Athos

And the walls came a'tumblin' down... http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Vi...ho/jericho1.jpg The whole tumbling gallery: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=395887 http://www.flickr.com/photos/37777874@N06/...57621975679990/ The Bible, thus far: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=162415 Steve

I doubt its a new theme, since the torso is from the pirate ship. The wings I'm not sure about, but I think belville had cloth wings at one point. The skirt is like this keychain. Though a fairy theme would be interesting... I'm surprised how good the blonde hair looks on a yellow figure. I'd have guessed otherwise. Steve

Now you just need a pimp figure to go in it... Steve

Its got a lot of potential. But as it is right now, it looks like you just threw a bunch of bricks together without much thought. With a little work I think you could have quite an interesting MOC here though. Here's what I'd start with: The big gaps in the wall may, at some point, look interesting and make an nice effect. At present, however, they look like a 10 year old's attempt to make windows or doors without enough parts. Especially when you've got actual window pieces down lower. Better arching or some inverse slopes and a bit more regularity would do wonders. Also raising the bottom of the holes off the floor would help. I'm also not real fond of the round tower parts on top. They look like a flower to me as they are. I'd ditch those large pieces and make my own with smaller. Steve

Who says this? I must have missed this rumor... Steve

What is Atlantik? Atlantic? Steve

Its rather plain. You could really put some variety/texture on the back wall. Maybe a window? Or some power conduits? Or something... Maybe put some guidelines on the floor too? Steve

I must have been a link retard when I was posting that day. Steve

I'm not real fond of the black level. I also think you need to use some regular bricks in amongst the log bricks. And some more of the side supports would make it look better. Its a little too square and boxy yet. Steve

I'd like to do up something trainy (note that's trainy not tranny), but I don't have any of my train stuff handy. Anyone want to do me up an avatar of my sigfig driving a train? Steve

Saw this over at TBB: http://www.brothers-brick.com/2009/07/31/i...ick-adventures/. Its definitely worth a look or two. Be sure to check out the gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brian_williams/ Steve

Beware the Wizard's Tower: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Ca...ower/tower1.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Ca...ower/tower2.jpg Continue on and take the tour, if you dare: "Greetings Sir Knight, I am Molan. What brings you out so far in the dark forest?" "Ah you're seeking the wizard. Do you have business with him?" "No matter. If you tie your mount up there, I'll take you up to meet him." "What's that you ask? Merely bats. They're quite harmless... during the day..." "Yes, they are beautiful flowers. My master brews potions with them... Oh... mind the jack-o-lantern..." "Yes, yes... such a hurry. Just let me open the door Well he's not in the dining room. And his food has not been touched." "Where is he, you ask? Maybe he is upstairs in library." "Yes, I see he's not here, but we do have another story to visit yet. Let's go up the ladder here." "He's not in the bedroom either. Oh-oh... watch out for the cat. He scratches... And mind the chamber pot... Ewww... he has been here recently..." "What's out that door by the clothes rack, you ask? Why that's the balcony." "Not out here either. He must be upstairs on the parapet." "Ah-ha! There he is. He likes to spy on the villagers from up here. And he doesn't like to be disturbed!" "Oh no! He looks angry!" ZAPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Ribbit ribbit." The galleries: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=394894 http://www.flickr.com/photos/37777874@N06/...57621908788070/ Steve

If its not officially produced by the Lego Company, then I don't use it. I have been known, however, to use some prototype pieces that are available on bricklink (i.e. red wizard hats, black wizard beards, white hair, etc.). I have also been sorely tempted by the BF animals... The part selection that Lego produces are the pallet that we have to work with and we see what we can do with it. Or another metaphor, the parts we have are like the rules in the game. Modifying the parts is like breaking the rules. Any modification feels like cheating to me. Steve

The color scheme is great. Is it dark blue, or just regular blue that looks darker because of the light? I really like the curtains in the window. And the flower pots are very well done. How did you do those arches over the windows? The inverted arches on the roof are also a good idea. Steve

Some of these would be really nice. Especially in black... Steve

I don't know; I kind of like this battle pack for a change. Its a nice way to get the Admiral guy without having to pay $50 for the fort set. But the variety of the town figures has been much more expansive than the spacemen, who are, in essence, the exact same figure in different colors. Town got a policeman, fireman, gas-station attendant, mailman, chef, and Santa. Space got red guy, white guy, black guy, yellow guy, blue guy. I think that's why space seems so repetative. Personally, I think the blacktron guy is a nice change of pace for space. Steve

