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G'day all,
I'm just back after visiting a LEGO "show" in Melbourne, where I found out
that LEGO WILL be releasing a town style range next year...I don't know if
it will be town Jr. [though I think it may as it was mentioned as "City" was
returning] but I know it will be released under the theme "World Town".
As far as I can tell there'll be Fire and Police, but unfortunately no houses.
[Also, as this is what I have been told, obviously there is no way I can
provide pictures :( ]
Anyway, hopefully based on what's been released about other sets for next
year, they'll have gone back to a real town range instead of town jr.
Benjamin Whytcross
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In lugnet.town, Benjamin Whytcross writes:
> G'day all,
>
> I'm just back after visiting a LEGO "show" in Melbourne, where I found out
> that LEGO WILL be releasing a town style range next year...I don't know if
> it will be town Jr. [though I think it may as it was mentioned as "City" was
> returning] but I know it will be released under the theme "World Town".
>
> As far as I can tell there'll be Fire and Police, but unfortunately no houses.
>
> [Also, as this is what I have been told, obviously there is no way I can
> provide pictures :( ]
Well thanks for sharing the info just the same. We'll all have to wait and
keep our fingers crossed, ne?
Trimmed FUT to just .town
++Lar (hoping for a return of town sets I would want to buy)
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Benjamin,
Thank you for sharing this with us. I find it interesting that this news
came up.
The fact that Lego has produced a new set of road plates
(http://catalogs.google.com/catalogs?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&issue=15302&catp
age=37&zoom=1) may indeed point to a new town theme offering.
A recent Lego Shop at Home catalog showed the road plates being used with a
combination of Jack Stone & conventional mini-figures. (I could not find the
scan in catalogs.google.com ). I just hope that we don't get an expansion of
the Jack Stone sized products under the "World Town" name.
Shouldn't the 2003 catalog popped up in sets by now? I have seen the leaked
retailer catalog scans, but I'm surprised the 2003 pack in catalog has not
surfaced yet.
Bryan
"Benjamin Whytcross" <b_whytcross@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:H68HxI.B4@lugnet.com...
> G'day all,
>
> I'm just back after visiting a LEGO "show" in Melbourne, where I found out
> that LEGO WILL be releasing a town style range next year...I don't know if
> it will be town Jr. [though I think it may as it was mentioned as "City" • was
> returning] but I know it will be released under the theme "World Town".
>
> As far as I can tell there'll be Fire and Police, but unfortunately no • houses.
>
> [Also, as this is what I have been told, obviously there is no way I can
> provide pictures :( ]
>
> Anyway, hopefully based on what's been released about other sets for next
> year, they'll have gone back to a real town range instead of town jr.
>
> Benjamin Whytcross
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Kmart Brunswick - new WIDE roads.
Picture shows "Cre8r"&"Jax" dudes living in relative harmony with "Minis".
No 2003 catlogs though. Sorry didn't check price.
I am happy to see new road plates, I used to love mixing up my Road, Crater
and Space roads when I was little. It seems strange to me that TLC no
longer offer non-town roads. I know there's the occasional dirt road or
river in big sets, but just imagine(...) if these were available separately.
Also, (he adds in a Philip J Fry voice) I like that the Jaxters are mixing
in with Mini's. I have to admit, at first I considered them an abomination,
but I'd grown to accept Fabuland and Technic-guys in my Lego-universe (as
well as aliens and monsters) so why not this logical next step. If I'm not
careful my love of the NBA skin-toned minis may lead to acceptance of
Belville - shock horror!!
Anyway YAY for Road plates.
jeremy:d
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In lugnet.town, Benjamin Whytcross writes:
> G'day all,
> I'm just back after visiting a LEGO "show" in Melbourne, where I found out
> that LEGO WILL be releasing a town style range next year...I don't know if
> it will be town Jr. [though I think it may as it was mentioned as "City" was
> returning] but I know it will be released under the theme "World Town".
> As far as I can tell there'll be Fire and Police, but unfortunately no houses.
