LOTR & The Hobbit 2012

K-Nut · February 19, 2012

IS Gollum's head moulded onto the body, or a removable head?

AS far as I know, it's a single mold. :classic:

mozziemcmossman · February 19, 2012

I was just thinking about the possibility in one of the later waves, of a battlepack containing two riders of rohan, (each on horseback), and then two orcs mounted on wargs. I would love that! It would have to be a pretty good mould to do the warns justice though :P

Stiel · February 19, 2012

I was just thinking about the possibility in one of the later waves, of a battlepack containing two riders of rohan, (each on horseback), and then two orcs mounted on wargs. I would love that! It would have to be a pretty good mould to do the warns justice though :P

4 steeds in one set? It will simply not happen. Recent Castle and LotR sets show two horses at most (even in the largest ones). In a battle pack, I would be happy to see even just one.

mozziemcmossman · February 19, 2012

4 steeds in one set? It will simply not happen. Recent Castle and LotR sets show two horses at most (even in the largest ones). In a battle pack, I would be happy to see even just one.

I shall remain hopeful!! :P

______ · February 19, 2012

I hope Smaug won't be tonnes of BURP's like the Castle theme's dragon. I would love him to be similar to the Vikings line dragon, I loved them!

Fives · February 19, 2012

I hope Smaug won't be tonnes of BURP's like the Castle theme's dragon. I would love him to be similar to the Vikings line dragon, I loved them!

I'm afraid he will most likely be molded. Although, he should be better than the Castle dragons, due to the advancements in molds and the evident amount of work being put into this theme. He will be pretty awesome, I think.

Poison Ivy · February 19, 2012

I'm afraid he will most likely be molded. Although, he should be better than the Castle dragons, due to the advancements in molds and the evident amount of work being put into this theme. He will be pretty awesome, I think.

Probably similar to the Dino theme's creatures, I'm thinking. Though I think the set that includes him will probably be around the $100 price point, regardless of how many pieces are in it. My reasoning is that Smaug would have to be a gigantic mold, and thus would be very expensive to produce.

wghost · February 19, 2012

These sets are really nice, I have to admit. I just love the new horse design and all of the principal characters are pretty accurate. I think the accessories really help to give the sets the specific LotR feeling too (e.g. helmets, faceprints, the One Ring, Uruk Hai swords and stuff). All in all, it's evident a lot of work and caring have been put in them - that's absolute love on my part.

However, I have two main objections against the theme:

1. The quality of the bricks - as it happened to the SuperHeroes line, I'm afraid the poorer part quality may affect these as well. Which would be a huge con having the:

2. Horrible prices. At least in my country, where LEGO prices are calculated according to the EU standards - in a country where salaries are can't be compared to EU states. This means one could order the whole theme from the US with shipping and still spare the prices of a couple of sets, at least. (Comparison: The Battle for Helm's Deep would be 175-180 USD, The Mines of Moria would be 95 USD here/current conversion rates.) So you would get easy-to-damage bricks for your whole wallet - and that's absolute no on my part.

Edited February 19, 2012 by wghost

Delta 38 · February 20, 2012

1. The quality of the bricks - as it happened to the SuperHeroes line, I'm afraid the poorer part quality may affect these as well. Which would be a huge con having the:

2. Horrible prices. At least in my country, where LEGO prices are calculated according to the EU standards - in a country where salaries are can't be compared to EU states. This means one could order the whole theme from the US with shipping and still spare the prices of a couple of sets, at least. (Comparison: The Battle for Helm's Deep would be 175-180 USD, The Mines of Moria would be 95 USD here/current conversion rates.) So you would get easy-to-damage bricks for your whole wallet - and that's absolute no on my part.

Exactly what are the quality differences? I haven't gotten a Superheroes set yet, but if quality is going to be an issue for Lord of the Rings, I might forget about my army plans.

Are you in Australia, by any chance? Sounds like about the same prices we'd have... :sceptic:

Edit: Oh, and I think Smaug might be brick-built with a moulded head, like the Ninjago dragons.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Delta 38

Pennas2000 · February 20, 2012

Exactly what are the quality differences? I haven't gotten a Superheroes set yet, but if quality is going to be an issue for Lord of the Rings, I might forget about my army plans.

More for me then :grin:

brickswindler · February 20, 2012

These sets are really nice, I have to admit. I just love the new horse design and all of the principal characters are pretty accurate. I think the accessories really help to give the sets the specific LotR feeling too (e.g. helmets, faceprints, the One Ring, Uruk Hai swords and stuff). All in all, it's evident a lot of work and caring have been put in them - that's absolute love on my part.

However, I have two main objections against the theme:

1. The quality of the bricks - as it happened to the SuperHeroes line, I'm afraid the poorer part quality may affect these as well. Which would be a huge con having the:

2. Horrible prices. At least in my country, where LEGO prices are calculated according to the EU standards - in a country where salaries are can't be compared to EU states. This means one could order the whole theme from the US with shipping and still spare the prices of a couple of sets, at least. (Comparison: The Battle for Helm's Deep would be 175-180 USD, The Mines of Moria would be 95 USD here/current conversion rates.) So you would get easy-to-damage bricks for your whole wallet - and that's absolute no on my part.

