brickzone

I am skeptical that this was an error, because even across the Eurozone the lower prices were not uniform, but as with a number of recent sets, slightly cheaper here in Ireland (Just as well with the high shipping costs - you would think we were in the mid-Atlantic or something!). It was listed as €269.99 here in Ireland rather than €299.99. An extra €130 seems exorbitant - the initial price was not exactly cheap! As for the US price difference, economics and capitalism really suck. Mind you, I was recently able to purchase the Indy Jungle Cutter new from the US for less than the Irish RRP (€44.99) even including shipping from the US (the item itself, included Jungle Duel set too, was cheap enough at $33 to be below the customs limit, so I didn't even have to worry about duty).

Although Argos had the exclusive on Castle '07 here in Ireland, not only do the proper toy chains have Castle '08, but Smyth's Toys even has Castle '07 now stocked. Was surprised to see the King's Castle and Skeleton Tower, etc. when I'd only been expecting to browse Castle '08.

Nice one. I checked the code instore (it's not in the latest catalogue here, even online) but it is back to full price for the last couple in store - €105. No Skeleton Towers or Carriages left. Mind you there are three Argos's here and I only checked two, though one was an Argos Extra.

This sale applies to Republic of Ireland too. Also only running until tomorrow. I picked up my 7744 Police Station for €41 (Argos first listed it at an already low €55). Also an Indy motorbike set for €11. I was tempted by the garage at €33, but I do have Octan stuff and car wash from Town Plan.

shunlabs: Unfortunately for us in Europe, it's less that the prices are high here, and more that they are really really cheap in the US. The most likely thing to happen is that Lego has to raise prices for the US, although the problem for them is that the market there may not bear it (folks there are paid in US$ after all). Interesting that they can still turn a profit in the US at current prices, but I suspect margins are very thin indeed. Part of the European prices are indeed a good profit for Lego and maybe toy retailers, but if that were not the case, the company would be in trouble!

I love this, it's really nicely done! I too like the dwarven hall best, but on the other hand, I especially like the market part of the other module. The market building is good, but I think the colours don't entirely work on it. I see the goblin fell over in one of the shots :) I'm not such a fan of studless areas like a lot of MOC commentators seem to be. Lego is supposed to have studs! The arrangement also shows off just how cool the Lego dwarves are; they really look the part! I like the use of the golden helmet above the door. The cobbles are absolutely fantastic. I'd be tempted to buy a bunch of 1x1 round flat bricks to do similar! I have quite a lot from all my various sets that have grey (castle, HP, western), but nowhere near enough for any serious amount of cobbling.

Green Grocer is *now available* on Shop @ Home. It is

My sister was the one with Fabuland back in the day, but it was good fun to play with I remember. Lego for me was more about building models, but Fabuland brought the make-believe character interaction to life. I loved the detailed pieces too like the fridge and the tiles with various things printed on (my sis had Catherine Cat's kitchen).

jayber1974: Actually the price for Australia is not too different to Europe then - here it's to be

Magic! I guess the Evil Wizard has enchanted their stuff for them!

Some disassembled and sorted into my inventory. Others remain built but in boxes (the DHL shipping ones used by S@H actually), ready for display again later, incorporation into a custom scene, or for modifying rather than simply sorting out the parts. I have rather severe space constraints, but I do have a bench half the length of the room, so there's enough space for building and/or a linear display arrangement. I've also one or two surfaces for displaying a couple of individual models (currently just Dwarves Mine out). *Everything* else is in the DHL boxes or in the sorting bins/drawers/tubs/boxes. It's really annoying not having more space. I'm not getting good use of my Castle '07 Lego, but I don't want to just use it for parts yet; I want to modify the sets or use them in a display. However, space is being used for building MOC castle so it has to wait.

I thought the whole thing was amusing at first, and the hullaballoo over the story here in Ireland all the more hilarious. However, I've now seen/heard it for the first time on the BBC News story on their site. I don't know what to say. What on earth are people in the rest of Europe going to think of Ireland after this? It will surely only reinforce any concept of us as uncouth uncultured chancers. And if it is positively received, in many ways that is altogether worse, showing just how deranged everyone is here in Europe... Ah well, it'll no doubt get viewing figures for Eurovision up here in Ireland at least, so the organisers can't really complain too much. I suppose it's a less false cultural sharing than many Eurovision entries too, and does at least follow that spirit of the contest. Though really, there is a reason people keep up facades - sometimes it is better not to show one's deranged side! I don't entirely understand Eurovision's detractors, as the contest is about sharing with other European countries and so even the bad entries tell a lot. It's good to at least laugh together, or be appalled together, or bored together or occasionally enjoy some songs together. I'll probably watch UK coverage pre-voting again though; the Irish voice-over is a bit inane and sure the UK voiceover is Irish anyways, even if Terry Wogan really does seem to hate the show.

