jamtf

Great little fella's. I wonder if Lego will make Toy Story battle packs. I somehow doubt that. I would not worry about the price. BL sellers tend to keep prices up and rely on average prices based on purchases that were made during the past 6 months. Furthermore, I think these figs will remain in demand as long as they are produced. According to the numbers on BL, they are selling quite well. Once the Toy Story line gets discontinued, prices for these items will go up even faster soon after that.

The map room scene can be recreated after the release of the Prince of Persia sets. In one of those there is a white head wrap that resembles the one that Indy is wearing when he is trying to locate the ark. Add a white SW Mon Mothma cape and you are there. Providing one owns enough tan bricks (a tan Creator House or the 5988 Temple of Anubis would be great sources) and some of the Egyptian style 2 x 2 tiles to reflect the images on the walls, it is quite doable to design I would think. The staff of ra could be made from a bar with a Technic connector pin and a red jewel / diamond on top. It is just a suggestion.

I paid a lot more for my used copy. Approximately 120 euro's for a copy with a bad box but good instructions. Purchased it in September 2008. The set was conditionwise quite fine though. I even decided to buy an incomplete copy shortly afterwards with a better box including the plastic inlay trays for parts for about 70 euro's. Needless to say I switched the boxes so now I have a very fine set and some extra bricks for MOCing a ship. Perhaps I once decide to try to complete the incomplete set as well. It has most of the important pieces including hull, sails, masts, some cannons, etc. but only 2 minifigs (I have spares in my collection so that won't be the problem).

I do not mix yellow and light flesh minifig heads and try to keep those separated. However, I do use the dark brown (mostly the NBA type) and reddish brown heads (Lando, Bespin Guard, Spiderman ambulance driver, etc.) mixed either with flesh or with yellow minifigs. The brown heads represent ïn both cases the different race (in my Western or Pirate MOCs) while I consider flesh and yellow the "standard" minifigs (I try not to be discriminating towards anyone here). Also, I think it is quite OK to use the newer dark flesh heads with yellow minifigs. TLC uses both the light flesh and dark flesh minifigs in the Indiana Jones theme while the dark flesh heads could also be used as Mexicans (Western theme), Spanish Armada (Pirates theme) as well as other hispanic people (suburban City lay-outs). Also, I think the dark flesh heads could be used as Western style Indians (painted Temple Guard face makes an excellent Indian warrior while Mola Ram makes an excellent medicine man or chief). I guess it is all a matter of personal taste regarding what fits together well and what not.

Apparently not. They seem to be all there. Edit: after further inspection the limited edition Peril in Peru set does not seem to be part of his collection. My Indiana Jones collection is complete except for just one set, the smallest one from the latest batch, 7195 Ambush in Cairo. Although I got some of the torsos and heads (Cairo Swordsman, Thug and Marion) through BL. Can't help but notice that you incorporated Henry Jones sr. into the Indiana Jones Raiders of the lost Ark desert lay-out although the fellow made his first appearance in The Last Crusade.

Superman? All I know is that Lego made Batman and Spiderman figs... or do you refer to one of those 16 collectible minifigures (the one with the red mask and cape) that are going to be released around June of this year?

Do not put it out unused for too long. Lego will inevitably sooner or later catch dust. Best way to avoid dust is to build things, keep them built for a short period of time and put the bricks back in sealbags, boxes, etc. Of course, if you have built a huge MOC that is quite annoying since it will be hard to rebuild it when it is canibalized. If you want things to remain built, I guess the best way to keep it dust free is to wash the dusty bricks once in a while or use a feather duster or tooth brush frequently to remove the first dust. Once things have been kept unattended too long, it is hard to remove the dust and other grime. Then you will probably need to take the set apart completely and wash the bricks in a tub with water or in a towel / washing machine.

I got the first one in September 2006 from a professional German eBay merchant and Lego specialist who evidently knew what he had. I paid a lot for that one but the box is in pretty good condition with no marks etc. The second one was acquired in May 2007 from a private seller (someone who cleared out his loft) in the UK. Like I said, the latter has the box seals broken and a price tag here and there also. Definitely not as good as the first one but still a set with everything sealed inside worth keeping in MISB condition.

