brickzone

Even better - use those tyres (part 51011), but with the racers hubs (silver alloy type that come with flat tyres - part 50944pb01) so they look cooler and fit on pegs rather than technic pins. I don't know why Lego have not released any sets combining those tyres and hubs - the wheel hubs are surely available for use in other sets regardless of being Lego Racers parts.

When new, the BSB cost a fortune in relative terms (relative to income, cost of everyday things, etc.) and about the same in *absolute* terms as modern-day sets that size (in fact possibly more - I think RRP in UK was £100, and many places would have sold it for more in those days). Apply inflation of 3% (probably not far off as an average 1989-2010) to the US RRP of $110 and you end up with $204.63 - making the auction price not look so high considering the desirability of the set. You also have to account for storing the item (not an issue for one item, but an issue if keeping many) and the fact that you could get a far far higher rate than 3% if you just save your money over a fixed 20 year term. I think people are probably silly to buy Lego sets as investments - you could get a higher return by conventional methods. Also at the time of purchase one doesn't necessarily know the sets that will make a small return (well, OK, possibly some traditional Star Wars sets are a sure investment). I think on many Lego sets you won't make anything like the small return you get on the most-wanted sets, when you account for inflation and Lego RRPs of new sets only very slowly increasing.

Thanks for the review, it's nice to see more angles on the vehicles. The tram and coach both look superb, interesting detail with the moving wheels in the middle section of the tram. This set doesn't seem like great value at €100, but at the same time it is a set I really want regardless. I guess I'll hold off on buying it for a while, but probably still end up weakening and getting it at full price. I'd have preferred to see this as maybe three or four separate sets, it would probably seem like better value even if the total of all the sets added up to €100! As regards the streetcleaner - it does seem an odd inclusion, but I do like the model a lot - it's different from previous Lego models that have been mini-sweepers like those used on pedestrian areas and looks a lot like the larger streetcleaners used on proper roads. Still a bit unrealistic that Lego use a lateral brush from the car wash, where most real streetcleaners I've seen use round brushes sweeping the road in circles.

Thanks for the review. It's interesting to see details on the construction. I would agree that it isn't particularly a purchase you'd make for either the build or the parts and that the colour-scheme is bland. However, I think the set as a whole is "cute" and a necessary addition to town for any collectors. I think the style is attractive for a kids set that holds some chance of being bought instead of just another police station, etc. It's not an immediate purchase for me (though I did consider buying it two weekends ago to be the first to review it :). It's available at Smyths Toys in UK and Ireland, £30/€38 (you can also buy online and pay extra for delivery, only really worth it if you are buying a *lot* of stuff, it is the same charge up to 30 kg - £4.25 GB, £6 NI, €7 ROI). Apparently for Republic of Ireland it is exclusive to Smyths (presumably apart from S@H).

I like a lot of European-style trains, whether streamlined high-speed trains or ordinary locomotives. Even commuter DMUs and EMUs here in Europe have their charm, whereas some of the American trains look a bit more primitive. I think European rolling stock (train carriages) are more streamlined also, even on older trains (e.g. British Mark III carriages, which in Ireland even had automatic doors). On the other hand, in the US a *LOT* of freight is moved by rail. Here in Ireland we have very little freight left travelling by rail, some of our ports are not even functionally connected to the rail network anymore!!! Northern Ireland has *NO* railfreight (the train operator there runs little beyond DMUs). Our small size isn't an excuse, it is mainly due to lack of innovation. EDIT: Sorry, I didn't realise I was replying to a four year old topic and quoting a four year old post!

All the outlets I've been to have the minifigs at the checkouts so you can actually pick them. Apparently there was at least one outlet where you had to order "blind" as usual for Argos, but maybe even that outlet has changed now. One of the three local Argos outlets for me, the city centre one, didn't have the minifigs for weeks, but checking the online stock checker, it seems they have finally got some in stock. So it looks like pretty much every outlet has them.

Yes, the older (straight) girl's hair works very well in fact, better than some of the newer ones in my opinion. The ones in black and ginger work particularly well. I think tan works better for blonde minifig hair than the bright yellow colour, again, especially where yellow minifigs are concerned.

