brickzone

Actually those signs for next year are also the clip on type by the looks of it (e.g. the flat triangle part with clip on back as used in the harbour set, albeit with sticker in that set) - except that the set coming out next year includes a more suitable and proper pole part. It appears to be the pole that has a 2x2 flat base and a clippable part (with stud on top) at the top of the pole. I always wanted to own these road signs as a kid. They are quite well done. However, now that I have them, I prefer the idea of the new ones. It's a bit un-lego to have the signs all one part, and they are quite fragile. The clip on signs are more versatile (e.g. clip to a custom streetlight?) and more Lego-like.

I would indeed love Star Trek Lego. I was a huge fan as a kid/teenager (the next gen was my era). We used build spaceship after spaceship with a Star Trek type bridge, warp core, nacelles, all the rest. Of course, especially early one, the ships had more in common with the Borg, as they were one level square on a 32x32 baseplate. We always tended to focus on the interior rather than exterior. Shortage of bricks meant quite bright primary coloured decor too :) Later on with our larger multi-baseplate ships, I enjoyed incorporating horizontal lift shafts for a turbolift. Our ships always tended eventually to have a catastrophic space battle, although sometimes they were fixed or refitted with modifications. Towards the end of my pre-dark ages building, the trek features were relegated to a bridge type room in any of our space bases (for the small spaceships from sets or our own creations). I did I think make a nice little "runabout" at one stage during that era, that would have been my most realistic construction. However, it certainly would not have been grey hull (few grey bricks). I haven't built space constructions since starting back into Lego, having been absorbed with a large Castle MoC, and now a Lego Agents base. I've a lot of space sets awaiting customisation and/or incorporation into a custom space station though. I'm hoping the new Trek film is a great rebirth. I'm reasonably happy about the concept, however much it may be "unoriginal" (although it is a different attempt to existing ST films/TV series even if redoing the original setting). Ultimately what I want is more of the same, with today's touch, but to the same or better standard than the best we have at present!

It's the cartoony skull and crossbones on the sail that's worst. Personally I'm still hoping that the German retailer used prelim photos and the real version will have a plain sail. There are other faults, but I don't think people would judge it so harshly but for the sail. The ship is really one segment too short (indeed more really to be ship-like, but even as a Lego model it could do with one more). My pet peeve about it is the use of a chain to hold up the front sail. Why not the stud-ended string piece instead? It would acheive the same simplicity and not look so ridiculous. Anyway, I can't wait to get the ship. If the hull is just red-brown, I can easily stick in an extra segment or two from my Viking ship.

Well, I went to pick up an Imperial Dropship for my brother some time back, and it was pot luck so to speak when putting in the order at the cashier - but I asked and was told that if it was the wrong one arrived at the collection desk, just to ask for the other one. In the event, this store didn't have the dropship, so I had to there and then return the rebel speeder that came through. The second attempt, I insisted on getting the cashier to check with the back stores (fortunately this outlet was quiet at the time, no mad queue at the cashier) and it was no problem. Rather silly that they don't have two separate catalogue entries for the two sets.

Argos Christmas Catalogue is out already. Not much new happening Lego wise, just reduced prices on 3 sets. However, there are some more reductions now listed on argos.ie (just checked it) on Star Wars sets. The catalogue set I noticed was Agents Mission 7: Deep Sea Quest at €52.49. This is the only remaining one of the theme I don't have, and I would really like it, but I've many other sets I'd prefer from next year, so I may have to forgo it. The reduction is still only €2.50 below S@H (€54.99), so I can still get it there later next S@H order without much penality. The catalogue also has the coastguard platform at €59.49 (I would love this set too, but again, it's just not high enough up the list and I can't buy everything!). The third set listed was a Star Wars one. The complete list of Star Wars sets marked as reduced on argos.ie, prices ARGOS/(S@H): €101.24 (€129.99) 10178 - Motorized Walking AT-AT €89.99 (€119.99) 7676 - Republic Attack Gunship €78.74 (€99.99) 7675 - AT-TE Walker €55.49 (€74.99) 7674 - V19 Torrent €44.99 (€59.99) 7673 - Magnaguard Starfighter €22.49 (€29.99) 7669 - Anakin's Jedi Starfighter €8.99 (€12.99) 7668/7667 - Rebel Scout Speeder/Imperial Dropship Seem like great deals, though I'm not into Lego SW due to the fact it would suck up even more money.

