Khargeust

I love the three factions. Too bad there weren't more sets featuring the Armada.

I was waiting for a good offer before buying a copy it and it must be said that VIP days starting yesterday fell right on time! So I was able to get the Blacktron Cruiser, the Bionicle set, the polybag of fun accessories as gifts as well as the moving truck. Enough to largely amortize the bill I think ! I'm tempted to take advantage of the offer again and buy a second copy right away, but I still think I'll wait for the Majisto GWP to come out to do so.

The leaked picture is still on Reddit and YouTube.

Is it a wishlist or do you rally think the themes will soon be revisited by LEGO as part of the recreation of a set? Because can't see them touching Xtreme Island again at all.

Could the upcoming release of the Orient Express be an opportunity to meet the expectations of train fans? I sadly don't know this theme, but I would love a nice old train and I would take it without hesitation if it was made with care and functionality. I actually don't see what they could recreate in the Pirates universe except for a new Skull's Eye Schooner or an Imperial Flagship. Maybe one of theme could be released in 2025 or 2026. I would love to see a reboot of the Islanders with a new version of Enchanted Island, but it seems compromised I think unfortunately. Also, arguably the Imperial Armada isn't iconic enough to benefit from a reboot. Why do you think they wouldn't invest in new parts? Space remakes seem compromised in this case as the trans-neon pieces are iconic. Like you, I think a Western set is a very likely candidate for the next vintage recreation by LEGO. Set 10273 is full of Adventurers references but is not an Adventurers set per se, rather it serves as a gothic framework for a faiground set. If they remake an Adventurers set, it will almost certainly be a recreation from the Egyptian desert. Bionicle fans probably deserve their big vintage set too! ;-) I doubt that the January GWP satisfied them!

For three years now LEGO has strived to recreate several sets inspired by past glory and seems to want to ride this wave of nostalgia. You can see marketing website page on this point here : https://www.lego.com/en-gb/categories/adults-welcome/article/vintage-lego-sets-from-childhood In 2020 there was 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay, in 2021 Medieval Blacksmith, in 2022 40367 Forest Hideout, 10305 Lions' Knights Castle and 10497 Galaxy Explorer, this year 40580 Blacktron Cruiser, 10320 Eldorado Fortress and we're expecting a new set inspired by Majisto's magical workshop launching in august-september. In your opinion, and probable new Medieval Market put aside, which next vintage sets could we reasonably see be released in the future ?

Except through the launching of new playsets as it was the case in 2009, I reasonably see them coming back with a remake of an imperial Flagship. For me it is the most plausible way. Also I think there is a demand. 21322 was the occasion to reboot two iconic things : The Black Seas Barracada and a synthesis of all pirates' islands stuff. With the 10320 they gave us an Eldorado Fortress reboot but above all in my opinion a way to (re)create all imperial buildings. So my bet Imperial Flagship would be the next LEGO Pirates theme offering. A huge imperial ship is what it is missing to the theme. Especially when you consider the inaccessibility of the 10210 on the secondary market because of absolute insane prices.

Adding a lighthouse in an Imperial modular set is a must! I plan to add one when I create my own fortress, but I'll make sure it blends in as well as possible, whether in size, colors, or parts. The motorized lighthouse produced by LEGO is too large to be integrated into an imperial playset. Did you know that LEGO has a marketing page on their online store about classic retro sets? I just stumbled upon it by clicking on a link at the bottom of the 10320 EF page : https://www.lego.com/en-us/categories/adults-welcome/article/vintage-lego-sets-from-childhood

You are quite unfair here, ;-) I think they have made good use of the space under the fortress, provided that it is in modular mode, however. Very strange when you see these pictures, especially in the left lower corner, but you are probably right (pictures from Jay's Brick blog and the Brickset review : It's "nothing more" than 40580 Blacktron Cruiser, 40581 BIONICLE Tahu and Takua, 40512 Fun & Funky VIP Add On Pack GWP as officially announced. There's no way Majisto promo set will come next week.

