German toy fair round-up
Posted by Huw,
Unfortunately due to LEGO's somewhat draconian restrictions on what could and couldn't be photographed, and from what distance, we didn't perhaps get the photos we were hoping for from attendees at yesterday's German toy fair press event.
However, there is still plenty to pore over at Zusammengebaut, including City jungle and coastguard, Architecture Arc De Triomphe, Technic and even a few Super Heroes sets, and I suspect Andres will publish more there later on today. (Update: he has, they are here)
One of the more interesting exhibits was not actually a set but a modern recreation of 8860 Car Chassis built from parts in three of this year's sets. Instructions will be available online in due course, it seems. You can watch a video after the break.
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Just noticed the bus seems to have wheelchair access!
I wasn't intending to buy any of those 3 Technic sets. And I reckon I have enough parts to make the modern 8860 anyway. It looks really nice and worth a build. Although, I'd use a better steering wheel...
Wow - finally some attractive City sets beyond the Pizza Van - Fun at the beach seems like a must have and the Freight terminal looks solid.
Not 100% sold on the bus station having the old 60031.
Can't wait to try Boost!
The bus is a great set. I love some of the smaller Jungle vehicles too - the half-track and especially the six-wheeled 'Banana Splits' ATV. It also brings back vague other 70s memories such as when Action Force / GI Joe went a bit pacifist and did adventurer themes, including a spring-loaded man-eating plant.
I like the beach set too, and nice to see the original dolphin again, but it's a shame they've done the kayak as a single mould instead of brick-built. It's also a bit of a weird shape, with a hull raised at the ends like a traditional open canoe construction instead of a modern plastic kayak. Another big missed opportunity would have been to fit a snorkel-mask on the Spy-minifig's hairpiece instead of giving us a scuba-diver in full-on deep-sea drysuit and helmet again.
The Coast Guard stuff is a bit of a re-hash. I much preferred the one from several years ago set on an off-shore platform.
These new flat Duplo gears, this time to propel the carousel, are a brilliant invention. I presume they're made from two parts, like a turntable, with a fixed base to attach to studs and a freely rotating top to build on? We should have a system version, or how about a 2x2 turntable top-part that forms an axle pin? Make it so, LEGO, make it so!
The jungle vehicles seem to have an Adventure vibe to them (treasure hunters), I wasn't interested on the Bus Station set but I am now and that Fun at the Beach looks really tempting.
"... it's a shame they've done the kayak as a single mould instead of brick-built. It's also a bit of a weird shape, with a hull raised at the ends like a traditional open canoe construction instead of a modern plastic kayak. "
It's a sea kayak. It looks exactly like a proper sea kayak. Though it looks like it doesn't have a front or rear hatch. But that's okay. My only complaint is that the kayak (which I've always wanted) is the same color across three sub themes.
Of course the kayak is the same color. The canoe was around for 30-40 years and is only in a few colors.
Sad you can't just buy the 40th anniversary Technic chassis as a set; I suppose they think it would have limited appeal to people who don't remember it from the first time round, but I'm only interested in one of the three sets that combine to build it. Bricklink it is, then.
Noticing new details in the bus station - the newsstand also sells snacks for the journey, and there's a bike rack...
More and more details of the Jungle sets are growing on me. Oh dear.
All the city sets actually look good this time. I want to buy the fun at the beach and maybe a jungle set too. The jungle sub theme looks really good and the new animals will be great. I'm also happy with the looks of the speed champions sets. The new spaceship from creator gives me nostalgia of the city space line from 2011.
I like the City sets quite a bit, but the Fun at the Beach is a stand out! 2017 is the year for LEGO City, am I right?
I like the jungle stuff. Especially the new cats.
I'll be getting all the City sets including Jungle.
Wait, does this mean that this is all the news we're getting out of this toy fair? I had been under the assumption that we might get more news and pictures in the coming days, considering that the event supposedly lasts for the rest of the week. I'll certainly be a little disappointed if no pictures surface of Elves sets (which unlike licensed themes like Star Wars or Super Heroes have no real reason to be subject to any sort of strict confidentiality).
The bus looks great, and I like the inclusion of 6 ordinary minifigures and the news stand. The jungle temple looks completely fine, it's good to get a location-based set and not just vehicles.
As a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair I am absolutely thrilled with the bus set. When I saw the images yesterday I was all ready to write Lego and say why include a wheelchair minifig if they cant get on the bus? I was wrong. To include a ramp and handicap stickers is a wonderful way to teach kids about disability through play and the importance of inclusion Thank you lego!!!
I think all City sets look great, but personally I'm only interested in the bus set and maybe fun at the beach. And I'm also looking forward to the Creator houses.
Bit disappointed that they were not allowed to take photos of Friends sets. The large figure they did photograph seems to show the Ski Lift in the background though... Doesn't look too bad.
I know it's abit early to be thinking of Christmas but has anyone seen anything on the advent calendars?
I've been waiting to get a bus set!! This one seems great.