fred67

There are no army builders... but I would be willing to bet only a tiny fraction of figures sold were for army builders; the rest for people who just wanted complete sets, and the vast majority just going to kids who were actually randomly getting figures. The Simpsons will add a whole slew of fans to the mix, although it may actually be less appealing to younger kids, and even older kids and young adults who were not fans of the series when it started (and was a lot better). Limiting to 16 figures... some people (who are probably not fans) wonder how they can come up with 16 figures - there's SO many Simpsons characters and variations that it would be a super difficult job to pick which ones. I would love to see super heroes as well... I am collecting figures as is possible, but I don't want the sets (if you're a fan of CMFs and have some super heroes to trade, please look at my CMF trading post - link in signature). I would happily buy super hero CMFs. But my interest is waning. Given series 12 as characters from the movie (which I know nothing about, since I had a mini dark ages for the past couple of months... or maybe just a blackout), I was glad I could stop buying (I suppose I should actually wait and see, though). Simpsons... well... every time I try to ween myself off the LEGO habit, TLG just keeps reeling me back in...

Updated my trade post with Series 11 haves and wants. Prefer US, but willing to trade international for multiples.

http://www.lifelites.com/ The elite jr. signature kit has "fire" modes for a flickering effect; I last used one for flickering "barrel" fires in my Christmas layout. I did not leave it on for that long at a time, though, it takes watch type batteries, I don't think it'd last that long, but I don't know... LEDs don't take much, after all.

That would be my guess, too. I'm a huge fan of the Simpsons, ever since the Tracey Ullman show, and she has my gratitude for giving Groening a chance with the Simpsons, and the talented cast of the show who lent their voices. Anyhow, I'm winding down my LEGO buying; this week was the first time I bought LEGO in 4 months, but I was a bit unhappy skipping Series 11, so I just bought a box. I figure if I'm going to keep up with anything, it'll be the CMFs. Now that TLG is using series 12 as propaganda (yeah, yeah, whatever), I can finally give that up, too... and stick to a very limited selection; but now with Simpsons, I will have to buy that series, too - and I will probably get more than one box, if possible, depending on distribution of the figures in it. After that series, though, I think I'll be able to hang it up on CMFs. But to Jargo's point - being a fan, and having played multiple of their video games, too, there's no end to what "costumes" they can have.... maybe it's just the season, but a Treehouse of Horror series would be absolutely incredible.

I actually don't see the confusion... EN is older, longer retired and, frankly, a better (more complex and interesting) set. But that's really all there is to it - in the line of "advanced/AFOL" trains, EN was released and retired before Maersk.

Like most, I'm sorely disappointed with the distribution... I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt this time, honestly, because I think they got backlash last time but it was too late to change for this release. I pointed out last time that there's no reason for so many twos and sixes, there's really no excuse is except marketing tactic to sell more. At this point, after ten series, it's pretty tedious to see this happening. Free market says they can do whatever they want; it also means I can stop buying, and if it keeps up, I will. I buy a case now, I don't have time to mess around in the store trying to pick out individual ones; I've been weening off of LEGO for some time now, I don't need extra reasons to stop buying. In the past, one case satisfied all my needs and with extras; now it doesn't. It's terrible. That said, this is, for me, the best series in a while. And, as always, a great review - I don't know how you could not know everything you wanted to know about these CMFs after reading one of WhiteFang's reviews.

Agree with peterab, the train motor will be easier. The holiday train was old style steam, like the original 'my own trains.' (just smaller train wheels, as the large ones did not exist at the time). If that's not unacceptable, you can brick link your own Holiday Train. That's what I did, too. Using the tender for the powered motor would probably be a good solution for TLR Constitution.

... and an abominable snow mons... I mean, "Yeti." I think a suitable Yukon Cornelius is possible (especially with the ice pick accessory), and we already have Santa. Now we just need reindeer.

I notice that, and said the same thing last time - I haven't been giving high marks to series for a while. I mean, there's always something good in it, and people get excited and say "best... series... EVER!" every time. However, I really do like this one a lot. The reasons are varied, and may be unfair to earlier series (I like, for example, when figures pair up with existing figures, so that happens more as time goes on). I haven't been thrilled, over all, with the past few. But honestly, I think maybe since the Elf, no figure has gotten me as excited as the Jazz Musician. Ultimately, though, I will say this about CMFs in general... I don't MOC as much as I'd like to, but these CMFs give instant MOC ideas - even before you see the pictures, when you read the list (and hope it's accurate), you're mind starts going.... then you see them, and the ideas start to solidify. Not having a lot of time, I grab an 8x8 and make little scenes now... each of these figures it's own story you can come up with (or is plainly obvious); I think I heard they have already planned at least until 12; I wonder if anyone's heard if they will keep going? They must... it must be easy money for them. If they stopped, I wouldn't cry about it - 12 series is a lot, but I can imagine it going on quite some time.

