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New discounts at Amazon.com
Amazon.com watch Posted by Huwbot, 20 May 2012 18:39
Price Saving Discount 7592 Toy Story Construct-a-Buzz $16.89 $8.10 32%
0 comments
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30161 Batmobile
Miscellaneous news Posted by Huw, 20 May 2012 06:07
Here's today's polybag set free with The Sun newspaper in the UK, 30161 Batmobile.There's no minifig, but as a result there are a lot of pieces, including some useful and rare ones (the 2x4 curved slope on the front).
WHS is always worse on the Sundays of these offers because a lot of people can get into town for the 10am opening time. I was there about 10:05 and there was a queue about 20 deep outside the shop. I'm not sure why because I went in and took my papers to the self-checkouts, which for some reason nobody was using. The attendant gave me my sets when he saw I had some Suns and was out again in 5 mins.
When collecting yours today, please be considerate to others and don't take more than you need: leave some for the kids who pitch up at WHS this afternoon...
59 comments, latest one posted about an hour ago.
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Shirtless Darth Maul available in Smyths, UK and IE
Shopping news (UK) Posted by Huw, 19 May 2012 15:48
I received several emails today about this offer and there's chatter in the forum as well: Buy any Star Wars set and get Shirtless Darth Maul free in both UK and Ireland branches of Smyths toy stores. There's no mention of this on their website, but there wasn't last year when they had a similar offer for white Boba Fetts.
This should bring the eBay and BrickLink prices down a bit...
37 comments, latest one posted 25 minutes ago.
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Batman's Jet-ski
Miscellaneous news Posted by Huw, 19 May 2012 08:00
Here is today's free set from The Sun, 30160, Jet-ski. I hope you've all been down to your local WHS to pick up, er, one of them, while leaving plenty for everyone else...I was at my local branch at 08:50 and there was a brisk trade in them already. I even witnessed grannies, who were obviously not eBay or BrickLink sellers, walking out with handfuls. Luckily the shop had something like 8 cases of them so I suspect they will have lasted until at least 11am :-)
As you may have noticed, Batman is sporting a new mask: the different ears are clear in this picture when compared to the blue one from 6857. It's slightly surprising that LEGO has made such a small cosmetic change, given they need an expensive new mould to do so.Tomorrow's model, 30161 Batmobile, has not been found in the wild anywhere yet so be sure not to miss it! WHS open at 10am!
66 comments, latest one posted about 2 hours ago.
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Summer Star Wars shipping in Germany
New set news Posted by Huw, 18 May 2012 16:50
German retailer Galeria Kaufhof is selling the summer Star Wars sets already and LEGO has added images of most of them to their server in preparation for selling them at shop.LEGO.com. So, with luck, it won't be long before we can all buy them.
I've added the images to the set details pages here at Brickset (example)
(Thanks to AirTrip2010 and grogall for the news)
29 comments, latest one posted 54 minutes ago.
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9470 Gandalf Arrives
Review Posted by Huw, 18 May 2012 09:50
Here's a quick look at the smallest LotR set, Gandalf Arrives. It might be the smallest but it's actually one of the best. Not only does it feature two of the movie's main protagonists, Gandalf and Frodo, it also comes with a new articulated-back-leg horse and a very nice cart which is stuffed full of fireworks of various shapes, colours and sizes.Both minifigs are unique to this set, although Frodo pops up in a couple of others, but with a different torso and face.
There isn't really much more to say about it: it's small, cute and if you buy only one LotR set, make it this one. It costs $12.99 in the USA and will be £11.99 in the UK when it's released later in the summer.
Thanks again to Darren and Tim for loaning me the LotR sets months before they are available in Europe. Tim is offering Brickset users a 5% discount in his BrickLink store Brick Buy Brick, and will also do so in his new web toy shop, ToyAddict, when it launches in June. Darren is also offering 5% discount on orders under £50 and 10% on orders over £50 from his BrickLink store Gizmocom, until the official release day of the LotR sets. Just mention Brickset in the notes when you check out!
27 comments, latest one posted yesterday.
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Minifig display cases available at Amazon.co.uk
Shopping news (UK) Posted by Huw, 18 May 2012 05:52
These minifig display cases have been 'hard to find' in the UK until now, partly because they are not available from shop.LEGO.com.
