blueandwhite

Kasabian - Me Plus One. Sitting on a computer is always better when listening to music.

Honestly, as an AFOL I find some of these images quite compelling. Personally, I don't find these images to be offensive whatsoever. If anything, I find it flattering as a LEGO fan to see young artists and advertising students making use of the LEGO brand to offer social commentary. If you walk into any college with a graphic design course you're bound to see something similar. Sure, the brand might be BMW, Apple or IBM instead of LEGO, however this kind of imagry is hardly unique (or offensive). If anything, these images just go to show you how popular and iconic the LEGO brand is in contemporary society.

Fleet Foxes - Drops in the River Waiting patiently for the release of The Hazards of Love by the Decemberists.

As a castle fan, this year's offering has been like no other; a plethora of peasants, knights (including a guilded fellow), and a queen. The fact that we're seeing alot of two-sided torsos is an even bigger plus. Allthough we've had some amazing minifigs in previous years, the sheer quantity of interesting figs available this year is without equal (IMO of course). This is a great year for LEGO fans.

I'd prefer to see existing elements available in a greater variety of colours. Honestly, there are so many fantastic colours out there (dark brown being a great example) that simply don't come in a wide range of useful elements. This is absolutely infuriating! As much as I'd like to see a few new elements (the aforementioned 1x3 tiles for example), I feel that the shortcoming of certain elements in sertain colours is a far more pressing issue. Also, in these hard economic times I would imagine that producing a large number of new molds would be less cost effective and I'm hoping LEGO doesn't end up becoming obscenely expensive in the near future. More colours for me please !

Looks like I'll pick up the Drawbridge. to score the same minifigs on Bricklink would probably come pretty close to $40 anyhow so I might as well grab the extra bricks that come with the set. Another jester never hurts, and this one looks like he has a reversable head!

I see army-building as beeing akin to bragging rights. Some fans really like to show off how big their collection of figs are. For many other fans such as myself, this sort of thing just isn't that appealing. I'll always prefer a great MOC to a display of generic figs lined up on baseplates. For me real bragging rights come from the production of a mind-boggling MOC so the appeal of army building is quite limited. I've personally never built something as impressive as that, but for me it's those true master-builders that stand out as being truly impressive. A great MOC speaks to an impressive talent; a large army speaks to a deep wallet.

I'm not really theme-specific when it comes to my purchasing habits. While I build almost exclusively castle-related MOCs, I simply buy sets that appeal to me as sets (UCS Falcon, Corner Cafe etc.) or sets that provide a great source of building materials. I'd rather focus on what I feel to be high-quality sets rather than completing a specific line. Almost every line has something worthwhile.

Despite the absence of a motor or tracks, this is easily the most attractive train set to date. More important is the fact that it seems to be priced reasonably across most territories making it an absolute steal for train fans. In these tough economic times where people are tightening their purse strings it is nice to see LEGO put out an affordable train. I figure LEGO will probably sell the motor and track separately though I still wonder how fans will receive a new system. The 9V system seems to be the standard amongst AFOLs. Perhaps LEGO is trying to appeal to fans by allowing those fans who have been collecting 9V trains for years to convert their engines without having to purchase the new train system. A fantastic set from the one company that I trust will continue to deliver the highest quality despite the recession.

This is an amazing little set. Definitely one of the nicer castle sets produced. I really love the colour choices and the figure selection. The only thing that irks me is that the blacksmith's shop doesn't have any stairs to access the completely enclosed second floor. Despite this design quirk, I think this is a definite must have for castle fans.

I prefer the appearance of the Brickforge cow as it fits better with the classic horse. I certainly don't want to see new horses either as it would require me to replace the 100+ I already own. That being said, I'm something of a purist so I don't use non-LEGO parts in my MOCs. As nice as the Brickforge cow is, it isn't LEGO and that makes it a hard sell to me given that we have an official part in its place.

I've always been partial to the original Lion Knight Barding. Allthough it is only two-toned, it manages to be one of the most impressive patterns LEGO has employed. Perhaps my preference stems from the fact that the piece looks more like a Caparison; a cloth covering that was worn over top of the actual barding (armour). I really like the ornamental pattern that runs along the bottom of the caparison. The other designs seem more spartan and significantly less appealing. The newer patterns are certainly more detailed, yet they seem to lack the overall ornamentation that makes the Lion barding so attractive.

I think the major difference that some people overlook is that Europe includes a VAT whereas North American pricing doesn't include tax. I mean, if you strip 15% or so off the European prices in consideration of the VAT, prices aren't nearly as far apart as they were a few years ago. Honestly, while I understand the issue people have with pricing (I'm Canadian so I certainly don't get my LEGO cheap short of Bricklink) I think this issue is something of a dead horse. LEGO has never been one to explain their pricing policies anyhow.

Love the cross-shaped windows. That must have taken alot of minifig legs to pull off. Overall this is an incredible small castle/manor with a stunning level of exterior detail. DNL, I like the fact that you've developed such an incredibly distinct style. It truly stands out from the crowd. Easily one of the best entries for this year's CCIV.

Honestly, with a MOC this scale, a larger landscape is probably more of a burden than a benefit. As long as the moat goes around the castle I think your good. In fact, if you're going to do any more landscaping I would suggest extending the front section out further allowing for a possible seige rather than adding additional width. While seeing the edges of the moat around the castle is nice, it really isn't necessary. Personally, I find that the way an interior evolves can be quite accidental. Planning an interior depends greatly on how each module opens up. Often you may intend to build a certain interior structure only to find that in order to accommodate a certain module you need to build something completely different. Stables can become a dungeon; a kitchen becomes a library; and a great hall finds itself looking completely different than you first imagined. Perhaps this is why I love building interiors. It requires you to constantly reconsider your plans.

