fred67

Nice... supported. What piece is that ... jar... urn... vase...? Custom?

Possibly early admittance for Black Friday sales. But on every 'bet' you 'win' a LEGO set... AND 10%.

Data center had a power outage. It's back.

Well... first of all, I like the monsters theme, but not so much the "monster fighters" theme... the monsters are some of my favorite collectible minifugures, and I've managed to get some that were missing by trading for some monster fighter figures, but I'm not so much into the "playability" of the MF theme... just want the variety of monsters for displays and MOCs. I found it a little bit odd that they'd take what is really more of a kids/non-AFOL theme (unlike, say, modular buildings) and make a set like this for it. Even worse is that, after perusing the latest catalog (got mine only just yesterday), I noticed (I hadn't really paid that much attention) that this competes directly with Vampyre Castle. How many homes does Lord Vamp have, anyway? I don't think this set was originally intended as an MF set (or a modular)... I think someone just built it and some supervisors liked it and it moved up the chain to where someone decided it would make a good set. Somewhere along the way they figured it was best put in the MF theme instead of holiday (Halloween), added some figures and threw in some stickers. The set was on my "must have" list for some time... but now that I see it, how expensive it is, realize I'm not so much a fan of MF (just the monsters, and already have vampires and Frankenstein's monster), I just can't accept $180 for it. I know, I know most countries are paying more, but things are rough all over, I'm a middle aged man with a family to support, and over the last few years LEGO prices have gone up a lot faster than inflation dictates they should, while "real" wages (adjusted for inflation) have largely gone down. I'm not "whining," TLG can charge what they think people will pay - I'm still a largely free market capitalist, but I have to make my own decisions and, as much as I like the horror theme, and as much as I like the monsters in MF, I can't justify to myself paying this much. It's a beautiful set... and inspires me to make my own, that will be usable by lifting off floors modular style, and that will fit in the "creepy" end of my someday LEGO layout, maybe an out-of-place house between Apple Tree and Family House, maybe in a modular section I can display on Halloween. I don't know why I'm even posting this except that Capt. Bluebeard's post made me think about how TLG treated this set, and that I'd actually be angry after buying Vampyre Castle and having this set come out. I also thought about Yatkuu's posts... I agree this set is too expensive. I don't think it's fair to complain that you weren't able to get a "mistake" price, but I do get annoyed at how they force you to buy from one country while another somehow gets to capitalize on the mistake(*), and this set is just too expensive, IMO. From now on, there's no such thing as "must have." As a side note, Yatkuu, I do think you were robbed with the Winchester, no matter how gracious you were about the decision - I can see why you've gotten really upset about the TLG. (*) Not just LEGO - DVD and Bluray discs are another example - region coding so that they can artificially charge some people more than others. But we sit back and take it because we want what we want, just like with LEGO.

Yes... I've discovered a few good deals (including that one), also the Battle of Helm's Deep is similarly priced/discounted, and not paying sales tax (yet) is not lost on me. But like I said - the bottom line is look around. There's some browser plug-ins that can show you where items are cheaper sometimes, too.

I want to agree with you - and, as a long time Amazon user, have seriously considered Amazon prime... but to extend what you've written, I still can't decide if it's worth it. Most of the stuff is free shipping anyway if you go over $25.00 (granted, it's not 2 day), and I don't think the other A.P. services will have much value for me. But I also don't see these great savings you speak of. Whenever I look for the stuff I want, it's no cheaper - or if it is, only fractionally so (a buck or two off $99 isn't all that). Sometimes there are great sales, but they are only useful if: a) I haven't already purchased the product, and b) it's something I actually want. The three things rarely coincide (decent sale, a and b). So... the bottom line is that 10% off future purchases is not that bad a deal. This month, also, S@H is giving free shipping and a free gift (and who can't use another zombie?) for orders over $75. Don't get me wrong - sometimes Amazon is a great way to buy LEGO, but sometimes S@H or the LEGO Store are, too. You always have to look at the time you're buying for the best deal. Edit: the post prompted me to look... I'm even seeing Amazon prices (granted, it's third party) that are HIGHER than S@H - one seller is selling the 32x32 green baseplate on sale for $6.99 (down from $9.99). Really? $4.99 on S@H! That's a TRU tactic. Whatever... the point is to always shop around.

Very nice! If those windows are panels, then it seems like the minifigure could sit there if it's arm were raised to shoulder height (like it was leaning on the window sill).

I disagree... there's room enough for at least one set of holes (one on each leg) in the back. They may have to make a different mechanism than they do for the "adult" legs (smaller "axles"), so they wouldn't be interchangeable (although, if they redesigned it so that it would work for smaller legs, they might just use that design for new adult legs - that'd have people screaming, I guess). It may mean that taking them apart to arrange them as you see fit wouldn't work (perhaps too easily broken), but since you can't do that with current short legs, I don't see what people would be able to complain about.

