Indiana Jones™ and the Lost Tomb

Trapped in the tomb of serpents!
Indiana Jones™ and Marion are trapped in a tomb filled with poisonous snakes! It looks like there's no way out - or is there? Help Indy bring the statue crashing down so he and Marion can escape!

• Includes Indiana Jones with hat, whip and bag, and Marion minifigures!


• Send the statue crashing through the wall to escape the tomb and to reveal a hidden hanging skeleton!


• Includes snakes that drop from the ceiling!


• Tomb stands 5½" (14cm) high!

Indiana Jones™ Motorcycle Chase : LEGO Indiana Jones

Can Indy escape in time?
Indiana Jones™ and his father have found the treasure map that leads to the Holy Grail. But a guard is hot on their trail and the motorcycle chase is on! The gate is closing - Indy will have to crash right through it if he wants to escape!

• Includes Indiana Jones with hat, whip and bag, Professor Henry Jones, and guard!


• Includes Indiana Jones' motorbike with sidecar that detaches!


• Gate moves up and down!

Race for the Stolen Treasure : LEGO Indiana Jones

The ultimate chase!
Recreate one of the greatest chase scenes in movie history with this exciting set! The villains have stolen the treasure and Indy must get it back. Riding on horseback, he chases the truck, but can he defeat the guards and win back the treasure?

• Includes Indiana Jones™ with hat, whip and bag, guards and a horse!


• Treasure chest is being transported inside the covered truck!


• Truck measures 6" (15cm) long!

Temple Escape : LEGO Indiana Jones

Beware the jungle temple!
Indiana Jones™ has come to a temple deep in the jungle in search of an ancient idol. But can he avoid the collapsing walls, shooting arrow traps, slithering snakes, spiked walls and a massive boulder rolling right for him? It's all out action, Indy style!

• Includes Indiana Jones with hat, whip and shoulder bag, Belloq, Satipo and pilot minifigures!


• Help Indiana Jones take the gold idol before the statue falls, get past the flick-fire arrows, swing over the pit using his whip, run from the rolling boulder and past the swinging swords to safety!


• Set includes 6" (15cm) long plane with snake inside, just like the scene from the movie!


• Features and details include skull rocks, bat, spider, spiderweb, skeletons, gold coins and more!


• Temple measures a total of 21" (53cm) long!

LEGO : What to look for / look out for when buying

This is just a small guide to help those of you out there when wanting to purchase LEGO for yourself or for children. The first thing you need to understand is the following meanings and what they REALLY mean:

MISB: Mint In Sealed Box: Generally this is the best option for buying lego, it means the item has not been opened and the lego has never been taken out of the box, thus ensuring mint lego that has never been played with. Although having said that, make sure you ask if the box has been opened and just sealed again. MISB should mean it has never been opened.

MIB: Mint In Box: Now be careful, because this doesn't necessarily mean the lego has never been opened, it just means it is considered to be Mint condition (in the sellers opinion), and can often mean the lego has been played with, but is still in top notch condition, depending on the honesty of the seller. Depending on the integrity of the seller, they may say it is in "good" condition, and comes with the box, thus giving it a very poor description of "Mint In Box".

USED LEGO..Okay this is just anyones guess as to the condition of the lego. I have purchased lego before from people, and found it to be below average quality and ended up throwing it out, as I consider lego that has been twisted and bitten to be very poor, and not worth selling.

So just make sure you ask, does the lego have the following, I know it sounds funny, but it wont be funny when you receive lego in the mail with the following problems:

• Bite marks from children playing with it and trying to seperate the pieces.
• Stains or fading this is sometimes obvious over time.
• Severe scratches there is nothing worse than getting an older space lego platform with huge scratch marks running down the spaceship platforms.
• Floppy lego this is a notable problem from older lego, or simply lego that has been played with heavily and as a result, it doesn't "hold" into the positions you want, such as the arms on men or their visors on helmets, just fall down after you move them and/or any item that moves will no longer hold in any position and just falls down. You want lego that is stiff, and able to be held into any position, just ask the seller, is the lego stiff when you try to move it?
• Marked lego which means it could be promotional lego and such, with strange pictures on it, for example, pieces that you have been trying to find, may come with a picture of a fluffy bunny on it or eyes and a smile, or any other pictures, as many lego pieces have pre-printed images on them depending on the set they come from, which wont look to cool if you are intending to use the pieces on a star wars lego model..

