Peppermint_M

I think it will be at least called a Spartan. I know a lot of people have been calling it a Roman, but as soon as I saw the shield/helmet combo I knew it was truly a Hoplite. Lego are into being educational, so even if they don't get technical he won't be called a Roman. For a start all the kids in my area will know it isn't (Local history had a big chunk of Roman Activity so a museum all about Romans in Caerleon is on the School Trip list). I hope we get the full line-up at the NY toy fair, so we can start speculating on the next lot

Buy set, build set, if set isn't that good but could be improved: mod, if not very good nor improveable through mod: take apart for MOC, may MOC an improved version if set had a cool concept. If the set is hands down awesome, it stays in one piece. Sets stay together as long as I feel like it, sometimes years, sometimes not even hours. Lifespan depends on my not needing parts included in the set. I am the same with my MOCs, some stay together as long as it takes to photograph, others stay until I need a part and my favourite stay until broken by accident.

I wonder what series three will include? Do we have any pictures of the figures that weren't in the Toy Fair image? Will we get a Greek Scholar to go with our Hoplite? I would love for there to be a steampunk figure.

I'll have to check that against some non-Lego. Not being negative but the black one looks a little pitted. Not the shiny standard Lego usualy has, not that it will stop me, just slightly disappoint. Then again it might be the harsh light of the camera.

Wow, major argument ON! Ah well, I have to say I didn't see a thing wrong with my Mace Windu magnet set figure and in fact only noticed the "glaring" plastic issue when I took off his head and noticed no black mark. Upon very close inspection I noticed a minimal difference between it and a regular Lego torso. Then I got my clone brand figures out and thought "These Lego ones are still better quality" the day that Lego matches it's clones is the day I go for the cheaper option. That's a point prof(random stream of numbers), if Lego is too expensive, well I have a list of reviews of non-Lego much cheaper sets, see if there is anything you like? If not we can make you a protest sign and I am sure is everyone chips in a few cents we can ship you to Billund. Seriously guys, these are a kids toy, kids love collectables and these figures have further use beyond just owning (like my FF figures, SD Tachikoma and other varied collectable figures I have accumalated) as they do intergrate with Lego. Parents who do not want their children to have them will say no. Parents who don't mind it will let them have them. Parents who can't afford it will go the same route as mine did when I was a sprog, buy what they can when they can as a treat. And remember kids! Any amount of ranting on the internet isn't going to change the world! (PS, I never did have any of those trading crazes as a kid, Mother and Father knew they were a waste of money and when they controlled the purse strings I had none. Any I own were triples from my friends) I say before and I say again: If you don't like them, don't get them but at least hide your contempt for those who do, it's more polite in the long run.

Thanks and yes, my spelling isn't always top notch, I often use phonetics that results in extra vowles. Then again she could be a source of magic... (Personal Magical Theroy for self written universe).

I took the liberty of updating the index with the handful of new reviews and the extra discussion. Hope you don't mind.

