UCS 10225 R2-D2 Designer Video

Altho TLG tried to pull it back, they should realize by now that it’s not easy to ‘unrelease’ stuff on the internet.  This video is a bit different from the usual ones. Watch to understand…

“Come with us as we take an exclusive look at the never before seen 10225 R2-D2™, the latest exclusive LEGO® Star Wars™ set! We’ll talk with Mike and Kurt, the talented LEGO® designers who brought this awesome model to life in LEGO® bricks. The R2-D2 set will be available directly through LEGO® beginning in May 2012 via shop.LEGO.com and at LEGO® Stores. Visit shop.LEGO.com for more details on this amazing model!

Presenting the Ultimate Collector Series R2-D2™ — the best-loved droid in the Star Wars galaxy!

Presenting the iconic R2-D2 as you’ve never seen him before! Everyone’s favorite droid from the Star Wars galaxy is now part of the Ultimate Collector Series and features fantastic detailing, such as retractable third leg, front panels that open to reveal a universal computer interface arm and a circular saw, rotating head and 2 fold-out front spacecraft linkage control arms. With the included fact plaque and R2-D2 minifigure, this diminutive model is the perfect addition to your LEGO® Star Wars™ collection!

• Ultimate Collector Series R2-D2™!
• Features retractable third leg!
• Front panels open to reveal a universal computer interface arm and circular saw!
• Features realistic rotating head!
• R2-D2 features 2 fold-out front spacecraft linkage control arms!
• Includes fact plaque and R2-D2 minifigure!
• Measures over 12″ (31 cm) high and 7″ (18 cm) wide!”

Alrighty, now awaiting the haunted house that was leaked earlier.

Should I continue getting Architecture sets?

I got all of the 1st wave, and some of the 2nd.  But I have to admit that I’ve kinda fallen behind.  Been wondering if I should get the entire collection just so I don’t regret it down the road when… when I figure that I finally like the sets I guess.  I mean, after renovating my place and learning more about architecture, I can see how a standalone display of all the Architecture sets encased in a block of specially constructed glass shelves would look pretty great. Kinda cool in a geeky way not that I know how I will actually be able to afford a house with the space or even to construct a display like what I envision…

Decisions, decisions…

Anyways, Toys N Bricks reports two new Architecture sets:

• LEGO Vila Savoy Paris 21014 (MSRP: $69.99 USD)
• LEGO Eames House 21015 (MSRP: $59.99 USD)

Which is making me seriously consider getting the entire range (I am a completist, really).

You have to read this post to understand why: Lego® Replicas Of Eames, Corbusier and Michelle Kaufmann Homes

New LEGO books and exclusive minifigs

UPDATE on 10 March: Via Brickset, here’s the PDF version of a Dorling Kindersley catalogue that has revealed several other LEGO book releases including jacket designs and some inside pages.  New books include the revised The LEGO Book, a Friends Brickmaster (with exclusive Chloe minifig).  

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Hey, a couple of new books and some surprises, for me at least.   I mean, I really didn’t expect the LEGO Batman: The Visual Dictionary and LEGO Ninjago Character Encyclopedia.  There aren’t that many Batman sets anyway, right?   They should be accompanied by ‘exclusive’ minifigs like the other books in the series I guess…

These below are on DK’s Winter 2012 Catalog, and mostly listed on Amazon so no surprises.  Another ‘exclusive’ minifig is always nice, tho I could do with another Harry Potter character rather than Harry (again! wonder which costume tho).  There is also Cool Castles by Sean Kenney, but to be honest given the regularity at which I see fantastic castle MOCs it’ll take quite a bit for me to be impressed.

Lego: The Calendar 2013

$12.99 / August 15, 2012

9780761166962, 0761166963

LEGO: The Calendar is a lively celebration of the classic toy: London’s Tower Bridge. A forest rangers’ mountain outpost. A medieval castle, host to the jousting match of the century. The astonishingly detailed creations will make you smile with their sheer ingenuity. The photos are accompanied by text filled with historical lore and real-life stories of spectacular constructions from around the world.

LEGO® Minifigures Series 1-7 Ultimate Sticker Collection

$12.99 / May 21, 2012

9780756692513, 0756692512

96 pages

What do a punk rocker, a mummy, and the Statue of Liberty have in common? They are all part of the amazing collection of minifigures that make up LEGO® Minifigures!  As kids and collectors know, each sealed mystery bag contains a random minifigure. Each series has sixteen possible minifigures—and all of them are now available in sticker form!  Kids of all ages can use their imagination to create cool and wacky scenes with more than 1,000 reusable full-color stickers featuring LEGO minifigures inspired by movies, sports, history, or even just everyday life in DK’s LEGO Minifigures Series 1–7 Ultimate Sticker Collection.

LEGO® Harry Potter: The Characters of the Magical World  (with EXCLUSIVE MINIFIG!)

