xenologer

Sorry, but I'm in the USA so I don't think the shipping would be fast enough and I dont have any Euros or Pounds to trade either.

I dont see the Astro Fighter's size as a problem, rather, its small so I'll be buying extras :-D ... Especially if it comes with an Android minifig(from Spyrius) like some of the protoype pics show. and actually, I think the Alien Fighter/small Rover is one of the best sets in terms of potential playability. Youve got two vehicles, equally representing the human explorer(conquerer?) and the alien patrolship. I see a potential first contact situation here... who will fire the first shot? or will they try to communicate peacefully? maybe the aliens will interpret the human's drilling operation as a hostile act? yup, fun stuff.

This is not my contest by any means, so I am not the Final Word on this. But in an attempt to mediate... I would suggest that mecha are a gray area; for example in the recent StarTrek Manga (seen it? its fun) the Enterprise encouters alien fighter craft shaped like humanoid robots... I'd argue that a 'humanoid form spacefighter' is probably allowable so long as it is indeed capable of spaceflight (with the associated engines on his back or something) but that ground-based mecha probably don't fit the spirit of what Optimax was looking for...

If we buy these, TLC might get the notion that Space is a marketable theme and put more effort into the next year's models... Notice how the summer ExoForce pics look a lot nicer than last years? Well that could happen with Space too.

Insectoids X-D

Maybe Power Rangers, or Zoids? :-X

link :-P

Its very good however I'm slightly bothered by the doors; they are only held on through the window glass pieces, which looks weak. I supose you could replace their windows with clear 2*1 bricks, like on the front window, which would make them smaller, but also allow more support...

So its all about getting an upper hand over silly impulsive people then. The guy's who didn't put their True bid limit into the proxy system on their first bid. If all bidders are logical though, who each knows his own value for the item and enters his Real limit into the proxy system, then it doesn't really help. I guess the Key point is, not everyone is going to do that... and sniping helps to avoid the impulsive guys.

What good does 'sniping software' do? if all bids are by Proxy anyway? IE, you set your limit and ebay automatically has each person autobid up to that limit, taking turns in order. I mean, even if you don't tell your limit till the last minute, the proxy bid system on ebay's end still makes both bidders bid back and fourth in turn instantaneously. So in the end the timing of when you set your bid didnt matter, its still all about who's limit is higher. Right?

Nice paper About 3/4 of the techniques listed I allow myself to use, the others I consider 'Out of System'. (mostly the stuff involving technic pins going into studholes) And there are 2 very intersting constructions I know, which were not listed... I dont have a camera on me... so lets try and describe them, if someone here understands, feel free to build it and put a picture. Ever wonder the signifigance of the bars on this pieces? Why they are spaced so odly? Well, take two of these cliplights, and put on on each bar (studs facing up, one sticking out on each side) Then rotate them 90 degrees so each one hangs downwards. 3 sideways plates now fits perfectly between them. example: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=171948 This next one, was spotted on someones website -Sorry but I lost it, if you know who you are, Speak Up. Lets you get a solid diagonal SNOT needs: 2headlights O a standard 2*1 XX and the wierd plate w handles: stack em like this: _O XX O_ so theres a headlight brick on the top right of the 2*1 and a headlite brick on the bottom left of it now the plate with handles, will let it's rods fit perfectly into the holes in each headlight at a very unusual, but solid diagonal angle.

Definetly better with 4 legs that Work. Why oh why couldnt they have just done it this way instead... toss out the useless disk shooter, and some of the complicated technic bits that were on the original... and this 4leg version probably comes out with fewer parts too... well actually I dont see 3legs as that big a problem, Provided they are manuverable enough to stay balanced(Shadow Crawler is not unfortunatly). just look at the Striders from HalfLife2 for example.

in the model kit building hobby, I believe it is called the 'sprue' dunno if theres an official lego term for it tho

I can confirm visually that it is not only on the site, but On The Shelf at TRU in the USA. for 25$USD save yourself the shipping cost Argh! Golden Guardian and AR Shipwreck both on-shelf exclusives at TRU and I've already bought the Shipwreck... i guess id better wait a while before spoiling myself with the Golden Guardian...