I think quite a lot of them look better than the original hairpiece (I think the blonde colour doesn't work so well on non-fleshies). As regards newer hairpieces, the Dastan hair, Skater hair and the Nurse's hair work well.

Now that's very tempting for more purchases! Will bring my cheat sheet with me tomorrow when I'm at the shops! Just a heads up in case these disappear, that Smyths Toys still seem to have plenty at €2.49 (local outlet on Tuesday), and Art & Hobby restocked too (although they seem to sell them faster) - €2.75 there. EDIT: Just to note that Argos are now having Summer Clearance, so there are a whole bunch of reduced prices on Lego (although Argos higher prices mean some are only slightly cheaper now than normal retail price elsewhere). Try this link.

Smyths Toys have a sale on - seems to vary by store as to what deals you get as the old stock doesn't show up on the online catalogue (often they only have a handful of non-recent sets). As an example (these aren't there anymore - I bought the only ones) the outlet in Newry (Northern Ireland) had Indy fighter plane and jungle cutter for £15 each, and the pirate ship at £25. I didn't get to check the Belfast outlet just off the M1 as it was too early to visit it. They do at more than one location have AT-TEs at £40/€50. Also reductions on Toy Story pizza truck, green army men and build-a-buzz. Anyway, anyone near a Smyths outlet should have a look in person in their local one. Worth checking their website store locater if you are in Britain and haven't heard of them (I presume any AFOL in Ireland is familiar with their nearest outlet :-)

8403 Lego City House is showing up as available in Smyths Toy stores in Ireland on their online catalogue.

Also still available at Toys R Us and Argos in Newtownabbey (Belfast) in Northern Ireland. At the checkouts in both.

I don't think I so much agree. I think Lego has always clicked best with kids of a particular mindset (who *can* build) but now Lego can have much broader appeal (like Playmobil or better in playability yet still bricks to build with). I don't think Lego has become poorer for the "builder" kids, indeed I think in many ways due to the more realistic sets, the parts actually offer far more building options. Yet due to things like "modular" builds (start by modifying existing sets) kids who are builders are eased into it and not stumped by all the plethora of parts. I sincerely believe Lego is better than ever in most ways now - and that the small dip in brick quality is *more* than made up for by the relative cheapness of Lego now (and more bricks and big parts *as well* as a load of smaller ones!)

posades, Maybe the lack of retail availability in your area is not Lego's fault but rather the retailers? Obviously Lego should maybe have had longer availability on S@H, although wasn't one factor that people complained about the limit of 5 per customer, then when the limit was removed they sold out in no time (presumably some huge orders by people wanting boxloads or whatnot). I don't think it's a trivial issue for such a new product. Perhaps they would have been better doing it on a trial basis with one region first like they did with the Lego Games (again, a non-standard product).

Why is it a concern now? As kids my siblings and I always had great competition for torch-holders and loud-hailers. It's less of a charade to just have at least pseudo-weapons in most action sets.

That's a good point Svelte. I've had a number of minifigs from recent sets with imperfections in the face printing in particular (very noticeable area for any misalignment or blurring) including a female face where rather than lipstick, it's a red moustache. Whereas I would agree that the printing is spot on for these collectable minifigs.

Hmm... I think I maybe just picked a very suitable size of screwdriver (i.e. exactly the right dimensions for the screw head). I did make sure not to overtighten the screws when closing it again! I've just picked up some rechargeable NiMH AAAs from Lidl for €8 for 8 of them (will use ordinary ones in the controller - they'll last for ages). A good deal for anyone else in Ireland - it's one of last week's "specials". I hope changing the batteries doesn't wear out the case, but on the other hand I'll probably only be changing them occasionally when I actually set up a train and run it (I've no permanent layout - even if I did I would probably only run the trains once in a while for short intervals).

I would say yes. The newer sets are probably far more desirable to the target audience, i.e. they will sell better. Hey, even as an AFOL you can see that the newer ones are more "fun" even if the classic ones to us look cute and pleasant. I think the old style action theme is still represented by certain new rescue/emergency sets, as well as elements in other sets like skateboarder minifigs. Personally I think the Agents theme was awesome!

