Brickset news archive: December 2011
-
The anatomy of a Ladyfig
Posted by Huw, 29 Dec 2011 12:44. Filed under Miscellaneous.
I managed to find a Friends set today, the Cafe, and thought I'd let 3PO show you how the ladyfigs fit together...I've asked a guest FAFOL to write a review of the set, so stay tuned if you want to find out what they are really like, after all the hype and backlash.
70 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1485 views
-
New Star Wars polybags for 2012
Posted by Huw, 29 Dec 2011 11:05. Filed under New sets.
Regular contributor keithkram has uncovered two new Star Wars polybags that'll probably be available in various promotions next year.
The sets are 30056, Star Destroyer, pictured, and 30058, STAP.
24 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1615 views
-
9491 Geonosian Cannon
Posted by Huw, 29 Dec 2011 09:09. Filed under Set review.
My wife is out shopping in the sales today so I've time to get in another mini-review of a new Star Wars set.9491 Geonosian Cannon is, like Droid Escape, another minfig-heavy mid-priced set, weighing in at £19.99 in the UK. However this one comes with four unique minifigs, a Geonosian zombie and warrior, Clone Commander Gree and a slighly different version of Barriss Offee, who's sporting one of the new shorter-length capes which can also be found being worn by Lloyd Garmadon in the new Ninjago sets.
Again like Droid Escape, this is a reworking of an old model: a Geonosian cannon appeared in 4478 Geonosian Fighter released in 2003, and this version is much improved on the original. It's much bigger and beefier and looks like it could inflict some serious damage to low-flying craft. Comparing it with reference images at Wookiepedia, the designers have done a good job.
However, the minifigs are the stars of the set. The Geonosians are excellent: they have wings similar to the original Geonosian (sw078) but with the improved head of the one that came in 7959 last year. They carry weapons based on the ray-gun from the collectable minifigs, but they have a large appendage on the front that makes them too heavy for the minifig to hold without toppling over (which is why they are not holding them in the photo above!)Commander Gree is sporting a standard clone army uniform and helmet but with unique colouring in dark green.
In summary, this is a nice set, but the price will probably put off anyone other than the hard-core Star Wars minifig collector, who will be delighted with the 4 new figures, which I guess will help justify having to spend £20 on it.
Check out the other pictures in my flickr gallery:
16 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1320 views
-
9490 Droid Escape
Posted by Huw, 29 Dec 2011 06:11. Filed under Set review.
Seeing as the new Star Wars sets seem to be only available in Argos and the LEGO brand stores in the UK at the moment, I suspect many of you in the USA want to know more about them before their release in the US, which I am told will be the end of January, with shop.LEGO.com accepting pre-orders from Jan 1st.So, I thought I'd do a mini-review of 9490 Droid Escape which costs £19.99 in the UK. It consists of four minifigs, three of which are new, an escape pod, and a small speeder bike, which I think is a new design
It's a reworking of 7106 which was released in 2001, so you could say it's long overdue.
The pod itself is a good rendition of a class 6 escape pod, and certainly much better than the one in 7106. This one has somewhere for the two droids to sit confortably and a control panel, so it's much more realistic. The speeder bike is also an interesting design. It's a shame there aren't two of them, though.I suspect the main reason many of us will buy it is for the minifigs. As you can see above C-3PO gets a new torso that looks great, showing as it does his innards.
Like some of the Toy Story figs, the sand troopers are 'weathered', and covered in random dirt -- sand -- marks. They are identical apart from the colour of their pauldron, though, so the dirt marks are the same on both. They have printed legs and backs, although you can't see much of their backs due to the back-packs they are carrying.
This is certainly a set that minifig collectors will want to get hold of (but then, I think all Star Wars sets fall into this category these days, don't they?), although as with all SW sets it carries a hefty price tag so you may want to wait until it's on offer at Amazon, or 3-for-2 or something.
Here are some more pictures from my flickr gallery:
27 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1311 views
-
New droid head
Posted by Huw, 28 Dec 2011 07:49. Filed under New sets.
You may recall we discussed the new droid head a couple of weeks ago, which is better suited for R5 series astromech droids than the dome that's been used before.Here's R5-J2 from the new 9492 TIE Fighter which I've just finished building. I've never been very impressed with previous TIEs, particularly those with blue bits all over them (what were the designers thinking, were they colour-blind? :-)) but this new rendition is pretty good.
I'll try and do a full review soon although I have family commitments this week so may not get a chance too until the weekend.
17 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1044 views
-
New site features
Posted by Huw, 28 Dec 2011 05:36. Filed under Brickset.
I've rolled out some new features today:
Related sets
This is the biggest and most significant change. The notes about related sets (e.g. same as...; US version of...; Polybag version of... etc.) have been replaced with a database relationship.
Related sets are now shown in their own section of the set details page (example) and also in the search results table as a list and a pop-up window (example).
Although this was a relatively small change to the site, it needed a lot of work to gather and check the data to ensure it is accurate. I'm confident that it is, but also sure there'll be further additions and improvements to it over the next few weeks as the admins carry out more checks.
Gallery view
Sometimes you want to see just the thumbnails of the sets rather than all the details so I've implemented a new 'gallery view' for the search results. You can flip between the two using the control on the search results header, and your preference is saved in a cookie.
Pop-up view of a set's minifigs
The minifig count information in the search results table is now a hyperlink to a pop-up view of the minifigs.
Miscellaneous
- Search results table tidied up a bit.
- Minifig taxonomy data from Cristoph Bartneck's book displayed where appropriate.
- 'New at shop.LEGO.com' reinstated on home page.
- eBay bar removed from home page.
- Improvements to set review form.
- 'Member since' and 'last online' dates shown on member profile pages, although the site only started recording joining dates in 2010 so it's not shown for 'older' members.
- Various small tweaks and improvements.
Do let me know if you encounter any problems and what you think of the changes.
88 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1295 views
-
Troopers are no longer faceless
Posted by Huw, 27 Dec 2011 14:44. Filed under New sets.
After 13 years of making various kinds of troopers, LEGO has decided to print faces on their heads.This pair is from 9489, the new Endor Rebel Trooper and Imperial Trooper battle pack. The TIE fighter pilot in the Planet set has the same head so it looks as if all imperial troops will be printed this way from now on.
(thanks to Bodybomb3 for prompting me to mention this.)
33 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1293 views
-
Kingdoms Joust, now available.
Posted by bluemoose, 27 Dec 2011 13:52. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (General).
The LEGO Kingdoms Joust set, jointly announced back at the beginning of October at BrickCon (USA) and The Great Western Lego Show (UK), is now available from LEGO Shop Online (UK, £100 | USA, $120) and from Brand Retail Stores in the UK (we haven't heard about it being available in other bricks and mortar stores - let us know if you see it anywhere).
If you were at either of the two events mentioned above, you will have had the opportunity to take a good look at the set 'in the flesh'; I spent a day 'baby sitting' the one at GWLS, so I got to know it fairly well, and it's a very nice set in my opinion.
I've also got a part-built one on the sofa next to me as I type this ... it belongs to my wife, so I must resist the tempation to do any of the assembly!
20 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1022 views
-
Is this the best Star Wars minifig since Boba Fett?
Posted by Huw, 26 Dec 2011 17:11. Filed under New sets.
Boba Fett in the last Slave 1 was a stunning figure, but this new Elite Clone Trooper from the new battle pack 9488 is pretty good too. Discounting weapons, it's made from 10 pieces including a new (I think) pauldron and 'skirt'. The printing on his mate's helmet is also superb.The battle packs have gone up in price but with figures like this, they remain must-haves.
41 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1505 views
-
Star Wars Planet sets
Posted by Huw, 26 Dec 2011 07:11. Filed under New sets.
I haven't seen much written about the Planet sets yet, which might be because they haven't been available anywhere until today and I'm among the first to get them!I bought them at my local Argos (see below) this morning. As you can see, the planet sticks out of the box and apart from it, the only other thing in the box is the instructions. The parts are all in the planet, which is 11 studs diameter. It splits into two identical halves to reveal the parts inside.
The Naboo pilot minifig is the same as that in 7877. The Starfighter itself is pretty good though and very 'swooshable'.
The only unique piece in the set is a printed 4x4 tile with studs.
Once built, the Starfighter sits on a small display stand and a couple of pieces are provided such that the planet can be stood up, or hung from the ceiling.
These are quite expensive at £9.99 (something like US$10 - $12 as I estimate) but bound to be collectable. I would recommend buying these as soon as they hit the shops, not because they'll sell out quickly, but because the planet is likely to become scratched and damaged once it's been languishing on the shelf for a while.
The first three are labelled 'Series 1' and there's another three out in the summer. No doubt more will follow in subsequent years.
