Hobbes

I wasn't, it was an oversized minifig model. Uh... err... *cough*... errrm... hehe... you know... I... uh... *ahem*... I'd... well... I've always liked Canada, you know...

Bought a (near) MIB 6559 on BL. It's all highlandcattle's fault ;-)

Good! Mission accomplished ;-)

The "problem" with RC is that you not only need to modify the model with the motor but with the controlling mechanisms, too. Meaning, you need the special baseplate with the battery holder/receiver. Perfectly shown here and here. With the Xmas train you could only modify the passenger wagon, which is... well... Motorizing it with 9V takes a lot less model modifying. What I remember from browsing through the instructions posted in this thread the motor should easily fit the locomotive or the tender (both use a 3-wheel base). That'd be all the modifying necessary. The rest is tracks, connection cable and speed regulator.

I agree on that one... I don't think the 787 is that bad a choice. It's just very badly done (or wrongly promoted since IMHO it looks more like a "DC-x from the 1950s"). Of course, military planes are more popular but a 787 is a brandnew plane and should attract some attention. I just don't hope it's a "scheme" where a badly designed set would be a basis for arguments like "Since our 787 model didn't do well we decided to not continue a model builder line". I doubt it but since the obvious sell-out of 9V despite promises to keep it parellel to RC trains nothing would surprise me anymore...

Hmm... I had my knights battle over a castle and I pushed my train along on rails. The train circled the castle and went straight through the battle field, though... The new color scheme makes City look like a city. "Back in the day" it was called Town and had more of a happy look... Aquazone had "darker" colors. But the sets were... strange... more like Underwater Blacktron or something...

Well, believe it or not, I do know that site, but that's not the point because... ... it would help if I needed additional pieces. I got a half-defective piece, though, and I want it replaced. I don't see why I should pay for that... Thanks for your suggestion, though ;-)

True. Just thought I'd mention it. It is possible to start with 9V now, though. Ebay will have 9V accessories for a long time, just look at 12V stuff. But you have to "know your way around LEGO resources". For the occasional buyer it's not the right choice. Given their quality they should be on ebay one day after you buy 'em and recognize the quality >:-) Yes. No. They're more expensive, though. In Canada the regular price for 8 track is CAD 17.99 which is pretty good (only the US are cheaper at USD 12.99). It's hard to find a better per piece price on ebay. If you do, though, take it. Here in Austria the regular price is out of the question (EUR 17.49) so ebay or BL are your choices.

At least they wouldn't have problems with "curves" on that one...

Depends on what you want to do: 1. With one of those new packs of tracks (8 curves/8 straights) you have a decent oval to push it around. That'd be the cheapest way. 2. I read somewhere that RC equipment will be available seperately but I don't know which (motor, receiver, control...). Depending on which it will be you could make it RC. That's the not-so-sure-if-possible-at all-and-if-how-expensive way. 3. The most expensive way would be to buy 9V track, a 9V motor and a speed regulator. It's the most fun way, though. 9V accessories are still available now, but who knows what fall/winter will look like...

Interesting. Looks like a christmas train. Set number and box design fit 10177. The color scheme... needs getting used to... but a steam engine, 4 wagons (including the tender) and 7 minifigs make quite a big set...

I'd like to see a design like 4896. "Sleek designs" are possible, the pieces already exist...

Well, sometimes not even that helps: Airbus A380. It's way larger and looks better than 10177, but I don't really like it, either... Planes seem really hard to build...

That's not quite correct. They did use basic bricks, which is good. But they used a horrible design for the nose. With today's pieces and SNOTing technique this set should have been way better. This plane looks more like an old DC-something... If I had come up with this it would be a good set - 'cos I'm not talented. If LEGO comes up with this in 2006 it's an insult. I know the 787 is a difficult plane to build. But if it turns out too hard to do - don't do it, it's not a shame, not even for a professional LEGO designer. I do like the wings, though...

Well, that I don't mind. I've always liked Boeing better than Airbus...

The way I see it you can post without having an account at LUGNET: Step 1 Step 2 (click yes and you get to the news form) hth

SDCC? It was posted on legofan.com last Thursday. So it was actually before/during the convention but not at the convention, you're right.

Duh ;-) I don't have room for 100 yards distance to my shelfs to make this one look good. Even the "old" model teams looked better. I'm being harsh, this one's a mis-design, it so doesn't look like 787...

That's supposed to be the dreamliner??? Way too blocky... looks like a plane from the 50s... in 2006 they should be able to design it better...

I am not a gamer at all, either, but I like the custom guns on brickarms.com *wub* Found that site checking out brikwars. My police force can use a few of those...

Happy birthday! Have a very nice day... each... ;-)

Good topic :-) I managed to get 6560 in quite good condition last year on ebay, and I, also, think the sets look great. Especially the way they were set up for the catalogs in those "half over water", "half underwater" displays. The tan baseplates gave the theme sort of a "diving in warm, turquoise, caribbean waters" feeling. That's why I prefer it to Aquazone which has a deep sea feeling. While that would be ok for me I didn't like the sets Aquazone had. Too "futuristic" somehow. I don't know how long Divers existed but I'm sorry I missed it. Now I plan to let my 6560 divers explore a wrecked Skulls Eye Schooner. Haven't gotten around to set it up yet...

I just saw that they have a 00800 number for Austria... ... so I guess they pay. But I don't see the point in calling. If they offer service by web/e-mail I expect it to be handled the same as phone calls. And I can't attach a picture to a phonecall, and I don't want to hang on there for half an hour explaining what piece I need or spelling the part number or my name and address.

Well, I contacted LEGO Direct again. I was polite, I said "please", I said "thank you", I offered to send the wrong pieces back, I included a picture(!) of the required piece and the LEGO part number(!), I included the instructions step it's used in, and last Friday, a week later, I received another "letter": 1 axle 4L 1 axle 6L 1 axle 8L 1 axle 10L 1 axle 12L Summed up I do have my 32L axle now. I still haven't gotten the instructions, though...

Well, my vote goes to 590, the overall look did it. It's just how I picture a classic fire station. I like that 374 came in yellow but somehow a LEGO fire station has to be red, so 590 made. Both use doors that are pretty rare now, as are the round trans-blue round 1x1 bricks. I didn't have a fire station as a kid but I've always liked 6382 which I finally found on ebay in a pretty good condition about 2 years ago. I also own 6385 which is not as charming as 6382, though. 6389 looks pretty cool and modern, maybe too modern for me. With 6571 I like the truck most. 6554 and 6478: :-| 7240 has the potential of a good fire station if it were bigger. Two sets would make a good station, I think.