Sumendar

I haven't had any problems with MLCad and Vista so far. edit: And this is 64-bit Vista, which usually has somewhat more complications than the 32-bit one, even with relatively new software.

If you mean the 8258 with the truck, there are two linear actuators in it.

I'm afraid there's no joke in the estimated price for 8043, the current flagship 8258 is $150 -> 160€(Netherlands)-190€(Finland). All prices quoted from shop.lego.com

If that price is anywhere near final for the excavator, it would mean we will see two big-flagship years in a row. Also, the crane would be around 1000-1100 parts like the 8265, maybe even a bit bigger. Definitely sounds like a good one if you missed the 8421 crane like I did.

This one? (Includes pictures of the "build") http://releases.jhu.edu/2009/08/25/legos-h...a-chip-devices/

The funny thing about MISB sets as collectibles is that they have next to no display value at all. The value comes from the parts (their particular combination, or rather, the model you can build from them) inside, which, if you want to keep the set MISB and thus collectible, you will never see. Sure, there's the box, but due to yellowing and other damage from light, you can't really display those either. Honestly, it's a bit like collecting old wines, maybe a bit easier to store and with some residual value left after opening and first use and you can be quite certain what you're getting if you do decide to open it. I don't see many rational reasons for keeping a MISB set, either a) Build up an actual collection where the whole has a value of its own, or b) aim to profit from the rising value by selling the set at some point in future, in which case you'll want a decent return for your investment of storing the box. There's also the understandable emotional reasons for keeping a set, like knowing it's one you had as a child, but in that case I don't think there's any question about what you should do with it. Now, if I found myself in possession of a collectible, but not ultra-rare (like >500$ and/or likely to rise fast) MISB set and had low storage space (who doesn't?), I'd probably sell it and buy a couple of other sets for building, or maybe the same set if I like it. Let the collectors have their fun, I'll have mine, everybody wins in the end.

No worries there, this was for inventory purposes, I'm a bit weird and want to keep track of every part I have. Also, tracking down some of the odd pieces to see what kind of set they originally came from can be fun

Thanks Natman8000, no wonder I didn't find them, "legs" or "minifig" are not the first things that come to mind from the shape...

I got these bricks in a mixed lot that included bricks from the 60's to recent times, so the only clues I have to their age is that there is no part number anywhere, and the mold number inside them looks hand-scribbled, I'm guessing they are rather old. However, after searching it for couple of hours on both bricklink and peeron, I'm still puzzled what part this could be. It is genuine Lego, the logo is inside the hollow studs. The outer dimensions are 1 x 2 x 1 & 1/3 , the lower part is one plate thick.

Is there anyone here who lives in Finland and has ordered stuff from Bricklink? I'd like to know what kind of taxes and customs fees there would be on a, say, 100€ (85€+15€ postage) order from inside EU or from the US.

Thanks CommanderFox! I've noticed Bricklink, but as very few of the shops are in Finland, I'd love to hear from someone who lives here and has shopped from BL about the taxes imposed on the orders, both from within EU and from the US, as well as the usual customs rates for US orders.

Thanks for the tip Jvvv! Picked up the 8265 Frontend Loader for <54€ along with the store's last 6754 for the local SFOL. There were also several 8258 Crane Trucks for <109€, but as I'd already grabbed that one from their Christmas offer for <149€, I didn't go for another one. (I know I'll be kicking myself for not getting several of it and the 8265 in a couple of years, but...)

Hi, I'm Sumendar. I'm the same age as the minifig, and live in Helsinki, Finland. I entered my dark ages around 1990, when my interest turned more to computers, and emerged in 2007/8 (thanks to a friend's UCS ISD I think) to find that things had changed quite a bit, especially in Technic, which was fun to play with in the 80's, and still is my favourite theme, along with classic space. I remember I didn't like it when the named space-themes started appearing, and I still think the original "peaceful exploration for scientific purposes" is better than the later ones with aliens and whatnot, but maybe that's just the scientist in me speaking. All of my original sets are long gone, having been handed down to younger cousins, mixed with theirs and handed down again, but thanks to the local equivalent of ebay, I've managed to grab a handsome lot of mixed stuff to provide some alternative fun apart from the new Technic sets, of which I've so far grabbed the 8285 tow truck, 8258 crane truck (really, what is it with trucks lately?), mindstorms 2.0 and the 8265 frontend loader. Missed the 8275 bulldozer first due to choice between it and the tow truck, then due to being too busy to concentrate on Lego for a year (poor availability of sets doesn't really help here, I'm not sure if I even saw the bulldozer anywhere else than the local TRU). The 8297 offroader looks kind of nice, but then again, it's not quite a supercar... Now finishing my inventory project so I get a full picture of what I actually do have from those mixed lots, then starting MOCing in earnest. Hope I'll have something to post soon Delurk ON!