Tohst

I think his response was pretty tongue - in -cheek. But lets take it as real. Read Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond and be very sad about our chances if aliens were anything at all like us. Even when we don't mean it to happen, the civilization with the advanced technology basically destroys the other civilization whether they show us as explorers, conquerors, or just to help. Thats why those wonderful Vulcans don't let you touch a species until they develop warp drive. Our best bet would be to become Pets (a la pretty daisy for Pyros) or maybe zoo animals while they rehabiitated our planet before releasing us back into the wild. If some ideas around the origin of life are true and you need a giant moon like we have, life may be pretty scarce out there anyway, giving us a brief window to get out there and conquer before they come for us. -Tohst

Great Review. This set had a running change to the arms so there were some sets where the finished model didn't match the box. -Tohst

Orland has them! Must get more pigtails! I just wish they had included ice planet babe. And if they can bring back pigtail hair, why not old helmets? Did you see my window to the community window? -Tohst

And toys do not just reflect the value of the society that produces them but also help impart those values onto the next generation. I'm actually glad the new Kingdom's line is human vs. human. And I'm saying that as a big fan of the fantasy era. Because: Atlantis - humans vs. non-human Power Miners - humans vs. non-human SPIII - Humans vs. non -humans At least Star Wars has Chewbacca but don't get me started on their terrible treatment of droids. I think there is at least 1 topic about this already. It pops up from time to time. You really need to subvert the theme and turn the police into fascists and the aliens are the good guys. -Tohst R2 has force powers...and still can't be treated like a live little boy.

This is very nice. I love how integrated it looks despite being made up from all the individual sets. So are you looking forward to the new HP sets or dreading them as they'll have to be incorporated here? ;-) -Tohst

This is long...sorry. The file was in .docx which is a current word format and by current I mean many users won't have a new enough version. Rules for LEGO LUGBULK Program 2010 Dear LUG Members, The LEGO LUGBULK Program was a big success last year so we have decided to continue the program – still as a pilot which can be terminated anytime - in 2010 but with some adjustments and even more defined rules based on our experience from last year. We are happy to announce, that we in 2010 can offer the LEGO LUGBULK Program also in the USA. Please find in the following the Rules for the LUGBULK Program 2010 – please be aware of that we due to workload need to follow these rules and need all information and responses from you in time and in the provided forms- otherwise we are unable to proceed your order. The first step is to send Jan Beyer (jan@LEGO.com ) an email with information (see required information below in red) where you apply for the participation in the LEGO LUGBULK Program 2010. This email need to be send before the 31st of January if you want to participate in the first order cycle 2010 and before May 16th if you want to participate in the second round of the order cycle. Also all participating LUGs from 2009 need to send the email in time! If you have sent this email in time for the first round your LUG can automatically also participate in the second round. What are the requirements for participation? The LEGO LUGBULK Program is only accessible for registered LUGs. A LUG need to meet the following requirements to become a registered LUG: The LUG need min. 10 members (please tell us the member figure of your LUG) The LUG need to feature at least 2 public displays a year (always the events from the previous year count so please send dates and links to pictures of your public events from 2009) The LUG need to exist for at least 1 year (please tell us the founding date) The LUG need to have an official website (please send us the link) The LUG need to have at least a 1 page description of the LUG and the goals on the website (please send us the link to that page) The complete filled out LUGBULK Master Data Sheet. The LUG is responsible for securing the needed written accept from their in the LEGO LUGBULK Program participating members to submit legally basic information about them to the LEGO Company like Full Name of members, Address of members , Email of member s, Date of birth of members (members who want to order need to be 16+), LEGO ID or LEGO Customer number of members if applicable and others. The later provided LUGBULK Member Data Form need to be used to submit all member data. Only the personal data of the members who accept the terms can be submitted and only these members can order. The data will be used only by LEGO System A/S and its affiliated entities and never issued to 3rd parties. What are the rules for the LEGO LUBGULK Program? - Only active elements (no Q elements and no licensed elements) can be purchased - The minimum order per LUG and round is 5000 DKK - The average amount per member to purchase is max. 500 DKK - The minimum order qty. per element is 50 pcs. and increase in 50 pcs. steps (except building plates (can be ordered by piece) – there are no other exceptions!) - The maximum amount of different elements per order is 50 - Every registered LUG can order up to 2 times a year if they react in the timetable (see dates above) - The orders will be taken in between February and September each year – the order dates and other submission dates will be agreed with Jan Beyer in the order of the arrival of the applications. - Payment terms are 15 days after Invoice Date by bank transfer and in DKK/EUR/USD without any costs for the LEGO Group - The lead time per order is up to 3 month - It is not allowed to resell the bought elements – there will be a penalty for the LUG if a member is reselling the elements. - The shipping costs and possible taxes/custom clearings are not included – shipping will always happen through DHL and the goods cannot be picked up in Billund. - Costs for shipping are 5% of the order amount - Only one defined member of each LUG can place the order and will get the order shipped - AFOLs can only order in one LUG and not order in several LUGs even if they are member of more than one LUG. - The order need to be submitted in the LEGO LUGBULK Order Form which will be send out later to the registered LUGs. How is the process? 1. The LUG submit the email with the info regarding the requirements and the complete filled in LEGO LUGBULK Master Data Sheet to Jan Beyer (jan@LEGO.com) before the 31st of January (first round) or 16th of May (second round). 2. After that the for ordering defined contact persons of the registered LUGs (LUGs that fulfill the requirements) will receive a mail from Jan Beyer with the LEGO LUGBULK Order Form and the LEGO LUGBULK Member Data Form so they can submit the needed Member information and the wish list according to the in that mail set date. The contact person is responsible for the order and payment in the timeframe for this specific LUG 3. After Jan Beyer has received the wish list (max. 80 elements) in time it will be proceeded and send back to the LUG contact person with prices and information (if elements cannot be delivered and so on). 4. The contact person must then get the final order list down to the allowed 50 elements and adjust the order amount so it fit to the max order amount of the LUG (member figure multiplied by registered members – min. 5000 DKK) and send it back to Jan Beyer in time. 5. Jan Beyer proceeds the order to the warehouse and get a final status of the order. First after final status from the warehouse the order is done and agreed and the 3 month lead time start. 6. When the order is ready it gets shipped with DHL to the shipping address according to the LEGO LUGBULK Master Data Sheet 7. Jan Beyer is sending the invoice separate to the billing address according to the LEGO LUGBULK Master Data Sheet. The whole process can happen up to twice a year. Please notice that if you not are in time with your order or any other needed information according to the dates agreed by email with you, your order cannot be fulfilled and will be canceled. Jan Beyer LEGO LUGBULK Program

