fred67

Well, that's wonderful for you Tony. Congratulations.

That's right... I'm not going to disagree with you... that's the way it is, but then you're not going to be using PF, you're going to keep changing to adapt to the whims of TLG. The only thing I've suggested is that instead of using those train specific PF motors, you use the XL or M motors, as you're much more likely to have a drop in replacement. Is that really a matter of contention? Edit: and in order to adapt those trains, BTW, if you used the train specific motors, it could be a LOT more work to make your trains function in the future - in much the same way it is going from 9V to PF.

I don't get your layout, there.... Those avg and max prices from Bricklink? How does the clone troopers battlepack have a higher average than the max price? And what exactly are you asking for... the avg price?

That's one amazing crystal ball you have. I'm wondering how you're going to replace those train motors when LEGO stops making them, though... or will you "weep and whine" about the loss of PF train motors?

I would agree if you were somehow forced to use DCC or even mix it in with your trains without wanting to. You seem to bring up DCC quite a bit in these train discussions, and I'd like to point out that you could have had ALL of the benefits of the PF system (with it's DCC like control) without requiring a battery and without the cost of DCC by using a simple auto-switching pick up bogey if TLG decided to go that route... you would have ALL the benefits with few (if any) drawbacks. Now, pragmatically, if people want to continue with LEGO trains, they need to make the change to PF - I haven't said otherwise, and something I realize now, but didn't realize when I dumped my N-gauge trains for LEGO, is that I can't count on a system that I can build now and be able to play with my grandkids with in 20 years. All I'm suggesting is that, IMO, if you pick a train specific motor, you are much more likely to get cut off than if you build your PF train using an M or XL motor with a geared bogey! (EDIT: in fact, I often point people to YOUR article in Railbricks on a geared bogies). I didn't say they weren't different, I clearly said that for most people (i.e. NOT YOU), they are functionally equivalent. Most people aren't pulling dozens of cars, I would suggest the vast majority of people playing with LEGO trains are not adults at all, and are pulling the cars that came with their sets. However, the point is that they ALL can be used with PF (even the 9V one!).

I disagree.. in fact, my argument has morphed into if you're going to call the newer engine PF then you must call the older one PF, since they are both "compatible" with PF, which is the argument everyone seems to be making. But for most people they are functionally equivalent... it's a new version of the same motor. To call one PF and claim the other isn't because it doesn't have a built in cable is ridiculous. They clearly said they wanted to leverage parts across multiple lines, and this motor does not. As such, it's MUCH MORE susceptible to being discontinued than any other PF motor. Can anyone really seriously disagree with that statement?

I like it... I like the roof, especially, and I love the sheep (not in that way!) When I saw the crib someone posted last week I thought immediately of a nativity scene, it's really awesome... I don't have any cows or camels though, but then that's what Bricklink of for.

Huh... what do you mean by "reasonable people?" Getting it as a gift? Sure, I'd be happy no matter what it was. Paying out of my own pocket for a random $15 LEGO item (when there's actually few themes I follow)? Not so much. That's a terrible comparison... you know exactly what's in the calendar, it's right there on the outside of the box! You don't know which day is which, perhaps, but you know what you're buying overall. In fact, that's why I plan on buying these minifigures by the box from now on (now that they will be truly blind), because I'll know exactly what I'm getting, and if the packaging trends continue, I won't get stuck with 8 of one thing and zero of another. I'll say it again... it's not sleazy, it's not a con, but if you can make blanket statements than so can I: it's NOT fun for "reasonable" people. It's not fun driving home from the store with your child saying "I hope I got the Spartan, I hope I got the Spartan" all the way home, and then he opens up his fifth weightlifter. No, that's not fun. Of course that's an exaggeration because we all know about the bar codes, and even if you don't know them, if you buy a handful you can at least make sure they are different... but does everyone know about that? And even if they do, that ends with the next series.

