Stuartn

I agree it works really well. I just noticed the piece used for the missile on the A wing, its great NPU.

I believe the reason there is a lack of trains is due to teh fact that the only market they regularly try to sell sets to is KFOLs. Trains are expensive as they are only sold in large sets, and there isn't desire within the market to purchase more than one or two train sets within a period greater than three or four years, or that is when Lego believe the next generation of train buyers will be available. Lego had planned, prior to the 2006 train sets, to release cheaper individual 9v locomotives and other rolling stock individually (I recall seeing the catalogue on these forums), but this never happened and hence trains are big expensive sets ever since. I can't blame you for buying other brands, it most certainly isn't unreasonable to expect loyalty to long-term consumers from Lego. I think TLG know there are enough complete purists out there to keep their market available. They should perhaps release another train set, be it a steam train or something in the 18+ line soon if they expect to keep there consumer base strong though.

They look good. The B wing patterns remind me of a WWII allied D-Day plane. The B wing itself uses very different techniques to most of MOCs, yet still looks very accurate, the A wing is great too.

Australia is a well represented country relatively, but the issue also applies to many other nations. For example, the Asian market is not very well represented in mainstream sets, despite being a large and growing market, there are surely many Chinese New Year and architecture sets, and that event is celebrated in many other countries besides China, but for many other nations in the region it could generate only the same level of interest as it would for countries in Europe or North America, and Lego is definitely popular in many, many Asian countries. The Ninjago theme has had some oriental influences in architecture, but such a fantasy theme isn't a fair representation when contrasted with the realistic sets other continents get. I agree Friends does seem rather Australian-ish in some sets, and I'll get over bus doors and steering wheels in City because they take all but half a second to fix, when I compare what Australians do get over other countries. We don't get that here. Well, we can, but from Adidas, not Lego alone. I agree with your point. I cannot stand gimmicks like apps or whatnot, simply because to me they are not what Lego is. If I want something to do on my phone, I'll go to the app store and get and app for one twentieth of the price. Lego is the successful company it is today through Lego bricks. The most popular themes don't rely on apps or technology or whatnot. I agree with your point on the environmental sensitivity of Lego. I know Lego isn't regularly thrown out into the environment or whatnot, but one day it will become damaged and will get thrown out.

Welcome to Eurobricks @samuelgu, I think it would depend whether you want to build either a technic or model or scale model. If you want to build a scale model (like creator expert cars), this forum may help: If you want to build a technic model, than perhaps this forum: Either way, I would recommend using the free instructions from Lego.com from a similar technic or creator expert car, any car will do, to get an idea of the construction techniques. The car you want to make is quite different from the creator expert cars, but it should help. If you are building a technic model, parts will probably be a limiting factor, so I would suggest heavily modifying a similar technic set to meet your needs. Doing so may not yield the most accurate result, but may make it easier for a first build.

No need to apologise. I though originally it was a whacky (no offence) argument, but the rational in your last post does sort of make sense in a way, in that you mean the empire is continually featured in the mainstream current star wars content like the mandalorian. I think I would still prefer the FO helmet though simply because I think it would be harder to achieve than the scout trooper and would be interesting to see how it is made.

There all amazing designs. I especially like the design on the outland tie fighter, but all look very sleek and accurate. The cockpit design on the TIE brute is fabulous

Australia does fair better than many other countries when it comes to representation. I assumed the opera houses were made (twice) due to the architect being Danish, but it is a fair point. While I still say Australian pricing is unfair, when it comes to representation in sets, it isn't ideal but better than other markets. European or American styles are present in nearly every set where such inspiration is applicable, but there are many places which get little recognition from Lego. I think it should be cleaned, I would certainly hope it should be cleaned . . . it would be bad if it wasn't cleaned . . . now I come to think of it I can't remember anyone cleaning it. . . I am going to wash my hands now. There might be some germs left over from a couple of months.

