fred67

Well... there's all sorts of things you can do on your own, there. We've done our own open carriages with presents in it (like the Holiday Train), the presents are really simple to make. You can also use white (tiles or plates) to make "snow" on your cars. The EN carriage conveniently has a couple of technic holes on the sides of the carriage (where the 1x1 tan pieces go), where you could put some green branches (again, much like the Holiday Train). You could also decorate inside the carriage (remove some seats, add a tree and presents... lighting would be exceptional). As for me... I've been collecting parts for so long for trains that, after now having the bakery and the toy shop, I decided I really wanted the Holiday Train... but I'm a cheap bastard, so I parted it out into a wanted list on BL, removed what I already had, and the remaining list of what I needed was quite small, so I've got a bunch of stuff on order for that. It won't be perfect... I'll have to use my own minifigures (although I have a number of train ones, so that should work OK). The EN would definitely make a classier Christmas train... you could also alternate red pieces for some of the EN green ones (I don't mean completely red, I mean alternate red and green).

About $150 worth of crap on Bricklink. Ok, not crap. I decided that, after missing out on the holiday train, I'd see what it would take to build it myself - and I had almost all the most expensive parts already, all the train stuff - the bases, the wheels, etc., and most of the little parts... so about $60 more in parts to build a train where the lowest US price is $180. Tomorrow I will visit the LEGO store... I will definitely get (if they have it): the winter bakery and perhaps some Harry Potter stuff.

$2.97/each?

What is Ron holding?

I know... it just hit me and I came to edit my post yet again, but saw your response. There's too much in this set, I need to absorb it all for a while.

Yes... it's most definitely worth it, especially when you value the classic figures you get (not the skeletons and such). It might be an easier pill to swallow if they released (at an average price of around $50) three separate sets... and then added Fred and George's shop, and any others they may want to along the way. I did, and was wondering about it myself! I didn't get a close look though... hard to tell with the white background, I thought it just might be the hair. EDIT: and the other hair next to it... what the heck is that all about? Whatever... awesome set. EDIT 2: I only now looked at the HD picture with Hagrid's disembodied head... Maybe he's all dressed in white. Maybe he's got the invisibility cloak! EDIT 3: The picture of the BOX shows "whole" Hagrid, body and all. I need to stop posting and drool over the pictures for a while before making and rash judgments.

Yes, it's got a high price tag, and I'm a cheap bastard, but it looks totally worth it to me. As for adding other shops, this gives a great basis to MOC your own and, you never know, perhaps some future sets will include add ons like Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and the Leaky Cauldron (I know, not "technically" Diagon Alley). I'm glad I have a few extra months... the LEGO fund can't handle all of the current sets, let alone another $150 one just a few months from now.

WOW! I searched bricklink for both "trumpet" and "horn," and didn't see that. I never thought to search for bugle! Thanks!

Thanks for the review of the instruments. I have all of them, and they are really great looking. The problems I have are strictly limitations of the minifigure articulation... you can't make your minifigure look like it's actually playing the instruments. The guitars come somewhat close... as you show how the violin is being held, the hand can't be on the neck, so it looks awkward. That's not Brickforge's fault, of course. In this thread I showed off the violin and acoustic guitar for my Mariachi band. I really hate the bow... 4L is way too long, IMO, and bars just don't really look good. I wonder if BF didn't make a bow because it would be too thin... I think something that had one end the violinist could grasp, but having the rest look like a bow would have been great. Even a sword could look better... I imagine one of the rapier type swords with the tip cut so that it wasn't pointy (but I don't want to break my only spare and not have it look good). And, of course, my wish list would include a nice trumpet.... I used the clown one for my MOC and just cut off the end, but now it's laughably short.

I'm not ignoring it... I'm not good at it and can only reliably figure out a few of the figures. Where did I say it's not worth it? In fact, I've mentioned I'd pay more if they weren't blind. I want a complete set because that just how I am. In fact, I want a complete set to put on display with all my other ones AND I want extras of certain ones to make vignettes (and in the case of series 3, I want a lot of elves as I'm into the Tolkien theme).

Wait until midnight (or until tomorrow), get double VIP points.... unless you're really that scared they'll sell out.

Definitely... I don't get one until I can reasonably update several of my trains without going broke. It would be fantastic to have a track section with a "charging mat" and just be able to park the train over it.

Wow. Well... how big are the tables you are using? Looks like you're joining 4x8 plywood... how do you reach the stuff in the back?

Bom Dia. My wife is from Brazil (Belo Horizonte) and we visit there every couple of years... I noticed necessities there can be very inexpensive (like whole foods), but everything else seems to be really expensive, so you definitely have my sympathy. Shipping to there from the U.S. is also very expensive and can take a very long time, so I really don't know what to suggest unless you make the occasional trips to any locations where LEGO might be less expensive. I'd offer to bring some with me to send within the country when I visit, but all my relatives already load us up with stuff they want us to bring, and it's already gotten to the point where we just say NO! I also probably won't be going for a while (we just went). Welcome to EB, though, I hope you can stick with the hobby and hope to see you around the boards. -Fred

Excellent point, Ralph. I tend to take questions literally, and he asked what "works" better, not what "looks" better... they all essentially work the same (as long as the space between cars allows the wider widths to take curves). But you are absolutely right... I think the 8 wides look stunning, but the LEGO curve radius is laughably small, and the flex track looks like garbage (IMO). Even 6 wides on the LEGO curves often look stupid, but it's one of those concessions you make as a railfan when LEGO is your chosen medium. I've posted this link a number of times, but I think anyone who really wants to make "realistic" layout should take a look. It's how to make LEGO flex track using O-Gauge rail. You can make arbitrary curves... of course this means you need a very large area to work with. However, the track is metal, and as such can be used for 9V... and there's no reason you HAVE to bend it - so not only is it good for newer PF trains, it's great for 9V trains, and it's true for both whether you need more straight track or want larger radius curves.... and imagine actually using BROWN for the ties! Why the heck doesn't LEGO use brown?

