark not far from where the factory 24/7 is producing these fantastic sets that now are released on the US marked, it can be hard to understand why we here have to wait 1-2 months longer to get our hands on them, but when we do, I hope that we at least get the same quality product as our friends in the US when the time comes... Here I'm thinking specific on getting the chrome gold ring and even 3 of them in the boxes, because seeing this image from the manual (ring looks to be in pearl gold) makes one think of LEGO's plans and the "case of the chrome gold vs pearl gold bar" of the PotC sets last year...

Thanks for the info and the comparison. I think the new one is a big improvement and looks a lot more realistic/movie like

Thank you for a excellent review of this very interesting model.

So beautiful designed version of this ship, it simply looks perfect. I would love to have that standing on my shelf, and that chrome looks so cool.

Many great entries !!! 12) 3 points 2) 2 points 29) 1 point 13) 1 point Good luck everyone!

Great looking and impressive Flying Dutchman!!!

...and now build with Danish fabricated bricks (oh, the irony!) Nice build by the way