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This is not true. It was not released first because of a lack of interior. It was released without an interior due to cost restrictions. There's a rather extensive article on this that was in Brickjournal. The interior of GreenGrocer was a calculated gamble to see if LEGO fans would pay for an interior. They did. Thus, it's likely that we may see an interior in future releases, but not because of the reason stated.

Great topic! My wife is totally supportive of LEGO. She is not interested in joining NILTC with me, but encourages my involvement in that Club, LEGO conventions, and LEGO purchases. She doesn't build much herself, but she has MOC'd a couple of times, and says someday she will build a the Willy Wonka candy garden! Mostly though, she just builds kits with me. Whenever I get a big kit or multiple sections, we split up the directions and each build a section/set. As for space, we have work/office room set aside. She keeps her desk there, and I build there, unfortunately this means that she only gets about 1/4 of the room, but she's totally fine with that, and has no qualms about visitors seeing my workspace, even when it's a complete mess. Lastly, part of her support for LEGO is that it has replaced the Warhammer 40k that used to take up alot of my time. She didn't like 40k at all, and as well as finding LEGO to be a more enjoyable hobby for me, it's definitely worth it to have a hobby that the most important person in your life can enjoy and participate in.

I don't think there is any danger right now. However I think there is some concern that if lugnet participation continues to wane, then in the future Lugnet could be in danger. The big worry is that like some of the recent Brickshelf scares, there would be a crash or some difficulty and the resources would not be in place to recover the information. "Indefinite" is only as long as the next crash. Slyowl, Thanks for that post. It's interesting that it dates to '06, and the situation hasn't changed since then. Dave, You're right about "not showing up" being a main influence on Lugnet. However, I don't think that anyone actually believes that Lugnet in it's present state is going to stage comeback. At this point it seems that the big question is "Whats next?" Is the answer... -A redesigned/reorganized lugnet? -Lugnet being absorbed by a larger entity? -A partnership with Lugnet and some other entity?

I guess this is an older thread, but as long as I'm here. Nice plane. I think you captured much of the spirit of the Folker Dr1. However, as others have noted, the wing shape and the dropoff of the fuselage aft of the cockpit are important details in need of modifications. Good quality pictures also, but at this point, I think the subtext to the thread should read "Historic styled, good pictures". Keep up the good work, this is a good MOC with alot of potential! DJ force, Machineguns that fired through the propeller's arc were generally synchronized so as not to hit the proplellers. However some early unsynchonized systems simply consisted of deflector plates attached to the propellers in case the bullets hit them!

Zepher, Thanks for that. The fact that a new LEGO fan already sees EB as the Meta, is quite a sea change from the way things used to be, and give us something to think about. JimButcher, Good point about the news. Even as EB has tightened it's rules about what spoilers it will print, and begun to cooperate with TLG more directly to combat early leaks, it has remained THE source to visit for the latest LEGO news. I rarely see LEGO news on other sites where EB doesn't have it earlier or nearly simultaneously. It seems that when the newsfinders find news, EB is one of the places they tell it to first. Juggling a relationship with TLG and getting the scoop is a quite a fine line to walk, and it speaks well of the staff that the balance seems to be working. I would say though that there is some benefit to giving serious thought to EB's role in the AFOL community. It's not just a matter of growing for the sake of growing, it's a matter of nurturing community. Like uncle Ben says, "With great power..." Dave, I admit, seeing you and some of the others from LUGNET appear here at EB was one of the catalysts for putting this stuff down in a topic. You're right though, that the information on Lugnet is a treasure trove of philosophy, techniques, and history of both LEGO and the development of the AFOL fan community. No matter what new form the LEGO community takes, that should be preserved. I'm sure there will be alot of discussion about this at Brickworld, both informally, and formally. I know that the "Serious Play" workshop and the "LEGO Online Community" roundtable will discuss this topic, and I imagine it will be on alot of folks lips outside the classroom as well. Lastly, as you say, there are a few groups who use it regularly. The technic and Mindstorms folks seem to gather there, and there are a couple of international clubs that still seem to be utilizing it often. As much as I like EB, I'm kind of sad that I returned to the Brick after the golden age of Lugnet and didn't get a chance to see the earlier development of the LEGO fan community. Still, the future is bright, and -if convention attendance is any measure- the community is exploding in size. Who knows what's next?