Bah! I hate arguing semantics on internet message boards... the fact is the RC motor can be used with PF parts in EXACTLY the same way as the newer one, and it can be used for other things, and blah blah blah... for the vast majority of people, there is fundamentally no difference... but it doesn't matter, I don't care, that's not the point... This is: Why? Name one recent engine that couldn't have been powered with an M motor and a geared bogey? Pure speculation... I might have said the same thing about 9V in 2003 or 2004... hey look at all the great 9V MOTs on S@H! These will be around a while! The fact is that TLG presented a bunch of arguments about why they were discontinuing 9V and moving to PF, and this train motor defies their reasoning (in part). I'm not saying it's not PF (they can call it whatever they want... by the definition you guys continue using, virtually every motor is "compatible" with PF so that makes them PF... LEGO also calls "tan" "yellow," if you catch my meaning). What I'm saying is if you use something a lot more generic, you won't be as subject to the whims of LEGO. The other PF motors are used in numerous sets, the train motors in just trains... how many different train systems has TLG released? Every time they release a new one, I'm sure people have thought "this is it!" Let me summarize this, as a lot of things seem get lost along the way: 1. I'm not against PF. I'm annoyed at discontinuing 9V for a number of reasons, but TLG has their reasons for moving on, and it's true there are some advantages. 2. While I have substantial investment in 9V, and plan to continue using and expanding my use of 9V with my existing trains, future train purchases will be PF... it's just not worth the headache to not use what's currently available. 3. I'm not against, and have nothing against the new train motors... I just think that they fit the complaints TLG had about the old train system, and I don't think we can trust TLG to simply decide not to discontinue them because of it... much more likely than them discontinuing M or XL motors (or whatever their drop in replacements might be)... MUCH more likely, as they will have a LOT FEWER purchasers. What does that mean? It's means you're probably right that they will be around for some time... but not as long as the other motors (m and xl), and any thinking along the lines that TLG will not change to a new system is pure folly when you look at past history. You can't approach the hobby in the same way as someone doing any traditional scale (O, HO, N, etc) railroading can... those people can count on always having compatibility in that hobby, not so with LEGO, so you need to plan accordingly if you plan to be with it for a long time.

I didn't say not to buy something, I said the motors that are made specifically for trains defies the concept that parts be useful across all (or at least multiple) lines... it's TRAIN specific, and therefore doesn't "leverage" itself across other lines, which means smaller runs of production, which usually means higher cost, which is one of the things they said they were trying to avoid. It doesn't make sense when you can use a generic PF motor and power a geared bogey or drive wheels like the EN does. So I'm not suggesting not buying something, I'm suggesting that buying and using "real" PF motors (M and XL, and whatever generic ones they come out with next) are a way to "future proof" against the whims of LEGO W.R.T. trains. I also laugh at the idea that you have two battery operated train motors, and one is PF and the other is not because it doesn't have an integrated connector. Even if I accept that the "internals" are different, they are functionally the same for most people.

Luckily, since I'm still happy with all my 9V stuff, I'm a very patient man.

Yes, that post is wishful thinking. It's a difficult choice. I have a large investment in 9V, including a couple of extra motors I bought near the end and a lot (but not enough) track. I plan on experimenting with alternate electrified rail (Ken's Flex Tracks for LEGO Trains, but it's actually easier to use in place of straights (no track cutting... but it's interesting for it's arbitrary curves). I have two speed regulators, plenty of curves and a decent amount of straight track, and I also have a number of MOT steam engines, BNSF, Santa Fe Super Chief, even a Hogwart's Express that was modified for 9V... HOWEVER, I quite clearly understand that PF is the new mode of locomotion, and new trains built for PF are not out of the question for me (especially when the battery packs become reasonable - both in size and price). Personally the only "PF" train I own is the Emerald Night (and Ruby Night MOD), but I haven't even bothered powering them yet, and can go either way with the 9V MOD or PF... I own many PF motors, and they are great for making vehicles, and I've been playing with them since before I even knew LEGO was switching (I had a mini dark ages that I came out of while working on a vehicle project with my son), but no suitable battery pack for trains, and I won't pay $75 for a rechargeable and charger. None of the train sets since I last bought 9V stuff has really interested me. Realistically, though, if I only had ONE 9V train and not a lot of track, I probably wouldn't bother with it... you'll save yourself a lot of headache by switching to PF, and while I find there are disadvantages, there are definitely also advantages... When is that AAA battery pack coming out?

I was sort of there with until that last line... you really don't think it would be better for the consumer to be able to just buy what they want? It is a marketing ploy... it's almost like gambling.... you're encouraged to keep "playing" until you "win," and I hate the marketing tactic, but I would agree that calling it "sleazy" or a "con" is going way overboard... nobody's holding a gun to anyone's head making them buy these, and we're all well aware that we may not get exactly what we want. On the other hand, being an apologist for LEGO is a bit ridiculous, too - it's an obvious, tried and true marketing ploy, and it works well, but that doesn't mean it's "consumer friendly" either or "fun" in any way.