I've posted more pictures on flickr:
27 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1273 views
-
Sale at shop.LEGO.com starts today
Posted by Huw, 26 Dec 2011 04:21. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (General).
The sale starts today. There's 33% off some decent sets so keep an eye out throughout the day. Use these links to go directly to the Sales and Deals pages: UK | USA | Canada.
I suspect the best stuff -- which, unlike last year, there is some -- will sell out fast, so get your order in quickly.
26 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1093 views
-
Argos now listing 2012 sets for collection tomorrow
Posted by Huw, 25 Dec 2011 17:55. Filed under Shopping (UK).
Argos is listing 2012 Star Wars, Friends, Dino and much more on their website, for reserve and collect in-store for collection tomorrow.
I've reserved a few Star Wars sets and will be down to my local branch first thing!
(thanks to a smooth criminal and Callum for the tip-off!)
18 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1060 views
-
Advent day 24
Posted by Huw, 24 Dec 2011 16:18. Filed under Advent countdown.
Here we are then, Christmas Eve, and the windows of the Advent calendar are all now open!We have a Santa in both today, so no surprise there. Santa Yoda is certainly very cool and the highlight of the calendar. I first saw him in January at the London Toy Fair and you may remember I tried to hide his identity but it wasn't long before it was revealed at another blog. I guess it was worth the 11 month wait to get my hands on him!
That concludes the Advent countdown, then. I didn't know if I'd continue it 24 days ago but I've just about managed it although on some days it's been a struggle to find things to write about the models. It was quite fun, though...
I predicted that December would be a quiet month for news and that's one reason I started the countdown, but I couldn't have been more wrong, could I: you'll surely remember that the biggest LEGO story of this millennium broke mid-month!
So, it's 9:30 here in the UK. Santa will be here soon so all that remains is for me to wish you all a Happy Christmas! I hope all your presents have that unique rattling sound when you shake them!
56 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)566 views
-
Pick of the week: Dump Truck
Posted by Huw, 24 Dec 2011 13:41. Filed under Pick of the week.
If you're a City fan you will no doubt be very excited about the City sets being released in 2012. There are some superb vehicles coming out, and even the Fire and Police sets are sufficiently different to make them interesting.My pick for this week is the new City set 4434 Dump Truck, which I picked up at the Brighton brand store yesterday and which has just appeared at shop.LEGO.com for the very reasonable price of £14.99 and US $19.99.
It's actually surprisingly similar to a truck I made a while ago, even down to the colour scheme. One challenge I faced when building mine was getting the sides of the deck right. In the end I built it upside down to make best use of the brackets available.
To solve the problem on this model, LEGO has made two new parts, one for the ends and one for sides, which makes the model much more elegant. As well as these new parts, there's a new three-part hinge that replaces the ancient 2x4 plate hinge that's been around since the 1960's, and also a new wheelbarrow, which have been difficult to render at minifig scale in the past.
This an excellent, interesting and highly playable model at a great price. If all 2012 City sets are as good this then City fans have every right to get excited. I'm certainly looking forward to finding out if they are.
If I've tempted you to add it to your collection, order today from shop.LEGO.com using these links: UK | USA | Canada
12 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)782 views
-
LEGOLAND Malaysia Opening 2012
Posted by Grahame, 24 Dec 2011 03:15. Filed under Miscellaneous.
LEGOLAND Malaysia is on track to open in the final quarter of 2012. You can read all about it at http://www.legoland.com.my/
This will be the sixth LEGOLAND when built, and will be the first in the Asia region. It will also be Malaysia's first international theme park and will be located only a 20-minute drive from Singapore. This is good news for international visitors to Malaysia and Singapore.
Thanks to weelean for this exciting news!
15 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1683 views
-
Advent day 23
Posted by Huw, 23 Dec 2011 17:13. Filed under Advent countdown.
In the second-to-last window of the City calendar we have this cute little police doggy and bone. I wonder if that's the left-overs from the toilet roll slinger?In the Star Wars calendar, we have a seasonal model for a change.
Just one window to go now, and we all know what's in the Star Wars one, don't we...
14 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1805 views
-
2012 sets now listed at shop.LEGO.com
Posted by Huw, 23 Dec 2011 15:18. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (UK).
The 2012 sets have been added to shop.LEGO.com in the UK and probably elsewhere in Europe already, 3 days earlier than expected.
I've just finished building this RattleCopter and have to say, it's stunning! Get your order in now and I suspect you'll get them before the New Year.
Update: surprisingly, these are now all appearing in our product feed already. You can see everything added to the site on our What's New at shop.LEGO.com page.
(thanks R4-G9 for the tip-off)
16 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1005 views
-
General Grievous' Starfighter Spotted In Costco for $29.99
Posted by fuelbreak, 23 Dec 2011 13:14. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
It appears General Grievous' Starfighter has been spotted in Costco here in Canada for an affordable $29.99 CAN.
Compared to the $69.99 price tag at lego.ca this is a great deal.
There will be another chance to obtain Grievous in an upcoming 2012 starwars set (9515) if you are not able to get the Starfighter.
Many thanks to Brickset user ms builder for the news.
7 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1842 views
-
The Gimme LEGO Awards 2011
Posted by Huw, 23 Dec 2011 11:26. Filed under Miscellaneous.
As regular readers will know, Brickset staff member DrDaveWatford runs his own blog Gimme LEGO.
He's just posted a review of the year and highlighted what he thinks are the best sets and themes, and also the worst. When you've read his opinion you can vote for one of ten nominated sets in the 'Gimme LEGO Reader's Choice Award'. If you have a favourite set of the year, go and see if it's listed and vote for it. The more votes cast, the more credible the award, so get voting!
(The Alien Conquest Earth Defence HQ, pictured, wins the 'Best Non-Licensed Set' award)
8 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1111 views
-
2012 sets hit the UK
Posted by Huw, 23 Dec 2011 10:44. Filed under Shopping (UK).
As you may have read in the forum, 2012 sets have been appearing before they should in several Tesco stores across the country and also in some of the brand stores.We received a tip-off yesterday from bodybomb3 that the Brighton store had put a good selection out, so on the way to pick up Granny for Christmas from Sussex this morning I took a detour to see for myself.
There were a few of the Ninjago sets, but not all, although they did have the best of the bunch, 9443, the helicopter. They had all the first batch of Super Heroes, all Dino sets, quite a few City and all of the Creator sets, I believe. There were no Friends sets, though.
I grabbed one of the last Lex Luthor sets, 6862, so the initial stock may have sold out. You can see my haul above. I'll probably go back when I take Granny home next week ;-)
37 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1203 views
-
Series 6 dot codes
Posted by Huw, 23 Dec 2011 10:36. Filed under Miscellaneous.
The dot codes for series 6 have been decoded by the team at Better Than Tomorrow blog. Personally I find them too difficult to read in a retail environment and thus not much use for identifying contents before you buy. Have you ever used them successfully?
30 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2905 views
-
My Copy of the 2012 Catalogue Arrived Today
Posted by Grahame, 23 Dec 2011 01:04. Filed under Miscellaneous.
My copy of the first catalogue for 2012 arrived today. I don't think there is anything new in there about which we don't already know, but it at least tells you when the various waves will be released (in this part of the world anyway).
There will be another catalogue released later to cover the second-half of the year.
The set names for the Disney Princess Duplo sets are included, so I have added them here to the database.
17 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1135 views
-
Advent day 22
Posted by Huw, 22 Dec 2011 15:50. Filed under Advent countdown.
Another decent day in both calendars. They've done a good job on this A-Wing, there's nothing to dislike about it, and not much to say about it, either!
The snowmobile is OK as well, although identical in design to the orange one two days ago which shows a little lack of imagination, but I guess you can race the two of them round the snow track on the lid of the calendar now.Two days to go, thank goodness, I'm running out of things to say about them!
22 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)596 views
-
Advent day 21
Posted by Huw, 21 Dec 2011 17:29. Filed under Advent countdown.
Today we have the Millennium Falcon in 13 pieces. It captures the look of the ship perfectly. This is the 8th model of the MF to have been made, which has been rendered in 6 different scales, from this, the smallest, to the UCS Falcon.
The sled in the City calendar isn't much to look at on its own but once filled with the presents from earlier in the month and coupled to yesterday's snowmobile, it makes a decent model.
9 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)606 views
-
TOYS R US Boxing Week Sale: 50% Off Kingdoms, Atlantis and Pharaohs Quest
Posted by fuelbreak, 20 Dec 2011 21:43. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
It appears that Toys R Us will be offering a 50% off sale on Kingdoms, Atlantis and the Pharaohs Quest themes for Boxing week starting Dec 27th.