I agree. 1) I don't like overly detailed MOCs with huge amounts of parts. I think it's all too much. If this can sometimes arouse my admiration in the same way that one appreciates a model or a painting for example, it is not what fills my enthusiasm for LEGO. What I'm most sensitive to is playability and that's probably why I love the sets of classic 80s and 90s themes because they emphasize this dimension. Somehow there is something salutary in the fact that LEGO was limited in parts and colors during this era compared to now: although some models had never been so detailed when they were released it is the playability and the imagination that prevailed. Add to that a simple (not simplistic) but extremely effective aesthetic and you get timeless sets. There is something mysteriously brilliant about it: a balance between parts, shapes and color combinations. It's not too realistic, but enough to invest your imagination in it. To a certain extent and if we are willing to accept the comparison, It gives me a similar effect as the songs of great artists do with their emphasis on pop songwriting approach: a limited number of chords but a way of combining them and producing melodies that are unique and timeless. Somehow, less is more.Besides, I take this opportunity to ask you: are there any documents that theorize on the charm of the LEGOs of those years and that seek to explain why they are so successful? In the case of 10320 Eldorado Fortress, we see that it is still a playset, admittedly deluxe and intended for adults, but which is gently eyeing the MOC, where the imperial buildings of 2009 (6242) and 2015 (70410, 70412) used a satisfactory number of parts. There are a lot of small things here that seem useless to me, such as the white ingots, the door built in bricks or the elements that make up the tower on which the crane is based to produce angular effects. In this specific case, why not choose big white meta pieces? The aesthetic result would have been better I think. Admittedly, the rocky brick base greatly inflates the number of pieces and one could have imagined the use of larger pieces, but paradoxically it revives playability due to the infinite possibilities offered by the invitation to modular creativity, and that's great because if I love the 10320 although I find some "flaws", I will buy it in multiple copies in order to create my own imperial buildings. It's a real chance to see this kind of classic retro sets emerging today. 2) Your proposal is undoubtedly the best. They integrated some masonry pieces in dark red at the level of the window of the cabinet of the governor, but why note more of them for the decayed walls ? The rendering of these combos is quite variable I find. There are places on the fortress where it works very well, the front facade for example, and others where it is weird, for example the tower on which the crane rests. In general, there are probably a bit too many and I would have preferred a mix of masonry pieces and small bricks as you suggest. But nothing that cannot be changed! The overall rendering is fantastic otherwise.

I'm not a fan of white ingots for wall finishes, a smooth piece like in the 10305 castle or even exposed studs like in the original would have been preferable. What do you think of the pieces in dark red to represent the exposed bricks? Better than masonry pieces ? I think there is too much of it... I also miss a lot the original printed walls. They have a singular charm that can't be beaten.

The parcels from the online shipping that I have made on the official store since I got back to LEGO have all arrived in very good condition, but often it is the GWPs that are damaged because they get crushed by the big main box of the set that motivated my purchase (I only buy online when there are interesting gifts or VIP points x2 since my local store is not an official one). I regret that there is not more protection inside, often the boxes wander around. I was delighted to discover the 10305 outbox, it is really perfect, suitable for the set, and like you I also use it for extra protection for storage.

Thank you for the photos and comments, it's really helpful. As I would like to get several copies during its availability, I would try to buy at least one copy online, either on July 11 or when the GWP Majisto will be released. My local certified store, despite having the VIP points program, is offering 15% off a receipt for their birthday week (mine is this fall), so it can also be an opportunity to shop in store and be safe if I see that the box arrives damaged by the online purchase. Sorry if some find these concerns of little interest but I attach importance to the good condition of the LEGO boxes and it must be said that this one is very beautiful, all the more reason to want it in perfect condition!

Thank you for your precise answer. Do you think transport could damage the box of the set ? Too bad, 10305 shipping box was perfect.

