fred67

I don't know... I think discussing a dedicated elf theme is on topic, and why they didn't do it before doesn't seem like it goes too far off topic. I still say they wanted a clean, non-fantasy slate, even if it was before negotiations, or when the negotiations were in their infancy. Regardless, I do think LOTR may have killed any chance we'll get an elf theme (or return to fantasy) any time soon. I'd like to throw out there that the "evil" dwarf fits in this discussion, too, so I would expect that if a theme came out of it, it would include both (and maybe others, like a minotaur and fairy).

You don't think they would have been in talks with Newline/WB much earlier than that?

Well then that makes sense - usually places with larger quantities charge more because they know you can make up some of the difference on convenience and shipping. What I tend to do is get the pieces I need immediately, but keep the piece on my wanted list so that when I bulk up future orders I can see what pieces a store has for reasonable prices and get them just a few at a time. Let me explain in case you don't know what I mean - often you need just a few pieces, so you get killed on shipping and handling, so a lot of people will bulk up their order with interesting pieces even if they don't necessarily need them right away. There's no chart - it's been suggested on BL that BL occasionally scrape the LEGO S@H page for people to price compare, but neither the BL admin nor the shop owners want you to be able to easily compare prices with S@H. BL nearly always beats S@H, but there are a number of pieces actually cheaper on S@H, and sometimes the prices are comparable - but you can get a quantity all in one shot from S@H. Maybe a "scraper" is something I can do on my own... I have a number of ideas for useful online LEGO tools. Otherwise, you're stuck looking in the catalog on BL to compare prices between stores. That works the best, because if you need "X" number of some piece you can quickly see who has that many and how much they are charging. Beware the catalog for prices on full sets, though. You'll see unrealistically cheap ones, even listed as "new," but when you go look you'll find the shop owner has taken all the minifigures out or something along those line, and yet they screw up the catalog statistics by listing it as a set. I also take issue with shops that collect all the parts for a set, then sell it as a set. A number of sellers are doing that for the LEGO store promotional set. It's unethical, IMO, unless it's clearly listed as a reproduction. It is what it is... if you create a wanted list with minimum quantities of what you need, then the wanted list "By Shop" tab will list the stores with the most matches. The problem is they are not necessarily the cheapest or best stores, so it may be worth it to move down on the list and compare several shops. But this is the nature of BL... people part out sets and get pieces from the PAB wall at LEGO Stores... any individual seller is only going to have a fraction of all the available kinds of pieces, and they usually have limited quantities, which is why sometimes S@H can be a better deal even if their prices don't beat BL - you can get all your parts in large quantities in one order. It takes a lot of work to get the best deals.

That would violate terms, too. No... even if the "box" modeler wanted a more realistic store, one can look at their model and say "you know what? It's a box."

... and that's why we will keep seeing duplicates, because so many will not want another person to "win" with a similar design. It's another example of how you can't do anything "nice" without people abusing the system (or, if not "abusing" then at least making the quality of the service go down). Hmmm... I reminded of the saying "never attribute to malice what can be explained by [ignorance|stupidity|incompetence]." So, people are either being selfish or oblivious. I don't know what's worse. I will agree that there is probably significant overlap, though, but probably not 100%. MY problem with CUUSOO is too many stupid projects that any redacted should realize will never make it to 10k supporters. Here's a great example of when redacted post sets that others have already posted.... So somebody posts this LEGO store: .. essentially a box. At over 500 pieces. Like TLG would release anything remotely like this... but still, he posts it when THIS version of the LEGO Store has already been submitted: Sorry - I know I'm not a master builder by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm a bit annoyed at going to CUUSOO and seeing "boxes" that any idiot could build without even trying. That guy that posted the set in the first picture - he wasted my valuable time. And his. And everybody who bothered looking. I don't care how highly that guy thought of himself, had he bothered to look at what was there he would have been embarrassed to submit his "box."

I would think they might release another wave near the holidays (maybe not), but even if they don't that's still two this year; I don't see any reason why we wouldn't get at least two next year (between the two movies), and then I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one more after that, if not two or more. And I wouldn't be surprised if they ended it with a bang, like they did with Kingdoms (Joust) and Harry Potter (Diagon Alley), but of course it's all speculation at this point. However, it would seem pretty dumb to not get at least two more waves next year.

I believe in the paranormal because it's a term used to describe things we can't explain... I don't really believe in the supernatural though, although it's a subject I like a great deal; the ghost hunter shows on TV are ridiculous, but I love the fiction - especially the show "Supernatural," which is what I would have preferred over "Monster Hunters". I suppose demons are too mature for kids, though, where ghosts and vampires are OK... although that show has a fair number of those, too. I've seen some pretty weird things; I've got stories from back when I went to summer camp - things that scared the bejeesus out of me that I still cannot explain. However, I will never believe these things were supernatural without concrete evidence.

