Lets face it. Town fans were really shaken for years by Town Jr. and City Center, as well as the years without Town at all. <insert that tiresome argument> to no end, filled with ugly, unrealistic vehicles and buildings, and just really cruddy, Town Jr. was terrible, end of story. And when Town went off the map completely, things really were looking down.

But, in Summer 2003, World City entered. What was this? A town line that wasn

i agree with you for the most part..i am really optimistic about city sets..

and since i am mostly acity/town fan i would say that this year is the ultimate come back..

things are not perfect for sure...

i wonder how many sets since 2003 "world city" up to today include female figs...

some of the cars and trucks thow they are full of detail i dont see what else you can build with them...

i can make another police station out of that set...

and another train station out of the new set...

but what can i make out of that huge yellow truck and this new green douple cargo..

are things getting a bit playmobil in our city?

and even thow playmobil has some of the best city toys...its not lego

it cant be transformt into something else..

can you make anything else out of that huge new plane?

i could make a great boat out of the old one...

or even a car if i used my imagination!

so my point is: Is lego loosing the construction-just imagine- feature and becoming just a toy? (a lovely toy..)

so my point is: Is lego loosing the construction-just imagine- feature and becoming just a toy? (a lovely toy..)

Given the number of sets that have no alternative models on the back of the box (and some that don't even have alternatives in the box), I think your comment is justified.

There are lots of good things about the City range, but quite a lot of the sets have big ugly single-use pieces - the platforms of Grand Central Station, the plane pieces in the airport sets, the dumper from the construction dumper truck (I think it's the same part as the new double tipper), the bridge pieces from the heavy loader (although they are potentially quite useful), the roof and nose pieces of the RC passenger train. There's also the new Cement Mixer, which I'm kinda hoping is built out of curved bricks, but I suspect I may be disappointed.

The male dominance of the city sets is rather bizarre. I would have thought we should have female truck drivers and construction workers and doctors by now.

There is one ray of hope that Lego remains a construction toy, which is the Creator line. From a Town/City perspective the house building sets are spot on, as they are minifig scale, and have some excellent designs. I thought the first 2007 one (in white and red) was a little too close to the 2005 one, though I think it is a better design. The newly leaked tan and black one is even better, and quite different from anything on offer before.

As a town fan I am definately excited, in particular regarding next years sets.

A few I will still not buy due to large pieces issues (7998 tipper truck for instance), but overall I'm loving the quality of the sets - the brickbuilt platform in the 7997 train station for instance looks like a great source of basic parts (and I do need more bricks in bley now that it is here to stay).

The only thing that I don't like, and makes me hesitant about the new sets is scaling. Some of my favourity lego vehicles are based off the 4 wide and 5 wide platforms. 6539 and 6693 are two examples - these vehicles were to me in scale with minifigs - the thing is though, the car with the new octan station is larger then the octan tanker was with the last station. The new 8 wide vehicles are even getting too wide to stay on their side of the road, and the 7998 truck should not exceed the size of my old 4.5V trains - that is ludicrous.

As a result I will buy the better sets, but many of the larger scaled sets will be omited from my purchases due to not fitting with the lego I have already.

I think that lego needs to get its town scaling settled again. If you look at the sets of the 80's/early 90's - all models were relatively in scale to each other, regardless of whether they were a house, car, or fire station.

The only thing that I don't like, and makes me hesitant about the new sets is scaling. Some of my favourity lego vehicles are based off the 4 wide and 5 wide platforms. 6539 and 6693 are two examples - these vehicles were to me in scale with minifigs - the thing is though, the car with the new octan station is larger then the octan tanker was with the last station. The new 8 wide vehicles are even getting too wide to stay on their side of the road, and the 7998 truck should not exceed the size of my old 4.5V trains - that is ludicrous.

As a result I will buy the better sets, but many of the larger scaled sets will be omited from my purchases due to not fitting with the lego I have already.

I think that lego needs to get its town scaling settled again. If you look at the sets of the 80's/early 90's - all models were relatively in scale to each other, regardless of whether they were a house, car, or fire station.

