Eilif

I don't recall exactly how they gave out space. Supposedly those who register earlier have first dibs on a full table. They seemed to be able to find space for everyone though. Some folks had half of a table, some had a whole table, and some individuals managed to get much more for their large displays. What were you thinking of bringing? Also, don't let anyone at BW look down at you for your age. I seem to remember that at BW '08, the winining MOC for Mecha Mecha was under 18.

Tyco is an interesting case. I'll bet that alot of folks have a few tyco bricks in their collection and don't even know it. Tycho's plastic was so high quality, and the sheen was so good, that Tycho's blue yellow, black and red bricks (slightly less so the red ones) are nearly indistinguishable from LEGO colors except of course that they say Tyco on the top. Tyco's plates are 1/2 brick high, so it's easy to tell them from the LEGO 1/3 high plates. One of my favorite building pieces is the Tyco 1x3 roof piece. It looks just like the lego except that it has a ridge midway up the slope to suggest roof tiles. Unfortunately Tyco's run with bricks was pretty short, and a few years later most of the company closed it's doors.

Somehow that disturbing peek inside the maelstrom of Dr X's mind only makes the MOC... ...even better.

Great job. For some reason I really like how tall the stern is. It gives a real sense of the fantastic to the MOC, like one of those great old Erol Flynn high seas adventure movies.

I did 5 different search term combinations and didn't find a thread for this so... What was the very first LEGO set you remember getting? One set only, and No Duplo please. If possible please post a pic. You can probably find a pic of it here: www.brickset.com or here: www.bricklink.com As for me, I think there may have been a red suitcase or bucket of bricks that preceeded it, but here is the first set I remember: #730 with the inspiring title (that it shares with several other sets) of "Basic Building Set 7+" Really a neat set. I think I got it when I was 4 for for Christmas of 1985. It was also one of the sets that my wife had when she was a child. I took out the instructions and built the windmill house model a couple of years ago. I'm only 27, but I think I experienced the closest thing to true nostalgia when I put that together.

My friend you have half been lied to... Lego sued an American manufacturer, Tyco, who had established a factory in the colony to make almost identical bricks. They won the case but Tyco appealed, and the court reversed the earlier judgement after hearing a startling admission from Lego's 66-year-old chairman, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, that he received sample bricks from a Londoner, Mr. Hillary Page, in 1947. Two years later, the company produced its first version of the idea, adapting the block one tenth of a millimetre to conform to the metric standard and changing the shape of the interlocking studs on the top. (changing the shape means removing the dimple on top on top of the stud) More here: http://www.hilarypagetoys.com/history.php?his_id=5 Check the gallery section also. It wasn't until '81, long after kiddicraft founder Hillary Page had died, and other companies had begun to produce "clone" bricks that LEGO settled out of court for the rights to the remains of the kiddicraft patents. The plot thickens....

I've been to both Brickworlds, '07 as a visitor and '08 as an attendee. Barring unforseen difficulties, I'll be at 09 also. I probably won't have my own display table for MOCs, but I should have a fundrasing/info table for a LEGO educational program that I am running in my neighborhood. Also, my Brickington Island Layout will be on display as part of the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club's display. All I can say is that if there is any way you can come, it is not to be missed. The environment is very friendly and encouraging. IIRC, there were quite a few attendees under 20, but for the most part they seemed mature, and I couldn't really tell the difference between those who were 18 and 19 and those who were 20 and 21. There were also a few under 18, but all attendees under 18 have to be accompanied by an adult the entire time.

I don't think that the US actually has requirements for piece counts. That seems like an urban legend that ought to be squashed right away. You're right though that the the USA goes to rediculous ends to regulate some things, and yet often fails to regulate far more important things. Example: Rediculous used toy regulatins and lack of proper mortgage regulations.

My favorite was Green Grocer. I think it is the most architectuarly beautiful set that LEGO has ever made. It was also a great parts/price value and a really fun build. I can't say that I have a least favorite set from this year. TLG did loose my interest in star wars with some of it's clone wars offerings though.

I'm sure LEGO is fine with not putting the piece count on a set box, but I have a theory that the lack of set name and piece count may have more to do with the number of languages that say "piece" differently than any requirements about having to list # of pieces. In europe, where a set may be sold across many language markets, the less writing you have, the less languages you have to print the set name and word "pieces" in. If you put in set name and "piece" count, you could end up with alot more words in various languages cluttering up the front of the box. If you keep all writing (asside from set number and LEGO logo) off the front of the box, you end up with a box front that is much more dynamic and less cluttered. Here in the NA market, you have a large enough market that whatever is on on the box is only in english, and sometimes french. This clutters up the front of the box, but not so much as would a having the info in 4-8 languages. Interestingly, at the end of 2007, US requirements for safety information in 2008 on packages led to LEGO stores selling a huge number of sets at 50% off in order to liquidate them before 2008. I scored a number of good sets that way.