Which one? I always wondered what they do to keep the bricks from getting discolored in the sun... I guess they don't do anything.

Definitely a good place too look - I probably don't look often enough.

That's an issue, but the problem is that someone wants to post their own version - so instead of seeing if someone else has already done something, they put up their version. Even if they did find someone else's model first, people generally would prefer to see their own model "win" instead of someone else's. So yes, I noticed it, too, but it doesn't bother me since I won't vote for models in existing themes, and I certainly won't vote for models that TLG has already done just because the CUUSOO user thinks their model is better.

it depends on whether you want that piece or not! It also depends on how many of that piece are included in the set. Generally speaking, though, I'd say if it's a desirable and rare piece, finding that many is pretty good!

You have to buy in multiples of 18.... so 18, 36, 54...

My version: DSCF1457 by FredJH, on Flickr DSCF1458 by FredJH, on Flickr My solution to the Lizard Suit Guy, assuming you have 3 depth: DSCF1460 by FredJH, on Flickr A 2x2 or 2x3 plate to shift him forward one. He just fits in 3 studs deep. EDIT: I'm definitely going to replace the CMF baseplate with a series of 1x4 tile, 3 1x2 tiles, and a 1x2 plate, so that he's not higher.

From ME models: From the EB minifigure display thread, here's what I did for individual figures: Dice cases to display minifigures. by FredJH, on Flickr Depending on the figures and accessories, the Container Store has a number of options... a baseball display case could be used if you need more room, for example - the cases are relatively inexpensive, IMO.

I used a 2x2 tile on the minifigure baseplate to allow the lizard suit guy to stand one stud closer to the front. It makes him a tile higher than the rest, but it works. You could always replace the minifigure baseplate with some tiles and a 1x2 (or 1x4, if you want it to look more like the others) so that he's standing on the same level. One stud forward and his tail just fits in the three stud deep area.

I wonder about a lot of stuff like that... I was collecting elves and dwarfs (aside from the one each of every figure I have on display, I have a sealed one, too; on top of that, I have maybe 15 elves and dwarfs), but figured that LOTR would eventually make it pointless and give me much more of a variety, eventually. Not to go too far off topic, but I feel the same way about sets from other themes - specifically Star Wars when, for example, a new Millennium Falcon (4504) on Bricklink starts at $200 (in the US, and there's only one... the next lowest is over $400), but a new ship comes out (7961), is (subjectively, but almost universally so) better, and can be had for MSRP. Only for some kind of purist collector who needs every version of everything could 4504 possibly be worth that much. Luckily, I'm not one - so when a new version comes out and I can get it for MSRP (or less) then I don't care that I don't have every version. Back on topic, though, my CMF collection is thus: 1 of every figured opened and in a display case, 1 of every figure sealed (yes, I'm that confident in the "feel" method when given enough time), and extras of the interesting ones that sparked some MOC ideas - elves, dwarfs, musketeers (3, of course), and many of the Hollywood B-Movie figures (Ape suit guy, lizard suit guy, robots, etc.). Some figures I just liked even though I didn't have a purpose for them at the time - I have a number of space patrol guys, for example, and evil knights... In fact, around this time last year I was ready to give up on most of the other themes and just collect CMFs. I didn't like non-fantasy castle; I would continue to buy OT Star Wars sets (only of things I didn't have, though), so that wasn't much... I was a fan of architecture, but when they started going from $20 sets to $50, $70, $100 - even $200, I said to myself that I just can't keep up with that. The point being that I really love CMFs, and I think that, for me, all the MOC ideas they spark when a new series is released makes them the the best thing LEGO could have done for me. What will I do with those sealed series? I don't know... my kids collect, too, but only specific ones they like; perhaps grandkids someday. Who knows what they'll be worth by then, though. Last year I had a hard time building my Cafe Corner, which was brand new, still sealed in the box - the lowest BL value was over $800 (I bought it new for MSRP - $140), but I didn't buy it to save - it only took me so long because I didn't have the space to display it once built until I added some new shelves.

