LEGO 4642 Set Review

Now on YouTube.

Set 4642

Just bought it, will have a review up on Monday Morning. By the way, I have already filmed it.

Sawgrass LEGO Store

Got word from the Miami crew that the Sawgrass Store will be the essence of a LEGOLand discovery Centre, like those in Chicago and Berlin. It is scheduled to take over the Wannado City spot which will be a good omen for the size. I would not be surprised to find it containing a good size pick-a-brick wall as well. However, expect months to go before they open it.

Sawgrass LEGO Store

A second of everything Aventura provides... *Hopes for larger PAB wall* Now on LEGO.com's stores.
Store Link

LEGO Tripod

Completed design. Note how I put function over form.

LEGO Tripod

Working on a LEGO tripod to shoot those desk-level WIP videos. It might also be a quintessential asset for train shows in the future as I could shoot video of the layouts on a table top in the not too distant future. Be on the lookout  to http://www.youtube.com/brickbuilder711 for the new video, which will be immediately blogposted.

Tolga's Top 10 Pick A Brick Elements in History

A LEGO builder's asset and sought after tool is the pick a brick wall, located at every LEGO Store. The latest topics that arose since April were that despite the negative pulse of the Hero Factory section, the wall has been receiving dark tan, dark red, and dark blue elements. This is an improvement compared to the last three years, but here are the real goodies, from 1 to 10, as seen or purchased from the Orlando LIC.

1. Sand Blue 1x2 Brick - 2006 - I bought 49 of these elements in a lucky winter '06 cup which makes a decent but insufficient supply. At least the Pet Shop allows the 1x2 to feel right at home. December 30, 2006, right after Tampa GTX.
2. Sand Red 1x6 Tile - 2006 - I bought a literal handful on my first ever LEGO store visit. Even so, I regret buying a TTX well car as I could've fitted more of these into other cups. April 13, 2006 was when I located the elements. Sand Red is out of production.
3. Sand Red 4x4 Plate - 2006 - I had more ops greatly taken with this element, having about 20 of these. Two anecdotes, April 13, 2006 and August 9, 2006 when I came back from S.C. This element is key in my city curbs and who knows what will happen when the amount of corners outgrow the amount of plates I have.
4. Dark Blue 2x2 Tile - 2007 - Perfect for a CSX builder or a marble flooring architect, these were my favorite of the dark blue elements the wall had. 353 of these I scored, on July 20, and November 10, 2007.
5. Dark Orange 2x3 Slope - 2007-2008 - I scored all of these on two occasions in 2008, March 15, and May 24. These elements are the Arquitectura Española of LEGO when you come to think of it, affording those Spanish style homes to be roofed like God Intended. My favorite of the dark orange selection I was exposed to, I picked up about 100+ of them.
6. Dark Red 1x6 Brick - 2007 - My absolute favorite dark red element over the years, this allows well cars, boxcar red material, and in my current application, the Plant City depot. I got this as part of the limited time only PAB Tubs, 223 of them in 2007. My understanding is such element is so hard to find these days and all LEGO really puts out are 1x2 bricks.
7. Dark Tan 1x2 Tile - 2011 - No anecdote purchasing these babies on my end, but this is a new part. Dark tan is one of my favorite part colors useful for so many things, and a 1x2 tile can do stone patterns, trims, and more. Miami has yet to witness these in stock.
8. Dark Green 1x2 Plate - 2007 - A rare piece nowadays, going for $1 a pop. I bought 723 of them. Useful amply for grass and BNSF cream and green details, this element is very versatile.
9. Dark Orange 2x2 L Corner Plate - 2007 - A handful of these in a small cup from July 19 of the year, I find this element rare and amusing. Very useful to detail dirt and fine accents in buildings.
10. Sand Blue 1x4 Plate - 2006-2008 - A now impossible to find piece, not even in the Pet Shop. I own hundreds of these elements bought between December 30 and July 6. I'm surprised they lasted to 2008. This element can be used to detail rocks, stones, the works. Georgia granite ballast can use some of these. It can also make a decent building accent.

Honorable Mentions

• Dark Red: 2x2 plate, 2x2 brick, 2x3 brick, 2x1x1 panel, 2x1 accent slope tile thing, 1x4 tile, 2x3 plate modified with hole on third row, and 1x2 Technic Brick, 2x4 Brick (2011), 2x8 slope, 4x4 plate
• Dark Blue: 2x2 L Brick, 2x2 Plate, 1x2 Plate, 2x3 Plate Modified with Hole on Third Row, and 1x6 Tile, 1x4 Brick (2009)
• Dark Green: 1x4 Tile, 2x4 Plate, 4x3 Wedge, 2x4 Brick
• Teal 1x2 brick
• Sand Blue 4x4 round corner plate
• Dark Orange 2x2 Brick, 1x3 Slope, 2x2 Slope
• Dark Tan 4x8 Plate (I missed this one out) and 2x2 Tile ( I have 1,070 of these from there)

Current Build Project

Currently working on the Plant City depot...

Image for reference from the Wikipedia Article

The build will come up to a two baseplate by one and a half overlapping piece, that means sections of track will be dedicated to use in this piece to exemplify the tight space by the depot. The brick palette colors of choice are dark red, green, and black. Unlike the gray roofs I feel the black roof elements, more plentiful either way, could be a substitute, and when dusty, it will look gray anyway.

LEGO Pet Shop 2011 10218

Photo Here 
(I don't want to be on thin ice for posting a direct photo :P)

The new modular building for 2011 is now out! Here's my editorial on it:

I am very happy that Sand Blue (or is it Sand Purple?) is making a comeback. This is one color I really want to get my hands on. To me it's a Florida builder must as it amply resembles a pastel color. This is a great touch on LEGO's part to include this color on a new set like the sand green on the Cafe Corner.
People are debating that the beige is a light yellow, though I think it's the ol' tan.
The interior details are amazing. Really like the register, bathroom detail, and the animals. The stairway design looks unique as well, similar to a sort of mansion.


A train display integrates many aspects of the City line and the more detailed a town set the more exquisite the display is. We are model railroaders too and these are trackside assets. Building my LEGO restaurant "The Fortress" felt like doing a piece for Miniatur Wunderland, it takes details to come up with a grand display. Modular buildings help make it but also foster creativity and imagination in making "Mods" and other MOCs for the AFOL's pleasure.

But all in all this is destined to be my next purchase. At over 2000pcs it should come up to 150.00 USD.

LEGO store Orlando

So the LIC Orlando reopened and has new features. Let's take a look at the pros and cons:

Pics taken by Mike H used for reference and I have the links.


Pros:
The area. One congested, tight space has been expanded into a wider open spot. This means more leeway.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5635898361_d4702198bc_z.jpg

The Pick-A-Brick is now where the City sets used to be which means that for me it's an easier walk-in and shop. Usually I enter from Parking lots 2 and 1 which lead to the entrance in this shot.

The Pick-A-Brick Wall also has special bricks: Dark tan 2x2 tiles, dark blue double convex slopes, and dark red 2x4 bricks. I think this may be a fixture in Orlando LIC, especially as in 2009 they had a similar selection for a brief time in September. Glad they kept the curve design.

Disney Characters are now on display outside which make for a grand showcase of rare colors.

Cons:

The PAB wall was contracted to 36 x 6 (216 bins). This however, is not believed at all to harm the selection, due to the infamous filler and empty bin spaces that keep lingering.

Disney characters that are now on display outside are not as eccentric as the 4507 Dinosaur and the Titan XP; they had more appeal. Though, the dragon is pretty cool.

Photo