tedbeard

The 12-pounder looks really interesting but I cannot see how the barrel connects to the truck. Is it just sitting there or is there a connection I am missing?

I have probably made the same number of orders as you but only two had problems and both were resolved. One quickly and with much goodwill and the other took a loooong time but was worked out eventually. Otherwise all fine and dandy from my point of view.

That turret is fantastic! I thought at first it was 1x2 bricks offset like in a curved solid wall but then the detail shots revealed the slopes. Just amazing.

I have seen this tour talked about before but I don't remember what the (not)free gift is. Anyone know?

I had not seen a fez. They did introduce a very nice new turban design which is cool.

These are fantastic but most especially the dragoon helmet. I bet they could do a really cool fez for Ottoman infantry (and to give Sallah from Indiana Jones a better hat.)

Only because you asked the question... I think it was, "the best [way/method] to bring this to everyone's attention" or I would not have done it. The only other option would have required a more formal complaint and an EB staffer to publish a separate condemnation of illegal activity and a repudiation of any suggestion that EB or it's staff condoned such. I didn't think a formal complaint should be necessary and a simple, "we made a mistake" statement immediately in reply to my post would have solved it quickly and quietly without further discussion. In any case, no EB staff member can be unaware any longer of the serious implications of this "simple mistake" and I am sure such will not happen again. Thank you. As well, no young builder who comes across this thread will make the mistake of believing that he or she can sell MOCs that use trademarks without permission and that was the whole motivation behind my original post. Can we move on now, please!

Lets be careful and accurate in our language and accusations, that is respectful. Point the first: the selling of products bearing a company logo or other marks without permission is a violation of trademark law, not copyright. Point the second: I did not mean to say you or any person involved with EB was engaged in criminal activity. I said the blog and EB appeared to be condoning criminal activity. The only person I meant to accuse of criminal activity is the person who made the eBay listing. Indeed and in doing so the creator would not be a criminal. Lots of sellers of items avoid legal problems by making parodies which are allowed under trademark law. He could have used "Brickbucks" in the same font and colours and used a LEGO mermaid on the logo and it would be nice and legal and people would still think it was cute and know what it was supposed to represent. As it is, the builder is risking legal fees and penalties if Starbucks, Macdonalds etc. ever catch him or her. These companies are known for their lack of tolerance where their business interests are concerned. It seems stupid to me to risk your home, your savings, your future wages when a little creativity (or simply not using trademarks) avoids the risk. I would not want EB and your blog to appear to condone stupidity which could have real-world repercussions. If you appear to be saying this is OK, and some young builder from this forum gets sued when he starts selling LEGO Pokemon figures I would hold you partially responsible. Only morally responsible of course, but who wants bad karma? If it was me I simply would have started the blog post/forum thread with something like: "Despite the questionable use of trademarks and the risk of corporate wrath the following MOC very nicely captures the feeling of your local coffee shop." See, nice and legal without being all lawyer-ish.

Some really great suggestions and I had forgotten about that interview. Thanks!

The only thing I have found to use them for is to swap out the hands on monkeys. The peachies look good on monkeys and it lets me replace the yellow hands on two figs for one monkey.

I voted for "White with trading pattern - IMTP ship" even though there are no white sails in that set. I assume you are speaking of the tan/light coffee colour sails that, to me, are the only sails that actually look anything like canvas. LOL, if you Europeans can call those sails "white" I now understand why Sarkosy called Obama "tanned"

Yes it should be listed as 2009. In the same way as books are dated for publication and copyright as 2009 even if they are printed and start appearing in stores in 2008 or automobiles are legally 2009 vehicles even if built and actually sold in 2008. These are officially 2009 sets.

Quite sure Adam as I'm the guy who quickly put up the "stub" when I saw it was not there. Sorry if I was not clear about that in my original post. I don't know about a "commission" to write articles but if you can encourage volunteers that would be great. Of course any info I receive I will be happy to incorporate into the article when I get a chance Thanks for the suggestion Sinner. I did use Archve.Org to get 2004 as the year it was created. I was hoping there might be some sort of history postings or milestones noted on the forums somewhere that I could not find. OK, I didn't look that hard but I'm not sure I have time to go through thousands of posts gleaning such info.

What a colossal screw up! The oldest, most comprehensive LEGO-wiki, BrickWiki somehow did not have an Eurobricks article! I have posted about it on the new BrickWiki Blog and asked for two things: help on creating an accurate EB article and a hunt for the next worst omission on BW. If we can miss something as big as Eb what else might we have missed! Can anyone point me to a history of EB or contribute information to help compile something?

I bought one when I took the family to Legoland, CA this summer. I like the silly stuff so I had to get it to match my brick ice-cube tray. The skull & crossbones and fish skeleton work really well. The Cap'n Redbeard sections don't work as well as I am seldom able to remove them with the hook intact. Even so, I am always amused to see all of them floating in my Coke. I look at them as more of a souvenir item from my trip than a strictly LEGO purchase. I also purchased laminated Legoland driver's licenses for my kids and Legoland shirts. Branded merchandise can go overboard but some can be fun.

And I cannot believe the auction is still up as the listing violates trademark law and eBay listing policies. Having it highlighted on the Classic-Town blog also makes it look like EB condones criminal activity which I find curious. Other than that, it is as cute build. I especially like the inverted tan cones in a plate for coffee cups.

Nice review. very thorough. Nice to see the details without stickers. Makes deciding whether or not to use the stickers easier. The comparison was an added bonus that really shows how they can or cannot coexist. BTW I have never noticed the term "Cafe Green Street" before. Are others using that term? I really like it and plan to use it. I hate saying "Modular Houses Standard" - more accurate as it is the TLC terminology but everyone sort of looks at you funny when you say it. "Cafe Corner Standard" is also popular but the Cafe Corner was one set so the term is not accurate and the "CC Standard" already exists as the Classic-Castle Standard. Cafe Green Street sounds like a neighbourhood. Thanks.

OK, now I get it. Might have been nice to have that info in the first post as I had no idea they were remakes nor that they were based on actual sets.

My honest reaction would be: these are really nice but they are not in any way shape or form "model team" MOCs. Perhaps you would get more or better reaction if they were accurately labeled.

I got mine 3 or 4 years ago by emailing the company and asking if they still had any. The women who responded was very nice and she took my credit card number and sent me one. I wonder if they are finally all sold out? Definitely a nice little set. The windows are fantastic and the accessories included seemed plentiful for such a small set.

Right... because giving loyal, dedicated customers what they want is bad for business?!?!

Find someone willing to trade "classic" for new - like me!

I have to say I really like the refreshingly different colour scheme. Very vibrant. And I like your figurehead as well.

Yeah, you know what? Arguing Rock Raiders is better than Power Miners (or vice versa) sounds to me a lot like arguing that Brussel Sprouts are better than Cauliflower* when we could all be eating [insert favorite food here]. * apologies to anyone who actually likes either of these.

And this surprises you why? Perhaps you have not been seeing U.S. dollar prices vs Canadian dollar prices but they have been at 30% less (or more) for years. When the exchange rate was 70 cents to the dollar it was the same as today when they are nearly at par. What really sticks in my craw is that if you order from S@H they are packaged and shipped from the EXACT SAME OPERATION in Enfield, CT. Yep, one box for Seattle, WA sits right beside a box for Halifax, NS and the one is priced 30% higher than the other.