J.V.D.

I do think too that by introducing more and more details and realism, some minifigs do lose some of their charm lately (SW suffers from the same problem imo). So I do prefer a little more cartoony/ stylised look. Which of course isnt the same as just figures based on cartoon versions. Some figures based on cartoon characters lately tend to be to detailed too. I never was realy familiar with all those comic superheroes characters, except of bat- super and spiderman, and never understood or liked those extravagent super villains. So I guess I will not be tempted to much to buy the sets in order to have these figs when they come out. I might buy the Dark Knight Rises set if it comes, as some seem to expect, with a (camo) tumbler. The Gordon and Bane figs that are supposed to be included are about the ones I like most in this whole new minifig line-up. The Dark Knight Batman is cool too... and if they could additionaly come up with a surprise DKR Catwoman.. (wouldnt mind a Halle Berry style catwoman neither ) The only other one from this series I might try to bricklink seperately is the Harleen Quinzel fig. Not that the character means that much to me... I just think its a nice looking figure.. very nice faceprint with the glasses too.

Congratulations Brick Rat. ... I guess my "gentleman in 17th century clothes" wasn't precise enough to earn even half a point for hinting at the Thespis Hehe.. in fact I am trying to use that Thespis a second time as a kind of wild card because when I first did see the list and everybody thought the Thespis would be a classic greek/roman one, I was hoping he could be a stand-in for the ancient greek/roman civilian from my list.. ... and if only Lego had given that bavarian guy a hat from the forest police... then I could claim this was what I did mean with my boyscout... Anyway, time to polish up the cristal balls again and start guessing series 9 ?

no... it says in Czech quote:"vampýra" . Quiet understandable, even if one doesnt master the Czech language I think..

I guess it all depends on the kind of translator you use... Translating the full description from the Czech site via Google translator, they just speak about an evil alien.. no female.. quote: "This collection, inspired by movies, sports, history and everyday life, includes: Ancient Thespis, the captain of the pirates, conquistadors, the enemy robot, an evil alien, divers, vampire, fairy, football player, businessman, skiers, cheerleader red, Santa Claus, a boy in Bavaria costumes, disc jockey and cowboy girl." But every translation tool has its flaws... this one even puts the names of some figs in plural. And I realy doubt that TLG will have the goodness to put more than one fig in a bag.. Just wait and see... and be patient... the pictures will surface sooner or later. I wouldnt be surprised if our good friend Grogall will take care of that.

I dont think there is something like "space standards". Unless you only consider classic space as the only true Lego space theme. Though they were maybe not all of the same quality: Blactron was different, so were Mars mission, UFO, Insectoids, Space police etc.. And in the same way AQ is different... with added to that that the setting now is on earth. So while space related it should maybe even not be considered as part of space? Campy scifi maybe? It has its merrits though, and while the ADU defence HQ is by many being considered as a classic, what drew me to it was the alien side of the story. In fact, AQ is the only new non-licensed theme I did buy several sets from since comming out of my dark ages some years ago.

maybe a bit off topic because not about the set itself but: I just read through the rest of this tread, and am a bit surprised by Adams reactions as posted via Kris. I fully understand he is a bit upset or even annoyed by the fact some were seeing ,lets call it similarities, between his creation and an old moc. But the tone of his reaction, his choice of words seems to be rather emotional, even a bit harsh sometimes. Lego having its family friendly image, and going through a lot of effort to defend that (see some of the reasons why they reject some CUUSO projects), its a bit strange they permit an employe, in this case even the sets designer, and thus a kind of company spokesman, to make declarations like this. One would expect a more neutral statement.. even revised by TLG's pr department... Lets hope Adam isnt getting into trouble for this. Afterall he seems to be behind some beloved pieces in our collections..

My poor wallet.... When the sets were still only just rumors I already imagined this Monster Fighters could could include some superb sets... I am not disappointed so far. Though I dont think I will be buying the whole line.. it will be rather or .. or... or the Hearse, or the Zombies... and in this case: or the Haunted House, or Dracs castle... both have their pro's , and minifigs I would like to have. I am not planning to buy the ghosttrain, but since there seem to be polybags with ghosts comming up, those flying sheets might be rather well available.. In that case I guess I will rather go for the castle instead of the house. But this has nothing to do with the qualities of the haunted house, it is superb... but rather the limitations of my Lego budget oblige me to choose...