> [Also, as this is what I have been told, obviously there is no way I can
> provide pictures :( ]
> Anyway, hopefully based on what's been released about other sets for next
> year, they'll have gone back to a real town range instead of town jr.
Must not burst bubble
Must not burst bubble
Must not burst bubble
Must not burst bubble
Must not burst bubble
Arrgh! I have a sneeking suspicion that this info may be connected to a Rep
saying they were going to re-name JACK STONE, because kids weren't
identifing with him. I really hope not though.
James (who is off to check what kind of flamer he is...)
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James Howse wrote:
> Must not burst bubble
> Must not burst bubble
> Must not burst bubble
> Must not burst bubble
> Must not burst bubble
>
> Arrgh! I have a sneeking suspicion that this info may be connected to a Rep
> saying they were going to re-name JACK STONE, because kids weren't
> identifing with him. I really hope not though.
At LEGOWorld 2002 Brad Justus hinted that Town wasn't dead... maybe this
is what he meant? Can't wait, would love to see some decent buildings
(re)appear!
--
Jan-Albert "Anvil" van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/~javanree/
VanReeDotNet IT Solutions | http://www.vanree.net
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"Jan-Albert van Ree" <javanree@vanree.net> wrote in message
news:3DE5FF78.4050809@vanree.net...
>
> At LEGOWorld 2002 Brad Justus hinted that Town wasn't dead... maybe this
> is what he meant? Can't wait, would love to see some decent buildings
> (re)appear!
> --
> Jan-Albert "Anvil" van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/~javanree/
> VanReeDotNet IT Solutions | http://www.vanree.net
But how many police and fire stations do people need ??
:)
I understand they give a good deal of scope for 'exciting' creative play,
but the average lego town has 4 fire stations, 3 police stations, 1 shop and
one house
go figure
--
James Stacey
---------
www.minifig.co.uk
#925 - I'm a citizen of Legoland travelling Incommunicado
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> But how many police and fire stations do people need ??
As in real life, there are old police/fire stations that are "sold", redone,
becoming other types of buildings... :)
> I understand they give a good deal of scope for 'exciting'
> creative play, but the average lego town has 4 fire stations,
> 3 police stations, 1 shop and one house
And everyone wants to be a racer.
Well... I'd rather keep on having Police/Fire/Hospital than nothing... maybe
that's the kind of Town LEGO wished we had: 5 fireman and 5 polimans for
each citizen ;) (one "personal" mechanic, cooker and postman would be nice
too)
Let's hope LEGO remembers that every mini-figs has the right to a home !!!
...and access to basic things like a school/hospital on top of the fire &
police stations.
It would be nice if besides service stations, airport and bus stations/stops
it could have restaurants, warehouses, malls, cinemas, hotels, banks, city
hall and decent transportations (train cars/bus/trucks, boats, plains,
etc...)
...at least, a mini-fig that wants to become a movie director, can make
"normal" movies, without dinossaurs and super-heroes.
If any mini-fig wants to be an astronaut, then he must join Star-Wars rebels
or the dark-side... for the time beeing.
Let's wait and see...
mc.
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In lugnet.town, James Stacey writes:
> "Jan-Albert van Ree" <javanree@vanree.net> wrote in message
> news:3DE5FF78.4050809@vanree.net...
> >
> > At LEGOWorld 2002 Brad Justus hinted that Town wasn't dead... maybe this
> > is what he meant? Can't wait, would love to see some decent buildings
> > (re)appear!
> > --
> > Jan-Albert "Anvil" van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/~javanree/
> > VanReeDotNet IT Solutions | http://www.vanree.net
>
>
> But how many police and fire stations do people need ??
Then perhaps the question becomes:
Does 'Town' always have to equate to police and fire stations?
I think the simple answer is, 'no'. What about schools, a library, low-rise
office buildings, churches, and the list goes on. Maybe it isn't people's
expectations that are low, but rather it's that the list from which the
company is working is too short.