For those who had their box in the cardboard packaging seen on the photos above and posted by @eldiano, can you tell me if the box moves a lot inside or if it is on the contrary wedged? Like the castle, I imagine that it is this outbox that will be used to send the Eldorado Fortress and I I would like to know to what extent the box is likely to arrive damaged if I place an order online. The 10305 castle had two cardboard blocks inside the large shipping box, which made it possible to anticipate any shocks linked to transport. Is this also the case for the 10320? I would like to receive my box in immaculate condition.

This probably implies not seeing new Blacktron I sets soon otherwise they would have bet on parts printed for the GWP. I can't wait to see what they decide to do about the Majisto GWP. Will they extend the faction reboot to Dragon Knights or will it be limited to Black Falcons, Lions Knights and Forestmen. Otherwise I love the plain and minimalist design of the Majisto present in the 10305. It's true that it contrasts a lot with the details of the prints of the other figurines. I imagine they could choose an exclusive print for this set though, especially if we don't have a new printed knight / soldier.

That's right, I got myself five copies (one in June 2022 with the Medieval Blacksmith, another in August 2022 with the castle) and 3 others bought on the secondary market at a good price. If the parts of the 40580 Blacktron Cruiser were printed I would have made sure to acquire as many. Shame. There I hesitate to catch a single copy for the simple fact of not having to regret later. I will decide on July 10th...

I expected the same quality as 40567 Forest Hideout. No stickers.

I would like to take advantage of the upcoming availability of the 40580 Blacktron Cruiser GWP to buy it (it's the only retro set I don't have) but the presence of stickers puts me off and blocks me psychologically... The printed parts are integral part of the original set and the stickers from this updated version come to ruin everything. It's a shame since none of the retro sets produced since 2020 have one. I therefore hesitate to wait for the future release of the Majisto GWP, hoping that they will be sticker free, to proceed to purchase. Maybe I'm a little psycho but I can't help it. Others in the same case?

I wonder to what extent LEGO can take this survey into account when choosing hypothetical future GWPs from the classic themes. As Eldorado Fortress is going to make a come back, I don't see them doing a Sabre Island GWP reboot although It would make perfect sense... No more than a Guarded Inn because It will be included in the next Medieval Market reboot if we trust the blurry leak that should be released next year I hope. Maybe an Adventurers or Western set for the next GWP after Majisto's. I personally voted for the Sheriff's Lock-Up, but maybe we'll see both themes making a comeback in large sets in the next years. If they continue to surf on the nostalgia for classic stuff, I don't see how they could ignore the demand. Hope.

Could there be no stickers but only printed parts ?

There are also the helmet and the plumes to reintroduce ! Maybe it's too big for just one GWP.

I'm impatient to know if it will be the occasion for them to reboot this faction. Maybe they will just put some Black Falcon or Lions' Knight minifigure. Maybe some generic soldier ? Maybe no more minifigure than Majisto himself. I think it will be one of the two last options sadly.

I love it, the modular aspect is cool but above all it's an invitation to (re)create all kinds of imperial buildings, first and foremost the Imperial Trading Post thanks to the integration of the commercial boat. Regarding the negatives, some little things : - I don't like the brick door, I would have preferred a molded door; - we could have had more exclusive pirate miniatures; - the prints of the figurines' torsos are a little pale, they could have pushed the detail to the point of adding black boots to the soldiers and coloring the shako like those of 2009 and 2015. I will take my time but I want to take 3 to 5 copies during its availability (I only buy these classic retro sets since I get back into LEGO with the release of 21322 PoBB). What a blessing to live this period of reboots of classic sets. I hope this will last. I hope that the medieval village will be followed by a reinterpretation of Fort Legoredo, a Mega Core Magnetizer, a monorail set or even an Imperial Flagship.

After the recent release of 21322, 40567, 10305, 10497 and 40580, 10320 Eldorado Fortress will soon complete the classics remade line. Do you think LEGO will continue this momentum and continue to recreate classic sets? What next remake do you think we can seriously see produced? If LEGO continue this trend, I think we could have in the next years a medieval market (especially with the leak from the survey) and a big imperial flagship, also an Adventurers set. For space theme, I'm more dubitative but I love to see a remake of the Mega Core Magnetizer and a monorail.