Nice... so I can finally give Kazim in my IJ Venice chase the gun he deserves.. ( the Sten) In fact since I saw the Sten and the Tommy gun announced as prototypes, when was it, almost a year ago?, I have been waiting for their release and postponing a B.A. order.

So true, with only this distinction : when posting something on CUUSOO and accepting its rules, you already hand over your rights to TLG. If they would decide to just copy a creation somebody put on Flickr, there is always the danger this person might file some claims afterwards...

.. as always, a great review. Pitty I have to say that this set is/was from the whole AC line the least appealing to me. My kids have it, but I do find both of the vehicles included in this set looking very weird and/or to minimalistic. I know there is the limitation of pieces that kan be included in this low range sets, but I prefer the "saucer"in the 7049 Alien striker to the thing the poor pilot gets here. So, while the 7049 I would buy multiples of (if I just could still find them), personaly I would recommend the 7050 only to people who want to have the whole line or are looking for the cheapest way to get the alien pilot. (or buy the batlle pack for that matter) Oh yes, FYI WhiteFang, I see the euro price isnt mentioned at the start of your review. I cant find back the Lego catalogue to verify the official retail price right now, but in most shops it was the 9.99 euro set of the line. "Edit : checked the Lego S@H (though I never buy there), it is the 9.99 euro set" I wonder if there are any fans of AC out there that haven't enlisted the Galaxy Patrol CMF in their ADU army yet. I love your idea of the GP battle pack, but would you keep them in that dark tone, or prefer to have that armour in ADU blue?

... honestly, what would encourage a child most to take a sip from a forbidden bottle? Seeing a cheerfull pirate do it, and see him acting funny afterwards? Or... seeing drinking in an actual contemporary setting, see a drunk person bringing violence and misery to other persons? You are right it is not that arbitrary, but if TLG realy wants to defend some values here (which kind of is suggested) and play the educational toy role... they are betting on and disqualifying the wrong horses.. Mmm, true, but even then: not every where in the world the US foreign policies are exactly supported or cheered at. Regardless of the political party the president comes from. So for those people the white house has the same kind of symbolic value, and might offend, as e.g. Romes St Peters basilic for non christians.. The same argument you use to disapprove modern day religious buildings.. What if we, just to see where that would lead the discussion, omit the words political 'issue" from that last sentence and replace them by e.g. "movie"? Is by just making a set of a ship or a building, Lego making a stance, or even supporting, the violence, faul language, whatever... visible somewhere in that movie but not in the actual set???? Again, TLG can do what they want. CUUSOO is their baby. But maybe they better just stick to a Yes or No. The whole argumenting, guidelines etc are just backfiring. Their core business market may be 6-11 year olds, but the public they reach with CUUSOO are supposed to be teenagers and adults. Many of them see the contradictions in their motifs for refusal of some entries. The danger is that they might get fed up with CUUSOO and the whole project dies prematurely. Which would be a shame. CUUSOO has a lot of potential..

