LOTR and the hobbit lego

Discussion of official LEGO Castle Theme sets and products
User avatar
Bruce N H
Precentor of the Scriptorium
Posts: 6311
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 9:11 pm
Location: Middle Zealand
Contact:

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Bruce N H »

Sir Kohran wrote: I’m just concerned that future sets won’t be able to avoid continuously featuring the same Fellowship and Rohan characters and generic Orcs. The rest of the sets won’t consist of much beyond trees, rocks and walls, with the only distinctive feature being a baddie specific to a certain area like Saruman, the Mumakil, Denethor, or the Witch King.
If the Star Wars and Harry Potter licenses are any guide, yes, we will get multiple copies of the main characters. Actually we're in better shape here compared to HP, since there are more main characters to include. Again looking at other licenses, we'll probably get different torsos for them, to encourage people to get new sets to get new versions of the figs. E.g. Merry and Pippin will eventually be clad in the liveries of Rohan and Gondor. After Lorien the whole company picks up new cloaks, Gandalf will certainly have gray and white iterations, etc. Then, of course, there are tons and tons of more minor but still significant figs to include. For instance, we have yet to see any women (Arwen, Galadriel, Eowyn). And even with these we should get multiples. For instance, we'll get Eowyn in a dress at one point and in armor at another. Plus the SW line has shown that collectors will be happy to pick up fairly obscure characters. Fatty Bolger, anyone? How about Gildor Inglorion? Farmer Maggot? The Gaffer? Rosie? And that's without even leaving the Shire.

I also don't agree that all we'll have will be "trees, rocks and walls". I predict that there will be several sets located around Minas Tirith, that will hopefully fit together to make a larger scene. Plus we haven't seen almost any of the major structures: Bag end, Prancing Pony, Rivendell, Meduseld, Orthanc would all be good sets.

Bruce
[url=http://comicbricks.blogspot.com/]ComicBricks[/url] [url=http://godbricks.blogspot.com/]GodBricks[/url] [url=http://microbricks.blogspot.com/]MicroBricks[/url] [url=http://minilandbricks.blogspot.com/]MinilandBricks[/url] [url=http://scibricks.blogspot.com/]SciBricks[/url] [url=http://vignettebricks.blogspot.com/]VignetteBricks[/url] [url=http://www.classic-castle.com/bricktales/]Brick Tales[/url]
User avatar
Sir Kohran
Sheriff
Posts: 1568
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:24 am

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Sir Kohran »

Bruce N H wrote:Plus the SW line has shown that collectors will be happy to pick up fairly obscure characters. Fatty Bolger, anyone? How about Gildor Inglorion? Farmer Maggot? The Gaffer? Rosie?
Rosie aside, none of those characters made it to the movies, upon which the line's based. I can't see Lego going that obscure.
Bruce N H wrote:I also don't agree that all we'll have will be "trees, rocks and walls". I predict that there will be several sets located around Minas Tirith, that will hopefully fit together to make a larger scene. Plus we haven't seen almost any of the major structures: Bag end, Prancing Pony, Rivendell, Meduseld, Orthanc would all be good sets.
In theory there's plenty of places, but I doubt many of them will make it to set form because there's just not the required conflict there. Problematically, quite a lot of the action occurs in the open wilderness.

Having said that, there's definitely loads of potential in Minas Tirith/Pelennor; I imagine there could (and in fact predict there will) be an entire wave of sets covering it.

I'm not saying the line has nowhere to go in future at all, of course it does, I just wonder how it can progress once all the obvious sets have been done.
User avatar
DaleDVM
Journeyman
Posts: 428
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:46 am
Location: Illinois, USA

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by DaleDVM »

The back legs are posable. The horses can go from flat to near vertical from the reports. I think the new horses are one of the biggest things to happen to castle in a while. Now my scenes can involve actual moving cavalry units and jousting knights. (that actually look like they are moving!)

The new 1x2 piece with the brick facing is now coming in light bley. Another big event for us castle builders! :eyebrows:

Shelob looks great from that angle.

I agree with Bruce if this was a castle for the actual castle line it would be met with critical acclaim. With all of the new molds, I think this will be great developement for a lot of us castle fans. :)
User avatar
Kev
Bailiff
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2003 9:21 pm

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Kev »

If just the back legs swing as a unit, I don't know how useful this will be beyond rearing. I think you'd really need to be able to move the front legs too. At that point, you'd also really have to make the legs bendable.....and then you're making action figures, not legos.
User avatar
DaleDVM
Journeyman
Posts: 428
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:46 am
Location: Illinois, USA

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by DaleDVM »

If you can attach the horse down at the fron legs you could make him bucking like a rodeo horse or just have them going straight back like he is running? Not sure though...
User avatar
Medieval Guy
Squire
Posts: 621
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:58 pm
Location: "Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains!"

