I like it, but I don't know if I like it enough. It would probably be something that would just collect dust on a shelf, not to mention I'm not entirely sure on the colouring.

Surprised they picked that Ideas love challenge entry with this being a thing:

https://ideas.lego.com/challenges/d93d79dd-ddc5-4c49-8cf5-848dfab37469/application/0fa7e4e6-290e-46ba-9b9d-2754d584537b

They're definitely not anywhere near the same or anything but both using the big letters you'd think there's some crossover.

Not a set for me, but I can see this doing pretty well. It looks pretty decent and I like the blue and green. Though ironically, it looks a bit too rounded, the actual font is more angular. And it's a bit weird that the O appears to be floating....

Does seem a bit on the pricey side, PPP in itself doesn't seem so terrible but considering there's no prints, minifigs or other special pieces, it's not exactly great either. If you want some Lego Love, you surely have to pay for it....

?? Philadelphia
Get to know us
See what people who believe in the power of each other can do
Get to know us
Philadelphia
Once you get to know us you'll never want to say goodbye ??

@Watsonite said:
"I know it is based of a piece of art, but to me it is as if Lego started to release home decorations like Wilko, HomeGoods, Casa or Blokker... meh."

Art prices, kidding...

never know, art is ... prices.
Don't know much about art piece or creater.
No for me, unless huge discount just for pieces.

Good ideal for a gift for spouse, lego fan though.
Possible could be popular..

Nah, I'm good with my original 1972 exhibition poster, this is not the best colour choice either imo

So want to say, at least it was not...

I'm speachless.

LOVE is good. But that's pretty much it.

Oh! We can make a "vole" out of it — that's neat.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, isn't it located near one famous skate spot ? They could have added some skaters then.

I've never heard of the thing it's based on, but I have little interest in modern art or such display pieces that just gather dust anyway.

Thankfully I have plenty of love in my life thanks to my family and friends, so no need for something like this.

But it looks like it's a nice build at least.

Hopefully it comes with either a cheesesteak or Philly Phanatic as a GWP.

I like it. Not a day one purchase, but will purchase when a GWP is offered and I need to add items to my cart to make the threshold.

It’s not a complete no to me but it’s also not a yes. I’m embarrassed to say that I was pleasantly surprised on the price as it seems every LEGO is $300 these days.

I’d like to see a LOAN mod to represent what we all really need to keep up with this hobby.

I thought the inside blue and green bricks were transparent when looking at the first picture. Alas no. Still cool though.

Looks like they got a license. Good, A Dutch municipality commisioned a replica for 50K euro, and had to destroy it.

Meh, not for me but it looks nice. Seeing a lot of people dislike it though.

I LoVE it.

Stand back, looks like John Lennon’s fighting the Dreadful Flying Glove again!

@Brickalili said:
"Stand back, looks like John Lennon’s fighting the Dreadful Flying Glove again!"

That's easy to do, all you need is Love!

(Man, I love that film.)

To all of you Philly commenters, you realize this art/statue has been installed in cities around the globe, right? There isn’t just one in Philadelphia. I think there may be close to 100 of them in gardens, museums, etc. all around the world.

An easy pass for me, but they've done a good job.

LOOB

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Can I get an official Lego Frankfurt El next?
"

I'd rather have a Norristown High Speed Line set

I know this will be very popular in Philly even though this same sculpture exists in 50 cities around the world. Always strange to me how people here associate it with Philly.

Could've been better were it half the size and half the price, as a small desk decoration.

...Huh.

@woosterlegos said:
"To all of you Philly commenters, you realize this art/statue has been installed in cities around the globe, right? There isn’t just one in Philadelphia. I think there may be close to 100 of them in gardens, museums, etc. all around the world."

Ours comes with a side of Gritty.

Should have been LEGO... or a logo of it :D

I mean I guess the shaping of the letters is alright, but...

WHY THOUGH?

Who asked for this?

@lumpybricks said:
"I know this will be very popular in Philly even though this same sculpture exists in 50 cities around the world. Always strange to me how people here associate it with Philly."

