The Cobra

Great set, but with two HUGE cons. - Availabilty: only on S@H? Well, surely not in Italian stores. - Why are the figures already built? Are today's kids SO dumb? Let's go back to those old minifig packs!

No Castle or Agents either. But we're quite sure they will be back.

"mass-manufactured and designed to withstand extreme amounts of punishment..." It's an Iron drone, and it's marching on its Sentry! Set data 7711: Sentry Year: 2006 Theme: Exo-Force Subtheme: Robots Pieces: 74 (+4 extra) <- both counting Hinge control stick and its base as two separate pieces Price: Euro 7 circa, MISB, including S/H, on eBay; RRP was Euro 5 circa / 5 USD. Probably 5 UKP. Building time: 20/25 minutes (10 minutes building, the rest of the time placing stickers!) More info: Brickset - Peeron Being 2006 my last dark year, I wasn't a big ExoForce fan but they were ok. I tought 2007 models were better, and still think 2008 models are the best. That basically means 1) It's a shame that there will be no more of this line and 2) this is my first 2006 model, yet I bought in in July 2008. Ok, let's do this one. Box front: box was battered due to Italian Post; they'll do their best to give Lego boxes a "war" outlook. Close-up: the Japanese katakana read "tokushu butai" -> special (military) force(s) Box back: amazing alternate model; some like it more than the original design. Box content: a small but capable sticker sheet, two bags and instructions. Sticker sheet: and they're numbered! Random instructions page: connecting legs to the body Instructions page - sticker detail: that's why they're numbered. Instructions page - parts inventory: does anybody check if they're all there before building? Surely not me. Loose pieces: nothing rare, I think; small Techinc parts come in different colours, as usual (you often don't see them when the model is complete, but sometimes you do) The Iron drone: "strong and durable" (and much better looking than those crappy MM jelly aliens) Building starts. The open cockpit - front and rear view Left leg - front and rear view; right leg is built of the same pieces. Left arm - with laser cannon The cannon - great use of the hollow studs with the "Plant Tree Palm Top" Right arm - with twin missiles Complete model - front view Complete model - side view and rear view Rating and review. Parts and building: nothing new, but both models are O.K. Instead of waiting the last page of the manual, you'd better put the stickers in place while building. Looking at the box you'd tell stickers background is (trans) purple. It actually is trans clear (excpet for the yellow and black stripes - warning: hazard!). Try not to put your fingerprints on the sticky side! Consider using tweezers. Posability: both legs and both arms feature three joints; and that's good, so that the weight doesn't have the Sentry falling down. Final model: smaller compared to 2007 Claw Crusher and 2008 Batlle Arachnoid, but cheaper and surely worth the money. The "minifig" is just another Iron drone, not much to say. Final rating: 3,5/5

It's obviously to bully on townfolks. If they don't take a bow / wear off their hats, either they pay a fine or get clobbered

Here's my latest creation: "Park scene" Some closeups Zip file: Includes Park.xlf (the full creation) and Park parts.xlf (some stand-alone models like the cars and the 5-side newsstand.

Sticky tires? Since I've started buying Lego again (June 2007), 90% of times. This set is just great!

He hasn't been around for a while, still people (and tv networks) talk about him. He carries the name of the thunder, he is... Johnny Thunder! Set data 3055: Adventurers car Year: 1998 Theme: Adventurers Subtheme: Desert / Egypt Pieces: 21 (no extra) Price: Euro 4 circa, MISB, including S/H, on eBay Notes: Kellogs promotional Building time: less than 5 minutes More info: Brickset - Peeron This is my second JT set (the first one being 1355 Temple of gloom), not a surprise because there was plenty of him out there in those days. I had the chance to buy it along with the 6013 Samurai Swordsman. 1998 was in the middle of my dark years, so I can't tell if these promo was available in Italy. Box front: not a word about it being a promo. Box back: desperate try to build an alternate model. Box side: Unidentified alternate model. Another box side: alternate car model (this one makes sense!) Box content: instructions, 1 bag and a loose 2x6 plate. Instructions: to ensure that the builder puts the 2x2 plates with wheel holders ON the 2x6 plate, NOT UNDER it! Loose pieces: all 21 of them! JT himself: "don't look now, but Johnny's back again..." (Riot - Johnny's back) Sorted pieces: we're almost ready to start building. M.I.P. (Most Interesting Piece): It's a car grille, but it looks like a 50's radio with speakers on the side. Building - part 1: Let's put the wheel holders ON the 2x6 plate... Building - part 2: We've done! Final model: off we go! Review and rating. It's a promo set, and that's both a pro and a con. "Pro" if you live in one the lucky countries (and that hardly happens if the country you live in is Italy), "Con" if you don't. Who wouldn't want a set for (almost) free? Otherwise, search on the net and wait until you find a good bargain. The set is a bit more of an impulse (i can hardly imagine a 2008+ impulse with four wheels), with a few pieces and only one (the grille) being unusual / odd / rare (according to the available data, it only was available in 23 sets). If you can own it for free, that's ok. If you have to pay for it, you might want to think about it. The figure is... the same Johnny Thunder you can find in some other 10 sets, and there are no minifig accessories. Still, with such a few pieces it's not a bad car, and a good addition to your Adventurers / Lego collection. Final rating: 3/5. That's just me; I turned the hat that way because I didn't want Johnny to have a shadow on his face.

Italy For a few more days, Toys Center will have 7679 Republic Fighter Tank on sale for 55 Euros (RRP: 70 Euros).

I never owned a Lego train, because they were/are big and expensive. But I'd love to own a single car. Plus, they would be a great add-on (just think of the old red/yellow train). Your article is very good!