> I understand they give a good deal of scope for 'exciting' creative play,
> but the average lego town has 4 fire stations, 3 police stations, 1 shop and
> one house
Except for some of the wonderful original creations that people come up
with. The real problem, in my opinion, is that some of the fan created
buildings are miles and away better than what the company puts out as sets.
How can LEGO compete with such talented fans? No smilie here... I think
this is a real issue.
All the best,
Allan B.
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Allan Bedford wrote:
> Except for some of the wonderful original creations that people come up
> with. The real problem, in my opinion, is that some of the fan created
> buildings are miles and away better than what the company puts out as sets.
> How can LEGO compete with such talented fans? No smilie here... I think
> this is a real issue.
While it would be lovely to see more LEGO sets like the Blacksmith's
Shop, I don't expect TLC to ever compete with the buildings that AFOLs
(and kids) build. Why? At the nominal price of 10 cents a brick, the
types of buildings that AFOLs build would be too expensive for TLC's
product line.
Actually, expense of sets may be getting to be a problem. I've been
delaying making my free shipping order because I'm trying to decide if I
really want to spend so much on the ISD. Sure, it's a nifty looking set,
but chances are I won't build it. While I might eventually need many of
the grey plates, I don't need more angled grey plates. It does have some
parts I want, but I'm starting to think I might be better off buying
them on BrickLink.
On the other hand, there generally are sets which are good for building
normal houses. The Freestyle/Classic/Creator buckets and tubs usually
have some doors and windows. Of course they never have quite enough roof
bricks, and usually have too high a door to window ration, but
fundamentally, the parts to build houses are there. What would be nice
though is to get some sticker sheets every once in a while with various
shop signs and such (of course those of us willing to be slightly impure
can go buy decals from a model railroading catalog - I prefer to pretty
much keep my models to parts which TLC provides - though I did stoop to
some impurity to get some Wolfpack sails...).
Frank
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In lugnet.town, Frank Filz writes:
> Allan Bedford wrote:
> > Except for some of the wonderful original creations that people come up
> > with. The real problem, in my opinion, is that some of the fan created
> > buildings are miles and away better than what the company puts out as sets.
> > How can LEGO compete with such talented fans? No smilie here... I think
> > this is a real issue.
>
> While it would be lovely to see more LEGO sets like the Blacksmith's
> Shop, I don't expect TLC to ever compete with the buildings that AFOLs
> (and kids) build. Why? At the nominal price of 10 cents a brick, the
> types of buildings that AFOLs build would be too expensive for TLC's
> product line.
So, if I understand you, you're sort of saying that the Blacksmith's Shop was a
good idea, but one that was overpriced? Or am I misreading your stance on this?
I wonder if 'compete' is the wrong word in this case. Perhaps I should have
said, "the LEGO company should embrace fan designs and expand upon its line of
sets based on those creations." I guess what I was trying to do was give some
credit to some of the amazing original creations that we see within the
building community. I know I'm not supposed to knock what the company does,
but to be perfectly honest I think some of the designs from fans are more
professional when it comes to use of color, styling and overall structure.
Do they all need to be as big as the Blacksmith's Shop? No, not all of
them. As always, I would argue for a mixture of larger and smaller sets to
attempt to appeal to everyone. Do kids like things *like* the Blacksmith's
Shop? I think they do, don't they?
It may not seem like it, but I think we are all sort of on the same page here.
I think there is the idea that given more input fans could have a significant
positive effect on the products that LEGO produces. Or am I once again the
only one of this opinion? :)
> Actually, expense of sets may be getting to be a problem.
Even for adults? Do you feel that the Star Destroyer represents the upper
limit of what adult fans may be willing (or able) to pay in a single shot?
> I've been
> delaying making my free shipping order because I'm trying to decide if I
> really want to spend so much on the ISD. Sure, it's a nifty looking set,
> but chances are I won't build it. While I might eventually need many of
> the grey plates, I don't need more angled grey plates. It does have some
> parts I want, but I'm starting to think I might be better off buying
> them on BrickLink.
