General Star Wars Discussion

Bumblepants

Kaitch said:

In case anyone's interested in my attempts to get a Battle of Hoth microbuild, it didn't arrive with my delivery, I messaged Customer Services, and they said theyd run out and so gave me 100 VIP points instead. Not quite what I was after, but I hadn't really expected to get anything, so reasonably satisfied.

Anyone have a Battle of Hoth microbuild they don't want?

That kinda sucks. It is worth more than 5 Euro of VIP points. If it was on your invoice I would demand better recompense than that.

Kaitch

^It wasn't though. And when I double-checked after it failed to appear on the order, the promo was gone. Hence my lack of expectation of anything.

Astrobricks

KaCe said:

@bkp2300 - These sets do not have the same logo as the others.

#30384
#30461

If I went for everything that had the 20 years Lego Star Wars w/o the date I think the collection would be much larger!

Brickset only lists 10 things as 20th anniversary sets, and one of them is a poster, so not that huge of a collection. (Actually they’re missing another poster)

Fizyx

Just saw the image below posted by LEGO on Facebook.  I have vague memories of hearing rumors about it before, but I was happy to see this reminder of one of my favorite LEGO facts ever:

SumoLego

Is that why it has the imprint of a heavy-set Swedish's guy's ass?  This makes more sense.

jedivalkyrie

New LEGO Star Wars game recently announced: https://www.starwars.com/news/e3-2019-lego-star-wars-the-skywalker-saga-coming-2020

Chromide

What I haven't seen is will this new game include Clone Wars, Rebels, Solo, and Rogue One levels?

Bumblepants

Chromide said:

What I haven't seen is will this new game include Clone Wars, Rebels, Solo, and Rogue One levels?

I bet at least some of that will come as DLC or season pass you can buy extra

Kaitch

I strongly suspect it's going to be just the episodes, but that we might see more games for Rebels and the Stories. There's already a game just Clone Wars, so they may not do a new one/one covering that. But then, they've also already done Episodes1-7. I don't know.

wardm

Does anyone know who’s the figure standing on top of Chewie’s head in the Star Wars Advent Calendar? 

playwell

^ Was wondering the same thing.

Astrobricks

Fizyx said:

Just saw the image below posted by LEGO on Facebook.  I have vague memories of hearing rumors about it before, but I was happy to see this reminder of one of my favorite LEGO facts ever:

How much sunlight is there in either a sauna or an oven?

J0rgen

@wardm The fig in the advent calendar is Old Man Luke in his fisherman outfit.

The one thing I'm wondering about the new Star Wars game is wether they will grunt or speak. If they're back to grunts and mimicks I will definitely buy.

Aanchir

Astrobricks said:

Fizyx said:

Just saw the image below posted by LEGO on Facebook.  I have vague memories of hearing rumors about it before, but I was happy to see this reminder of one of my favorite LEGO facts ever:

How much sunlight is there in either a sauna or an oven?

None — the purpose of a test like this is not really about light-related issues like UV-related damage (which would probably be tested when approving new materials, rather than on a set-by-set basis), but rather about whether the connections between the bricks will be able to withstand the loosening that might result if, for example, you left the set on a sunny windowsill for an entire year.

From my understanding, the test usually involves putting every set in an oven at 60°C for four hours (the standard temperature or duration may have changed since I first read that, though). If the set breaks apart during the heat test, it shows the designer what parts of the model likely need to be locked together better using techniques such as an additional layer of plates, Technic pins and beams, SNOT brackets, or tighter hinges.

These points of weakness often aren't as obvious to the naked eye as more obvious weaknesses like the load-bearing single stud connections in the original version of Pete Reid's Exo-Suit, so the oven test is an important step to ensure that even a model that SEEMS sturdy and stable when you first build it will stay that way in the long term.

The page where I originally read an explanation from Jamie Berard about this isn't up online anymore, but since I remembered where and when it was (a 2011 post from the LEGO Creator designer blog), I went ahead and grabbed a Wayback Machine link for you. This way you don't just have to trust my sometimes unreliable memory. :P

Kaitch

Sorry, SNOT brackets?

thenos

Kaitch said:

Sorry, SNOT brackets?

It's a little known fact that boogers are a great adhesive, as long as you keep them in a decently high humidity. 

