Sammael

It was likely this one: I still have the vast majority of pieces, too.

Great review. I've come to realize, however, that the bulldozer is a bit too big for my taste - looks to be 22 studs wide and longer than that, which means it's more than twice the width of the newer planes, which I already consider oversized! Oh well. Off my want list it goes...

Thank you for a wonderful review! This set costs close to $200 in Serbia, so if I decide to buy one, I'll have to import it. It does look very much like the classic 1980s modular castles, and I do need a base of operations for my Crownies, so I'll likely get it sooner or later. Is there an easy way to connect it to the tower from 7037 Tower Raid (which I do own) and the pier from 7029 Skeleton Ship Attack (which I intend to buy)?

To the scorpion pit with him! (whoever gets the reference deserves a cookie)

1) SlyOwl 2) Hinckley 3) Captain Greenhair 4) Phred

I can't open the PDF :(

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/WEELEAN76/2009/6754.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/WEELEAN76/2009/7638.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/WEELEAN76/2009/7639.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/WEELEAN76/2009/7641.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/WEELEAN76/2009/7642.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/WEELEAN76/2009/8402.jpg

If the Castle Advent Calendar was anything to go by... Day 1: Imperial soldier with rifle Day 2: Guard post with Imperial flag Day 3: Imperial weapon stand (sabre, pistol, backpack) Day 4: Pirate Day 5: Pirate weapon stand Day 6: Pirate Day 7: Imperial officer Day 8: Cannon Day 9: Ammo crate Day 10: Imperial sailor Day 11: Barrels and jugs Day 12: Raft Day 13: Food crate Day 14: Pirate captain with parrot Day 15: Crow's nest with monkey Day 16: Shark and fish Day 17: Tavern table Day 18: Serving wench Day 19: Large barrel Day 20: Tavern counter Day 21: Barkeep Day 22: Island with seashells Day 23: Pirate skeleton Day 24: Treasure chest Day 25: Christmas palm tree

I asked for S@H to extend its services to all countries.

No, for $5, you get a chance at winning the pieces in a raffle (winner will be randomly determined from all those who gave $5 for the chance to participate).

Brilliant! How long did it take to build?

OK, I added an avatar. EDIT: It worked!

Fantastic bus! With a few (very minor) changes to reduce the brick count somewhat, I could see this as a commercial TLC set - with 3 minifigs and a small bench accessory, same price range or slightly more expensive than 7733 Truck & Forklift, for example.

Thanks very much!

I saw that, but I really don't see why someone else doesn't at least post some photos while we wait for an Academy-Approved Review .

So... a bunch of people bought it, and no reviews yet? Or photos? Color me disappointed...

Sure, why not. Count me in.

Wrap-around for me as well. In general, I prefer buildings with all four walls which can open in some way for added play value (e.q. my Forestmen River Fortress, 6077).

I measured the width of a trolley on my way to work today... to be realistic in size (minifigure scale), it would have to be 12 studs wide (windows on both sides - 2 studs, 2 rows of 2 seats - 8 studs, a gap in the middle - 2 studs).

I'm looking into purchasing 7893 at some point, and I'm wondering which runway baseplates will work with it? I have the 6392 Airport (which I intend to expand and turn into a large airport), but I'm pretty sure its runway is too small for this behemoth. Also, does anyone have any comparison pictures, for instance a comparison between 7893 and one of the older Lego passenger planes? Thanks!

4-wide cars, 6-wide trucks. I don't know why exactly, but 6-wide cars look too big to me (even if they are more to scale with minifigs).

44% total tax is... well, nothing compared to European countries. In Serbia, our monthly income tax+social security+healthcare is somewhere around 65%. If your total annual income is about 20,000 USD or more (the exact figure changes every year), you get hit with an additional income tax for making so much money. </sarcasm> VAT is 18% for most goods (this is roughly the equivalent of the US sales tax). Property tax varies, but is not included in the above figures. In total, I think the last estimate I've seen stated that for each dinar (our currency) we earned for ourselves, we paid another 1.3 dinars to the state... and I know there are EU states where this figure is much worse. And yet, even though our average salary is somewhere around 400 EUR/month (about $550), Lego here costs even more than it does in the EU. If I import from the US, I'll end up paying less even if I get hit with a full customs fee+VAT (about 30% total), including shipping! By the way, the retailers here aren't at fault, since there are at least three different ones who import Lego, and their prices are all within a couple of cents of each other (their prices vary a lot more when it comes to other toy brands). We are not a big market, and we are a poor country... but I can't help but think that Lego would sell a whole lot more here if we didn't have to pay such ridiculous prices. I'm not expecting US prices, by the way... Recent example: looking at s@h prices, 7744 Police Headquarters costs $90 in the US and £50 in the UK (about $90). It can be bought from German eBay for 70

Hi Adrian! Thank you very much for the detailed reply - I'll pass this information to my friend and ask him to check the shopping centres. I think he usually stays in Romania for a week or so, so Varuna may also be an option.

I'm not certain, but I think I got my first Lego sets (Basic) around 1983 or so, when I was 4 years old. I very much doubt that Lego was available in Yugoslavia at that time, so I imagine my mom must have brought it from one of her trips abroad. I know I was hooked instantly, and continued to receive new sets until 1991 or 1992. That's when my "Dark Ages" started, I guess, and I didn't buy anything new until this year. I somehow mysteriously ended up with set 6431 from 1998 in my collection... I have no idea how it got there, my best guess is that I saw it at an airport duty-free shop somewhere during 1998 or 1999 and bought it for old times' sake. Anyhow, I am quite glad my childhood collection survived pretty much intact (I did not lose a single brick - amazing - although a few pieces were broken or miscolored when I pulled them out a couple of months ago). I placed my other hobbies on the back burner for the time being and I'm focusing on Lego now.

LEGO is quite expensive here in Serbia, but I have a good friend who frequently travels to Romania on business, so I was wondering how do the prices in Romanian toy stores compare to the ones in S&H? Any recommendations for good toy stores in Bucharest and/or Timisoara?