sharky

I do feel that there is too much, but only because there is a lot of good stuff out this year and I want it all. But, if that means more people will get into Lego because they like the designs then I say it's a good thing as there will be plenty for everyone to be able to find at the store.

In sci-fi "cannon" is typically used to refer to a large gun. Since steampunk is generally accepted as sci-fi the assumption should be that the weapon is beam in nature and not a standard run of the mill projectile weapon. Because it really wouldn't even be sci-fi if it was a regular projectile cannon. There is even a specific reference to a "Grand Cannon" in Macross/Robotech that was a large beam weapon that was built by creating a large tunnel under ground. So, when I read the name Grand Cannon together with steampunk it would be normal to assume that the weapon is a beam and not the other way.

The shield has a distinct curve and a single stud, but I find that the rectangular curve of the shield along with the handle on the shield is unique and is easy to feel for first.

According to what I have listed on Brickset I have 538 including duplicates. But, it's probably slightly more with some duplicates I probably haven't updated yet.

Thanks for the great review. I liked this set from the first time I saw it just for the simple fact that it's a bad guy's house. They finally have a place to go when the robbery is done. As simple as it is, I really like the hot rod. The entire set has a retro feel due to the style of car. I wished the building was more finished on the back with a hinged wall in order to open it up to play. Oh well, I guess it will be a good set to modify. I do like the look out area on the roof. That was a nice idea. I usually don't buy many of the large City police sets, but I picked up Money Transfer and I will pick this up as well.

Looks good. It looks more in tune with the aesthetics of the minifigure. I think sometimes we get caught up with making the vehicles very realistic when the minifigures are very stylized. Why not stylize the vehicles as well? I think not having any mechanism to open and close the wings makes it look nicer overall. Less cluttered. Keep up the good work. I would totally buy that if it was Lego set.

Just to add an anecdote, I was at my local Target and overheard a mom/grandma asking the employee in the Lego aisle if they had any "of those little sets with just one Lego man in them." They are really well received is all I'm trying to point out.

Has anyone read the Jan. 2012 Brick Journal article regarding the development of Alien Conquest? I highly recommend reading it. One nugget of trivia I thought was interesting was that the Grey Alien from the Series 6 CMF was originally conceived and intended for AC. However, it was decided that it was more appealing to adults rather than kids, so they were changed to the current design. The article also had some pics of some pototype minifigures and one of them was essentially the Hazmat Guy from Series 4 CMF. I guess it was no mystery why I felt compelled to army build the Hazmat Guy and will army build the Grey Alien. I also made it a point to pick up a lot of the Toy Story Green Army Men set in order to make some retro military soldiers.

It is kind of cool that all the minifigures look like their respective actor from the movie. There is no doubt about it. I think you could have simply shown the heads and we could have picked out who is who.

YES! I had a feeling that's how they would do the ring. Great photo and it is getting me more excited about the theme.

Great review, thanks. I think this set has a lot to offer. I like the Geonosian minifgures mainly due to the pretty cool wings. The rest of the set is pretty nice as well.

They will if they want to be cool like Gimli, Gandalf, and Aragorn.

Yes, it is very true that kids typically don't see the problem with changes in scales and types between figures. They tend to look past all that and incorporate all their characters from various toylines into their play. I even remember as a kid I would play with my minifigures along side my GI Joe and Star Wars figures. I even mixed my Fisher Price Husky Helpers and Little People characters. Even the vehicles as well.

If they were to print it, I would imagine it would be on a clear flat round 1x1 tile.

could it be this http://www.missinglegobrick.co.uk/missing-lego-brick-x449-273-technic-chain-link-with-2-studs-black-439-p.asp

I think it looks great. I sincerely hope that the architecture series will feature a Chinese building one day.

I really hope it will be shiny gold chrome then.

That would probably work nicely. This leads me to another thought. Has Lego done other shiny colors other than silver and gold chrome? Maybe a shiny blue chrome would be cool.

Great article with some very good points. I even read with interest the side blog about the girl who got teased for having a Star Wars water bottle. My own daughter faced a little of this herself when she wore a Star Wars T-shirt to school one day. I always remind her that The Cone Wars features many girl characters such as Ashoka, etc. Still she didn't wear it again. That was about 2 years ago, but she still has a Lego Shaak Ti keychain hanging from her backpack she uses for school everyday. After reading your in depth article, it reinforces my feeling that as a parent I need to stay vigilant in making sure that my child is not getting what I feel is the wrong message from various forms of marketing and media. The best way to ensure this I feel is by consistent guidance and by setting a good example myself. I am always clear to point out the bias in commercials on TV and with ads in the newspaper and magazines.

I never said anything about a light up feature. I only said it would be cool to have the sword in a blue color to signify the blue glow. I suppose they could do a transparent blue, but I don't think that would look quite right. If they did a light up feature (I don't think they actually would nor should) they would also need a special Sam version since he holds his sword when he fights the giant spider and that scene is featured as a set. I think simply molding it in an appropriate blue color would suffice. However, the light-up lightsabers done in the past weren't terrible IMO.

So far, I've seen stores display them in the following ways: -On an endcap next to the Lego aisle (Target, TRU) -On an endcap next to the girls aisle (Target) -In the girls aisle next to Polly Pockets, etc (Target) -Endcap next to Lego aisle and in the girls aisle at the same time (Target) -Island display in the middle of a main aisle (Walmart) Overall, I think they are very prominent in each store regardless of where they choose to put them. If Friends doesn't do well it won't be from lack of exposure.

I bought my daughter's friend Olivia's Tree House for her birthday. However, I picked that one over the other $20 set because I thought it was pretty neat myself and I would like one to go along with one of my Creator houses.

Funny review. The jokes made me chuckle. I think I prefer the previous camper set over this one. Is it me or does that female torso look a bit more curvy than usual?

Today I picked up the Spongebob Krusty Krab set for $12 at Target. I wouldn't normally buy it, but I rarely pass up half priced Lego.

There is still hope for Frodo and The Ring, but only a fool's hope. Seriously, though, it's possible that they can still put in an actual ring in the final set. At least that's what a fool like myself still hopes. I was also thinking about how Frodo's sword would be cool if it came in a blue color to signify the glow from an orc being nearby.