I think they're taking about something simple like this:
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=44728#T=P

SNOT is Studs Not On Top.

The_Rancor

^ Studs Not On Top

Baby_Yoda

J0rgen said:

The one thing I'm wondering about the new Star Wars game is wether they will grunt or speak. If they're back to grunts and mimicks I will definitely buy.

https://au.ign.com/videos/2019/06/12/everything-we-learned-about-lego-star-wars-the-skywalker-saga at 1:40
Unfortunately they have hired a full cast for the voice acting. However, they are also considering including the option to switch to grunting instead from the menu.

Astrobricks

Kaitch said:

Sorry, SNOT brackets?

This might be worth a review:
https://forum.brickset.com/discussion/2798/abbreviation-amp-acronym-list-collectors-edition/p1

Astrobricks

Aanchir said:

Astrobricks said:

Fizyx said:

Just saw the image below posted by LEGO on Facebook.  I have vague memories of hearing rumors about it before, but I was happy to see this reminder of one of my favorite LEGO facts ever:

How much sunlight is there in either a sauna or an oven?

None — the purpose of a test like this is not really about light-related issues like UV-related damage (which would probably be tested when approving new materials, rather than on a set-by-set basis), but rather about whether the connections between the bricks will be able to withstand the loosening that might result if, for example, you left the set on a sunny windowsill for an entire year.

From my understanding, the test usually involves putting every set in an oven at 60°C for four hours (the standard temperature or duration may have changed since I first read that, though). If the set breaks apart during the heat test, it shows the designer what parts of the model likely need to be locked together better using techniques such as an additional layer of plates, Technic pins and beams, SNOT brackets, or tighter hinges.

These points of weakness often aren't as obvious to the naked eye as more obvious weaknesses like the load-bearing single stud connections in the original version of Pete Reid's Exo-Suit, so the oven test is an important step to ensure that even a model that SEEMS sturdy and stable when you first build it will stay that way in the long term.

The page where I originally read an explanation from Jamie Berard about this isn't up online anymore, but since I remembered where and when it was (a 2011 post from the LEGO Creator designer blog), I went ahead and grabbed a Wayback Machine link for you. This way you don't just have to trust my sometimes unreliable memory. :P

Yes, I figured as much. It just struck me as odd that they said sunlight instead of heat.

J0rgen

@Baby_Yoda That would be perfect!

CaptainRogers

A couple new sets have been revealed at Comic Con. They're under the Lego leaks hashtag on Instagram. Doesn't seem like anything terribly exciting. 

Charmiefcb

We just had a landspeeder. Ah well. This is me when it comes out. BUT IT HAS A JAWA.

560Heliport

The previous landspeeder was a WalMart exclusive here in the States, so good to have one more widely available.

Bumblepants

560Heliport said:

The previous landspeeder was a WalMart exclusive here in the States, so good to have one more widely available.

So was the one that came out in 2010ish iirc. 

Redbullgivesuwind

I like Kenobi's hut. Although it seems small, from the images I have seen from the films it seems a very small place anyway. Besides for a winter set it is never going to be massive, like some people on the front seem to think it was going to be. The landspeeder is a pass as I have two already. But it must be popular to redo it. 

J0rgen

I'm happy Obi-Wan's home and the Landspeeder are separate sets! With the exclusive Obi-Wan and Tusken figs, in addition to the hologram and training droid, I think I'll end up getting that one.

The_Rancor

Say what you like about those two 2020 sets - they're 100x better than the snooze fest of Kashyyyk sets we got this January/April. For minifig lovers like me the Hut and Landspeeder are pretty boring but I like the foldout style of the hut and the Landspeeder (at least besides the grill) is still improving. If there was a new Bantha mould with the hut or Landspeeder I would've just gone "take my money!" and paid £10-£15 more. 

Lyichir

The_Rancor said:

Say what you like about those two 2020 sets - they're 100x better than the snooze fest of Kashyyyk sets we got this January/April. For minifig lovers like me the Hut and Landspeeder are pretty boring but I like the foldout style of the hut and the Landspeeder (at least besides the grill) is still improving. If there was a new Bantha mould with the hut or Landspeeder I would've just gone "take my money!" and paid £10-£15 more. 