The ad was a bit blurry but I would suspect there will be some sort of catch. There is a star in the ad which usually means some sets are excluded. It seems a bit too good to be true but that's for you to find out!
http://boxingday.redflagdeals.com/index.php/flyers/image_full/2483/
18 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1277 views
-
Advent day 20
Posted by Huw, 20 Dec 2011 16:35. Filed under Advent countdown.
The City calendar is on a roll now: this snowmobile is perhaps the best mini-model we've had in the calendar so far. Very simple, but effective, and a great colour scheme!The TIE fighter is also very simple, but not quite so effective. It would have been nice it was to the same scale as the X-wing Fighter so as to enable some dog-fighting action!
16 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)547 views
-
Boxing Day Sales: Walmart will be having 30% Off selected LEGO
Posted by fuelbreak, 20 Dec 2011 14:12. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
Walmart has just posted its Boxing Day Flyer advertising 30% off a wide selection of LEGO from Pirates of the Caribbean through to Harry Potter sets. So if you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas, perhaps this would be a good place to start.
Thank you Brickset user suckerpunch83 for the news.
2 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1555 views
-
Advent day 19
Posted by Huw, 19 Dec 2011 16:16. Filed under Advent countdown.
I really like today's City model of a safe, complete with gold bars, although in this picture it looks better than it actually is because the door is not hinged. Nevertheless, it goes some way to making up for the disappointment of the car.The TIE Defender Pilot in the Star Wars calendar featured in only one set until now so I suspect it's one many of you don't have. All in all a good day!
15 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)533 views
-
Anatomy of a Friends 'Mini-doll'
Posted by Huw, 19 Dec 2011 09:40. Filed under Miscellaneous.
This morning's press release came with several images, most of which we have in the database already, but this one is new and I thought it quite interesting as it shows the difference in size of the mini-doll figure when compared to minifigs.
The fact sheet states that "the new mini-doll figure stands roughly 5 millimeters taller than its minifigure sibling, yet features similar constructability, shares the iconic “claw” hand to hold the same accessories, can wear the same hair and headpieces..." so if nothing else, fans of the female minifig will now have a great selection of hairpieces to adorn them with.
Update: to prove the point, SkaensKeep has posted a photo on flickr showing minifigs with Friends' hair.
38 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1915 views
-
LEGO Friends press release
Posted by Huw, 19 Dec 2011 04:11. Filed under LEGO press release.
LEGO GROUP DECLARES NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION FOR 2012: DELIVER MEANINGFUL PLAY EXPERIENCES TO GIRLS WORLDWIDE WITH NEW LEGO® FRIENDS
Company brings classic construction play to the girls’ aisle with first-of- its-kind LEGO® mini-doll figure, three new brick colors and detailed interiors that reflect four years of research in play needs of girls
BILLUND, Denmark (December 19, 2011) – The LEGO Group, the world’s leading construction toy brand, today announced LEGO® Friends, a new play theme that tailors the iconic LEGO construction experience especially to girls ages five and up. LEGO Friends delivers on a girl’s desire for realistic role-play, creativity, and a highly-detailed, character-based world with the core values of LEGO building.
The LEGO Friends collection of 23 products ranges in price from $5.99 to $99.99 USD and the first 14 will be available for sale in select toy, discount merchandise, specialty and online stores beginning December 26, 2011 in the United Kingdom and January 1, 2012 in the United States. A rolling International launch will follow in the spring, with the remaining nine sets launching in the summer months.
“We felt it was time to test assumptions that girls aren’t interested in building and to breathe fresh air into a toy category filled mostly with pre-fabricated play experiences for girls,” said Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO, LEGO Group. “We focused on creating a play experience centered on the joy of creation, while heeding the way girls naturally build and play. We are incredibly proud of the solution we deliver with LEGO Friends, and are resolved to build this platform for years to come.”
LEGO Friends is the first 100 percent LEGO building experience fully optimized to girls’ tastes and interests. Thousands of girls and their mothers worldwide participated in intensive research that validated the desire for more beauty, realistic details, accessories and interior building and role play opportunities in a LEGO offering.
Introducing the LEGO mini-doll figure
Anchored by the introduction of a new mini-doll figure, LEGO Friends introduces a new LEGO minifigure platform tailored to girls’ requests for a more realistic, relatable and stylized figure. Designed to the same scale of the classic LEGO minifigure, the mini-doll figure stands roughly 5 millimeters taller than its minifigure sibling, yet features similar constructability, shares the iconic “claw” hand to hold the same accessories, can wear the same hair and headpieces, and is compatible with all LEGO building sets. A total of 29 different mini-doll figures will be introduced in 2012.“LEGO Friends is one of the most researched LEGO projects ever and is a culmination of years of anthropological research with girls around the world to understand what they expect from a construction toy,” said Nanna Ulrich Gudum, senior creative director, LEGO Group. “In talking with girls and their moms, we understand that girls really want a LEGO offering that mirrors what the boys experience, but in a way that fulfills their unique desire for remodeling and redesign, combined with realistic themes in community and friendship.”
“Unlike previous LEGO toys for girls, LEGO Friends, at its core, does not apologize for being a construction toy and delivers, for the first time, a building experience in the same scale as our classic offerings,” Nanna Ulrich Gudum continued. “What LEGO Friends does differently is deliver the beauty, details, accessories, real world themes and need for strong interior play that the research revealed would make all the difference for girls ages 5 and up.”
Welcome to Heartlake City
The LEGO Friends story centers on the everyday lives and personalities of five girls in a fictional hometown called Heartlake City. Each of the friends—Olivia, Mia, Andrea, Stephanie and Emma—has a distinct personality and interests, such as animals, performing arts, invention and design, that are reflected in the models. Building sets reflect different parts of town where the girls’ adventures take place—downtown, suburbs, beach, camping grounds and mountains.The product collection
Half of the launch collection includes construction sets themed to introduce girls to each of the “Friend’s” personalities, including: Stephanie’s Outdoor Bakery, Emma’s Splash Pool, Andrea’s Stage, Olivia’s Inventor’s Workshop, Stephanie’s Pet Patrol, Mia’s Puppy House and Emma’s Design Studio. Girls are also invited to construct the Friends’ favorite locations in Heartlake City with larger building sets, including: Stephanie’s Cool Convertible, Olivia’s Tree House, Heartlake Dog Show, Butterfly Beauty Shop, City Park Café, Heartlake Vet, and Olivia’s House. The remaining nine sets launching later in the year deliver the same range in price and theme.Immersive brand experience
Children will be immersed in the new world they can create with LEGO Friends through a variety of brand experiences planned for 2012. In addition to providing product information, the LEGO Friends website will allow children to explore the personalities of each of the five Friends and the different spots in Heartlake City. The site will also feature an avatar creator, mini-movies, games, video building tips, story extensions, contests, news and an events calendar. Also planned are Interactive building events and road shows, promotions, magazines, digital content, a mini movie, in-store experiences, books and more. Check www.LEGOFriends.com for more information.
---
From the accompanying fact sheet:
LEGO® Friends tailors the beloved LEGO construction experience especially for girls ages 5 and up. LEGO Friends delivers on a girl’s desire for realistic role-play, creativity, and a highly-detailed, character-based world with the core values of LEGO building. The LEGO Friends collection of 23 products ranges in price from $5.99 to $99.99 USD and the first 14 will be available for sale in the girls’ toy aisle of select toy, discount merchandise, specialty and online stores beginning December 26, 2011 in the United Kingdom and January 1, 2012 in the United States
NEW PRODUCT FEATURES
- LEGO Mini-Doll Figure: tailored to girls’ requests for a more realistic, relatable and stylized figure, the new mini-doll figure stands roughly 5 millimeters taller than its minifigure sibling, yet features similar constructability, shares the iconic “claw” hand to hold the same accessories, can wear the same hair and headpieces, and is compatible with all LEGO building sets. 29 different mini-doll figures will be introduced in 2012.
- New Colors: three new LEGO element colors—two blues and a lavender—and three new deco colors—two greens and another purple—were added to create LEGO Friends.
- Rich World: the LEGO Friends story centers on the everyday lives and personalities of five girls—Olivia, Mia, Andrea, Stephanie and Emma—in Heartlake City. Each girl’s personality and interests are reflected in the collection.
19 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)973 views
-
Lord of the Rings set names and images
Posted by Huw, 19 Dec 2011 03:24. Filed under New sets.
There's a video on YouTube showing confidential images of some LOTR sets. I'm not going to link to it from here because it's against the site's policy to do so. However I will list the sets that are shown:
- 9469 Gandalf Arrives
- 9470 Shelob Attacks
- 9471 Uruk-hai Army
- 9472 Attack On Weathertop
- 9473 Mines Of Moria
- 9474 The Battle Of Helms Deep
I'm sure you'll be able to find the video yourself. When you've done so, feel free to discuss in the comments. One thing you will notice is the number of minifigs: I counted 34 in the 6 sets including 9 in Helms Deep!
