rriggs

In proper English, these are called Letter Boxes. The bugle symbol (or versions of it) are fairly common around the world as a postal service emblem and green is a fairly common colour for them too. Cheers Rog

I wouldn't chuck the faded/nibbled ones. They can be useful out of sight in models for instance in the foundations of a building or the chassis of a vehicle. And also, like cwetgo says, even faded pieces can come in useful. I would chuck the busted bits though. Cheers Rog

You know that. I know that. A bit of healthy debate is always fun though isn't it? But, how do we keep getting into these discussions...?? Do you remember our MOC vs Instruction-Built models thread? I guess this is where I say it's your fault; you say it's my fault; and off we go again.... Cheers Rog

I agree with that. Also, they do tend to be better with most tools, weapons, etc that way round. Add to that the fact that I've done it that way for the last 30-odd years and the other way round just looks wrong! Cheers Rog

Well, I didn't actually buy them but my wife gave me my birthday present today (2 weeks early which is an extra bonus!). She got me: 8404 Public Transport 7939 Cargo Train I am a very happy chappy! Cheers Rog

I bought 5580 when I was 11, saving money for it for months. It was by far the best set I'd ever seen. the most detailed, the most realistic and with fantastic parts that you didn't get in other sets (grey 1x1 round plates and the windscreen, for instance). No matter how good Creator sets are, they simply cannot compare to the feeling I got when I finally got my hands on that set. Creator sets will never blow me away like that first Model Team set did. My brother and I combined our pocket money to buy 5580 when we were in our very early teens. It was, and is, and awesome Lego set and one of my most memorable and proud purchases. However, I am comparing the actual models and not the feeling that they give me and on this front 5580 now looks old-fashioned. I'm not saying it looks bad because it still looks great but times have moved on. With no UCS-equivilent vehicles currently available, the Creator trucks are today's pinnacle of realistic Lego vehicle modelling. The Technic model have more features and are cleverer but the (necessary) partial bodywork detracts from their realism. I for one would love to see a ressurection of a Model Team-type brand which would undoubtably be awesome given improvements in parts and modelling techniques over the last 15 years but in the absence of this, the Creator sets are more than worthy successors to the brand. Nostalgia distorts fact. Cheers Rog

Welcome at Eurobricks!

I do that too! I think it's because I dislike doing that bit so it has to be out of the way first. Also, it doesn't feel like "real" Lego building? Cheers Rog

My key steps are as follows: 1. Clear table in living room 2. Wipe table if the wife has been lazy this week 3. Cold drink nearby 4. Apple TV on in background for music 5. Wash hands 6. Carefully open box damaging it as little as possible 7. Get instructions and stickers out and separate - Check sticker sheet for damage 8. Open all polybags into one huge pile of pieces - Ignoring bag numbering 9. Assemble any minifigs first 10. Build least interesting elements first and build up to most interesting - For example, a truck I will build load, then trailer then cab as that's generally the most interesting. 11. Pick up pieces again and again after cat knocks them onto floor - I would shut the cat out but the wife forbits this My birthday very soon so I plan on putting these steps to good use! Cheers Rog

....in your opinion! I think that the Creator trucks in the Highway Transport and the fire engine are awesome. My 5580 simply looks old fashioned in comparison. Cheers Rog

It's theoretically possible but would get very slow as the city got bigger. I've tried a few big models and small city layouts and the bigger they get the slower and more unstable LDD gets. Try and see... Cheers Rog

Always large vehicles are always faves for me. Trucks, buses, coaches, cranes, etc, etc. Usually minifig scale - I love the 6-wide trucks in City - but also Creator/Model Team scale too. Cheers Rog

When I have had the problem in the past with minifigs whose hair is franctionally large for their heads, I have used a tiny ball of Blu-Tac on the stud of the head. Holds it well enough so that it doesn't keep falling off but is easy to remove. Cheers Rog

