ResIpsaLoquitur

Got the free Millennium Falcon build at Barnes & Noble today. It's basically an Advent Calendar sized set. I'd say it basically resembles the 2011 AC build with a few modifications: 1x1 light bley cylinder instead of a trans-clear cone for the cockpit; two grey dishes for the body instead of one; 1x4 slopes for the mandibles instead of 1x3s. It also came with a trans-clear stick, 1x1 cylinder, and a 1x2 jumper tile as a display stand. (A 1x4 would have been a lot better.) Not the greatest build, and since there's already a new MF designed for this year's AC, I don't know why somebody felt the need to reinvent the wheel.

You know, if your supermarket is selling Lego sets, I'm sure they also have some Tupperware containers of various sizes that you could purchase to store them...

Occurs to me that there are some Lego products that have more "reusable" boxes. I've got several of the Master Builder Academy sets and those are definitely more durable boxes. Also, I'm pretty sure the Architecture line falls into that "durable" category as well, as do the Ideas sets. So yeah, it seems that sets which are more geared towards collectors are going to be in nicer boxes. Kid-oriented sets are in the cheaper packages. Look, man, if you don't like it, complain to Lego.

Lego is mostly intended for kids, not adult collectors. I suppose a case could be made that higher-end products like the Modular Buildings could come in a more storage-friendly box, but let's be honest--90% of Lego's product is intended to be taken out, played with, reassembled, and eventually dismantled into a pile that ends up in a yard sale. It just is. I do wonder how more expensive packaging drives up toy costs. Some toy lines, like the Star Wars and Marvel Legends figures from Hasbro, have become more "collector friendly"--you can take the figures in and out of the box easily enough, so your ability to resell with package is improved. I'd hate for Lego to get more expensive than it already is because of packaging. OTOH, stronger tape might be nice. Sets like the Advent Calendars are easily pilferable because the tape isn't all that strong, and I have found ACs with figures missing because of this.

Yeah, one thing to note--I think the white 1x4 plate should go on the bottom. He has it in the middle, over the black 1x4. The photo of the completed model just barely shows the white one on the bottom; he didn't pick that up. I got a bunch of these parts yesterday, and it's always annoying trying to reverse-engineer the PAM build without instructions.

http://m.imgur.com/gallery/R2f5E Better images of how to make this quarter's panda and dump truck.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite sets was 6378's Shell Service Station, which I got for Christmas in 1986. So since it's Bricktober and I'm actually getting into TRU's microscale buildings, I decided to recreate the set in micro form. So here it is: Versus the original: I think this could have been a little better, but I'm limited by the bricks I have as well as the scale. I'd love to make a micro-sized pickup truck, but again, I don't have the parts for that right now. Anyway, feeback is appreciated!

Toys R Us is doing a micro X-Wing build on November 17! Looks like the Advent Calendar X-Wing slightly modified to match Poe's. Then again, I did one of these myself about a year ago, basing it on the Stealth X-Wing model in Dark Horse Comics' 2013 Star Wars title.

Best model of the PAM I've found so far...

Are we still discussing the Bricktober sets here? I just got the Week 1 Hotel tonight. It's not bad for a micro-building. I don't think it's nearly a $20 value, although I admit that there's a bunch of small parts in unusual colors here that would have some appeal on the aftermarket. (Like trans-light blue 1 x 1 bricks, and lots of them.) It is a nice, tight little build that works in a lot of detail into a very small structure. The only thing I don't like is the micro-vehicles, particularly since the bus has a "floating" effect thanks to a clear 1 x 2 plate intended to elevate it. I would never pay $20 on its own for these, but since I happened to spend $75 at TRU tonight (two Advent Calendars will pretty much get you there), I'll say it's not bad for what you get.

I see a few advantages to any given Advent Calendar. With the City ones, you tend to get children. While children are not uncommon in non-AC sets, they do seem to be harder to come by (especially when the City line is dominated by cops and firemen). With Star Wars, you get a bunch of army builders, and they often include a rare figure that's not available in a low price set. (I.e., the Scout Trooper and Ewok from last year's Ewok Village set.) Friends...gets you some exclusive print versions of the girls, and some animals, I guess. Also keep in mind that even though there's a degree of repetition to the ACs, they're intended to be a "staple" sale to kids every year. Lego is not interested in pleasing the AFOL--they're selling to the new batch of little kids every year who don't have a basement full of cops and firemen.