(Via another LEGO site that links directly to the video)
95 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1399 views
-
Advent day 18
Posted by Huw, 18 Dec 2011 15:11. Filed under Advent countdown.
Both calendars are back on track today after the disappointment of yesterday. Here we have another instantly recognisable miniature marvel: a Y-Wing in 20 pieces. How did we ever manage without 1x1 cheese slopes, I wonder? They are great for adding details to small models.In the City calendar we have a minifig, our second criminal, this time in a standard issue prison stripy shirt. Like one of the cops, this is also a unique figure although none of his constituent parts are new. The crowbar is a nice piece and there's even a spare in the bag!
11 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)494 views
-
Brickset traffic review of the year
Posted by Huw, 18 Dec 2011 06:26. Filed under Brickset.
At this time of year I like to review Brickset's usage statistics and share them with you. As I posted the other week, Brickset had its busiest month ever on 4th December, and in fact, as predicted, looking at the figures today, the numbers are still increasing. I suspect they will peak just after Christmas.
This graph, from Quantcast, showing the number of unique visitors per month, shows the growth the site has seen since July 2008. The peaks conicide with December of each year.
The figures from Google Analytics below show that we've experienced a 43% growth in the number of visits and visitors in 2011:
2011 2010 2009 Page views 49,404,168 40,447,000 25,434,000 Visits 11,408,177 7,926,000 4,556,000 Visitors 3,895,394 2,719,000 1,766,000 So things are definitely heading in the right direction. How high can it go, I wonder?
16 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1018 views
-
The Never-Ending Story
Posted by yellowcastle, 17 Dec 2011 21:46. Filed under Shopping (USA).
Toys R Us is having yet another Buy One, Get One 50% Off promotion this week. Valid Sunday 12/18 thru' Saturday 12/24, the sale will be available both in-store and online and the only listed exclusion this time is Star Wars. It is important to note however, that Toys R Us is currently marking up almost all of their sets, some of them to ridiculous amounts. For example, they are selling the Catwoman Chase at 60+% over MSRP and the Quidditch Match at nearly 100% over MSRP. That being said, there are deals to be had if you shop smartly. And if you're as desperate to get Superman like I was this morning, you might just be willing to pay the ransom.
P.S. For those hoping for news on Atreyu, Bastian or Falkor, I unfortunately can't help. :o)
30 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1056 views
-
Advent day 17
Posted by Huw, 17 Dec 2011 17:20. Filed under Advent countdown.
Well, the police 'car' is finished, but it's pathetic. It's look like something a 5-year-old has thrown together. Very disappointing.In the Star Wars calendar we have what BrickLink calls a Weapons Depot. It's not particularly exciting on its own but I suppose it does add some play value when combined with the minifigs we've had. Let's hope things improve tomorrow!
17 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)577 views
-
Collectable Minifigs series 6 - box distribution
Posted by Huw, 17 Dec 2011 05:34. Filed under New sets.
I picked up a box from WHS in Fareham today. My box distribution was as follows:5 x minotaurs, Celtic warriors, bandits (15)
4 x skaters, leprechauns, flamenco girls, space babes, aliens, mechanics (24)
3 x liberty statues, robots, genies, surgeons, Romans, sleepy boys, butchers (21)(Total 60)
This is slightly different to that posted by vickicara in the other thread (4 butchers, 3 mechanics), so it would be useful if someone else can check their box.
Update: I've added them to the Collectable Minifig gallery already so you see them in all their glory. I've just added Series 5 as well now.
51 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2511 views
-
Costco Lowers Price of Battle of Naboo to $19.97
Posted by fuelbreak, 16 Dec 2011 23:03. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
Costco has just lowered the price of LEGO Battle Of Naboo 7929 by $5 at my local Costco.
Now priced at 19.97 CAN, these sets won't last long.
2 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1842 views
-
Advent day 16
Posted by Huw, 16 Dec 2011 15:30. Filed under Advent countdown.
It's been such a monumental day for LEGO news that I'm going to keep this brief today. In the City calendar, we have some more pieces for our car, while in the Star Wars calendar we have a Clone Pilot, who has not made an appearance since 2009. BrickLink considers this to be a new unique figure though, because it has a black head.
6 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1573 views
-
Introducing LEGO ReBrick
Posted by Huw, 16 Dec 2011 07:58. Filed under LEGO.com.
Here's another press release from LEGO concerning the 'soft' launch of ReBrick. I've been involved in this project for some time, and I suspect many of you have too during its open beta phase. From today, anyone can use it.
---
The success of the LEGO Group in recent years owes a lot to the dedication and love of the LEGO® brick by consumers and the fan community. ReBrick is a step further along the road of collaboration with LEGO consumers, but now with focus on sharing and celebrating what consumers create with LEGO bricks. We hope that ReBrick will be a source of inspiration for everyone in the LEGO community.What is LEGO ReBrick?
- ReBrick is a social media platform where users over the age of 13 can share and discuss user-created LEGO content online.
- ReBrick users can bookmark LEGO content from sites, such as Flickr and YouTube and existing LEGO community sites, and have a discussion via comments at the ReBrick hub. It will not be possible to upload content to the ReBrick site, so the traffic will be sent back to the community.
- ReBrick is LEGO Group owned, but the selection of content rests primarily with the user community
- ReBrick will both serve as a social bookmarking hub for easy navigation of the latest and coolest user-developed LEGO content, but it will also enable this content to be pushed to 3rd party social media platforms, LEGO fan sites and other LEGO sites by the users.
- ReBrick is not commercial and won’t be used by the LEGO Group to market LEGO products.
ReBrick amplifies the vibrant LEGO community
There are millions of articles, videos and photos featuring LEGO bricks on the web, and more show up every day. Some fan-made videos on YouTube get millions of views within a few days. Clearly, LEGO fans are already out there sharing and chatting away big time.
But the fragmentation makes it difficult for the casual LEGO fan or those just entering the LEGO hobby to find the content they might be looking for or just browse for inspiration. It is our hope, that ReBrick will make it easier to navigate, enjoy and be inspired by the awesome content created by LEGO fans and also facilitate new connections between people in the LEGO community. ReBrick acts as a hub, gathering the most interesting, off-the-wall and astonishing creations in one place so that fans everywhere can join the conversation.
Releasing control
Millions of user-created LEGO objects are already driving thousands of conversations each day. ReBrick will let the users moderate themselves, with little involvement from The LEGO Group. A set of simple House Rules will ensure that the core values that most consumers associate with the LEGO brand will set the tone for content and conversation. We believe that the consumers themselves know and appreciate these values and will uphold them.
”Always in Beta” mindset
From the early stages, the LEGO user community has contributed to ReBrick, influencing the way it works, the design and the house rules. The LEGO community will continue to be closely involved in the further development of ReBrick. ReBrick will continue to be co-developed with the LEGO community adding new features on a regular basis.
You can access ReBrick at ReBrick.LEGO.com
21 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1975 views
-
The Unofficial LEGO Minifigure Catalog app now in the AppStore
Posted by Huw, 16 Dec 2011 07:42. Filed under Software/Games.
The app is now available in the Apple AppStore and is priced at just $2.99. It's a universal app which will work on iPhone, iPod and iPad.If you have an iOS device I highly recommend you download it. It's an excellent piece of work. Read my full review for more information.
11 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1922 views
-
It's official: LEGO lands 'Hobbit' license
Posted by Huw, 16 Dec 2011 06:12. Filed under Miscellaneous.
There have been rumours circulating for a few months, which of course we couldn't publish here, but now the biggest news story since 1999 is official.From Variety, published at 8am GMT today:
Lego has found its next precious
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has awarded the toymaker the rights to create action figures and playsets based on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the two upcoming films based on "The Hobbit," the first of which bows at the end of 2012.
The multiyear deal grants Lego access to the library of characters, settings and stories of "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again," all helmed by Peter Jackson.
The first toys Lego plans to produce will hit store shelves in June, tied to "Lord of the Rings," with new construction sets planned for the weeks leading up to the Dec. 14 bow of "An Unexpected Journey."
"Only Lego, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of 'The Lord of the Rings' and the two films based on 'The Hobbit,'" said Karen McTier, executive VP, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "These films give life to amazing worlds and characters and we are thrilled to bring fans these products that deliver an imaginative play experience befitting of these beloved properties."
Warner Bros. has a long history with Lego.
Lego has produced toys around the studio's "Harry Potter" franchise, the Batman and "Speed Racer" pics and now the entire DC Comics library. Lego also has tied toys to Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Toy Story," "Cars" and "Prince of Persia" pics, and has long had the "Star Wars" and "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" license.
Warner Bros.' Lego-made DC toys are also expected to hit store shelves next year, the same time Lego will also release its Marvel line, tied to Sony's "The Amazing Spider-Man" and Disney's "The Avengers."