Great work! I love timbered buildings, but the stone great hall makes perfect sense and looks fantastic as well. I really like the developments your making. This is easily one of the best thought-out LEGO projects I've seen. I can't wait to see what you've got in store for the interior.

Cheesy? Honestly, how is a yellow/white/black colour scheme cheesy? I understand that people may prefer the colour scheme of the BB over that of the BSB, however I would hardly call it cheesy. The way some people are talking you'd think that the BSB is akin to the old yellow castle when it comes to colour schemes. Ironically, the BSB's colour scheme is about as authentic as one can get. Of course, we're not comparing those ships are we? Honestly, the large skull and crossbones is definitely going to be a sour point with some people as it limits MOCing potential. Where the BSB sails could be used for any ship, pirate or not; the BB sails are limited by the presence of the skull and crossbones. Simply put; the sails of the BSB are more versatile. While this may not be an issue for you, it is understandably an issue for others.

I have a few suggestions. Please bear in mind that I think your work thus far is absolutely stunning. The arches above the windows really need to be tan. Even a plain tan brick would probably be preferable to the grey arches. Having what appear to be stone arches suspended by a timber frame looks a bit odd IMO. Similarily; the stone work above the timber framed great hall doesn't quite work. I'm not sure but I don't think I've ever seen a timber structure that supports a stone wall. Think of it this way; a cottage with a stone foundation and a timbered second floor looks natural. A timbered first floor with a second floor made of stone would probably look a bit strange. Half-timbered interiors weren't particularly unusual on castles however they probably couldn't support the load of a stone wall. I suggest that you either replace the tudor wall with a stone one, or in the alternative you could redesign the roof. I really love your castle this far. Moreover, your willingness to invite suggestions has made this one of the most impressive castle projects I've ever seen. Good work so far .

I still can't figure out why so many of you are down on the BSB colour scheme. For me, the BSB has one of the nicest colour schemes out there. Just because there weren't the same number of colours in 1989 doesn't make the colour scheme poor. Personally I find the dark red/tan/pearl gold colour scheme to be quite garrish. I mean, given that a number of famous ships including the HMS Victory and USS Constitution imploy a yellow/black or white/black colour scheme I can't for the life of me figure out why it doesn't work for the BSB. If anything, the BSB colour scheme is perfect. As for the ships themselves the new BB is certainly better than I expected but the BSB continues to be the best that LEGO has produced. It's shape and cabin design are simply more elegant than any other LEGO ship. I also prefer the old masts. That being said, the new figs are incredible and the pearl gold pieces are going to be very desireable. In the end, the BB is a very worthy ship. I'm not too fussy on the Skull and Crossbones sail as it makes the ship less versatile but I don't find the shape of the skull to be as irksome as some people. Yes, the old one looked better but the new one doesn't make the set some sort of <insert that tiresome argument> monstrosity. Overall, I like BB; just not as much as the BSB.

The ship is actually alot nicer looking than I expected. My only real quip is that the new masts (Viking style) don't hold a candle to the older design. Still, it's hard to quibble about a set like this. It's a nice large set. Sure, it may be pricey but on the other hand it has an absolutely stellar selection of bricks and figs. An easy purchase!

I'm pretty sure that he didn't use any tiles (flat plates) for the water. Look carefully at the water and you will see that they are in fact everyday bricks. A popular trend for castle builders these days is to use a sheet of 1x2 or 2x2 bricks as water. Essentially the builder creates a giant blue wall and lies it on its side building the landscape around it. It's a popular technique because it offers a cheaper way to make a studless surface.

Aniversary set? There's an aniversary set in the pipeline? This is the first I've heard of this. If this is the case, it is indeed good news.

Nice review. Quick question; can the baseplate be stuck on another baseplate? I noticed that there appear to be teeth on the bottom so I was wondering whether this could be placed down on top of a conventional 32x32 or 48x48 baseplate. Also, could technic pins be used to secure the jail/cage to the baseplate? I notice that there are five holes in the plate. Do technic pins actually fit in there (it actually looks like the piece that is used to secure the spiral staircases in place could be inserted in the hole)? Thanks for your review. Good work.

Just because a person is nostalgic for some of the older castle/pirate sets doesn't mean that they love any and all aspects of the line. Given a choice, most builders would probably prefer bricks over a pre-fab piece. That being said, brick-built walls will cost more making pre-fab walls the obvious choice for designers. What many people like about the older sets is the well thought-out designs. Included with the pre-fab walls and hull pieces were many plates (including the now almost unheard of 1x1 plate) and small bricks. It was this ideal combination of pre-fab elements and brick-built parts that was so popular. Compare the masts LEGO now uses with the masts on the old pirate ships. Which ones do you prefer? When you suggest that people glorified the older sets aren't you really suggesting that some people can't see straight because of nostalgia. I'm sorry but I humbly disagree. We all have our preferences and personal favourites. I appreciate you prefer the newer Castle sets. Personally, my favourite sets were produced in the late 80s/early 90s. It's simply a matter of taste.

Do you mean the human Queen or the Troll Queen? I kind of suspect that the human Queen might come with some other set. None of these sets seems to fit well with the figure. Idon't see her as being another damsel in distress (the angry head certainly doesn't fit with that image). Perhaps LEGO has something else in the pipeline.