I have to agree about the truck being a standalone model in its own right. I was looking at this in the Lego store yesterday and toying with the idea of getting it to display alongside similar scale trucks from Model Team & Creator! Cheers Rog

Are you sure you are not thinking of Creator houses? The Creator trucks have Technic chassis, use Technic components in their moving parts and include many specialist parts. Try building a car transporter trailer or an adjustable towing rig well using just bricks! Just because modern Technic sets contain very few or no "bricks" does not mean than other sets that do contain bricks are simply "brick sources". Do you actually own any Creator trucks or is your argument based on the pictures on the boxes? On my "shelf" I currently have the 6753 Creator car transporter, 6753 Creator heavy tow truck, 6752 Creator fire truck alongside the 5580 Model Team American Truck and 8258 Technic Crane Truck. Am I wrong to display these detailed and well designed models alongside Technic & Model Team? Cheers Rog

I would dispute that. There was no SNOT on the early Model Team whatsoever! They were very simple construction too. Take the doors on the trucks as an example, the Model Team trucks used simple Train carriage doors where as Creator trucks have carefully designed and detailed brick built doors. I have the Creator car transporter and the Model Team American truck in front of my right now for reference! I will be very interested to see how you support your flawed argument with your Bricklink orders..... Cheers Rog

That's a good point; compared to the later sets or the Giant Truck they aren't as complex. Compare them to the early Model Team sets like 5580 American Truck and 5590 Truck, Trailer & Chopper and the Creator sets use at least as much Technic and have pretty much the same features and level of detail. They even are about the same scale! Cheers Rog

I have more old school sets than new school sets but most of my recent layouts have been new school. This is because new school sets are easier to come by and all of my trains are new school. That said, even my new school layouts have old school features. For example, the petrol station in my most recent layout was distinctly 1980s even though everything around was newer. Still worked though especially with the 2010 small car filling up! I still use old school roadplates quite a lot as well as they offer more room for buildings and 6-wide vehicles (just) fit. Not sure if I answered the question? If I actually had to choose one or the other it would be new school as the vehicles are more realistic and have more features. Real world, it's going to be a mixture. Cheers Rog

Not quite true I'm afraid! For example, the Creator Car Transporter 6753 has steering. Cheers Rog

I think that Model Team sets are defined by their detail and their scale. In comparison, Technic models do not have the detail or the finish to necessarily make them realistic models. City/Town vehicles are generally out of proportion due to them needing to accomodate minifigs ( which are also out of proportion). With Model Team, the scale is normally realistic and while there may be Technic frames and working bits there is also a finished body which is also realistic. I own some 1990s Model Team and all the current Creator vehicle sets and I would say that these Creator vehicles are as detailed and well designed as the Model Team sets and could have been marketed as such if Lego so wished. Cheers Rog

+1 for Gaetano (Tanotrooper). Nice guy and made it possible for me to finally get my hands on a Cheerleader!

Looks good. Do you have a plan for the fields between the buildings? (or are you leaving them fallow this year?) I have done similar with my farm but have also added the 6754 Creator House as a farm house which is a perfect match in colour scheme. Nice one Cheers Rog

Nice review and great photos considering the "colour diffuculties" involved! I've hesitated about getting this set a few times as it's too green for the price to do anything else with. However, having read this review I think I will go ahead although being more of a military fan than a Toy Story fan it will be converted straight away to more "normal" colours with yellow heads & hands and with regular lights on the jeep. The green neck I think will be OK on more regular coloured minifigs as it looks like a green t-shirt under the combats rather than green skin. Cheers Rog

Nope. All of the above are from the 1986 airport. Door and windows from the terminal, white computers one each from the aircraft and the control tower and the red telephone from the check-in desk. Cheers Rog

Hiya Received the cheerleader yesterday from Gaetano very well packaged and therefore in perfect condition. She's taken pride of place alongside Princess Leia on my shelf! Many thanks for all your help Rog