I like monster fighters to a certain extent, but I'm more interested in the monsters than the hokey "theme" of finding moon stones (or whatever they are) and ghost trains and such. One of the things that's inspired me over the course of the CMF series is how many movie themes are possible - and it wouldn't be limited to monsters, you've also got Cleopatra and robots (as you mentioned) - a lot of fun 50's B-movie style sets could be made. Enough that it inspired me to start collecting the LEGO cameras and tape tiles and thinking about making MOCs of movie sets and such. IOW, I think they should revisit the LEGO Studios theme with an expanded universe of movie types. It was a good guess - they did everything but elves (well, not true - the "maps" from fantasy era showed an elf area... best guess is it was obviously cut short by LEGO getting the LOTR license, so they did everything but elves that they showed on the map). They quickly dumped the fantasy era line (which could possibly be seen as a competitor to LOTR), and replaced it with a more "generic," non-fantasy, short-lived castle theme while they developed LOTR sets. Since we're on the subject, though, I always liked fantasy era - it's what got me into the castle theme; and while I'd always wanted them to do LOTR, fantasy era was "good enough" for me, and I wish they'd continued it to include elves (and halflings would have eventually been nice). Since they did do a CMF elf, I'd add that I certainly wouldn't mind seeing a new fantasy era, but it's kind of a catch-22. I want LOTR to continue as long as possible, but I also don't think another fantasy era and LOTR would be done together. So, eventually, when the LOTR/Hobbit theme is over (and since there's not an ongoing TV series like Star Wars, I imagine it will happen not too long after Hobbit part 2 is released), I'd like to see fantasy era creep back in... I know many castle fans don't like the fantasy sets, but I, on the other hand, ONLY liked the fantasy sets, otherwise I'm not a big fan of castle. I also thing a fantasy era line could be expanded - we've already had skeletons (which I wasn't too fond of), dwarves, orcs, and trolls along with the humans - you even had "ridable" fell-beasts (ostensibly dragons), but not only could you add elves and halflings, but any other fantasy characters, too - including fairies and such (an interesting twist, IMO, after reading the first two books of the King killer chronicles). That could include satyrs and centaurs and such. I know I'm reaching, here, but it all starts with the elf - the elf and dwarf were the only figures I collected more than a handful of.

Yeah... I don't know. People choose a side in fandom and then vigorously defend it like they have some vested interest - whether is their car brand, shoe brand, video game system, operating system - people often feel the need to validate their choice. I do think the clone brands are inferior quality, and generally avoid them, but I don't hate on them... I don't really care, frankly, and appreciate the fact that they do themes that TLG won't. I do have a MB set (just the one, though). That said, it can't be because they are clones - because TLC ripped off kiddiecraft before buying the rights. They were no angels. I also respect the fact that any patents on the brick functionality are long since expired, and there's a reason that patents expire. One last thing, at the presentation I saw last fall, one of the executives from TLG's North American marketing division explained that one of the things TLG did to overcome it's near bankruptcy about a decade ago was to STOP trying to compete at the low end with clone brick makers. They realized they had a premium product and could charge premium prices and they marketed it that way. There's a reason TLG is so much more successful than the clone makers - because they do a better job.

Whatever they want to call it!

There are occasionally people looking for the boxes, but I've never heard of anybody wanting packets. I have several boxes (I buy a whole box now, I'm too old and crotchety to feel up packs for hours at a time); I like to have two sets - one opened on display and one closed for whatever in the future (grand kids?), and then I need extras of all the ones I want to make MOCs with, so it just makes sense to buy the box. The old boxes are storing the closed sets.

