Space78

Agree, it's unfortunate that the only CS set we get in BDP is looking very expensive, AND it has 8 stickers. "The train bogies can be used either in monorail mode to support the train on its monotrack display stand, or can be rotated to fit on standard train tracks displays! The main train is designed to house a powered up kit!" The "monorail" looks like it is just a half-pipe? Doesn't look to be the most stable display. The "bogies" are 4 wide, so will fit on regular Lego train track, but the designer description says "standard train tracks displays!" So, unclear this is intended to run on a loop. Makes it seem like the ability to add a motor is more of a gimmick. Don't really see myself getting one of these.

Yeah, saw his video review yesterday. Glad he was pretty thorough. This is just too basic for the price. I mean, there are only two things to aim for - the gray boulder to move the scoring, and the ramp (which gets you nothing on the scoring). That's it. I think ages 3 - 99 will get bored with this pretty quickly, so not much value as a functional model, and the price is just too steep for what it is. It's an easy pass for me.

Interesting, so I guess I forgot they upped the max number of sets. Didn't it used to be 3,000 or something like that? Still not sure I'm even going to get one.

In the past you could see how many orders had been placed on the BDP page, and thus how close a set was to selling out. I'm not seeing that on the Lego order site or the BDP site. Has that feature/information gone away?

Yeah, the issue is the two stud wide walls. I just don't think that had to be done to make this a good model, and the challenge modding this to 6 wide will be a lack of appropriate parts in the set to make that happen. There's a lot of SNOT building in those walls.

Right, that will be my main issue. This is going to look too big next to the Santa Fe passenger set, and the BNSF GP engine. I have the orient express. It's a beautiful model, but it sits on the shelf. It's just too big and heavy to actually run in on Lego track/layout.

Thanks for posting that video. I did not realize this was going to be 8 wide. A bit disappointing to me, as I prefer the traditional 6 wide to fit in with my other Lego trains from 1990s - 2010s. Actually, it surprises me this is 8 wide. I don't think it had to be to be a good model/set. I'm now less likely to get more than one, since this will be a static display model for me rather than something I run on my Lego layout. Also did not know motorization was going to be via gears. I just don't think this runs as well as using a Lego train motor. Glad I saw this before Monday, very informative and will affect my purchase.

I wonder how long it will take for someone to make Santa Fe decals for this? I have to say, I am very happy that Lego did NOT decide to add a bunch of extra items to this set (and increase the price) such as more minifigs or some kind of useless diorama to set it in, thus keeping the cost down.

I think there is that and the fact that Lego continues to offer space-themed sets. We did just get the up-scaled blue astronaut. The sets might not be what people on the forum want, but it's what Lego wants to offer for sale. In contrast, Lego has ended pirates and castle themes, so it makes sense that sets that fit into those themes would do well in BDP. Things might have been different if Bricklink had continued as an independent company, but now that it's owned by Lego I think means the BDP needs to fit into Lego's overall marketing strategy. I mean, BDP is really a scaled down version of Ideas.

Agree, a sticker would have been inexcusable in a set like this and given how large the image is on that piece. I would think custom stickers would be very easy to get/have made these days for anyone that wants them.

It did seem like it was just a matter of time given Lego did an up-scaled helmet in 40819 Up-Scaled Racing Driver Minifigure. So, who's ordering the max 5 sets on 1st day?

They're listed as "standard" parts on the US Lego site, not "bestseller", which means they ship from Denmark - so coming from Europe. We'll see if there is any change to that in coming days...

Both show out of stock as of now.

Agree, good to see Lego is making an attempt at a NA locomotive after many years without.

Glad I ordered them through BL also. One set was for me and the other Christmas presents for my daughter who is also into CS.

We'll see, I"m still skeptical. If it was like the orange spaceman, the window to order before being sold out was very small, something like less than 24 hours. Lego appears to be moving toward all parts being "best sellers" in each region, so agree that at some point all parts in the U.S. will be best sellers, it will just be a matter of whether they are available on PAB. And, where can one find this "official word from Lego"?

I don't think there is any guarantee all the parts are going to show up on PAB. In fact, the way Lego has been operating (making more items "exclusive"), I think the probability of getting all the parts is near zero. This is particularly true in the USA, where we have not been able to order "standard" pieces for some time. Only "best selling" items, which are stocked in the US warehouse are available to order.

That's about what I paid on BL. I purchased two of each color. Cost me US $15 each plus shipping/tax. That was the cheapest I could find. That's 1/3 of the price of the entire set, so I thought about just buying the set and selling off the other minifigs, but I figured that was too much hassle just to get the 4 space minifigs, and I don't need the extra parts that would have been in the set.

Yes, but not as good as when Wallmart put 10497 on clearance - less than $40, as I recall. I picked up 3.

Unfortunately, it's Next Generation rather than the original. Yeah, not worth buying the whole Blacktron set just for the trans yellow parts. Would work if one wanted all the black pieces. I'll have to look at the parts list on Bricklink.

Agree, I have no interest in this as a set, but it is favorably priced on clearance as a parts pack. Kind of depends if you need a lot of black or special yellow parts. I have no interest in Blacktron, just CS - so mostly blue and old light gray with trans yellow. I guess the trans yellow parts might be worth it?

That's a joke. Lego is the largest toy company in the world, has record profits and sales, and yet they need "support" by buying products we don't like?

Pictures are up on the USA Lego site. I'll likely get this one, but there are several disappointing features. Price is one of them for what you are getting. Agree this shows the back of the box with Power Up ready. One of the pictures of the side of the train shows the cable from the battery box to the motor. Not the nicest view as the power cable has to loop around under the engine because of its length. Also agree this is a poor rendition of a Lego steam engine. It looks much worse from the side than an angled view. The rear bogie ("truck" for us USA types) really does look like a diesel engine truck. It's also attached oddly to the "body" of the steam frame. Lot of air between the engine body and the rear truck/motor. The body of the engine looks more like a 5+ age build than something worthy of 18+ designation. Not sure I like the very large polar bear (in comparison to the train cars). It just seems very out of proportion to the train. I'm unclear where the price jump to $130 (US) is coming from. I don't see anything particularly special here, and it's 956 pieces. If Lego was trying to keep to a lower price point, how about a nice steam engine/tender and caboose, and drop the single car? Or do a UK-style tank engine with coal bunker followed by a boxcar for the battery box? Also not thrilled with the color scheme. Red/green is so traditional for the Christmas season AND looks great together. Why mess with that? The color scheme is more of an "Arctic Holiday Train" IMO.

Interesting… agree this looks like a bit of a “downgrade” compared to the previous holiday village train an/or the trolley. I don’t see any indication this includes a motor/battery., though the tender looks large enough for a battery box. Looks like a new element in the shape of a small blue steam engine.

I'm just wondering if Lego is reserving blue CS minifig for Benny specifically. Agree blue is popular, but to the mass public blue = Benny.