fred67

Is the magic eraser really that good? I haven't used anything yet, I went looking for Brasso and it seems the U.S. formula is different because of stupid nanny state regulations - the reviews at Amazon say the new formula is terrible. One of the benefits supposedly is that you keep a clean "shine," because it's polish, after all. Darkdragon is the first person I've seen recommending the magic eraser, so I was hoping some of you could let me know how it works, or if you've used the new U.S. Brasso with success.

Updated my post to include a variety of Series 5 to trade; looking for Lizard Suit Guys, as well as some older ones. EDIT: I'd also like to remind people that if you haven't set your (valid) country in your user profile, then it helps to mention it in your post even if you are willing to do international trades, since others may not.

Shutting down the sale; I'd like to thank everyone who bought sets from me, and am looking forward to dealing with more great EB members in the future.

Royal Guard is definitely sufficient... TLG calls them Royal Guard.

Off topic slightly... but only because you don't have Alice. Some of the guys were talking about who their favorite action movie star is... of course some Arnold and Sylvester fans, some like Matt Damon's Borne character, but Bruce Willis got the lion's share of votes... and then I unabashedly was like "Milla Jovovich." How? I asked "wouldn't my favorite be the one I most want to see again?"

Queen's Guard.

That's true when they first come out... I hate going to the store and seeing picked-through box and not being able to get a good variety, but Elves are from series 3, for crying out loud... if you haven't gotten them by now, then... well... sorry. I myself have about 15; our LEGO Store still has series 3 and 4, so I may look through them again, but I stopped trying after about a dozen.

I agree with Gryphon Ink... I think the same thing about Kingdoms, for example; even Pirates of the Caribbean. (EDIT: meaning "about vehicles") Assuming we follow the movie, there's definitely horses, boats, Gandalf's carriage at the beginning of the movie, and little else until the last movie - where we have ships, Grond, and other siege towers. But the locations would be phenomenal... Bag End, Prancing Pony, Rivendell (which could be several sets), Moria (which could be several sets), Lothlorien (also several sets), a few miscellaneous places like where we find the trolls turned to stone and maybe even Argonath... Of course, I could keep going and going - a lot more possibilities than Pirates of the Caribbean or many other licensed themes, and the Hobbit adds a lot more. Yes, I'm dreaming... I still don't believe it'll happen for various reasons, but a lot of people come up with a lot of reasons why it wouldn't work for TLG, and some of them are just silly... it's a common belief that vehicles are required for themes, but it just doesn't seem to really pan out that way. I also don't think they'd need a lot of new molds. I'm sure many will disagree, but the large trolls from fantasy were more or less satisfactory... even the ride-able dragons make great Nazgul beasts. Nazgul themselves wouldn't require anything, hobbits, dwarfs, humans, and elves... already done. I image even Gollum (as disappointing as it might be) would be like Dobby from HP - a mold for a head, but a standard body otherwise. Anyway, I keep dreaming... I still don't hold my breath. If anything, this thread inspires me to try to do more on my own more than wait for TLG.

I still don't see LEGO making a LOTR theme, no matter how much I'd like it. I would love it, I'd buy it all (probably several times over), but I'm not holding my breath. However, I do still think the fantasy era was their answer for LOTR fans, and I would not doubt that we'll see a second fantasy era (whatever they want to call it). After all, they never gave us elves.

+1 Edmond Dantes, glad everything worked out.

Many of the "pending" Star Wars sets are back to being available.

For the record, so far I've gotten 30 from my local TRU (Duluth GA, USA) and they were all $2.99. They did not have a limit, while the local LEGO Store had a limit of 5.

Guys, don't be mean. It might be in the wrong place, but if it was posted about this minifigure before then I missed it and am glad chuckie posted it, even if I won't buy it myself. I'm a big fan of Shaun of the dead, and I mentioned it here as soon as they released the cricket bat... on my next order they mysteriously included a cricket bat as the "bonus," they are incredibly cool about that sort of thing, and it's cool they went ahead and made the figure.