Great job on your analysis of "value" of the various sets. I really like to see these kind of numerical breakdowns, but don't have the patience to do them myself. I agree with those who said that price-per-piece doesn't tell us everything, but it's still a great indicator of value and a usefull stat to know. What constitutes a "great value" certainly varies from person to person. For example, I almost purchased the Ferry set, but looking closer at the set, I realized that with the exception of the inverse-angled windsheilds, I already had plenty of all the pieces in the set. Thus, it wasn't a great deal for me, but for someone with a smaller collection it would be (as most creator sets are) a great addition to their collection and a great "value". Some sets are a great value from almost any perspective. I just recieved the Medieval Market village, and at $100 and 1600 pieces, it is one of the best price-per-piece deals, at .0625 a piece. Moreover, in terms of it's high content of special, rare, and minifig pieces, it may be the best values of the season! This is one of the reasons that I have purchased each of the Cafe Corner series of buildings. They are a remarkable combination of a great price-per-piece ratio and a good selection of highly usefull, and often relatively uncommon or expensive, pieces.

I don't know if it is helpful, but it's best to know from the start that there will always be people, especially among those between the ages of 13 and 27, who will tell you how uncool or nerdy LEGO is. Nothing you can say will change their mind, so just know that it's going to happen. As has been mentioned, it might be a good idea to not spend all your cash on LEGO, but if you have the disposable income, there's alot worse things to spend it on than LEGO. Also, some folks like to specify that they don't "play" with LEGO, they "build" or "Design" or whatever. This may or may not be your point of view, but I "play" with LEGO, and admitting to this makes alot of interactions aboug LEGO easier. Another thing to do -if you are old enough- would be to join a LEGO club. It's a great way to learn more about the hobby, to help show the rest of the world what a legitimate hobby LEGO is, and to bring more people into the hobby.

Hi "newbie" welcome to Eurobricks Online PAB and LDD selection. It depends on what edition of LDD you are using. Earlier editions of LDD contained parts that are not available anymore because the palate (parts selection) has changed. As was mentioned, when you go to buy a set from LDD, you will be notified if it is unpurchasable due to certain parts being out of stock, or no longer in the palate. Online PAB and LDD Prices: Exactly the same, though it is often worthwhile -especially for larger quantities of "basic" brick- to see if the parts are available for less on Bricklink. Except for some of the more specialized pieces, LDD/PABonline has some of the highest prices for individual pieces. Online (PAB and LDD) and in-store PAB prices: Unless you are buying really huge pieces, it is almost always cheaper to buy PAB by the cup in a LEGO store. Of course the selection is not nearly as big, but the price per piece usually ends up being far cheaper, especially for smaller parts. If -as your profile suggests- you are in Chicago, you are near 3 LEGO stores. The Chicago store usually has an OK selection of parts, but the Woodfield store usually has a better selection of special elements. Finally, the Northbrook store is further away, but often has a very nice selection as good as -sometimes better than- the Woodfield store. The key is to stop in as often as possible, or to call ahead if you are looking for certain parts. I check the LEGO stores often, and when they have good pieces, I stock up. It may not get me the pieces I want right away, but over the long haul I end up with many more pieces for significantly less money. I only use PAB online to order certain minifig parts, decorative elements, and architectural details.

What a neat thread. My storage system ( http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22165 )is also pretty conventional, consisting of LEGO tubs/buckets/suitcases, plastic containers, and mini drawer organizers, but it's great to see some of the unique ways different people have come up with for sorting their brick. The homemade chest of drawers is particularly nice.

Wow, I thought my collection required alot of sorting... http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22165 ...but your sorting project fills me with awe, and on top of that, you are rebuilding and inventorying sets! Kudos to you. I'll be watching this one with interest.

Great Mime! I can't see any way of improving it at all. Would it be OK if I added one to Brickington? Welcome to Eurobricks Fezziwig, Yeah, there's quite a learning curve for AFOL (adult fan of LEGO) acronyms. The SNOT referrence is a common mistake as SNOT refers to studs that are not oriented upwards, whereas covering the studs with tiles is not SNOT, but rather referred to as Tiling.

Yeah, LEGO calls him a delivery man in this set. The logo on the jacket is the Classic Space logo. I think it's an interesting reuse of a LEGO symbol that most AFOL's associate with a very different product line from a bygone age. In the grand tradition of parts reuse, over the past 6 years that particular torso has appeard as a motorcycle rider, a plane and train passenger, a skateboarder, and now a courier A plumber with a wrench would have been a great choice to replace the policeman. In the end, I'll probably pick this set up, if only to get the tan pony tail (rogue shadow is the only other current set with it) the signs, and the rest of the relatively usefull minifigs.

Wierd wild stuff Dr. X! I like it. I'm pretty sure that the origin of "blow them out of the water" is as a naval military expression. Still it could certainly applies to this MOC or any explosive fishing techniques.