To be honest, I've begun to see Bricklink as a much more useful and fun outlet
than I had first imagined. I realize that it fills a hole left by the limited
range of bulk bricks that the LEGO company can offer. That said, I think
there's room for both services. If you want 100 black roof bricks, it's
possibly just as easy to order them from the LEGO company. If you want 10
black 1 x 2's and 25 blue 2 x 2's and so on... then a Bricklink order
probably makes more sense. Is there still room for LEGO to expand their
brick selection? Take a look at the brick counter they are running on their
Shop At Home site. I think the numbers speak for themselves. If you can
sell 45,000,000+ bricks a month then you can sell more.
> On the other hand, there generally are sets which are good for building
> normal houses. The Freestyle/Classic/Creator buckets and tubs usually
> have some doors and windows. Of course they never have quite enough roof
> bricks, and usually have too high a door to window ration, but
> fundamentally, the parts to build houses are there.
I still think an architecture-based series of buckets and tubs would appeal
to a broad range of adults and some kids who want to build 'buildings' from
their LEGO. But as you mentioned, never seem to have the right mix of doors
to windows or roof bricks to walls etc. I did a lengthy 'Dear LEGO' letter
on this which I posted to my site a few months back. Oh to dream. :)
All the best,
Allan B.
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"Allan Bedford" <ExpertBuilder-DELETE-TO-REPLY@apotome.com> wrote in message
news:H6B7uD.5st@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.town, Frank Filz writes:
> > Allan Bedford wrote:
> > > Except for some of the wonderful original creations that people come up
> > > with. The real problem, in my opinion, is that some of the fan created
> > > buildings are miles and away better than what the company puts out as • sets.
> > > How can LEGO compete with such talented fans? No smilie here... I • think
> > > this is a real issue.
> >
> > While it would be lovely to see more LEGO sets like the Blacksmith's
> > Shop, I don't expect TLC to ever compete with the buildings that AFOLs
> > (and kids) build. Why? At the nominal price of 10 cents a brick, the
> > types of buildings that AFOLs build would be too expensive for TLC's
> > product line.
>
> So, if I understand you, you're sort of saying that the Blacksmith's Shop • was a
> good idea, but one that was overpriced? Or am I misreading your stance on
this?
Not trying to answer for Frank, but I understood him to mean that while the
Blacksmith Shop is a great set, in general, LEGO will not "compete" with the
level of AFOL building constructions (many of which contains thousands or
even tens of thousands of pieces).
I agree with Alan that a longer list of town buildings would really help
LEGO reach out to more kids.
Tim
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"Timothy D. Freshly" wrote:
>
> "Allan Bedford" <ExpertBuilder-DELETE-TO-REPLY@apotome.com> wrote in message
> news:H6B7uD.5st@lugnet.com...
> > In lugnet.town, Frank Filz writes:
> > > Allan Bedford wrote:
> > > > Except for some of the wonderful original creations that people come up
> > > > with. The real problem, in my opinion, is that some of the fan created
> > > > buildings are miles and away better than what the company puts out as • sets.
> > > > How can LEGO compete with such talented fans? No smilie here... I • think
> > > > this is a real issue.
> > >
> > > While it would be lovely to see more LEGO sets like the Blacksmith's
> > > Shop, I don't expect TLC to ever compete with the buildings that AFOLs
> > > (and kids) build. Why? At the nominal price of 10 cents a brick, the
> > > types of buildings that AFOLs build would be too expensive for TLC's
> > > product line.
> >
> > So, if I understand you, you're sort of saying that the Blacksmith's Shop • was a
> > good idea, but one that was overpriced? Or am I misreading your stance on
> this?
>
> Not trying to answer for Frank, but I understood him to mean that while the
> Blacksmith Shop is a great set, in general, LEGO will not "compete" with the
> level of AFOL building constructions (many of which contains thousands or
> even tens of thousands of pieces).
Yea, that's what I was getting at. And even the Blacksmith shop would
normally be a $60 set (I'm real curious as to why it is such a bargain).
