LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 3 discussion

[VenVoi]

You guys who are always swimming in CMF's are really lucky. I've only seen Series 3 once at each of my TRU's and I check them fairly often. Living in a rural area has its disadvantages.

[Aanchir]

You guys who are always swimming in CMF's are really lucky. I've only seen Series 3 once at each of my TRU's and I check them fairly often. Living in a rural area has its disadvantages.

Depends what rural area. I'm in college in southern Vermont, and it's less than an hour to get to Keene, NH, where there are plenty of stores to get the collectible minifigures. There's an independent toy store that has them for MSRP, and Borders has them for just one dollar over that (something I wouldn't have spent if not for having a Borders gift card from Christmas). A rural area in the west or midwest might not be as densely populated as New England, so in some places it might be a longer drive to get to a city that has a good toy store, but of course the other advantage of sparsely-populated rural areas is that any box in a toy store you find is less likely to have been picked clean by kids and AFOLs.

[LEGOMAN132]

The Fred meyers store where I live still has like five cases of them picked up the 7 I needed(all by feel) and 2 elfs and baseball players yesterday.

Edited March 5, 2011 by LEGOMAN132

[Peanuts]

I'm just wondering, I got 2 Samurai so far, using both feeling and dots, but it seems there's one more dot than on the code I used, took me some time to realize that. So I'm wondering, if anyone found out the same thing?

[Ro87n]

~

Btw. I need to start making pictures too from some minifigs I mixed up with others.

For example I used the Pilot from S3 and the Cowboy of S1 to make a steampunk(ish) figure.

I needed to switch the helmet and backpack for the darker brown coloured version to make it look better.

And what used to be the Pilot (now mixed with the Cowboy parts) more looks like a sheriff, but with no star however.

And here are the pictures of my Steampunk and No-Star-Sheriff minifig:

And some more pictures it took with S3 minifigs and others fit in the same theme:

Forrest/jungle:

Pharaoh Theme:

Edited March 6, 2011 by Ro87n

[Blondie-Wan]

Personally, I had HOPED that TLG would have packed more elves per box, after seeing the crazy demand for Spartans, coupled with AFOLs asking for elves for some time now.

Alas, there are but three per box, as with the Spartan.

I don't see that as any kind of coincidence. I think it's quite intentional. After all, IN THEORY, it would sell more figures.

IMO, TLG hoped that folks would buy "handfuls" of figs, HOPING to get those elusive Spartan and Elf figures. I don't think they really anticipated fans going to the lengths they did to identify just which figs it was that they were purchasing. I've personally heard the comment "You've got too much time on your hands" several times now, when I've been feeling my way through a box or two of figs and I don't think most rational people would have guessed that 'rabid' fans of certain figs would willingly devote an hour or two out of their day to locate those elusive THREE figures in a box of sixty.

*I* would have preferred five ELVES per box, instead of five RACE CAR DRIVERS but, alas, I'm not the person in charge of such decisions.

I don't think it's a coincidence either, but I also don't think they thought of it quite the way you did. Remember, the overwhelming majority of their customers are young kids, not AFOLs, and even after seeing how AFOLs jumped on S1 and S2, I think their primary focus for S3 and beyond lay with kids, and trying to ensure kids would be able to have a reasonable chance of getting the ones they want. I believe the case assortment takes this into account; I'm guessing they actually don't expect nine-year-olds to want so many more Spartans or elves than traffic cops or race car drivers (as the latter figures easily fit into ongoing themes - they always do City and Racers stuff, after all).

[peterab]

I don't think it's a coincidence either, but I also don't think they thought of it quite the way you did. Remember, the overwhelming majority of their customers are young kids, not AFOLs, and even after seeing how AFOLs jumped on S1 and S2, I think their primary focus for S3 and beyond lay with kids, and trying to ensure kids would be able to have a reasonable chance of getting the ones they want. I believe the case assortment takes this into account; I'm guessing they actually don't expect nine-year-olds to want so many more Spartans or elves than traffic cops or race car drivers (as the latter figures easily fit into ongoing themes - they always do City and Racers stuff, after all).

I agree, but would also probably add to that there is most likely a set budget for each series. The elf had a new mold for its hair, very fancy printed parts, a cape etc. It was probably one of the more expensive figures of the series to produce. You can see how these two facts would lead to not having 5 elves per case.

[Blondie-Wan]

I agree, but would also probably add to that there is most likely a set budget for each series. The elf had a new mold for its hair, very fancy printed parts, a cape etc. It was probably one of the more expensive figures of the series to produce. You can see how these two facts would lead to not having 5 elves per case.

That's an interesting idea, although I would've thought that would be a reason for using the newer parts across more figures, not fewer, since the fixed cost of the mold is a part of the cost of each element for which it's used, and if more elements are made from that one mold then the mold cost is spread across more elements, and makes up a smaller part of the cost of each.

