Photos have surfaced all over Eurobricks of the new Winter Village Cottage, 10229.
Key Deeplinks
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/grogall/10229/c_10229_detail_1.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/grogall/10229/d_10229_detail_2.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/grogall/10229/h_10229_detail_6.jpg
There are more featured on this thread: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=72048
I really like this set and may consider it for purchase. It is like a townhouse but set to winter.
It continues to deliver technique such as roof SNOT which has been mainly seen in this series.
Dark tan elements and dark blue ones number well. If I get this one I will have quite a number of DkBlue 1x1 tiles. Brick bricks in DkTan also number well, laid out in the facade and chimney.
Playability does not disappoint, though I know I won't be playing ;) ... It comes with all that a house has be it kitchen, living room, bedroom. The fireplace will be light-able as happens in most of these sets. There are even accessories like gold sinks, toy planes, and bread.
The look is classic and it promises a nice holiday treat for any family. I think this large one is up there as a favorite from this series, even though I don't have any of the sets... Yet, I've seen the Post Office, the Bakery, and the Toy Shop.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
I Like Grab Bags
Grab bags are the loose part bags LEGO Brand Retail sells. In these are parts from old floor models, PAB wall selections, or sets damaged in transit.
I bought three of them on Thursday and they were well supplied with common and uncommon parts. They were a great way to stock up on supporting basic bricks for Element while getting the value on rarer elements. 24 dollars (I'll say 21.50 to split the 5 bucks VIP rewards that was used on the purchase of this and PAB) bought these three and the total parts count was 674.
Bag 1 was probably the best and most numbered bag. In there were 1 light brick, several orange bricks (like in all 15), a dark pink slope, dark tan 2x2, lots of the greens and rare elements in md blue (like cheese and arches). 270 pcs.
Bag 2 was a Friends laden bag with the pink 8x16 and the slopes. Had several parts of interest and few more in the grays, white, and black. Also a hidden brick brick in DkTan and 1 silver antenna. 225pcs
Bag 3 was varied in color. Azure, pink, trans light blue elements plus a friends torso. 179 pcs. When I had this taken parts like a bright green 8x16 were in the box already. Ugh.
Not too bad where as the cost per part was 3.2 cents after the discount.
I love grab bags because of the ability to have this sort of access. It takes luck and timing to get it right. No two grab bags are alike, and it serves as a little reminder to the days when 4679 had the 500 part bonus that fit this description. Those were more bizarre elements but at least this comes close to some extent. I had one with Maersk Blue elements, one with dark orange elements from the Sandcrawler, and one with some Market street parts.
As I always do, it is suggested to ask your store if they have grab bags available.
I bought three of them on Thursday and they were well supplied with common and uncommon parts. They were a great way to stock up on supporting basic bricks for Element while getting the value on rarer elements. 24 dollars (I'll say 21.50 to split the 5 bucks VIP rewards that was used on the purchase of this and PAB) bought these three and the total parts count was 674.
Bag 1 was probably the best and most numbered bag. In there were 1 light brick, several orange bricks (like in all 15), a dark pink slope, dark tan 2x2, lots of the greens and rare elements in md blue (like cheese and arches). 270 pcs.
Bag 2 was a Friends laden bag with the pink 8x16 and the slopes. Had several parts of interest and few more in the grays, white, and black. Also a hidden brick brick in DkTan and 1 silver antenna. 225pcs
Bag 3 was varied in color. Azure, pink, trans light blue elements plus a friends torso. 179 pcs. When I had this taken parts like a bright green 8x16 were in the box already. Ugh.
Not too bad where as the cost per part was 3.2 cents after the discount.
I love grab bags because of the ability to have this sort of access. It takes luck and timing to get it right. No two grab bags are alike, and it serves as a little reminder to the days when 4679 had the 500 part bonus that fit this description. Those were more bizarre elements but at least this comes close to some extent. I had one with Maersk Blue elements, one with dark orange elements from the Sandcrawler, and one with some Market street parts.
As I always do, it is suggested to ask your store if they have grab bags available.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Compression... Challenge Accepted
Slightly against my wishes to maintain a square, 64x64 property, Element will very likely be under a drastic overhaul project this weekend. I am only giving myself a whopping 3 days to do it: Friday , Saturday, and Sunday. I don't want the 2 dedicated months to prove a waste in the giant's progress but I want it to fit better with Robin's Skypoint, which apparently was completed and posted on Flickr. Actually, I'm surprised it came out that short; it's supposed to be a bit taller at 375 feet.