At $60 I think the Blacksmith shop would be a hard sell for kids. Now
take some of these larger AFOL buildings that folks every once in a
while say "that should be a set", now price them out...
I'll be real curious as to how many $270 ISDs get sold to kids. But
something like that can sell much easier than a $100 building because of
the uniqueness of it. Of course a similar sized AFOL model would have to
sell for over $1000...
> I agree with Alan that a longer list of town buildings would really help
> LEGO reach out to more kids.
I agree also, though others are right that kids are mostly looking for
action stuff. Look at other toys. You see a lot of police and fires
stations there also. Though there is one thing which I think would sell,
a farm. A construction site would be another winner. Of course both of
those are action and play oriented.
Of course the current line up even has a house...
Frank
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In lugnet.town, Frank Filz writes:
> "Timothy D. Freshly" wrote:
> > I agree with Alan that a longer list of town buildings would really help
> > LEGO reach out to more kids.
>
> I agree also, though others are right that kids are mostly looking for
> action stuff. Look at other toys. You see a lot of police and fires
> stations there also. Though there is one thing which I think would sell,
> a farm. A construction site would be another winner. Of course both of
> those are action and play oriented.
As I kid I loved construction toys. The original Expert Builder line
included a crane, a forklift, a bulldozer and a tractor. While the first
three were interesting to me, I thought the tractor was boring. Do kids
really like farming toys? I'm asking because I honestly don't know.
Aren't there other Town buildings that could be exciting though? What about
the old Coast Guard Rescue Station, or the construction site with the bucket
crane that ran on rails? Those were 'action packed' weren't they? Or do
kids need even more than that today?
Regards,
Allan B.
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In lugnet.town, Allan Bedford writes:
> As I kid I loved construction toys. The original Expert Builder line
> included a crane, a forklift, a bulldozer and a tractor. While the first
> three were interesting to me, I thought the tractor was boring. Do kids
> really like farming toys? I'm asking because I honestly don't know.
> Regards,
> Allan B.
That tractor was by a long way my favourite of the first Technical sets. I
loved the fact that you could build three different tools for the back and I
remember using my Britains farm toys (they used to sell very well so there
certainly was a market in the '70s) as models to build a silage trailer for it.
Psi
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In lugnet.technic, Simon Bennett writes:
> In lugnet.town, Allan Bedford writes:
> > As I kid I loved construction toys. The original Expert Builder line
> > included a crane, a forklift, a bulldozer and a tractor. While the first
> > three were interesting to me, I thought the tractor was boring. Do kids
> > really like farming toys? I'm asking because I honestly don't know.
> > Regards,
> > Allan B.
Don't let T.J hear you say tractors are boring :-). His articulated one
isn't boring. A tracked articulated tractor would be even better.
> That tractor was by a long way my favourite of the first Technical sets. I
> loved the fact that you could build three different tools for the back and I
> remember using my Britains farm toys (they used to sell very well so there
> certainly was a market in the '70s) as models to build a silage trailer for it.
>
> Psi
I used to have Britains toys as well. I had a Unimog breakdown lorry, two
tractors, One small and one large trailer(with supension the best bit) and a
landrover and a potato harvester. I forget what else I had.
Lego was (and still is) of course my favourite toy. As for inspiration every
week I'd see an 8x4 dustcart empty the wheelie bins at school, lifting them
over the cab to dump in the rear. I built a great one with 24x43 wheel hubs
for the dual rear tyres as I didn't have enough rubber tyres.
Steve
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In lugnet.town, Steven Lane writes:
> In lugnet.technic, Simon Bennett writes:
> > In lugnet.town, Allan Bedford writes:
> > > As I kid I loved construction toys. The original Expert Builder line
> > > included a crane, a forklift, a bulldozer and a tractor. While the first
> > > three were interesting to me, I thought the tractor was boring. Do kids
> > > really like farming toys? I'm asking because I honestly don't know.
> > > Regards,
> > > Allan B.
>
> Don't let T.J hear you say tractors are boring :-).
