Friscorays

Bionicle, being a Lego nostalgia product, would attract zero new customers to Lego. People that would have loved the bionicle set will likely just put the money they would have spent on that set into some other Lego set that appeals to them The three selected submissions all share the fact that they have sizable fan bases that potentially currently have no or little interest in Lego; thus drawing new customers and money into the hobby.

I am old enough to be quite experienced with typewriters. The model which was approved no longer has motors either. The question that you asked was what the crank on the right side of the model is for. The answer is that it moves the type bars and carriage as shown in the video link which I will attach again. The designer initially motorized those functions and then switched them over to a manual crank mechanism. The model isn't meant to be a one to one creation of a functioning typewriter; rather it is meant to be a representation of one. https://www.flickr.com/photos/138645704@N05/48136302128/

Replaces motorized functions shown in video. https://www.flickr.com/photos/138645704@N05/48136302128/

I think everybody understands that there will almost always be significant differences between Lego items and the real world objects that they are modeling. That said, the typewriter instantly is an impressive representation of a real world item even if it is not absolutely photorealistic. Having every single key would quickly make the thing unnecessarily unwieldy and piece intensive. Of the three sets announced, the designers give the impression that they are most excited about what they can accomplish with it.

Sam discusses this in broad terms beginning at a minute fifteen in the announcement video. It is a much more involved process than it would initially seem.

Tom Hanks is definitely ecstatic but I'm severely disappointed that Planet Express ship didn't make it. I will still likely purchase one of each of the sets announced today: typewriter will display nicely with piano, Seinfeld will display nicely with Friends set and I generally can't get enough of the big structure builds. I am surprised Seinfeld doesn't seem to be well known in Europe. In the US, it was a hugely influential sitcom and is, generally speaking, held in higher critical regard than Friends.

There is only one that I can barely live without: Futurama Planet Express delivery ship.

https://www.theverge.com/21292132/lego-super-mario-sets-hands-on-nintendo-interview-play-toys

Always said "Coming soon" on the Harry Potter theme main page but very recently changed from "August 1st" on individual set listing pages to "Coming soon" as well. Hopefully that means sooner than August 1 rather than a push back after August 1 due to supply concerns.

Night at the museum made it to 10k. https://ideas.lego.com/projects/e692ce07-efb5-4f22-a490-745b16150200

Get started yet?

https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/178001-lego-10277-crocodile/

Yes. Knob on second floor in front of chimney. https://www.brothers-brick.com/2020/05/13/lego-reveals-10273-haunted-house-as-next-set-in-the-creator-expert-fairground-collection-news/lego-creator-expert-fairground-collection-10273-haunted-house-g7sx1-10/

No stickers.

I'm not sure if it is really qualifies as a leak. It is advertised in the newly released June 2020 store calendar.

Jangbricks put up his review today.

Perhaps they found that the "expert" thing scared off adults who might be interested in a set or two but are only casual or infrequent LEGO fans who might not necessarily consider their building skills expert. I think most will find it clear that the 18+ is just a suggested age range, especially since the box art makes it pretty clear that no adult only material will be found inside.

Yes: "Addressing the new packaging, Senior Marketing Manager Anders Hellegaard Iversen said: 'So many of our older builders love the Creator Expert products, as they allow them to show off their passion for the bricks. Whether it’s their favourite film moments, sport icons, travel destinations, buildings, fairgrounds or vehicles, LEGO sets help to bring these to life in brick form. That’s also why we have decided to stop using the Creator Expert branding and, instead, use the new adult-focused packaging design to make it clearer which hobbies or brand products they can relate to. We hope this will make it easier for fans to track down models they would be proud to display once completed. Of course, our product range will continue to include the same advanced-build, collectible products that guarantee hours of building enjoyment for fans.'" Love it. I'm in for at least two sets.

Sadly not true in the USA....

I believe backorder is used when Lego can provide an accurate date when set will ship (presumably when sets exist but are in transit to various shipping centers) and out of stock is used when they can not (presumably because more sets need to be manufactured). It happens very regularly that items that are not anywhere near retirement are listed as out of stock. For example, three Star Wars helmets were released about two weeks ago. For May 4th event, two are currently already listed as out of stock and one is listed as backordered. All three will obviously be available for purchase for a long time to come. As far as modulars, the only one currently available in US is the diner which is listed as backorder. The garage, bookstore and Assembly Square will be available again even though currently listed as out of stock. The Parisian restaurant is still listed but described as retiring soon and won't be back as it retired December 2019. If one looks around the internet, there are sites that list which sets are expected to or known to be retiring.

Word is 400 dollars / euro. Don't know that piece count has been pinned down.

No pre-orders of the new Harry Potter sets have opened up in the US as of yet so no need to worry that you missed anything. From what I gather, areas of the world that can pre-order will have the sets released June 1. As the US has to wait until August 1 for sets to release, I think we might be in for a decent wait before pre-orders open up in North America.

Not yet. I guess someone at shop at home didn't read the press release.

Got my vote.

That is weird. GWP does appear in bag with Razor Crest pre-order here in US.