I understand your concern with the larger scaling not perfectly synchronizing with the old sets, however, I think they are more realistic now then ever. For example, yes, the new 8 wide dump truck barely fits on the road, but have you seen dump trucks on the road before? You practically have to swerve around those massive things. The scale looks perfect compared to minifigs to me, and I really like that. Of course, I am a bit biased...I had only a select few town kits as a kid, but now I can buy whatever sets I want, so I have way more City than Town, and the only scaling issue that really affects me is the current comparison to reality. 6 wide standard works a lot better in that respect, I think. It shouldn't be too much of a stretch to make a realistically bigger vehicle be an 8 wide LEGO vehicle.

if you look on brickshelf you will find that the front of the new plane is usable as a train, and the back was a major part in a beutiful sub moc the only thing that cant be used is those horrible wings. other than that im quite happy with the planes, they look good and are way more better scaled than those old 4wide planes. while i prefer the old 4wide cars over the new 6wide the old planes where the ones really out of scale.

the only problem with the new planes are that the runways are way to small nowadays.

please bring better runways tlc.

I agree with most of what's been said.

I for one am kinda disappointed with the new trainstation. Not with the looks of it but with the size. To me it's just a platform. But as I said, it's a perfect addition if someone happens to have 4554. I don't, now I have to consider getting it ;-)

The scale is a concern to me, too. I don't mind the 6wide trucks, but 8wide is definitely too big. Yes, they do look very realistic, but they don't fit in my layout. 6wide's enough and scaling down shouldn't be a problem (alex54 has shown it already).

There are lots of good things about the City range, but quite a lot of the sets have big ugly single-use pieces - the platforms of Grand Central Station,

Those are just dark-gray versions of the platforms that have been here since 6541 and 6542. I don't mind them...

Generally, yes, it's looking very well for the best theme of all time >:-)

Hmmm I think you are being seriously overly optimistic.

I have never seen any police station, fire station or airport that looks even remotely like one of the lego sets in 2005/6.

They might have more detail on the inside, eg more PCs, phone, stickers etc but it is easy to make this kind of detail (just a few special bricks) and it doesn't make up for the exterior design which IMO is extremely poor and childish.

Nevertheless, I believe the crane set in the construction subtheme was an improvement.

There are different things I don't like in the new City theme (e.g. the 8-wide trucks and the use of big pieces), but I'm glad that Lego is coming back to its origins and City is becoming the dominant theme again.

According to me, the main difference between City and other themes is this: if you collect enough City (and Creator) sets, you can use the pieces to build a great variety of City MOCs. You can even try to build the 2007 City sets using the pieces you already own... this is almost impossible with other themes like SW, Bionicle, KK, Vikings, etc...

With Creator and City Lego is finally becoming a construction toy again.

There are different things I don't like in the new City theme (e.g. the 8-wide trucks and the use of big pieces), but I'm glad that Lego is coming back to its origins and City is becoming the dominant theme again.

According to me, the main difference between City and other themes is this: if you collect enough City (and Creator) sets, you can use the pieces to build a great variety of City MOCs. You can even try to build the 2007 City sets using the pieces you already own... this is almost impossible with other themes like SW, Bionicle, KK, Vikings, etc...

With Creator and City Lego is finally becoming a construction toy again.

I to dislike the scale an awfull lot. Like the doctors car in the city line is bigger then most trucks in town scale. Also the city scale seems very inconsistent to me. For example: compare the fire captain jeep to the doctors car.

Only the train line seems to respect the old scale: both the station and the worktrain (including cars look alot like those of the past). I don't understand why people complain about the size of the station, it looks great to me!

The femalephobia is also worrying, how do LEGO expect to win the harts of little girls for their toys? Boy-only toy? And loosing 50% of the market?

The male dominance of the city sets is rather bizarre. I would have thought we should have female truck drivers and construction workers and doctors by now.

Seriously, I'm half tempted to make a lego video of two guys finding themsevles alone in a town with no females and subsequently deciding to become queer(gay). Put it on youtube, wait for TLC to scream and yell; maybe you get enough publicity that they reconsider their no-girls-allowed policy.

(i dont have a camera or the skill though, Any Volunteers??)

There is one ray of hope that Lego remains a construction toy, which is the Creator line. From a Town/City perspective the house building sets are spot on, as they are minifig scale, and have some excellent designs. I thought the first 2007 one (in white and red) was a little too close to the 2005 one, though I think it is a better design. The newly leaked tan and black one is even better, and quite different from anything on offer before.

Maybe its about specialization? one line to appeal specifically to construction, another specifically as a toy.. ExoForce as a shooter thing... etc...

Seriously, I'm half tempted to make a lego video of two guys finding themsevles alone in a town with no females and subsequently deciding to become queer(gay).

i understand and respect your humorous aproach on the subject..

but queer is not a very respectable and polliticly correct word...

and i dont think its very much apritiated...

your word in brackets works better ;-)

i understand and respect your humorous aproach on the subject..

but queer is not a very respectable and polliticly correct word...

and i dont think its very much apritiated...

your word in brackets works better ;-)

Really? here in the 'States queer is considered more politically correct.(might even vary by which state, but here its cosnidered safe for common use)

I guess in Euro things are reversed.