I didn't say they _are_ boring. I said that I used to _think_ they were
boring. Back when I was a kid. That was just a childhood memory talking.
That's why I asked the question about today's kids. Sure, I think they're
interesting now, but do today's kids share that view?
> His articulated one
> isn't boring. A tracked articulated tractor would be even better.
Absolutely. And a combine provides for ample opportunity to make a
complicated model. Lots of machinery makes good Technic models. But again
the question has to be, "will they appeal to kids?"
Regards,
Allan B.
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In lugnet.town, Allan Bedford writes:
> Absolutely. And a combine provides for ample opportunity to make a
> complicated model. Lots of machinery makes good Technic models. But again
> the question has to be, "will they appeal to kids?"
There are certainly less farmers. The FFA has renamed itself to, well, FFA,
and dropped Future Farmers of America. In a typical club nobody will
actually grow up to farm--much like Boy Scouts won't actually need to
survive in the wilderness. Instead these organizations aim at creating an
appreciation for the craft.
Anyway, there are lots of John Deere toys at Fleet Farm this time of year.
-Erik
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Steven lane" <steveroblane@aol.com> wrote in message
news:H6Cq0B.EM0@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.technic, Simon Bennett writes:
>
> Don't let T.J hear you say tractors are boring :-). His articulated one
> isn't boring. A tracked articulated tractor would be even better.
>
> I used to have Britains toys as well. I had a Unimog breakdown lorry, two
> tractors, One small and one large trailer(with supension the best bit) and • a
> landrover and a potato harvester. I forget what else I had.
>
> Lego was (and still is) of course my favourite toy. As for inspiration • every
> week I'd see an 8x4 dustcart empty the wheelie bins at school, lifting • them
> over the cab to dump in the rear. I built a great one with 24x43 wheel • hubs
> for the dual rear tyres as I didn't have enough rubber tyres.
>
> Steve
I still have a large Britains farm set in the roof. It seems odd Lego have
never really done much (outside Duplo) along these lines
I used to love tractors, not so much now .. does that make me an
ex-tractor-fan :)
--
James Stacey
---------
www.minifig.co.uk
#925 - I'm a citizen of Legoland travelling Incommunicado
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James Stacey wrote in message ...
> I still have a large Britains farm set in the roof. It seems odd Lego have
> never really done much (outside Duplo) along these lines
I had a lot of Britains farm machinery when I was a kid too, although it
has long gone, who knows where. I loved it at the time and played with it a
lot. They are still producing it, too, right? There are a couple of places
here in Vancouver who import the Britains range.
> I used to love tractors, not so much now .. does that make me an
> ex-tractor-fan :)
ROFL!!
Kevin
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In lugnet.town, Allan Bedford writes:
>
> As I kid I loved construction toys. The original Expert Builder line
> included a crane, a forklift, a bulldozer and a tractor. While the first
> three were interesting to me, I thought the tractor was boring. Do kids
> really like farming toys? I'm asking because I honestly don't know.
Yes, they do. The tractor was my first technic set, and my third all-time
favourite, behind the space shuttle and the 8860 car chassis (my second technic
set).
ROSCO
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In lugnet.town, Ross Crawford writes:
> In lugnet.town, Allan Bedford writes:
> >
> > As I kid I loved construction toys. The original Expert Builder line
> > included a crane, a forklift, a bulldozer and a tractor. While the first
> > three were interesting to me, I thought the tractor was boring. Do kids
> > really like farming toys? I'm asking because I honestly don't know.
>
> Yes, they do.
I agree. Even if there were farming sets for Town, I suppose they'd enjoy
great acceptance. I would surely buy some - and I'm a city-boy, not a farmer :-)
I do recall going to the UK once and noticing that there were a number of
farming toys with great success on the major toy stores... could this be a
new theme for LEGO in the future as well?
Pedro
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Frank Filz wrote in message <3DE6D91F.1BA78DCE@mindspring.com>...