I started off handwashing in warm water with just a drop of fairy liquid (dishwashing detergent), and toothbrush for parts with grime attached. However, this became too much effort and the backlog too much. Many of the ebay sets I bought were really pretty great condition apart from dust, even mint condition really. So I switched to using a very soft paintbrush to dust the parts, and then bag any grimy parts for later handwashing. Finally though, I may try the washing machine option especially for some bulk parts I got from ebay. Using a 30 degree cycle with no spin is easy (just the same cycle as for woollen items). However, what is the story with washing machine detergent? Should I use any? I usually use non-biological concentrated liquid detergent (<25ml for a half-wash of lightly dirty clothes for example) which might be a bit too serious a treatment for Lego, especially considering I would not really want to put it on an extra rinse+spin cycle to remove the detergent, like I have to for the woollens. Does it work just not using any detergent in the washing machine?

For some reason my town plan had an entire extra bag of 2x1 one stud dark bley plates. I'm not complaining :)

The value of the Cn Dollar versus US dollar is irrelevant in the context of Lego. The Canadian dollar has not been consistently rising against other currencies that are more relevant, like the Euro. It's simply been fluctuating up and down over the last few months. The only reason there's a problem here is that Lego are just having to keep selling at the same low US dollar prices in the US in order to maintain market share. Really because of the low US dollar, they should be raising prices there, but the market there wouldn't bear it as folks there don't have so much cash (they are paid in US dollars after all). Walmart is being the bully here, and from what I've read, they're rather ruthless in selling low-cost. Like a more extreme version of Tesco in UK and Ireland (and they are really pretty bad too). Tesco only sell a handful of small Lego sets here in Ireland, whereas their predecessor that they bought out, Quinnsworth, sold the whole line-up of Lego (if I'm not mistaken, Quinnsworth were owned by a Canadian retailer).

These are fantastic. I haven't seen Lego ads on Irish TV other than Bionicle (and even that not recently).

I don't think this is a big deal. It's reasonable enough for Lego to request this as a trademark holder. Plus they are legally *obliged* to take active measures to "protect" their trademark, otherwise they lose it, and then not just bricklink stores but other brick selling companies etc. can use the word "Lego" to sell their products.

Thanks for the review The Force. The interior photos were nice to get a bit more insight into the set. The S@H price is only

The Blacktron II base gets my vote.

Wow, if that's true, that is impressive. Both for having lots of hammers, and the nice detail.

I do think the shiny helmets being the old-style ones with neck protector do make the older non-shiny ones look more like pieces of plastic, which is a pity. The silver and gold printing on the torso also shows up the old torsos though. I mean, I am very nostalgic too about the old designs. But the new torso that the soldier in the "Knight" impulse set has just looks so realistic by comparison (I mean in the sense of the shadowing and printing of folds in the tunic; the actual tunic design is possibly too complex). However, the light-blue/navy combination is the downfall of the new knights too. It's a nice coherent colour scheme, but just leaves them with a softer feel compared to the colour scheme of say the Black Knights or Black Falcons. Using the coherency and subdued nature of the crown knights design with other colour schemes would be interesting; e.g. using brown and dark red maybe.

They look like skeleton legs to me too. Is the parts list definitely definitive? The "stars" may be those clip-bar parts (you know, the exoforce robot hands) clipped onto the railing.

This is amazing! I'm even more looking forward to this set now! Wonder what is in the display cabinet inside the grocers? Looks like a good selection of food outside and inside apart from that too, apples, cherries, a number of bananas and carrots. The hallway that the staircase is in at the ground floor looks nice with those tan and dark tan tiles. Also interesting to get some dark bley feathers (with pins not clips!) on the turret. The building is of course a bit cramped inside, but it's reasonable for a model and can be amended if desired. I think they've done a good job on the interior layout considering the space available.

There's also a Slashdot story posted about the 50th anniversary. BBC also have coverage (video story). Good to see the relatively widespread coverage of the news. As long as all the attention doesn't drive up Lego prices on ebay :)

While one can't blame the Indy theme for doing away with JT (I for one am not convinced Lego intended to go back to the adventurers), there's no doubt that the presence of the indy theme is certainly a hard and fast obstacle to any slim hope whatsoever that anyone had of Adventurers returning. And I agree with Adventurers being more fun and kid oriented. It's hard to see how the Indy theme will do with today's kids. It seems an obvious theme to do only to those of us who have forgotten how long ago Indy was and who grew up during the movie releases. Once you realise that, then you have to wonder how connected the theme is with the kids of 2008. I guess it depends on whether they get taken along to the new film and enjoy it. I'm happy to take it as it is though, however much I'd prefer to see Adventurers return and no fleshies please. I like the new Indy sets, and having bought the lost tomb, I'll have to get the temple set at least (the chase one seems overpriced here at