"Our collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products has delivered numerous worldwide successes in the construction toy aisle, introducing us to loyal audiences who love great stories, strong characters and the toys that they inspire," said Jill Wilfert, VP, licensing and entertainment for the Lego Group. "It's particularly exciting to now be able to create sets based on the fantasy worlds and characters from 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy and 'The Hobbit,' not only because we know they will foster collectability and creative play, but also because these are two properties that our fans have been asking us to create for years."
Going after film franchises has paid off for Lego, with "Harry Potter" and "Star Wars" helping the toymaker top $1 billion in sales in the U.S. for the first time in 2010, a figure it's confident to repeat again this year. Altogether, sales are up 106% for the fourth-largest toymaker since 2006, the company has said.
This year, shipments of Legos to stores between August and October are up more than 65%, according to Panjiva, a New York-based data firm.
--
Has there ever been a better time to be a LEGO fan? There's so much cool stuff coming our way that I really think we are in a new 'golden age' of LEGO, one that surpasses that which many of us remember from our childhood.
Update: LEGO has already published a teaser page for the theme (thanks to everyone that emailed about this)
Update: Here's LEGO's press release:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products and The LEGO Group build on Partnership to Produce Construction Toys for THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ Trilogy and the Two Films Based on THE HOBBIT
Building Sets Based on Epic Film Trilogy and Forthcoming Theatrical Release Slated for 2012
BILLUND, Denmark and Burbank, CA – December 16, 2011 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products and The LEGO Group announced today a partnership that awards the world’s leading construction toy brand exclusive rights to develop build-and-play construction sets based on THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT™. The multi-year licensing agreement grants access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for THE LORD OF THE RINGS property, as well as films The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again.LEGO® THE LORD OF THE RINGS construction sets are slated for a rolling global launch beginning in June 2012 in the United States, with LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY scheduled for later in the year.
“Only LEGO, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the two films based on THE HOBBIT,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
"These films give life to amazing worlds and characters and we are thrilled to bring fans these products that deliver an imaginative play experience befitting of these beloved properties.”
The LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS collection will translate into LEGO form the epic locations, scenes and characters of Middle-earth as depicted in all three films, including The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
In late 2012, LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY will give fans of all ages a chance to build and play out the fantastical story and new characters of the legendary Middle-earth adventures depicted in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, slated to premiere December 14, 2012.
“Our collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products has delivered numerous worldwide successes in the construction toy aisle with lines like LEGO HARRY POTTER and LEGO BATMAN, introducing us to loyal audiences who love great stories, strong characters and the toys that they inspire,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “It’s particularly exciting to now be able to create sets based on the fantasy worlds and characters from THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT, not only because we know they will foster collectability and creative play, but also because these are two properties that our fans have been asking us to create for years.”
Information about the sets and collectible minifigures from both collections will be unveiled at a later date at http://TheLordoftheRings.LEGO.com
125 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)3579 views
-
Zellers Canada One Day Sale: 63% Off LEGO Sets 7641 and 8863
Posted by fuelbreak, 15 Dec 2011 13:38. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
Saturday November 17, Zellers Canada is having a one day sale giving 63% off these two LEGO sets:
1) City Corner (7641)
2) Blizzards Peak (8863)They are also having a BOGO 1/2 off LEGO sale starting Friday the 16th of December and lasting until the 22nd.
9 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2428 views
-
New Ninjago sets revealed at Toys N Bricks
Posted by Huw, 15 Dec 2011 13:04. Filed under New sets.
Three previously unseen Ninjago sets have been revealed at Toys N Bricks today, which each feature a scary looking lime green mechanised creature and exclusive weapons.
32 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)3350 views
-
Advent day 15
Posted by Huw, 15 Dec 2011 12:11. Filed under Advent countdown.
I'm sorry that I've posted this earlier than usual today: I'm off out with my work colleagues for a few beverages and a Christmas meal later on, so it's now or never :-)After the disappointment of yesterday, the Star Wars calendar is back on track with this excellent rendition of a Republic Gunship from about 13 pieces. The model wouldn't have been possible without this old SNOT piece that first appeared in 1987 in Space sets. I thought it had fallen out of favour with set designers, but clearly it still has its uses.
In the City calendar we have a car chassis that I suspect will be added to tomorrow to make some sort of police car/buggy. Can't wait!
16 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1582 views
-
Series 6 out in the UK
Posted by Huw, 15 Dec 2011 08:36. Filed under Shopping (UK).
Within the last hour, news has broken in the forum that series 6 figures are now available in WHS and TRU in the UK. There's been positive sightings at WHSmiths in Oxford and TRU in Altrincham.
Happy hunting: please post here or in the forum when you find them!
42 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2342 views
-
"LEGO is for girls", article in Businessweek
Posted by Huw, 15 Dec 2011 06:12. Filed under Miscellaneous.
There's an excellent article at Bloomberg Businessweek (that's actually easier to read on their mobile site) about the forthcoming launch of the Friends sets. It provides an interesting insight into how the theme was developed, how it caters for the different ways that girls play and why the sets have different-sized figures, 'ladyfigs' it calls them, because, apparently, "Let’s be honest: Girls hate [the minifigure]".It states that they will be available "Dec. 26 in the U.K. and Jan. 1 in the U.S", although as you may have read in the forum, people in some European countries have been able to buy them already.
I like the quote at the end: "Oh, we’re going to buy Lego Friends," says Joe Meno (when asked about AFOL's view of them), “but we’re going to buy it for all the wrong reasons. We want the sets for the new colors. One of the colors is ideal for a Perry the Platypus I want to build.” The lady minifig, he predicts, “I’ll probably toss aside.” I think that pretty much captures my thoughts exactly!
39 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2271 views
-
Advent day 14
Posted by Huw, 14 Dec 2011 16:30. Filed under Advent countdown.
Just nine pieces, plus a couple of spares, in our Star Wars bag today that go together to make this mouse droid, whose previous appearances were in the same two big sets that contained yesterday's astromech.It's quite cute I suppose, but I feel a little bit short-changed...
Our little police station is starting to get a bit cramped inside, what with the bed from day 8 and now this forensic desk. The desk lamp is quite cool, though...
14 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1568 views
-
Large update at shop.LEGO.com
Posted by Huw, 14 Dec 2011 05:18. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (General).
What I assume is in preparation for their imminent release, images have been uploaded to shop.LEGO.com for all of the first-wave of 2012 sets. The products aren't all listed at LEGO.com yet so you won't be able to see them on the site itself, so I've added them to Brickset, including all the additional images showing small details and minifigs.
So, use these links and get drooling: City | Cars | Star Wars | Friends | Ninjago.
For me, the Friends sets look most intruiging. There are some great colours and pieces in them, and it is said that the girls' hairpieces are compatible with minifigs. It's a shame my daughters are now too old to buy them for. I'll just have to come up with some other excuse!
Here's a few alternate images to whet your appetite:
Update: there's some interest in the comments about the new astromech head in the X-Wing set, so I've posted a close-up on flickr:
40 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)3012 views
-
25% off Winter Toy Shop
Posted by Huw, 14 Dec 2011 03:44. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (UK).
I've just read in the forum that the Winter Toy Shop is 25% off, now just £33.74, at shop.LEGO.com, which is a bit of a bargain. If you don't have it, order today for delivery before Christmas (with free shipping as it's over £25) and if you do, well, stock up this year because next year it's bound to be in demand on the secondary market.
17 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2021 views
-
Brickvention, 21-22nd January 2012, Melbourne, Australia
Posted by Huw, 14 Dec 2011 03:38. Filed under Events (Australia).
Brickvention is an Australian based convention for LEGO fans. It is a two-day event that brings together LEGO fans of all ages from all over Australia to view original and unusual creations built by Australian modellers and collectors. So if you love LEGO, come along and view the amazing creations and models.The event features a huge collection of models including trains, castles, pirate ships, Star Wars, space ships, planes, buildings, sculptures and any more. There will also be competitions, face painting and LEGO sets and merchandise for sale.
The next Brickvention will be held over the weekend of 21st and 22nd January 2012 at The Melbourne Town Hall, corner of Swanston and Collins Streets Melbourne, Victoria, where anyone can come along and view the amazing creations made out of LEGO. Tickets are on sale at http://www.brickventures.org.au/
To become a registered member participant for the members only day on Friday 20th January, visit the above website for further information or follow this link to the Brickvention 2012 registration page. Due to venue size, there are only 150 registrations available.
2 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1740 views
-
Super Heroes now shipping
Posted by Huw, 14 Dec 2011 03:33. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (US/Canada).
