drdavewatford

I recently acquired 10152 Maersk Sealand, and I was interested to see that there are 3 versions (2004, 2005 and 2006) in the reviews index, although none have been reviewed yet. I've done a quick search but I can't find info clearly explaining what's different about the 3 versions. Anyone know ? And can anyone tell me how I can figure out which version I have ?! The instructions state copyright 2004, but this might be the same for all editions...... Cheers, Dr. D.

What a superb collection - very impressive ! I have my own version of the colour chart (also using 2 x 2 tiles, except for Maersk Blue where a 2 x 2 tile isn't available) which I use for sorting pieces; in bad light it can be pretty difficult knowing if a piece is bley/MdStone or OldGray without a reference to compare it with, for instance. Dr. D.

Another superb variant ! I'd vote for a standard TIE as your next project - I'm really looking forward to comparing it with Anio's beautiful creation which I was pleased to be able to recreate from Oxycrest's instructions and which still sits proudly on display in my house. Cheers, Dr. D.

Nice review ! I bought this set recently from eBay but havent had a chance to build it yet. I believe that LEGO designed 4709 Hogwarts and 4730 Chamber of Secrets sets to fit one on top of the other. Again, I recently aquired these sets from eBay but haven't had a chance to build them and therefore I haven't been able to test this out yet. Does anyone know if the Dumbledore's Office set also attaches to any of the other HP sets ? Dr. D.

Great review ! This is one of my favourite 'official' minis - given the low piece count, I think LEGO have done an excellent job with the design. I also got mine from eBay - not sure whether they were initially given away as part of a promotion or what, but I've never seen them at retail. I was planning to review this set myself to fill a gap in the reviews index, so thanks for saving me a job ! Dr. D.

Well, cavegod, you did it ! Some Eurobrickers seemed sceptical when you started out, but you proved them wrong. I have to say that the finished model is superb. Now all you have to do is produce a set of building instructions and an inventory of parts and we'll all be very happy ! Well done ! Dr. D.

Thanks, Rapseflaps - superb review ! One of my biggest pleasures since emerging from my Lego dark ages is to rediscover the sets from my youth, so your review was particularly enjoyable. I only have the boxes from a couple of my childhood sets - most have been long lost after more than 3 decades. So some of my favourite eBay purchases have been these older sets with their original boxes and instructions. Anyway, nice job, and a cool set. Dr. D.

Seconded. Great figs, but effectively a lazy re-release otherwise, with a new colour scheme to try and pretend otherwise. Sorry to be so unenthusiastic, but this'll be my 4th Slave 1 (not including minis), and as such I would have expected it to improve on what's come before. I'm all for remaking older ships if they can be improved with more pieces, new pieces or just better design, but this is just 6209 all over again with a flash paintjob and new figs. Shame. On the upside, however, a(nother) top review by CopMike - many thanks for that ! If 6209 is anything to go by, the eBay resellers out there will probably want to pick up a few copies of this new set, hold on to them until the set is discontinued, and then sell, sell, sell. The 2 awesome and unique minifigs (the much improved Boba Fett and the brand spanking new Bossk) plus the excellent carbonite 'tomb' will see to it that they make a hefty profit. Have you seen the eBay prices for 6209 ?! Dr. D.

Nope - probably means you have a REAL life..... :-)

"Hindsight" gets my vote ! Dr. D.

jonwil, when you say that you're using "clear A4 sticker labels", do you mean transparent or just plain white ? I have a number of really old sets where the stickers are horribly dirty/discoloured/peeled. I've seen pics of the sticker sheets for various sets, and I'd love to print them out so I can make new stickers for these sets, but I'm not entirely sure what to print them on. For some sets, printing onto white backgrounds would work, but for others it'd be much better to print onto some kind of transparent medium. Advice gratefully received ! Dr. D.

The Winter Toy Shop sets are still on sale, at least at the LEGO store in Milton Keynes UK - I saw them there less than a week ago. Not sure if you have a LEGO store in Okinawa, however ! One of the best things about Eurobricks is that it reminds me that I'm not alone !! I used to know of no other adults with even the slightest interest in LEGO, and never imagined that there might be others like me with hundreds of sets of which probably half are still MISB (mainly due to lack of time to build and display space), but reading the replies here it seems that there are many of us with the same issues and the same unopened collections ! Even though I'm predominantly a Star Wars collector, the only sets which I HAVE to build and can't leave sealed for more than 5 minutes are the modular buildings. It's a combination of the sets being absolutely superb, plus I think they're easier to display - I can line them up along the back of my desk in a logical and tidy fashion. I have various sets which are up to 40 years old and still sealed, and yet Grand Emporium was bought less than a week ago and is already open and under construction. Man, the modulars are great ! Dr. D.