To people who want the free stuff... it is not unreasonable to ask for shipping and packaging costs. Sometimes I have sent stuff for free, completely on my dime, but sometimes if it requires a new package that I don't have (like a padded envelope) and I don't have old stamps to use (in the U.S. this means stamps before "first class forever," where the 'value' of the stamp was less than first class mail... I had a lot of these and used them to ship to people for free, but now I don't have any more), then it kind of bothers me when someone asks for something then cancels because they don't want to pay a couple of bucks for shipping and a new padded envelope, after I've taken the time to separate out those items and weigh and calculate shipping. It's not like I'm making a profit, let alone getting anything out of it at all (to date I have not even asked for anything from anyone else, period). Not only are you getting pieces for free, but my time and effort to send it... is it really that much to ask that you pay for shipping and packaging materials? EDIT: I'd like to mention that, in the case that made me write this, with the amount I was asking for I was still not recouping my shipping expense + the cost of the padded envelope. It's very annoying.

Wow... laptops? I paid way too much getting a couple from BL. I don't get to the LEGO store much anymore, but the last time I went I noticed they bulked up the BAM section with a LOT more. I blew it off because, at first glance, it looked like it was just larger bins of the same stuff they always had, which wasn't that great, but I'll have to take a closer look next time.

Interesting... I've used technic plates screwed onto a board for a school project for my son and it worked out quite well, so you might be able to use something like: to screw your couplers onto (that's the plate with three holes, although you can't see them in the picture). Frankly, though, they may need to stick out too far to handle curves and you could probably create a LEGO solution that looked better, perhaps with pieces like: and pins, or even just technic liftarms.

The link in the post is the best I can do - they are identical except the top (bottom in my picture, as I use them upside down) is clear instead of black. The boxes with the black tops were bought from a local gaming store (gaming like Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer).

Son 12, daughter 9... they both can build whatever they want with my pieces, but don't touch my sets. My son has a number of his own, though, and they both collect the collectible minifigures (and I always give them priority over me when I'm trying to complete my set). I do set up trains at Christmas time (no space for a permanent display), and they can play all they want, including all the other pieces I've got there (a number of bits and pieces from past advent calendars and the bakery and toy shop). They're good about not losing anything, they know it's dad's addiction hobby.

So finally got a chance to hit up my LEGO store at Discovery Mills in Lawrenceville, GA., and they didn't have them yet... the guy said maybe next week, but he heard TRU had them. I headed over to TRU and picked up 20 random ones... they had two boxes on display, and weren't limiting purchases. I could have just grabbed a whole one, but they were certainly picked through and rearranged, so I don't know that it would have been anything like buying a closed case. Anyhow, 20 was good enough for now. Got a good variety... missed the Royal Guard, Cave Woman, Lizard Suit Guy, Dwarf and Snowboarder... so 11 out of the 16 (although I only have 8 myself, after the kids took what they wanted).

May I suggest "Cloudy Night." The red variation is commonly referred to as "Ruby Night," and I've seen "Onyx Night" suggested for black. Sticking with gemstone colors, "Moonstone Night" might be appropriate. Anyway, good job - I always love seeing these color variations (I've only done red so far).

Where? Was it at or below MSRP?

Those are great! Much better than mine... I just whittled mine. (although I've since trimmed them to make them a bit shorter, as well). What did you use to construct these? Looks like the could be wood or plastic carving...

I think we need to redo this thread... The idea that someone starts by giving, but then it can only flow from giver to the next giver to the next giver doesn't really work. Frankly, while there's been a few things I'm interested in, I'm mainly into giving stuff I know I will not find useful. But with all my additions, and all the giving that's been going on, it's hard to know what's left. If we could do something like the CMF trading thread for PIF (pay it forward), or just call it "for free," where people can have a single post with what they have to offer, and handle requests strictly through PM, it might end up being a lot cleaner. No replies in the thread, no second posts for any members... just keep editing your own post. For now, I'm going to clean out my previous posts and put what I have left here. --FOR FREE:------------------------------------------------------------------- Shipping: I may or may not ask receiver to pay shipping via paypal, depending on how much I'm sending. Please PM me if you are interested! Pictures link to larger pictures or BL catalog. Duplo, The Promo Duplos are not available. x 2 Jack Stone Pilot X 6 (dark gray) (EDIT: 2 left) bricks and plates with axles (or pins, really). x 14 (white) --Pending:-------------------------------------------------------------------- None. --Given to date:-------------------------------------------------------------- , Akro Mills small drawer separators, 4 helicopter sleds.

As for storing them with weapons, there was a problem with Castle Battle-packs where the figures came with weapons and shields in hands and the figures would no longer hold them, but the problem was that they weren't FULLY in the hands, so they were applying extra stress. As long as it's assembled completely then I don't think there's a long term problem storing with the figures holding their items.

+1 typo for CMF trade... Thanks!