paul_delahaye

This was my sixth year visiting the Great Western Brick Show in Swindon, UK. It used to probably be one of the largest gatherings of AFOL displays in the UK, and I think this year my most disappointing year, now don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing the hard work of the builders who took their creations along to exhib, but I usually find I can spend hours at the show and come back inspired with ideas. In my opinion, it was getting bigger and better every year, however this year I noticed a real change. My main observation was the reduction in actual exhibitors, on top of this the number of traders had dramatically increased, actually I'm now questioning whether there were more traders there this year than actual exhibitors. Now it's not a particularly cheap show to go to as a visitor, £12 for an adult, but to then get through the door and find more traders looking for your money than actual displays, I was a little disappointed. The first hall with the large Steam Train had about 40% less display tables in it. and then like I say maybe half the tables in the main hall were traders as well as the usual 5/6 traders in the trade hall. I find it a dilema, I think it's really important to support these shows when I can as it's the visitors that help to keep them running, but I feel this is the first time in 6 years it's gone backwards in my opinion, I'm actually wondering whether this is because of the increase in size and success of the Brick show in the UK which seems to have developed into grandest show in the calendar. Maybe the AFOL's are busy building their displays for this show instead? or maybe there is another reason? Paul

I've just spotted the telescoping part from the MB Arocs in the container handler in grey. This will be a really good, useful addition.

Intelli train requires a driver to be sat in the cab for the engine to work. The 2 drivers make the train respond in different ways. For example one of the drivers stalls the train engine when he is sat in the cab and you push the green button. The other driver starts the train first time. One of the drivers makes the train run faster than the other driver. Hope this gives you some ideas on how it works.

Yes I did, memory loss, though it was a Volvo truck, but you are right, it was the MB Arocs.

The Jet looks alright, despite the messy colour scheme, I am having flashbacks of the colour scheme on the Crazy car from earlier this year. I like the ship, looks a little minimal on features, a bit like an anchor handler in design, not sure about the windows though, dodgy stickers or new parts? For me, Container Transport is one of my favourites, despite the set looking a little hollow, I think it looks ok. Certainly a playable set. The tele handler is ok, appears that rule about only using the new telescoping part on the Volvo flagship of 2014 only lasted for 12 months. The tracked racer, it will be interesting to see how the new power functions might work, or whether it's just the old simple stuff? The smaller sets don't do much for me,

One thick book for me as well. Although I do wish sometimes on the larger sets they would make some of the steps a little more challenging, e.g. add a couple of bricks per step rather than just 1. At the end of the day, the big sets are designed for older children, often 16+ according to the boxes. Going back to the 80's, some of those steps were impossible to follow.

I've been thinking about driving to one this afternoon, I'm just not sure if I will better this price or not? ideally best price on Lego in the UK is usually around 33% off, either by straight discount or 3 for 2. Not saying that 20% is not bad, I just don't know if I can better that…..if I wait, but then wait how long. ahhh, choices.. I did get a great deal on the Claas a couple of weeks ago, I'm a customer or Very in the UK, and I don't buy form them very often, maybe twice a year and only Lego when there is an offer and they have a habit of sending out really great offers just when I need them. As I had nothing outstanding with them on my account, they just sent out a £50 off when you spend £100 voucher to encourage me to spend, they had the Claas 42054 in the sale reduced from £120 to £105, so I snapped it up saving another £50, so price paid £55, I think that's pretty damm good deal and one I could not get elsewhere, even if I bought 3 of them from Argos, the only shame is the voucher only works once and when linked to my account, but it might be worth others considering signing up for next year. Paul

I still reckon it's to do with automated assemble lines, back in the early days I would expect the minifig heads were likely assembled by hand, as automated assembly line technology has moved on, I'm sure it's linked to that, and as davee123 said, I'm not sure it has anything to do with friction.

Tragically for all AFOL's out there, LEGO agrees with your son's opinion!

A clue could come from this How it Works TV program about Lego, I'd assumed it allows a sensor in the machine to correctly install the arms in the right direction on the torso mold, and then in the old days, the minifig head came assembled on the torso, and again I'd assumed this mark on the neck allowed for correct alignment of the head on the body. There is a "how it works" video here. Around 4 minutes in. It could be linked to this mark?

It will be interesting to see if this kind of machine works in reality, I would imagine as long as the air pressure it high enough, it would be ok, but it could all be about the speed of the application when that switch is exposed. I look forward to this one.

Very cool, you need some of those expensive but new rubber studs which go into the holes in the tracks to add tracktion. I kind of hoped Lego would include them in a Technic set instead of just Nijargo.

Great features in such a compact truck, nicely done

A modern version of the 8859 plough would have been a nice accessory on the back of our new tractor. Shame Lego did not agree.

When I first saw this bridge, I wondered if this was a little offering from Lego to their train enthusiast AFOLs, loving the 4 x version of the bridge above. Just a shame its a licenced set which adds to the price when buying in multiples. Roll on 3 for 2

It's quite square, but in a cool way. The Octan empire continues to expand!

Those genuine Tan windows cost me a forture on Bricklink when I built 3 extra carriages……...

I seem to recall I did the same, The left over pieces from the 2 engines nearly built 1 extra carriage to the standard design, with only a couple of required bricks from bricklink. However I was then left with a rather strange double ended engine using the 2 cab pieces, they are not much use for anything other than a train or plane as you know. The power functions parts probably have minimal second hand value on ebay, maybe £20 if you are lucky and that maybe before ebay taxes, but your kid will probably benefit more from them in future to build his own design of engine. Paul

I've built the B model now as well, and it's hard to believe, but the pneumatic hose routing is even worse than the A model…... they end up draging along the ground below the model, and that is following Legos instructions. I think this will need improving.

Unless you glue the blue pins at the end of the 13 Long white beam, won't the cutting blade jiggle up and down as the PTO rotates?

Very interesting, I wonder whether the printing teeth on the track will be sharp enough for the cog?

Definately sounds like Stunt bike and truck have to be pull back racers. Definitely interested in the ship. I have visions of a modern take on the old supply ship, but it would be great if it was combinable with container transport.

lol, very funny, like it I also liking the sound of the sets which link to boats, hopefully a harbour in the second half of the year

I wonder what this dual manual's is all about, hopefully not 2 copies of the same manual included in the box. And to think, this is basically same price point as emerald knight or horrizon express, and you get a £2 circle of track, which is barely big enough to circle most Christmas trees. I think this is a bit of a cop out.

I'm sure a UK AFOL at one of the Lego shows I've been to (Steam or Brick) had a very similar design of a micro train going around on the main train carriage. I wonder if they stole his idea? also nice to see another source for small red driver wheels with technic axle hole.