Sorry, just pick whichever word you like better depending on who/where you are.

Anyway, Its funny but Im not Joking. I seriously think a little political cartoon like that is what we need to make TLC realize their mistake.

what city still lacks, is diversity. there's hardly a normal citizen in Lego City, there's also no female. Both give lego city a fairly "unnatural" feeling: it's a city with only men working in a police station, on a construction site or an airport. Kinda sterile, if you're asking me... It seems to me that lego is still too much in the marketeer's pockets, still too much focused on market and consumer principles instead of listening to common sense.

i wonder why lego dosent follow the playmobil market for city sets.

its appealing to both girls and boys

sure they have police and fire sets..but there are women police officers!

and ofcourse there are many city-life sets

playmobil also has children and babies in their city...

i dont see why lego dosent make a hospital set (for ecxample) with less vehicles to go ZZvoomm with and more nurces and patients...

lego marketers beilive that girls only like pink houses and fairy-tales!..that is so..1950s of them!!

dont they see that playmo does well with less violent sets?

(although i wonder if playmo does well in the US where they tend to have more violent toys..)

are LEGO marketers listening more to the US than Europe? |-/

I to dislike the scale an awfull lot. Like the doctors car in the city line is bigger then most trucks in town scale. Also the city scale seems very inconsistent to me. For example: compare the fire captain jeep to the doctors car.

Only the train line seems to respect the old scale: both the station and the worktrain (including cars look alot like those of the past). I don't understand why people complain about the size of the station, it looks great to me!

The femalephobia is also worrying, how do LEGO expect to win the harts of little girls for their toys? Boy-only toy? And loosing 50% of the market?

I agree nearly completely with everyone here. The new scale of cars sucks. And What I hate most is the new wheels on cars, it prevents me from making traditional scale mocs that look nice *n* or even nearly "nice"

Yes the women thing is a problem. Especially considering that nearly all the world's nations have more women than men bar China. That of course means that TLC are losing even more than 50% of the market.

Btw, I think Queer is fine word to use in Europe since some queers use it to identify themselves as being queer which is cool, no problem with me. Anyway, perhaps the problem in legoland is that the women are queer and aren't having any more women kids. Ever think of that Highland! :-D

To answer the question, no, Playmobil doesn't do very well here in the US. It's nearly impossible to find them anywhere.

I have never seen any police station, fire station or airport that looks even remotely like one of the lego sets in 2005/6.

What about the 2007 fire station? From what I see, it looks so much like the sets of old, and I think many people will agree.

and it doesn't make up for the exterior design which IMO is extremely poor and childish

.

Again, look at the 2007 fire station. And the new gas station. And the new train station. They hardly look childish, if you ask me, and are very close to the clasic style. Have you even looked at the summer 2007 kits yet? (Just wondering)

(e.g. the 8-wide trucks and the use of big pieces),

And again, the 2007 kits don't seem that way at all. The 2006 airport line and some of 2005 is more like that, and I understand why you don't like it. ;-)

compare the fire captain jeep to the doctors car.

They don't seem much different in size to me. 8-|

there's hardly a normal citizen in Lego City,

Um, the passenger train, plane and airport, train station, hospital, gas station, and other City sets include at least one normal citizen, and many two or even three!

it's a city with only men working in a police station, on a construction site or an airport

Yes we need girl minifigs, but remember the summer 2007 kits that are coming out. The gas station especially is cool, because it includes 2 civilian vehicles. I do see what you mean, though. That City is mainly about working people. But, that's partly the average fans (7-11 year olds) fault than their fault. Kids these days have to have some sort of action, which rubs off on City somewhat. :-/

The new scale of cars sucks. And What I hate most is the new wheels on cars, it prevents me from making traditional scale mocs that look nice or even nearly "nice"

Calvin, this seems to be more of a personal problem than just a real problem, IMO. The 6 wide trucks can fit on old roadplates, and they are designed well. What is really wrong with a larger scale? I mean, the older scale was cute, but the newer scale fits much better with what the majority of AFOLS seem to be building these days. TLC is just copying what they are seeing, it seems, and it's turned out a lot of great, admitidley bigger models! Why does TLC have to produce 4 wide cars for as long as they ever make town or city kits? Just my thoughts. :-/

And another thing. Uh, why did you say "I agree with almost everyone here."? Many people here are only ticked off about the 8-wide vehicles, which even I can understand. *wacko*

Total side note: My university's severs don't like the redirect to the main eurobricks page and blocked it for porn. That explains my long absence, but alas I found a way around it. Forum main page.