My thoughts exactly....only ever been at the airport of Philly, yet I have seen the sculture at several places around the globe (well, mostly in Asia....).

@ninjabiomech said:
"If I was a more casual lego fan this would interest me for display. Me being me id rather display 71821 "

So true, man. So true. Lovego doesn't really have the same ring as Ninjago.

@woosterlegos said:
"To all of you Philly commenters, you realize this art/statue has been installed in cities around the globe, right?"
No. Actually I've never before seen this my entire life. And guess what, I don't feel bad for it, since I fail to see what the "art" is supposed to be in putting these four letters next to one another in garish colours.
Had it at least been some nice pastel tones or some other more pleasing colours at least it would have had some attractiveness to it.

@mafon2 said:
"Also, if I'm not mistaken, isn't it located near one famous skate spot ? They could have added some skaters then."

I remember seeing something recently about skating in the plaza where the Philly version is located, but I don’t know if you’re actually allowed to. Might need to add some cops.

@lumpybricks said:
"I know this will be very popular in Philly even though this same sculpture exists in 50 cities around the world. Always strange to me how people here associate it with Philly."

The origin of the design was a doodle accompanying a poem (1958). At least two paintings (1961. 1964) were then created, and one was probably used to produce a personal greeting card that the artist sent to friends and family (1964). Then a 12”x12” painting was submitted and turned into a MOMA Christmas card, which appears to be the origin of the color scheme used here (1965). A 72”x72” painting and the first sculpture were next (1966), followed by a series of 34”x34” screenprints (1967), the first large sculpture (1970), and a USPS postage stamp (1973). As to why it became so closely associated with Philly, best guess is that the original large sculpture is almost black in color, and is currently inside a museum, while Philly put theirs on public display in a plaza that sees a lot of traffic pass by. They probably also promoted their sculpture more heavily than other locations.

Iconic 3 Mindful 1.

I mean it's fine to like this, but I doubt anyone "LOVE"s it. It's a tacky boomer sculpture.

@MisterBrickster said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
" @HJB2810 said:
"Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. The poll just shows that nobody asked for this and nobody wants it!"

People who will see the poll already own dozens of sets, and will likely own dozens more. Is there a possibility that this set is intended to reach a different audience, who don't already own dozens of sets, and bring new people into the hobby?

If so, why would that be a problem? Surely in the 400-500 sets TLG will end up making this year, there's room for a handful that don't appeal to folks who are already buying Lego?"
Absolutely not. All production must go towards Castle/Pirates/Classic Space/Star Wars/ZNAP (delete as appropriate). Every new person who buys a Lego set is taking away a Lego set from me personally.

At this point we should issue a bingo card for new set press releases."

You might kid, but I've started a list of the Comment Section bingo entries. Still trying to round out a full 24

Can't wait for the best seller follow-up for US stores; Hate!

@MisterBrickster said:
"At this point we should issue a bingo card for new set press releases."

I don’t think I want any bingo cards that are likely to burst into flames…

@WizardOfOss said:
" @lumpybricks said:
"I know this will be very popular in Philly even though this same sculpture exists in 50 cities around the world. Always strange to me how people here associate it with Philly."

My thoughts exactly....only ever been at the airport of Philly, yet I have seen the sculture at several places around the globe (well, mostly in Asia....)."

So, the one in Philly is in a very prominent location across the street from City Hall. If you're ever serious about visiting the city and want to get out to the major sights, you'll probably run into it.

Sure, other cities have them in museums. That's shut away from the public. The Philadelphia one is like *right there.*

(There are also variations of the Statue of Liberty around the world. The one in New York City is very specifically famous.)

Does anyone know if the product is coming with metallic blue and green on the inside? That would get me to buy it. Its interesting how the promo image for it looks like its reflective, but then in the subsequent images its just green and blue and nothing special.

So the original was created by a guy named Indiana? "We named tho dog Indiana!"

@JayCal said:
"Thanks, but no thanks. This will undoubtly be gifted to a lot of AFOLs by non-AFOLs."

Or vice-versa.