I have no idea, but maybe... the gray clip pieces are more commonly used than the white round pieces? perhaps theres another set that uses the clip ones, so by switching they can have two products share the same moulding machine on a factory floor? saves cost... Im pretty sure this is true especially for the case of slight color changes; ever notice a bunch of sets will tend to use the same odd part in the same color if they came out near the same time? another thought: perhaps the method used in the prototype, with the white round headlight pieces used to join handlebar pieces was rejected by their 'illegal building methods' comittee? I've always found that particular connection to be rather... 'close' looking, it may not truly fit

I thought that in some of the ToyFair pics there were little namecards next to the models that listed August as the release date...go check that other thread...

Yup I definetly agree with your points on Shadow Crawler's articulation I'm seriously thinking of re-concepting mine... maybe if we take the ball joints from the guns, and relocate them as hip joints on two of the legs it would work better. this of course means the guns would no longer independantly rotate... but i guess having better legs means the body itself could be aimed like a turret of sorts....

A major factor in my not buying it yet... is the two technic panels on the shield. They are Identical pieces; not Mirror image pieces(left/right) This means... that you pretty much have to always use them as a shield... cant use them to make wings or anything like that. Cause you can't get symmetry... aside from that, it looks to have many many big useful slopes; for making Space mocs but honestly... there are many other parts in my collection I should use up first before buying more... lately the fact that I havent had time to use up my own parts makes me pass on new sets.

hmmh I sort by size more or less a small box full of detailed pieces, like car mudguards, snot bricks, 1*1s, minifig accessories a medium box full of slopes and wedge bricks a big box full of plates and beams a big red LEGO tub full of 'standard' bricks and then theres a buncha PaB cups and XPods, which tend to each hold about 100 or so of a single specialized part... for example the old Blue Auto Xpod is full of steering wheels and carseats, for my car-building needs...

interesting I would have expected that Avatar then EF to come before Spongebob Not that I like Avatar by any means :-X , just that it probably appeals to kids... NXT is popular? among ages 9-12?? Thats really surprising, considering they changed it to all Studless technic parts. I would've expected difficulty building and frustration and so on...

aaauuuugh! tempting me out of my monies... checked TRU website the ShipWreck in the sale... brings it down to 20$USD oh shall I buy it? And just the other day I had decided not to buy it, and started work on my own Submarine MOC design... |-/

OK New Suggestion here And I just know you're going to Love it! :-D how about, a "Space Scooter" contest? Tiny, open-cockpit 1 man spaceships designed for EVA/spacewalk operations near asteroids or space stations -specifically Not for atmosphereic re-entry (you'll burn up) (this may not be set in stone... since some classic ones have landing legs and wings...) *but definetly a Different type of vehicle from a SW speeder bike, because it's used in the vacuume of Space

Always nice to have new pics EF Golden Tower looks much better to me now, but I still wont buy it. EF Mobile Devastator look even worse than ever. MarsMission Alien Strike (this pic: http://www.asmzine.com/toyfair07/gallery/L...s/DSC02574.html ) shows some better details than the box pics. for example the Rover cockpit... what I thought was a new door piece on each side is actually, just those flag/wing pieces in white. It's an interesting cockpit design anyway, I checked and surprise, your really can fit a minifig behind that tiny window glass... but i dunno what he's got to sit on... since its all snot-ed...

Personally.... I dont have the resources or time for a SHIP and I dont feel like mechs meh how about a general SpaceFighter contest? and if you want it complicated, add some requirements like: Cockpit must be 'airtight' (not like an F1 racer ship) must have landing gear, optionally make them retract? must have at least 4*4*4studs cube cargo space? oh! heres a point that always bugs me: must have a way for the pilot to get in and out of the ship that doesn't rely on a spacedock ladder truck -like, you can have a ladder, but it must be contained by the ship itself in some way or... pilot must be able to fit in the cockpit without lying on his back asleep? etc... tons of fun ways to narrow down a contest personally, im really liking those last two points, cause lots of space mocs i see suffer from those issues; be a nice way to encourage people to fix it... (now where can i find a nice minifig rope ladder...)

Thanks for the info now the tough one is going to be convincing TLC to send me replacements for a 10yr old set... :-P Ya know, this situation makes me wonder Just how many people own Mint unopened old sets (the kind you keep as investments, not to play) and have no idea if theres a mistake inside or not? and probly will Never know cause they'll just keep it mint :-D