$18.99 / Hardback / June 18, 2012

9780756692575, 0756692571

Meet the magical minifigures of the LEGO® Harry Potter™ world in DK’s latest addition to our new series,LEGO® Harry Potter™: Characters of the Magical World!  From the multiple variations of Harry and Ron to the unique characteristics of Snape and Voldemort, readers can learn about each minifigure and the magical sets they star in while learning fun and interesting LEGO Harry Potter facts! In-depth profiles alongside dynamic photography will help you to increase your LEGO Harry Potter knowledge and perhaps encourage young readers to conjure up a few spells of their own!

Pics of 4429 Hospital & 4207 ‘Car Park/Garage’?

Read about a possible new set from Brickset, and went about looking for more pics from LEGO World 2012.  So apart from the 4207 ’Car Park/Garage’, I think this might be the 4429 Hospital.  Unfortunately I absolutely can’t recall if I saw the new hospital set picture in the catalogue, but it does fit the description in Brickepedia.

There is also a cute little newspaper stand that I wish would be an impulse set… don’t you just love the printed tiles?

What do you think?

Pics are from Eiker86′s Flickr album for LEGO World 2012. Do pop by and browse if you wanna see more pics of these and other nice creations.

I really want the Darth Vader Desk Lamp

Actually, I wouldn’t mind a Yoda or Luke Skywalker one too, but re:creation only has Darth Vader.

Unleash the power of the dark side with the Darth Vader Desk Lamp! It features a brilliant 12 LED lightsaber lamp clasped in his hand! The spectacular Darth Vader Desk Lamp features a 19cm high minifigure, 12 LED ligh saber and optional USB power supply.

The Darth Vader desk lamp can be used for a great number of purposes, including, doing homework, drawing pictures or even to study the Death Star!!

The Darth Vader Desk Lamp is the ultimate power in the galaxy!

• 12 LED Light saber Lamp
• USB connection (optional)
• Poseable arms & legs
• Posing stand included
• Batteries x3 AA

New sets: 10224 Town Hall & 21102 Minecraft

I guess most fans have heard about these 2 upcoming sets for some time now (especially for those who were following the adventures of the one lucky fan who got to build the upcoming modular set weeks ago…), but it’s always nice to have good quality press release pics to salivate over.

I’ll leave you to read the official press release and see the other official pics here:

• 10224 Town Hall
• 21102 Minecraft Micro World

I am somewhat sad to finally see the official measurements for the Town Hall. It’s 50cm high! Which means… my display shelves are not high enough to accommodate the latest modular set.  And since my customized shelves cannot be modified (they are bolted to the wall! wahhhhh), I guess I’ll just have to modify the set when I finally get it.

For the benefit of those of you who will be getting customized display shelves, here are the heights of the modular buildings released so far, from the shortest to the tallest…

• 10218 Pet Shop: 10.5″ (26.5cm)
• 10190 Market Street: 13″” (33 cm)
• 10197 Fire Brigade: 14″ (35 cm)
• 10185 Green Grocer: 14″ (35cm)
• 10182 Cafe Corner: 14″ (36 cm)
• 10211 Grand Emporium: 15″ (38 cm)
• 10224 Town Hall: 20” (50 cm)

Bases are 10″ (25.5) x 10″ (25.5) cm… and do leave space for future expansion of course.

IMO the pic looks weird with the Pet Shop being so much shorter… the Fire Brigade isn’t pictured, which probably means imminent EOL (end of life).

And enjoy the (original) video, and the rare lady designer being featured.

 

UPDATE: In case TLG comes yanking this video as well, here are the screenshots from FBTB that has everyone aflutter about the cute 10225 R2-D2 and possibly 10228 Haunted House.

Hi-res pics of 2012 sets

Ok, admittedly I’ve been lazy. I actually saw them yesterday.  But since they are all over the web by now I’ve a feeling most people have seen them?  Some thoughts on the sets (and links to sources):

• Collectible Minifig series 7 looks good! Even tho I’m kinda over the novelty, I’ll still get at least a set for collection.
• Batcave looks… colourful. I prefer the darker looking 1st batcave. Plus I hate stickers.
• Ninjago sets are still too targetted to boys for me. I may get a few sets selectively, but no more than that.
• Star Wars is a mixed bag.  Looking forward to getting a Jabba for sure.
• Dino I will skip. Not sure how dinos will fit with my generally city themed sets and I didn’t miss the 1st incarnation anyway.
• City sets are kinda bleh. Great for saving some $ in 2012 unless H2 gives us some new themes (hospital?). If not I’ll skip the City sets and save my money for…
• Spongebob. I know… but the sets look good. Such a cute little pirate ship.
• And Friends! I know… I’m wimpy and a sucker for the accessories.
• I might skip Cars… tho they continue to look enticingly cute.  There are just too many sets and I’m not sure if I wanna start another series.
• Am not a Technic person but the 2012 sets seem to be getting some good vibes.

Do click on the links above for the pics. I’ll just share the MF7 cos that thrilled me the most from all the pics I saw. Think cos I saw the earlier leaked catalogue so most of the other hi-res pics were not a surprise.