Some excellent comments, particularly from davee123 who covered most of it for me. Another factor is how LEGO discontinues its sets, sometimes quite quickly and without any warning. I got burned a few times - I'd see a great set at retail, plan to buy it at some point (e.g. Eiffel Tower), and then it'd be discontinued and I'd be 'forced' to buy from eBay at a premium. Now I've learned my lesson, and rather than pay top dollar down the line for a set on eBay, I'll buy the sets at retail even if I know I won't have the opportunity to build them for a while, so I don't miss out. Dr. D.

This is not just a random error - as I said in my original message, others buying this set have found the same extra minifig head, e.g. dunamis, who posted his review of the set to Eurobricks, found one also (photo of the rogue fleshie head on page 2 of the UCS MF review thread) dunamis UCS MF review When I read his review last year I assumed it was a random error. Then I got my set and found an extra fleshie head in mine as well. Bizarre ! Dr. D.

Superb job, Svelte ! The model is gorgeous, and the mosiac wall a work of genius - I didn't know that headlight bricks could fit together like that. Dr. D.

Related to this topic is the fleshie smiley minifig head that came with my UCS Millenium Falcon. It doesn't belong with any of the minifigs in the set, and I believe that it is a standard part of the set as others have also received the same extra part in their sets. Anyone have any idea why LEGO include it ? Dr. D.

Sorry, Svelte, but looking through the replies it seems that a few Eurobrickers still don't get it..... Dr. D.

I note that Rufus' recent Herculanean reviewing efforts have now been frontpaged - nice one, Bonaparte, and richly deserved IMHO ! Reviews (and sets) as good as those need maximum exposure. Dr. D.

I've never seen these during my visits to the LEGO store in Milton Keynes (UK), but the store off Michigan Avenue (Chicago) always has a selection when I visit. I'll be visiting the Milton Keynes store soon to pick up Grand Emporium so I'll ask why they don't ever seem to have any grab bags. D.

This is great - I can't wait to try these techniques, although I may need to invest in a graphics tablet first.... Photoshop seems to have such a bewildering array of options that it can be intimidating; nice to have someone walk me through the steps. Sorry if I missed it, but do you use Mac or PC ? I guess some of the menus are slightly different between the versions, so it'd be nice to know which version you're using. Thanks, D.

Thanks for the responses, guys - makes sense, and seems fair enough. Certainly logical that timing plays a big part. It's entirely reasonable that the PoP sets are in the spotlight right now - there does seem to be a lot of interest around them, and they look a lot better than I expected. Keep up the good work ! Dr. D.

Guys 'n' gals, Genuine question here - how do the mods decide what to front-page on the site ? I ask because while reviews of highly anticipated new sets of all themes and stunning MOCs obviously make the front page, I also regularly see what I consider to be nice but not outstanding MOCs and also reviews of older (non-Star Wars) sets on the front page, while epic reviews such as Rufus' recent Star Wars UCS reviews of the Snowspeeder and Y-Wing don't get the exposure they deserve IMHO. The same could be said of some of Big Cam's superb Star Wars reviews of a few months back which were at least as good as the non-Star Wars reviews that were front paged but never got the glory. I'm not looking to be controversial or cause offence - I'd also like to add that I think Eurobricks is an outstanding and invaluable site, and that this is a very minor point, but I am curious. Cheers to all, Dr. D.

Another awesome review, Rufus - well done ! This is one of my favourite sets, so it's wonderful to see it given such a loving and detailed review. If anyone out there is wondering whether to pick this set up from eBay or Bricklink then wonder no more.....go buy it - you won't regret it ! Dr. D.

Awesome review, Rufus - nice job ! I just LOVE the UCS sets, and I think that this is an excellent example. The attention to detail is wonderful. My only criticism is the stickers. I bought my 10129 second hand from eBay and the stickers had already been (poorly) applied. I hate the way they traverse multiple pieces, and long for printed pieces instead. Superb otherwise. Dr. D.

Like the design, colours and use of a light brick. Thanks for the nice clear review. This is so reminiscent of the Indiana Jones "Temple Escape" set it's spooky. No doubt now when the Indy theme went - it metamorphosed into PoP ! Dr. D.