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Subject: 
Re: Thoughts on 1999 Train Sets
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.trains
Date: 
Tue, 5 Jan 1999 15:37:52 GMT
Reply-To: 
JOHNNEAL@USWEST.NETspamcake
Viewed: 
641 times
  
a couple of thoughts: whom are we kidding here?  If a set contains only a few new
and useful pieces, we're all gonna buy it- TLG has us over the barrel.  It
doesn't matter how cool the set is; if I already have the pieces, I'll just build
it.  Most of you guys out there are building far superior stuff than TLG has come
up with (I submit Will's rotary plow vs 4533 as an example). What we need is more
variety.  BTW Matt, have you seen what playmobil is doing to their train line--
plastic track and battery power??!! Phooey!!
What I say is:  how about a little competition from Mega-blocks....
-John

Matthew Bates wrote:

Here's my opinion on the new sets (in descending order)

1. 4519 Cross track. Very cool. Really the only 99 set that is in the same
league as the original 1991 train sets. A Must Buy

2. 4557 Container Crane. Nice set, with almost no Town Jr influence. I know it
doesn't slide backwards and forwards like the old one, but this makes the set
simpler and presumably cheaper. I like the fact you get two pairs of crane
legs with this one and a weighing mechanism. I hope that baseplate isn't DARK
grey, that would be really annoying. A Definite Buy.

3. 4541 Cherry Picker. Reasonable set, fairly classic design, let down by the
lack of operating doors. A Should Buy.

4. 4553 Train Wash. A good idea, reasonably well executed but I'm not sure
from the picture how well it will work. Shame about the stupid
         ______
town jr /      \ piece on top. And why do Lego insist on those 1x6 railings on
every single truck (frieght car)?. A Should Probably Buy.

5. 4556 Station. I actually quite like this station despite its simplicity. I
know it doesn't compare well with the 4554 but I have three of them, why do I
need more? It has some nice features such as the stair piece (I think I've
only seen this in Wild West before). It is one of the best parts sets I've
seen in a while, with plenty of modern windows, lattice fences, harbour
baseplates, round red bricks etc. With two of these sets and some basic bricks
you could build a really nice modern station. A Should Buy Two!

6. 4533 Snow Remover. Great idea, but could do better on the design.  I'll buy
one just to see the mechanism work but other than that it's a Don't Buy.

7. 4561 Railway Express. Big disappointment. This set is ridiculously wacky.
The current Duplo trains are more realistic than this set. A Don't Buy. This
is sad because it's the only set that's likely to appear in US shops at all
and I can't see it attracting many kids (or parents).

Overall it's good to see Lego continuing the Train range but they really must
pull their socks up in the design department. I don't understand why they
think they need to move away from realistic designs, that's what got me
interested in Lego trains in the first place. Hey Lego, take a look at what
Playmobil offer in their train range (and town range for that matter) and
you'll see that your stuff looks plain silly in comparison.

Matt



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Thoughts on 1999 Train Sets
 
John Neal wrote: <snip> (...) Well, the new Playbobil trains are RC trains, which I think is a great idea! The plastic track lets the train run inside or outside. All in all, I think Playmobil did an excellent job at designing their new train line. (...) (25 years ago, 5-Jan-99, to lugnet.trains)
  Re: Thoughts on 1999 Train Sets
 
(...) I'm a little late here, but where can I see Will's rotary plow? URL Anyone? Cheers - Barbara [I've 'borrowed' Jeremy's account for the time being until he can un-tie himself in the closet!] (25 years ago, 16-Jan-99, to lugnet.trains)

Message is in Reply To:
  Thoughts on 1999 Train Sets
 
Here's my opinion on the new sets (in descending order) 1. 4519 Cross track. Very cool. Really the only 99 set that is in the same league as the original 1991 train sets. A Must Buy 2. 4557 Container Crane. Nice set, with almost no Town Jr (...) (25 years ago, 4-Jan-99, to lugnet.trains)

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