Alternator

That is rather amazing! I'm very envious... Both those sets are great and at that price point too. What kind of condition are they in?

I actually love how this looks now that its built so im very happy with the purchase. But as others are noting there are several problems with this set. The cape is too short and so does not attach properly. The legs are a bit thin and some gaps here and there which the cape hides. I actually am considering asking a sewing crafts friend to make me a new cape, and also wondering if mods can make the legs look a bit more impressive... It is Lego after all

Do you know how people in New Zealand were coming by this, I have just received a largish order (placed on the weekend) from one of the major local online/store retailers for Lego in NZ. But sadly there was no polybag inside. Edit: Nevermind I just found it. It was the other major lego seller in NZ, and happened in store over the weekend. And it sounds like they had a grand total of 50 of the things to give away...

I'm getting this set - though (based on the pictures) I think they made a bad call with the grey parts. And I don't really get it since Luke seems to have black leg parts, why the greys for Vader... I'm almost wondering if grabbing a luke to swap in some blacks in those places would be a good idea or not?

I don't know about the set, but if buying from the official lego online store you won't be hit by customs as i believe they pay gst... At least i've never been hit by a customs bill for tlg orders.

Maybe, in the sense of trying to have a complete collection... But as a fan I see more upside than downside (particularly based on the leading theory that it didn't replace a new WV set). I was ecstatic when they updated the UCS X-Wing a couple of years ago... I'm sure many fans will be ecstatic if they update the UCS MF as well

Toy World are having another round of discount coupons starting today till end of the weekend (same as the one they had a few months ago)

It's fascinating. Looking at the comments, more or less it seems like people are in agreement that a totally new wv set would've been preferable. But how many people think that tlg are in the business of making bad decisions? I don't know whether or not this set is the optimal thing to have done, but it probably was based on the data tlg would have at the time that decisions have to be made. i mean if that isn't the case what would it be? They wanted ot piss off collectors? They couldn't be stuffed to come up with a new design? They were worried people hadn't gotten a set that relatively speaking hadn't been retired that long ago? All of those explanations seem unlikely to me... The one regarding using data available to their business to make calculated choices does seem more likely. Like most i hope for re-releases of old sets, particular the first city modulars and the really old ucs level star wars sets... Well lets hope that J.J put star destroyers and snow speeders as well as the MF in the new movie ;)

Oh... I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this... But does this make for an interesting Eurobricks competition? I mean, take the pieces from the new Winter Toy Shop set and create a different addition for the Winter Village series? since probably a lot of people will want the set for completion, but will want it to be different to the one they already have

At first I'm a bit frustrated by this. We have all the Winter Village sets (I think). But really it kind of makes me a bit more at ease that Lego is willing to revisit sets - even ones that aren't even that old! (was still available end of 2011, and 2012 in some places) I think most of us have missed key sets in themes that we'd like to have in our collection... For me I'd hope the same treatment happens to the first two sets in the City Street Modulars... And also the early UCS type Star Wars sets (Star Destroyer, Snow Speeder, and the non play version of the Rebel Blockade Runner)

Well, now that our dollar has dropped large amounts, does anyone have any insight on what's going to happen to Lego prices for us in NZ? Either for new sets, or existing ones that already have a set RRP? So far prices seem to be tracking where we're used to from what I can see (the new Ideas sets seem to have jumped up in price, but I note that's also the case for the Americans as well).

Toy World are running a 40% off on ultra agents sets. Possibly other lego too??

Me... But then I'm not on facebook - i'll have to check the page out at least

Thanks, i get the emails but probably wouldve missed that one as they get buried. I picked up the technic race car. 300 is a good price for that Volvo, almost makes me wish i didnt already have it... Opps looks like its sold out now

Congrats :) I was just about to post about the sale. Yeah it looks like a lot but not all exclusive stuff has moved so it's definitely worth checking what is available... Makes me a bit gutted I didn't wait on the Slave set, but I suppose I didn't do too badly overall.

I think most people blinked and missed it, but it will have most likely been $300 at most

That's a bummer - when I travel around different cities I try to check out the Toy Worlds for Lego, mainly to see how well they stock the range. Hamilton despite having only the one store I've found to be very good as far as getting stock. They get nearly all the exclusive stuff in if only for a time, on the flip side it's very unlikely to have an out of production older set, anything like that which might have interest just wont stay on the shelves these days When I first came out of dark ages it wasn't like that... As an aside, you can utilise the 20% coupon online - I know they did have those two sets available online from a few weeks ago - just looked though not good news sadly

Toy World has a good sale on starting today till Sunday. Basically it's a coupon thing with: 20% and 25% off any one single item. 30% off 1 item under $100 50% off 1 item under $30. I took the opportunity to grab the Detectives Office (so it more or less worked out in the end). I got the coupons in a best buy pamphlet, but I think they're taking care of people in store as well (oh it looks like the 20% discount can be applied to an online purchase as well).

Lego shop is mentioning there will be something, but hasnt specified what yet - i'll be checking the Lego Website on the day, and probably the others such as Toyco and MightyApe

Both sets showed up the other day in fine condition, no denting etc (nit-picky stuff is there was a little bit of scuffing for a few cm on the edge at the bottom of one of the boxes that isn't noticeable unless you go looking for it). Packing was in a large brown box, with air cushions on one side to keep the contents inside sitting snug.

In general they don't, but I know that on rare occasions they have had short sales on those sets; I grabbed the Parisian Restaurant from them at $240 (and the Volvo for $320) last year

What really?! I called them yesterday and they said they had Slave I but no Detectives office (seems a lot of people had the same idea)... Well they lost the sale! I got Slave I from Mighty Ape with it's 13% discount; And I'll probably get Detectives office from Lego online or Toyco if they have a sale on it before May 4th (I'm presuming there will be a tempter to place an order on May 4th with Lego and I'll need a big set to kill the punitive postage charge) p.s. I've bought quite a few sets from Mighty Ape and haven't had an issue (I'll post how these ones turn up - I got the Cooper as well).

No good deed goes unpunished?? (actually I shouldn't say that, I've heard Sylvia Park Toy World is quite good regarding buying Lego there) I know what you mean, I had wanted to get some of the exclusive sets though, which tend to be a bit harder to get a big discount on. Unfortunately they only had one of the two sets I wanted in stock Then I found some stuff I wanted on MightyApe at an acceptable discount price so I picked some stuff up from them.

Seems Toy World are doing a buy 1 get 1 half price sale till end of Monday (27th Apr), could be worth a look if they have two sets that you're interested in at a similar price. In other news, sadly it seems IQToys parent company has been put into Liquidation (according to the IQToys website). I only got a few items from them, but I found them to be good and usually checked if they had the sets I was after.

I love seeing creations like this! Very cool! Though as a worst case scenario kind of guy I noticed that there is a vent flush with the floor below the lego building area. I'll guess not one that you would want to cover - are you able to get pieces out if they fell in?