LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 3 discussion

[Modulex Guy]

I'm dissapointed with Series 3. The only figures I want to get is an elf, mummy, samurai and chief; and only one of each this time.

Maybe thats a good thing, given the fact that these things are so hard to find, now have no barcode and are made of cheap plastic.

I really am getting quite tired of hearing about this debate. IMO the plastic that comes from the China plant is not necessarily cheaper at all. Yes, they do have a slightly different texture, but that is because LEGO is using new/updated molds, and now mix their own plastic. These figs to me seem very well made, the printing is beautiful, the pieces fit tightly together etc etc.

And Jeez, for 2 bucks a fig what more do you want? Sure LEGO can pile in way more money to make these in the Denmark plant and make them better than now (although I think these figs are perfect as they are now) and drive the cost up per fig way up. Would you be willing to buy a fig for 4, maybe even 5 dollars for something with little to no difference in quality if it was not made in China?

/mini rant.

[Itaria No Shintaku]

I really am getting quite tired of hearing about this debate. IMO the plastic that comes from the China plant is not necessarily cheaper at all. Yes, they do have a slightly different texture, but that is because LEGO is using new/updated molds, and now mix their own plastic. These figs to me seem very well made, the printing is beautiful, the pieces fit tightly together etc etc.

And Jeez, for 2 bucks a fig what more do you want? Sure LEGO can pile in way more money to make these in the Denmark plant and make them better than now (although I think these figs are perfect as they are now) and drive the cost up per fig way up. Would you be willing to buy a fig for 4, maybe even 5 dollars for something with little to no difference in quality if it was not made in China?

/mini rant.

While I can certainly agree that this plastic seems a little cheaper, it doesn't seem THAT cheaper to me. In my favourite shop I pay €1,50 per minifig, while in other parts of the city the standard price is €2,00... and wasn't it for the barcode removal factor, I would have bought tons of these. BTW, here the barcode thing seems not to be that known, so I can complete my collection even buying a minifig per day for 16 days, and then going all on Spartans. In fact, I own all 32 minifigs from the first 2 series and they are all quite good to me. I mean, I recall the time in which there was a unique head print, two different hair combs (male and female), and minifigs looked similar each other... and I had fun in that days.

I think, and maybe I am wrong, that every single minifig they do is better than if they didn't it!

Well, maybe they could have used better ideas, but I think that they use 3-4 minifig to appeal people, and the remainings are collectable, as the word says... they come with a small baseplate and it means they should go (in Lego's intentions) on a fine row onto some shelf to stay there... that's what collection are for... TLC uses the better ideas (Spartan, Caveman, Elf, Clown IMHO) to make people want them, then if you want those, you have to risk buying some of the less wanted.

And that's not all, since apart from a little few minifigs, in this forum many people seem to be interested in different minifigs. I like the mummy, many find it horrible. I dislike totally the Tennis Player and everybody seems to be excited with her... see, no real point. Perhaps they don't do a terrible job, maybe their aim to make everyone happy with few minifigs instead of few happy with all 16 minifigs is working...

[blueandwhite]

I can't say that I'm overly excited for series 3 but there are certainly some nice figures in this assortment. The tenis player, snowboarder and baseball player are all fantastic. The fisherman has some nice accessories and the flying ace, Samuari and Native American Chief are all nice updates to now-defunct themes. I'm not too fusy for the elf, but I can see how he could be appealing to fans of fantasy themes.

Unfortunately, I find that some of the figures really feel like afterthoughts. The Sumo wrestler seems to be the worst offender this time around with a torso that seems to lack any printing at this point and a trophy which just seems out of place. The racecar driver also seems a bit bland given that we've already had several Ferrari drivers not all that long ago. The cyborg seems very uninspired with recycled parts and a seemingly random peg leg that doesn't seem all that robotic.

I'll still be looking for a few figures when Series 3 hits store shelves however I'm finding that LEGO is running out of great ideas a tad too quickly.

[BearHeart]

I really am getting quite tired of hearing about this debate. IMO the plastic that comes from the China plant is not necessarily cheaper at all. Yes, they do have a slightly different texture, but that is because LEGO is using new/updated molds, and now mix their own plastic. These figs to me seem very well made, the printing is beautiful, the pieces fit tightly together etc etc.

And Jeez, for 2 bucks a fig what more do you want? Sure LEGO can pile in way more money to make these in the Denmark plant and make them better than now (although I think these figs are perfect as they are now) and drive the cost up per fig way up. Would you be willing to buy a fig for 4, maybe even 5 dollars for something with little to no difference in quality if it was not made in China?

