Cavannus

Actually you're right, I lived in France for 30 years (!) and there are a lot of shoemaker shops, bakeries, bistros, etc. that are very narrow! For me CC and GG look European rather than North-American -- but not exclusively --, while the FB is typically in the US. So will TLG break the line and offer buildings from various areas? After all this would not be a barrier for fans who collect who of them! The CC seems to take place today, but the GG features a guy with a top hat, so it takes place in the 30's like the FB. It's the reason why I think Lego will continue this line. But I wouldn't care either if they offered modern buildings because as you say, we can imagine that the truck is for parades, etc. Fixed! Thanks :)

Of couse I do agree that a fourth building would be nice, but I agree too that there is a strong risk of a lack of variety -- or something like a "patchwork" effect. Smaller buildings with 16 x 32 plates would be affordable and flexible, but they wouldn't fit in terms of scale (it's one of the reasons why I didn't get the Market Street). One more 32 x 32 building would add too much regularity, so I wonder if a private hospital or a school on 32 x 32 plus 16 x 32 plates would be great -- and what about the price? Or a 32 x 32 cinema would be great to break the line! Anyway let's keep in mind that it's supposed to take place in the 30's -- so let's forget cool things such as a supermarket!

- Red, green, and white palette - Round logo, almost circular - Red & green shapes with a white transversal "L" line in the middle - The logo is relatively small, as high as the letters, and immediately on the left (not all companies use this layout: some have small letters below the logo, others have the label within the logo, etc.) - Two syllables and similar letters (O, T, C,...) - Red sans-serif font The Octan logo might be the new Castrol logo, people would recognize it. For me "plagiarism" is NOT pejorative at all in this meaning. As I said twice, I find Lego logos very well designed and in this case, Lego achieved to create a logo that looks completely real but is fake. English is not my mother language, I should have used "inspiration" or "tribute". Peeron call it "Royal Mail Horn Pattern" but it looks like the Danish, Norwegian, Spanish -- and other? -- post logos. So, once again, a generic but very credible logo.

Oooops, I'm feeling sooo stupid because I realize that I've always thought that Octan was an existing oil company*!!! It's the reason why I didn't add it to my list. Well, here's a proof that their logo is realistic, but I do find it's very close to Castrol, almost a plagiarism... * I don't have a car so I've never paid attention on that, but I feel really stupid anyway!!

Aawsum: I updated the picture! It's true that horn for post, flying animal for airlines, or weat for tractors are somewhat generic and immediately understood (except the railway company). They also apply on domains on which children have a poor impact on parent's decision, compared to oil companies whose partnership is interesting for both parties (children will ask they parent to stop at Shell because they have an Shell set or minifig).

You truck is very nice and would take place in the set. Wow!!

I've never seen any green sidewalk -- even in the smallest villages --, so I definitively vote for grey. Light vs. dark grey depends on the vehicles you have the most, since light grey roadplates fit 4-stud vehicules why recent dark grey roadplates allow 6-stud trucks & buses.

Hi, I didn't find any topic about this, so I create this one: have you ever noticed how Lego logos match real life's ones? Plus there are existing logos printed as is, such as Shell, Octan, etc. By the way, I've always found funny that they could use both Lego and BNSF logos on the same train: would you imagine a train engine that would have the logos of two railway compagnies printed? I wouldn't, but Lego dit it! Is it for fun or to make sets more realistic? I assume they do not want to build partnerships about "everyday" services such as transportation or post office, as they do for "sensitive" markets such as oil compagnies, so they create "generic" logos that are similar to well-known ones and they look realistic, not toyish. Creating a logo is a very hard job -- and I think Lego designers make it very well. These logos could be used for an existing compagny and they would work very well -- I especially think about the recent airline logo, I love it more than Phoenix or any other one. Do you have other examples?

I think the initial costs for a re-release would be too high to make 9V-track price attractive, so 9V fans will prefer to buy used tracks on BL/eBay rather ran buying more expensive new tracks on S@H... :/

Store each set/moc (even the smallest) individually in a plastic bag, so that you will be able to reassemble them easily if they break. That makes a lot of bags, which means a good primary protection against shocks! Then add a lot of crumpled newspaper between the plastic bags than contain your sets/moc, and put it into large boxes.