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:" @WolfpackBricksStudios said:"How did we get this instead of a Geonosis Arena"

Jedi are encouraged to love."

Depending, of course, on what kind of love.

@Maxbricks14 said:"Love? That's something a lot of AFOLs don't have. They only have time to love Lego!"

We only have so much space in our hearts, but too much empty space in our wallets. More space in our homes would be nice, though.

@TheOtherMike said:
"Depending, of course, on what kind of love."

Well, yes, fair odds that Luke wasn't encouraged to kiss his sister. Except by his sister.

That doesn't even look LEGO-like

On the right side, the O extends past the E, which in the original is the other way around. When you copy an art piece that relies so heavily on typography, you have to get these details right.

This is a set of all time.

Yup, that's all.

@PhantomBricks said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @Rimefang said:
"Can't wait for the best seller follow-up for US stores; Hate!"

I'm hoping we're not completely there, yet. Nevertheless, I know we're definitely ready for this set:

DU
MB"

I think the next one should be Durs."

Our new national mascot? 77070

@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"How did we get this instead of a Geonosis Arena"

Didn’t think I’d have to suffer a reminder about the greatest LSW set they’ll probably never make when I woke up this morning…

@jockos198 said:
"Should have been LEGO... or a logo of it :D"

Don't give them IDEAS

@Rimefang:

HA
TE

will be, appropiately, web-exclusive!

@PurpleDave said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @woosterlegos said:
"To all of you Philly commenters, you realize this art/statue has been installed in cities around the globe, right?"
No. Actually I've never before seen this my entire life. And guess what, I don't feel bad for it, since I fail to see what the "art" is supposed to be in putting these four letters next to one another in garish colours. "

First of all, you’re not from Philly, so that comment wasn’t directed at you (or me). Second, there are two of these giant sculptures in Germany. One is in Berlin, and the other is in Neuss-Holzheim. Maybe go check one of them out."
Thanks for the info. Perhaps if I ever get to visit one of these places I might. And it may be hard to believe but I have never been to Berlin yet in the 47 years of my life. I don't know anyone from there personnally, and it's not the nicest of German cities anyway. As far as larger German cities are concerned I've rather been to Munich, Hamburg and Cologne, many times each actually.

Funny though about "Philly". I thought it was supposed to be an abbreviation for "Philestines" as in the German "Kunstbanausen" i.e. people who have no appreciation for (certain kinds of) art. (Which would also have been kind of fitting).

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @lumpybricks said:
"I know this will be very popular in Philly even though this same sculpture exists in 50 cities around the world. Always strange to me how people here associate it with Philly."

My thoughts exactly....only ever been at the airport of Philly, yet I have seen the sculture at several places around the globe (well, mostly in Asia....)."

So, the one in Philly is in a very prominent location across the street from City Hall. If you're ever serious about visiting the city and want to get out to the major sights, you'll probably run into it.

Sure, other cities have them in museums. That's shut away from the public. The Philadelphia one is like *right there.*

(There are also variations of the Statue of Liberty around the world. The one in New York City is very specifically famous.)"

Ironically I don't remember the LOVE sculpture in Philly - I must have seen it when there - but I do remember seeing it in New York. I do remember a Lego Liberty Bell in the airport though.

@AustinPowers said:
"And it may be hard to believe but I have never been to Berlin yet in the 47 years of my life. I don't know anyone from there personnally"
Is Berlin the new Bielefeld? ;-)

Never been there either, but have been to those other three you mentioned. Last year Hamburg for a Bruce Springsteen concert, and Miniatur Wunderland was absolutely amazing!

@mafon2 said:
"LOVE is good. But that's pretty much it.

Oh! We can make a "vole" out of it — that's neat.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, isn't it located near one famous skate spot ? They could have added some skaters then."

Unfortunately the skate spot was torn down in 2016. The spot was featured in many skate videos in the late 90s and early 2000s

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @lumpybricks said:
"I know this will be very popular in Philly even though this same sculpture exists in 50 cities around the world. Always strange to me how people here associate it with Philly."

My thoughts exactly....only ever been at the airport of Philly, yet I have seen the sculture at several places around the globe (well, mostly in Asia....)."