The first seven Super Heroes sets are 'available now' from shop.LEGO.com in the USA and Canada. Furthermore, there's still free shipping on orders over $49 and we're still the right side of the last delivery date for Christmas, so get you order in now and have them for Christmas day!
Order them here: USA | Canada, and remember, everything ordered via the links on the site keeps Brickset running!
10 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1865 views
-
Advent day 13
Posted by Huw, 13 Dec 2011 17:23. Filed under Advent countdown.
The number 13 may be unlucky for some, but not for us because today we have minifigs in both calendars. This little astromech droid, R2-Q5, is a particularly welcome addition to the Star Wars calendar because until his appearance today, he could only be found in two expensive sets (6211 and 10188) and as a result, commands a high premium over at BrickLink.
In the City calendar we have our second policeman. He is actually a unique figure, according to BrickLink, although there isn't anything very special about him. I do like his new-style baseball cap with curved peak though, and we even get a spare one in the bag, which is great.He is scowling, looking very angry, so I'm guessing that he might just have been hit by an errant toilet-roll...
16 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1575 views
-
LEGO Brand Retail coming to Vancouver in 2012
Posted by bluemoose, 13 Dec 2011 13:15. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
Looks like Canada is about to get its fourth LEGO store, this time in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The 'Jobs at LEGO' website has just posted a vacancy for the job of 'Store Manager' in Vancouver, which is usual for the first official announcement of a new store.
You can read all the details of the job at the link below ...
http://jobsatlego.com/ca/vancouver/retail/store-manager-vancouver-jobs
If you think you meet the requirements, and decide to apply, then good luck, and let us know how you get on!
12 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2230 views
-
The Unofficial LEGO Minifigure Catalog now available for Android
Posted by Huw, 13 Dec 2011 05:21. Filed under Software/Games.
You may remember I reviewed the book The Unofficial LEGO Minifigure Catalog in the summer and mentioned at the time that the author was planning to release an iOS version of the book, which I got very excited about at the time.
Well, in the intervening months, author Christoph teamed up with Brickset member Nic Jansma and together they've developed apps for both iOS and Android. The Android version is available in the Android Marketplace now, for the introductory price of $2.99 (£1.91), and the iOS version has been submitted to Apple for approval and should be available soon.
I've been beta testing both, on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus and iPad, for a week or so and I'm pleased to say that they live up to my initial excited expectations and are excellent.
Both versions are pretty much the same in terms of look and feel and user interface and provide features to explore and discover the data and images in a way that just isn't possible in the book version.
The main means of navigation is via the Browse button that allows you to drill down through the 3655 minifigs, 658 heads and 9466 sets in the database, either by theme or year, until you end up at a page showing details like that for C-3PO above. Minifigs are labelled with their taxonomy (see my review of the book for an explanation) and also the equivalent BrickLink number. Clicking on the small thumbnail will enlarge it to fill the screen, although I believe you need to have an online data connection to retrieve the large image from a remote server, so while the app can be used offline, you won't be able to view the hi-res images.
One thing I particularly liked was browsing the heads by year. This is a feature that is not available anywhere else, to my knowledge, and illustrates well how their numbers have 'mushroomed' in recent years. From 1978 to 1988 there was just one minifig head -- the classic smiley. In 1989 Pirates were given beards and moustaches to bring the total number of variations to 7. Compare that to 2010 when some 99 different heads were made!
In addition to browsing, you can search for figs by name, taxonomy identifier or BrickLink number. I didn't see a way to search for sets, just minifigs. You can also mark figs as favourites and then access them easily via a button on the menu.
Last, and certainly not least, you can hook the app up to your minifig collection here at Brickset, download it and then see 'My figs' on your phone. You can modify your collection on the phone and upload the changes back to Brickset.
This is a very cool app and well worth the few dollars asking price. This first version is very functional but there are improvements that could be made to make it even more attractive and useful, and I'm sure that Christoph and Nic will continue to develop it in response to our feedback, particularly if enough people buy it!
17 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2126 views
-
Advent day 12
Posted by Huw, 12 Dec 2011 15:14. Filed under Advent countdown.
Here we are then, half way through the Advent calendar already! Haven't we had some great models so far! Today's Snowspeeder is another miniature masterpiece: a model of the battle of Hoth at this scale, complete with 6" high AT-ATs, would be awesome!If you're interested. you can also read FBTB's views on the Star Wars calendar models so far.
In the City calendar, we have the final part of our police station. I can't say I'm too impressed: it has no glazing in the windows, no door, no roof, they scrimped on the tiles for the roof, and 2x2 corner slopes would have been nice. Still, I don't suppose the target audience will worry too much and I look forward to hearing what your kids make of it in the comments.(I *hope* future models are not predominently white -- it's such a nuisance trying to select the white parts when photographed on a white background in Photoshop!)
24 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1630 views
-
Free delivery extended until 18th December and threshold lowered
Posted by Huw, 12 Dec 2011 05:58. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (UK).
Free delivery has been extended until the last day for guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery of 18th December and the minimum spend threshold has been reduced to £25.
So, you have until Sunday to get your order in!
1 comment, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1862 views
-
Advent day 11
Posted by Huw, 11 Dec 2011 15:21. Filed under Advent countdown.
I'm sure we all have too many Battle Droids as it is, but at least this one has a blue torso which is not particularly common compared to the tan one, having appeared in just two sets until now (8036, 7662). BrickLink doesn't differentiate between those that are painted and those which are not for some reason, but I'm sure I've seen painted ones before. (Update: it does, I just wasn't looking in the right place)
Our police station is taking shape nicely now, it now has a door. Not a very secure one, by the looks of things though, it's more like an archway. Maybe there's a force field or something to keep the baddies in and the toilet rolls out...
20 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1605 views
-
Advent day 10
Posted by Huw, 10 Dec 2011 14:52. Filed under Advent countdown.
Today, as anticipated, we have proof that yesterday's minifig was not an axe murderer on the run from the LEGO City Police, but a fisherman. Today's bag is a bit light on pieces but they complement the ice fisherman nicely. The use of whip piece is less than ideal, though, as the poor man has to be virtually on top of the fire to get the fish anywhere near it.
A miniature rendition of an Imperial Shuttle is in the Star Wars calendar, and while it's not quite up to the standard of yesterday's X-Wing, it's still pretty good.
9 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)554 views
-
Super Heroes at shop.LEGO.com
Posted by Huw, 10 Dec 2011 04:30. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (US/Canada).
Seven Super Heroes sets will be available from shop.LEGO.com from the 15th December in the USA and Canada, including this previously unknown set The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape.
The sets are, with prices in US$:
- 6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape ($39.99)
- 6858 Catwoman Catcycle City Chase ($12.99)
- 6863 Batwing Battle Over Gotham City ($34.99)
- 6864 Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase ($49.99)
- 4526 Batman ($14.99)
- 4527 The Joker ($14.99)
- 4528 Green Lantern ($14.99)
Personally I can't find a way to find them in the navigation at the site, but maybe that's because I'm in the UK.
32 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1100 views
-
Christmas 2011 Employee Gift
Posted by bluemoose, 09 Dec 2011 19:05. Filed under New sets.
Like many companies towards the end of each year, LEGO gives gifts to their employees to say "thank you" for all the effort the staff have put in throughout the year. Being LEGO, part of the gift involves an exclusive LEGO set ... last year it was the 'Happy Holidays' game, this year it is a reinterpretation of the LEGO classic wooden pull-along duck toy.
For those that don't know about the duck toy, it was one of the first toys produced by LEGO. Ole Kirk started making them in the mid-1930s, long before the company moved to manufacturing toys from plastic. It came in many slight variations, but they followed the same basic design, and the duck has become iconic of the early days of the LEGO company. You can see an example of one of the original wooden ducks by following this link (from the company museum in Billund).
28 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2095 views
-
Advent day 9
Posted by Huw, 09 Dec 2011 14:52. Filed under Advent countdown.
What an excellent day day 9 is in both calendars. In the Star Wars calendar we have our third mini-ship, an X-Wing, and once again it's a miniature masterpiece. The designer even managed to get R2-D2 into it!
In the City one, we have something unrelated to Christmas, or cops and robbers: an ice fisherman. What makes it so good is that it's a unique torso, which is only the fourth to be made in bright green and the hoodie only appears in one other set, the Winter Village Post Office. So overall he's a great figure!
26 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)518 views
-
Toys For Tots update
Posted by Huw, 09 Dec 2011 10:39. Filed under Miscellaneous.
Thank you to everyone that's sent greetings in response to the campaign that FBTB, myself and The Brothers-Brick are running.The number of toys LEGO is donating to Toys For Tots currently stands at 352,000 which is fantastic given the figure was around 1000 when we started.
However, there's been some disappointing developments (possibly as a result of this). To discourage people sending loads at once, LEGO first limited it to three per 'From' address but given that was easily worked around, they've now used senders' IP addresses to restrict them which is much harder to get around.
