Cwetqo

There are two kinds of Registered Legu Useg Groups (RLUG): phyisical RLUGs and online RLUGs. First are "typical" LUGs with exhibitions, meetings etc... and "proper" members. Online LUGs are online sites without typical activites which I mentioned at phyisical LUG, but focus instead more on online communicatio, reviews etc... Online LUGs usualy have staff and followers. In my opinion, only active staff could be considered "proper" members. LEGO or LUGs will not give anything to anyone just for being member. They do (partially support some activities of LLUGs, but differs a lot between physical and online LUGs: Physical LUGs get some support for event (for rewarding those who helped with organising and exhibits) and online RLUG is based mostly on review sets. In any case, asking for discounts or other goodies prior to really doing anything for you LUG is wrong way. Be active, do what you do for the love and of bricks and if you cotnribution will be really substential, you may get someting.

I got confirmation that will be available at "Muller" chain of stores in Germany, Austria and all other countries in which it's present, BUT, the price is supposed to be 350 euro (!?). The source that it's still marked as preliminary, so this may change (I hope it will). Edit: I just saw above that, from another source, price will be 300 euro. Cool!

Thank you! :) Here is the link for Ultimate 8043, a someone asked: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40037966/Ultimate8043.zip

If you have dropbox, you can put it "public" folder and just publishing link. If the file will the way to me, I can do it.

I like it too, for same reasons as bootz, it reminds me of good old classic town. And "juniors" feel is intentional: those are "starter" sets, meant as introduction to the theme, with focus on minifigs (you get four fo 10euro which is not bad) and just a simple vehicle.

It's not "officai" (run from LBR), but most likely "LEGO Certified store", same as in Italy, Hungary etc...

It looks smaller and with lower line. Could be new Porsche 718 Cayman:

Have you guys seen this? It's Uwe Wabra, building what will become 42056.

Yes, they can do that. As a matter of fact, they already did: 75098 was scheduled for relase in october 2015 (by more than one source), but it was postponed to this year, probably to catch some of "may the fourth" frenzy and get at least a little bit help with sales. Than means that TLG most likely anticipated that it will not be recepted that well (long faces of designers on designer video somehow confirm that

Well, I re-checked with Jan and he confirmed that there are indeed 856 steps (he was at step 122 at the time). :) Ghostbuster HQ has 600 steps and Porsche is much more complex, so I guess it makes sense. There is slight possibilty that instructions are not final and number could change, but I doubt it, since first sets must on their way to major reviers or even already at them (judging by Sariel explicilty stating that he will have review ready on june 1st). Sadly, there are no other details about the build or progress pictures. BTW, if we take into account number of pieces, that means a "whopping" 3 and somethig added pieces per step. Not bad, eh... :(

A few days ago there was discussion about which set has the most steps in building manual. Well, 42056 has 856 steps which must be new record. :)

This is most likely pre-production run. I'm sure that final box will be as on video. Not yet. I would not expect them before weekend, since Jan is very busy guy and also not a Technic builder, so it will take a bit more time.

Jan Beyer (TLG community manager for europe) started building it. :)

Ok, I'm not Jim, so I will try to answer it. :) Usualy, reviewers can order sets from TLG one month prior to start of sales. Add about a week for LEGO to process it and send the set and maybe a week or two to assemble the and make a quality review and we come to secod half of the month. Maybe there will be some poor, quickly done reviews before that, but expect the good stuff (Jim, Sariel, Brickset) then or even after june 1st. TLG did reserve the right to send sets before official start of sales, but this is mostly due to licensing demands in some cases (if let's say set would contain spoiler to yet unrelesed movie) and I doubt they will invoke it here. And there is another thing: I just noticed a lot of "exclusive" tags on S@H page for this set and of course it's placed on "exclusive" subpage. I'm afraid that that means a lot worst availabitly that we thought after seeing the set at toy fair (where exclusive set usualy dont appear). Sadly, that means a lot smaller chance of getting it with discount. .

Yes, side by side, colour i more different than I thought at first.

Almost more exciting news is that "Ultimate Technic" will apparently become regular, like UCS with Star Wars or modular houses with Creator. I'm very happy but my wallet is not. :)

If I understand correctly, reveal will be today.

Well, since the "cat is out of the bag", we may say a few words about it. I dont know official TLG reason why it was handled that way, but in my opinion the decision to go over LUGs was to avoid large number of resellers, which in the past seized every opportunity to get special sets (SDCC being prime example of this). If you are a member of LUG and your LUG is registered with LEGO (RLUG), your ambassador should know about it, so please aks him. Selection process inside each LUG is its internal matter, TLG only helped with distribution in areas where there are multiple LUGs in area of each LEGO store. All those selected then got invited to pick invitations in their stores on april 15th. And while you may think that all spaces were immediately full, that was not the case with some stores even not having single applicant, and just few having all spaces occupied. So, the problem is not so much in method itself, but in lack of certain ambassadors to follow postings on LEGO Ambassador Network and communicate (in time) that information to their LUGs. As for TLG, I've been in contact with them about this and there were no official comments about this except that they will certainly learn from it to make it an even better experience in the future. About the set: it's meant to be suprise for atendees, so will not reveal it's contents, but expect something in size of each years SDCC sets (around 160pcs). Global number of produced sets is 3500, same for posters (which are free gift for every atendee, while space slug set is "reward with purchase" of over $150). P.S: there were infos about larger number of invitations being sent to some stores. We were assured that its not true and that each store will accept just 28 atendees. I dont know what will happen in stores where all spaces were not taken, but I heard some rumors (not from TLG or stores) that some MAY be handed to non-LUG members on first-come first-serve basis. It may be worth asking your ambassador and/or you store about it, but dont get you hopes to high, since the numbers are VERY limited (as I said, 28 per store).

That's normal price for 3000 part licensed set with no PF. Unimog was 200 euro and 2000 pieces and this is 300 euro and 3000 pieces. Ok, unimog had one S motor, but that's relativly cheap and it does not mean much and, on the other side, porsche will have a lot of new parts. I'm still sad about PF 2.0, but that's how things are, apparently.

You will not be the only one doing this. :)

They are not. D2C sets are never shown on trade fairs. There is obvious reason for that: main purpose of trade show is that retailers come and see the items in person, evaluate them and make quantinty orders for their stores. D2C is by definition "Direct To customer" and showing sets to retailers is not necessary. True, some "D2C" sets are sold by "some" stores, but is handled over differetn channels (i predict so, I have no personal experience with those).

Wasnt it said that it will be Herbie from well known movies? I hope not.

It does not work that way and it's not the store who decides who gets the invitation. I'm afraid I'm not allowed to share any more details about it, because we were asked to keep it private, but those, who will get Invites, will know it in advance.

Best: spending some time in LEGO vault (in Billund) and taking in hands dreamboxes of my childhood such as Brickseas Barracuda or Airport Shuttle in MISB. Worst: seeing a mountain of Market Street's (10190) and not buying one due to mental note "I will take it next time" (and of course all were gone in few months when I came again)

3x40 is very long and narrow and if you will have just one same tpye on all length (modular-road-park), it will look boring. If I understand correctly, there will be no train? As for minifigures: I think its best to just gather few hundred of all types and distribute and pose them on site.