So, the one in Philly is in a very prominent location across the street from City Hall. If you're ever serious about visiting the city and want to get out to the major sights, you'll probably run into it.

Sure, other cities have them in museums. That's shut away from the public. The Philadelphia one is like *right there.*

(There are also variations of the Statue of Liberty around the world. The one in New York City is very specifically famous.)"

The ones I'm sure I have seen (NYC, Seoul, Taipei) are all on the streets too. I'm not so much into art museums....

As for the Statue of Liberty, I have seen it in NYC, in Paris, in Tokyo, in Osaka, in Yokosuka, in Las Vegas, and probably a few more. And most importantly, the one in Oss! Looking at you 21042!

@MrBedhead said:
"Reading the comments here I can only conclude that many an AFOL live in a bubble and seemingly never leaves the house and only consume art or news or information that they like.

I mean, this is one of the most replicated pieces of (pop-)art ever created. You can argue about its artistic relevance or beauty, but it kinda baffles me that quite a few people here have never even seen it or heard of it."

Yes, this is always the case, I can't remember if the Mona Lisa had the same comments of how people had never heard of this "niche fairly unknown artwork".

And at the same time AFOLs demand sets based off of some random Anime from the 1990s.

@MegaBlocks said:
" @MrBedhead said:
"Reading the comments here I can only conclude that many an AFOL live in a bubble and seemingly never leaves the house and only consume art or news or information that they like.

I mean, this is one of the most replicated pieces of (pop-)art ever created. You can argue about its artistic relevance or beauty, but it kinda baffles me that quite a few people here have never even seen it or heard of it."

Yes, this is always the case, I can't remember if the Mona Lisa had the same comments of how people had never heard of this "niche fairly unknown artwork".

And at the same time AFOLs demand sets based off of some random Anime from the 1990s."

On the other hand, you had people saying they'd never heard of Darth Malak when he appeared in 75379.

@TheOtherMike said:
" @MegaBlocks said:
" @MrBedhead said:
"Reading the comments here I can only conclude that many an AFOL live in a bubble and seemingly never leaves the house and only consume art or news or information that they like.

I mean, this is one of the most replicated pieces of (pop-)art ever created. You can argue about its artistic relevance or beauty, but it kinda baffles me that quite a few people here have never even seen it or heard of it."

Yes, this is always the case, I can't remember if the Mona Lisa had the same comments of how people had never heard of this "niche fairly unknown artwork".

And at the same time AFOLs demand sets based off of some random Anime from the 1990s."

On the other hand, you had people saying they'd never heard of Darth Malak when he appeared in 75379 ."

I have that set, yet I have no clue (and don't care) who Darth Malak is or what part he played in the grand scheme of things...

But then again, I do have BB-8, D-O and BD-1 despite never having seen the movies they're in. I just like droids.

But lets's be real here: any random anime, especially from the 90s, should have some Lego sets! Anime is peak culture!

As for this sculpture though, I can very well imagine people having seen this without ever considering it's a piece of art. The line between what's art and what's just some object can be pretty blurry.

Bit late to the party (again), but I must say I have learned something from this set. I didn't know anything about the artwork it is based on at all. I didn't even know the artwork existed. At first sight it was supposed to be a dig at those letter sculptures really unimaginative people buy in the supermarket from the bargain bin. And I quite like modern art...

Because of the association I have with it, it will never enter this household, but for the people who just see the artwork it is pretty neat. And for people who just like the word love I guess.

@AustinPowers said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @woosterlegos said:
"To all of you Philly commenters, you realize this art/statue has been installed in cities around the globe, right?"
No. Actually I've never before seen this my entire life. And guess what, I don't feel bad for it, since I fail to see what the "art" is supposed to be in putting these four letters next to one another in garish colours. "

First of all, you’re not from Philly, so that comment wasn’t directed at you (or me). Second, there are two of these giant sculptures in Germany. One is in Berlin, and the other is in Neuss-Holzheim. Maybe go check one of them out."
Thanks for the info. Perhaps if I ever get to visit one of these places I might. And it may be hard to believe but I have never been to Berlin yet in the 47 years of my life. I don't know anyone from there personnally, and it's not the nicest of German cities anyway. As far as larger German cities are concerned I've rather been to Munich, Hamburg and Cologne, many times each actually.

