Team GB minifig update

 

  • Team GB minifig update

    Posted by Huw, 24 Jun 2012 14:59. Filed under New sets.

    8909: Team GB minifigs {Random bag}
    Collectable Minifigures/Team GB, 2012
    More details...
    ©2012 LEGO Group

    It seems that many people have had success buying these in John Lewis which, as far as I know, is the only shop that's selling them early, before the official release date of 1st July. 

    Unfortunately my branch, Southampton, is not selling them yet, but I'm hopeful of receiving some from a forum buddy mid-week. When I have them I'll add them to the minifig gallery.

    The boxes are said, by forum members tom408 and Vegitt, to contain:

    • 6 each of the Boxer, Weightlifter and Horse Rider
    • 7 each of the Swimmer, Relay Runner, Judo Fighter, Tennis Player, Gymnast and Archer

    That of course means there are 6 complete sets in a box, which is good news. Given the box contains 60, it's the best distribution we could hope for. It does however mean that the Boxer, Weightlifter and Horse Rider will command a premium on the secondary market, though...


    29 comments, latest one posted 11 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 15:35

These are great figures in my opinion, I look forward to their arrival at a store near me. Sadly there is no John Lewis around where I live but I suppose not having them only builds the anticipation! It is good to hear that there are plenty of complete sets in each box.

Posted by Graysmith in Sweden, 24 Jun 2012 15:42

Six to a box is still more than ANY figure in a CMF box. I can't imagine they'll sell for much higher because they are slightly more rare (but not really rare at all), if they do it'll be because they're more desirable.

Posted by Doomtrool in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 15:58

...it won't be by that much.

:P

Posted by Gazlloyd in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 16:46

Was in Liverpool john Lewis today pick up 9 packs at £1.95 each! ! Out of the nine got 1 archer 1 weight lifter 2 jubo 1 swimmer 1 relay
1 tenis and 2 boxer's not bad for a lucky dip only need gymnast and horse rider.

Posted by paul_merton in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 16:53

My statistics is a bit rusty, but it's obvious that you'd need to buy 55 packets from a box of 60 for a 100% chance of getting a full set (i.e. at least 1 of each minifigure).

How many would you need to buy to have a 50% chance of getting a full set? And what about 80%, 90%, 95%? Ten years ago, I probably knew how to work this out myself... :)

Posted by richselby in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 17:10

No early release date for John Lewis London branches Stratford or Oxford Street. The staff were well aware of the July 1st release date when I checked.

Posted by goldfish in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 17:15

just wish they had done a cyclist!

Posted by hantot in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 17:39

boxer premium? i got 3 of em in a row! Need the archer and gymnast

Posted by legomaniac in United States, 24 Jun 2012 17:42

I wonder if the boxer has the defeated face on the other side like the Series 5 boxer.
I would hope not, wouldn't be very motivating for Olympic boxing teams :P

Posted by paul_merton in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 17:47

I wouldn't worry about motivation when the realism is already awry. They're all wearing gold medals, for a start :)

Posted by meccanotwitch in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 18:04

^^^^@ Goldfish. A cyclist would have been an excellent choice, especially with the Tour-De-France starting on the 30th and a British rider the favourite to win.

Posted by paul_merton in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 18:11

Nobody taking up my maths challenge, or have I got to re-learn binomial theorum or hypergeometrics or whatever it is? :)

Posted by vexorian in Bolivia, 24 Jun 2012 18:28

According to my program I use for collectible minifigs the expected number of fair random bags before completing the set is 25.70. It is much better than with collectable minifigures because there are less minifigures and 6 vs. 7 are not very different, so the figures are almost evenly distributed which is good stuff.

Posted by paul_merton in United Kingdom, 24 Jun 2012 18:38

What does the "expected number" mean?

If I buy 26 bags from the same box, what's the probability of getting a complete set out of it?