I don't know, though, and I'm sure you're right about there being a budget for the line (and each series in the line), just as with any other theme.

[peterab]

That's an interesting idea, although I would've thought that would be a reason for using the newer parts across more figures, not fewer, since the fixed cost of the mold is a part of the cost of each element for which it's used, and if more elements are made from that one mold then the mold cost is spread across more elements, and makes up a smaller part of the cost of each.

Yeah you're probably correct about the mold cost being a fixed cost, though they do wear out eventually it's unlikely to be in one run of figures. I'd guess that may be why the werewolf uses the same ears. Idoes sink that part of my argument though. The printed minifig parts are known to be pricey, and the elf has lots, and a cape so I still would guess he's not one of the cheaper collectibles to produce.

[Delta 38]

I agree, the figures in demand should really be made in higher numbers per box. Sure, people will hoard them, but it's fairer that way, I guess.

I finally found a samurai, yay! I decided to get two (though there were more) because I felt I deserved it after waiting for so long. I also got the very useful gorilla suit guy. The price increase means that the boxes here are barely even looted, and I've only got about three more figures to go until my collection is complete.

I did notice something annoying, however. Both the samurais I had appeared to be of a lower quality. I haven't seen this issue with the other figures, but the plastic's colour appears kind of faded and is thinner than normal plastic. I don't own a magnet set, but from the complaints I've heard, I think this is similar to the issues there.

[Blondie-Wan]

I did notice something annoying, however. Both the samurais I had appeared to be of a lower quality. I haven't seen this issue with the other figures, but the plastic's colour appears kind of faded and is thinner than normal plastic. I don't own a magnet set, but from the complaints I've heard, I think this is similar to the issues there.

Unfortunately I think you may be right. I wouldn't really describe it as "faded" or "thinner," exactly, but it's noticeably less opaque.

For the other collectible minifigures from all three series, I've thought the quality was fine, albeit different in some ways (mainly in that the minifigures have more of a matte finish than the shiny one usually found on most minifigures in other sets, but I think this is more to do with slight texturing in the molds than the actual quality of the plastic).

With the samurai, however, the plastic used for the torso and legs is a bit more translucent than with other minifigures, and I think it should have been a bit better. I wouldn't say it's nearly as bad as the shockingly bad Santa Claus minifigure included with the Christmas magnet, and I do still appreciate the samurai and I've gotten two so far, but it is still a bit disappointing. Fortunately it's not really noticeable over most of the assembled figure, apart from the legs, since there are multiple layers of plastic everywhere else (especially the torso, since it has the armor worn over the body). If it's lit from behind, though, it's not hard to see some light shining through the stud holes in the backs of the legs.

Edited March 13, 2011 by Blondie-Wan

[Jamboon]

Yesterday, I noticed they had them at Urban Outfitters... for 8$ a piece!!

Now, I love these things but that's way too expensive.

[Blondie-Wan]

Yesterday, I noticed they had them at Urban Outfitters... for 8$ a piece!!

Now, I love these things but that's way too expensive.

Yikes! That's way too much, I agree (though, if they can charge that much and still sell them...).

I had heard last year that they were among the few stores offering Series 1 in the US, though they reportedly were charging $5 apiece for them.

I've never set foot in an Urban Outfitters, myself (I don't even know whether there's one near me), so I haven't seen them there. I wonder whether any Series 1 would have lasted until now...

[Jamboon]

I live in Quebec City and had never seen series 1 or 2 in stores.

Now that series 3 is here, they're EVERYWHERE!

Just yesterday, I saw some at a comic shop and a record store.

Is it just here that they're making their way out of the toy stores?

[Blondie-Wan]

Not really, I think. From what we were told at the time of Series 1's release, it's to be expected that Series 3 (and later series) is / will be much more readily available than the first two, and I think one consequence of that is that a lot more stores will carry them now that they've proven so successful, and that includes stores that normally don't carry a lot of LEGO products.

[legoboy3998]

I'm just wondering what the availabity of the sees 3 figs is in th U.S. I live in Milwaukee, WI an have checked a few TRUs in the area fairly regularly and they never have them and never know if or when they will get them again. Most of the TRU employees know exactly what I'm looking for but say they havent seen them in a while. So my question is are they available at TRU in the U.S. Or any other stores?

Thanks,

Sal

WFB, WI

[BrickWild]

Here's a comparison of the new Indian Chief with 2 others from the Western theme!

My other 3:

[Blondie-Wan]

Thanks for that comparison pic, Brickwild! I missed out on nearly all the western sets as they came just as my dark ages were drawing to a close, so I don't have any of those other chiefs. The collectible minifigures line accounts for the entirety of my Native American minifigure population (so I really hope they give us some more in future series!).