> I'll be real curious as to how many $270 ISDs get sold to kids. But
> something like that can sell much easier than a $100 building because of
> the uniqueness of it. Of course a similar sized AFOL model would have to
> sell for over $1000...
I don't think so. The ISD has 3104 pieces... my Hospital at about 2400
pieces sold for $389. Lego ought to be able to do it cheaper than me :-)
Now if you're talking about a model like John Neal's Chateau, yep we're
heading into the $1000's there :-)
Kevin
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NEW Half-Timbered Shops kit 1400+++ pieces!
http://www.lionsgatemodels.com/cat-bwh.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGO TOWN PLANNING information:
http://www.lionsgatemodels.com/COntent/Townplan/townplan.htm
BrickLink Lego parts store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=Kevinw1
The Guild of Bricksmiths(TM): http://www.bricksmiths.com
Personal Lego Web page:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/kwilson_tccs/lego.html
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Allan Bedford wrote in message ...
> > Actually, expense of sets may be getting to be a problem.
>
> Even for adults? Do you feel that the Star Destroyer represents the upper
> limit of what adult fans may be willing (or able) to pay in a single shot?
My experience with selling custom kits is that I do *better* with large,
expensive kits. My most expensive kit was the Hospital at $389 and 2400
pieces, and it moved much faster than the cheaper kits I've done. Dan
Siskind's custom kits go well above that range and he doesn't seem to have
much trouble selling them.
Now these are not mass market items, of course, but they certainly show that
the Star Destroyer's price point is not the upper limit.
Kevin
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW Half-Timbered Shops kit 1400+++ pieces!
http://www.lionsgatemodels.com/cat-bwh.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGO TOWN PLANNING information:
http://www.lionsgatemodels.com/COntent/Townplan/townplan.htm
BrickLink Lego parts store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=Kevinw1
The Guild of Bricksmiths(TM): http://www.bricksmiths.com
Personal Lego Web page:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/kwilson_tccs/lego.html
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In lugnet.town, Kevin Wilson writes:
> Allan Bedford wrote in message ...
> > > Actually, expense of sets may be getting to be a problem.
> >
> > Even for adults? Do you feel that the Star Destroyer represents the upper
> > limit of what adult fans may be willing (or able) to pay in a single shot?
>
> My experience with selling custom kits is that I do *better* with large,
> expensive kits. My most expensive kit was the Hospital at $389 and 2400
> pieces, and it moved much faster than the cheaper kits I've done. Dan
> Siskind's custom kits go well above that range and he doesn't seem to have
> much trouble selling them.
>
> Now these are not mass market items, of course, but they certainly show that
> the Star Destroyer's price point is not the upper limit.
No, but they say nothing about what the effective upper limit for a TLC set
would be. Other than some very one of a kind specials, TLC isn't going to be
interested in a trying to market a set with an audience of less than 100.
Frank
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What you'd need are churches and pubs.
The average village in Ireland does not consist of 4 fire stations, 3 police
stations, 1 shop and one house, more likely that would be 4 pubs, three
churches, a shop and a house....
I'm not much of an expert on town stuff (the last set with a minifig that I
got for myself was back in 1984 I think.... no, hang on, I got the X-wing
and the Snowspeeder) but when was the last public transport set done (apart
from trains)? When was the last taxi or bus? Was there ever a tram?
Schools would be tricky, what with the short legs being the stiff variety.
Has there been a restaurant since the Pizza delivery?
Anyway, that's just a few thoughts of a model-team fan...
Duq
"Allan Bedford" <ExpertBuilder-DELETE-TO-REPLY@apotome.com> wrote in message
news:H6ADL3.5pq@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.town, James Stacey writes:
> > "Jan-Albert van Ree" <javanree@vanree.net> wrote in message
> > news:3DE5FF78.4050809@vanree.net...
> > >
> > > At LEGOWorld 2002 Brad Justus hinted that Town wasn't dead... maybe • this
> > > is what he meant? Can't wait, would love to see some decent buildings
> > > (re)appear!
