kidcharm

That's funny! I'll have to use that if anyone asks about the missing anchor.

Thanks for all the replys. ...Seeing that so many LEGO ships didn't have anchors makes me feel a little better about the lack of one in Brickbeard's Bounty. ...I just feel a little put off about the price of the set and it missing some seemingly vital parts. You know, even with an anchor and all it's parts the set would still have under 600 pieces. ...at $100.

Has anybody noticed that the BB set might be the first ever deluxe pirate ship to not have an anchor? What are your thoughts on that?

Slightly? ...really? I don't think 'slightly' is a very accurate term for an increase of nearly 30%.

Ok, fine, those additions are great... but do you see any issue with Brickbeard's Bounty (592 pieces) selling for $100 when Jabba's Sail Barge (781 pieces) went for only $75-$80? Compare the two.... You can tell the sail barge even had more plastic put into it because it weighs more. So, really... is the price hike justified? I feel a little ripped off.

My issue with the pirates sets (understanding I have bought 90% of them) is that the value doesn't seem to be there. The island set feels like a $15 set... Shipwreck Hideout should only be $30... and the Brickbeard ship should only be $75... Heck, the Brickbeard ship is about the same size as Jabba's Sail Barge ($80), doesn't have the EXPENSIVE Star Wars license, yet costs $25 more. How does that happen? What's with all the super high prices? ...I might be able to understand it if Lego was having to cut new tooling for the pieces, but the only new piece in any of these sets is that island baseplate. What's happening? Does anyone else look at the size of their newly purchased lego kit and feel a little short changed? Great Article! I look forward to reading your future write-ups. I agree that we need more palm trees. More plants! Make the sets lush... or at least some of them.

Great review! ...I'm a bit torn on the set though. It seems to have a ton of stickers and a hefty price tag. $25 is steep! what happened to there being 10 pieces per every dollar?...

Great review! ...I love that parrot! great idea. I hope this is a new trend... multi colors 'in the plastic' of traditional pieces. ...No stickers is another bonus! Stickers are so BAD, and not very 'lego' at all.

Thanks for the great review! I've really been looking forward to this set... especially with that awesome baseplate! Great pics! I'm looking forward to your next reviews.

I couldn't read through all this so I hope I add to someone's suggestion... Idea#1: I don't think you can ever go wrong with Animals, and Dinosaurs... I suggest you look into 'Museum' themed sets. You can incorporate tons of cool Animal and Dino pieces, as well as some really nice architecture and mini-fig pieces. Has there ever been a Lego Cave-Man? ...Well now there could be, along with a Mastodon! Add in some other 'bone' creatures and I can't fathom those sets not selling. Idea#2: Lose the decals. ...They're really not cool. It's a cheap solution that compromises the value associated with 'Lego'. I don't believe Mega Brands even uses decals. ...Just raise the price or come up with better brick solutions... Just keep the decals off the bricks. Idea#3: Lose the Rubber heads. ...Lame. 'Real' Lego bricks can last a lifetime. But not the rubber ones. Again, either raise the price, or come up with a better solution. Don't monkey around with a time tested approach that's been working for you. Idea#4: I enjoy the idea of some 'Legend' style Technic sets. Some of the clunky, old motorcycle and car sets (and I mean this in the best way) are really beautiful. Idea#5: Continue to include additional instructions on how to incorporate 'power functions' into sets that do not come with any power function parts. You've done this a few times to great effect. Please keep it up and look into the possibility of incorporating them into Star Wars sets... Pirates?... Museum? ;) Idea#6: Continue to make 'Army Building' sets for Star Wars, but add additional varieties of these sets that include: Towns People, Pirates, Aztecs... Various other types of Mini-Figs. ...Maybe include 1 random Mini-Fig... so some are more rare than others. There's great opportunity here. ...Maybe 'animal-only' sets? Idea#7: Make more girl Mini-figs! ...That's it for now. Keep up the good work. Please consider the Museum theme, and lose those decals! ;)

Wow! This site rocks! Great Contest!

Woot Woot! I'm a proud member! ;) ~Q

Wow! Really Cool News. Lego really seems to listen to their fans and even offers them the chance to have their work shown in an official light... Props to LEGO and the builders who had their work selected. Somebody please post some links to the suspected builders.... Thanks ;)

2008 looks to be a damn good year. I can't wait to finally get my mits on a gunship!

Wow. Nice set... I wonder what the price will be...

Yeesh!... These city sets are suffering from sticker burn. ...Stickers are so bad looking...

Wasn't really into this line... until I saw these parts! 7645 blows me away! Treads, and those 'cool as hell' saw blades! ....too much to pass on. Thanks for the great pics!

The SUPER Off-Road tires return! The new actuators look great, but I think Conchas is right... That universal joint is probably going to be a bit weak. ...Not good. Hopefully lego had this in mind in development. ...If those part end up being skimpy, I'll pass on the sets that have them. Here's hoping that they'll be sturdy. ;) In all, I think these look like some really fun sets. ...Non have the coolness level of the bulldozer, but a decent sets all the same. What happened to the rubbery tubes that help define contours on most car sets?... 8297 could use a few. Thanks for the pics!