Well, let's say that I stop by @ BL every now and then. It was the easiest way to check if a new set sold in the past few months so I decided to do a quick check on that and ask you about it. I got 2 MISB copies of this set. Got them since 2006-2007 or so. One came from Germany, the other one was originally sold in the UK. The latter has broken box seals but everything is still sealed inside the original polybags and the plastic tray (inlay) with the figs and some of the parts is also perfectly new and unused. Both were eBay purchases. They are still waiting to be opened and built. On the other hand, I have 2 used copies of this set in pretty good shape and complete with box and instructions so there is really no need to open them. I think I will keep them a while longer and might consider to sell one of them eventually.

Some smaller but still desirable sets that could have been included in the list are the following: 6071 Forestmen's Crossing for its unique forestwoman and river baseplate 6076 Guarded Inn for it's classic design and rather civil (non-fortress) style; Lego even re-released it as a Legend under the 10000 number 6079 Dark Forest Fortress for its impressive baseplate with incorporated trees and the horse pulled wagon (actually this is not such a small set )

Like I said, I never had this problem. Maybe the bricks have lost their grip as a result of their age and normal playwear and them being used over and over again, time after time. I recently "restored" a Lego Western 6716 Covered Wagon (set from 1996 and not that much older compared to the early 1990s Lego 6274 Caribbean Clipper set). All the bricks have been washed in warm water with soap and dried afterwards. The set is now standing on my desk (built) as I am writing this and it is in excellent shape again. No problem with bricks or plates that do not hold or whatsoever. Some people use dishwashers or normal washing machines after putting the bricks in a towel or something to hold them together. This is also done with hot water at a 30 or 60 degree washing programme. I have never done this myself but some say that the results are quite good (clean and nicely conditioned bricks that can be used again for building purposes).

At least the 4 that are still for sale on BrickLink and the 2 that I got here in my house. I think there is still a dozen of these unopened in collector's hands and maybe more in hidden places such as toy stores in remote areas in countries where no collector has ever been, forgotten presents sitting in lofts or attics waiting to be opened or sold (you occassionally see people offering this sort of items on eBay when they find them). Hard to tell how many are still in MISB condition exactly. After all this is a set from 1995 if memory serves and in 15 years a lot of these sets must have been opened, built and/or played with at some point. By the way, great review of this magnificent set. It is one of my favourites. Where did you get this MISB set? One sold on BL this past month for $450. Is that by coincidence your set Mr. Funkybrick?

I never had that problem and I have washed numerous bricks in hot water with added soap. In hot water they may expand a little but not that much. Of course, when they are taken out of the water to cool down, everything should be back to normal again.

Thanks for sharing the photo. Great to see that we can expect another modular building. Let's hope that the actual set will be better than the one in the preliminary picture. Nonetheless I think everyone will add the set to their collection anyway. It is a coincidence that the MOC made by Svelte is so similar to the actual 10211 Grand Emporium set. Both have the same characteristics such as the 2 plants in front of the door, the design of the entrance, the lamp post and the mailbox on the right hand side of the building. Judging the real set, Lego apparently had some blue vest / striped shirt pirate torso leftovers that they decided to enclose with this set.

Like they are doing with Harry Potter in the second half of 2010 according to some of the rumours that I have read about. That line took a break for 3 years since the 5378 Hogwarts Castle came out in 2007 as the only set supporting the latest HP movie. If only they did the same with Batman as a support for the video game...