/mini rant.

Ok take a deep breath an relax..... you ok? lol

I'm entitled to my opinion and there's no need to personally attack me. There is a HUGE difference in the quality of a LEGO minifig from a regular set and a Collectible Series" fig, the plastic these figures are made out of feels lighter and looks worse - just compare a minifig head and hands, the yellow color is way off. My only fear is that this cheap plastic will creep into, and eventually take over, regular sets as well. That would pretty much be the end of my LEGO hobby.

And yes, I'm the type of person who will pay more money for more quality so I'd be willing to pay $1 to $1.50 more if these figs were made out of quality material.

[alepto]

Do not think this has been explicitly asked and taking into account pre-lim piccies and all that... but is the Hula girl wearing an actual skirt i.e. not printed? Because that would be a fairly major change ?

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As to my initial opinion ...

3 meh, rest good. I think this is pretty standard ratio of goodness for all the sets so far. Hopefuly quality continues to get better.....

Hula - female, torso usable for a few moccy things(skirt?)

chief - this is a good one

Japanese warrior - very usable (need him to deal with all the ninjas!)

pilot - meh, Another one?????

fisherman- interesting beard, ugly rod (restrung with thinner thread might make it look better...)

cyborg - meh, gun maybe - but could live without (same as squidtron!)

snowboarder - moccy goodness

racer - nice torso/hair.. but not something want more than 1

rapper- a couple would be useful, however already have boombox (in 8401 - not as nice but more "lego" - nonono opinion only - no flames please)

elf- a nice figure for any castle/fantasy theme. Nice torso,shield (no comments on ears:))

sumo - i am thinking usable for beach scenes i.e. moc. Maybe new hair piece as well? AND with all those statues thinking of moc'cing the Oscars:)

squidtron - whyyyyyyy, on second look- torso may be usable

mummy - moccy goodness (vamps, Egypt sets next year, zombies, and now mummys ---- crypt mocs here we come)

tennis player - the best? So useful for sports/city-scapes

baseball player - nice, maybe fractionally better than tennis. All the bits, cap (printed?), bat,torso soo usable!

gorilla - heck yeah, the heads will make nice masks for my bank robbers (along with the clowns). I am picturing the gang on scooters :) Though very much agree - a Chewbacca style torso covering would have been best.

[Aanchir]

Ok take a deep breath an relax..... you ok? lol

I'm entitled to my opinion and there's no need to personally attack me. There is a HUGE difference in the quality of a LEGO minifig from a regular set and a Collectible Series" fig, the plastic these figures are made out of feels lighter and looks worse - just compare a minifig head and hands, the yellow color is way off. My only fear is that this cheap plastic will creep into, and eventually take over, regular sets as well. That would pretty much be the end of my LEGO hobby.

And yes, I'm the type of person who will pay more money for more quality so I'd be willing to pay $1 to $1.50 more if these figs were made out of quality material.

My brother and I have four of the collectible figs (the surfer, the lifeguard, the explorer, and the karate master) and there is no distinguishable difference in the color quality of their parts. I actually expected a visible difference in quality, but was greatly surprised to find that the figs seemed the same quality as regular figs. The yellow parts (and between those four there are a lot of those) are all perfectly consistent with standard LEGO yellow. As for the weight, I'm not a good judge of that, but I can't really feel any difference.

If there's any difference in quality with the new figs, I wouldn't be afraid to say that mine in fact feel higher-quality than figs I've had previously. The parts all attach and pivot with a firmness that my other minifigs (mostly Space Police and Atlantis figs, as well as my sigfig) do not. Of course, that could be chalked up simply to newer figs having firmer joints and connection points, but it's the only real "difference" in quality between the collectible figs and the others I have on hand (besides the obviously more advanced leg printing for the Surfer and Explorer).

Having had many actual poor-quality parts in a set I got over five years ago, I think I speak from experience when I say that my collectible figs are not at all poor-quality. Perhaps at one point in Series 1 there were actual poor-quality figs. I have no idea (a lot of the complaints seemed legit, as did some pics of differing quality), but if there were then that's just further evidence that any drop in quality by LEGO is a complete mistake that is hastily amended. What seems to be the case with the collectible figs is that people automatically assume that since LEGO now produces parts in China (and note that many parts produced in China, like the Rock Monsters from Power Miners and other parts with advanced printing, have had no issues with quality), TLG no longer cares the slightest bit about quality and all LEGO parts from China are going to be crap.