I actually think the grill design is quite clever... yes, it uses stickers, but those not only give it a more authentic look but also do some interesting things with the proportions (since it uses a single row of SNOT tiles, bow bricks, and other details along the sides instead of just vertically stacked bricks).

J0rgen

There was a rumour earlier about a bantha/Skyhopper Microfighter coming next year. I hope it's true, as a cute little brick built bantha would be the icing on my Tatooine diorama. I will either use Obi-Wan's hut as a generic building in Mos Eisley, or convert it to the Lars homestead, using the aunt Beru figure that came with #4766.

Baby_Yoda

^ Ah, yes, I distinctly recall the scene in which Aunt Beru had an intense duel with Lord Voldemort.

SumoLego

(I don't think they've produced a proper Aunt Beru minifig?)

klinton

SumoLego said:

(I don't think they've produced a proper Aunt Beru minifig?)

Sure they have: 

https://brickset.com/minifigs/cas327

Kaitch

Somewhat off-topic: I have a micro machines playset with two Aunt Berus. One is a figure of her hollering for Luke to come back so she can tell him what droids she wants, the other is described on the box as "skeletal remains".

560Heliport

Wow, this got dark...

Bumblepants

560Heliport said:

Wow, this got dark...

yeah well the bones were blackened pretty good...

Redbullgivesuwind

Kaitch said:

Somewhat off-topic: I have a micro machines playset with two Aunt Berus. One is a figure of her hollering for Luke to come back so she can tell him what droids she wants, the other is described on the box as "skeletal remains".

Is that the death star that folds out to become Mos Eisley?

Slightly off topic I am loving the entitlement on the front page about the new sets. "I hate that Star Wars rehashes all these sets. Why won't they release this set that I really want?" seems to be the general feeling.

Bumblepants

Redbullgivesuwind said:

Is that the death star that folds out to become Mos Eisley?

Slightly off topic I am loving the entitlement on the front page about the new sets. "I hate that Star Wars rehashes all these sets. Why won't they release this set that I really want?" seems to be the general feeling.

Yeah I thought about replying but realized that is a waste of time. People like to ignore 
that our middle-aged selves with 5-20+ years of Lego collecting do not represent a typical consumer. Most people have no idea what sets were made in the past or how to acquire them. New kids are born, grow, watch Star Wars and want a Landspeeder or a Falcon. They don't want Willrow Hood Runs Down the Corridor With and Ice Cream Maker for a set. As much as I want to buy that it would probably be a mistake for them to manufacture it. There is a finite amount of ships and scenes in Star Wars worth making into sets and the iconic ships and vehicles are never going to go out of fashion.

The_Rancor

Aside from any feelings about other upcoming sets or rehashes (which are inevitable) - I am perpetually a bit disappointed we didn't get more from Rogue One, particularly as it was generally very liked by fans and critics alike. They could've jumped on that popularity and made various other location sets, Rogue One variants of iconic ships, actual Rogue One or an AT-ACT but they didn't seem to bother.

I can only assume Rogue One wasn't seen as so interesting for the core child demographic?

autolycus

A "Rogue One" ship set could be a possibility in the future if Cassian Andor uses that type of ship regularly in his Disney+ tv series. It wouldn't be "Rogue One" per se, since that was a call sign for the one mission, given by someone other than Cassian, but that could be the justification for doing that set.

SumoLego

Bumblepants said:
They don't want Willrow Hood Runs Down the Corridor With and Ice Cream Maker for a set.

That's the dream of every nine year-old.  LEGO Willrow, Savings Bonds, and a sturdy pair of socks.

Kaitch

@Redbullgivesuwind That's the one.

Of course the other common complaint is "whhy do we have all these sets from the new films? I don't like them, they're not a patch on the originals."

The_Rancor

^ That’s certainly not a complaint I make!

Kaitch

^I'm pretty sure that kind of complaint is why we only ever see OT UCS these days.

Redbullgivesuwind

Bumblepants said

 People like to ignore 

that our middle-aged selves with 5-20+ years of Lego collecting do not represent a typical consumer. Most people have no idea what sets were made in the past or how to acquire them. New kids are born, grow, watch Star Wars and want a Landspeeder or a Falcon. They don't want Willrow Hood Runs Down the Corridor With and Ice Cream Maker for a set. As much as I want to buy that it would probably be a mistake for them to manufacture it. There is a finite amount of ships and scenes in Star Wars worth making into sets and the iconic ships and vehicles are never going to go out of fashion.