Ace at FBTB has had his IP address blocked completely so he can't read anything sent to him any more, which is a bit heavy-handed: it's almost as if LEGO don't want to donate the 1 million toys...
Nevertheless, I still encourage you to send all your friends and family greetings from LEGOSantaYoda.com and let's see how close we can get to that 1 million mark by Christmas Eve.
13 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)941 views
-
Another Toys R Us Weekly 1/2 Price Special.
Posted by fuelbreak, 08 Dec 2011 19:08. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
It appears that Toys R Us has added the Atlantis Exporation HQ to their weekly 1/2 price holiday specials.
Brickset user RichardR has kindly notified us that Toys R Us will be selling this set for $34.97 Can compared to the US regular price of 49.99 from shop.lego.com.
http://www.toysrus.ca/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=12027082
NOTE: No rain checks and sale starts December 9th.
2 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)842 views
-
Advent day 8
Posted by Huw, 08 Dec 2011 15:31. Filed under Advent countdown.
A nice piece of furniture awaits you in today's City calendar: a comfy bed for the prison cell.
In the Star Wars calendar we have our third minifig: Dack Ralter, who apparently, served as Luke's gunner in the Battle of Hoth. This is the fourth Dack minifig we've had, but the first to feature anything other than a classic smiley face. However this is not a new print, it's been used for various pilots recently including Zev Senesca. It would have been better had it had a printed helmet like the other Dack's, but it's still a nice addition to any Star Wars minifig collection.
25 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)492 views
-
Batwing Battle over Gotham City now at ToysRUs.com
Posted by rocao, 08 Dec 2011 03:24. Filed under New sets.
6863 Batwing Battle over Gotham City, which is part of the Superheroes/DC Universe theme new for 2012, is now available online at ToysRUs.com: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12326410
The $39.99 price appears to include the notorious TRU markup, but if you're looking for that special holiday gift, having this wrapped under the tree a few weeks before its general availability might just fit the bill.
Thanks to Brickset members 'thebrickshow' and 'pickabrick4' for the heads up!
34 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1291 views
-
Minecraft project hits 10,000 votes on LEGO® CUUSOO
Posted by Huw, 07 Dec 2011 17:59. Filed under Miscellaneous.
Press release from LEGO:BILLUND, Denmark – A project backed by Minecraft developer Mojang has become the first user-sponsored project to reach the 10,000 vote threshold on the new global version of LEGO® CUUSOO, opening the way for a LEGO set featuring Minecraft to become a reality.
It took the project only 48 hours to gather votes from 10,000 fans of the project from around the world.
“We’re really excited to see the fantastic enthusiasm of the Minecraft community. This is what LEGO CUUSOO is all about, connecting people’s passion to the LEGO brick,” says Paal Smith-Meyer, Head of the LEGO New Business Group. “It is still too early to say whether a Minecraft play set will become a LEGO product as it still needs to go through a review and approval process to ensure it meets our usual LEGO standards, but it is certainly a lot closer.”A go/no-go decision should be reached within the next few weeks. Assuming it is given a “go,” then development on any new sets will begin. During this time, LEGO model designers refine the product, while packaging, instructions, and marketing are developed ready for a production run. This will take several months.
LEGO CUUSOO is an idea collection system that asks the Danish toy manufacturers’ consumers to submit and vote for their favourite ideas for new LEGO products. It can be found at http://lego.cuusoo.com . The site is currently in "open beta" and has been well received by fans and niche interest groups eager to see their ideas become official LEGO products.
CUUSOO, which means 'imagination' or sometimes ‘wish’ in Japanese, has been developed with CUUSOO SYSTEM, a subsidiary of Japan-based Elephant Design that has worked with open innovation and crowd sourcing for more than 10 years.
The LEGO Group has worked with CUUSOO since 2008 on a Japanese site that has attracted hundreds of ideas and seen thousands of votes cast by a 35,000-strong community. Now the time has come to test the concept internationally.
The first Japanese product, the Shinkai 6500 submersible, went on sale in Japan in February 2011. The next Japanese LEGO CUUSOO model will be the Hayabusa unmanned spacecraft launched in the first quarter of next year.It took the Shinkai 6500, 420 days to reach 1,000 votes in Japan. Hayabusa took 57 days to 1,000. With the launch of the LEGO CUUSOO worldwide site the threshold was raised to 10,000 to reflect the larger audience.
On LEGO CUUSOO, ideas that are supported by enough votes will be examined by a LEGO jury that will check that the models meet LEGO standards of safety and playability and support the LEGO brand. Consumers who have their ideas chosen for production will earn 1% of the total net sales of the product.
In the case of the Minecraft project, Mojang and the collaborators have offered the 1% CUUSOO royalty to a charity of Mojang's choice.
---
Now, it's pretty amazing that this has happened, but surely I can't be the only person who thinks the model in question is a bit rubbish?
Actually I think Paal Smith-Meyer does too, if you read between the lines of his quote: "It is still too early to say whether a Minecraft play set will become a LEGO product as it still needs to go through a review and approval process to ensure it meets our usual LEGO standards, but it is certainly a lot closer."
What do you think? What's it even supposed to be?
72 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2163 views
-
AFOLCON and The LEGO Show news
Posted by Huw, 07 Dec 2011 17:41. Filed under Events (UK).
Hot off the press from The LEGO Show and AFOLCON organisers - and this time it's for both AFOLs and the public!"The team at AFOLCON and The LEGO Show have been working with the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester to produce some very special deals.
"For AFOLCON delegates, we'll again be going back to the LDC after hours! On Friday night, once the public have left, the Discovery Centre will be open exclusively to AFOLCON attendees. We'll be able to look at miniland, ride the laser ride and the Merlins' apprentice ride, see the 4D cinema and even try out their brand new attractions for 2012. Assuming we can fit in it of course!
"Not only will AFOLCON delegates get FREE entrance to the Discovery Centre, but their shop will be stacked full of exclusives and there's a special 5% discount for AFOLCON attendees on production of a VIP card. And if all that wasn't enough, we're announcing the first speaker too. Alex Bidolak, the LEGOLAND Master Model Builder is the first of a great selection of speakers to be announced. He'll be giving a presentation explaining not only what a Master Model Builder does, but how he got the job and what's in store for him each day!
"To register for AFOLCON and get more information, visit www.afolcon.com.
"We're not forgetting LEGO Show visitors either! The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre team will be making a special appearance at the LEGO Show. They'll be special building workshops and the chance to build and display a MOC in their special 'Discovery Express' train. And there's something even more special. We've arranged a very special deal for anyone wanting to visit both The LEGO Show and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre on the same weekend. Present your LEGO Show tickets, or a special voucher that we'll provide, to gain entrance to the Discovery Centre for only £5 each - saving over 50%!
"So, be sure to register for The LEGO Show at www.thelegoshow.com, and save up to £10 by booking in advance or save even more if you want to make a weekend of it!"
AFOLCON is at the Manchester Discovery Centre, UK, 3-4th May 2012. The LEGO Show follows on the 5-7th May.
6 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)744 views
-
Advent day 7
Posted by Huw, 07 Dec 2011 16:33. Filed under Advent countdown.
I'm glad to see the City calendar has continued with a Christmas theme today, with two presents and skateboarder accessories. Maybe we'll get the actual skateboarder tomorrow...
The Star Wars one isn't too exciting today but at least Chewie gets a crossbow which some of you were hoping for, along with some tools. I had wondered why there were tools until I was reminded at Wookiepedia that apparently he is a skilled mechanic and designed many of the Falcon's systems. The dark grey barrel is a nice piece that, although first made in 2008, hasn't appeared in many sets since.
15 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)526 views
-
Advent day 6
Posted by Huw, 06 Dec 2011 16:41. Filed under Advent countdown.
Today, we have a Christmas themed mini-model in the City calendar which makes a change from pieces of wall. The model's not too bad, but a 1x1 round brick for the trunk would have been a better choice, IMO.
Chewbacca makes an appearance in the Star Wars calendar. He's a great figure but perhaps a bit of a disappointment given that he already features in two other sets this year.Also, I reckon his mould could do with a bit of a refresh as it's still the same as it was in 2000 when first released. More recent figures, such as this year's Watto, make it look somewhat crude in comparison.
37 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)588 views
-
Advent day 5
Posted by Huw, 05 Dec 2011 15:31. Filed under Advent countdown.
The Star Wars calendar might have been expensive but the models so far have been superb. Today's Slave 1 made from 20 pieces is another excellent representation: even its wings rotate. It might be a small model but took some skill to make it instantly recognisable and packed full of detail.