Thanks for another great review. Does the Anakin with face scarf look kinda like Homer Simpson to anyone else? -Tohst

Thanks KimT, excellent review. I'm really interested if anyone has pics comparing it to the original as it does look very close. Even down to the construction of the wing joints and the bomb dropping/wing mechanism. Does it still drop bombs? I always felt the original's body was a little small compared to the wings and this one seems the same way but maybe I'm just more ussed to the X-wing's dimensions and this is accurate. Thanks, Tohst PS, my local TRU wanted $75 for this one.

I have heard rumors that I hope are true around this. But yeah, you know I'm in...if only to bring down the price of tan and sand green bricks for additions to my castle. -Tohst ETA: while we're at it...please include centaurs and minifigs from other houses. Thanks!

I've got a couple of these sets, not this exact one, but the one with 2 white suited guys and the one with 2 red suited guys. They were put out by Samsonite (like the other North American sets at the time). The packaging says 1978. The Lego Collector's guide from 2008 producted by Fantasia Verlag GmbH has them all as 1979. Yes, even the ones with the yellow spacemen that didn't show up in sets until 1982. For comparison, the guide lists 1592 - Town Square at a rarity level of 5 bricks out of 6 and these sets are at a 6 out of 6. -Tohst

I know you are looking for techniques without the sloped bricks but you can do quite a lot with them as well. Here is my attempt at a conical roof with them. Roof Technique with sloped bricks -Tohst

It makes sense on all fronts. Bionicle - First of all, we have Ben 10 which is Bionicle-like in terms of price points, targeted audience, and to a degree design. Just like Space went away (for a while. Yay SPIII) when Star Wars started, Bionicle is being replaced by a licensed theme. Will it come back? Will another original theme replace it? I think that partially depends on the success or failure of Ben 10. I don't think they would have made Ben 10 as close to Bionicle as they did if Bionicle sales were really bad. We all want lines to go out with a bang but more often then not they go out with a whimper because of the reasons they are going out. Bionicle Stars, if they are the last gasp, are a nice little homage line but not a bang. Indy - will be back if there is another movie. I would bet you a dollar. Until then Prince of Persia, which does have a movie coming out, covers the same space. Agents - This is not unexpected. These action themes last a couple of waves and disappear. A few years later we'll get Alpha Team version 4 or Agents version 2 or Get Smart sets. This is standard theme churn. Great information but nothing to get up in arms about. In fact, its a good thing keeping themes fresh (so fresh), exciting (you're so exciting to me). -Tohst