One of the local shops here (Art and Hobby) got a truckload of sets in the last week or so for the Christmas shopping - including a whole bunch of the old police motorbikes with blue stickers. I can't really decide whether I prefer the blue or black. The black is a bit plain and stark, but the blue is not a shade that I like that much (primary colour blue). In any case, I have both, having bought the original black sticker versions of the car and motorbike, but the new police sets with blue stickers.

This is a really nicely done little set. Fun catapult, looks good, nice parts, and a cool little barricade like in any of those computer games where you have to fight undead. Two reasonably kitted out good guys and two skellies - it's great. I bought an extra one in addition to the one included in the Complete Castle Collection which I bought last year.

Nice. There's no doubt, setting aside economics or US wages, or any other concerns... the rest of us in the world would like to buy Lego at US prices :)

Well, we don't have such a thing here in Ireland, but the Christmas shopping season seems to start earlier each year, before Halloween even (although 8th Dec is the traditional first shopping day - "Farmer's Day Out"). This year the signs of desperation are evident with how early retailers are even trying to sell decorations etc. There are January sales though, and last year some retailers started them before shopping stopped for Christmas holidays. I'm hoping Smyth's Toys do so again, they had some decent sale prices on Lego City last year (picked up Harbour for €62.50 rather than €89.99).

Thanks for the review. It looks like an interesting model even if some of the building does indeed look lengthy and repetitious. Although I think these kind of Lego constructions are a similar pastime to building jigsaws, a nice simple diversion. Nice to see the various SNOT techniques and the symmetry. I like how the onion dome is created using flat bricks.

Looks nice, and I do agree with the bumper on the front being reasonably low. But it being a lorry, even a rigid body small one, I would not go for having the wheels right into the wheel arches. Indeed I would say you should at least add a single plate level between the wheel axles and vehicle chassis (i.e. wheels lowered from arches by at least one plate). To be honest, I would suggest building your own wheel arches, as the one piece ones are too tight entirely for a lorry such as this. I like the idea of the 6 wide cab with 7 wide container behind. 8 wide would indeed look too wide, and mostly such lorries have a cab smaller than the container.

I thought it was a new 3D baseboard, but it looks like it's actually a large part that can attach onto studs. Which is rather better I think. Would be good if it is a few parts though that can be rearranged.

Argos, in Ireland and UK have this on sale now in their Christmas catalogue (out this week), down from their previous price of €59.99 (£39.99) to €52.49 (£34.99) (S@H is €54.99 for IRL, £34.99 for UK). I decided against it in the end, and at €2.50 extra, it isn't much if I reconsider and get it in a later S@H order.

I've kind of tailed off on additions to my collection. I only really consider sub-€10 albums now, and I don't listen to the latest drivel on the radio - so I only have the recommendations of friends or music that they play that I like. I don't pirate anything, so I'm quite constrained - really the music business are idiots for being so tight. I don't think music should be free - but it should be relatively cheap and usable in whatever way people want (the reason I only buy CDs - although I've had one or two fake CDs that are not actual CD-audio but are instead brain-dead DRM data discs). My first album was Oasis - What's the Story Morning Glory, and my latest addition was possibly Muse - Black holes and revelations. I have quite a lot of U2 CDs.

I like it, it does look suitable for the interior of Volcano Base, and as for "right hand man", just the kind of silly humour that I like Agents for. Cheesy, but fun. The more Agents MoCs the merrier - I think they have great potential for some quite amusing and fun constructions.

You just need seven *different* vouchers (from different days).