https://www.instagram.com/wooootles/?hl=en @wooootles (link above) Is a great builder of Lego skyscrapers. I think he has six built now and some other massive structures. I think that placement of skyscrapers goes a long way, and having multiple buildings of increasing height near it, as in the linked layout, helps a lot. I decided not to build skyscrapers, instead building modern structures 3-4 stories tall. I actually pulled one WIP apart because I wanted to ensure I had enough detail in my other taller building which I will re-build soon and I may try rebuilding a simpler form of the MOC I pulled apart. I agree it takes a lot of effort to design skyscrapers. One of the difficult things is ensuring there are different details along the skyscraper, yet not looking overly colourful or confused.

You're right there, that is a much better build, still a caricature in some ways, but it resembles a Koala accurately and looks better aesthetically There was also a platypus which looks much better than the kangaroo as well

Lego just don't care about Australians much. That is my unpopular opinion. I know many countries are ignored, simply because if every nation got a Lego set for it there would have to be hundreds of sets, but Austrlia has been a very large and loyal market for decades. Here is my evidence for it: -The Australian and Canadian dollar is about the same. However sets like the new Imperial shuttle are $30 cheaper in Canada, and both are relatively isolated, albeit geographically large, countries. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for Canadian consumers, I am just using it as an example. -The range of products that Australian Lego Shop has is much less than other countries. Using SW as an example, there are six pages of products in the NA S@H and five in the UK S@H. Australia has four. I know we are a smaller market, but such drastic differences seem wrong. -The aseasonality of sets. I know as a smaller market we cannot expect to have our own sets, and have to put up with winter sets at Christmas, but somewhere along the line something to make Australian consumers, who have been a loyal market for decades could be done. -Lack of sets explicitly directed at Australian consumers. With the exception of the two outback sets in the 90s, and a promotional set consisting of two small city sets, I cannot think of any set which has been made either directly for (as in teh latter) or inspired by (as in the former example) Australia. -This: (image sourced from Brickowl)

They're great builds, if the space figures were excluded, they would be great recoloured star wars MOCs in they're own right, the same going for them if SW didn't exist, in that they would be great space MOCs. The matching of the different space subthemes to the specific spacecraft is genius. The speeder bike is a great build.

Exceeded: 60026: town square. Everything is so extremely detailed, beyond the expectations of a city set, and it seems much more cohesive than its successor, 60097, which itself was a brilliant set too. 75269: duel on mustafar. I'll admit that I didn't have high expectations for this set, and the packaging seems to do all it can to get you not to but the set, but the figures are really good, the functions work well and the 'lava' parts look way better in real life. Its not teh best set ever by a longshot, but it was better than expected. 75156: Krennic's imperial shuttle. It completed by collection of the main Rogue One figures. I already had the U-Wing, which at the time I though was probably the best SW set to date I owned, but the shuttle was great. It didn't have a great interior, but it looked perfect on the outside and the figures were great too.

Even a regular scout trooper or stormtrooper would have been good, or why not Moff Jerjerrod, mirroring the inclusion of General Dodonna in the X wing. Considering the AU$130 price tag it does not seem enticing, since I can buy two of the TIE Fighter for almost that price or almost two X wing sets and get way better figures and a better model.

I don't think that Lego will be replaced in the market, at least not before the end of this century. The reason is that competitor brands aren't received well by the majority of consumers. Regardless of how good quality other brands are, consumers see them as 'real Lego' or 'fake Lego'. Third party parts, despite their good quality, acceptance and enhancement to official Lego products they provide, most non-AFOL consumers won't understand and purchase. Furthermore, most consumers will mistakenly call anything that looks like Lego 'Lego', and I don't think any clone brand, besides maybe Megablocks, has universal exposure. While some companies do have products that appeal to AFOL such as better train sets, AFOLs are still a minority as consumers and train fans are only a small, though significant, group. Those who will wish to purchase clone brands over MOcing are gain a minority within that minority, and for many consumers what Lego offers is enough. In terms of an on-demand brick service, I don't think it would be unrealistic. I cannot see it happening anytime soon, but as the AFOL market grows, it could happen, maybe not worldwide or to everywhere, but in some places it may one day be economical.

