Rick

I just figured out that the raccoon in set 324 is called Ricky. I have this set: the face print on the fig is seriously worn and his legs are so loose he can barely stand up, but the bike is still in one piece (unlike my bike from 3628). Given my first name I have to consider using Ricky Raccoon as my sigfig. This thread and the FBG is really addictive. btw: Don't know if this has been mentioned, but Sybrand Bonsma, is recreating/restructuring his Unofficial Fabuland Homepage at http://www.fabuland.net

There's only one appropriate emoticon for this: Seriously: I don't understand Lego getting into this. I'm confident it won't spill over to regular Racers though.

... when you are looking at a real-life object and wondering what SNOT technique would capture that object's shape best ... when you convert distances to minifig-scale studs, be constantly reminded that a minifig has seriously f#@$ed up proportions, but would never accept Lego adapting the minifig D@$#% you Lego for using extended legs on those new toy story figs

I'm almost sure I did (I have to check b-day pics some day that include lego gifts)

I don't really like these 'late' Pirate I ('Armada') sets. You've done some nice drawings of what these wrecks may have looked like (there's one left for you to do ). Furthermore, I don't think Lego has thought this 'Pirate King' through (someone probably just thought it looks cool in the set description), but then again the skeleton in the set might be captain Redbeard's (although the skeleton's hat doesn't have the pirate emblem RB used to have). BTW: I'm quoted in someone's signature !!! (mediaprobe's)

Great! Next to the grand entrance (the columns, the stairs), the garden is a really nice touch. Is that Mr. Wiskers secret office on the top floor (little window with a view on the garden)? Is there an interior to the building (I doubt if anyone has enough Lego books to fill an entire public library though).

Nice, you certainly captured the classic town look. I agree to what you say about proportions, but that's all part of the classic look. I think this would fall over in corners at any positive speed . Too bad the drivers' windshield isn't trans light blue too, or actually the rest of the windows would need to be trans-clear for a real early 80's look.

... and he's gone gray, which also tends to happen with the passage of time.

It's Arthas' avatar that's scaring the hell out of me. I'm afraid of anything INSIDE the Bionicle forums.

And you mention that right before the start of the "1st Annual Redcoat vs. Bluecoat Tournament of Retribution"? An army fighting another division of the same army...

That would be good news

Peeron says 36,131 (*imagine it being pronounced like the 'lady' in Little Britain says "computer says no") in 264 sets with 424 minifigs.

Five-wide goodness. My favorite is the pick-up (is that a Ford logo?). I like how you've separated the back of the pick-up by half a stud.

Understandable, slightly different trade-off. I originally tried to make a Rosenbauer ES Atego, which doesn't have the window you're referring to. But the main problem with this was that I couldn't build the three compartments for equipment with the standard Lego compartment doors without making the body too long. So I decided to go for two. I know (Weet ik )

I don't believe that's an expression outside a relatively small densely populated country in the north-west of Europe

Nostalgiaaaaaaaa... these ads represent exactly what LEGO should be about: creativity and imagination. Takes me back to coming home from the toy store with the new LEGO catalog, browsing through it for hours, being inspired by new sets released and scenes depicted in the catalog, checking what sets I'd like to have mainly based which contained cool new minifigs or parts (for example, I remember wanting this set just for the suspension), ...

Me too, and I've seen it being reported before (lucky batch I guess). Oh and in the City harbor set (7994), I got a separate bag containing 6 white boat/plane windows, even though they were also in other bags, mixed up with other parts O

Thanks! But you can't have it Thanks for the compliments, your engine (along with some German ones) was definitely what got me into trying this for myself. I tried making a full six-wide engine first, but it just ended up looking way too blocky (it looked like one big lump of bricks). Given my limited collection of 'MOC-bricks' (I tossed in two 7239s for this project, I'm to a large extent a set collector), building in seven-wide nearly exhausted my collection of small red plates, tiles, and jumper plates. I need the panel behind the driver to be as low as it is now (to accommodate minifigs' arms), so replacing it with a plane window isn't really an option for me. Also, I just don't have it. The tile-with-bar piece for the rear mudguard just resembled the real thing almost perfectly, so I had to SNOT it. About the decoration: you're lucky that the UK models have such 'blocky' striping that is - albeit not easily - doable in LEGO. I decided to go for LEGO FD striping (similar to the truck in the latest City firestation 7945).

Amazing work. The seemingly seamless diagonal constructions must be hard to achieve with LEGO. But then again, you got some practice at that with your earlier MOCs.

Thanks, I was aiming for that look. Thanks, I was hoping the engine would fit, but only a 19 stud long vehicle will fit in.

Nice review. I agree with Greenhair on the fire engine: a little too simple (but we're spoiled). As an owner of 10182, 10185, and 10190, this is a must-buy set. One question: How's the dark red in your copy (considering this post)?

I don't own any trains (yet?), but the play value of 7898 definitely made me vote for this set. Also the crane wagon is a really nice addition to the set.

And I feel that this is largely due to an excellent and active moderator team who seem to speak with one voice all the time. When there was still some activity over at Lugnet, there used to be a fight every other day or so. So a big thank to our to our mods

I support LEGO reducing box sizes, although they haven't gone far enough. Most boxes could easily be flattened more, retaining the same 'shelf dimensions', while saving on transportation costs and storage space. Another idea for transporting less air is making the following box design: bigger front for shelf display | v |_ |_| <-- contents These could then easily be stacked for transportation: _ |_| |_| Furthermore, I think LEGO has an opportunity here to differentiate itself from the rest of the toy market by making smaller boxes. This might give customers the idea of a high-quality toy. In this way it could also try to create an environmentally friendly image in its advertising.

V-LF-6C & V-LF-6D An EU-style fire engine and ladder to celebrate my 100th post here on Eurobricks. Both are (supposed to look like) Mercedes-Benz Atego's (inspiration pictures for the engine and the ladder). Engine: The interior of the engine is a first version and will likely be updated with more equipment. Inspiration mainly comes from RalphS' fire engine, but also from this Brickshelf folder by Hypo. Ladder: