no_skill

First, they are ALL awesome (although Town Plan is still on my acquisition list). The Modulars are what's holding my interest right now, given the turmoil revolving around the new Pirates line (and the fact I'm a die-hard 9V Train throw-back). All that being said, I have to throw my vote for Fire Brigade. The level of interior detail and playability is superb. I also very much like the tiled exterior facade that gives it a brick/stone-built appearance. Overall, it vies with 10027 Train Engine Shed for my personal all-time favorite structure. The only [very] small weakness I find with Fire Brigade is that it somehow seems just slightly out of scale with the other CC style modulars...but hey, it's LEGO. The scale is close enough; I'm just being nit picky. Cafe Corner was/is an amazing set, clearly breaking new ground both with building techniques and detail. The fire escape of Green Grocer still blows my mind (I like the convenience store too). Market Street rounds things out nicely with a quaint little flat and some neat building techniques of it's own. For my personal fancy, however, top spot goes to Fire Brigade. If you haven't already, get them all while you can. (I'll be following my own advice and getting Town Plan soon.)

I couldn't agree more.

Yes. I sign for a continuation of classic-type Pirates....whole heartedly.

I also think this sums up my feelings well. The main reason I bought (heavily) into the present Pirates line is I figured it would be around for at least a few cycles, and I could finally have a chance to build up my collection. I LUSTED for the Legend BSB when it came out, but ultimately passed on it because there was no concurrent line to support it. Now it is very clear...why bother collecting a line when it's likely to get yanked after a single release? I'll be passing up a lot of cool new stuff now (like the SP III) because I fear they'll just be fad releases with no support or follow-on sustainment. Me no like. Pirates was helping to fill the void left by the disappearance of 9V trains. Wow, and I was just starting to feel it was an excellent time to be an AFOL! Disposable income will go elsewhere, I guess.

Sign me up too.

I'm somewhere in between playing and collecting. Like others, in my childhood I would enact narrative stories with LEGO, sometimes elaborate ones. I would take a vehicle (a very simple one by today's standards) to bed with me and play myself to sleep. Building and arranging was was a means to that end. Now that I am old (40's), I am more focused on the building and aranging as an end to themselves. And yes, collecting is part of that. Luckily, I have children now that encourage me to continue in the roles of narrative play, and enter into their wold of imagination. Once they are grown and gone, I could very well find myself in another Dark Ages....but ahh, I guess then will come grandkids. I wonder what playing will be like with them?

4561 here also. This set gets talked down by a lot of people for not being terribly realistic...It does have huge play value though. Automobiles, a station platform, a service vehicle, cargo--hours of fun as a stand alone set. Not to mention it turned me into a train head, which subsequently turned me into a City fan.

My first Pirate set was this year! It was followed several minutes later by the rest of the present (2009) line up. I missed Pirates during my dark ages, and passed (with much regret) on the Legend addtion of Barracuda....It won't happen again!

Definately a worthy acquisition. It loks great next to GG which looks great next to CC. The courtyard is a great platform for MODing (pun intended). The "double set" mentioned above is a great idea and looks fantastic, even in a thumb nail image...how come I never thought of it?!?! When I purchased mine it was listed on S@H USA as "call for availability." When I called, I was told it was the very last copy they had. Now, where am I gonna find another one?!?!

I am in the same situation as you are. Until someone comes up with a strong reason to replace mine (such as the new ones are better in some functional way), I plan on keeping it.

Fantastic MOD! I also think the fold-out is ingenious. I generally have more fun MOD'ing than MOC'ing...but I must say you've given me added inspiration!

These are my all time favorite sets, and a brief explanation why. A few are from my childhood, and although relatively simplistic by today's standards, will always and forever be my favorites--I still get them out for swoosh sessions today! Favorites: 487 Space Cruiser: The main event of my childhood (sadly, 497 Galaxy Explorer was beyond available means of the era). 951 Bulldozer: I prized this so much as a kid, I was actually hesitant to play with it! 565 Moon Landing: The first set I ever purchased with my own money (age 8). 712 Sea Plane: Doesn't seem like much now, but I took it to bed with me every night when I was a kid. 5542 Black Thunder: The nail in the coffin of my dark ages. 6984 Galactic Mediator: Perfect combination of swoosh, size, and playability. 7191 X-Wing: The start of a whole genre, in my mind marking the beginning of true adult targeted sets. 1001 Metroliner (with 1002 Club Car): No explanation necessary. 10024 Red Barron: Holds up to swoosh better than the Sopwith Camel. 10027 Train Engine Shed: The realism and detail was a stepping stone to the modular Cafe Corner style I'm totally in love with today. Runners-up 6243 Brickbeard's Bounty: Makes me wish I did not miss classic Pirates (dark ages). 10133 BNSF GP-38 Loco 10128 Train Level Crossing 10039 Black Falcon's Fortress: Makes me wish I did not miss classic Castle (dark ages). 10159 Lego City Airport: Almost made the list above. 10182 Cafe Corner vs Green Grocer: (a tie perhaps?) By the way, I'm lucky enough to still own all the original oldies (and the newer sets too)!

Given my lust for never ending expansion and the now difficult & expensive prospects of doing so with 9v track, I have begun using RC track for sidings that are mostly static. This frees up some 9v track to use where it matters most. I don't put much thought into segregating gray vs. bley track, however.

Hello, I'm no_skill. My name reflects my MOC'ing capabilities...especially compared to the beautiful creations I see throughout the community. I've been lurking this forum for several months, and I must say it is a great place! I have been obsessed with the brick since infancy but had a lengthy dark ages (about 18 years) that was broken in year 2000 when my eldest son turned 3. My son's wide excited eyes as I unveiled the LEGO collection of my youth is something I'll never forget. For almost two decades, nearly every element of every set obtained during my childhood moved from place to place in a big cardboard box, patiently awaiting the day of a whole new life! Honestly, I still remember every set of my childhood. I have fond memories of them all! Looking for instructions to recreate those childhood sets introduced me to the on-line community: first Lugnet, then Brickshelf, then...you get the picture. I flirted with a LUG prior to my last home move, but did not have the free time necessary to become an active member. Instead I decided to concentrate on what I like best, building and playing with my kids (now there are three) and lurking, occasionally contributing to online communities. I feel privileged to have been active in the hobby during some landmark times in LEGO history...I saw the development of the minifig when I was a kid, and now I see widening application of SNOT, efforts at enhanced realism, and development of adult themes and communities. Awesome! Presently, I am most interested in Trains & Town, but keep my eye on Star Wars and Indy as that's what my kids are into. Oh, and since I missed Pirates during my dark ages, I've been making up for it since the theme was reintroduced. Cheers! no_skill