Element can bear:
The model will still take up 2 baseplates, and yes with the outside section it will hit about 56 studs. But it is going to work out well. The 4 to 2 reduction will work the same on the other sides, reducing that span from 66 to 62 studs initially, though I should end up gaining it back with the grille details at the end. The catch with the 2 baseplate occupancy though is that the outside 4 on the West side will build in to Tampa St. leaving the rest to fiddle the remaining 44 to 48 studs out. This allows Franklin to sneak in to the last 16 studs but it will S-curve right like the real deal with some innovative way. Lots of engineering but as I said, I have put 2 months and don't want to have to put those to waste. Most of these are stacked up so the transition should be smooth save for knocking the inside wall down.
Element can bear:
- Left and right 4 stud concrete walls dropped to 2 studs
- 6-8-6 garage bays dropped to a 4-6-4. Canopies stay the same.
The model will still take up 2 baseplates, and yes with the outside section it will hit about 56 studs. But it is going to work out well. The 4 to 2 reduction will work the same on the other sides, reducing that span from 66 to 62 studs initially, though I should end up gaining it back with the grille details at the end. The catch with the 2 baseplate occupancy though is that the outside 4 on the West side will build in to Tampa St. leaving the rest to fiddle the remaining 44 to 48 studs out. This allows Franklin to sneak in to the last 16 studs but it will S-curve right like the real deal with some innovative way. Lots of engineering but as I said, I have put 2 months and don't want to have to put those to waste. Most of these are stacked up so the transition should be smooth save for knocking the inside wall down.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Another Impostor Company Strikes....
I can really care less when a clone brand comes in and sells LEGO. Technically it's legal as the patents have expired already, but what I really hate about it is the fact that they really compromise the quality and then LEGO's the bad guy when it comes to quality issues since it's the known name.
Why I'm blogging them...
I just find it hilarious how this company has shot themselves in the foot. Their website, bythepound.ca has ripped off the company's own image of plastic bricks. While the image is not current, I have seen it in the past. You can retrieve the image by clicking on one of the buckets, of any color. If you drag the image to the URL bar, you can also identify the file name as Turnbull_Lego_large or something like that. While they may be proven innocent by the idea of making plastic bricks, they can be proven guilty real easily by simple copyright infringement. I can bet they did not get consent from the company and just copied, then reproduced the image. The image looks to be older and from a past brick bucket or brick box, indexed under "Individual Bricks/Building Accessories" on LEGO SAH.
Seeing the embedded, you can tell this company's bricks are of lower quality. Brick Show endorses this for gifting, but I endorse LEGO's parts buckets any day. Shamefully those have inflated in price, however. In 2004, set 4496 the Bricks and Creations tub was 1,000 elements and only set one back 20 USD. Now a 650 part box sets one back 30 USD. Ridiculous. My best swag was Set 4679, a variant of 4496, except with an additional 500 parts which were absolutely random and colorful. I was about to get a second one year later but had to pass as I think 7046 the Fire Boat and one of my all time favorite World City sets was on shelf. Anyway, back on, LEGO has much better intentions.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Element = Independence Day Progress
The Fourth (Happy late 4th!) was truly the last day at which I was able to make Element, the Tampa, FL Skyscraper that I'm building, grow before this Central Florida trip. This Central Florida Trip will yield at least two expected cups of Orlando PAB with useful treats for the tower and similar projects.
Garage doors
Straight on closeup
Ceiling grills up close
Anyway, the tower is now topping off in the South Side. It is amazing how it can be constructed with one side up sky-high and the other barely a floor up.
 |
| West side grills |
 Overall, the east side had a bit of work done to strengthen it. | ||
|
The Interior. It is a true super supporting mechanism. Buildings need quite a bit of stability, and truly I don't want the baseplates to topple in when I carry it.
I am leaving South Florida right now with nearly two months of progress. This level of work is truly encouraging me for the future progress and continuing to be a motivating factor in the project. In all truth it did hit a point of no return. All the money expended plus progress and stability leave it to continuing to do the job.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
LEGO Fan Survey (2012)
The Survey Results
LEGO has a wonderful tradition of annual fan surveys. They are a short, 10-15 minute jog through the park of voicing your opinion to the company online. This publication of the results, which is the first that I am reading, tells a lot about them.