Collecting the sets in person you have to use the voucher for each day on the day it is published. Looks like I will instead be collecting 7 vouchers and sending off by post - €9 plus the cost of the papers (€1 each for the non-Sunday ones) - total of €16 for 12 polybag sets isn't too bad (€1.33 per set) and that includes playmat? sticker sheet and the cardboard carry case. I will however have the chance to get some of the sets directly as duplicates - as I'll be in the city centre a couple of days and it's a half-hour walk to one of the Smyth's outlets. However, disappointing it's not a weekly release with time to get to Smyth's some time during the week when I'd be in the vicinity of one. EDIT: As for the quality of the newspaper in question... "Boy teaches his pet rats to surf" tells you all you need to know.

Not my cup of tea, but they look good for what they are supposed to be. Probably similar market to Exoforce. Much cooler than the non-Lego plastic boys toys that these are sort of in the style of. I'm sure there's plenty of kids will love these, and indeed anyone older who likes the mix of technic and special parts (dare I say "bionicley"?) with ordinary Lego. I'd enjoy getting these sets myself if I got them half price like I did with some Exoforce sets. The parts have plenty of uses for building space vehicles.

There was an ad on most of a page of today's edition of the Irish Daily Mirror. So I'll definitely be participating, although it seems it will run every day for 12 days, with you having to collect the set from Smyth's each day. That will be tricky (esp without paying extra for transport). So I might go for the option of collecting the 7 vouchers and posting in (although perhaps there's a fee that way). I'm a bit wary though as there was a DVD giveaway that someone in my family posted off for (having collected tokens from the newspapers) and they have not yet received anything a couple of months later.

zorro3999: The body is actually mostly the original car from the set, which is indeed 8 wide. It does include two pop-up guns in the bonnet (hood). I may try modifying these to be covered by navy panels, and look more gun-like (fiddling with various small technic components required). I now have a video posted of the car in action - link (swf - 800kB)

Exactly my thoughts. It's one of the coolest Lego cars in a while, and it's neat to see it zoom across the floor. If I get a chance I'll put up a video of it in action. The pullback motor is only just adequate - one has to pull it back fully/repeatedly till it is fully wound up, and then it can start slowly and build up speed once momentum releases some of the effort on the motor.

It's been available in Ireland these past number of months. However, I haven't yet bought it, as Volcano base was a bigger attraction (and thanks to 20% off in retail outlets here, the Mobile command centre). It looks like a nice set though - I'd love to get it and complete my Agents collection. So much else to buy though! Thanks for the review link - now I am really thinking about getting this...

Unfortunately, no castle set. And indeed just 5 with minifigs. Still pretty awesome for a giveaway. Full list of sets, with instructions downloadable, here.

Hi all, First time posting custom building of any sort here. I am almost finished my large Castle MoC I started a year ago, but as a diversion, I did some work yesterday and today on a modding of the Lego Agents Turbocar chase silver sports car. From almost the first I built it, I wanted to redesign it to include a pull-back motor. So now I have. I used the motor from 4584 Hot Scorcher (the parts of which I got in a mixed lot), as it is the only large pullback motor I have (peeron part link). I apologise for the poor photos - I just used my 2mpx camera phone. If I get a chance I'll take some more of the construction disassembled - it looks very similar to the original set, but the chassis is quite rebuilt, and the car sides are actually one stud longer. I had to rearrange the missiles to fit around the motor box, and also had to redesign the hinges and rear. Also the pop-up seat is redesigned, as the space at the end of the rod connecting was reduced to two studs. VIDEO! Link (swf - 800kB) A profile view: Missiles up (they prop into position nicely - a happy design accident): Under the hood: Rear view: Left over parts included in the original set:

GREAT NEWS! The promotion is running in the Republic of Ireland also, I received confirmation by email. The sets can be collected from Smyth's Toys, or by post. I presume it is the Irish Daily Mirror running the promotion here, rather than the ordinary UK edition of Daily Mirror (although the response I received by email merely indicated "Daily Mirror").