... well, at least TLG is now a bit more clear on explaining which kind of stuff stands a chance on CUUSOO and which not. Of course, being it their product they can do whatever they want, nevertheless I cant help it but have to chuckle and frown at some of the guidelines, while others seem to be written specificaly to justify refusal of some CUUSOO project and being able to counter the "but TLG already did that" comments at the same time. "alcohol in present day situation" ??? I think in the past alcohol had the same chemical components and exactly the same effect on people.. I can understand why TLG tries to ban alcohol, but this exeption to the rule seems to be clearly written to justify what they did for e.g. PotC ... money over morals??? * "war etc in any post WWII situation''?? Why? Was the bloodshed in WWI and WWII only fictional then? As far as I know those 2 conflicts were the bloodiest ones in the history of mankind. Living in Flanders, Belgium, we have here enough sites to reminds us of that. Again, the no war or death rules are very understandable, but the exeptions seem to be written "a la mesure du client" .. And let us keep silent about the times TLG themselves violated even the exeptions to their moral rules.. * "religiuous building etc.." shouldnt that be contemporary religious , TLG? Or.. what else with all the ancient temples etc..? * "cruelty to real life animal.." some vegetarians might have arguments about a fried turkey, drumsticks or a butcher cleaving some meat... * "politics.." Mmm, is it just me, or are there more people that e.g. consider the white house not just a monument, but the symbol of political power in the US? * "swearing" This is definitely the best one.. I have several dozens of minifigures in my collection, but up till now I never did hear any of them make a sound or speak.. let alone swearing.. Or is TLG maybe planning to produce figs with a speachchip included? No, this realy seems to be the wild card in their rules. If they dont like a CUUSOO entry, and can find somewhere a foul word related to it, this gives them a valid reason to refuse it.. Personaly I would love to see a less strict approach from TLG's side when it comes to products orientated to a more mature/adult public. And due to the CUUSOO age restrictions and selling channels, I thought this was the public Lego was aiming at. But again, being it their product, TLG has every right to do with the CUUSOO entries what they want. But what annoys me a bit, and is starting to turn me away from the whole CUUSOO project is the .. ermm patronising tone they use to explain why something is rejected. Their arguments being contradicted by their own actions. Why dont they just explain it with B.C.'s words "its the economy stupid! , we dont see us able to sell enough of it". CUUSOO participants are supposed to be adults, mature enough to handle that cruel truth.. Well, lets hope that at least TLG isnt using CUUSOO only as a "lets see which MOC we can turn into a set" list, but also as a market research tool. Identifying what (kind of) themes are wanted by, a part of, the public. Maybe a final thought: why aren't the guidelines applied to just the proposed set, instead of to the universe the source material comes from? Which makes a lot more sense. If the proposed set is neutral and polished enough, why refuse it because in another part of the franchise some improper language is used? Like some use the argument that in e.g. Star Wars you dont see the actual slaughtering, its just insinuated so its ok. But in e.g. the Serenity proposal, I just see a spaceship. I dont see bloodshed, I dont see a so called prostitute. Just a brickbuild spaceship. The Winchester looked like a modular building; ok, a british pub which is almost a cultural institution over there, with some zombies in front of it.. I didnt see humans being torn apart.. (in the new official zombie set, zombies are run over by a truck though..) Maybe by the reference to the movie it is insinuated that all of that "ïmproper material" is there... but I dont actually see it.. So explain me again what is the difference with SW RotS, or the human sacrifices in IJ ToD???

Well, for starters, it is a license that got me back into Lego... When buing toys for the children, I noticed the Indiana Jones sets. They got my attention right away, still I doubted a long time before actually buying something... "spending that much? on a kids toy? just because I liked the movie??" Pitty, when I finally did by my own first set (the swordfight in Cairo battle pack) IJ was almost comming to and end, so I had to buy a lot at the aftermarket... Though I am not interested on getting the complete line, even not if I like the license... If the set is not appealing to me, I dont buy it.. On the other hand, I sometimes buy licensed stuff even if I dont like, or know, the license. E.g. I only recently have seen the PoP movie on DVD, but the sets were a must have from the moment I saw that tan,white and gold oriental looking goodness.. (though I waited for some sales to get rid of at least a bit of the license mark-up..) I guess that is still the main; licensed or generic , first of all I must like the set, being it based on one of my favourite licenses is just an additional factor why I might like and buy it...

Nice find Fixer, I didn't know about those. But of course that makes the probability of the comics being turned into a Lego theme smaller again. Would also depend then on the extention of that nanoblock license .. (geographically and in time..). I specially like that submarine they have. I am trying to build one myself,... if I only had more time to spent with my bricks and to finish it...