Already planning on it. I don't find blind buying "fun."

What works better? They all "work," but if you're going to do steam with driving rods and so forth, it might be awkward. I agree 8 wide can look great, though.

I honestly don't believe that is true. Copyright is law in almost every country, but I don't see how private "confidentiality" contracts can bind anybody but the people who are party to them. Let me put it this way... I could put a stamp on pictures that says "by posting this you agree to pay me $25." Do you really think that would hold up in a court of law? Edit: I want to point out that I'm not suggesting it's OK, morally, ethically, or otherwise... I'm saying I don't think it's legally binding for someone to upload a picture marked "confidential" unless they've actually got some sort of contract with the party that made the picture. I haven't done this, and I don't encourage others to do it - I'm suggesting there is no legal standing, as it's a private matter, and as such, would require a legal binding between two parties to make it legally enforceable. On the other hand, if they approached it as a copyright matter, I would say they would have a much better legal standing.

I work in television production and have no desire to be in front of the camera. Wouldn't want to break a lens, after all.

and now my entry can get it's butt kicked even worse than it was going to!

That's still a matter of opinion. I think you guys need to preface these statements with "I think," as the legality is not in question, but just because they are within their legal rights doesn't mean it's not overreacting in the same way that giving everyone who crosses a street in the middle a jay walking ticket just because you legally can, or giving everyone going even one mile an hour over the speed limit a ticket just because you legally can. Yes, it is, these people should not have done that. I want to point out, though, that it's a civil case, not a criminal one. Wrong. If it's stamped with a copyright, that's one thing, but "confidential" has no binding on anyone that didn't sign an NDA. (I added emphasis here) I think they are overreacting. They are within their rights, to be sure, and what they did in the past has no bearing on what they're doing now, but unless someone can substantiate that leaked pictures somehow lead to reduced overall sales, I'd have to say they are overreacting. It's not even that I blame them... nobody is saying they aren't within their legal rights, just that putting the effort into taking down the pictures is likely costing them more money than it could possibly save. I support them on principle... because people did have legally binding agreements with them that they violated. Probably the most common thing is that these pictures are released by someone NOT under NDA, but who got the pictures from someone who was. A catalog on the desk of someone's manager, for example. If the manager (or a store's buyer) signed an NDA(*), then they can't leave that stuff lying around. (*) - OR, if part of the agreement to be a licensed retailer requires NDA. Another invalid comparison... this is no more than releasing a preliminary version of album art, not the actual content... same thing with the invalid book comparison above.

BNSF = LEGO, Union Pacific = CRAP. However, if you think they'll actually make it down the track without rattling apart, the new PF train motor should work - it depends on whether or not enlighten stole the exact technic pin train bogey or not. You'll need to add the battery and IR receiver. They will likely be visible. You'll also need a remote. Good luck.

Trust me, those are all new... they may be similar to what you had, but it's not the same. The seasonal items are normally only available for that season, and then they're gone. Yes, I said the rumor mill says the Toy Shop will be re-released, but that would be highly unusual if true. Me, I had a mini "dark ages" (you'll get accustomed to these kinds of phrases if you stick around) when the Holiday Train was released, and royally screwed myself... as I can't pay what people want now, and I have no hope it will be re-released. If you're interested in the holiday stuff, take note of the Advent Calendars... there's a new city one each year, and another from a different theme (this year is "Kingdoms," the castle line). Also... honestly, buy some white tiles or plates on Bricklink and you can "winterize" a lot of sets.

The LEGO forums are a terrible waste of time. Half of my posts are rejected, and I've never used harsh language or said anything bad about anybody. They don't like people talking about discontinued or as-of-yet unreleased sets. It's really pointless for anybody who isn't there to just talk about how great LEGO is. To answer your questions, though, obviously the Winter Bakery will be available on Thursday (October 1). It's odd that you can't pre-order when it was listed at the same time as all the Harry Potter sets, technically released on the same day, but available for pre-order (and already shipped and people are getting them). Whatever... never know what's going on there. But your real question... the Toy Shop... the rumor mill says it will also be available again, so keep checking the website. I would also keep checking Amazon.com, as a number of people (myself included) have recently gotten the sets at MSRP (don't buy it higher than that... Amazon might have it MSRP, they might not... it keeps coming and going). But everyone keeps saying it will be re-released soon.

aacchhh... nobody is saying they don't have the right, just that it could be an overreaction. I think they're overreacting, but it's not like I blame them or think they don't have the right. That's not a valid comparison, it's more like the cover of your book was released, even though it might not necessarily be the final version.