Funny though about "Philly". I thought it was supposed to be an abbreviation for "Philestines" as in the German "Kunstbanausen" i.e. people who have no appreciation for (certain kinds of) art. (Which would also have been kind of fitting). "

Jeebers. "Philly" is the location where the United States was founded. The U.S. Capitol is currently Washington D.C., but it was initially Philadelphia and the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed still stands.

Philadelphia is (I assume) named after an ancient city in modern-day Turkey which is mentioned in the Christian Bible a few times.

The modern Philadelphia has at least two major art museums, one of which is VERY famous. A drive through the major areas in Philly would take you right past the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is prominently located atop a hill along the Schukyll River and has a clear view straight to City Hall. It's also very famous for appearing in a major scene in the film "Rocky." It's actually along what's known as "Museum Row" and other nearby attractions include the Academy of Natural Sciences (which has dinosaurs on display) and the Franklin Institute (a giant science learning museum which prominently featured in the film "National Treasure").

Philadelphia? Never heard of it, why do people keep referencing such unknown, niche things?

@AustinPowers:
Cartographically, I’m moderately well-traveled, but have never been outside of North America (which means I’ve only made it to two foreign nations). My cousin, however, met her Scottish husband in Heidelberg when they were both living there.

@MrBedhead:
The Christmas card did use those colors, but not in the same layout (being a 2D print, of course). The first large sculpture, however, was designed to produce a weathered iron oxide patina:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(Indianapolis)

@MegaBlocks said:
"And at the same time AFOLs demand sets based off of some random Anime from the 1990s."

Being Disney, I wouldn’t classify Darkwing Duck as anime (though the Japanese absolutely would).

@Zander said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"The line between what's art and what's just some object can be pretty blurry."
A friend and I were once at Tate Modern, London’s main museum of modern art. There was a fire extinguisher - a real one - in one gallery that my friend and I were pretending to admire as if it were a piece of art. Other people - completely sincerely - started admiring it too, some even looking for the plaque explaining what the piece of art was called and who the artist was. My friend and I did everything we could to keep a straight face :~D
"

Strange, because that happened in an episode of Sex and the City, and from what I can recall in the Tate Modern that the fire extinguishes are not in positions where they could be mistaken for art.

@WizardOfOss said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @lumpybricks said:
"I know this will be very popular in Philly even though this same sculpture exists in 50 cities around the world. Always strange to me how people here associate it with Philly."

My thoughts exactly....only ever been at the airport of Philly, yet I have seen the sculture at several places around the globe (well, mostly in Asia....)."

So, the one in Philly is in a very prominent location across the street from City Hall. If you're ever serious about visiting the city and want to get out to the major sights, you'll probably run into it.

Sure, other cities have them in museums. That's shut away from the public. The Philadelphia one is like *right there.*

(There are also variations of the Statue of Liberty around the world. The one in New York City is very specifically famous.)"

The ones I'm sure I have seen (NYC, Seoul, Taipei) are all on the streets too. I'm not so much into art museums....

As for the Statue of Liberty, I have seen it in NYC, in Paris, in Tokyo, in Osaka, in Yokosuka, in Las Vegas, and probably a few more. And most importantly, the one in Oss! Looking at you 21042!"

We have one in Leicester.

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Jeebers. "Philly" is the location where the United States was founded. The U.S. Capitol is currently Washington D.C., but it was initially Philadelphia and the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed still stands."

I guess that's just the thing: While I am quite aware of the role Philadelphia played in the history of the US, it probably has more meaning to Americans than to foreigners. I think for most Europeans it wouldn't even make the top-10 city destinations in the US, and even people visiting just the north-east might just skip it. Boston, NYC, Washington.....and wasn't there some other city inbetween?
(last time I was in NYC and we rented a car for a day, we zipped past Philly for Washington, and drove back via Atlantic city.....yeah, we didn't get to see much other than the inside of the car...)