Great to finally see the pictures; I saw on my tablet last night, but not motivated enough to type up a big post on it (nor turn on my computer). So... Barbarian: Cool; nothing special, though, I can't think of anything to do with it. Scarecrow... I like it, but would be thrilled if it was a two sided head with a mean look. Bavarian Woman: great, but really only to make a little MOC with the guy; I like that, as time goes on, we have more and more matching figures that complement each other. Evil Mech: not a big fan of the genre, but nice to have another match. Tiki Warrior: This ties for my favorite of the series! Gingerbread guy: I almost wish he had a normal head, but he's cool, and the mug is cool. Elf: this is a great elf for Christmas displays; the extra teddy bear is cool; I think the present is going above and beyond what they need to offer; I don't know if that's a new printed tile, but it looks great. Yeti: take away the ice pop and it's usable. Mountain Climber: I like him, but can't think of what to do with him. Sure, I could waste a ton of gray slopes making a mountain for him to climb... but... uh... no. Welder: mask and blowtorch = cool... Can do a Zombie MOC where they're reinforcing a vehicle with spikes or something (doubt I'll ever do this, though). Scientist: I like the scientist, but why is the male scientist crazy, and the female "normal?" They don't match. I don't mind having more professional female figures, though. Jazz Musician: Blues Brother's MOCs, here we come! Ties for my favorite! The SAX is awesome... any of the third party sites have harmonicas? This is almost disappointing in a way, because I have so little time to build; I've been making 8x8s when I have a couple of hours to spare, I desperately will want to build a Blues Mobile, or a stage scene, but just don't see the spare time in my future. Waitress? Roller waitress? Interesting, but not really that great. Grandma... great to complete Red Riding Hood MOCs; add the wolf man from the monster fighter series, and you've got something going on. I like plain, every day figures, too, that can be used to flesh out a city. Bobbie: I like, but don't have much use for. Robot: nice complement for the other robot, but otherwise "meh." I have to say, I think this is one of the better series, overall. No "army builders," for me, but definitely several that I'll want a few of. Let's see them screw us, now, with only 2 Jazz musicians, tiki warriors, scare crows, and gingerbread men, while giving us 6 waitresses and mountain climbers per box.

You got that right. This set isn't worth $35, let alone the highway robbery that non-US residents will have to pay. Honestly - and I very rarely act this way, really, but honestly... this set is terrible for $35. $25 might make it bearable, but it's a terrible build, IMO, I don't like it at all. Props to a great review, but I'm left just shaking my head over the result. Cuusoo has been, overall, very disappointing to me.

+1 Praiter Yed, thanks again!

Fantastic train video - it pains me to watch it going around curves, though; can't wait for BB or ME to get some wide radius tracks out there. What really caught my eye, though? Your trees.

Welcome to EB and the traintech forum, Stu... wow, z-scale? I came to LEGO trains from n-scale, which was bad enough. How'd you go from OO to z?

Sorry, hope I'm not too late to address this - after your order, immediately after you submit your order, there will be a link near the upper right that says something like "show the items from this order in my wanted list" (I'm not sure of the exact wording). If you click it, it'll open a new window with your wanted list with just the items your ordered - at that point you can delete or adjust the numbers you want. It would be cool if you could get that link elsewhere (like on your orders page), but to the best of my knowledge, that's the only time it's offered to you.

So, what I'm hearing (and not just from here), is that the people who've seen it really enjoyed it despite what the "professional" reviewers rated it. I remember when Star Wars came out and our local newspaper rated it 2 stars (out of 4). A couple of weeks later it suddenly shot up to 3.5. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

That's an absolutely fantastic ship; congratulations on a great design and build! It just looks awesome.

Wow... quick, before the thread is closed! It is bad parenting - and it's not a lazy generalization. You don't just tell your kids what to do and how to treat other people and their property with respect, you lead by example and discipline when they break your rules. Not punishing bad behavior swiftly (and justly, not talking about physically) leads to repeated bad behavior. I've never hit my kids and my 14 year old son could not believe this story about the LEGO, he couldn't understand anyone behaving that way, PERIOD.

I have to say that, while Lone Ranger fan when I was little (I even had the large action figures - even the horse), I'm completely disinterested in this movie. I like Depp (I actually didn't used to - I hated 21 Jump Street, and his first movies were terrible - but he's really quite good); I generally like Verbinski's take on the subjects he does... I even like some of the LEGO sets (I got the train). But for some reason, I just have no interest in this movie, it just doesn't excite me at all. Like I said, IMO, I know the popularity of the movie will drive the sales of sets, but at least two of those sets, IMO, are worthy on their own - the Train and the Stage Coach. Unfortunately a lot of fans don't normally make that separation between the license and the sets. If they took away the gun car from the train, added another car and a caboose, that'd be a GREAT train starter set.

Just trying to drum up interest and get things moving... I can trade a whole, unopened, guaranteed accurate series 4 for any of the following lots (or make an offer - you get the idea): elrond and 1 uruk hai with ballista OR mirkwood elf poison ivy, doc ock, and black widow dr. doom and hulk (set version, not give-away version) If you're willing to trade those things and don't want series 4, check out all the CMFs + others I have (link in signature).

Yup... like TheLegoDr, although my taste in themes varied, it was the same way - I started buying caste with Fantasy Era, and kept buying when it ended. After a few sets, I was like "why am I still buying this?" I really only bought it because I liked the fantasy aspect. So - I figured I was done, but now we have some dragons. Even if it's technically not "fantasy" era, I need dragons!

Couple? Welcome to Eurobricks! I love microfigures - I've done a lot of work on microfigure castles, and if we're going to be realistic, most of us building Minas Tirith or a good scale Helm's Deep will need to do it in micro. I don't know that I'd use the figures like that - with the oversize heads and weapons, but they're cool looking and pretty amusing. I'm wondering what you're really going for here. You might try minifigure knives and as weapons for microfigures. But the style you used works great as is, too. Try this thread, too.

Yes, I get you're not excusing it, but I have an issue with this statement: what renumeration do you think he'll receive? And from whom? I find it very unlikely he'll be made "whole;" that is, compensation for his money AND time spent. Of course, building with LEGO is like computer programming in one aspect - whenever you have the chance to do it again, you always do a better job.

So cool... I'm envious. Your "modular" mocs are great.

Funny... we used to do this at work to practice animating (I'm not an animator, but I worked in an animation production department). That is, we'd take some odd bit of audio from some movie and animate something to it - it's a lot of fun, we should see more stuff like this. That dialog is fantastic!