First off this could be a touchy subject for some AFOL's, so please don't anyone use this thread to bash other forums. Now then... I've been thinking about the AFOL online community and how it gathers and communicates. Eurobricks has been on the grow recently. Classic Pirates, Classic town, an increase of activity by representatives of AFOL organizations, retailers, etc, and other evidence points to the possibility that Eurobricks is functioning in "meta" a role previously covered by Lugnet. Much has been made of the splintering of the AFOL community from the time when there was one central hub of the AFOL community. Clearly Eurobricks has not usurped the role of the various specialty online communities that have separated, (Classic-Space, Classic Castle, BZpower, etc) but EB seems to be the main English Language site for those looking for a LEGO community that covers most areas of interest to AFOLs. As well as hosting at least one of those "Specialty" communities in the form of "Classic Pirates" EB provides forums for "town and train" and other topics that are among the most active forums of their kind. Clearly there are some differences between EB and Lugnet 1) The format is very different 2) EB has not attempted to replicate the multitude of specialized forums that LUGNET hosted 3) By virtue of it's policies, and the anonymous nature the mean age of EB is a good deal younger than Lugnet, and hosts a youth following that Lugnet never had (whether this is good or bad is topic for another day) with it's fairly strict age guidelines and policy of listing actual names for members. All this taken into account, it still seems to me that EB is the new "big dog" of General Interest LEGO communities. So what does that mean. I'm not sure, but here's a few thoughts to spark conversation. 1) If EB is the new "meta" site, are there additional responsiblities that they have to the LEGO fan community? 2) Is "Meta site" a title or role that EB wants to have? 3) Would operating in such a role require changes to EB? 4) If EB does develop into a LUgnet-like site, what connections should it form with other LEGO fan communities. 5) Observing EB's well done, but rarely commented upon Classic-Town.net blog, what is EB's future in the Blogosphere? Discuss??

I've seen some threads around here about shapeways stuff, but I've not seen anyone who has ordered anything besides Woody, who seems to be the fellow making the designs. I'm partiularly interested in Woody's Brodie helmets and the minifig scale guitars from another seller. Anyone order anything from Shapeways? How was the quality and fit? How much work was required to smooth and paint the items? Can you order from more than one shop in one order?

I doubt it, though it would only take a phone call to find out.

Great Job. I love the gun rail mechanism. Is it functional? The angles, wheel covers and the front turret are spot on! I seem to remember it being a touch wider, but as far as being a good MOC, it's really well done.

Thanks folks, I'll have to look into these. For some reason I've been faciniated with steampunk/victorain-sci-fi recently and this looks like a nice fantasy twist on that.

Wow, those books look great! I've been looking for some steampunk fiction. For those who have read the books, what level of writing are they? 1-Dr Seus 2-Amelia Bedelia 3-Series of Unfortunate events 4-Chronicles of Narnia 5-Robinson Carusoe I ask becasue while I like to mix in some youth novels with my reading, I'm not sure I can start another youth series until I finish the Unfortunate events books I have. Any other steampunk fiction out there?

Other: Royal Crown (RC) Cola! Dr Pepper is a close second, followed by Coke.

This sounds like the LEGOLAND Discover Center (a mini-LEGOLAND) that is located near in Schaumburg, just across the street from the Schaumburg LEGO store. There they have a pretty good PAB selection, but they charge by the pound, and it ends up being easily twice the price of LEGO Store PAB. I talked to some LEGO employees, and apparently the LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, which are run by Merlin Entertainment (same company that runs LEGOLAND Parks) order PAB from the same list that the LEGO stores do. So while the selection might differ some based on stock, it's really not any better than LEGO Store PAB.

Great Job Stash, Is there somewhere that the figs will be displayed at the convention when not doing a photo shoot? It'd be nice to have EB represented at Brickworld in minifig form. As for additional Minifgs, I'm going to ask my wife if she would like her sigfig to be included. If you can't get to it, that's ok, but if she's wants to be, I'll post it here.

I don't know how I missed this earlier. Great design, simple and effective. I have alot of wagon wheels, cannons and brown 1x1 pillars, I may have to try this out myself!