Who's ever designing the vintage minifigure must really like spacemen. This is 6 space men in 4 sets... Come on, already... Is that an old style plume on the forestman, or a new one? Steve

I looked for pictures of Pamplona to base it on, but couldn't find any good clear ones of the streets... Steve

One day on a street in Pamplona: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Vi...a/pamplona3.jpg "I'm not afraid of some stupid cow..." "Yeah, me neither..." http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Vi...a/pamplona4.jpg "Ahhhhhhhhhh!" "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Vi...a/pamplona1.jpg "He's gaining!" "Run faster!" http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Vi...a/pamplona5.jpg "Oooooohhhh..." "It hurts..." http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Athos/Vi...a/pamplona6.jpg "Hrrrrmph..." The whole bovine gallery: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=393757 http://www.flickr.com/photos/37777874@N06/...57621676901963/ Steve

I think they'll last together. Though I'm not sure how well they'll compete with each other. Such they have similar aspects, but I imagine a lot of the Indy stuff sells to Indy fans and their children. While the PoP stuff will likely be sold to people who are more up on the most recent movies. PoP still seems like an off the wall license to me... But I can't see Lego risking alienating George Lucas by dropping his Indy license in favor of the Disney PoP license. They'll want to keep GL on their good side to preserve their cash cow Star Wars license. Steve

I don't know. That white head wrap just screams maproom Indy to me... Actually you should thank Caylin from C-C. She posted them there. I'm just spreading the news... Steve

Check out these pictures from jmenomeno's flickr gallery: Ostrich Camel And those arab guys look pretty good too. Almost as good as an Arabian Nights theme... Lots of nice stuff to be seen in the photostream. Oh, and there's also some toy story pictures too... Steve

Dear Lego, I've noticed an issue with shop-at-home pricing. Specifically, once you've factored in the shipping costs, on an average size order, the price the customer pays is significantly more expensive than if they bought it in a store. S@H prices are comparable, if not identical, to the prices seen in normal stores. Assuming an a sales tax, at said store, of 7%, the customer in the store would pay the MSRP plus 7%. When buying from shop-at-home, however, the customer will pay, MSRP plus up to 40%. Using the most recent Indiana Jones sets as an example: Ambush in Cairo: MSRP $10.99 -Total cost from S@H: $15.94 -Total cost from store (with 7% tax rate): $11.76 -Premium paid through S@H: $4.18 (38% more than shopping at a store) Chauchalla Cemetary: MSRP: $19.99 -Total cost from S@H: $24.94 -Total cost from store: $21.34 -Premium paid through S@H: $3.60 (18% more than shopping at a store) Venice Canal Chase: MSRP $39.99 -Total cost from S@H: $46.94 -Total cost from store: $42.78 -Premium paid through S@H: $4.16 (10% more than shopping at a store) Fighter Plane Attack: MSRP $49.99 -Total cost from S@H: $56.94 -Total cost from store: $53.48 -Premium paid through S@H: $3.46 (7% more than shopping at a store) Temple of Doom: MSRP: $89.99 -Total cost from S@H: $100.94 -Total cost from store: $96.29 -Premium paid through S@H: $4.65 (5% more than shopping at a store) Its notable that as the order size goes up the premium goes down. However, it is not until one orders approximately $250 worth of Lego that the shipping prices become comparable to a sales tax rate of 7%. Thus, unless one is going to purchase $250 or more of Lego, foregoing S@H and shopping at your local store is the more economical option. Further, S@H rarely offers anything at a discount, while stores will. Thus, further increasing the price disparity. Additionally, several states have no sales tax or a tax rate significantly less than 7%. This only further inflates S@H prices. When you couple all of this with the option to buy from amazon.com, which offers free shipping on many orders over $25, it is astonishing that anyone would purchase from S@H. I noticed this issue while attempting to use my brickmaster coupon ($5 off a $20 order). Even using that coupon there was no incentive to purchase from S@H. Every thing I intended to buy, even with the coupon, would have cost me more than purchasing it in a store. This makes no sense. What good is the BM coupon then? In fact, the best arrangement I could come up with was the Hoth Battle, which would have, in the end, cost me the MSRP and left me paying the same as I would in the stores. Steve

The second one is the only one that looks anything like a completed castle. The other two look like incomplete and thrown together messes. Steve

Did my monthly shopping run this weekend. It was so hot, we thought we needed the extra cooling power of dry ice. But we got a little too much, so I got to play. Here is the result: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37777874@N06/...57621582550369/ http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=392954 I think this could be used to great effect in a convention display for a haunted house or foggy city scene... Steve