[The Who]

Wow. I was really hoping for something awesome in this third series, but everything appears to be sort of Meh. Hopefully the finallized versions will be better.

[The Brick Rat]

Hawaii Girl

nice, but she absolutely doesn't fit anywhere

Just Imagine.

Pilot

looks good, but do we really need one?!

That's what I first thought too, but as I posted several pages back - is this fig really a pilot? Others have noted that he appears to be wearing a backpack, but that doesn't make sense to me. But what is that's a rocket-pack on his back? If this fig turns out to be an Adventurers style "Rocketeer" I'll be very happy indeed.

Half Robot Half Human

ugly

Yes, but a great little parts pack.

Female Snowboarder

great torso design, great snowboard

She does look good, but I am a little disappointed because when I first heard that there was going to be a female snowboarder with pink headgear, I envisioned a pink version of the series 2 Skier with a snowboard instead of skis. Now I want to see a pink version of the skier in a future series.

[Modulex Guy]

Ok take a deep breath an relax..... you ok? lol

I'm entitled to my opinion and there's no need to personally attack me. There is a HUGE difference in the quality of a LEGO minifig from a regular set and a Collectible Series" fig, the plastic these figures are made out of feels lighter and looks worse - just compare a minifig head and hands, the yellow color is way off. My only fear is that this cheap plastic will creep into, and eventually take over, regular sets as well. That would pretty much be the end of my LEGO hobby.

And yes, I'm the type of person who will pay more money for more quality so I'd be willing to pay $1 to $1.50 more if these figs were made out of quality material.

My post was no way an attack on anyone, I just stated my opinion that I do not believe the plastic quality is cheap.

I guess to each his own then, as I see these figs as great quality.

Sure there have been bad parts produced (Ex: pirate tic tac toe figs), But I think that LEGO has corrected the problem and we are now getting a great product.

[Mrlegoninja]

Times are tough in this economy, and if TLG has to cut down on costs, it is cheaper if they make they plastic in China.

So, why you guys complaning about the plastic?

[SpiderSpaceman]

Grass skirt... lei... black hair... that doesn't sound at all familiar to you?

She's an updated Islander! I'm kind of surprised I'm the only one that seems to see this.

Ah yes! The most scandalous, most topless figure ever King Kahuka is a lucky man

Edited September 21, 2010 by SpiderSpaceman

[Captain Blockbeard]

Hawaii Girl: This is among my must-haves. Decent design except for the use of brown maracas. Will go great with the Series 2 Surfer.

Native American Chief: A requisite remake of a minifigure of themes past. I already have the originals and considering they already did the Tribal Hunter in Series 1, I'm not thrilled Lego are reducing themselves to making another Indian so soon in Series 3.

Samurai: With the maroon color scheme, he will go great in large numbers as an opposition samurai clan to the originals (blue scheme).

Pilot: I have so many adventurers already and with the coming Pharaoh's Quest, is there a need for this one?

Fisher: Love this addition to the civilian populace.

Cyborg: Why does everyone call it a cyborg? Has Lego released the official names yet? I see so many complaints about how this one isn't "Cyborg-ish" enough. Upon closer look, I'm assuming its just an updated Blacktron minifigure. If so, then I'll want multiple of him. My only fix would be to change the yellow visor to the neon yellow color to better match the Blacktron II color palette.

Female Snowboarder: Requisite Series 3 equivalent to Skateboarder and Surfer. I have mixed feelings about this one. Great to see it's a female snowboarder for a change.

Ferrari Driver: Not impressed. Even some of the current World Racers minifigures have designs that interest me more.

Rapper: I just don't see the appeal of this figure. He's hideous but at least he's got a decent boombox accessory.

Elf: Love this one as much as the next person. He'd make for a decent elf or even an exceptional update to the Forestmen.

Sumo: I hope the final version is nothing like the early image. He's just too plain. It's an excellent concept but poorly executed. The only way I see a Sumo figure working is to use an entirely different mold that provides the appropriate proportions instead of a default minifigure with printed pattern.

Alien: Difficult to comment on this one since it seems the most obvious non-finalized figure out of the group.

Mummy: One of the best figures in the group thanks to an excellent printed pattern. Though do I want many of these if I can already get mummies in the various 2011 Pharaoh's Quest sets?

Female Tennis Player: Like the design of the new tennis racket accessory, and the figure itself is well done.

Baseball Player: Impressive in all of the same ways as the Tennis Player.

Gorilla: I was expecting better from Lego. Hopefully, this is a preliminary plan because as it stands, the head bothers me. It's almost too cartoonish. Fine if it's supposed to be a man in a gorilla costume but terrible if it's meant to be a real Lego gorilla.