One more vote, for Playmobile predates LEGO. It's probably not an example of one company copying each other, likely it's just two companies using a common theme. However I wouldn't be surprised if LEGO's bringing back pirate's has caused Playmobile pirates to sell a tiny bit more, if only because it puts Pirates back on the minds of kids. As a kid I liked Playmobile toys, they seem to be much like LEGO in their high quality, great play-value (ability to re-use and add to an existing toy or toy line) iconic european design, extensive accessories, and opportunity for creative role play and social development. Obviously LEGO is a construction toy and Playmobile is a playset based toy, but there are alot of similarities. If/when I have kids, I'm going to do my darndest to introduce/indoctrinate them to LEGO and Playmobile.

Hey Dave, Welcome to EB. Glad to hear that you will be at Brickworld again. I'll be looking forward to seeing your updated layout. Hope you get a chance to come by the Building in Lawndale (BILd) table.

Ah, the shoplifting/telling issue. I understand if a person feels they can't confront the person, but I have to say that I'm disapointed that folks don't take the time to at least tell an associate. If you let crime go by, then you're part of the problem, and when you get a box and someone has removed some pieces, then you should probably keep it because you're part of the reason it got that way. Sorry if this comes across as a bit harsh, but the reality is that crime flourishes when the citizenry is silent.

They are both nice, but as others have mentioned, I think it depends entirely upon how it will be displayed. #2 might be slightly more visually interesting, but if it's going to be on a shelf or a table that is against the wall, then you should go with option 1. One suggestion I do have, whichever arrangement you go with, I would make sure that the two tan and two yellow buildings were separated, I try to never have two buildings of the same color next to each other.

Alot of good tips here. Definitely take your time when you pack a cup, fill the bottom rim of the cup with 1x1 plates, then make stacks, in every nook and cranny, insert tiles and headlights. I've bought a dozens of PAB cups over time, and stocking up on PAB is now my source for almost all LEGO that is not a set or a resale shop find. A while back I posted a little pictorial essay on how to pack a cup, along with the tally's of how many bricks fit. You can see it here. Hope it helps. A couple of other hints. 1) Feel free to ask the store if they have any particularly interesting stuff in back. Some stores will bring out stuff that isn't on the PAB wall. Ask folks in your area if they know of anything that was on the wall recently, or might be in back. 2) Don't get distracted by large pieces like BURPS. They take up alot of space. If you do buy some, be sure to pack in and around it carefully. 3) If you see a piece that looks usefull to you. Buy as many as you can afford! PAB selection changes periodically, and you may kick yourself if you don't get enough when it's available. I often fill a cup or half a cup primarily with one very usefull element (like 1x4 brown tiles). 4) If you find a piece you want in bulk, you can buy it by the shipping box for about 70-80 dollars. This usually saves you about 20% on the cost of buying pieces individually.

Had a look through your Brickhelf storage pictures. WOW! You have an astounding collection of vintage minifigs and aceessories (not to mention everything else. I'm not sure I've ever seen so many brown briefcases. Glad to see everything is progressing well. Can't wait to see the pictures of the completed sets!

Great job! I've seen a couple versions of LEGO wheelchairs, and this is by far the least bulky meathod that actually uses minifig legs. The joystick control suggesting a powered chair is very effective. I think it's time to take apart one of my bicycles!

I know next to nothing about Ben 10, but it's interesting to see LEGO continuing to expand it's number of cartoon licenses. Anyone with more knowledge about the show care to chime in about what kinds of sets might come out of this? Is this going to be the next Sponge Bob or the next Avatar?

The headgear is compatible. If you're only interested in the minifig headgear and accessories, this set will give you the same amount of minifigs and the same gear (except for an officers cap instead of the hat) for less than half the price. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3252913 Or if you'd prefer brown: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3252912

Stopped off at the Schaumburg LEGO store after an IKEA visit Convinced my wife to help me pack one large pick a brick cup with: -2x2 red round -brick, brown profile bricks (quite a find) -2x2 trans clear 45 degree slope bricks -4x6 door/window frames -orange 1x1 brick -seaweed plants -trans-clear cheeses -grey 1x2 brick -1x1 trans green plates and tiles -blue classic 1 piece flowers -red and pink regular flowers and stems Really a very useful selection of pieces! Also got: Pirate Soldier impulse Squidman escape