After the Horror that was the Tatco Pirate set, I was alarmed to say the least. Would I find a set that would show clones in a positive light, ever again? Well, Autumn turned into Winter and the Christmas season took off. Hyper Extra Value (a real shop. Honest. It is red) in my local shopping centre suddenly stocked a variety of clone bricks (alongside its ever so useful storage options). Thus I found this Sluban set. SRS Rescue. It is an Orange Truck. That was enough for me. At a very reasonable £4.99 it was a steal. 268 pieces, 5 figures and a mid sized truck. Imported by our friends Ackerman Toys. The stickers announce the Light and Sound element, batteries included as a nice bonus. Now onto the set itself! The parts came in the standard cardboard sleeve all Sluban sets come packaged in. Four Polybags, a sticker sheet and an instruction booklet. Interesting parts include the stretcher, Lights and Siren element, string, hooks, rolling barrel, 8 wide windscreen, turn table and the grey cylinders. The light shines a reddish orange with a simultaneous siren, but only if you hold the button, it cuts off as soon as you let go of it. The stretcher is slightly more detailed than the Lego version, however it is all one part instead of having removable “wheels” (see finished set image). The string is a decent quality polyester weave, the windscreen matches it’s Lego counterpart with only slightly extra curve and the turntable is basically a ‘+’ shape equivalent of the round 4x4 Lego element. The grey cylinders take a stud in each end, which is useful for SNOT building . The instructions were linear and no less confusing than Lego instructions from the 90s and each step came with a parts list. A favourite feature of mine in all Sluban sets is the tool sprue. Here we see a Jackhammer, Chainsaw, Circular Saw, Large Hammer, Wrench and Pickaxe. The Wrench is a comparable element to the Lego large Wrench as is the Pickaxe and Circular Saw. The Jackhammer is slightly larger than Lego’s, which makes it a bit awkward with the figures unless held at an extreme angle. The Chainsaw and the Large Hammer however, are much more elaborate than their Lego equivalent. Extra detailing on the hammer gives it a little more accuracy and the Chainsaw looks very realistic, including two points of grip. These are the figures, three cheerful orange clad blokes ready to rescue the poor civilians from whatever trouble put that look on their faces. Decent quality with the common curved legs, making them incompatible with Lego minifigs. Their helmets have a peg inside the stud, it provides extra grip for the Sluban heads, with their holed head stud, but makes it impossible to put on a standard minifigure without modification. The Finished Set. It’s big, it’s orange and it is an 8 wide truck. The giant light is lime green and the accents are dark grey. It certainly screams emergency response vehicle. The design is reminiscent of 90s town but in a modern 8 wide format. The emphasis on brick built over prefab elements makes it superior to Lego in some respects. The plastic quality and colour are very good, they do feel slightly more plastic than Lego but not in a cheap way. The large grey door on the side escaped the closing problem I had with the Sluban Riot Van. One piece was missing, a single black square plate, however there was an extra trans-yellow plate of the same dimensions so this is a problem even Lego suffers from. In conclusion: This is the best set I have built since the Agents Mobile Command Centre. It’s a lovely truck and apart from a few specialized elements, is fully buildable from Lego. It would make a great addition to any town in orange as a Emergency Response Vehicle or Roadside Rescue. Or you could build it in red for an extra Fire Appliance for your brave Fire fighters. I will scan and post the instructions if anyone is interested

Your souls have no joy. Think back to childhood, where everything possible was a race "Last one there is a rotten egg!" (or variations) plummeting down hills, rushing across the playground or simply to call dibs on a swing or end of the seesaw. Your toy cars rocketed down ramps made from books, trays and large lego boxes. You made racing things out of lego that swooshed and vroomed around the house (even though Lego stays in your bedroom) shedding pilots and parts as they went. This is what World Race will evoke. In small kids and in us big kids. Heck, I am already fiddling around with some parts to make themed finish lines! This has everything I want: Printed Helmets, Unique Characters and Team Colours

Well, I found Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was much closer to the book (In fact Rhald Dhal couldn't abide the mess that the first, misnamed, film was) and rather enjoyed it. It's just fingers crossed for Alice in Wonderland.

Oh my god, Zachy... I'm really scared now. At least I have my knife and plenty of silver.

Are you sure? An example would be the first set of polybags the Daily Mirror gave away. All you had to do was get a 30p newspaper and take it to the shop that would supply the set to you. It was first come first served but they had so many sets (a friend worked in one of them) that there was plenty left. However, a year or so on and a complete set costs three times as much as it did to send off for them at the end of the promotion. Minifig sets cost even more when sold one by one. Not to mention the Star Wars polybags... So what I am getting at is: The figures may not pay dividends right away, when you still have a chance to get them in shops and everyone and his mum has a certain figure. Come next year, or the year after... Well you'd be able to sell them at a tidy profit.

