J.V.D.

Seeing this kind of funnies was one of the reasons I returned from the "dark ages" and started to see Lego as something more than just a toy for my padawans.. So here a little contribution using some of my latest loot...

Been struggling with posting pictures from flickr... seems I finally figured it out....( I hope)... So if all went well, here my first contribution to the Licensed themes single pane funnies...

Almost "by accident" (hadn't seen it announced but just passed there since it is almost literaly around the corner for me) we visited the event in Berchem - Antwerpen some months ago. It was a pleasant surprise, a nice exposition. So when I showed the add for the Wetteren expo to the children, no convincing was needed. Its a bit further, but not exactly at the other end of the world. So normally we will be there too.

Living in Belgium I should of course support a Kuifje (Tintin) line; a lot of potential for that theme. Interesting minifigs, vehicles ranging from classic vintage cars over planes and submarines to moonrockets ; globe spanning locations : from the south american jungles via the north african desert to 1930's china and everything in between. The roots of the Adventurers and Indiana Jones. True, some stuff would already been done more or less in IJ or Adventurers, but I still see a lot of potential for new stuff. Of course, a return of IJ would be welcome to.. fill in gaps left by the missing sets fans hope for but never appeared. Another nice one would be : Trigan empire. Probably unknow for todays kids, but, just as Tintin, it offers a wide range of possibilities. Campy scifi, aliens, monsters and spaceships. Characters and buildings inspired on clasic Roman / Greek empires... There is something for as well historical, scifi as action theme fans. On the other hand, that might just be something against those themes too... they arent realy straightforward / uniform. The lines might confuse some buyers..

... and I was so glad I found it with a 35% discount.. feeling so envious..... NOT! Though I am more a fan of the alien vessels, specialy the walker and the abduction set, I am glad to have this beauty in my possession too. That is what realy counts.. the discount was just a bonus. Now just waiting for next rainy weekend afternoon to build it together with my padewans.

Hehe, disturbing.... in a funny way. Lego's Desperate House... ermm friends.. every facade in picture perfect suburbia hides some dark secrets.. Pitty my sons with their alergy for pinkish, Frineds and Bellville Lego sets are a bit young for showing them this...

Based on rumors, much mentioned in other lists (maybe Lego does listen to fans?) and personal wishlist, here is my guesslist: 1) Ceasar, or a clasical roman/greek civilian in toga 2) english gentleman with walking cane and black bowler hat 3) sea captain. ( not the pirates style, more 19 - 20 th century) 4) buddhist monk 5) classic diver with helmet 6) fairy tale figure ; ( lets say : a generic fairy) 7) beekeeper with beehive ( though I guess a special headgear/mask and beehive piece will be to much) 8) judge with wig and wooden hammer ( and cape, if still in the budget) 9) boyscout with new forest police hat in olive 10) mythological figure ( Hermes with wings and scepter ; though the much mentioned medusa will do too ) 11) a sports figure ( american football?) 12) female zombie 13) plumber with plunger ( a civilian / city profesional needs to be included) 14) attila ( for the classic warrior) 15) flamenco singer ( suit, red waistbelt, black "zorro" hat and acoustic guitar) or bullfighter 16) lady or gentleman in louis XIV / 17th century clothes

Quite some good finds here... might try to give it a go too..

I dont know... my kids realy love Alien Conquest, which has a rather retro feel to it too... Though, they go more for the ADU stuff, while I already knew I would get the alien saucers, the real "retro" aspect in the line, the first moment I did seem some leaked pictures. So why not something inspired by above mentioned examples? Its true, for most kids those series or movies wont mean a thing, but, it doesnt need to be something licensed. Preferably not. Just inspired by.. the general feel. In fact, what I would like to see is a Lego product line based on the Trigan Empire comics of the 70's - 80's? It has all for a wide range of Lego fans: spaceships, different (alien) races, monsters and dragons, futuristic and classical buildings, references to ancient Roman and Greek.. I guess there is there something for everybody, except city fans.. Or, if some Lego executive decided there is need for an AFOLs only line: what about Barbarella??

Nice review. Not my favourite Lego line at the moment though. I never was that much of a dino fan, and the overall yellowish look, plus the huge amount of stickers some sets seem to need to give it its look, dont appeal that much to me. (Now, if instead of stickers the mix of yellow, brown and dark red pieces would be better...) But I must admit that I do apreciate the minifigs and the quality of the (printing) of the dinos a lot. Guess I will bricklink most of the figs, and this set... well.. its at the moment the favourite set of my eldest son, and since its his birthday in 2 weeks... I guess this set will be part of our house collection anyway.. Specialy after showing him this review.

Thanx for the review An excellent set to display on my office desk, where I have it now. Eventually usefull for placing in the background of forced perspective pictures too. The original sales price was horrible here, but I managed to buy it when travelling for the job... still a bit expensive but reasonable at least.. Though, the price tag shouldnt have been the main concern... when building it, I realised how detailed this one is for such a small set. In fact, its overall look is better than the system / minifig models. Pitty that over here I never did see the midi star destroyer in the shops, and that Lego seems to have no intention to continue the midi line...

Thanks for the review... it was helpfull. Since due to the infamous dark ages, I missed the previous releases, I have been looking on the aftermarket for a MF for quiet some time. Of course they were available, but prices seemed a bit steep for a 2nd handed set. (no way I was going to pay rip-off prices for a MISB). So when this one came out, for about the price the 2nd hand ones went on e.g. eBay, I got excited... finally.. Only question was: would it be better then the previous one? Well, after reading a.o. this review I decided to go for the 7965. Of course it has its flaws, for me the most important one the shape of the mandibles. (I have the midi version too, who's overall shape is a lot better). But the major problems seem to be arrangable by some modding. In fact, main problem for me turned out to be time and shelf/display space... I got it during last years pre christmas sales, and only now found time for building it... But, apart from the mandibles, it looks fine... better then I expected. Glad I trusted the review and bought it.

Well, that is still to see. But anyway, you picked a rather neutral scene (a "modular" build with some zombies in front of it) out of a moderate and even comical horror movie. Lego did do already sets based on movies with cruel scenes in them too. Now, if you had found your inspiration in another zombie picture, and placed your undead in frot of, e.g. the "Titty Twister" bar from From Dusk till Dawn, then it would be another ballgame.... :-) However, congratulations with reaching the CUUSO milestone