Freddie

Wow, that was unexpectedly fast! X-O I'm agreeing with just about everyone here. Just about all of this year's stuff is on this level of quality, and I'm maybe just one of those who will use alot of money on LEGO this year. With the exception of the hovercraft and the fireboat, I'll be getting myself one of everything from this year's CITY-collection. *sweet* (Plus quite a bit on some of the other stuff too)

Oh come on! At this rate there's no secrets left for the last bit of '07! I might as well reveal that 7996 is a new piece of (RC-)track previously unseen in the history of Lego trains. Oddly, the cross-track is not making a return this year (but then again, I don't recall there being any 7995, cross your fingers). 7996 is due august, if I remember correctly. 7998 is 7900's successor by the way. 8-wide and very long, altough this time it's a regular truck with a seperate, self-supported trailer. The latter featuring steering too, if I remember correctly. Expect prices slightly higher than 7900. Edit; A switchover-crossing I think it's called. Basically two switches integrated into a single piece, with the adjacent tracks crossing in the middle, altough you'll need both pieces in the box for it to function the way it's intended. 8-studs between parallell tracks, will allow very flexible layouts at a low cost, and will work nicely with the train shed. Dimensions; 64x24 studs fully operational (est).

Here's the link for the page where I got the train prototype images from. Some interesting stuff to read.

I found a few prototypes for LEGO-trains on the net some time ago. These pictures have been on the official LEGO-site, though, and what is here are the biggest pictures I could find. Oh, and they're all old. Both the Crocodile and the Union Pacific are 12V models, the white/green/black passenger train became the 4558 while the last one never saw daylight. Interesting designs, though. Notice the 1x3x5 doors on the Crocodile and the nose-piece on the red locomotive, as well as the base for the car, which is six studs longer compared to the longest that have ever been available to the public. Edited 16/5-10: Attached images are gone, so I'm posting Brickshelf-uploaded ones instead. Enjoy!

It does indeed look like a nice little set. The flood-light (or tool tray as it was called further up the thread) is a nice detail, which many of LEGO's fire-trucks have lacked. The windscreen is also interesting, giving the car a more real look. In short, I like it. And I'll make sure to get one, along with the new fire-station, when the '07 sortiment is released here in Europe.

If they do release a 599 GTB, it'll be interesting to see how they treat the rear pillars. On the real car the coupe windows courve inwards and fuse with the rear window, while the pillars countinue backwards seperately. It's clearly visible in the pic xwingyoda linked to.

So you too got work at a toy store, eh? Got myself a position as christmas-help this december in the store which I worked in last year, took me the full effort of a three-minute phone-call to get the job. :-) Nonetheless, there are plenty of surprises for LEGO-enthusiasts working at a toy store - the retailers' catalog, which is strictly off-line BTW, is one of them. If you ask nicely, you might get to take a peek in it. Oh, and not to mention the employees' discounts. ;-)

Well, this is interesting. I hope this set gets on S@H, even if I live in an "outside" country. I have contacts in Sweden, and I can always wait with the R/C trains.

No dark age for me either. I just rediscovered the magic roughly a year ago, and when I got a job in a toy store it went to overdrive! It is now "idling", meaning I lack time, space and money for more LEGO. The time I have I use to rebuild many of the older sets I have, fifteen and even twenty year old sets! The only sets I buy right now are good sets I missed, which I just happen to get a chance to buy (If I have the money to spare), like 7045 which I came across in an Edwis store in Sarpsborg. Always wanted it, never got it until last friday! :-) And I'm saving up for 7898, but I'm waiting a bit on that one. The rest of the money is for fuel for the car, bying whenever it is at it's cheapest. Having to drive to school is not cheap, especially not if it's an hour's drive! And taking the bus costs even more! X-O *wacko*

I bought this set myself today, and I must say that I agree with just about everything in the review above. Sitting at same height as my elbows at my desk, I actually find myself looking up to the control cabin. It's a surprisingly huge set for its cost. It also has that "WOW"-factor which not a lot of LEGO-sets can credit themselves with. I'm not taking this one apart, that's for sure.

I really like the tractor, it reminds of the Fendts that sometimes can be seen out on the fields here where I live. With red wheels, it would be smack-on in both design and color. Like the rig and trains too. I'm probably getting all of it, if I can afford it, that is.

I'll say yes to the first one. Everyday buildings is something I've been longing for, taking into consideration that I never got the chance to buy those available in the late 80's/early 90's. My personal suggestions: - Bank - Motorcycle dealer/garage - Homes, villas, cottages and vacation homes - A retake on 6394 Metro Park & Service Tower perhaps? Obviously, all of these with minifigs and probably also vehicles included. I'm neutral on the bridges, though. If UCS-sets were in mind, I'll have to say I'm neutral. Minifig-scale: Ice-cream van, a taxi, family-cars, vintage cars. Ferrari: The Ferrari GTO, featured with features like transmission, suspension etc, like the best Technic-sets (like 8448) would be great. Classic cars: The Ford Model-T, if featured with technical stuff mimicking the real machine it would be awesome. '59 Cadillac Eldorado would also be recomendation. Neutral to the aircraft. The Oil Rig would be cool, but should be a playset with lots of playability, including an oil-tanker. I'm neutral to the Amusement park, though a rollercoaster would be very cool.