AmperZand

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Even if the Series 3 packets don't have secondary barcodes, I've already figured out a way of identifying which minifig is inside without having to open it, feel it or weigh it. It will take some organising and possibly involve the cooperation of the good AFOLs of these boards, but I strongly suspect it'll work. Amps

Picked up multiples of all the ones I wanted from a couple of WH Smiths in central London yesterday (19 August). The ones I wanted and got were: the hoplite, vampire, witch, pharaoh and surfer. All were identified using barcodes. I went to Argos just before going to Smiths and was told they didn't have them yet. But even when they do get them, there'll be a limit of 4 per person. Amps Oops! Forgot to list the 2 judoka/karateka I picked up at Smiths. Baka desu!

At the WH Smith's near my office in London, one of the shop assistants said they would have them next week. He seemed confident about that as if he were waiting for them himself! He didn't know which day they would be getting them. Amps

Hello, Shane, GBP5 for Buzz GBP4 for Woody GBP8 for both Per unit price goes down if you want multiple sets. Airmail shipping is a flat: GBP3 to Europe (including UK 1st class) GBP4 to US/Canada and selected other destinations. I protect super well. I accept payment by Paypal only in GBP(£), USD($) or Euros. Hope that helps, AmperZand

Hello, AFOLs, I have extras of each of the polybag sets that came with the Mirror yesterday and today, i.e. Woody 30072 set MIP and Buzz 30073 set MIP. I'm after the Portal Emperor (Merman King) from 8078. Must be with helmet, body armour and trident all mint and unplayed with, from a non-smelly home (non-mouldy, no pets, non-smoking environment). I will trade 1 Woody set + 1 Buzz set for each Emperor. I'm happy to protect well and pay for airmail shipping if you are willing to do the same from your end. I'd consider a sale instead if you don't have the Portal Emperor. I'm in the UK and will consider trades/sales with AFOLs in US, Canada, Western Europe (inluding the Nordic countries), Israel, Japan, S. Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Please let me know by messaging me. Thanks, AmperZand (here and on BL)

Hello, Capt, I thought of that but as the post about the squid warrior Ladybird book was in this forum, I figured this was the right place to appeal for anything similar. The original post: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=32226&view=findpost&p=722238 Mea culpa if I'm wrong! Amps

Hello, AFOLs of the World, I'm after a portal emperor/merman king minifig with helmet, armour and trident from the Portal of Atlantis set 8078. But the prices for this minifig on BL are too high for me! Does anyone know if, like the squid warrior, it's available cheaply with a Ladybird book or inexpensively some other way? If so, where? I'm in the UK. Apologies if this should've been posted elsewhere. Thanks, Amps

I tend to go with either a BrickForge staff with a gem (picture left) or bar + lightsaber hilt + gem (picture right). Amps

Holodoc, I think I love you! I printed out your barcode list, took it to the nearest Argos to my office, ordered 50 minifigs, identified the ones I wanted visually from their barcodes, and returned the ones I didn't want for an instant refund. Did it bother the staff? No. I told them what I was doing and why and they were 100% OK with it. Did I make any mistakes reading the barcodes by eye? No. Did I get all the minifigs I wanted (caveman, forestman/hunter, ninja, zombie and robot)? Yes. Am I a happy camper? You bet your minifriggin' behind! Thanks again, Holodoc. You're a total star. Amps

Thank you so much for the tip, Svelte. You're a star! I got a couple from amazon.co.uk. Best, Amps

I don't think that this has been mentioned... On the Hamley's site, there are very high res pics of three sets with the retailer's prices in £s: linkety link. My guess is that these are also the RRPs so likely the prices at S@H and elsewhere. Looks like the Desert Attack 7569 doesn't include the two-sword back scabbard which is a bit of a shame. Still, I like the assassins. Amps

I have two Manta Warriors (8073) and noticed a slight difference between their tridents. One is crimped at the base of each tine near where they converge while the other one isn't. The crimped one conforms to the box art. Is the un-crimped one a casting error? Anyone else have a trident like this? (I know it would help but I can't provide a picture at the moment.) Amps

Yup, looks to be the one. The write-up is slightly different but the topic is the same. The 'build' is the same but there's only one pic in the hard copy version. Amps

According to an article in the Winter 2009 issue of Johns Hopkins Magazine (pages 16-17), chemical and biological engineers at the prestigious university are using Lego to model how nano-sized particles travel through liquids. Details of the resulting studies can be found in The Journal of Fluid Mechanics and Physical Review Letters. Cool, eh? Amps

Yes but not closely. Apart from the entire Atlantis range, there didn't seem to be any new sets for 2010. Certainly not for Fantasy Era/Castle. I'm not 100% sure about the others. Best thing to do is give them a bell. They're pretty helpful on the phone especially if you call after Crimbo. Amps

The Atlantis range is now available in the UK. I picked up Gateway of the Squid 8061 (GBP25) and Manta Warrior impulse set 8073 (GBP2.50) from Bluewater on Friday. Apologies if this news has already been mentioned. It may be available elsewhere in the UK either online or off. Good thing I asked specifically at the LEGO shop for the Mantaman 8073; they had it in their stock room but not on display because they didn't know it existed! It's going to be a very merry Xmas! Amps

A bit OT for which I apologise but does anyone else think that the monster shown in the top right corner of this official LEGO box art could pass for a Watcher in the Water from LotR? I know that Tolkien never really describes the monster but it's certainly close to how I imagine it. Amps

Thanks Yes. I used official black capes and cut them. I was trying to capture the look of the ringwraiths from the films while maintaining a LEGO feel. You can't really see it in the picture but I added 1 x 1 plates to the feet to make the wraith taller. Since I took that picture, I've given the Samwise minifig an elven cape. It's grey on the outside and reddish-brown on the inside. I've also got a minifig Frodo and and an uruk-hai but I don't have pics of them. Amps

Not a scene, just a couple of MOC LotR minifigs. Hope you like them! Amps

Troll battlepack is now available in the UK - I have it. Amps

It's not "very nice" - it's excellent! Its design and proportions are superb. Amps

I don't think anyone has mentioned in this thread that two Hobbit films are on their way over the next few years. TLC wouldn't miss the opportunity to capitalise on the renewed interest in fantasy that those movies will generate. I therefore think it extremely unlikely that TLC will do away with the fantasy theme before those films hit cinema screens. The only circumstance that I can imagine fantasy not being part of the Castle line is if TLC buys the Hobbit licence and runs that as a separate line. Amps

A panel of experts and a survey of the UK public found LEGO to be the 8th best brand out of 1400 that were originally considered. Brands were ranked on the basis of quality, reliability and distinctiveness. Full story from the BBC news site. Not bad, eh? Apologies if this has already been posted or is inappropriate here. Amps

For what it's worth, I completely agree. I wish the concept of fleshies had never been born. I love it when I correctly predict what TLG or another toy/game manufacturer is going to produce, such as with this MOC (not that I'm the only person outside of TLG to have thought of that). On a separate note, the new sets are available from LEGO shops in the UK. I bought sets 7097 (Orc Fortress) and 7079 (Drawbridge Defence) at Bluewater last night.