Stuartn

Looks amazing. I have only just come across it too, but the scenery is fantastic, especially that pine tree.

In my own opinion, I think the problem with previous short lived space themes (mars mission, space police, alien conquest (I think that would classify as a space theme) and galaxy squad) is that they are combat based and include aliens. I know that makes the theme more exciting, but no one ever has had exposure to some sort of combat in space or aliens, unlike the original, much more exploration based classic space, which lasted a lot lot longer and was more successful. The only knowledge that anyone has of space travel is exploration or research based, so the combat based sets don't really make sense. What do you do with them? How are kids supposed to play with them? Sure there's a story in the set, but unlike town, castle and exploration based classic space and City Space, there is less room for creativity or story building, and it appeals less to older buyers. My reasoning is that there have been three very successful City space subthemes. As for Star Wars, which is the obvious rebuttal to my point, the movies and TV shows provide inspiration and justification for the aliens and odd vehicles. My other point is that I don't think it is Star Wars that is preventing a in-house space themes, there have been four that co-existed with Star Wars, including one that also co-existed with a City space subtheme. I think it is other in-house sci-fi themes such as Nexo Nights, Ninjago and Hidden Side that are in the way of a space theme. I do agree there should be more space sets. Even if the buyers would primarily be AFOLs, then why not release sets as 18+ sets ( I reckon an updated, advanced, version of the galaxy explorer would sell extremely well). I think most people are not requesting entire themes, just more sets from whatever source. I am not a fan of classic space myself (in fact the only space set I have (outside of Star Wars and City space) is the miniature galaxy explorer from the Great Lego Sets book) but I know there obviously is demand on these forums, from many different people, so while I might not want any classic space/sci-fi sets myself, I would support more sets. The problem with space sets today is that the original space sets come off the back of the space race, when interest in space was extremely high. Today that exposure isn't there, so we might have to wait until people go to Mars, or the next moon landings in the Artemis program, to generate that extreme popularity again.

That building technique was used structurally in the empire state building 21046, so it could be argued it is no longer illegal. I agree it would be a good solution, and even placing a rod through the hole, and placing 1x1 tiles either side between the studs would allow for them to space out more and almost span the whole engine, without a gap. And it would also make the vertical 1x1 tile go higher as well.

Many of the sets do seem very likely and could very well be true, such as the helmets, probe droids and UCS gunship, it was just the V-19 Torrent's inclusion that gave it away. MBS sets are normally released on a two year cycle, 2018 - Cloud City, 2020 - Mos Eisley. I would predict that the next MBS set would be the Endor Bunker regardless however.

I am one of the people who prefers 4-wide still (aside from truck and buses), but I still really like the moc, you've captured the angles of the windscreen especially perfectly, and the use of the translucent black cheese slopes is done very well.

I am glad to know that, I had previously just assumed they would have been lower as well and that Australian buyers were paying a lot more either way. We have 20% sales regularly here to, in fact I managed to get the tuning workshop set at the US price.

Thank you, I built this to go with a ladder vehicle which I have previously posted, unlike that vehicle I had to resort to some older bricks. I will give it a clean though!

The new supposed death star set would have the same amount of pieces as all three previous death stars put together, regardless of an interior or not, it would have to be massive. I too am sceptical about whether it is a death star. It seems like the only set that would be iconic enough to deserve such a high amount of pieces, though I cannot see where the 7000-ish extra pieces (relative to previous sets) could go. I suppose that the rumoured piece count of 11000 pieces of the set is also unsubstantiated, considering it come from the same source. I hope it is correct since I would really like to see what an 11000 piece set looks like, but considering that it is between 3000 - 4000 pieces more than the Millennium Falcon, yet is rumoured to have the same price, that doesn't make much sense. I live in a locality of less than 100 people, but I am not far away from a regional centre of close to 100 000. The same has happened here. I think the pandemic has made the problem worse, but as you said it has been happening gradually for quite some time now. It seems that there are less sets in circulation over these last few years to be sold, but there is only a handful of SW sets that are actually being sold in stores other than Lego (IT-S Transport, Knights of Ren Ship and Tie Dagger), and many retailers are only selling a few others online only.

Australian prices from Lego are about 50-60% higher than US prices, however most large department/variety stores like BigW, Kmart and Target will have prices that are closer to the US prices. I am not sure if this reduction of prices outside of Lego stores occurs in other countries. Most smaller retailers and the more upmarket department store chains here like Myer or David Jones will follow Lego pricing, though with some sets, especially at sales, they can be the cheapest options. Australian prices for sets this wave actually seem quite good, although the inclusion of road plates does make it harder to judge the appropriate prices. Some sets such as shopping street (AU$120) seem ridiculously overpriced to me, but as I said the majority seem quite reasonable.

It is good to see that Lego do pay attention to AFOLs and their opinions, regardless of the outcome, especially considering City is primarily orientated at younger consumers. Australia hasn't really had price increases either, just the usual high prices as well.

I must agree with practically everything you have said (with the exception of the new street plates, I like them but I do understand why they aren't universally appreciated). The small car I don't think works, normally I wouldn't mind but when it is next to the massive police 4wd it looks way to miniscule. I think the building is very good as well. Because of its depth it can be easily modified to have a back, and while the dynamite stick is comical, it works for a dynamite factory or could easily be removed and the building could be anything really. I also completely agree with the helicopter, it could have gone without it, and as for the new battering ram, I also like it. It is rare to get new functions like this and while it doesn't resemble the real battering rams used on police vehicles, I don't mind. I think this set is probably inferior to 60009, which it is most similar to, simply because 60009 had more realistic builds, but it is good nonetheless. As for prices, I will wait to see the prices at stores other than LEGO, which are normally cheaper, when the sets are released to them in Australia, but this set does seem expensive. I don't think prices are any worse than previous years, but sets are gradually getting more expensive. It is difficult to gauge increases because these sets are different sizes to sets of previous years, and it is difficult to judge the impact of the new road plates.