On the other hand, I can't say the same for the City calendar. Another piece of wall today. I much prefer it when each day's model is a stand-alone set. The play value of today's and yesterday's, on their own is absolutely zero. Let's hope the combined prison is worth the wait...
27 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)644 views
-
Brickset has its busiest month ever!
Posted by Huw, 05 Dec 2011 11:25. Filed under Brickset.
Yesterday was something of a landmark in Brickset's history: it was the first time ever that 1 million visits in a 30 day period were recorded by Quantcast.According to the stats, in the thirty days up to and including the 4th December, 373,000 people made 1 million visits and viewed 5 million pages. That's 33,333 visits a day, 1388 visits an hour and 23 visits a minute, and just under 2 page views per second.
I'm sure the numbers will go higher in the run-up to Christmas, and if the gradients of the graphs are anything to to go by they could go significantly higher. Let's hope so!
26 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1112 views
-
TOYS R US 40% OFF: Two Star Wars Sets
Posted by fuelbreak, 04 Dec 2011 19:00. Filed under Shopping (Canada).
As Christmas approaches, Toys R US is offering a decent sale price on Plo Koon's Jedi Star Fighter at $20.97 and Emperor Palpatines Shuttle at $47.97.
The prices I have listed reflect the 40% off.
http://www.toysrus.ca/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=12027082
The sale lasts until December 8th.
4 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1227 views
-
Advent day 4
Posted by Huw, 04 Dec 2011 14:55. Filed under Advent countdown.
Today in the Star Wars calendar we have an OG-9 homing spider droid, and once again it's a good representation given its size and the number of bricks.
Meanwhile in the City one, we have a prison wall. On its own, it's a bit boring, there's not much I can say about it, I can't even squeeze in a toilet-roll related joke :-(
20 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)620 views
-
LEGO Santa Yoda and Toys for Tots
Posted by Huw, 04 Dec 2011 14:09. Filed under Miscellaneous.
Thank you everyone who sent me greetings from LEGOSantaYoda.com. I received about 100 in total which means that's 100 more toys that LEGO will donate to the charity Toys For Tots.The winner of my little competition sent both the winning message and the runner up. So congratulations to Steve (messybass) who wins this exclusive Brickset minifig.
His winning messages were:
- Runner-up: Huw, I know what you have got for Christmas.... I felt your presents! Merry Christmas Darth Vader.
- Winner: Wishing Huw a Very Merry Christmas! During the festive period should the bricks we love be re-named EGO, as it’s the season of Noel?
They are probably as old as the hills but they made me chuckle!
Now that's over, I need to encourage you to send as many greetings as you can to get the number of toys LEGO is going to donate even higher! When doing so you could win one of a number of exciting prizes that Ace at FBTB and myself are donating, including a General Grievous Starfighter.
All you need to do is...
- Go to LEGOSantaYoda.com
- Click on one of the three greetings videos
- Enter FBTB and giveaways@fbtb.net in the To boxes
- Enter your name and email address in the From boxes
- Enter the message 'For the tots'
- Press Send card
- Press the back button on your browser
- Press Send Card again
- Repeat the last two steps as many times you can!
The more times you send, the more chances you have of winning, and in fact there's a prize for the person who sends the most!
Read more at FBTB. As I write, the figure stands at just over 30,000. Let's see if we can get it to 100,000 by next weekend!
21 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1137 views
-
Advent day 3
Posted by Huw, 03 Dec 2011 14:40. Filed under Advent countdown.
As if proof were needed that the shifty guy on day one was up to no good, today we have a policeman complete with handcuffs in the City calendar. Thankfully he has a hat so any toilet rolls that come his way won't knock him out.
The Star Wars calendar features the second mini-model which I have to confess I didn't recognise and had to look up at Wookiepedia. Apparently it's a mechno-chair, used by wealthy Neimoidians such as Nute Gunray, which I suppose makes sense given we had him yesterday.So here he is, on his chair...
33 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)743 views
-
Happy Holidays!
Posted by Huw, 02 Dec 2011 17:26. Filed under Brickset.
I have a gift for you that was given to me by member JSutton a few weeks ago that I'd forgotten about until now...
Remember the Happy Holidays game that was given to LEGO employees last Christmas, and consequently hard to get hold of (unless you are an employee of course)? As far as I know, instructions for building and playing the game have not been been made available anywhere, but now, JSutton has reverse-engineered it and produced pictorial and written instructions, which you can now download exclusively from Brickset.
You probably have most parts in your collection so get building and have some seasonal fun with friends and family!
(Thanks James!)
9 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1402 views
-
Advent day 2
Posted by Huw, 02 Dec 2011 15:10. Filed under Advent countdown.
As promised, a bit later today. I hope you've all opened yours!
The Star Wars calendar today features its first minifigure, Nute Gunray, the Neimoidian, first seen in The Phantom Menace. He's such a popular, pleasant chap, isn't he, and perhaps a strange choice for inclusion in the calendar. Perhaps there was a stash of his hat somewhere in the warehouse :-)In proper (as opposed to Chinese) plastic, he was quite rare until today, having appeared in only one set, 8036, Separatist Shuttle, in 2009.
In the City calendar we have a toilet-roll slinger, which explains why the crook was holding one yesterday!
32 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)514 views
-
New Images of 2012 DUPLO sets
Posted by Vidiator, 02 Dec 2011 12:17. Filed under New sets.
While new 2012 City and Dino sets will be released already in December, some of the new DUPLO sets are now announced for January 2012.
So the first sets are listed at Amazon.de with many (Hi-Res-) pictures showing some nice new elements...
6156
6156-1 | 6156-2 | 6156-3 | 6156-4 | 6156-5 | 6156-6 | 6156-7 | 6156-8 | 6156-9 | 6156-10 | 6156-11
6157
6157-1 | 6157-2 | 6157-3 | 6157-4 | 6157-5 | 6157-6 | 6157-7 | 6157-8 | 6157-9
6158
6158-1 | 6158-2 | 6158-3 | 6158-4 | 6158-5 | 6158-6 | 6158-7 | 6158-8
6168
6168-1 | 6168-2 | 6168-3 | 6168-4 | 6168-5 | 6168-6 | 6168-7
6169
6169-1 | 6169-2 | 6169-3 | 6169-4 | 6169-5 | 6169-6
6172
6172-1 | 6172-2 | 6172-3 | 6172-4 | 6172-5 | 6172-6
6173
6173-1 | 6173-2 | 6173-3 | 6173-4 | 6173-5 | 6173-6 | 6173-7
6784
6784-1 | 6784-2 | 6784-3 | 6784-4 | 6784-5 | 6784-6 | 6784-7 | 6784-8 | 6784-9 | 6784-10
4627
4627-1 | 4627-2 | 4627-3 | 4627-4 | 4627-5 | 4627-6 | 4627-7 | 4627-8 | 4627-9 | 4627-10 | 4627-11 | 4627-12 | 4627-13 | 4627-14
4628
4628-1 | 4628-2 | 4628-3 | 4628-4 | 4628-5 | 4628-6 | 4628-7 | 4628-8 | 4628-9 | 4628-10 | 4628-11 | 4628-12 | 4628-13 | 4628-14
These pictures should also be added to the Brickset database soon... (Update: they just have been...)
17 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)2863 views
-
Series 6 minifigs added to LEGO.com
Posted by Huw, 01 Dec 2011 17:37. Filed under New sets.
I read at Toys N Bricks that the Minifigures site at LEGO.com has been updated with images and bios of series 6, so I've wasted no time in adding them here. Check them out and, once again, let us know which you think are the Gladiators and which are the Crash Test Dummies.
There are certainly some nice ones in this batch, I think my favourites are the Genie and Minotaur, while the Skater Girl and Bandit are plain boring...
69 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)1284 views
-
Advent countdown, day 1
Posted by Huw, 01 Dec 2011 11:04. Filed under Advent countdown.
It's likely to be a slow couple of weeks for news, so member Red Five Standing By suggested I do an article a day featuring the advent sets of the day. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep it up for 24 days but I'll start as I mean to go on...
So, on day 1, in the Star Wars calendar, we have a rather excellent Republic Cruiser made from about 20 pieces. It really is a good rendition for its size.
In the City calendar we have a very shifty looking minifig wearing a standard issue prison shirt under a scruffy jacket. He must be shifty, he has a gold tooth, LEGO only gives them to shifty characters for some reason. What's more, he's brandishing an offensive weapon. I can't decide whether it's a snowball or a toilet roll :-)
50 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)725 views
-
City Advent Calendar 25% off at LEGO.com
Posted by Huw, 01 Dec 2011 10:38. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (General).
We've just had word that the City Advent calendar has been reduced by 25% in Europe and the USA, but quantities are limited, so get in quick!
You'll find links to shop.LEGO.com on the set details page.
4 comments, latest one posted 17 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)829 views