Playability. Its the only reason there are little huts on top of the towers to begin with. Thanks! It is actually a space ship shaped like a toilet. It needs a little work to finish off (especially the interior). Thanks! -Tohst

I can't say its true minifigure scale. Thre great hall is probably half the size it should be. It fits two tables down the length and not four. Luckily, Lego never saw fit to give us any Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs so I don't feel too bad. It does lead to a lot of food fights with the Slytherins right next to the Gryffendor table. I think my next bits are going to be some interior rooms and the entrance with the pendulum. I'm having some trouble trying to figure out how it all goes together. Thanks, I'm looking forward to showing more. Hopefully what I have planned for the tower will enhance rather than ruin it. :) -Tohst

I'm about ready to do some renovations. Nothing too major. The big areas will look the same but hopefully some of the connecting areas will be better and some more bulk added. Anyway, just thought I'd share a picture of what the whole setup looks like now before I start work. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14802561@N05/...57602353726691/ Of course, these pictures are also for me so when I mess it up completely trying to enhance it maybe I can get back to this point. ;-) Thanks for looking, -Tohst.

I am willing to bet a Freakin' speeder, er FREECO speeder that the price of the TIE Defender is wrong. I mean...yeeesh. -Tohst

I do like how if you leave off the stickers and some of the pointy bits we are getting a whole space civilian range. Space motorcycle Space car Space truck and now Space tow truck. Even a space garage (although that set has yet to grow on me) Can we get a Space Italian Restaurant for the Gang to plan heists at? -Tohst

So, I don't talk much on the boards but I had to respond to this. I don't agree with Klaus-Dieter's opinion...I think. I'm not sure because of the way he phrased it which is pretty much a personal attack on the designers and people who like these sets. I could try to translate into so actual criticism of the sets but my own thoughts would take over. Thoughts such as, the initial thought of power miner's underwater is not turning out to be 100% accurate but there are a lot of vehicles and not many cool undersea structures. Those of us hoping for an expanded setup like Harry Potter's rescue from the Merpeople will be disappointed. But we know Lego believes that kids like vehicles and not buildings so they sell vehicles. I assume they do more market research into this area than I do. And as dissapointing as that is for some AFOLs, it makes business sense. Maybe they can do a shop at home exlusive thats a huge undersea ruin (I mean Pirates is getting its nicest set as a shop at home exclusive) Thoughts such as, the vehicles themselves seem a little odd, a weird combination of bulky pieces, exposed technic pieces and some snot with some of the intereting pieces from the recent creator cars. In person, they may show a lot better. We've seen before where models just don't photograph well but the set is good. And as someone already said, these are great for M-Tron fans as you get that color scheme with some of the new pieces, even the cement mixer barrel in red. Thoughts such as, the big turtle thing is very Bionicle/Exo-forceish. But Bionicle has sold very well for Lego, which is why Bionicle is still around (for now) and it helped Lego still be around. Bionicle is not everyone's cup of tea but I liked the Bionicle-pieced Dragons in the Vikings better than the single piece dragons that came in Castle and Harry Potter. The creatures aren't in every set and are prominent in only 1 or 2. Thoughts such as, wow the creature mini-figs are very cool. Really, I don't see a downside on these. And if Klaus-Dieter didn't like the old Aqua-Zone sets there isn't much you could do to win him over with one of these Underwater-Fantasy themes. Can I see a lot of kids liking them? You betcha. Can I see some adults liking them? You betcha. Do I think its horrible if a parent buys one for thier kid? Not at all. Although it may be a gateway to some confusing conversations about Lovecraft. Can I see some adults (and kids) hating them? Well, I think the answer to that one is obvious. All of that is build up to Front. Whose posts I enjoy for the most part here. Yes, the approach to this negative commentary I don't agree with but its not any less valid that the posts that say 'OMG, I love these, I'm going to buy 30,000!' I completely understand being proud of something you and your co-workers (and friends) have done and getting defensive if someone goes after it in this way but by trying to shut it down, it starts to create an atmosphere where criticisms aren't allowed. Lego seems to be very important to Klaus-Dieter and its understandable that he would like everything created to be to his taste. Because anything that isn't reduces capacity to produce what he wants. And let me be clear, there are some great aspects to these new sets. If you designed the diving apparatus, congratulations. I looked at it and couldn't help wonder if you wanted it as a piece that fit over the old airtank at first (which would've been awesome but probably just that much more expensive), but if someone doesn't like them, they should be allowed to say so. If you find what he says rude, ask for clarification or attack the message but don't just dismiss it and suggest he shouldn't post his thoughts. Tohst - who should also reiterate, I speak for myself and nobody else (not even my other personality)