Amazon is now stocking them, and has them at 15% below RRP. At the moment only the yellow one is available in both 16- and 8-minifig sizes but it appears that black, red and blue
in both sizes will be available in June, and can be pre-ordered now. (Thanks Renegade007cjh for the news)
12 comments, latest one posted about 18 hours ago.
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Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide now available for download
Miscellaneous news Posted by Huw, 18 May 2012 05:16
Gary Istok (istokg in the forum) is the world's authority on the history of LEGO and its products, as anyone who's read his posts in the forum will attest.His most recent work, the second edition of Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors' Guide 1949-1990s, can now be purchased from his BrickLink store on DVD and now, by popular demand, as a download.
I do now have my copy and it's loaded onto my iPad. I've been working my way through it and when I think I've read enough to write a review I will do so. There is, however a lot to read at over 2000 pages!
To give you an idea of the content, as well as the depth of Gary's research, he has made another chapter available for free donwload exclusively for Brickset readers. This time it's chapter 48, OLD PRINTED & PAINTED LEGO ELEMENTS (1955-1986) which is an extremely specialised area and as you will see there is a stunning amout of detail and some excellent pictures of rare elements included in it.
The guide contains 73 chapters that are all as detailed and as well illustrated as this. It's an essential purchase for everyone interested in LEGO history. If you haven't already, I recommend that you go and buy a copy.
10 comments, latest one posted about 10 hours ago.
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Reminder: Free LEGO with The Sun starts tomorrow
Shopping news (UK) Posted by Huw, 18 May 2012 04:47
Prepare yourselves for a LEGO frenzy at WHS starting tomorrow! Nine sets are being offered from Saturday 19th to Sunday 26th May. You can see the sets that'll be available in Si_*'s BrickList.
This weekend's Batman sets, one of which hasn't been available elsewhere before, are undoubtably the best but be sure to pick up next Saturday's Ninjago set as well, which has made only one appearance before (as far as we know), in Poland.
Don't bother to go down on Friday, the fire set was given away in the Mirror promotion in 2010, and next Sunday's has been around for 5 years and you are bound to have too many of them already :-)
19 comments, latest one posted yesterday.
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Olympic Team GB Minifigures Release Date July 1st
New set news Posted by yellowcastle, 17 May 2012 10:44
Multiple sites, including toynews-online.biz, are now reporting that the Team GB Minifigures will be released on July 1st. As with other CMF, they'll be priced at £1.99 each and will be available from the following retailers: John Lewis, Argos, Tesco, WH Smith, Smyths and Toys R Us. In addition to posting some new "cartoony" images, the sites are also confirming the figure names as Brawny Boxer, The Stealth Swimmer, Relay Runner, Judo Fighter, Tactical Tennis Player, Flexible Gymnast, Wondrous Weightlifter, Horseback Rider, and Agile Archer.
Thanks to Forum users andhe, CCC, LostInTranslation and kymellymel for the news!
58 comments, latest one posted yesterday.
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9474: The Battle Of Helm's Deep
Review Posted by Huw, 17 May 2012 06:50
This is the biggest of the LotR sets, weighing in at 1368 pieces and $130. In fact it's so big, I had trouble photographing it satisfactorily...
Its size is actually most impressive, it certainly looks as if you get your money's worth. It's around 50cm long, and the tower is about 25cm high.It comes with eight minifigs: King Theoden, Haldir (both unique to this set), Aragorn, Gimli and four assorted Uruk-hai, including a berserker, which only appears in this set.
The King has a articulated-back-leg horse to ride and has been suggested in comments to previous reviews, if you put two plates on his feet, you can achieve a more realistic pose as you can see from the picture.
The castle itself is modular, constructed from six sections that are held together with Technic pins. Like the other LotR sets, they are constructed from a lot of bricks, plates and slopes and while there are some large castle-wall pieces, you don't get the impression that the castle has been designed around them, I guess partly because it's based on a 'real' castle rather than one that LEGO has designed. The use of the new 1x2 brick piece, 1x1 slopes and sand green parts give the exterior walls a nice-uniform appearance.
The aerial view below clearly shows the size of the set, which is most impressive. If you want it even bigger, you can extend the walls using the 9471 Uruk-hai Army set.