And to be fair, the main reason I would want to visit Philly isn't so much historical or cultural. I just want to try a proper Philly Cheesesteak!

@PeterT_AFOL said:
"We have one in Leicester."
Lego or metal? ;-)

@Zander said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"The line between what's art and what's just some object can be pretty blurry."
A friend and I were once at Tate Modern, London’s main museum of modern art. There was a fire extinguisher - a real one - in one gallery that my friend and I were pretending to admire as if it were a piece of art. Other people - completely sincerely - started admiring it too, some even looking for the plaque explaining what the piece of art was called and who the artist was. My friend and I did everything we could to keep a straight face :~D
"

Kinda like staring at the sky and pointing at absolutely nothing, and see how many people will follow :-)

@ResIpsaLoquitur : of course I have heard of Philadelphia. We even have it in the fridge. It's quite tasty ;-)
https://www.philadelphia.de/produkte/

Joking aside, I've been to the US twice, but not to Philadelphia. I was in Ohio, mainly in and around Columbus. Went on to friends in Canada (Toronto) by car, via Niagara Falls. Both times. Among many other things, played golf at Chapel Hill Golf Course, visited the National Air and Space Museum in Dayton, and while in Canada spent great weekends at lake Manitouwabing. Both vacations were awesome, but since both the US and Canada are so smeggin gigantic we only experienced a tiny fraction of it. Just like few visitors to Germany would get to know the entire country while only on a short vacation. No matter how many historically important places there might be.
The point being, not everyone knows everything, no matter how well known it might be to others. I bet I know tons of stuff you have never heard of your entire life.

Just one quick anecdata: over two decades ago, I spent a summer in Ireland and then took a trip over to Scotland. I found a restaurant in Glasgow serving a "Philly cheesesteak" and since I was away from home for so long, I really wanted one. What they brought me was a slab of beef with a pat of cheddar cheese on a kaiser roll.

For those not getting it, a Philly cheesesteak is all about a distinct style. You normally use an American Italian-style roll, thin-sliced beef (it's as thick as a piece of paper), provolone or whiz cheese, and chopped white onions. Mushrooms optional, but I hate fungus. Point being the Philly cheesesteak is all about style and grease, not just any beef, bread, and cheese combo.

At first I thought it was an interesting example of SNOT technique. Then I realized that most of it was sideways brick-stacking, except the outside of the O and the angle of the V. Upon further inspection it's just another 18+ desk ornament I don't need.

@MegaBlocks said:
"Strange, because that happened in an episode of Sex and the City, and from what I can recall in the Tate Modern that the fire extinguishes are not in positions where they could be mistaken for art."

Never underestimate the capacity for people to be wrong.

@WizardOfOss:
Baltimore? It’s understandable that you’d have trouble remembering it. The phenomenon where certain large cities get left off maps while much smaller towns and hamlets don’t is known as the Baltimore Phenomenon.

@AustinPowers:
NASM is part of the expansive Smithsonian group of museums and is located in Washington. If you went to Dayton, that’s the National Museum of the US Air Force. NASM has the Wright Brothers’ plane. NMUSAF has a flying saucer. Not hard to tell these things apart.

@MrBedhead said:
"Reading the comments here I can only conclude that many an AFOL live in a bubble and seemingly never leaves the house and only consume art or news or information that they like.

I mean, this is one of the most replicated pieces of (pop-)art ever created. You can argue about its artistic relevance or beauty, but it kinda baffles me that quite a few people here have never even seen it or heard of it.

Also, call me a boomer, but I really like this, especially since LEGO went for the popping colours of probably the most well-known Philly version of this (which were also the original colors used by its creator, Robert Indiana)."

Well I'd heard of the image/sculpture if not the creator, and recognised it immediately. I remember it being white though and popular here in England around 20-30 years ago - Argos (catalogue shop retailer) used to sell one. I've done a bit of reading up on Robert Indiana and his work, and now I'm even more determined to buy one!