Alright, my two cents. It's always fun to see the new sets and see what new ones we're getting, so at first I was excited about it. There's nothing there that I want to army-build, so I'll want my usual two sets and maybe a couple extras for some MOCs, but after looking at it for a while, I've become a bit disappointed. I know it's hard - we're over 100 CMFs now, and it's hard to keep coming up with new ideas and implementing them to the level we've become accustomed to, but still... Conquistador - a very cool figure, no complaints here. Goes along well with the past historical warrior types they've been releasing. Manbat - interesting. Don't like it as a vampire, but I guess vampire stories vary enough this could be pretty neat - I don't necessarily like the "traditional" movie style vampire TLG previously released, either. Nice addition, I guess. Diver - This is my favorite, I think... it's the kind of really interesting thing that spurs ideas for MOCs for me; I love the helmet. Shakespearean Actor - OK... not too bad. Santa Claus - The Santa we should have always had, IMO. I wish they could come up with a way he's got the bag slung over his shoulder. Wouldn't mind a few of these to replace the pseudo Santas from previous sets. Cowgirl - I wanted to like this, but they made her too "Jessie" from Toy Story. I guess they are appealing to kids, so it's hard to complain. It doesn't go well with the earlier cowboy, IMO, which is more of a "serious" cowboy. Alien Queen - Wow. Well... I loved Mars Attacks, and this really fits with that style, but while it may have been a while, I don't recall female Martians in that movie, and even if there were, they were few and far between. I'm all for more female figures, I've said it many times on the "what are we missing" thread, but sometimes it seems like they need to shoe-horn something in. There's nothing wrong with an invasion being led by females, but it looks too much like Mars Attacks, and so I feel like I want figures more representative of Mars Attacks. If they'd made a female version of one of the aliens they've previously done, I'd be really happy about it. So I like this one a lot, but this one will be better if they release a male one in the future. I'd have preferred a female version of several of the figures released already than this.... elves in particular. Lederhosen Guy - Needs a beer. Should be a simple MOC - clear brownish resin in a clear LEGO cup. If we can eventually build a MOC of an Octoberfest type of German Beer Band, that'd be cool: DJ - another rehash, but from a different period, which makes it OK, I guess, but not that exciting. Pirate Captain - I've already got too many pirates. I'm sure I "get" this one, or what's so special about it, but pirates isn't my mail LEGO theme, so I'm probably missing something. English Guy - Nice hat. Could be up for a James Bond kind of MOC. Otherwise, cool for a completest, but not that inspiring. Robot - Another bucket head robot? Why? Yes, cool torso, cool head... but out of all the things they could do, why another bucket head? Football Player - not a fan of football, so not really interesting to me. Skier - Another skier? Acchhh... whatever. Cheerleader - Another cheerleader? At least having two different kinds makes sense, now a two team MOC can each have it's own cheerleaders that don't look the same. Not great for me, but more understandable than the other ones. Fairy - Was really looking forward to this one and am extremely disappointed. Pretty ugly and boring for a fairy. My wife likes fairies and was excited to learn there'll be a LEGO one... she's going to hate it when she sees it, though. I guess this is very much like other series for me - I still love them, and some of the figures are really cool, and I'm sure it's like that for everybody - I'm sure some of you love the ones I dissed and hate the ones I like, which is why a variety is good. I'm still excited for this and future ones. I'm wondering how far it can go. Still lots of ideas out there that I wish they'd do before rehashing, but I guess they need to pace themselves, too, to keep interest up.

I have the latest, and one of the older, HP trains. I wish they'd done a better job, certainly, but I motorized the first one (I have yet to build the second one) and think it's OK as a mediocre train. Someone else mentioned it being in the same league as the Toy STroy train, but I disagree - the Toy Story train is really cool as a play item, I use it on my Christmas layouts (I wouldn't use it in a "realistic" layout). As for comparisons with the EN, the EN is a much better version of the Hogwarts Express (although the details don't really match). If only someone did it in red... I've done this MOD myself - it's the closest "official" set I think you'll ever see to match the Hogwarts Express, unless TLG decides to make a UCS Hogwarts... which would be awesome, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I guess hindsight is not always 20/20, but viewed through the prism of various perspectives... At that time, not only did LEGO NOT advertise trains (I was a LEGO fan AND a model train fan - N-Scale) and didn't even realize LEGO made trains. I had no LEGO store, never thought to look online at LEGO.com because I was only just slowly coming out of dark ages... I didn't even see the trains until the Express was being sold for 50% off at my warehouse club for Christmas. I bought two because I didn't know you could even buy track separately... I bought a second one just for track! Even then, I didn't know about MOT at all. So when you look at something historically, there is context... I never saw them sold at TRU - although I didn't really look, either, because I didn't know they existed, but I never saw them when perusing the LEGO aisle. On top of that, LEGO was in financial dire straights all-around, and it wasn't just trains... while I got hooked back then, the re-emergence of amazingly well done trains (Emerald Night and Maersk) should have been marketed more towards model train fans. The problem, I guess, is they don't advertise outside the core demographics. I'm curious, though, after all these years - I see a lot of LEGO ads on Cartoon Network... I've seen Friends, I've seen Ninjago, I've seen City... except I don't recall seeing trains. Have they ever advertised their complete train sets on TV? I'd like to add, too, that those train sets get sold out around here every Christmas... neither the LEGO Store nor places like TRU can keep them stocked. Perhaps that lesson is that the sets sell, but maybe individual pieces don't. What's interesting, then, is that they don't try... they don't sell extra cars for those sets at all. I can see the argument (even if I disagree with it) that they shouldn't make extra Maersk or EN cars separately, that those are AFOL sets, Thomas the Tank Engine toys show kids do like a lot of different trains and rolling stock... I would imagine the price point for such cars should be a lot lower, but then the cars in those complete sets bare little resemblance (quality and piece-count wise) to the EN car.

They balance releasing enough sets to keep everybody happy with releasing so many sets that they compete too much with each other. As far as I can tell, they are pretty happy with the current balance.

I believe GRogall from past experience. I don't think this is a stand-out list, but I'm not disappointed at the repeats because I'm assuming opposite sex versions, as we've seen before. Also, some of them are a bit ambiguously named ("trader?"), which could be a result of having seen the series without seeing the "official" naming.