It's an expensive set but I'd say it's worth every penny: excellent figs, well designed castle and, once you've done with it, a thousand useful parts for your own castle constructions.
Thanks again to Darren and Tim for loaning me these. Tim is offering Brickset users a 5% discount in his BrickLink store Brick Buy Brick, and will also do so in his new web toy shop, ToyAddict, when it launches in June. Darren is also offering 5% discount on orders under £50 and 10% on orders over £50 from his BrickLink store Gizmocom, until the official release day of the LotR sets. Just mention Brickset in the notes when you check out!
42 comments, latest one posted yesterday.
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Review: 3300003 LEGO Brand Retail Store
Review Posted by Huw, 16 May 2012 06:13
You may remember that LEGO announced that this set is going to be available to a 'select number of customers' at the opening events of brand stores in the USA during 2012 (see the list here).I've been sent one by the LEGO community team for review purposes, so to make a change from Lord Of The Rings set review this week, here goes...
It contains 280 pieces and comes in a surprisingly large box (26 x 14 x 6 cm)
However, there is a lot in it, basic bricks and plates and other useful pieces.
The 16x16 (2 8x16 dark grey playes) base is fully tiled inside and out of the shop
The interior of the shop, before the shelving has been added. Note the till, displays and of course the pick-a-brick wall at the back.
The shelving fitted, and display models at the front of the shop. Note the 'brand ribbon' at the second level of the shelves.
The completed model, minus the roof. The LEGO sign is a sticker, and the door features two 1x1 trans-clear headlight bricks, which are rare. The doors don't open.
The roof even has a 'yellow brick light fitting', which is typical of most brand stores I believe.
The finished model. There's a few more photos on flickr.LEGO brand stores are often made by AFOLs (even I've made one) and there's several currently on Cuusoo (here and here), so it's interesting to see this official version.
This is an excellent set and there's nothing not to like about it. If it's going to be free, that makes it even better! If you have the opportunity to get to one of the new brand store opening events in the USA, I strongly recommend that you do.
(Special thanks to the LEGO community team for making this review possible!)
34 comments, latest one posted about 2 hours ago.
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Free Hulk minifig offer starts today
shop.LEGO.com news (General) Posted by Huw, 16 May 2012 03:13
Buy anything over £50 or $50 at shop.LEGO.com between now and 31st May and get a free Hulk minifigure that is not available in any set. Click on the banner at the top of the page for more details.
(If you're in the UK, sorry about the $ sign in the ad.: LEGO didn't provide a banner specifically for the UK)
30 comments, latest one posted yesterday.
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Lord Of The Rings now available from shop.LEGO.com
Shopping news (USA) Posted by Huw, 15 May 2012 17:05
You've read my reviews, now you can order them and see how cool they are for yourself from shop.LEGO.com.
Please use these links to do so: USA | Canada. Until the end of May, you'll also receive a FREE LEGO movie poster of Frodo with ‘the one ring’ with every Lord of the Rings order.
The retail prices are:
40 comments, latest one posted 3 days ago.
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Cuusoo team provide more clarity around the review process
Brickset news Posted by Huw, 15 May 2012 14:09
The Cuusoo team has published the first of three blog entries that will explain the review process and subsequent production of models that reach 10,000 supporters.The salient points are:
- There will be a quarterly review cycle, with the first review scheduled for early June.
- Models will be evaluated for design, brand fit, strategy fit, and business case.
- It is likely that one project per quarter will be produced, and should more than one pass review in a given quarter, it will be queued for possible later production.
When we have been discusssing will-they-won't-they make this-that-or-the-other, we have only really considered design and brand fit (or at least, I have) but the other two evaluation criteria are of course equally important to the company and will, I suspect, cause some otherwise good projects to be rejected.
After all, if LEGO don't think they can sell enough of a certain model to make it worth their while making it, of course they are not going to bother. Strategy fit is an interesting one and something we outside the company will never get a feel for. Let's say some sort of 'space marines' theme is planned for 2014, then clearly they would not make a 'space marines' Cuusoo model to pre-empt it.
So, let's see how many more projects we can push to 10,000 for the first review: if you haven't already, please take a look through my hand-picked ones in Cuusoo Corner and support those that take your fancy.
27 comments, latest one posted 3 days ago.
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