I don't have a sigfig to offer, but I have some suggestions for scenes. First off, I second the suggestion of an ice cream cart. I have on on my module, and it's gotten some nice comments at shows. Good layouts always have lots of everyday activities going on. The key is to find the things that we take for granted, but rarely think about. Some suggestions for streetside activities to add realism: 1) A sanitation worker climbing out of a manhole 2) A mother pushing a baby carriage (there's a good pic of one in green grocer) 3) a fruit stand 4) a paperboy (Bike, plus indy bag, plus grey 1x2 tile in hand) 5) an opened garage door with a vehicle emerging can add the impression of commerce and add interest to a corner or side of the MOC that otherwise might have little else going on 6) two cars colided at an intersection with drivers leaning out of the windows and looking angry 7) an overturned truck with some sort of spilled product. 8) a minifig on a ladder repairing a sign or on a ladder truck reparing a light pole 9) a homeless guy sitting in an alley by a dumpster. 10) instead of just a postman or a postbox, have a minifig inserting a letter. 11) rooftop sunbathers or folks partying on a rooftop veranda. That should get you started, best of Luck with the MOC.

I'm torn regarding this set. It's a nice way to get the somewhat rare blonde pony tail and Classic space logo jacket, but everything else outside of the street signs is awfully common. None of the other parts are new or rare, and if there's one thing that most LEGO fans (even kids) already have, it's plenty of police officers. This is one of the best examples of a set where an AFOL's collection could render this a "must buy" or a "why bother".

I've got 2 of these The brochures are organized pretty much by theme. I unfold the single sheet brochures to file them. Unfortunately, I have just about running out of space. I still have alot of my early set instructions and product brochures starting around '87 I don't save them for any sort of value, but more for my own interest. Alot of the time when I get a larger set, I will cut the instructions down the binding so that my wife and I can build different parts of the set, then I staple it back together afterward.

V-W-3D Sorry to double-post. I found some smaller-sized pictures on my camera. Starboard side from the front Not as nice as the linked pic, but here's a starboard rear shot. Loading the ferry. In the background you can see one of the two stairways that leads to the passenger deck. Passenger deck interior. It's a bit hard to make out, but the man in red is on the stairway that leads up to the wheelhouse. Below the stairs you can see the two grey stairways that come up from the bow and stern and meet in the middle of the passenger deck. Sorry, but no pics of the wheelhouse View of the ferry from the clifftop Arial view of the clifftop from the South.

Thanks! If you figure the reason, let me know. Thanks, but it's actually a typo, the towns name is Brickington. You're welcome to have the name Brickingham for your town if you'd like. If you follow the links in my sig, you can see some more pics of it. I really lucked out on the doors and windows. I found them at the LEGO store for a buck or two a bag when they were discontinuing the mail order bulk bags! I love your ferry. It' reminds me of the car ferry's without passenger decks that I've taken across certain rivers in the midwest. I wish I had the space to make mine longer and less top heavy, but as you can see it fills the full area from the shore to the edge of the table completely. Surprisingly, it was originally even more imbalanced as the original version had the wheelhouse (the top floor) on a raised platform! In the end I settled for a LEGO'ish Storybook caricature of the kind of ferry's I rode on in Washington state, but I'm pretty happy with the results

Before Christmas, I had promised my wife and family that with money being a bit tight, I wouldn't be spending alot of cash on LEGO. However, they all agreed that Christmas gift money was exempt from this, so this last weekend I went to the LEGO store to purchase Medeval Market Village. It wasn't in stock so they ordered it for me free of shipping! They also had alot of 2008 sets on sale for 15-30% off, so I picked up Troll Warrior, Skeleton Carriage, Race for the Stolen Treasure and two Exo force mechs whose name escapes me. Added to the MIne Mech, Soldiers Arsenal and Pirate Survival that I recieved the week before, and the City and Castle Advent Calendars that we have been opening all month and this has been a pretty great LEGO Christmas season!

I'm a sucker for "clone brand" discussions. I also love it when folks accuse other brands of stealing LEGO designs and sales when interlocking bricks were never original to LEGO to begin with. Not only have the patents expired, and MB has beat LEGO in court for the right to produce the bricks, but LEGO took the idea from british toymaker Kiddiecraft who manufactured the interlocking bricks years before, but was never as successfull as LEGO. http://www.hilarypagetoys.com/ If MB is "stealing" then IMHO, LEGO has done the exact same thing. That said, I am first an foremost a LEGO fan. LEGO still makes the best sets and the widest variety of pieces, and while MB quality has improved, LEGO is still the leader in brick quality and sheen. I do dabble in the "clones" but mostly for certain colors, and accessories. Most MB, Cobi, Enlighten (they really are crooks), Tyco, etc that I find goes into a bin for give-away. There are exceptions of course. The 2400 piece MB Sea Wolf sub was one of the most enjoyable set-building experiences I ever had. As the OP has pointed out, other brands can be great for accessories. Guns, interesting headgear, riot vests, unique windows and doors, etc. are nice additions to my LEGO layouts. Also, some of the more blatant copycat brands can yeild LEGO elements in new colors such as chrome pirate pistols and swords, brown bandanas, etc. In short they aren't "the same" but they do have their uses.