[natelite]

Gorilla and Sumo could really use a bulkier torso. It is time for TLG to try making one...

agreed. for a 800 lb gorilla, he sure looks lightweight. and for a moment b4 we saw the pics, i thought we could finally make a homer simpson mf! that's just too bad. slim sumo and anorexic gorilla...

Cyborg: Why does everyone call it a cyborg? Has Lego released the official names yet? I see so many complaints about how this one isn't "Cyborg-ish" enough. Upon closer look, I'm assuming its just an updated Blacktron minifigure. If so, then I'll want multiple of him. My only fix would be to change the yellow visor to the neon yellow color to better match the Blacktron II color palette.

because he's half-man, half-prosthetics? you're right... he's actually more space pirate that cyborg. we don't call captain brickbeard a steampunk cyborg now do we, with the pegleg and hook hand? so why would the space pirate be called a cyborg? afterall, his prosthetics are more hindrances than enhancements. my guess is that mf is a space pirate, not a cyborg.

[prateek]

agreed. for a 800 lb gorilla, he sure looks lightweight. and for a moment b4 we saw the pics, i thought we could finally make a homer simpson mf! that's just too bad. slim sumo and anorexic gorilla...

The gorilla reminds me of Patrick from Spongebob!

[Oky]

because he's half-man, half-prosthetics? you're right... he's actually more space pirate that cyborg. we don't call captain brickbeard a steampunk cyborg now do we, with the pegleg and hook hand? so why would the space pirate be called a cyborg? afterall, his prosthetics are more hindrances than enhancements. my guess is that mf is a space pirate, not a cyborg.

Yes. According to wikipedia, "A cyborg, also known as a cybernetic organism, is a being with both biological and artificial (e.g. electronic, mechanical or robotic) parts". Is that good enough for ya?

Seriously, I don't get all the hate for this guy (except from Klaus, that was expected ). He's a pretty neat fig to me, and I would have thought people would be stoked to get a new, detailed blacktron fig after everyone geeked out about Rench from SP3 having a blacktron torso.

But calling him a space pirate is an interesting idea since that's basically what Blacktrons are.

[prateek]

Agreed with Oky. I don't see what is so bad about the cyborg? He looks pretty cool. It looks like we get a silver peg leg!

[Itaria No Shintaku]

Yes. According to wikipedia, "A cyborg, also known as a cybernetic organism, is a being with both biological and artificial (e.g. electronic, mechanical or robotic) parts". Is that good enough for ya?

Seriously, I don't get all the hate for this guy (except from Klaus, that was expected ). He's a pretty neat fig to me, and I would have thought people would be stoked to get a new, detailed blacktron fig after everyone geeked out about Rench from SP3 having a blacktron torso.

But calling him a space pirate is an interesting idea since that's basically what Blacktrons are.

and ... if ... they used a Blacktron torso for the preliminary picture but it's not intended in the final version?

[Cara]

Hula Girl: nice but like other said lacking in the accessory

Native American Chief: We don't have the originals so I'm happy to have a character that works with the girls from series 1.

Samurai: I would like an army of these.

Pilot: the first thing I thought was is that backpack a parachute? I like the whimsy.

Fisherman: I love this character

Cyborg: too much of a mish mash of part for me. I'll pass.

Snowboarder: I like her but I doubt I'll moc with her.

Driver: boring.

Rapper: like the possibilities.

Elf: has to be my favourite but then I love fantasy.

Alien: I just have no use for him.

Mummy: Could have hoped for a bit more of an aging look, but on the whole I'm happy. He was the figure that before we saw pictures, I thought would be my favourite of the lot, but the Elf took the cake.

Tennis Player: like the new parts but don't like her. Really needed a skirt.

Baseball Player: Not being American, Baseball is not our thing, but I can see how this is a great addition.

Sumo: Wish they had have done a fat belly that clipped on like a reverse backpack.

Gorilla: likewise wish for a belly. My kids had high hopes for this. They wanted it to look like the gorilla in LEGO Universe that they've been killing, not like a man in a gorilla suit. Disappointed.

[vexorian]

Times are tough in this economy, and if TLG has to cut down on costs, it is cheaper if they make they plastic in China.

So, why you guys complaning about the plastic?

Getting the fig you want will likely cost you tons of money anyway. So the reduction in costs will not really help us. The problem is that after all the effort and money you spend to finally get the fig, you notice that the plastic is just poor and you may as well begin crying.