Agree with legomaniac83; it's always unacceptable to get something other than what was advertised, but always try to work it out first!

Oh, I think they can build one, but it'd kind of have to be half in and half out of the water... or something. I just don't see how it playable they can make it - not that I don't want to see them try

Thanks... I read this the other day and picked up a few at a local Target, $3.99.

Agreed... The Bridge at Kazaduhm seems like a no-brainer, but to me, the entrance to the mines, with a lurker, also seems obvious, although if LEGO doesn't make it, I'd assume it was difficulty creating a playable lurker as opposed to a display set.

Complete is complete; if it's not complete, you have a valid complaint. Replacement bricks are usually OK if they are the exact same brick (IOW, you wouldn't be able to tell that brick wasn't in that set anyway). If there's other replacements, if the seller doesn't make it clear in the listing, then you have every right to complain. A lot of people still think of LEGO only as toys and not collectibles, or if they do they are simply trying to make a quick buck. In fact, there's a number of bricklink sellers that are selling sets as "new" that are pieces they collected to build official sets; they sell it "new," "opened," and without instructions or box... but hey, it's all "new" pieces. I have a problem with this, especially if they don't make it clear in their listing. So... I guess... in other words, regardless of how it's listed, if the description makes it clear, it's one thing (and I think it's acceptable). Otherwise, it's not acceptable.

I have many polybags I'm willing to trade for the Batman Jekski... Notably: 30201 Ghost with grandfather clock 30210 Frodo Cooking 30062 Target Practice Also willing to buy for $8 or less, shipped, paid via paypal. You can also check out my CMF thread and other sale (see my signature below) to see if there's anything in there you're willing to trade. I'd trade for multiple jetski bags (up to 4), or a combination of trades and paypal. Thanks for looking.

Hi, Pulsar... welcome to Eurobricks AND the LEGO Train Tech forum. The cargo train is a really popular set, but you will find the greatest detail in the standalone trains (without track or power functions, which you would need to add later). The (somewhat) recently discontinued Emerald Knight is probably the most detailed LEGO train ever sold as a set. It may be possible, if you like steam era, to get one on bricklink for a reasonable price... under $200 in the U.S., I don't know what they may be going for in Holland. If diesel is more to your liking, then the Maersk Train is still available from LEGO. It's about on the same level as the 9V BNSF sold about 10 years ago, but with Maersk coloring and cargo cars.

I prefer this one. The first thing I did after assembling Gandalf Arrives was to give him one of these.

As always, thanks for the review. No ghost.

I've largely been staying out of this thread because, while I feel the pain of the hard work of some being credited to people who took their work and claimed it as their own, I sadly have not had the opportunity to create great MOCs that are even worthy of theft - and at the same time, I'd never do it to someone else, so it's largely just preaching to the choir. Sadly, I have to disagree with you, Bobsy... that people should know better is true, but whether or not they do is the issue - too many parents have, sadly, over the past few generations, not taken the time to teach their kids right from wrong. People get rewarded all the time for bad behavior when they don't get caught, and they often end up with little or no punishment when they do. If nothing else, my kids know the golden rule. If everyone followed the golden rule, essentially nothing bad would ever happen... not just not stealing ideas, but respect for other people and their livelihood (their life's work). That's what it has come down to... a distinct lack of respect for others, and the anonymity of the internet is a catalyst for it. I'd like to thank Kiel-da-man and all the other wonderful builders for sharing their creations with those of us who respect their work, and for you others for diligently reporting the theft of their work and getting sites like LEGO.com to set things right.

I don't live in Europe. I probably could have bought them from a European bricklink store for less... and then paid more than the difference in shipping.

It's not a complaint, it's just weird... it seems like it would be a run down old house... not one BUILT with people's heads as part of the structure. "Hmm... what could we use to support that structure? I know! A human head!" I have no problem with them throwing in extra heads! Especially Zombie ones!

I would rather they limit the number of suggestions they get; moderate out duplicates and immediately reject things they know they won't make. With far fewer projects, maybe more will get more support.

I just noticed that the other day... I don't get it. I was examining the house as closely as possible to see if I could built it largely from parts I already have (I think it's quite expensive), and noticed them. I'd just use solid color heads, as I think it's really weird anyway.

There's so much to like - I collect whole sets, but the kids (one son, one daughter) often want the same ones, but they each like others that the other one doesn't like. We all like the "fun" ones: the costumed ones (bunny suit, ape suit, lizard suit) and the monsters; my daughter goes for some of the women (pop singer, punk rock girl and skater... but not others, like the Geisha or the tennis player). My son does like the fighters of any era, fantasy, sci-fi, whatever. In other words... people like what they like and there's so much to like that interests often overlap.

It IS amazing... the attention to detail... so many little things to find. Just awesome!

Thanks for another advanced look at what's coming up, GRogall, but these seem really boring and uninspired. The spiders look like cool droids, maybe something from the Matrix. I will say this: the witch is kind of neat. Looks like you could hide a treat in there.