12 for 12. But I wouldn't have realized how many their were and what the range was without this topic. Thanks for posting. -Tohst

Those look amazing. They've been on my list of things to attempt for a while. And I still might but it would be hard not to steal...er, borrow, a couple things you did so well. One question about the Alpha. One of the biggest issues with any toy of it is the legs which are completely oversized in Battloid mode and then really distroy the look of the jet. As such, many toys do that expanding leg thing where part of the leg slides into another part. Did you do that here? Its something I've wondered how to do effectively in Lego for a while because its got to be hard to have tension stops like the manufactured toys? I can't really tell from the pictures but I'm thinking you might've given that it looks good in all the modes. Thanks, Tohst

It looks like pictures Lego put together to 'pitch' new themes. There were some in the latest issue of BrickJournal focusing on space (that made me drool. I highly recommend buying a copy.) These look like they came out of SDCC where I had heard some more pictures were displayed in a presentation. So, its not actually a set but it is preliminary Lego prototype. And there are a lot of good things in these pictures. The hairpieces in the 'pirate' picture ! The buffalo !! Some of the underwater creations !!! I almost think we should ask a mod to retitle this thread as I'm sure it would get a lot more traffic if people knew there were more pictures at the link. Thanks for sharing this great find. -Tohst

Actually, that list looks reasonable to me. We've been getting bigger releases in summer so a smaller sized one for Jan seems right. We got remakes of the EPII gunship and AT-TE for clone wars season 1. So, an EPIII ARC fighter remakes seems reasonable for me in time for season 2. Probably be 50% bigger and twice as expensive ast he original set. I liked the original, so I'm interested to see how they'll thrill me for a remake. Battlepacks are probably right but a little dissapointing given we just got the Hoth Base set. And round out with a couple OT sets. I'm always happy to see another TIE and as a smaller set, landspeeder works. -shrug- If this is true, I'd expect another larger summer release with Cad Bane and new clones. -Tohst

I like the people who are saying we don't need this topic because everyone will agree with me. That's nice. When in reality, there have been improvements in parts selection and design as the line has gone forward but looking at the whole package including cost, mini-figs, design, parts selection, the early sets hold up very well. The original snow speeder is a great set and the update didn't make the set better. I actually like the first x-wing version better than the second. The second one just looked a little akward to me with its wing opening mechinism causing the back to be bigger than it should be. And when you factor in price (and yes, I know why prices are going up. So what?), those early sets were a steal compared to sets now. Is the new Clone gunship a 40 dollar improvement over the old? No. But it is an improvement. So, mini-figs...I'm pretty neutral on the flesh vs. yellow but the cartoon faces...blech. We get better molds these days like the new ewoks or the hat in the seperatist shuttle but give me the simple face of obi-won in the Gungan Sub (which I will admit did not age well as a set but was actually pretty good at the time given the poor designs that had been coming out) over the power-puff girl eye lookin' cartoon obi any day. I don't even know if we can say we are getting better parts. As time goes one, there is a parts selection more tailored to Star Wars ships and their designs and I do love some of the new pieces (cheese cheeeeeeese CHEEEEEEEEESE) but I'd be just as willing to be an old TIE fighter for the smooth hinge opener as the new Vader's TIE for the more recent pieces. (When are we getting a new TIE fighter in grey to match the Vader's version? And a new bomber? And a new Interceptor (ooh, with red highlights)....sorry, I get distracted thinking about TIEs). I think there is a natural tendency to say new equals better. I just don't think its the case here. There were some good sets and bad sets when Star Wars started. There are some good sets and bad sets now. -Tohst

These continue to be great. Was I the only one that thought Ron had shot Harry in the cooking class one for a second there? -Tohst

Great news! For both those of us that enjoy the simple fun of the games as well as those of us who like the sets. Let the speculation begin. I speculate they will rerelease the original Hogwart's castle...thus getting all your main characters out in one go. -Tohst