[Mrlegoninja]

Getting the fig you want will likely cost you tons of money anyway. So the reduction in costs will not really help us. The problem is that after all the effort and money you spend to finally get the fig, you notice that the plastic is just poor and you may as well begin crying.

My rule is: You get what you get and you don't through a fit.

Just kidding, but remember: these are just toys. You don't need to hoard them for selling or a moc.

Anyway, why would you spend more than two dollars on one of the minifigs? Remember, when they first release, you have to be one of the first there to get the one you want: by picking a random bag.

There is a reason why LEGO puts these in random bags so you don't hoard them or sell them.

Time for another rule: Finders keepers losers weepers

I am happy that there will be no barcodes on these packets.

So moral is: You spend money once to get one that is completly random, and after you open it, you don't cry

ONTO the plastic: Half the worlds toys and machines are made in China. If a little plastic man is made in China, it does not make a big deal.

But you guys cry about the plastic.

[Aanchir]

Yes. According to wikipedia, "A cyborg, also known as a cybernetic organism, is a being with both biological and artificial (e.g. electronic, mechanical or robotic) parts". Is that good enough for ya?

Seriously, I don't get all the hate for this guy (except from Klaus, that was expected ). He's a pretty neat fig to me, and I would have thought people would be stoked to get a new, detailed blacktron fig after everyone geeked out about Rench from SP3 having a blacktron torso.

But calling him a space pirate is an interesting idea since that's basically what Blacktrons are.

Well, more specifically, according to most of the information found in catalogs and multinational product names, Blacktrons are spies. But part of their spying includes stealing Ice Planet 2002's satellites and M:Tron's advanced computer technology, which could be considered piracy in a sense.

I personally love the cyborg, although it's curious that he uses a yellow visor but the Blacktron II logo. Most of the people who have been designing Blacktron III stuff since Rench's release (including myself) have been using trans. bright green (Atlantis windscreen color) for no reason other than that it matches the Blacktron logo's lime better than either trans. neon green or trans. yellow. The choice to use trans. yellow has the obvious benefit that it's consistent with the trans. yellow that has been used as "bad guy" windshields in the recent Space Police sets, but still it might make a lot of Blacktron III builders reconsider their color scheme choices.

[Itaria No Shintaku]

I had some spare time and I took myself freedom to take the like/dislikes expressed here like some sort of poll.

Here are the results.

16th place: ALIEN (3 likes, 13 dislikes)

15th place: SUMO BOY (2 likes, 12 dislikes)

14th place: RACE CAR DRIVER (2 likes, 7 dislikes)

13th place: GORILLA (6 likes, 5 dislikes)

12th place: CYBORG (9 likes, 8 dislikes)

11th place: SNOWBOARDER (6 likes, 1 dislike)

10th place: NATIVE AMERICAN CHIEF (8 likes, 3 dislikes)

9th place: ADVENTURE PILOT (12 likes, 3 dislikes)

8th place: MUMMY (13 likes, 3 dislikes)

7th place: HAWAIAN GIRL (11 likes, 0 dislikes)

6th place: RAPPER (14 likes, 3 dislikes)

5th place: TENNIS PLAYER (19 likes, 1 dislike)

4th place: BASEBALL PLAYER (19 likes, 0 dislikes)

3rd place: SAMURAI WARRIOR (22 likes, 1 dislike)

2nd place: FISHERMAN (23 likes, 1 dislike)

1st place: ELF (32 likes, 2 dislikes)

[Modulex Guy]

I really really really hope that the samurai is going to be unpopular since I want to build a massive army of these guys...

But I think its going to be the spartan of series 3.

[fred67]

I had some spare time and I took myself freedom to take the like/dislikes expressed here like some sort of poll.

Thanks... that's pretty interesting. Not what I expected, really... it's no surprise the Elf is popular, and the Samurai... but the fisherman? And with the popularity of the "horror" theme, I'm surprised the Mummy is so low.

My "wants" are, in order: elf, mummy, samurai, native Chief, and Hawaiian girl.... and that's all I want. The only problem is, with this series, I want a LOT of elves. I didn't want a lot of any single figure in the first two series. Hopefully I'll have a lot to trade...

[Itaria No Shintaku]

I really really really hope that the samurai is going to be unpopular since I want to build a massive army of these guys...

But I think its going to be the spartan of series 3.

With no barcodes, either people start mastering feeling the bags, or it's difficult to build armies. Before knowing about barcodes I used to feel the bags too, but I wasn't that skilled... apart for some minifigs (witch or surfer in series 2 are quite easy, I'm practicing some training), it will be really hard I think...