Derek

I really am puzzled as to why Lego won't release the Good Wizard set in the US, if it sells so well in the rest of the world. Some of these descions of theirs just baffle me, like with the Castle Advent Calendar.

I honestly doubt it. We saw a list like that a couple months ago, and realized it was on Wikipedia. I wouldn't beleive it for one minute.

Ha! That was a good laugh!

I was going to post this in an old impulse thread, but it was about the availibilty about the summer ones, so this was kind of unrelated. Anyway, I find it strange that we have so few of the impulse sets for the Jan. 2009 lineup. We have the two pirate ones, and the City BBQ stand. All are great, but I would figure we would at least get a couple more. The City one isn't even availible in the US yet. I'm hoping its not another "Good Wizard" becasue it looks like a useful little set. I guess the main question is, do you think they are selling well? I know they are scarce in the US market, which could be a factor to low sales. A couple of them are on clearance on S@H, so maybe this holds true. I would think they would be making at least one or two for the Power Miners line, but I guess not. I know the rumored summer lineup lists a few impulses, but who knows. Does anyone have ideas? Comments? I really think the re-introduction of cheap sets under $5 is one of Lego's smartest moves in a while, I would hate for it to go to waste. -darthperson

They are NOT at Target. Don't even get your hopes up. If they were, it would have been around Christmas time, when they would be sold with the stocking stuffers. Maybe at one point they were planned to be sold there, and accidentally put up on the website, but I can tell there is ZERO chance of them showing up now. If they would it probable would be around Easter time, but I still highly doubt it. They will just end up being promos like the other minis.

I got this set on New Year's eve, and when I opened the box, I thought I had parts missing, it seemed so skimpy. The finished set is nice, and the new minifigs are fantastic. If it weren't for them, I think the price would be $5-10 lower...

I saw that, and decided to keep my mouth shut. I dont think the crystal skull would be able to be used elsewhere, considering it uniqueness. The Anakin hair seems more likely, I would not be surprised at all to see it in a City or Agents set, considering it is (or was) a very poplular hairstyle (at least in the US, I don't know about elsewhere...)

True, but the ponytail piece was originally cast in dark brown, it would not make sense for them to do a new color just for a promo (unless a black ponytail is in another 2009 set )

When I upload pictures, I put them on Photobucket and then simply paste the IMG code in the thread. I think something like that would be your safest bet.

I saw a Power Miners display at Target today, and they had one of the showcase clear boxes there, with this set on a lever, so you can push it and see the set move. It really was cool how the drill turns, but I doubt I'll get this, and if I do, I would wait for a sale, and it would only be for the orange monster (the best one, IMO) Thanks for the review!

Wow! I just got this set today, and it is already one of my favorites of 2009. I will definately try to get around to doing something like this this weekend!

Ah, I thought it looked familiar. Thanks for sharing with us.

Hey Sinner, if you don't end up with everyone's address, I wouldn't mind taking a few of the prizes off your hands... -darthperson

So did about 7 other people! This is at least a week old, and has surfaced several times here. PLEASE check before posting, this is getting REALLY annoying...

I think that you already have some great ideas here. -I would suggest getting any of the creator houses, as they all are great. The 4996 Beach House is fantastic, and an amazing value, so I highly recomend it. The tan town house seems great, I don't have it, but I think it would fit in with the CC style buildings. -You say you don't want any 5-12 City sets, but the 7945 Fire Station doesn't seem too unrealsitic. Same goes for the newer Police station. -I would look into the Farm sets when they are all released. -Yesterday I got the new Indiana Jones Shanghai Chase, its great. I see you like cars, and this set comes with two great ones. -7624 Indiana Jones Jungle Duel is one of my favorite sets of all time, and would be good for a town, maybe a campsite? It has great food accesorries, a backpack, crate, table, bench, tent, map, and the Mutt torso would be good for a punk figure -7620 Motorcycle Chase from the Indy line is a great set too, with 2 motorcycles, crates, a flag, and a toll gate that could be used in your layout. -I would recomend all the Coast Guard sets, except for the giant, unrealistic 4x4 and boat. -The 4936 Doctor and Patient impulse on S@H is quite cheap, and great if you want some more female population. -Pretty Much anything under the "Town Essentials" City sub-section on S@H seems to be a safe bet, especially the gas/service station. -8632 Agents Swamp Raid is a great set, and would be perfect for a Swamp/bayou section. Indiana Jones 7625 River Chase would be perfect for a swamp area too. It has a great amphibious vehicle, a raft, crocodile, and a nice outpost (could even be a hunter's treestand) -Either of the Spongebob Krusty Krab sets would be nice as a fast food joint. (I would reccomend the original one if you could still find it, it has better features including the baseplate, sign, and dumpster) Perhaps I went a little too far with ideas Hope they are helpful! -darthperson