Great review! I dig this set. It could have only been better if it had been a 6-wide version of the old 6367 Semi-truck. Still I ask: what's so special about the special edition?

That's exactly what happened. I read somewhere here on Eurobricks about the cache pictures addresses and what to change. After I spotted the City Advent Calendar (click here) but no Castle advent calendar yet, I thought: "Could it be that...?" Yes, it could. It will be for the first time in Italian shops, so I hope it will in your country too. Otherwise, just wait it until you find it cheap on the bay, as I did last year. I fear we won't see any of the rest until someone puts his/her hands on the box. Some lucky figures will have two days of accessories, not just only one. By the way: looking at the top of the box I think we're gonna have one of this and one of this

Taking a look at the full-size pic, I guess that's exatctly what the MOCcer chose.

Ok, for my 100th post: here are three spoilers (from lego cache) Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Just to take a closer look at three of the figs and find out what comes with the dwarf.

That's not a pizza. It's a "focaccia al pomodoro" (tomato flatcake) . Trust an Italian

The City Advent Calendar is available on Shop@Home. Prices. Euro 16,99 Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain Euro 17.50 Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands Euro 19,99 France (Metropolitan ), Ireland Euro 20,95 Finland CHF 25,90 Switzerland DKK 169,75 Denmark GBP 14,99 U.K. SEK 199,50 Sweden AUD 39,99 Australia NZD 49,99 NewZeland CAD 34,99 Canada USD 29,99 U.S.A.

First of all: M.O.L.P.E. means "My Own Lame Photo Editing". This was inspired by something I once saw on eBay, where there's plenty of unwanted minifig costumization. So, if Futuron was ever to come back, would you like the minifigs to look like these? Yes or no, and why? I know there was a yellow minifig too, but I can't find a pic of a white helmet with yellow visor.

Now that I uploaded all the photos I took before I was aware of the Academy existence, I'm ready to apply (and improve my skills!)

Not much to review, so I'm not starting a new topic but just adding pics and comment here. Polybag, front and rear. Content. Poster. Minifigs, standard building and swapping heads and hairs. I wouldn't trust that male doctor. Finally... Oh, two extra pieces. I bought two of this sets on eBay, some 9,50 Euros including S/H from a U.S. seller. It's great to have a couple of female nurses. @ Shoc - Re "Too bad that it doesn't seem to be available in most countries." Still, the writing on the back of the polybag comes in 30 different languages (including Italian, of course).

I rate it a full 5 too. And I wish Lego would make a set like this in 2010. A town needs pizza! Edit: don't always trust Peeron. Sometimes they miss some pieces, and sometimes they just can't count them!

Set data 6013: Samurai swordsman Year: 1998 Subtheme: Ninja Pieces: 13 + 1 extra (Helmet Samurai Horn) Price: Euro 4 circa, MISB, including S/H, on eBay Building time: less than 5 minutes. More info: Bricklset - Peeron. I stopped buying Lego in 1986; i started again in 2007. That makes a lot of dark years! And a lot of missed subthemes. I had another Ninja set, but I thought I wouldn't skip this one. Box front 3 more sides of the box Content BIG poster scans The minifig Built set The spear was in the box. But where is my flag??????????????????? The naked spear "Tobe! Ore no hata mitsukerou!" (thanks to Monica for the translation) My first thought was: No instructions? No problem! Then I guessed the flag was in the instructions sheet. But I found no instructions on the internet either. So the point is: I bought a MISB set and one piece was missing. And not a 1x2 plate, but something more rare and expensive. Damn. The set itself is good, simple, cheap. As usual, a 1x2 plate and a 1x2 brick will take place if the horse doesn't have the saddle. Good colour choice (black and blue ALWAYS work great together); great torso and head pieces too. I don't think I would have bought the larger sets, but the small Ninja products were great. (search the forums for other member's review, or check the index). Looks like a standard in my reviews, but I also rate this one 4/5.

Set data 4920: The Rapid Rider Year: 1999 Subtheme: Rock Raiders Pieces: 37 (+1 extra - TrNeonGreen Plate 1 x 1 Round) Price: Euro 3,50, used, not including S/H, on eBay Building time: less than 10 minutes. More info: Bricklink - Peeron. I could have owned the 4910 Hover scout (see Metalandi's review here), but while I was buying some used sets, I forgot to buy that one too! So, here's my only RR set, the second smallest one (if we don't count Japanese promos; sweets are surely sweeter if they come with a Lego set!) Pieces: Face and torso closeup; I like the torso, the face is good except for the bandanna. Building is based on two big pieces: Landing Skids and Plate 6 x 6 x 2/3 Cross with Dome. Let's go! Building is over: Review: Pros: Small set (= cheap), 1 fig, two accessories, some interesting pieces like the rock and the Crystal. No stickers but 3 printed pieces! Good color choice. Cons: Tipper Bucket is fixed, no hinge. No levers or steering wheel, it probably moves by using the buttons on the 2x2 tile. It deserves a 4/5.

@ BigDumbWookiee You're right, Legomilk's list (somewhere in the news forum) had Trains too. Keep in mind that there are some pages of the catalogue that haven't been scanned yet (so far, Creator, City and Racers only; we're still missing Star wars, Castle nad the new Space. Also, Train is a theme on its own, not a part of the City theme)

Nor do I. But, thumbs up to the Minifig collection and the 4wd w/Horse trailer. 7634 is good too. I was surprises: no hospital / emergency / Coast guard sets. But this is the Jan/May catalogue, so we me have some more sets coming out later, just like it happened this year.

On one hand, I think "Well, not bad, but they could be better". On the other hand, that's exactly what I tought after I first saw 7990. Then it became the set that took me out of my dark years!

Sign me up, please.