Often though, its teh only way to make stormtrooper heads articulate! But I think you're right with that suggestion, and in that stormtrooper heads are way too big.

Yes, Lego plants are made from polyethylene, obtained from sugarcane. About twenty-five new elements (2% of their pieces) are made from this material. https://www.wired.com/story/lego-sustainable-bricks/ They were introduced in the wind turbine set, which advertises this on the packaging.

I think that would be good, but it could also detract from being Lego-y. Minifigures are unique and instantly recognisable, and I think any changes, even if they are improvements, other than leg height variations, could tarnish the brand. There are some things they should do though, such as a battle droid arm that is angled so the blaster could be held differently, and maybe a minifgure arm that does the same. They actually are, sort of. Plant elements are being made now from plant-based plastics, rather than ABS. They still do have the same properties as regular ABS. But I see your point, even some more creative moulding on regular parts could be used to make that effect.

That would be a great set, then, a couple of years later (like the Ninjago docks and garden sets), there could be a partial senate, Jedi temple, more streetscape, etc. That is an incredible idea and your ideas for its construction sound very feasible, sort of a modular line for SW.

This is my version of the rebel Tank from Episode V. It makes a blink and you'll miss it appearance, though it has had its own official set already. As I mentioned in the 'wishlist' forum, I intend on building a few different rebel vehicles for a display piece. There are not many images of this vehicle available for reference and I have had to sacrifice the hollow interior of the vehicle to make the shaping work. The older 'grey' colour would have been perfect for the vehicle, but I have had to use dark bluish grey instead. Comments and improvement ideas welcome, and thank you for looking.

That looks good, welcome to Eurobricks, there's a lot of great detail in your MOC and the angles are executed really well. The interior looks great too. The display stand is very well done.

I like that list too. A few posts back I mentioned my idea of 'minifigure packs' with about 8 figures each. These are my ideas for them with vehicles, with expanded versions, after taking inspiration from your list. I might try in the future to build these ideas as display pieces ( - new moulds designs) by making a base and potential a brick built roundel at the back. Each would have 1 new minifigure design, with designs existing already for the rest. Separatists: Hailfire Droid, STAP, Crab Droid, Droid transport, Droideka, 4x B1 Droid, 2x B2 Droid, 2x Security B1 Droid, Battle Droid Commander, PK Droid (new mould), Neimodian Soldier Republic: V Wing, AT RT, Forward command post (based on AOTC), two P2 troopers, 41st Trooper, Airborne Trooper, Clone Commander, BARC Trooper, Clone P2 Pilot, Nova Corps Trooper Rebel alliance: T-47 airspeeder (with grey/tan colour), rebel tank (based on Hoth tank), rebel tranpsort vehicle (based on those in Yavin/Hoth hangars) and a maintenance gantry to fix the scene in place. Rebel fleet trooper, rebel fleet technician, Mon Cala officer, rebel officer, rebel officer (based on General Dodonna), two rebel pilot figure, two RO or ROTJ-based rebel troopers. Imperial: Z-95 Speeder bike, AT-ST, ion cannon/turbolaser turret, imperial officer, one in grey and one in black, imperial navy trooper, two stormtroopers, death star gunner, scout trooper and AT ST Driver.

That's incredible, the ship itself is great but the way you've combined it with bright blue and more red in the scenery, is exquisite.

That was never a criticism, it seems realistic for mass produced vehicles to have different mechanisms on various vehicles, but I look forward to seeing your further Mods. That looks great, I really like the front mouth design.

That looks good. I really like the tie fighter and lambda class shuttle designs though the whole build is fantastic. You've done well achieving the angles on what is a very narrow ship.