That prototype was built by Nathan Wells. It would be better for him to explain how the mechanism works.
Ben your castle kitchen is a good example of what separates Lego from its competitors, the ability to create detailed brick built scenes using well designed and detailed blocks, plates and mini figure utensils and why I would always be willing to pay more for them, over other brands;
I am also really interested in modular civilian sets. Unfortunately my civilian creations, and a few by the LEGO designers, did not test well with children. Retailers also prefer sets with action that will sell easily. Hopefully sets like these could be made as Shop at Home exclusives sometime in the future.
Yesterday when I first saw the mini figure selection in the latest 7029: Skeleton Ship Attack, I instantly thought I could see the influence of AFOL those crown knights heads give the impression of well seasoned man at arms and the homage to the pirates theme.
Actually this was probably the designers. Some in our group worked on Pirates in the 80's and 90's. Designers love old themes like Pirates and Western just like we do.
Tower of Iron Will wrote:I am glad to see LEGO take a serious interest in what AFOLs have to think. I am glad that our "community" had such representation and were able to help LEGO "build" a better Castle line. I hope this relationship will continue in the future.
I hope so as well. It really helps that everyone on CC often posts what they like and dislike about old and new sets. We try our best to get this infomation back to LEGO.
Webrain wrote:ok is that for real or I'm too drunk, is it really red forest man hat? white cape? round red shields? are those elements were made some sort way or the other?
All kinds of different colored pieces exist. I chose the white cape (and backwards police hat) for the cook because I wanted him to look different from the standard chef figure seen so often in Town sets. The red hat and shield were actually easier to find than a green hat and dark grey shield.
These are early prototypes and obviously color schemes and piece selection change with later designs. You can notice that my stables have blue and yellow flags which later became dark blue and gold flags in the sets. Unfortunately most prototypes, including mine, are photographed and destroyed after the set design process has been completed. Storing prototypes would take too much space.
Cool stuff, Ben. Very, very cool. Thanks for your work on this, I know how painful it must have been *pic with Ben holding MISB set and HUGE grin flashes through mind* Wink Altruistic? I think not.
Designing sets and remembering the various things that fans would like is much harder than it seems. But I also had a great time working with the designers, meeting various LEGO groups, visiting the set archives, etc.
Troy T. Moore wrote:So if you did all that what did the others do? What about Lenny (who I haven't seen a post from in ages), was he just there for the foreign food?
All of the group members worked online building and passing along our prototypes. Some of these relate to future sets so we can not share them yet. Only Mark Sandlin (for Space) and I (for castle) were chosen to go to Billund. Actually we were both back up choices when others could not go.
Will Classic-Castle benefit from this, in the sense that product images will be released here (say a couple of weeks or a month before release date) to placate the community and build anticipation? I am sure I am not the only one who wants to see the Dwarves Mine 70XX that is supposedly coming out in November (although I was hoping October as my b'day is just over half way through that month).
CC has been working with LEGO to get preview images since the beginning of KK2. Unfortunately decisions about releasing product images are made by various marketing teams. Lately these previews either have come too late (after leaked pictures are out) or been given accidentally to other sites (lugnet) first. Hopefully we will receive preview pictures again. On the other hand, LEGO was very generous to give Classic-Castle copies of the new line for the LEGO Castle Contest earlier this year.
Ben
