Lockt

Awesome review of an awesome set! One extra emphasis on the weapons and misc items: this is one of the few (maybe the ONLY?) set that has a shield for ALL figs. really nice. I bought a copy of this set early on for the mentioned euro price. When I found it on discount for E6.99 I bought all the remaining copies in the store :D :D :D really, really nice set :D

Just a reply for the sake of replying on your beautiful lay-out. I mean, it is very nice to see you city, and you certainly have one worth seeing :D I always find it difficult to judge your new lay-out just on the planning picture, but I am certain it will be most impressive! Keep up the good job and thnx for sharing

I am in...nice raffle again ;-)

Your article is very interesting. On the comment made before, about the abrupt ending, I think it has something to do with a final point making (not needing to be elaborate and the final pic) after you concluded it would be nice to have single train cars. Anyway, I like the article and on its content: I am the happy owner of 2 of those 80s sets, one Shell tanker and a Crane Car and I always very much liked it. I often use them in combination with an 80s train, but also on a 9V train. I like the compatability and the combinations possible. If I recall correctly those single train cars also have alternative models in the manual which is nice for variation. Indeed it was a powerful concept in the past and I agree with you it still can be and would be a true addition

Quite a philosophical discussion we have here. I think the relevence in this discussion is more the discussion itself and not the answer to the OPs question. It is a question you can apply to many things: - why do you have a car, and not live next to your work and walk to it, so the money saved can be used against poverty - why do you eat more then you need, and throw away even more, which you cannot even eat - why do you buy new shoes, while the old ones are still not complete worn through (a hole or 3 is not an issue..isnt it?) - why do children play in the first place? (think about Plato!) and thus are given toys I think there are a lot of answers to all these questions, some more selfish then other. In essence they will all be selfish varying from: enjoyment to learning/developing ourselves, varying from satisfying needs to easing desires. Basically I think the question was answered only by one person honestly, although I dont agree with his opening sentence, so I changed it: The shocking truth might perfectly be that charity is a product of an un-easy conscience. To ease it a bit we justify our own life-style by donating. ~Lockt~ P.s. Of course I generalize a bit here, and I appologize to those exceptions that are truly charitable

One of my greatest lacks in my town...I can remember going to the store to buy this one, and ending up with another set (pirates) at home :p Thank you for the review, it might put me on track in finding this set on the web and purchasing it to correct my childish change of mind, so long ago ;-)

Although I am very excited about the farm and the construction site (no need for more cranes, but I really like the actual construction that is going on!!) I want to point out, like said before, what a gem the "city life" set is! Minifigs ok, but very very cool street funiture. Traffic lights, bench but most important of all: traffic signs are back!! I am really impressed with what lego will be throwing over us next year. My new house is almost finished, so I can start building and decorating my lay-out with all kind of new stuff! And the farm will require some inventive country-side terraining ;-) I am looking forward to this alot! *start looking for extra green base-plates for the farmers to work on...*

Reporting as orde...suggested ;-)

I think you are lucky with your extra shield, if you have used already 3 of them... ;-)

Whitefang, Awesome review... really good job! Thank you for it! One major downside of this set is keeping it together... so much very nice and good bricks in it! I definately think its worth the money so I will vote 5

Very nice exclusive! Price is not that bad considering the parts. I was looking towards the "floor" around the construction. Is it made by blue underground covered by turntables 2x2? (http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/3680)

I can agree with Lord Admirals comments on the castle line (no not on the decals, although I can feel your point ;-) ) I would be excited to see new Castle-line sets coming up and with the history we have now from 2007 and 2008 I am confident they will be nice :) Elves would be cool, since they add another faction (surely, I will not put myself in the traditional human, dwarf, elves vs undead, trolls and orc setup, but just see them as 6 factions) which is cool for me. Although I would surely hope to see also a human "darker" faction. Both a plain evil or plain neutral (like forestmen) faction would be cool. That said, I surely would appreciate any set of the same quality as we have seen in 2007 and 2008 with no new faction. And it is my silent hope Lego will expand their "water-trip" with castle a bit ;-)

I can give the same comments as with the fire-boat. Still this one isnt looking that awkward and the minifig is an excellent additon. Wil give it a 3 for that

Not fond of this set. I didnt like the floatable ships with balast attached below it. Also this ship looks like a frigat because of its cannons. Of course it was a nice opener of ships in Lego, still I will not give it more then 2. Thnx for the review!

Thank you again for this review. As mentioned indeed this set was not to be found in europe, although the vehicles where all released seperately. I own both of them. First of all, I liked from this time the addition of road-plates. I think it adds a lot of playability to the set as a stand-alone AND it easily makes you a city by combining a few sets. The office is not much, which is ashame, but still, the entire lay-out doesnt feel "empty" which is a very good thing. For me an excellent set to be combined with several others from its time with a very classic feeling.

I think the system works like this: * Part broken, wrong part present or not present at all in your newly bought set: free of charge replacement * Part missing/broken after some time due to playing, building or moving around: use Pick a Brick in S@H and so you pay At least thats how it worked 2 months ago ordering from Holland

very nice read! I really liked it :D

/agree with you. Water seems to be found again by Lego. Besides the suggestions given I would also love to see the return of some more recreational water sets like http://www.brickset.com/detail.aspx?Set=6543-1 or a rework of the Paradiso beach sets e.g. http://www.brickset.com/detail.aspx?Set=6543-1

Count me in :) Set is looking awesome and will be on my "wanna have" list...

Nice review :) When I saw the picture I was first startled that you had Exxon on it, since I own this set: http://www.brickset.com/detail.aspx?Set=671-1 Find the 10 differences :) A bit offtopic: I really like your classic reviews, so if you keep finding time for it, keep up the good work! thank you!

Nobody seems to wonder why a promo for sustainable energy needs batteries? hehe Nice set anyway ;-)

Hi Panda, Very nice lay-out you have thought out, and construction is looking good! One question: Do you have an updated lay-out where the cross-roads are replaced by the actual roads? Or do you build "on the fly"? Keep the pics going... I like seeing your development :) thank you

I needed to check to be sure, since I have written all the dates when receiving a lego set, I didnt need to recall myself. It was either Black Falcon or the Blacksmith from that time... The result of my search in my historical library is: It was for years later that I realized how fortunate I was my parents bought me this set, since it is still one of my favorites

Could you make a close-up of the two winged skeleton warriors? I am kind of curious how you made them and where you got the parts from. Your armies looking nice! luckily the undead have 2 dragons or wouldnt stand a chance against your crown army ;-)

I voted for the second option for several reasons: First of all, it is small and therefore a nice variation in the current large buildings I am obtaining mostly. For me some small buildings would be very much appreciated, varying from a snack-shop to a telephone box. This shop perfectly fits in this idea. Secondly, the architecture is representing a specific time in lego city constructing. For me it was a time where I obtained many small sets, but little buildings. This building, together with a small post-office of that time, is the only exception... ...which brings me to my third reason: its the only one of the three I own ;-)