Thanks... that's pretty interesting. Not what I expected, really... it's no surprise the Elf is popular, and the Samurai... but the fisherman? And with the popularity of the "horror" theme, I'm surprised the Mummy is so low. My "wants" are, in order: elf, mummy, samurai, native Chief, and Hawaiian girl.... and that's all I want. The only problem is, with this series, I want a LOT of elves. I didn't want a lot of any single figure in the first two series. Hopefully I'll have a lot to trade...

Maybe she's lying, but it really doesn't seem like it. Yes, it's pretty much impossible to get an order like that by mistake. I'm guessing some shipping packer was in a bad mood or something... nobody thinks it could possibly have been random. Both my orders had a decent mix, but none of what are commonly being considered the desirables... no Spartans, no Vampires... plenty of witches, cops, and weightlifters. I'm a very suspicious guy, and I don't believe it's beyond reason to think that an employee might hoard for themselves, either.

It's random, so the likelihood of you getting a full set is astronomical. I've gotten two sets of 16 from S@H, and have not gotten a Spartan, I've not gotten a Pop Singer, and I've not gotten a Vampire. One guy on the BrickLink message boards claims to have ordered 16 and was amazed he actually got 18... until he found out they were all witches. One guy on FBTB.net got, in two orders, 5 cops and 7 weightlifters. It kind of sucks, actually.

Arrived: new set of 16 random Series 2 figures from S@H... don't have the patience to list them all, but no spartans, no pop singer, no vampire, no explorer... that's twice, two sets of 16, both without any of those. Also got: Got two prison carriage rescues to make one good cart with two horses. Nice reward! I'm sure he deserved it... it's great being a dad.

Interesting question, but really... I would consider those $0.50 in parts replaceable before making a mess with lubricant.

It IS cute... what a great idea. I can see something there for Christmas, personally. But I do think you could MOC a small crib without needing tape, even if it might be slightly larger. Maybe look to the Green Grocer set for some inspiration for a baby carriage.

I'm sensing a lot bitterness, too, all over $2.00 minifigures... I mean, I spent HOURS and HOURS just looking for the Spartan and the Witch, just for the chance... it was fun and I hope it was fun for everyone, and like I said - it made me explore things I didn't even know about the site (the Witch hunt sounds like an awesome game I missed... I hadn't been paying attention to the mafia games, but they really look fun). You guys did an awesome job... you just can't make everybody happy.

Did you guys pick random minifigs? I'm asking because in the collectible trade thread, the only Series 2 I was looking for was the singer, and that's the one I won... that sounds like a giant coincidence! Either way... thanks for a fun contest. I hope I'm reading things wrong, but it sounds like I'm picking up on some bitterness, and I know it's easy for someone who won a minifigure to say this, but if you think about all the work you did for the chance to win a random $2.00 minifigure, you have to step back and appreciate the spirit of the competition and, if you're like me, you found things you never saw before - hopefully learning something along the way.

Yeah... I'm becoming less enamored with these collectibles; I'm happy to have complete sets of the first two, but it was such a pain and now I've got 32 new minifigs, only a handful of which inspire me to build little vignettes. So... sadly, for the first truly blind series, there's going to be maybe 5 that I really want, and for the first time there's one that I want as many of as I can get (well... that's not true... maybe 10)... the elf. I think the elf looks awesome. I'm so sad TLG didn't continue fantasy for one more year to have elves before moving on to Kingdoms. I can think of several cool elf sets they could have done that would have fit great with the theme (without stepping on any legal toes).

I've done really long pieces, too, but the weights from the weightlifter is a short bar and doesn't really work well. Like I said, I actually like the way they are now the majority of the time, but for something to fit correctly (not under stress) with two hands would require something different.

So... my wife is not quite the LEGO enthusiast I am, although she loves a lot of the new collectible minifigures. She was playing with the weightlifter, and of course we ran across the old situation where a minifig can't hold a straight bar with both hands. Has the idea of having hands that can hold something straight across been brought up? I'm not saying we'd get rid of the current style, but I think it seems appropriate occasionally.

It's a really cool concept, and your rock formation looks great to me... the only problem is the base is too wide, I would either make it a smaller vignette, or make the walls extend to the edges. I like how the diver is way outside the base of the MOC with all the tentacle-ly goodness.