TeddytheSpoon

Hello Train Tech! I've got a few Q's regarding LEGO train-ing; I've always wanted to make some but never had an idea of where to start until now. The basic idea I've had is an as-small-as-possible layout, but still at minifig scale, with the subject matter a Swiss metre-gauge line. So... 1. Track-wise, I'd like to avoid the 8-wide track in the interest of compactness. I know LEGO made some 4-wide track, what are custom options like for this size? (I've also considered using rollercoaster rails, but they seem a bit more restrictive for a 'normal' train.) 2. I'll happily be corrected if I'm wrong, but for standard gauge trains 7-wide seems to be a common building standard. Is there a similar one for the smaller gauge trains (I would assume 5-wide), or is it entirely scale-dependent? 3. Finally, are there any options for motorising trains this small? Again, I assume if it is possible it will require some custom parts? Hopefully you can help - no doubt I'll be coming here a lot if I get around to tackling it! Otherwise, any general resources for starting out in LEGO train land are much appreciated!

The red dishes with those sand-red gateways looks really nice! They came in black in at least one of the early Star Wars sets - Final Duel I, if I remember correctly. Not sure they were ever made in blue though.

The trouble with judging how well a given set sells is that it's almost purely anecdotal evidence. As mentioned TLG will be the only ones who have any kind of idea. I haven't even seen it on sale anywhere here in Finland, for instance. That said, it's a set that I've seen almost universal praise for. So regardless of sales numbers I think LEGO will be aware just how much positive feedback there's been for it. The fact they keep dipping into the 'nostalgia' sets suggests to me it's done alright.

Nice! I love how you've incorporated R2's various tools into the mech, like the buzzsaw or periscope. Very seamlessly done.

Hello all! Making one of my all-too-infrequent visits to the Sci-Fi forum to share my latest MOC! (It's nice here, I should come round more often...) I've been enjoying taking part in some of the monthly challenges this year, and I thought it was about time to get involved in Nnovvember. The result is this, which I have dubbed the VVPR Raider! I wasn't sure which direction this would take until I picked up the two Technic panels from 5981 Raid VPR - one of my favourite sets from Space Police III. They were just going to be placeholders at first, but I'd already picked up lots of black and white pieces, so I figured why not pay tribute to it? It's tempting to label this as a 5981 redux, but I didn't stick to many of the design cues other than making it a SPIII Vic Viper. The only big common elements are the panels and cockpit, and even then the cockpit is the wrong shade of trans-blue. (That said, even if I knew where the original cockpit was, I think I'd still prefer this lighter one!) So the jury is out on whether this counts as a redux. Both of the minifigs have gone missing as well. Fortunately the space police officer and alien from Series 21 of the CMFs are good substitutes! The only thing I haven't figured out is what VVPR could stand for (Vigil, Vantage, Patrol and Recon is my best attempt so far). If you have any good suggestions, I'm all ears!

Ooh, interesting choice of cockpit piece! I love seeing builds that stem from using a particular part. Looks more accurate from some angles than others but it's a take I've not seen before!

Babe wake up, new wishlist wave just dropped! Phenomenal work as ever. I share your admiration for the Acclamator, it looks awesome! The scale difference with the speeder is a little jarring, but that's the smallest of nitpicks since it's a play set at the end of the day. Big fan of your V-wing fuselage as well. See LEGO, they don't have to just be flat wedge plates!

Nothing I love more than a great episode I MOC, and this is a GREAT episode I MOC! Super impressed with the level of detail on the inside. Easy to forget just how big this ship is sometimes!

Gotta say I'm not at all bothered about Mara Jade. That said, she's probably the most well-known Legends character after Revan, so she would be a good choice for one of these figs, although given we're getting Malak if be surprised if we got two Legends characters. What I would like to see is characters from concept art. Luke Starkiller got a minifig in TSS, would be awesome to see that translated to real life.

I don't think the top half has been in LEGO sets disassembled, or if they have I don't recall it (I have a feeling the bottom half has). I'm almost certain you can get it disassembled in Studio though. As for legality, I guess it depends on your definition... I always took that to be connection methods that put undue stress on a part when connected. After all, minifigure hands don't come disassembled from torsos, and they're definitely fair game for me!

Do the 2x2 turntable bases have the same thing? I tend to use those instead of the boat tiles, as they're slightly lower profile and more visually interesting. Can't remember if the clutch power is that different between them though.

I'm becoming a massive fan of this scale of ship! The Razor Crest is my favourite, love the greebles on the top.

Awesome work! I love seeing comparisons with MOCs that people have updated. Am I right in thinking those printed pieces at the back are from the old escape pod set?

