Faefrost

But honestly there is a strong strategic reason for doing one of the City stalwarts in a more realistic grown up form every now and then. Can we all agree that the all time best seller of the line was the Fire Brigade? That one dodged cancellation for almost as long as the Death star, and got 2 or 3 production runs past the initial. Part of the reason for that is it has the most crossover appeal. It functions as both a wonderful playset for the younger family members and as a nice town centerpiece for we grumpy old AFOLS. It's the one the kids eyes gravitate towards. Similarly the recent trend of adding a vehicle to some sets is likely for a similar hook. They have never quite matched the FB's crossover appeal. The way it attracted newcomers to the modular line. The Pet Shop and Parisian Restaurant may be the Modular Connoisseur's preferred sets. But FB is one that introduces them. They can use another like that. I think they tried that a little with CG. Not sure how well it succeeded? But they were clearly seeking to hook the City Boy fans with the garage and the Friends Girl fans with the Vet. I think a Police Station or Post Office would be a logical set to fill that entry point role as the young uns graduate from city. Offering the linked building and vehicle play. I don't think Lego has ever specified that the Modulars are meant to be 50's American. Now it is clear that much of Jamie's vision and experience probably comes from a model railroading hobby at some point. His mental map looks like Post War US Steam/Diesel Transition Era. But honestly that is not entirely uniquely American. Much of 20th Century architecture is fairly universal throughout world cities, with only minor differences separating the regions. Of the 14 Modulars only 5 of them are "American", and one of those you would not know it unless you knew the backstory. FB, DD, PC and CG are distinctly American style buildings. PR while clearly being a European style building is actually based on a purpose built faux French style building from Jamie's New England hometown. Okay I'll give you DO has a bit of a Brooklyn or Chicago feel to it. That's a neat idea. Especially if they could give us an older style stainless steel Greyhound type bus with it. A bus terminal would have been a better use of the CG's footprint than a Garage. See it's often a matter of perspective. I kind of like CG because I know of many many buildings that look like it. It's pure US early 20th Century Rust Belt Industrial. The colors look fine for stuff you can find anywhere on the path between New York and Chicago or Detroit. It's a downtown industrial building they don't tend to have a lot of ornate industrial details. I think part of it is Jamie is less Hands On with the Modulars these days. And part of it is he has learned to be very very cautious about what he says when answering such questions.

While they tend to surprise us, I think we are due for another Government type building. Either a Police Precinct House or the oft mentioned Post Office. (If Police I'll predict that there will be a small Donut shop next door. Because some jokes they simply can't not make)

I keep thinking that the 2014 Arctic Base sets would fit in with a Mars or Moonbase extremely well. https://brickset.com/sets/60036-1/Arctic-Base-Camp

We are forgetting something. Not too long ago (maybe a year) 1 or 2 Ideas Gingerbread House projects were rejected. I forget exactly but they may have been removed from consideration. The feeling was that they were removed because of some planned Winter Village set. When the little cardboard box set with the minifig came out, most assumed that that was the conflict. But in hindsight it may be this years Winter Village set. The D2C sets start development and planning around 24 months out.

I somewhat agree with you. Although Pursuit of Flight has a market niche problem. It's a fantastic MOC, But I fear it wouldn't have a clear market segment. It's an interesting desk toy. So yeah minimal production run of 5000 never to be heard from again. The Medievel Blacksmith is interesting. We are overdue for a nice fantasy Castle type bulding. But it would probably be paired down quite a bit. The sad thing is any of the three Disney sets would sell like gangbusters. 50,000-100,000 production run easy.

It’s actually a little less obscure than you might think. The new show (which this is from) is up to 5 seasons on Amazon Prime. And I think the Amazon show gives them multiple ways to license a product, be it direct from Gerry Anderson’s company (I forget the name) or via the sublicensors making the new show.

That could be the case for both of them. Either lower tier LEGO employees, or people who were hired after submission. Say a LEGO store employee somewhere. If nothing else I hope the builds got them noticed enough to put them on a path for advancement. https://ideas.lego.com/blogs/a4ae09b6-0d4c-4307-9da8-3ee9f3d368d6/post/80169e60-7cf7-4dec-b51c-2f21d3051747 so betting odds on what will see production from this round? I’m actually leaning towards Thunderbird 2. Not that it’s the best build. Both the Haunted Mansion and the Snow White 7 Dwarves house would sell like gangbusters. But it feels like LEGO already has an active Creator Expert Disney subtheme. Which would probably eliminate the 3 Disney sets from consideration. The UCS Shuttle is gorgeous, but a subject they have done as an advanced D2C set before. The others seem a bit niche. I’m surprised we didn’t already get a Disney Haunted Mansion D2C set this year. But of the original New Orleans style from Disneyland. It’s the 50th Anniversary.

Interesting results. The Dino skeletons are “meh” to me. But I can see how they would do well in Lego’s target market. It sounds like they really want to do the playable piano, but are still evaluating if it is possible from a production engineering and design standpoint.

I am so sick of that thing. I'm not a huge fan of Nathan Sawaya's stuff as "art". I get that it is, but I find it a bit pretentious. Like it's trying too hard. Trying to flip that pretentiousness into a retail product with an extra helping of ugly is just bleah.