I'm just wondering what the availabity of the sees 3 figs is in th U.S. I live in Milwaukee, WI an have checked a few TRUs in the area fairly regularly and they never have them and never know if or when they will get them again. Most of the TRU employees know exactly what I'm looking for but say they havent seen them in a while. So my question is are they available at TRU in the U.S. Or any other stores?

Thanks,

Sal

WFB, WI

Hey there. Maybe it's a regional thing, but I do know Series 3 is still readily available in lots of places. I still see it at the Toys 'R' Us here, for example. LEGO also still offers it through Shop at Home, if you don't mind buying it completely randomly.

[Aanchir]

Thanks for that comparison pic, Brickwild! I missed out on nearly all the western sets as they came just as my dark ages were drawing to a close, so I don't have any of those other chiefs. The collectible minifigures line accounts for the entirety of my Native American minifigure population (so I really hope they give us some more in future series!).

In my opinion, the collectible minifigure Native Americans are far superior to the ones from the Western theme (called Wild West here in the US). True, there was a lot of diversity in the outfits in the Western theme, but they were also not nearly as vibrant as those in the collectible minifigures. And the Western theme in general was responsible for some of the greatest travesties in minifigure face design imaginable. Not only did Western introduce some of the first faces not based on the classic smiley (in the bandits of the first wave), but one of the bandits and all of the Native Americans had whites in their eyes and-- here's the real kicker-- noses. Truly a sad day in the history of the minifigure.

It's true, I'm not too picky about minifigures. I generally have approved of Exo-Force and SW:CW minifigures, even if they deviate hugely from the traditional formula. I also do not insist on the plain smiling mouth some people tend to prefer-- I love the diversity of facial expressions in the collectible minifigures. But I do believe that there should be some standards in minifigure designs, and the Western theme struck me as LEGO's first time testing the limits of those standards. As far as I'm concerned, they went too far in that first test, and only really achieved a proper balance between individuality and uniformity many years later.

Anyway, I have the tribal chief sitting in front of me now, and he strikes me as a testament to how even fairly generic minifigure faces can work even for Native American minifigs, and how there's no reason figs in non-licensed themes should need stereotypical race indicators like oversized noses or realistic skin tones to establish an definitive racial identity. End of rant.

[Big Cam]

If anyone is still looking for these in the USA, be sure to check Wal-Mart.

I was just there and found this. That is 6 boxes of Series 3, and all of them were damn near full. I actually randomly pulled 100 out of the six, and all the boxes still seemed full. I walked around the store a minute and decided I didn't need to spend $300 just to resell them later, since I already have 2 sets of Series 3. These look so empty because I basically put all 100 of the ones I picked out back in the 6th box behind the double high stacked boxes, you can barely see the Cardboard pop up piece in the picture.

They weren't there 2 days ago either, because I was there, so if you need series 3 still, keep looking.

[Blondie-Wan]

If anyone is still looking for these in the USA, be sure to check Wal-Mart.

I was just there and found this. That is 6 boxes of Series 3, and all of them were damn near full. I actually randomly pulled 100 out of the six, and all the boxes still seemed full. I walked around the store a minute and decided I didn't need to spend $300 just to resell them later, since I already have 2 sets of Series 3. These look so empty because I basically put all 100 of the ones I picked out back in the 6th box behind the double high stacked boxes, you can barely see the Cardboard pop up piece in the picture.

They weren't there 2 days ago either, because I was there, so if you need series 3 still, keep looking.

Indeed. Actually, every store at which I've seen Series 3 still had them the last time the last time I checked, except for the two Targets I'm able to check regularly. Every other store in this area at which I've ever seen them - Borders, Toys 'R' Us, Hobbytown USA, Learning Express, and one Walmart (none of the other WMs have ever had any of the minifigures, as far as I can tell) - still had them the last time I checked (varying by store, anywhere from a few days ago to a few weeks).

[LEGO AFOL]

I was shocked to see blactron logo on the space villian in series 3 !!!

Brings back memories of my childhood.

Edited May 6, 2011 by LEGO AFOL

[Brickdoctor]

TLG does this pretty often, hiding Classic Space faction logos in the prints of new sets.

[The Yellow Brick]

I do believe that there was a Blacktron logo in space police 3 sets. I can't think of any other sets with any Blacktron logos in it or any other classic space sets. Never seen any.

[WhiteFang]

I was shocked to see blactron logo on the space villian in series 3 !!!

Brings back memories of my childhood.

Points bring across. But a single line sentence does not really adds up to a good discussion topic. I remember seeing a similar discussion like this before, but I can't remembered where. Meanwhile, this goes here.