YouTube: Festival of the Masters

While I have been forced to take video from my phone if I wanted any, for that matter, I sure as hell did at FOTM 2011 of the GFLUG (Greater Florida LEGO Users Group) setup:

To that end, I hope you guys enjoy the very maritime episode from Distant to Ojus Productions. ;)

Maersk Ship Seeing Price Reduction

Set 10155 will be discounted 30% in the European countries. I wish it could happen in the US since the price is ridiculous as it is. There the 119 Euros would make it about 160 USD so it does make a bit of sense to cut it down. But I think the rerelease is too pricy already; the 2004 ship was 75 USD, which was like a steal for the rare part laden set. I would love it if the US saw the MSRP at 100.00 USD at the maximum.

[HD] LEGO Brand Ribbon Build Project: Episode 8 - The End of the Ribbon

This is how my house looked before the delivery. :) Enjoy!

The end of a road: The Brand Ribbon Project

I am happy to say that, well, 99% of the models that were due are over there. I have accidentally left behind a part of the police station (little oops) but I intend to carry that over if I can (my dad just found it today!). I have before you guys a photo essay from last night, the submission day.

With things busy over there and the need to settle in, I can't really conclude in writing just yet because certain things have to wait for me to be the judge of them. I'll put in my concluding thoughts when this store operates as stable as the Aventura location.

This project was an expenditure of two months of my life, 200+ man-hours, and innumerable opportunity costs.

 This is the pick-a-brick wall of the store. The dimensions are 18x6 bins, making it 108 selectable bins. Aventura, for good measure, is 14x6 and Orlando is 36x6. I am happy that the Sawgrass location at least exceeds 100 bins and is at least half the size/capacity of Orlando (which used to be larger).

 An overview of the store. For good measure Aventura has a 2x3 brick in the ceiling.

 Originally making out, the figs from the theater made it in like so. I think, because I was carrying them the other way, it dawned on me the face was wrong, or that the fig rotated a little. FWIW, a kissing couple is not inappropriate in LEGO's terms. In fact, that is one of their own models.

 Knocking down a wall of the big 22.5"x12.5" LEGO store was required to fit in the display case, since I can't 'math' a way to get it in fully. Because my mom and one employee, both not knowing the instructions, tried rebuilding it and did it wrong, I built the wall from the ground up as a mirror to the left wall. 20 minutes wasted!

 Fast food, AKA McTolga's. Armando from my school made up the McTolga's bit on a Facebook comment. You can see the setup then the enclosure with the post-it re-labeled "McTolga's" :)

A close-up on the pick-a-brick wall. Meh selection except for a couple of dark red elements (not shown). Luckily the lime studs saved me over on the wasabi bowl.

Sawgrass Store will open November 17th

First hand; the Sawgrass Mills LEGO Store is set to open this Thursday in a soft opening. Tomorrow I will do a one-of-a-kind jog north to the mills and be delivering the '99 Strong'. LEGO will provide an auxiliary vehicle as well to add to the madness. I may be making a mixed comic/entertaining video of the move as well.

[HD] LEGO Set Review: Set 4432 - Garbage Truck (City 2012)

This is unarguably the best 2012 city set. My review of it!

[HD] LEGO Set Review: Set 4437 - Hot Pursuit (City 2012)

My review of this very fine set. Enjoy!

Festival of the Masters Review

I had a blast at the 36th Annual Festival of the Masters! GFLUG was there with an as-always amazing display. Lots of fun was had by all on this beautiful, chilly afternoon and I left with a lot of LEGO. Looking forward to Tampa!

Video from the event will be coming soon.

Friends Line Up Close

Now that high resolution pictures of the Friends line (2012) are out, so many curiosities can come into play.

• The blue in the sets looks VERY close to Maersk Blue! Another opportunity to seize to collect this color. A la pics like this, this and this. 
• Two shades of purple, I believe the darker shade has been in production for a few years.
• Aqua of the Cars sets is back!

I am happy that the figs can interact with what normal minifigs hold, ie. cups, drills,etc. However I worry that some sets won't last too long, even though hordes of AFOL, guy and girl, will probably snag a few of these (some of these parts resemble old PAB selections!)

Sawgrass Brand Ribbon Models

Ready for the big shoot! I cannot express how happy I am that the big project is said and done. Best about 95 out of 99 models (skipping some duplos) are set up in several display areas in the living room and in my bedroom. It was frustrating setting them up though, and that whole process will be revisited during packing. However, for some reason I can't locate the dog from the Taxi model and a piece of glasses. But I should find it in my room, which is progressing pretty nicely in the IKEA FRAMSTA installation, albeit a tad bit late.

Episode 8 will be recorded tonight and posted tomorrow.

New 2012 Sets

Rumor has it they're listed on TRU... For that I may actually check them out, but I rather get them and EARN VIP points through the Aventura Mall LEGO Store.