Some information you might all like to know: It is based off both books, Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass. Even the Disney film mixed elements of the two. I am glad that they have more of the characters turn up but I hope it doesn't turn into The Mad Hatter Movie due to the casting. Don't get me wrong, I love Burton's asthetic (I'm one of those goth chicks you seem to dislike) and slight squew from normality he gives his films, but recently his they just seem to be an excuse to cast his nearest and dearest and have his buddy cavort around as a characture of some sort. It still looks(i.e pleasing to the eyes) good though even if it ends up being terrible. I am looking forward to his big screen revisioning of Franeknweenie though

Can we cover the body up? It's making me a little queasy. Um, weren't there statues in here earlier? *edges closer to Zachery*

Brothers Brick is a blog that often announces contests from a variety of different image hosts and forums. I'd advise taking a look there. However many are "members only" contests so be warned that you might have to sign up to a lot of forums to enter!

CP670, I think the absurdity was the argument comparing little trading figures that cost a few dollars, pounds or currency of your choice being in blind boxes and having an element of luck involved to full sized Lego sets that cost $30. The only time gambling is involved with such sets is a raffle or as a prize in a game of chance (Lego Deal or No Deal anyone?). So it did sound somewhat absurd to those of us who still have that little gleam of collecters hope in out eyes. Don't worry, I'm sure when all is said and done and the dust has settled, we can all tot up how much we spent to get what we have and those who just bought one of each from Bricklink can come in and attempt to crow superiority. I think I still very much have a love of collecting by chance. I but trading figures from anime I like (in blind boxes) at conventions and in comic book shops. I still put the odd £1 coin into gatchapon machines (I have six Noojes because I wanted the whole set of FFX-2 gatchapons, I do have all of them though) and I always have a hope that I will walk into a toy shop and find a MISB Zoid at a reduced price (it has happened twice :D). So these figures are perfect for insatiable collectors like myself. I think it would be a good idea for all of us to be "ok" with having armies of odd characters. I want to see some creative uses of them And remember: We have a massive community to trade with, Eurobricks! I don't think its too small a group to have a decent chance at all the figures and I forsee some people out there who will want an army of certain (even unexpected) figures who will be happy to trade thier unwanted ones.

I have my locket Sam, but I could probably add my ring to the list of silver *shows it off*. This whole tour is getting creepier and creepier.

Is this a business venture in making chromed minifig gear, or do you own/work for a chrome plating company/business? Just interested. Those are some fancy looking weapons and really make the minifigures "pop". Fantastic

Thanks everyone :) I do have a small question: Does anyone have an advised GSM for paper when making figure clothes? I just found the paper so fragile. I do have sticky-backed plastic for later projects but it would work out faster and neater if all I needed was a slightly more robust sheet to print on (plus it would encourage me to make an A4 sheets worth of stuff).

Thanks :). I just whip them up in my lunch hour on the PC. I have a few more designs to try for other things.

Clothing would merely diminish my power! more views The cape and skirty/loincloth thing were drawn up in CAD to exact minifig measurements and printed on paper. The skirt is a perfect net and can be removed (though is a little fragile) held together with some double sided tape. The staff is from a Megablocks Dragons battlepack from the tabletop gaming series they did a while back. This is the first time in a long while that I have created custom figure clothing. Hope you like

So, this is about new minifigures, nothing to do with buildable action figures. Keep on topic yeah? Point the second: First hand evidence is all one can use to make a judgement on the quality of figures, save it for the summer or until a fellow LEGO nerd like ourselves gets to review one at a toy fair or own one. These figures all look fantastic and I certainly am becoming impatient for a release date!

Is my knife there? With all this death and doom going one, and grandmother's letters, I think I would prefer a blade on my person to go with the silver.

I have one set in space. I am trying to build a layout and all my spacecraft are part of this universe. I write a lot of stories to go with my MOCs, many of them do not pan out as I would like them too because of new ideas, lack of parts or a change in interests. The Space one has lasted a while, but it is nowhere near finished. Once I have built my first modular building for it then I will post it more.

Just remember, if a part is missing you can get it on Bricklink. I get all OCD-ish when people mix my minifig parts wrongly in the storage boxes (" That is a fleshtone head!!! It goes in the fleshtone box not the yellow one!!!" "That is Castle armour! It doesn't go with police torsos!!!")