Unfortunately I think the "old" brick might be replaced progressively by the new one (while the "old" molds become worn). Managing two similar parts has a significant cost (due to errors, multiple references, etc.) and Lego have tended to replace solid studs by hollow studs (on round bricks, etc.) for several decades. Furthermore, this round plate is used most of the time: - either between two other bricks, so there is no reason to keep the two versions of stud; - or as decorative element, and the new one may be as nice as the old one so why keeping both? Let's wait and see!

It worked for me too. Maybe your Internet provider's DNS sever was down, so you should define another DNS server in your settings.

I carry my work Mac Pro laptop and it just fits (not that easily but not hardly either). The bag's quality is medium and there are only two internal pockets without zip. So don't expect a great bag, you should consider getting it because it looks cool & afol!

About the Vintage Minifig Vol. 4 Classic soldier: - I like it, they should have done it before! - But why did they choose a rare minifig instead of one from the common #375/383/677 sets? (This torso with this helmet only came in the Castle Mini-Figures set.) - This was released in 1979, not 78! Classic spaceman: - OK, blue, we've all expected it since the previous volumes offered the other colours. - Same issue as previous releases: the helmet is the wrong one, they lost the moulders, etc. Blacktron pilot: - Yeah! excellent choice, it's a significant minifig in Lego's history -- at least more than postmen or chefs! - It's a nice design that could match recent sets (e.g. SPIII). Forestman: - Good choice as well as a significant step in the Castle line. - I read two years ago that Lego wouldn't produce plumes due to high costs. Then they made a new version last year (e.g. in the Medieval Market). They they will produce this one, I am happy that they finally decided to offer plumes! Santa Claus: - A city minifig is expected, so here you are! - This one is pretty and can be added to a modern city. So, I will probably buy this set, even if I didn't buy the previous volumes. Will see...

I can't understand how Lego could make this piece: Is it supposed to be a flat rectangle object? Otherwise, why not designing minifigs, horses, threes, buildings, etc. like that, i.e. using a tile with a printed pattern??

I've experienced the same issue, I don't know if it's a question of delay or wrong signal or anything else. I don't know if they will fix that issue as I wonder if it is due to the RC or the receiver; I may exchange my RC depending on that. I think Lego will keep the same moulds, otherwise our RC will be collectors! Lego has made RCs for a while (even in various shapes) but electric devices are not their core market, so I can understand that something like that happened.

I live in Canada, so thanks for this news! My RC doesn't heat, so I'll keep it. I suspect a short-circuit somewhere due to the manufacturer, this RC seems to be nothing else than a standard RC with a Lego-stud body!

Oooops, you're completely right, the Spirit Of St-Louis didn't have any front window nor rear wheel. Anyway, I think a standard Ryan M-1/M-2 plane would have been a better choice. Less a legend, but more a flexible plan for multiple uses!

Except for nostalgia, I think that most of old 12V trains are too angular and I'm not a big fan of them (of course this system is far ahead of 9V and RC in terms of interactivity). However I like this small shunting locomotive because its angular design match the real design. Furthermore its blue colour makes it original, neither black or red like others. BTW this is an excellent review!

Indeed they bend very easily, but this is not an issue though. Their intrinsic conception in rigid plastic implies that the rail is crenellated instead of continuous (so that you can bend it), which makes the wheels shake. I can't try, but I assume that 9V engine breaks in a few centimetres when not alimented, due to internal resistance.

For those who haven't tested these flexible tracks, you should .

I agree with the size vs. attraction ratio. Lego box sizes follow real set sizes, which is a good ration to make it attractive (you buy something big) without exaggeration (people wouldn't appreciate to get three brick at the bottom of a huge box, and this would costs to much in terms of transportation and storage). This is the same issue with cereal or cookie boxes!

OK, now I understand! I'm French and I've lived in Canada for a couple of years, and in my mind a "typical bus" is white or blue. I can understand that a city bus is yellow -- and this colour is nice --, but my Canadian girlfriend spontaneously interprets this Lego yellow bus as a school bus, then she has to do an conscious effort to see it as a city bus!

In 1977, trans or yellow slopes existed already, and using them would have made the plane more realistic. A third rear wheel would have enhanced playability and design, rather than this ugly black round brick. It's the reason why I voted "below average" even considering 1977's standards. However this set is nice and simple, offering good playability.

When I read that Jamie designed the Grand Carousel, I immediately thought "oh, I'm very surprised, it's not his style at all". Anyway, the program sounds great! I think Lego trains and especially the Emerald Night make perfect case studies because of the specific customer target, the high number of pieces (if the set is not a success, this has a strong cost for Lego, while small impulse sets are easy to sell even in a package) and the technical limitations.