Thank you for your advice. I have since tried doing so and think I have now been able to get the process you mentioned to work.

I managed to get the 501st set only last month at Target, however I am in a rural area so things probably won't sell out as fast, but there were only a couple there and I don't think it has been restocked. The AAT was still there at the time, but since, and this has been true of all other stores for many more months, the only sets available in actual stores in Australia are now the IT-S transport and TIE Dagger and the AT AT if you're lucky, and random UCS and statue sets like D-O and Yoda, since Target stopped stocking the Tantive IV last month. Some other sets are available online and at smaller retailers. It is quite strange that in Australia the 2021 sets (of any theme) aren't available in any other stores yet, normally they come out on January 1 if not earlier.

Here is my latest MOC, a FRNSW Class 1 Tanker. Any comments are welcome, and thank you for viewing

I agree that would make a good set, especially since it would diversify the range of public transport sets that Lego offer.

I was wondering when attaching images, how large can the files we upload be. When I first uploaded images, I was allowed to upload 100kb of images, but now I am only able to upload 20kb of images, which is very small. I was wondering whether this changes over time? I have looked over the information forums, but I haven't been able to find out why this is. I am fine to only have 20kb, if that is the norm, but wanted to know whether there is a way to upload larger/more images. Thanks in advance, Stuart

The 75313 set is rumoured to be 11 000 pieces. That is only 260 pieces less than the piece count of all three of the previous death star sets combined, if it will be a death star. It would also be the largest set ever by around 2000 pieces.

I have one of those signs, I agree it looks the best. I should have said commuter ferry, to be more specific. I was thinking of something more alike the Sydney Ferries.

I wish Home One, or the Profundity, Liberty or any of the star cruisers from the movies were made (it would display nicely with the Nebulon B frigate set, if we could get it here). I am also surprised it hasn't been done, considering the exposure it got in ROTJ. I think Home One would have to have a very high piece count to construct the odd angles it possesses, which would bump up the price, or otherwise be much smaller than 75192. Either way, I agree it would justify the high price. Could the 2hy UCS set be the Nebulon B frigate? It would have the size to justify the high price, and since it was one of the options in the survey that chose the gunship, it would be likely that Lego would have some idea, plan or even example of the potential set?

I agree that there could - and should - be more public transport sets, especially with the new emphasis on road this year. I also agree that there is demand and that the set suggestions above would seem likely if a dedicated theme was released. Unfortunately I think it will be sidelined - similarly to healthcare-related sets - for this year, and probably continually into the future. It would be good to have a ferry set, such as a passenger ferry, with a small wharf and maybe a water taxi included in the set. It wouldn't be impossible since we have already had vehicle ferry. I own the 2013 and 2010 buses, but unfortunately the 2013 one, as well as the 2017 one neglect the fact that some buyers will want right hand drive buses, and while I don't care about having to alter the build to make it right hand drive, the door pieces in some buses make it impossible to do so, unless you want the doors to open the other way. Hopefully that may be thought of in the future. I also hope there is some more congruence with bus stop signs in the future, to match the compatibility provided with the new road plates. The only two that partially match are the 2013 Town Square and 2015 City Square.

Unfortunately the last ambulance helicopter (60197) was in 2018 also, so it may be some time before another is released, which is unfortunate. I too wish there were more medical sets. There hasn't been an individual ambulance set since early 2012, and only three others (60023, 4429 and 60204) since then, all in relatively large sets. A new one is certainly overdue. Welcome to Eurobricks! (not that I have been here much longer). The ski resort set, which is still available (and in my opinion a very good set however) and the new lifeguard set, will probably mean there is no room for a proper medical set. Again, as I don't have the 2018 hospital, and as I am currently working on a hospital moc, I would certainly appreciate at least some type of hospital/ambulance set. But as previosuly said, the balance has kind of been thrown off, so there is certainly a possibility.

Looking forward to seeing what happens with your layout, always enjoy seeing these updates and the stories/changes you make in your layout. Good luck at your local brick show

Thank you both for your kind comments. I have done as you both said, and used 1x2x2 trans black panels, however I have used a 2x4x2 vertical windshield for the front windscreen, simply to avoid the join between the panels. Thank you again for your suggestions, as I had previously only experimented with 2x2x3 panels on their side, and had not considered removing the black pieces. Now I have removed them, I don't think it is detrimental at all, and I think having a windscreen is a better result. I might try to find some of the older versions of the 1x2x2 panel in trans-black. They are thinner at the sides so I think the centre join won't be an issue. Using 1x2x2 panels looks much better at the join between the panel and the bars that hold the mirrors as there is less room between the mirror and the panel, than there is with the windshield piece which curves in at the corners.

This is the first moc that I have shared on eurobricks, a FRNSW Scania aerial appliance. I built it quite a while ago but have only just joined eurobricks. Any feedback is welcome, especially on the windscreen areas. If anyone can suggest a better method I am welcome to ideas, as I would like to incorporate an actual windscreen. Thank you for viewing Here is a further image of the rear of the vehicle

Very well done. I especially like the brighter colours, as most modulars use muted or pastel colours, but the way you have utilised the bright yellows and pinks works extremely well.