I got a bunch of new Pirate sets for Christmas, so I decided to do a review of a couple of them. I used a 10.3 megapixel camera, and the macro function, and these pictures are the clearest I could get them. Soldier's Arsenal Set # 8396 $3.49 USD 17 pieces Minifigure Standard imperial soldier. The new soldiers are probably one of the very best things of this entire line. The sholder pad piece is new to me, and so is the shako and gun, so I am really glad to get a few of these guys! The only problem is that the same head for the soldier is included in 6239 Cannon Battle, on of the next cheapest sets. Its not that big of a problem, but I thought I'd point it out. The Set Not much at all to build, you're probably done in 20-30 seconds, no exaggeration. The little weapons rack holds nice accessories, such as cutlass, shotgun, and backpack. You are left over with two pieces, a cutlass and shoulder pad, which is a steal for a 17 piece set. Both will be quite useful. One of the gret things about the new Pirate line is the extra culass and shoulder pads in every set with Imperials. Overall For $3.49, this set is definately reccomended. It has plenty of nice new pieces, and a fantastic minfigure. I would get it if you see it at the store, or add it to your next S@H order. Price 7/10- Seems expensive for 17 pieces, but the abundance of accessories and special pieces, and the new figure, make up for it. Minifig 10/10- Beautiful. Like I said, the Imperial figures are one of the greatest things about the new line. Its great they are in a very cheap set. Pieces 7/10- Great pieces, including new accesories, which are new to me, a first time Pirate collector. Overall 8/10- Fantastic little set. Would definately suggest getting it. Hope you enjoyed the review! -darthperson

I did use that macro tulip thing. Surprisingly, those are all the clearest pictures I could take. Thanks for the feedback! -darthperson

Well I got a buttload of new pirate sets for Christmas, and we recently got a new camera, so I figured I'd do a review of the two impulse sets. Here we go... Pirate Survival Set # 8397 $3.49 USD 16 pieces Minifigure Standard pirate. I would have to say he is one of my favorites of the entire line. The torso is just wonderful, and so are the dark green cap and legs. Accesories are brown shotgun (new piece to me) and the new silver fish on a stick. The new fish piece is great, one of my favorites of 2009. I'm glad they released it in a cheap set. The Set Not much at all to build, in fact, this fire is probably the most involved part build-wise. I would have rathered a fire more like the one in the Indy Julgle Duel set, but this works too. I like that this is normal orange, and not neon. This nifty little crate is also included. First seen in the Indy Motorcycle chase, this crate mold is another one of my new favorites. It comes with two gems, in green and red. Last but not least, the set has a minfig pickaxe and a red snake. I have loads of snakes, but the pickaxe is a welcome to my collection. Overall For $3.49, this set is definately reccomended. It has plenty of nice new pieces, and a fantastic minfigure. I would get it if you see it at the store, or add it to your next S@H order. Price 5/10- 16 pieces for $3.50 seems a little much, but the new pieces/minifig makes up for it Minifig 10/10- Fantastic, nothing wrong here Pieces 9/10- The nice orange flame, the new fish, and the crate are all great to find in a nice set, and good to have doubles of. Overall 9/10- A great little set, would definately reccomend it. I had a picture of the set as a whole, but I must've accidentally deleted it. Hope you enjoyed the review! -darthperson

Well I got a buttload of new pirate sets for Christmas, and we recently got a new camera, so I figured I'd do a review of the two impulse sets. Here we go... Pirate Survival Set # 8397 $3.49 USD 16 pieces Minifigure Standard pirate. I would have to say he is one of my favorites of the entire line. The torso is just wonderful, and so are the dark green cap and legs. Accesories are brown shotgun (new piece to me) and the new silver fish on a stick. The new fish piece is great, one of my favorites of 2009. I'm glad they released it in a cheap set. The Set Not much at all to build, in fact, this fire is probably the most involved part build-wise. I would have rathered a fire more like the one in the Indy Julgle Duel set, but this works too. I like that this is normal orange, and not neon. This nifty little crate is also included. First seen in the Indy Motorcycle chase, this crate mold is another one of my new favorites. It comes with two gems, in green and red. Last but not least, the set has a minfig pickaxe and a red snake. I have loads of snakes, but the pickaxe is a welcome to my collection. Overall For $3.49, this set is definately reccomended. It has plenty of nice new pieces, and a fantastic minfigure. I would get it if you see it at the store, or add it to your next S@H order. Price 5/10- 16 pieces for $3.50 seems a little much, but the new pieces/minifig makes up for it Minifig 10/10- Fantastic, nothing wrong here Pieces 9/10- The nice orange flame, the new fish, and the crate are all great to find in a nice set, and good to have doubles of. Overall 9/10- A great little set, would definately reccomend it. I had a picture of the set as a whole, but I must've accidentally deleted it. Hope you enjoyed the review! -darthperson

You mean, "It hasn't even appeared in the Clone Wars itself yet" If he is on the Clone Wars video game, i think its safe to say he has a chance of showing up on the show. -darthperson

To all of you who are mad about the king in the chariot set, boo hoo. You forget that Lego is targeted to kids, especially this line. And not all kids can afforrd a $100 castle, or a $200 chess set. Now I'm sure that is a primary reason why Lego put the King in a small set. What's the worse thing that can happen? You don't buy it? You use the minifig parts to make a new one? You sell the figure on Bricklink? I'm not trying to be mouthy, but some of you people should really hear yourselves sometimes... -darthperson (PS- Dont you trash-talk legomilk, he is very helpful on here, even if his English isn't perfect...)

At Target I saw the big Mars Mission set and a big Bionicle set for $55.

I was just browsing Brickshelf and was blown away by this Republic Shuttle MOC. It seems to be Minifig scale. *LINK* NOTE: This isn't mine, I just thought I'd share it with everyone. -darthperson

You can't seriously think you had the tiniest chance of getting it for free. That'd be the day... Free Lego. P'fft.

You think? Don't get all bent up over it, especially if you weren't planning to buy it in the first place.