I honestly liked 2011's 7553 City Calendar, as it told a little story--the cop arrests a burglar, throws him in jail, and then he escapes again for a sled chase. Also, some guy catches a fish for some reason. But the set came with a whole building that you build over four days. I mean, a whole building. It was small, but it worked.

It's any purchase. Spend $100, doesn't matter what, get a free set. A few years ago, I got the Haunted House during Black Friday weekend and got that year's Christmas freebie (a sleigh ride set). Occasionally, Lego will do something like "Spend $100 on Star Wars merchandise and get this minifigure who was on screen for 2 seconds," but in this case it's definitely buy what you want.

Am I crazy, or does the Gingerbread House have 1x4 "brick-bricks"? Are they finally making those?

I get the feeling that these "Seasonal" sets are built with a "Creator" series sort of mentality--they look nice, but they largely incorporate generic pieces as opposed to specialty ones. For example, they could have included either the Scooby-Doo or CMF jack-o-lanterns, but they didn't, because those parts would be way too specialized for the look they're going for. Admittedly, what's a "specialty" piece might be a bit arbitrary--the girl has a witch hat and a broom, and the Thanksgiving set has a full turkey. My best answer is that these are long-standing pieces which have been part of Lego's stock for awhile, as opposed to very unique parts that are really intended for a single line. I don't know. Anyway, I seriously get the impression that these are supposed to be versatile sets made of common bricks, not extremely distinct ones.

Could be because the initial excitement has worn off. We get to December, with Christmas coming and everyone sees the movie, they'll suddenly move all at once. I'm not saying that's what will happen, but I notice every year that the Advent Calendars just sit and sit and then suddenly all vanish at once.

LOL...must have had the wrong hyperlink saved. Fixed.

Mega-blocks is doing a Despicable Me Advent Calendar. Apparently this is not MB's first Advent Calendar, but I've never seen them before. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since Lego's ACs are a consistently big seller. I may actually have to get one of these. I'm opposed to Mega Blocks on principle, but my kid loves the Minions.

Found The Ghost (Star Wars) at Wal-Mart for $64. They had a bunch of last year's sets on clearance, too.

So like I asked on the other thread: I wonder if this is Lego's first official build of a real building in Minifigure scale. The Ghostbusters HQ is a real fire department in New York which is still operational, and they actually still have some props from the movie. Actually, it would be very classy if Lego unveiled the set at that station.

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, but I think what I'm proposing would end up in the Special Forum anyway. So October is two weeks off. I notice one chunk of the internet is doing "Inktober," where artists have to produce an ink drawing every day for the whole month. And I'm thinking: wait, we already have "Bricktober" for this month. Wouldn't it be fun to do a similar challenge? Instead of an ink drawing, produce an original Lego creation every day for 31 days. And why not make it an EB community (non-contest) event? So, my suggestion: 1) Anybody who wants in, pledge that you're going to do it. Now's the time to start asking your friends and families to suggest what you should be building. 2) Build. Every day in October, build an original model and post it on here. 3) Let's keep it sane. My suggestion is that we keep each day's creation to 100 parts or less. Basically, let's build something no bigger than what you'd get in a polybag or a monthly mini-build. Height and weight don't matter. Theme doesn't matter--you can do anything you want, or 31 Star Wars builds, or anything you feel like. 4) There are no prizes. (If they were, I'm pretty sure EB would have to approve that.) At the end, you get bragging rights that you made 31 little creations. So...who's interested? (Sorry about spacing in this post. For some reason, this computer won't let me hit "return" where I want to make a new paragraph!)

Looks like the free "Bricktober" build at TRU will be a red kayak. I have no idea why my font is so small in the last post. Bricktober, free kayak, TRU, October 17.

So would this be the first official minifigure-scale replica of a real building?

Oh great, now I'm afraid to ever touch my Rey set again. Isn't the bag a common part, though? Does the windscreen problem explain why I suddenly don't see Poe's X-Wing in stores anymore? Did they sell out, did Lego recall them, or both?

I modded the tower last night (I'll have to upload pics later, probably tomorrow). I switched the mailbox for some 2x2 SNOT (downward) pieces, and then I put 1x1 black cheese wedges on the front side to replicate the black screen in front of the tower. (I'd have used 1x2 cheeses, but I don't have any in black.) I suppose a black 2x2 plate could work as well, but the tower window seems to have an angled aspect to it that I wanted to replicate. I think it looks better, but you be the judge when I get around to uploading pics. I'll have to try rollermonkey's jumper plate method and see if that works. I have plenty of 1x2 trans blue tiles, so that's an option. I hate that the thrusters are so flat on the large-scale ship.