@PurpleDave said:
" @MrBedhead:
The Christmas card did use those colors, but not in the same layout (being a 2D print, of course). The first large sculpture, however, was designed to produce a weathered iron oxide patina:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(Indianapolis)"

That is what I meant. The original X-mas card was in these colours. If I am not mistaken Indiana proposed other color variations, but MOMA selected this one. The Philly statue and this LEGO version pay hommage to that original card by using the same colours.

More on topic: I will buy this, but not day one. I still have not built Barad Dur, Mountain Fortress, the Sail Barge and many other SW sets, due to space constraints. So I decided I need to sell off some sets before getting new ones. Titanic, Eiffel Tower and Colosseum (as much as I loved building them) will be the first ones to go.

@PurpleDave: it's the name I recalled from back then. It was in 1997 and 2004 respectively, so quite some time ago. Perhaps the name has changed since then or I simply remembered it wrong. It was definitely in Dayton, Ohio. And it had both air and space exhibits. Plus an awesome IMAX cinema.

@AustinPowers:
Being a USAF vet, my dad wanted to go there, so we did last year. And it’s familiar enough that I believe we went there sometime during the past 15 years or so. If I ever made to the NASM, it would have been back in the 80’s, and I don’t remember anything about it.

The NMUSAF is divided up by era. There are also large planes outside. The first building to your right as you enter focuses on the early days of flight, so lots of wood frames, cloth flight surfaces, biplanes, and nothing jet-powered. I think the next three buildings (all to your left as you enter) cover WWII, Korea/Vietnam, and modern warfare. The last building on the left covers spaceflight and experimental stuff (hence the flying saucer, which was developed in Canada, but was barely functional and even less safe). The USAF museum has several planes that have served as Air Force One, including the one that flew JFK’s body back to DC after his assassination (you can see where they had to cut one of the bulkheads to get his casket into the passenger compartment, because someone, I think Jackie Kennedy, refused to let them load his remains into the cargo hold). Between the last two buildings you also walk through a cylindrical space where various rockets, both from space exploration and nuclear ICBMs, are standing vertically.

@PurpleDave : according to Wikipedia:

"In October 2004, the name changed from United States Air Force Museum to National Museum of the United States Air Force."

So I simply remembered it wrong, plus the name has changed slightly since I was there.
Anyway, the name isn't that important imho anyway. The exhibits appear to have been rearranged also since I was there, plus there appears to be a new hangar too.
Be that as it may, it was a great day out no matter the actual name. Our friend who took us there was a bomber pilot in the Pacific theater during WWII, a descendant of German immigrants (which is the reason we became friends in the first place, since my father did ancestral research for our friend (who became like a grandfather to me). Sadly both our friend as well as my dad have since passed away, and I am not that much into ancestral research to continue what he started. Perhaps I may do so one day, once I am retired and have more time for it).

When we getting that half-shredded Banksy artwork? Or that one from Salvador Dali with the melting clocks that I can never remember the name of? How about 'The Scream'? Or the greatest modern art work of all, a rotting banana duct-taped to a gallery wall?

“As Big Bird spreads the word
Anybody with a heart votes L0VE”.
Fluke: Absurd

I particularly like the build techniques and finish that inspire modular elements of spaceship/ submersible self containment. Just not with those colours, that message, packaging or price.

Now if the letters had doors and windows opening on to a garden….

It's a fine recreation. The problem I have is that this piece of art has been replicated so many different times that it just feels completely generic.

@DekoPuma said:
"It's a fine recreation. The problem I have is that this piece of art has been replicated so many different times that it just feels completely generic."
That's exactly what I think with every new TIE fighter or X-wing...

@AustinPowers:
My dad's getting on in years, too, so he ran out of steam before we finished the entire museum (and that's even considering that the first building was roped off due to renovations). So I managed to see the YF-12A, but completely missed the SR-71 (and if I'm right about having been there once before, I think the exact same thing happened for the exact same reason).