First, they are using their heads. They are being aware of the demographics of their clients; no, not where they are from but their age and gender.
I am pleased to be reading that a lot of respondents are adults, quoted to be 7/10 ages 18-44, took the survey. Yet, this raises a question. Are they legit AFOLs or are they parents? I believe I took the survey and did not recognize many a question that deals with this strand. Yet, they hint that many parents indeed took it since the team indicated that fans and LUGers are a minority.
The best news. Fan participation. LEGO has hit the social books like no other. Digitally, MANY people have taken to posting videos on YouTube, sharing photos on Flickr, and participating in Rebrick and others. But what matters is the rise in events in the likes of Brick Fiesta, BrickMagic, and the rising popularity of BrickWorld. I really like how this is becoming such a medium of communication that allows networking, insight, and camaraderie. The team hints that this result comes from the influence of LUGs. Gotta love this. LEGO has gone from bud to rose in a matter of years. I agree but also disagree with their contention. I think it is the outburst of YouTube videos, viral or not, and company promotion such as LEGOLAND and new stores, that has influenced the added fan interest. LUGS... yes, but only a part of it.
Lastly, the MOCs results makes LEGO stand out as an art. The reception of work is what makes this truly enjoyable, and with their statement I agree. I love it when people critique my work; it makes my vision melt with theirs. It is a point of conversation that builds up the points about fan involvement.
Overall very encouraging results. But they are not entirely asking about the products but the fan experiences. Past surveys would ask people what lines they liked, what was missing, etc. Perhaps this is a new aim? I could see this as the roots for which LEGO handles PR in the coming years.
In closing, I love the improved quality of the company. They are opening up. They are looking to the fan and the consumer to find out how to create the business. They are finally becoming well rounded and not only serving kids but all ages. They are catering to the mixed purposes of the brick even though I see the use of the word "play" in the statement. They are now focusing on the WHOLE audience which consists of not only children who play with it but the adults who build, display, and enjoy the brick.
Maybe I would ask, is the LEGO brick itself a toy after all?
LEGO has a wonderful tradition of annual fan surveys. They are a short, 10-15 minute jog through the park of voicing your opinion to the company online. This publication of the results, which is the first that I am reading, tells a lot about them.
First, they are using their heads. They are being aware of the demographics of their clients; no, not where they are from but their age and gender.
I am pleased to be reading that a lot of respondents are adults, quoted to be 7/10 ages 18-44, took the survey. Yet, this raises a question. Are they legit AFOLs or are they parents? I believe I took the survey and did not recognize many a question that deals with this strand. Yet, they hint that many parents indeed took it since the team indicated that fans and LUGers are a minority.
The best news. Fan participation. LEGO has hit the social books like no other. Digitally, MANY people have taken to posting videos on YouTube, sharing photos on Flickr, and participating in Rebrick and others. But what matters is the rise in events in the likes of Brick Fiesta, BrickMagic, and the rising popularity of BrickWorld. I really like how this is becoming such a medium of communication that allows networking, insight, and camaraderie. The team hints that this result comes from the influence of LUGs. Gotta love this. LEGO has gone from bud to rose in a matter of years. I agree but also disagree with their contention. I think it is the outburst of YouTube videos, viral or not, and company promotion such as LEGOLAND and new stores, that has influenced the added fan interest. LUGS... yes, but only a part of it.
Lastly, the MOCs results makes LEGO stand out as an art. The reception of work is what makes this truly enjoyable, and with their statement I agree. I love it when people critique my work; it makes my vision melt with theirs. It is a point of conversation that builds up the points about fan involvement.
Overall very encouraging results. But they are not entirely asking about the products but the fan experiences. Past surveys would ask people what lines they liked, what was missing, etc. Perhaps this is a new aim? I could see this as the roots for which LEGO handles PR in the coming years.
In closing, I love the improved quality of the company. They are opening up. They are looking to the fan and the consumer to find out how to create the business. They are finally becoming well rounded and not only serving kids but all ages. They are catering to the mixed purposes of the brick even though I see the use of the word "play" in the statement. They are now focusing on the WHOLE audience which consists of not only children who play with it but the adults who build, display, and enjoy the brick.
Maybe I would ask, is the LEGO brick itself a toy after all?
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