...mmm I did notice this kind of funny mark ups here in Belgium/Europe too. It isnt consistent. I can eventually accept, with some buts and question marks, the economical arguments that some people post (big market, bigger competition, lower distribution costs etc..) for explaining price differences. But I would expect it to be with a fixed factor. If all those reasons make a set 50% more expensive, I would expect that all of them costed about 50% extra.. So, last time I compared, US prices were about 40% cheaper on most sets. But then suddenly, there are sets, mostly the lower midrange licensed sets, the ones that cost 25-30 US, that cost about the double here: 40 euro.. Is marketing and distribution of those then that much more expensive??? I realy dont see a rational argument for this.. Besides, all this chitchat about market size etc.. I understand the US are a huge market, with all its distribution advantages etc.. but last time I read about this topic, I understood Germany was still Legos biggest market. Besides, Germany is a neighbour country of Denmark, so can somebody explain me that story about transport and distribution costs again??? Still, Germany pays the same prices like us.. I did mention this price differences a couple of times when Lego asked to fill in another survey (and left room for comments), but I guess we'll just have to live with it. Or look for sollutions like being patient and wait for sales, import or search the internet for sellers who bulk import and sell at inbetween prices...

... only if Lego is prepared to pay for the license.. Which they have done before of course, as well for movies as comics (or at least movies based on comics..) Of course it would hold a great potential, certainly if not only based on the movie but on the entire series of comics. Kuifje (Tintin) travels in his 22 (24) adventures across most of the globe and even beyond , to the moon. So theoretically a great variety of vehicles, (as well cars, planes, trains, ships or even a rocket) ,buildings, ancient temples and landscapes would be possible. Practically I guess it would look like a kind of Adventurers (or IJ /PQ) meets City meets Space meets Pirates mash up with some new minifigures thrown in. So no unknown teritory for Lego, but again.. they ll have to pay a license for this one. And than it will depend on the fact that first the Hergé Foundation has to be willing to grant Lego that license, and that the license will not conflict with other ones (e.g. Meccano has a license for building sets based on the movie). Also Lego could consider the license not interesting for their business.. can they handle it together with the others they have? Is the potentional market big enough? Does sale of one theme not hurt the sale of another? (Castle & Pirates on hold because LoTR & PotC...) Besides, do not forget the fact that, specially in the (older) comics, there are scenes that might conflict with Lego's "moral" standards. (see all the fuss about the recent CUUSOO rejections..). Some comics dating from the 1930's have no problems with showing characters smoking, drinking, shooting/ killing. Critics even claim that some scenes show , according to moderns standards, signs of racism.. One of the reasons why in the animated TV series a bit of "cleaning" was done, I guess. So yes, Tintin has a lot of Lego potential imho, and living in the country of his origin I would love to see this happen, but.. there are a lot of buts....

Thank you all for the comments, here is another one: A Small Mistake, Big Consequences...

Now, we can't have you feeling lonely here, do we Oky? But, you are still the king of the single pane funnies.. In fact, here is one inspired by some of your former posts.. What really happened with Marcus Flint after graduation...

I never understood why they needed to talk to eachother... well, at least one of them saw the light... Insubordination

This reply is a bit to late to be usefull for you I guess reahead, but anyway. Go for the shop located next to the Lego Fabrik (factory) attraction inside the park. The one at the entrance is rather a regular shop, mostly selling sets and gadgets.. I was there last year, and you couldnt compare it with a regular shop's PAB wall. It was like walking into a Lego pieces warehouse... I am not an expert on the matter, but it looked to me as if they had a big percentage of the types and colors of bricks they are actualy producing. Certainly when it comes to the more standard bricks and plates. But also plants/trees, minifig parts and more "specialised" stuff like e.g. bicycles...

Pitty, but good to hear that despite all it was an interesting experience for you... (could have ended different too )

... of course, I forgot that the LoTR fever is spreading. Though the first thing that came to my mind seeing those first 2 pictures was :the roman Porta Nigra in Trier , Germany. I cant help but to see some resemblance. Good luck with the build!

My youngest padawan took some pictures too,... but I fear he still has to improve his photographic skills a bit before his work is suitable to post here... I didnt see the mentioned big ships / sea battle... maybe because we went on sunday? Pitty I missed that, but at least we did see some of them last year in Berchem.

A lot of great finds here... and some superb photographic techniques too.. Also clearly to see which are the most popular minifigs, and in what wave they do come.. Well, here my first contribution to this thread: Hamlet anno 3517 (not sure if I should post it here or on the licensed themes forum)