NASM, being part of the largest museum in the world, probably covers a wider range of subject matter. I know the main campus has the Wright flyer, and the Earhart Vega (40450). Their collection has outgrown the main building several times over, so they used to have the Space Shuttle Enterprise (currently in NYC) at the offsite annex before they upgraded it to the Discovery on the retirement of the fleet. I'm sure their collection has a much wider focus, where the NMUSAF (shockingly) focuses pretty extensively on military planes (again, shockingly) flown by the USAF. I did see a couple of US Navy planes, and even a few Soviet fighter planes mixed in, but I'd guess that at least 80% of their collection was flown by the USAF. Something like the Kennedy Air Force One seems like it would belong in the NASM or its annex, but it was flown by the USAF, so they got to decide where it ended up. Aside from their Air Force One collection, however, they'd have to go up against the Smithsonian for anything truly unique, and I don't think Congress would look kindly defense spending being diverted to fuel a bidding war with another part of the US government.

Waiting for the Chicago Bean next......CHROME SILVER BABY!

@Murdoch17: That Dali piece is called "The Persistence of Memory."

@PurpleDave, regarding the two museums: Te NASM has the Enola Gay, famous for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The NMUSAF has Bockscar, which dropped the a-bomb on Nagasaki.

@TheOtherMike said:
" @Murdoch17: That Dali piece is called "The Persistence of Memory."

@PurpleDave, regarding the two museums: Te NASM has the Enola Gay, famous for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The NMUSAF has Bockscar, which dropped the a-bomb on Nagasaki."

I was thinking the Enola Gay was at NMUSAF, but I just realized I had it mixed up with the Memphis Belle (one of the first to rotate back stateside following the completion of 25 combat missions). They also had lifesize replicas of both the Fat Man and Little Boy atomic bombs. Interestingly, the docent who was on duty at the time had never heard of the Thin Man bomb, which was abandoned early on in favor of Little Boy because it was just too impractical to acquire enough refined plutonium to fuel it.

And regarding the Bockscar, it still had the painted wooden broomsticks in the gunports. Since the bomber fleet was likely downsized very shortly after their mission, there wouldn't have been a pressing need to refit it to factory spec upon its return. I believe those are the original broomsticks used to hide the fact that the guns had been removed to cut down on excess weight.

What we don't know, and probably never will, is if my grandfather worked on the B-24 on display. During WWII, he got hired to help build bombers at the Willow Run plant. Eventually, however, he got drafted into the army. When he reported to begin basic training, he was told the war was over, that they no longer needed new recruits, and that he could report back to work. When he got back to Willow Run, he was told that they no longer needed to build bombers, that they were finishing up the ones that were partially constructed, and then they were shutting things down.

We also don't know if my dad serviced the C-141 that's on display, but the odds are significantly higher considering how frequently they flew through Anchorage while he was stationed there. We _do_ know of one plane that he serviced...or at least attempted to. When he was in Anchorage, a plane landed there while he was on duty. One of his tasks was to go out on the wing and check a gauge. Plane lands, and he's right up onto the wing to do that very task when a hand rests on his shoulder and a voice says, "Son, that's my job." When he turns around, there's an airman whose sleeve was covered in stripes. That plane had come in as Air Force Two, carrying VPOTUS Humphries, and they had someone assigned to fly with the plane and do that wherever they landed. Still, he'd impressed the guy, so he ended up getting a full tour of the plane, which beats getting court-martialed.

@rainstorm26:
21033, but it's silver ink, not chrome.

Isn't there a piece of art that is a giant dollar sign? LEGO should do that one next.

@NissanZ32 said:
"We just need "Live" and "Laugh" now "

Or a change in the sign ... Live Laugh LEGO.

I figured this was to commemorate the new Lego plant they are building just outside Richmond, Virginia. The Virginia motto is “Virginia is for Lovers” and this sculpture and many like it are all over the place in Virginia.

Clarendelego

So is there a chance, that if this one for some reason exceeds the expectations and actually is going to sell well, we'll get a "Rage" version for Rage Against the Machine's "Renegades" cover art as a companion piece to both this and the Rolling Stone's tongue and lips set?
I mean, I'd be more excited for that one over this one, but still not enough to consider getting any of these.

Can't say I love it...