Posted by vexorian in Bolivia, 24 Jun 2012 18:52

Assuming you are the first person to take minifigs from the box, and you pick them randomly then you will need, in average, to buy 26 bags before completing the set.

So, for example, let us say 1000 different people do exactly that and by bags perfectly at random until they complete it. Then, the average number of bags needed by a person will be ~ 25.70

But of course, maybe you are very lucky, it is always possible that the first 9 figures you buy are all unique. It is also possible that among the 26 figures you bought, You had 6 swimmers, judokas and tennis players and 3 archers. (The maximum number of repeats in 26 purchases from the same box) Everything is possible.

And the probability to get a complete set after 26 bags (assuming everything is fair) is 0.62. 0.58 for 25 bags and you need 31 bags if you want more than 75% probability (0.77).

It is always better to feel the contents though.

Posted by Modok in United States, 24 Jun 2012 22:58

^ It cannot be stated enough: this blind packaging is horrible. It drives many people out of the market altogether because they don't want to be bothered with this guessing game. And it drives many others to spending binges in the hope of being able to make a tidy sum off eBay--which, of course, hurts kids or casual fans who might want to just pick up a few for fun. There's a lot less for everyone when the scalpers clear off the shelves.

Posted by mrwhizzard in United Kingdom, 25 Jun 2012 03:43

Just to confirm they are indeed £2.49 at WH Smith. They should be appearing in their stores this week if they aren't in your local one already.

Posted by meccanotwitch in United Kingdom, 25 Jun 2012 03:48

Looks like I will be avoiding WH Smiths then, at £2.49 each.

Posted by Zordboy in Australia, 25 Jun 2012 05:23

There are full sets on eBay for not too much. I'm not from Great Britain, but I think they're beautiful little figures, and well worth paying for.

Posted by paul_merton in United Kingdom, 25 Jun 2012 08:27

I think I'll take my 0.01g portable precision scales along with me if I have to buy 31 bags just to get a 77% chance of getting a full set! :)

Posted by SilentMode in United Kingdom, 25 Jun 2012 09:37

As of today, still no sign of them at Oxford Street. The staff seemed completely clueless about them (no surprises).

Posted by Em1979 in United Kingdom, 25 Jun 2012 13:16

I collect minifigures and I look forward to every new set they bring out but I also love going into the shop and feeling the packets to make sure I get the ones I want. My girlfriend and I probably look like weirdos doing that but it's so satisfying and we've only ever got one wrong and that was when we first started doing it.
We would be happy to buy figures for other people for a little commission!

Posted by fseyyad in United Kingdom, 25 Jun 2012 15:43

saw a couple of boxes in Waitrose, Canary wharf. they were not there last Friday.

Posted by redondofuentes in United States, 25 Jun 2012 17:50

#Em1979... what kind of commission are we talking? I'd take a complete set with dupes of the judo, rider and gymnast.

Posted by icebrick in United States, 25 Jun 2012 22:38

Does anyone have a set that I could get? I don't want to pay outragous prices from Ebay. Just would like one of each!

Here in America I guess we dont get to celebrate Lego Olympics. (other than CMF)

Posted by Em1979 in United Kingdom, 26 Jun 2012 05:16

@ redondofuentesI have messaged you

Posted by Em1979 in United Kingdom, 26 Jun 2012 05:17

@ icebrick. I've not been to my cities shops yet but I might be able to get you a set. How much are you looking to pay?

Posted by bLimpBrick in United States, 26 Jun 2012 13:42

@Em1979-Ditto myself on @redondofuentnesI message. I live outside Tampa about an hour away from the Lego store at Downtown Disney-there usually once a month. Maybe I can be of assistance in the future.

Posted by Daiku in United States, 27 Jun 2012 08:39

Anyone in the UK have the funds / trust / time to work out a deal to buy multiple unopened boxes? ship them to me in the US and I'll part them out for an adjusted cost to people in the US (Cost + Shipping, essentially).

we can work out an escrow plan, or something that makes it low-risk to both of us.

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