Even so the small licensed sets have cool "goodies" in them and there are the likes of the SW battlepacks. I agree with your analysis about inflation and the fact that a lot of bigger sets today are "extra". One of the retailers here in Ireland stocking Lego, Smyths Toys, have 130 Lego products (excluding Lego Games) on their website. Of these, two-thirds are €30 or less. Looking at the prices of sets in days gone by they seem so cheap, but I remember when we were kids (1980s), Lego was *expensive* (much more so than now) compared to how much everyday items cost.

How is availability where you are at the moment? I'm wondering at this stage how long they will continue to stay around, I'm seriously tempted to pick up more duplicates. Both my local Argos and Art & Hobby have restocked (new boxes out) and the Smyths Toys website shows the minifigs as in-stock at both local branches. Argos stock checker shows over 5 in-stock at two of three local outlets. Surely it has to just be that the Irish retailers (plus Argos) must have requested plenty from Lego? They seem to be selling well enough! Of course maybe the difference too is that us AFOLs are a bit thinner on the ground in Ireland and it isn't that viable to make a business operation out of hoarding Lego here. Despite high shipping costs from the Lego website, and some high prices for exclusives on S@H, it seems that Ireland is a bit of a mecca for Lego buying at present with so many options, good stock availability and good prices for certain items at certain stores. Especially when you include the option of ordering from UK or shopping in Northern Ireland to get their deals too. A pity Tesco haven't stocked the minifigs too, as they would likely have sold them for €2.50 just like Smyths (who are a bit more difficult for me to get to, so I've had to pay €2.85 at Argos for many of the ones I bought). Have Toymaster or World of Wonder had the minifigs? There's only the latter near me mind you and it's a bit awkward to visit (not really any adjoining shops). I think you'd have to be fairly desperate to buy them as investment - you probably in the long term wouldn't make much more than inflation, and the original cost here isn't the cheapest worldwide anyway (and shipping costs out of Ireland, plus any costs of running a Lego-selling enterprise, packaging/transport would be high here too).

I don't quite agree with the OP. Perhaps the quality differs in US vs. Europe (although I wouldn't have thought so if both came from China). Anyway, my opinion is that they are very close to Lego quality. I can differentiate them from ordinary Lego minifigs (duller plastic, more pointed edges), but they don't especially seem poor quality. They seem better than the vintage minifigure collections. Mind you my opinion isn't clouded by other issues - series one is still freely available here in Ireland, both Argos and Art & Hobby have restocked multiple times, and I think Smyths Toys still have them too (still in the online catalogue).

This may seem a pretty absurd topic, but I was wondering if anyone else has injured themself building Lego? I was building a new set recently, and while I was trying to push a particular part on (just a 2x2 45 degree slope), my hand slipped and one of my fingers caught on the corner of a brick, leaving a nasty gouge that needed a sticking plaster for a bit! I don't really have any memory of any sort of injury before, but I imagine some other injuries are possible, such as stepping on a brick in bare feet (probably more when people were kids and left bricks out on the floor). So, have you any injuries to report? Breaking fingernails or sore fingertips from disassembling doesn't count! :)

During my PhD research I came across a solution for this. It's called "Kippfahrleitung" by Balfour Beatty Austria (the company that developed this solution) and involves a motor-controlled boom that lifts the overhead cables out of the way (pulls them up and back from the track). I was interested in an embedded system that was used to control these motors (ensuring all motors are operated synchronously on the section of railway line up to 1 km long). Just an FYI!

Well, this may not be absolutely perfect, but I use a very light bleach to kill germs on secondhand Lego. It's a product called "Milton" used for baby bottles, etc. 15 minutes does the job and it is fine even for printed parts (just don't rub them, *especially* silver/gold printing). Perfectly safe to put your hands in (even with no gloves) and just lift out the Lego and put it into the warm water. I leave the bricks soak in the water for a bit (I add a drop of dishwashing liquid), then use a soft toothbrush on any parts with attached dirt. Finally I rinse them in non-soapy water and leave them on the drainer for a bit before roughly drying them on a tea-towel (and I leave them on that for them to dry out fully).

Also just to note that 40C is really not that hot at all - your body temperature is just below that (~37C), so the water shouldn't feel much more than warm to the touch, otherwise it is a higher temperature.