First: you made some writing errors which I had to correct . Second: stop using capitals as I do not want to be shouted at! Especially since I am not to be held responsible for what other people (in this case a Lego Store employee) tell me. Unnecessary use of capitals is quite impolite and childish if you ask me. And I am not deaf either. Fact is that the Lego Indiana Jones line is being discounted in many places. That is an indication that they want to get rid of this stuff as soon as possible to make way for other things. I have been able to look on a list in a local toy store this past week and it clearly announced that the Indiana Jones line was among the lines that will end. All 2008 and 2009 Indiana Jones sets were listed. Same goes for Pirates, Castle Fantasy era and some other things that I can not remember. Even some of the recently introduced 2008 and 2009 City sets (such as the 7638 Tow Truck and 7993 Service Station) are going out the door soon. If you want these and do not own them, I'd advise you to quickly purchase them before they are gone. Furthermore, this toy store owner had the 2010 Dutch dealer catalogue. There were no Indiana Jones sets in it anymore. New lines such as Prince of Persia, Toy Story, the newest 2010 City sets and Kingdoms (the newest castle line) debuted. I think that is enough reference for now and as you can see I did not base my comments on just one source (the Lego Store worker).

It is has to do with everything. The fee that needs to be paid for licenses is huge. The size of the fanbase is all that counts and for TLC it is all about making money. If the sales drop that is an indication that it ain't wise to keep paying for the license. Indiana Jones never was and never will be a mass seller since the number of followers, enthusiasts, you name it, ain't as huge as it is with Star Wars. Lego tried to introduce Indiana Jones sets, watched the sales figures for some time and finally decided to drop the line. I spoke to some people in the Lego Store lately and they told me that certain lines of products did not sell that well compared to others. Amongst these were the pirate sets and the Indiana Jones sets. TLC in Denmark understood this as well and therefore decided to discontinue these lines in favor of something else. They will sell what is in stock but no new sets will be made. If the new Prince of Persia and Toy Story lines do not do that well either, those lines will be discontinued at some point as well. Usually, TLC seems to be looking how things are progressing for about 2 or 3 years and then makes a decision whether to keep things running or not.

I personally think that the Indiana Jones line will not return. Don't forget that Lego has to pay lots of money to Lucas Arts for the license itself and I do not think that this line of products met their expectations. The theme will never be a match for Star Wars anyway and I think the inspiration for new sets based on film scenes is more or less gone. Star Wars has not been dropped for over 10 years now and I think that any licensed theme that is discontinued will not return. Lego maintains Star Wars, introduced Disney's Toy Story, Ben 10 and Prince of Persia and takes it further from there. After all, even Harry Potter and Batman have ended and I do not think we will see those again either.

Great collection of ships, all in great shape too. I count 3 missing ships: 6250 Cross Bone Clipper 6280 Armada Flagship 6289 Red Beard Runner and if I want to be really smart , these 2 are missing as well: 6290 Pirate Battle Ship (re-release of 6289) 6291 Spaniard Ship (re-release of 6280)

I think it depends on the item that is being used. Some utensils and weapons like goblets, spears, axes, rifles, etc. are made of more durable plastic. Other items such as cutlasses and the bow and arrow assembly are always getting somewhat damaged since these seem to be made of softer and more flexible ABS. Edit: Rick, you beat me by 1 minute!

Is it possible to add a moving elevator on the outside of the building to get the cars from one floor to another?

A Top1Toys store nearby where I live well hidden in a remote area (small shopping centre) of the town (couple miles away from town centre). Can't tell more at the moment (sorry) since they have some more items I am planning to get over the next few weeks. If I tell you that I also got 4x Brickbeard's Bounty, 2x Soldiers fort, 4x Cannon Battle and 1x Loot Island all for 50% off you may understand why I keep this source hidden until I am done shopping.

I got 22 of these 8396 Soldier's Arsenal sets in a toy store for € 1,50 each today. Purchased 4 extra 8397 Pirate survival sets for the same price. Let the army building begin!

Set is still available for The Netherlands as we speak. Limit 5 per customer is applicable... and it is - again - on backorder until Feb. 5, 2010. I guess they have a very limited supply available and want to serve as many different customers as possible instead of selling the majority in one batch to wholesalers and merchants that do not have this S@H Exclusive in their (web)store. This will also keep the reselling prices down for the time being.

How come that this set is so expensive in Sweden? I live in The Netherlands and the set is available through Lego S@H for EUR 26,99 which is slightly more than in the US. In Sweden the price is SEK 349.50 which is near EUR 35,00 according to www.xe.com . That is a huge difference if you ask me .