AmperZand

I'm curious... Why do you think they wouldn't (or haven't already)? After all, they bought the HP licence. If a company as small as Art Asylum can buy a LotR licence (which they did), a company the size of TLG can certainly afford it make a Hobbit one worth their while. Either way, I'm very much looking forwards to elves and any other fantasy beings/creatures TLG produce. Amps

metalandi, Here in the UK, you can get Mastercard-approved cards in shops that you pay for in cash (plus a small charge of a few pounds). You can then use them as you would any other Mastercard including online. A friend of mine who can't get a card bought one produced by IDT Prime and used it to order some silverware online. It worked a charm. I don't know if the equivalent exists in Austria but you might want to search around to see if it does. You do have to be old enough to own a normal credit card so if you're not, you may need the help of either an adult to buy one for you or a dodgy retailer who's happy to sell to kids! HTH, Amps PS to the mods: sorry about the OTness of my post.

T'is true! But when I checked a moment ago, they were not yet available. I expect they will be soon. Time to raid my piggy bank. I'm especially looking forwards to the golden knight and the orc sorceress. The queen and the orc king are pretty cool too.

I got it Crimbo eve at the LEGO shop, Bluewater, UK. At the time, they had quite a few left but it's probably a good idea to ring and reserve. As noted by others in this thread, it's also available from S@H. Amps

I spotted this article on the BBC's site about a professional LEGO builder. It's part of a series on dream jobs. Personally, I'd prefer to design sets, especially ones for the Castle line. That would be seriously cool! But his job would be cool too. Amps

Here's how to stiffen loose joints: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?...st&p=295516 It's similar to Chris Austin's suggestion but doesn't use glue. Hope that helps, Amps

In the film Time Bandits featuring Sean Connery, John Clease and Ian Holm, there's LEGO on the kid's floor near the beginning. Giant LEGO bricks also appear close to the end in the big battle with the incarnation of evil where they are used to make the walls. Both can be seen briefly in the trailer. I've met Mike Edmonds who starred in that film and had parts in Return of the Jedi and other movies. He gave me a signed picture of himself in costume from Time Bandits. Really nice bloke. Amps

I'm planning a female dwarf MOC minifig using the maid but with this hair and a skirt made from a slope like this but in reddish brown or dark blue. She won't have a beard!

TLC have done string before but not that fine or, AFAIK, as short. The string is not BF either, though the bow is. The string was my addition. Amps

Yes, indeed it is MOC. Well spotted! Perhaps it goes without saying that I hope this does inspire TLC. Incidentally, it hasn't been mentioned in this thread that the head is from a HP minifig - just in case someone wanted to reproduce it. Amps

Thanks for the speedy reply, Steve. That's put my mind to rest.

Does that include the minifig torsos and dresses? If so, I may revise my intention of getting this set. Me no like stickers.

Indeed, if TLC is smart, it'll carry the current fantasy theme until at least the first Hobbit film is released in 2010 and probably until the second in 2011. Elves feature in the book (the subject of the 2010 film) and I'd be very surprised if they were cut from the movie.

If I were a betting man, I'd say that the queen minifig in the pic will appear with the jester from the advent calendar in a castle or king's court set some time in 2009. But that's just a guess.

I don't know about Finland, but here in the UK you can buy Mastercards over the counter with cash. You can then use the card just as you would any other credit card. Sure, you have to pay a small fee for the card in the first place, but thereafter there's no extra charge. A friend of mine used one from a company called idtprime and it worked fine. In theory, you have to be 18 to purchase one. But my guess is that many retailers of these cards don't care who they sell to. So even if you're a kid, you can order this way at S@H.

I believe it will. I was chatting with S@H in the UK (actually, I think the call centre is in Germany). They confirmed that it would not be released in North America. They thought, but were not entirely certain, that it would be available in all other territories where TLC currently sells - which would include Oz. Fair dinkum!

The box measures 38.4 x 28.8 x 7.2 cm (roughly 15" x 11 1/4" x 3") and weighs 0.4 kg (14 oz). Someone else asked if there's a beard piece for the dwarf. There is. Yet someone else complained there was no king. If you're in the UK and you're after a king and lots of other minifigs at a reasonable price, the old chess set is on sale at S@H. I ordered the calendar, the old chess set and (an extra) good wizard - and they arrived today. I'm a happy bunny! Amps

I spotted that too and feel the same way. Sheer genius! Don't get me wrong, the other monsters are brilliant but it's the golem that blows me away.

DSQ is available now from S@H for

Thanks, Steve. In the end, I decided on The Good Wizard and one other set. I'm not going to say what the other set is in case he sees this thread. And thanks to everyone who made suggestions! Amp

I know it may seem stingy but under the same circumstances, I doubt most people would send a thank you gift at all. £20 would be disproportionate. A cool set indeed. Problem is, the chances are high that if he likes it, he has it already. I checked S@H in the US and it is available in the colonies. The Good Wizard doesn't seem to be.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Please keep them coming. I've done some research and discovered he likes Castle/Fantasy Era and Space. I don't know if he likes SW but even if he does, £20 is a bit much! I was thinking around the £2 to £8 mark. Great idea . Trouble is, he already has vast quantities of Brickforge parts. Amp

A fellow AFOL has done me a kindness and I'd like to thank him with a small gift. But I'm not sure what to get him. The trouble is that he's in the US and I'm in the UK so there's probably not much in terms of LEGO that I can get him that he can't get where he is. Moreover, I don't know that much about his specific preferences except that he's heavily into minifig customisation and, I think, quite into Castle/Fantasy Era. Is The Good Wizard (set 5614) a good choice? Is it hard to get in the US? Would it be appreciated? Any other suggestions? Thanks, Amp

You could well be right but it wouldn't be the first time TLC had reintroduced a part after a prolonged absence or dearth. Take the shortsword for example. For a few years, not many appeared in sets only to see a comeback of late with the Fantasy Era knights. So while it may not be very likely the turkey will be in this year's advent calendar, I'm not discounting the possibility either.

Sorry, I don't have any more info about a release date or the contents. I'm thinking there may be a complete turkey in the set of which the dwarf shown on the box is eating a drumstick. That's pure conjecture on my part BTW.