How about this for an idea: Citizen pack. We have a city workers pack, why not one of just normal people. And to add to that a female fig pack to make up for the "lacking" of them. Think all ages from child to teen to adult and even old folks.

But as far as 2007 is concerned. All I can say is oh wow! 8-

I for one am kinda disappointed with the new trainstation. Not with the looks of it but with the size. To me it's just a platform. But as I said, it's a perfect addition if someone happens to have 4554. I don't, now I have to consider getting it ;-)

It's a nice little suburban station, which makes a change from big city centre ones. I think it's a good compliment to 7822 and 7824, which are my favourite stations.

4554 is a nice station, but it shares a complaint that I have about a lot of recent Lego buildings - no back. 7997 seems to have all its sides (although we won't know for sure until we see the back).

The scale is a concern to me, too. I don't mind the 6wide trucks, but 8wide is definitely too big. Yes, they do look very realistic, but they don't fit in my layout. 6wide's enough and scaling down shouldn't be a problem (alex54 has shown it already).

I have 7900, which is also 8-wide, and while I agree it's difficult to marry with old 4-wide trucks, it is a beautiful model in its own right. Lovely detail on the cab. Build it and it's very hard to hate. In short, I'm torn.

Those are just dark-gray versions of the platforms that have been here since 6541 and 6542. I don't mind them...

As big chunky pieces go, they're not bad, but I do prefer the brick-and-plate construction of the new station (though I expect I will be extending it to a more respectable length).

I'm afraid I have very little time for the new plane and passenger train pieces. The plane does look very nice when built, but it's just too darn Playmobil. The big plastic pieces just aren't Lego in my opinion. The RC passenger train is worse. There was some kind of manufacturing error, and you'll see there's a big gap of about a millimetre between the nose and the body. The roof pieces aren't great either (though I could forgive that if they had done a better nose (with some building in it). But I think the RC freight train is very nicely done.

In comparison the bridge pieces and dumper pieces are just one piece of an otherwise very elegant model, so I can give them some leeway.

In comparison the bridge pieces and dumper pieces are just one piece of an otherwise very elegant model, so I can give them some leeway

Very true, not to mention that they work perfectly and look beautiful when used in the actual model. And those bridge pieces and assembleys are PERFECT for towns. *y*

The plane does look very nice when built, but it's just too darn Playmobi

Actually, when you break the plane down, there is a lot more "real" lego in it than you might expect. I know, because I have seen the instructions, and the building experience looks as good as any other 40 dollar set. ;-)

There was some kind of manufacturing error, and you'll see there's a big gap of about a millimetre between the nose and the body.

That's the only thing I was upset about in terms of the new RC trains. It's sad, but it doesn't completely deter from the overall look.

4554 is a nice station, but it shares a complaint that I have about a lot of recent Lego buildings - no back. 7997 seems to have all its sides (although we won't know for sure until we see the back).

I have 7900, which is also 8-wide, and while I agree it's difficult to marry with old 4-wide trucks, it is a beautiful model in its own right. Lovely detail on the cab. Build it and it's very hard to hate. In short, I'm torn.

As big chunky pieces go, they're not bad, but I do prefer the brick-and-plate construction of the new station (though I expect I will be extending it to a more respectable length).

The no back thing has never been an issue for me - almost every lego building produced has no back - to me it's as much part of the lego world as yellow people. It also allows for greater access and easily visible details.

I'm really happy with the 2007 city line!

I like al the sets! They have a classic feeling, with an actual touch, not too retro and not too modern. The lake of women is a problem! And for the scale, no matter with me, only this green 8-wide truck, but after downsized it , it would work.

The creator houses are oversized for me to feet in my city, so I will downsize them too, and will have some additional parts to make other ones, yes!

And Snefroe1, with the city line, we have more diversity than the space one :-P !

With all those new sets, I'm workin on a all new layout for my city, I will try to reorganize it, making it not bigger but denser. A nice challenge for me!

Just wait and see those sets in real...

It's a nice little suburban station, which makes a change from big city centre ones. I think it's a good compliment to 7822 and 7824, which are my favourite stations.

I like those two, too (and own both), but something like that is more to my liking. It's not perfect but it's what I understand as train station ;-)

The no back thing has never been an issue for me - almost every lego building produced has no back - to me it's as much part of the lego world as yellow people. It also allows for greater access and easily visible details.

Every building in my town has no back :-D