I completely agree with you. Lego need to make money so they are going to focus on what sells well. That is X wings, Tie Fighters, At At and Landspeeders because kids remember those bits. They have tried making the obscure ships for adults like the b-wing and Jedi star fighter and they just didn’t sell. So why would lego make them. I also think people expect it to have a million things but be cheap. I feel like people now see MOCs or stuff on Lego ideas and assume that Lego must make those things because they like them. They don’t realise the other factors that go into making sets. People just like to complain.

Kaitch said:

@Redbullgivesuwind That's the one.

Of course the other common complaint is "whhy do we have all these sets from the new films? I don't like them, they're not a patch on the originals."

I remember having that as a kid it was epic. I am also certain I lost Beru inside the mechanism a well. I did collect the Hasbro micro machines for a while but they are impossible to find in the UK so gave up. 

Kaitch

@Redbullgivesuwind I have a couple packs of Galoob ships I can flip you, if you like.

Odeinoichus

I commented on the front, perhaps rather negatively, but I honestly feel that the Landspeeder set is a weak offering from LEGO. It used to be you could collect sets of this nature and they would go together quite nicely for a much better bang for your buck.

Thematically having Obi-Wan's Hut and Luke's Landspeeder as two separate sets that can be bought separately or together for one big fun building and play experience works.

What does not work is having a stupid little alcove of rocks with a Jawa in it about to jump out and attack instead of a brick built Bantha with Tusken. It may have upped the price of the one set defeating the purpose of making the two cheaper, but it would have made for a far more engaging play time effort.

Buy both sets re-enact that iconic scene, the Tusken Encounter and then heading back to Ben's place to recover. Now it's a weaker offering because one set has more going on for it (Ben's Hut) while the Landspeeder let's you run over a Jawa for no good reason.

The thematic nature of the two sets together is completely lost because the designers were forced to include something with the parts given to them that just doesn't match up.

It doesn't help that we have to pay 40$ for each set in Canada based on raising prices of these supposedly 'cheap to get' sets. I might pick both up, because Luke's poncho is new and I'm a stupid AFOL who buys anything LEGO Star Wars when he's in the mood, even stuff he really has no business buying. But for my money, I think I'd either wait for a sale or use up my VIP points as part of the purchase to get it gratis rather than waste dollars on something like another release of the Landspeeder that doesn't offer a whole lot of play experience.

So I occasionally still play with my toys, so sue me. It beats sticking them in a huge display in the basement and kragling them all to death.

dmcc0

^When I first saw the photos I assumed the "stupid little alcove of rocks" was where R2 was hiding after Luke gets attacked, which does make sense to include in the scene.  Only problem with that is that R2 isn't in the set!  Not really a big issue if, as pointed out, TLG want/expect you to buy both and R2-D2 isn't exactly a rare character so many folk may already have one.

It makes more sense for R2 to be in the Ben's hut set, especially with the Leia hologram part.

Not sure how big the market is for a brick-built Bantha is.  Presumably TLG don't think it's that big given they haven't done it before now; It's hardly an iconic creature in the Star Wars universe after all.

Odeinoichus

^ I was thinking more like building the Bantha similar to the creature from the Jakku set with Unkar Plutt's portions hut. Using unique sculpted elements with regular brick built techniques to make a decent Bantha.

The only reason it hasn't happened yet is because Tuskens in general haven't had a lot of sets dedicated to them, if at all. They have featured prominently only in Battle Packs and a few other sets for the sake of including the Minifigures, but Tusken scenes from the movies haven't been featured at all in any of the sets, for obvious reasons. Having a set where Anakin kills a ton of other characters in angry slaughter isn't exactly the best idea for a LEGO set.

dmcc0

^While I'd probably buy a set that included a Bantha, I don't think it's very likely to happen, mostly for the reasons you've already stated and I doubt they have much appeal to general LEGO Star Wars fans.  It would also be pretty expensive to produce as it would probably need a bunch of new molded parts and would be difficult to get the texture right; although they did do a Dewback, so anything's possible I suppose.

A Bantha wouldn't really add anything to the Landspeeder set in my opinion; it wasn't actually in the scene where Luke got attacked by the Tusken (unless you count the one he was viewing in the distance).