It also looks like the Space Station set might also interconnect with the 2014 Arctic Base set, which always had a space base vibe to it.

I’m so happy the 123 Sesame Street made it to review. That one seems like a no brained if the license is reasonable. Of the 5 in review? It seems a weak field. A lean a bit towards the Queen Victoria. The food stands are cute, but I’m not sure what the market is there.

The raid, arrest and shutdown of Lepin probably needs its own thread. Quite a remarkable turn of events. How soon until Bootleg Lego Lepin sets become rare aftermarket collectors items?

Saw the Rexcelsior, the Castle and the Sparkle Spa set at Target tonight. So the Rexcelsior apparently isn't a D2C. The implication in the Ninjago Movie is that it is happening more in a "Chinatown" area of a Western City. That scene had more than a bit of an homage to Gremlin's feel to it.

Launch Command just wouldn't be Launch Command without the Roller Coaster!

Gorgeous MOC. I love it. Isn't Screech supposed to have a Switchblade?

That looks Fantastic. Although I'd be leery of that Tobaconist. He looks like a Hippy, so god knows what he's peddling

Am I imagining things or is this the first time an Ideas final design has seemingly increased in size from the original submission? Not complaining mind you. I just really like what they did with the boat and the paddlewheels.

These might be an alternative. Woodland scenics has a new modular plug and play system for lighting model Railroads. It looks like it might be adaptable for a Lego city. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=woodland+scenics+lighting+system&crid=2AELPQNR5CAV9&sprefix=woodland+scenics+light%2Caps%2C143&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_22

Truth is we've been openly regretting it since the Wasp. Vulture was disappointing (especially now, since the new Sky Police helmet and mask would work so well for him) but getting it again for Wasp instead of her gorgeous helmet was just crushing. or a full dome piece for this That armor would look damn fine for Mysterio. Just leave off the wings and give it a full dome instead of a half.

Put it this way. I find that the best and perhaps only way to enjoy the movie Cloverfield is to mentally map the cast of Friends onto the equally annoying NY hipster Cloverfield cast. The original Filmation Ghostbusters Saturday morning TV show had nothing to do with the movie, beyond the movie people paid a few bucks to avoid a naming conflict. Filmation then got snippy when the movie hit it big, and made a new animated TV show based on their old show, to compete with the movie based cartoon, now having to be renamed "The Real Ghostbusters".

The existing license rules are likely not quite as all encompassing as we think. Otherwise the NASA stuff is all existing license. There is some subtlety there. I think the main determinant is "Is it something that we already have a license contract that lists this as possible production. I like to use Star Wars as a good example. Nothing that has appeared on screen will ever make it past review... But some EU stuff described in books or comics might. Something as weird as Chewbacca's Tree House from the Holiday Special is likely not covered by the existing license (save perhaps a clause written in orphans blood that says "NO NEVER!!!"} Steamboat WIllie was likely far enough from the licences they held to need a separate agreement. Friends...? Leaves me puzzled. But it has a huge multi generational audience. (no idea why. I feel the desire to kill myself whenever the wife puts it on, which is all too often.) It doesn't make sense to me, but it could make a glorious parts pack. Plus just think how many truly evil and depraved scenes you can make with those friends minifigs. I mean have the cast eaten by Velociraptors? There ya go! Suffer horrible accidents and fires? Lego has what you need!

I'm liking what I see of these sets. The train is awesome. I love the idea of an Engine that eats stuff on a Lego RR layout. I suspect that little third car is to hide a motor in maybe? The Engine will be tough to motorize with the transformation feature.

I can't help but think that the Vet's office would have worked better above the Diner, and the Boxing gym above the Garage.

Not to criticize, we all like what we like, but have you ever built any of the newer Speed Champions sets? As far as build and techniques they are about the most complex outside of the larger Creator Expert sets. Some really amazing things with offsets, SNOT and various upside down and sideways builds. They so some really astonishing stuff to get the look and curves of the various real worlds cars right. They also have quite a steady input of new parts. The line introduced several new cockpits/windsreens, and most of the newer sloped pieces originate from the line. Even the small individual car sets are quite complex. After you build a few of them you just can't go back to City Vehicles. The teeny tiny little Mini Cooper S Rally Car in the recent set may be the single most amazing minifig sized car Lego has ever produced. (shame you have to by the overpriced big set to get the little car you want...) But that's just my opinion. I clearly like stuff other than you. For themes that I would not mind seeing fade a bit? Hmmm? Tough one. I think the Unikitty theme pretty much arrived past its expiration date. I'm not a fan of Blockheads as I view them as simply parts packs. And would lose no sleep when they fad. Like others I think Minecraft is overstaying it's welcome. There are a few City Subthemes that are just wandering into silly territory, such as the bizarre specialty police themes. (I mean really does Lego realize with "Swamp Police and Mountain Police" they had kids playing out hunting down rednecks with West Virgina Meth Labs? Or with Jungle explorers it felt like they were seeking out crashed drug runners planes to claim the cargo?) This years is "Air Police" which makes no sense. I figure next year we will have "Time Cops!" (/sigh... yet still no new Space Police!)

It may be. But I just saw it and immediately thought Wayne Enterprises.