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Medieval Guy »

Kev wrote:If just the back legs swing as a unit, I don't know how useful this will be beyond rearing. I think you'd really need to be able to move the front legs too. At that point, you'd also really have to make the legs bendable.....and then you're making action figures, not legos.
I definitely see your point. Where should the line be drawn for something like this?
[url=http://www.mocpages.com/home.php/70980]MOCpages[/url]
User avatar
mencot
Twifealdlic Builder
Posts: 1180
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:28 am
Location: Den of unforgotten heros
Contact:

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by mencot »

Kev wrote:If just the back legs swing as a unit, I don't know how useful this will be beyond rearing. I think you'd really need to be able to move the front legs too. At that point, you'd also really have to make the legs bendable.....and then you're making action figures, not legos.
Yes this is absolutely true, but it seems like Lego is going in that direction (I don`t like it :( ) with products they are making, like those speed racers, (or what their are named) my wifes, sisters son has got one of those and the car consisted of 3 parts.
Back to topic.
These sets are looking to turn out great, considering it is a licenced set and has fleshies. But it has some great parts and new orcs and trolls :woo:
Sir Mencot Paladin and rogue
[img]http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/lord-of-orks/map/rankings/citizen3.jpg[/img][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8487960182_6a051704d4_t.jpg[/img][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8636932919_7220cc2cc9_m.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mencot]Flickr[/url]
User avatar
Knight Man
Journeyman
Posts: 441
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:00 am
Location: Upper Midwest
Contact:

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Knight Man »

DaleDVM wrote:The back legs are posable. The horses can go from flat to near vertical from the reports. I think the new horses are one of the biggest things to happen to castle in a while. Now my scenes can involve actual moving cavalry units and jousting knights. (that actually look like they are moving!)
The new 1x2 piece with the brick facing is now coming in light bley. Another big event for us castle builders! :eyebrows:
great developement for a lot of us castle fans. :)
Has anyone seen pictures of the horse and what colors is it coming in? What new 1x2 piece and whats light bley?. ~KnightMan~
[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8406300705_86b2d80f86_m.jpg[/img] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/76575933@N02/]My Flickr[/url] [url=https://brickset.com/sets/ownedby-The_Creator]My sets[/url]
User avatar
wobnam
Master Liliputian
Master Liliputian
Posts: 566
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:15 pm

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by wobnam »

Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Masonry Profile (Brick Profile). Bley = light bluish gray = light gray since early 00s.
User avatar
Knight Man
Journeyman
Posts: 441
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:00 am
Location: Upper Midwest
Contact:

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Knight Man »

wobnam wrote:Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Masonry Profile (Brick Profile). Bley = light bluish gray = light gray since early 00s.
Oh I get it and that brick in grey, Nice. ~KnightMan~
[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8406300705_86b2d80f86_m.jpg[/img] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/76575933@N02/]My Flickr[/url] [url=https://brickset.com/sets/ownedby-The_Creator]My sets[/url]
User avatar
andhe
Barber-Surgeon
Posts: 635
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by andhe »

Knight Man wrote:
DaleDVM wrote:The back legs are posable. The horses can go from flat to near vertical from the reports. I think the new horses are one of the biggest things to happen to castle in a while. Now my scenes can involve actual moving cavalry units and jousting knights. (that actually look like they are moving!)
The new 1x2 piece with the brick facing is now coming in light bley. Another big event for us castle builders! :eyebrows:
great developement for a lot of us castle fans. :)
Has anyone seen pictures of the horse and what colors is it coming in? What new 1x2 piece and whats light bley?. ~KnightMan~
If you go back a page there are pictures of the sets from the German toy fair. Admittedly the horses are rather hard to make out but we may get more photos from the New York toy fair this weekend.

The hip joint is a good solution without going fully poseable. It works well with the new bear mould (which I had hoped would turn up in a castle set before the LotR bombshell scuppered those dreams). My main fear is that the horse head also looks moulded, similar to the cows... Which were decried for being too 'duplo'. This would also make using them alongside old horses quite awkward.
Less talking, more MOCing.

https://www.instagram.com/classicstylecastle/
User avatar
Aliencat
Josh's Minion
Posts: 2177
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:21 pm
Contact:

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Aliencat »

Kev wrote:Looking at "Gandalf the Grey"
Gandalf the Bley, no?
Between plotting to kill you all and chasing balls of yarn, I also build [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/30639040@N02/albums]MOCs[/url]

[img]http://stopthetrack.com/lego/embassy/alienambassadorpng.png[/img]
User avatar
BTappel
Freeman
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 11:54 am

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by BTappel »

Those sets look really well done, and not too pricey either! So many rock and castle pieces and new weapons and armor :twitch: Very few themes could have replaced kingdoms and kept me happy, but this is one of them! I will be glued to my computer this weekend.
User avatar
Kev
Bailiff
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2003 9:21 pm

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by Kev »

Aliencat wrote:
Kev wrote:Looking at "Gandalf the Grey"
Gandalf the Bley, no?
No, lego actually has the figure labeled 'Gandalf the Grey', which means that a 'Gandalf the White' figure is already being planned.
User avatar
DaleDVM
Journeyman
Posts: 428
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:46 am
Location: Illinois, USA

Re: LOTR and the hobbit lego

Post by DaleDVM »

I would agree Kev. It is purely speculation but I would imagine that LOTR will take a tact similar to the Star Wars license. The continued release of new versions of the minifigs over the next few years, will encourage sales of the sets over the entire run of the line.

A minifig centric theme is what I am expecting. Luckily so far, the parts and new molds included in the sets will work well for my MOCing needs as well.
Post Reply