February 15, 201312 yr I haven't splurged on any of the LotR stuff except for a pair of the Uruk-hai polybags, simply because I've got waaaaaaay too many of the GW models from their LotR lines! However, after seeing the upcoming Black Gate set, I just might have to break down and get that one, as it'll make a fantastic backdrop for my Easterling display, and honestly, who can resist The Mouth of Sauron minifig in that set?!
February 15, 201312 yr Weathertop is small compared to source material, but there is no conceivable way to make it the right size, not unless it is an AFOL's MOC, never in a set. But I actually think the overall shape of that set was spot-on. I think Mines of Moria was spot-on too, but the stickers and price weren't ideal. I'm glad I got both of them on a good sale last summer. I have purchased all of the Middle Earth sets so far, but the only one built is Unexpected Gathering because it is beautiful and I plan on building Helm's Deep eventually, but I may need to use the pieces for a GoH build first. Oh, and I guess I built Shelob because she is beautiful .
February 15, 201312 yr Weathertop was a fun build but did not capture the spirit of the set for me. Broke it down for pieces but I would buy another one if I find it on a good sale. Mines of Moria is a better set for my taste. I have picked it up due to the amount of space it takes. I did buy a second one because I found it on clearance. The only other set I bought in multiples is Uruk Hai Army for the Rohirrim. What draws you to LEGO sets the most? Is it the beauty of the build or the minifig selection? For me it is the minifigs.
February 15, 201312 yr I'd love to say a balance between the two, but ultimately I buy LEGO sets for the figures. If a great set comes around to build I will certainly build it and display proudly, but that is few and far between, outside of the Creator Expert sets. I only have a handful of sets put together out of the many hundreds I own. However, I love building with LEGO and I try to make my own creations as I find time. I still have a stack from Christmas that are just sitting there. But I immediately took out all of the SW, Monster Fighter, LOTR figures from the sets I received last year at Christmas.
February 15, 201312 yr Author I would say both. But the exception being I won't get a set if the build is not good and the figures are. But if the build is exceptional and the figures mediaocre I will still get it. It also varies set to set. For example the obvious draw of the Wizard battle is the mini figs not the small set. One thing I think TLG is dropping the ball on is battle packs. I thought they were when Uruk Army they would continue with that type of set. Do you think they will have similar sets in the future?
February 16, 201312 yr I thought about Weathertop also. It is the only set with Ringwraiths!!! the set is just a little to small for me compared to the reference material. Weathertop is a great set, and good value for money! It seems small but it is complex. As someone said, its a very nice set to mod and make a huge Amon Sul reproduction! Go for it if you can!
February 16, 201312 yr Weathertop is a good set, but I didn't feel like I got my money's worth. For $60, it was tiny. However, for $60, The Black Gate is a steal. It's funny how two sets for the same price in the same theme can have such vast differences.
February 16, 201312 yr It's funny how two sets for the same price in the same theme can have such vast differences. You should check out the Star Wars sets...
February 16, 201312 yr Does anybody reckon that the wizard duel will be an add on to orthanc or do you reckon that it won't??
February 16, 201312 yr Does anybody reckon that the wizard duel will be an add on to orthanc or do you reckon that it won't?? I wouldn't put my money on that, but one can always hope.
February 16, 201312 yr Does anybody reckon that the wizard duel will be an add on to orthanc or do you reckon that it won't?? It is possible, but I have my doubts. The duel takes place in a room that is roughly the width of the Orthanc tower. This would mean the Orthanc would be near minifig size and I don't think I can afford that .
February 16, 201312 yr Does anybody reckon that the wizard duel will be an add on to orthanc or do you reckon that it won't?? I think so..nobody except me seems to remember the POTC small set that went inside queen annes revenge as soon as I heard bout both sets that was my first thought
February 16, 201312 yr didn't know that feature of those POTC sets. pretty neat! If that is to happen with Orthanc, then we may have some idea of the tower width, sort of.
February 16, 201312 yr I think so..nobody except me seems to remember the POTC small set that went inside queen annes revenge as soon as I heard bout both sets that was my first thought The 4191-1: Captain's Cabin set would never fit in the 6x6 cabin space of the 4195-1: Queen Anne's Revenge set. You could cram it all in but it was never meant to go there I think...
February 16, 201312 yr ^^^, ^^^^ & ^^^^^ thanks, I do kind of agree with you sandmirror38 and I think you're right but wouldn't it be good if it was minifigure scale, my guess is that it could cost about the same as arkham asylum did (£130-£160)
February 16, 201312 yr One thing I think TLG is dropping the ball on is battle packs. I thought they were when Uruk Army they would continue with that type of set. Do you think they will have similar sets in the future? I wouldn't say Uruk-hai army would be categorized as a 'battle pack' in the way TLG thinks of it as shown with their Star Wars sets; however I think if we get a 3rd wave they could do a similar thing with Gondorian soldiers and Orcs set in Osgiliath. From my point of view Uruk-hai Army was just a step in emphasizing minifigure importance and detail in recent sets to boost popularity and therefore sales.