> > > --
> > > Jan-Albert "Anvil" van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/~javanree/
> > > VanReeDotNet IT Solutions | http://www.vanree.net
> >
> >
> > But how many police and fire stations do people need ??
>
> Then perhaps the question becomes:
>
> Does 'Town' always have to equate to police and fire stations?
>
> I think the simple answer is, 'no'. What about schools, a library, • low-rise
> office buildings, churches, and the list goes on. Maybe it isn't people's
> expectations that are low, but rather it's that the list from which the
> company is working is too short.
>
> > I understand they give a good deal of scope for 'exciting' creative play,
> > but the average lego town has 4 fire stations, 3 police stations, 1 shop • and
> > one house
>
> Except for some of the wonderful original creations that people come up
> with. The real problem, in my opinion, is that some of the fan created
> buildings are miles and away better than what the company puts out as • sets.
> How can LEGO compete with such talented fans? No smilie here... I think
> this is a real issue.
>
> All the best,
> Allan B.
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> I think the simple answer is, 'no'. What about schools, a library, low-rise
> office buildings, churches, and the list goes on.
I suspect that such things appeal more to adults than to kids.
Games like cops-and-robbers or playing with model cars, planes and fire
engines all pre-date Lego or are successful as non-Lego toys, so it is hardly
surprising that a Lego police station or a Lego fire station is a real winner
as it combines the construction of Lego with traditionally popular children's
themes. Ditto Star Wars Lego and Harry Potter Lego, but with contemporary
popular children's themes.
Houses and shops have some appeal to children for play and toys, think of
doll's houses etc, so again houses and shops can work for Lego.
But what about schools, libraries, and churches? I can't recall ever
play-acting these as a kid, nor do I notice lots of non-Lego toys of this
nature. It might be a realistic goal for an adult to build a real "town" in
Lego, but not one for most children.
Since I've already done a church with grave yards and a memorial wall for
ashes, I figure I am probably ready to do a funeral parlour and a crematorium.
I guess there is a hearse involved but I am not sure that this kind of vehicle
has a lot of play potential for children :-)
Kerry
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In lugnet.town, Kerry Raymond writes:
> > I think the simple answer is, 'no'. What about schools, a library, low-rise
> > office buildings, churches, and the list goes on.
>
> I suspect that such things appeal more to adults than to kids.
Yes, probably not the most exciting list I could have come up with.
O.K. How about a junk yard, a race track, an automotive repair shop, an
amusement park.... Towns all have those exciting things, right? :)
> But what about schools, libraries, and churches? I can't recall ever
> play-acting these as a kid, nor do I notice lots of non-Lego toys of this
> nature. It might be a realistic goal for an adult to build a real "town" in
> Lego, but not one for most children.
I built such realistic buildings from my basic bricks when I was a kid.
These were the buildings which caught fire or were damaged by earth quakes.
How else were my firemen going to get any work?
Seriously though, there has to be some balance here, between what adults
would buy and what kids will actually play with.
> Since I've already done a church with grave yards and a memorial wall for
> ashes, I figure I am probably ready to do a funeral parlour and a crematorium.
> I guess there is a hearse involved but I am not sure that this kind of vehicle
> has a lot of play potential for children :-)
I would heartily agree.
All the best,
Allan B.
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> Must not burst bubble
>
> Arrgh! I have a sneeking suspicion that this info may be connected to a Rep
> saying they were going to re-name JACK STONE, because kids weren't
> identifing with him. I really hope not though.
You may find these sets now called 'Junior' instead of Jack Stone. They are
exactly the same.
We have had the new road plates for a while, and what we have noticed is
that on the back of the pack where you have the suggestions for your town,
the town is now 90% Junior ( Jack Stone ). The remaining 10% is made up from
the Creator range. And when you look at it, it sort of makes sense to make
the plates wider because no Jack Stone vehicle can keep in its own lane on a
classic plate, unlike pre Jack-Stone town cars etc... So it does look like
the plates have been made with the intention of being used with the Junior
Jack Stone) range...
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