Any of the Naboo Starfighter sets, particularly the last two, would make for a good hangar scene from TPM. I have the 2011 one that's been on display for a long time on my shelves. You could throw in Maul, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon from 75169 as well. Another one would be the Battle of Scarif, using 75171, plus a TIE Striker and/or U-wing, depending on the space available. Easy enough to combine with random stormtroopers or rebel minifigures if you have them lying around. Final suggestion is Battle of Takodana using 75139 and 75140, with some extra FO baddies. Both seem to be relatively inexpensive on the aftermarket if you don't have them, and 75140 is a great set to boot!

I'm a big fan of that AAT too! Is it doable in Trade Federation colours, do you know?

Ha! Love this. Even putting the fun part to one side for a moment, the design is really good. If you showed me this without the bricks on the pontoons, and told me it was a Legends TIE variant, I would have believed you. But what a fun concept.

The helmet alone is a work of art.

I don't think you can really compare a set like this to Rivendell. Sure, they have similar part counts, but one is a minifigure-scale, minifigure-centric scene, which is supported by a nice wide base. The other is a scale model, nowhere near minifigure-scale, that has to be able to float and support its own weight on stands that don't take away from the model. I'm not saying the Venator is immune from criticism, but comparing it to Rivendell feels a bit like apples and oranges to me. As for play features, that's sort of been discussed already; but for a set like this which first and foremost is a display piece, what play features would you like to have seen included? Not a jab - genuinely curious.

Hm, can't say I see the same thing anywhere. I guess reviews will be out in a few weeks so we'll see then, but I would be very surprised. Having now had a good look at the underside off the back of that, I kinda wish they'd broken up the surface a bit more with tiles or greebles. I'm all for studs on a LEGO model, and I get that the underside isn't as visible as the rest, but it looks quite unfinished.

Don't think so. There's a lifestyle video on S@H which shows it partially built, and you can see that at least the back half has Technic pins holding in the lower panel. The last LEGO set to use magnets structurally I believe was the 2002 ISD, and by all accounts it wasn't a great solution. On a related note, the same shot I mentioned is also great for a look at the internal structure - as expected it's a big ol' block of interlocked Technic bricks. Does Yularen have anything on his arms that would warrant arm printing? I thought it was just plain gray sleeves.

I'm all for a bit of pedantry! I stand corrected, I'm not so familiar with Tartakovksy's Clone Wars. Out of curiosity, were there any differences between the Venators in the 2003 show and those in TCW?

I'm a little torn on the bay doors thing. On the one hand, I'm surprised that the lack of a feature that didn't even exist until TCW showed it is a deal-breaker for so many. Especially when it would have likely been pretty complicated while retaining the structure of the ship, which presumably has a big Technic spine running down the middle. But then again this ship is very clearly from TCW, so if any Venator was going to have it, it should be this one. Other UCS sets have had moveable features implemented: the X-wing's S-foils open and close, so do the flaps on the Snowspeeder, the Gunship has opening doors and turrets that can be folded away inside. These are hardly play features, so I don't think it's unreasonable to have expected some form of hangar door here. For me it's not a deal-breaker; if I can ever justify spending that money, it's just going to sit there looking pretty anyway. But it could have sat there looking pretty with teeny-tiny gunships coming out the middle.

I'm having the same quandary. Between the gunship and the Ghost, both of which seem to be LEGO exclusives here in Finland, I was going to prioritise the gunship. But the gunship is 180eur as opposed to 140 most elsewhere in Europe, while the Ghost is the same price at 170. So I'm actually thinking of getting the Ghost first, because it's a better deal here. While I love the gunship I don't want to go spending more for less.

That is a good question, and a good answer - if LEGO revisited the U-wing, I think they could improve on it a lot. From a movie secrecy POV, the Knights of Ren transport is surely one of the most egregious examples. It's a cool ship design that reminds me of a Space Police set, and if they'd just done it in that style I think it would have been great. As was though it just ended up looking like a speeder with no bottom that couldn't transport much at all. Otherwise, having looked through the back catalogue and bearing in mind design restrictions at the time of release, I'm not sure there are too many that haven't had an update. I don't think LEGO have ever nailed the V-wing design even though they've had multiple cracks at it. IMO they've all been too flat at the front, so that would be my pick.

The one type of clone we haven't had so far that I want is an AT-RT driver. A 212th airborne that doesn't cost 50 bucks would be nice too... Otherwise I agree that P1 clones are sorely lacking. I don't mind getting P2s since I prefer the design anyway, but since 2020 we've had what, two sets with a P1 clone of any sort? And even then, one was impossible to find and the other was in a $350 set.