February 16, 201312 yr Author It think it is as similar to a battle pack can be. TLG categorizes Battle packs as a battle in a pack. That is exactly what Uruk Hai Army is. And if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck it's not a mongoose. The only significant difference between the two is that the piece count was higher for the builds and two more minifigs. Regardless I really hope TLG will introduce more of this style of set for the purpose of Army Building. Only a few soldiers per faction isn't cutting it. Especially with all the different army's they can do.
February 16, 201312 yr Author Also what do you guys think is the chances of more UCS sets if in fact Orthanc is considered UCS? Edited February 16, 201312 yr by jmagaletta
February 17, 201312 yr The 4191-1: Captain's Cabin set would never fit in the 6x6 cabin space of the 4195-1: Queen Anne's Revenge set. You could cram it all in but it was never meant to go there I think... Nah it was difenetly meant to fit in there..it was in the instructions
February 17, 201312 yr Also what do you guys think is the chances of more UCS sets if in fact Orthanc is considered UCS? I'd personally like to see either Minas Morgul or Cirith Ungol myself. I just don't think you can do The White City proper justice without making it into some ungodly & unaffordable 10,000+ brick monstrosity that stands 10'+ and higher!
February 17, 201312 yr I'd personally like to see either Minas Morgul or Cirith Ungol myself. I just don't think you can do The White City proper justice without making it into some ungodly & unaffordable 10,000+ brick monstrosity that stands 10'+ and higher! A Minas Morgul or Cirith Ungol UCS seems a little hard to do; it didn't get major screen time compared to other locations (we only saw the exterior and Stairs, respectively).
February 17, 201312 yr According to Tolkien's words, Minas Morgul is one of the most interesting and mysterious locations of Middle Earth. Jackson did a terrible job reproducing that, with al the black masonry and the green lights -.-' Tolkien mentions the entire city is actually pale white, like moonlight without light (Minas Morgul was Minas Ithil, which means Moon in high elvish), an emptied city but full of death and dread. Jackson clearly got carried away, it's a really poor adaptation, wouldn't be of great interest to see that in UCS scale, and I doubt we would ever get such set.
February 18, 201312 yr I hate the goblin king battle so much more but that's probably largely because I hate Jackson's goblin king... And that cage... And that the goblin's headgear doesn't cover the face on the back of their heads and... Ok, I hate everything about it except for that cool little basket thingy. I agree, I don't really care for the Goblin King set but I think it's more so because of the source material, not the actual set itself. I mean sure the set could of been a little better, but in the movie all we really see is a bunch of ropes and bridges way up in the air as the dwarves try to escape so I imagine that's pretty hard to replicate the feeling of in a Lego set. It doesn't help the Goblin King himself looks a little ridiculous (and acts even worse in the movie: a fat, grotesque... flamboyet goblin, what the HELL?!?). I will say it was nice to get 3 totally different goblin minifigure prints, and it had some fun features like the bridge collapsing and the seat for the goblin scribe, but other than that the set was a let down (another Gandalf and probably the least interesting dwarves were in the set save Nori). Weathertop was a fun build but did not capture the spirit of the set for me. Broke it down for pieces but I would buy another one if I find it on a good sale. I completely agree with this. Lego Weathertop had the overall look, but some things in it just didn't make it feel like Weathertop at all. Flick fire missiles inside and a trap door? Really? Why not have a play feature that had to do with the fire and burning the Nazgul? Instead Lego put in a totally random play feature they use in tons of sets but it made absolutely no sense at all. I know Weathertop is too big to conceivably create in minifigure scale, but I would of rather seen more emphasis on the top part where they fight and less inside. What draws you to LEGO sets the most? Is it the beauty of the build or the minifig selection? For me it is the minifigs. Same, it's the minifigures for me. Maybe that's why I seem to be easier going with the set builds than some. I just view it as extremely hard to make official looking custom minifigures, where as I can easily get a bunch of existing bricks and build a set or add on to it if I am not happy with what's available. Weathertop is a good set, but I didn't feel like I got my money's worth. For $60, it was tiny. However, for $60, The Black Gate is a steal. It's funny how two sets for the same price in the same theme can have such vast differences. The set was pretty high at 14 cents per piece, which didn't help make it feel like a good deal, not when most the other LotR sets are around 10 cents. Really it should of been a $49.99 set. As is I view Attack on Weathertop as one of the worst sets from wave 1, it seems like Lego banked heavily on the Nazgul alone selling the set. Does anybody reckon that the wizard duel will be an add on to orthanc or do you reckon that it won't?? It would be awesome if it did, but I have a feeling it won't unfortunately. It seems too long to fit in an Orthanc they might build.
February 18, 201312 yr Any thoughts of possible modular sets based on prominent structures (probably Minas Tirith and whatever towers there are)? It probably wouldn't be too detailed but they could get some features in (eg. the White Tower).
February 18, 201312 yr Barnes and Noble sells weathertop for $50! As a normal price! ( Thanks to a coupon code I got mine for $35 )
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