What makes you think the quality of the bricks will be poor? It's very likely that some of the detailed parts will be made in China and we'll possibly get hybrid minifigures like those in the Super Heroes line. But personally I don't mind this if it means better designed minifigures and cheaper prices for consumers.

In Australia Helm's Deep may possibly be way more than 175-180 USD. I saw somewhere that it'll be 220 Australian dollars which converts to about 240 US dollars. So you are not getting it as bad as us.

Brickmamba · February 20, 2012

The set would b@sic@ly be sm@ug with some tre@sure under him @nd @ sm@ll riverhouse so i guess i should bring the price up to $39.99 USD

What's up with the @ subsituted in your words, is your 'a' key broken?

There is no reason Smaug can't be a decent size build with parts of the mountain and 4-5 mini figures for a set priced around $70, $39.99 these days is not going to get you much Lego

wghost · February 20, 2012

Exactly what are the quality differences? I haven't gotten a Superheroes set yet, but if quality is going to be an issue for Lord of the Rings, I might forget about my army plans.

Are you in Australia, by any chance? Sounds like about the same prices we'd have...

The surface is not so polished/bright and the material is kinda different (you can tell it by touch) - which means less durability and less fun in my vocabulary.

What makes you think the quality of the bricks will be poor? It's very likely that some of the detailed parts will be made in China and we'll possibly get hybrid minifigures like those in the Super Heroes line. But personally I don't mind this if it means better designed minifigures and cheaper prices for consumers.

In Australia Helm's Deep may possibly be way more than 175-180 USD. I saw somewhere that it'll be 220 Australian dollars which converts to about 240 US dollars. So you are not getting it as bad as us.

OK, you beat me. OMG. I guess the majority of experienced buyers based in Australia purchase from the US.

I have no information about the brick quality, but in other well-selling/licensed themes (such as SuperHeroes and Ninjago, like you mentioned) hybrid minifigures started to appear so it's very likely they will find their way into LotR as well. On the other hand, personally I would expect the standard LEGO value for my money and wouldn't be happy with hybrid products (especially when "cheaper" means unaffordable still). Either way, licensed sets are always more expensive than regular brands, so as it is now, it's nowhere to be called cheap.

Edited February 20, 2012 by wghost

Itaria No Shintaku · February 20, 2012

Could I ask why the whole theme is under HISTORIC and not under LICENSED?

EnShinNoi · February 20, 2012

Could I ask why the whole theme is under HISTORIC and not under LICENSED?

Because Middle-earth really did happen and we are all sons of Gondor :tongue:

wghost · February 20, 2012

Could I ask why the whole theme is under HISTORIC and not under LICENSED?

For the same reason Pirates of the Caribbean is listed under the Pirates subforum instead of Licensed.

Edited February 20, 2012 by wghost

piemaster1446 · February 20, 2012

What's up with the @ subsituted in your words, is your 'a' key broken?

There is no reason Smaug can't be a decent size build with parts of the mountain and 4-5 mini figures for a set priced around $70, $39.99 these days is not going to get you much Lego

Yes my key is broken. M@ybe @ 50-70 doll@r set with either @ brickbuilt sm@ug or one simil@r to the Hung@ri@n Hornt@il from HP.

**Siegfried** · February 20, 2012

Yes my key is broken. M@ybe @ 50-70 doll@r set with either @ brickbuilt sm@ug or one simil@r to the Hung@ri@n Hornt@il from HP.

Well use the accessibly functions, or cut-and-paste "a"s from other places. Don't keep posting "@". Joke or not, it's annoying.

Stiel · February 20, 2012

Yes my key is broken. M@ybe @ 50-70 doll@r set with either @ brickbuilt sm@ug or one simil@r to the Hung@ri@n Hornt@il from HP.

Here you go, sir: a / A - just to make the copy/paste easy.

piemaster1446 · February 20, 2012

Here you go, sir: a / A - just to make the copy/paste easy.

thanks

Itaria No Shintaku · February 20, 2012

For the same reason Pirates of the Caribbean is listed under the Pirates subforum instead of Licensed.

At least PotC IS pirates. LotR is NOT Historic. It's fantasy :)

metalandi · February 20, 2012

Castle fantasy era also was fantasy, and still it was in historic. :P

llb · February 20, 2012

I'm sure the mods had a thread detailing why LOTR was going in Historic.

It's not like the Licensed forum will be empty!

Emperor · February 20, 2012

I'm sure the mods had a thread detailing why LOTR was going in Historic.

Said thread can be found here.

@wghost: The quality of the bricks in Star Wars sets has always been great, and since LotR could be an equally successfull license I doubt they would use cheap plastic for it - especially not in the first sets.