Tenorikuma

Do they sell this set in brick-and-mortar stores in Australia?

I appreciate the high-quality Quicktime link! I hate watching stuff on YouTube.

I'm far too much of a purist to ever buy off-brand bricks, but there sure are a few pieces I'd like to see Lego build there, like the Korean helmets and pointy roof corners. The box art is too busy for my taste too (I like Lego's just-the-model-ma'am sensibilities), but it does fit in with Asian tastes, generally speaking.

Heh, I live in Japan (probably the only one here who does), so I don't have S@H at all. If S@H US or Canada had it (which they don't), I could probably get it forwarded.

Is there any way to order one of these if you don't live in France or one of the countries where S@H sells it?

Judging from Lego's annual report, Star Wars Lego has been especially helpful in bringing Lego back into profitability, so we should all be thankful it's hanging around (even though I'm only interested in the original-trilogy sets). I think Batman and Harry Potter have helped too, though some lines like Speedracer are obviously unsuccessful. Star Wars has also given the Lego designers opportunities to say "hang the costs, I'm going to make this set awesome".

Mail Van #7731 has one of the smaller car bases. I took mine apart the other day, and it took a good five minutes to coax out the yellow plate that was used to "fill in" the middle recessed section. According to Peeron, this is the only set since 2003 to use the car base.

Stunning. I like the crenellation up top. In fact, I think we need some kind of centralized resource showing nice examples of different kinds of crenellation.

Nice photos. I have this model somewhere from my childhood; I'll have to dig it up eventually. I'm not sure why you're confused about the name; that's exactly what a bulldozer is. (I see you're from Singapore so I understand if you find English terms a little tricky or illogical. I live in Japan, and Japanese names for things confuse me too.)

Japan is pretty good for Lego. Department stores all stock a reasonable selection of current sets, and Bik Camera and Toyrs'R'Us have larger selections. There are also several Lego outlet stores — two within a reasonable train ride's distance of my city — and they have near everything. Independent toy shops tend to have little or no Lego, however, sticking to non-imported toys like Gundam models and trains.

It's the name of a somewhat obscure cartoon character in Japan, a racoon small enough to fit in your hand (which is basically what the name means in Japanese). It's the only nick I have that's not usually already taken on English-language forums. :) I'm currently out of my second Dark Ages and on a new Lego kick. We'll see how this one goes. :)

I can't decide if mine's really lame, or just silly in a good way. I'm digging that purple brick, at any rate. Man, what is that thing? A tie-dyed griffon?

Hi from a Canadian living in Japan. I'm mainly posting this so I can see what my user number is. I like the photographic set reviews here, both new and old sets. Keep 'em coming!