Another good tip is to make sure you ask, is the set complete, in other words, are you about to purchase a set, that is missing a character, or pieces that you need. You can always check out websites on the internet that solely upload instructions of all lego models ever made, which has its obvious wonderful advantages.

by: bonsaibuddyman

LEGO® Mindstorms sets - A basic guide

The LEGO® Mindstorm sets are some of the best LEGO fun a person can have. But where do you start? There are many versions and accessories, and to wade through them all can be confusing! This guide will hopefully get you on the right path to join the Mindstorms fun.



Beginning....

• Robotics Discovery Set 9735
  
  
  

The Robotics Discovery Set is a beginning Mindstorm set that DOES NOT require a computer or software. Its main controller brick is the blue Scout microcomputer with built in programming. It has a built in light sensor, and two each input and output sensor ports. This set also includes 2 motors and 2 touch sensors. This set was recommended for ages 9 and up, though it really is suitable for all. It is completely compatible with the Robotics Invention System (RIS) sets, so don't be afraid to just to try it out. All the parts, motors, and sensors can be used with the full RIS sets, so it really is a good start to see if you like what you are doing before you go plunking out $200 for a full set! It is long discontinued from Lego, but available on eBay. Great value for a first Mindstorms set, plus it is compatible with the Ultimate Accessory Set 3801.

• Star Wars Droid Developer Kit (DDK) 9748

• Star Wars Dark Side Developer Kit (DSDK) 9754
  

These are great for both the Star Wars and Mindstorms fans! The Droid DK includes building instructions for R2-D2 and other "rolling" Star Wars robots, along with a CD with more advanced challenges and some fun ideas. The Dark Side DK includes building instructions for the walking AT-AT robot and other walking Star Wars robots, along with directions for a generic "walker" base so you can move on to create your own walkers. Both sets include the MicroScout microcontroller that has 7 built-in programs with one built in motor and light sensor. Since they only have the 7 programs, they are somewhat limited in their programming capability, but still great to start off with. Nearly any robot you build with these sets can be upgraded by swapping out the MicroScout with the RCX. Also, for more advanced Mindstorms users, the MicroScout can be slave-controlled by the RCX, essentially getting you an extra motor and light sensor for your more advanced creations. Though long discontinued sets, these are still available on eBay. Both sets come with a mighty collection of technic parts that are VERY useful in robot building, so don't be too quick to pass one of these by.
Intermediate...

• Robotics Invention System 1.0(9719), 1.5(9747), 2.0(3804), and Mindstorms for Schools

These are the first core sets of Mindstorms series. Of course, the RIS 1.0 set came first, followed by the 1.5 and 2.0 sets. There were software upgrades available to purchase when each of the newer sets were released to bring the previous users up to the current standard. These sets are based on the yellow RCX programmable brick. The RCX has 3 input ports for sensors and 3 output ports for motors, lights, and other output devices. All of the programming is done on your computer then downloaded into the RCX. The 1.0 set includes the 1.0 RCX with the adapter port. This adapter port is great if you have a non-moving robot because it lets you plug the RCX in the wall (using any standard 9V adapter) to save on batteries. I think the 1.0 sets have the best Constructopedia which is great for beginning robot builders because it is more comprehensive. If you own one of the 1.0 sets, be on the lookout for the 3803 upgrade parts kits (as well as the newer 2.0 software) because you are missing some of the special Technic parts that came in the later sets. The 1.5 and 2.0 sets have nearly the same number of total pieces as the 1.0 sets, but more are Technic parts. The 1.5 and 2.0 kits are nearly identical parts-wise, but the IR tower and the software changed with the 2.0 kits. The 1.5 kit has the serial IR tower, whereas the 2.0 kits have the USB tower and also came with a fiber optic cable for more advanced users to slave another RCX, a Scout, or MicroScout. The 1.5 and 2.0 RCX do not have the power adapter port, but with the availability of inexpensive rechargeable NiMH AA batteries, it isn't that big of a deal anymore. Whatever set you have, get a copy of the 2.0 software. It really is much better, unless you have a Mac and need to use Robolab. The RIS 2.0 software will also upgrade some of your expansion sets' software. Any version of the software is compatible with any version of RCX...it is all interchangeable so far. There are MANY Mindstorms enthusiasts websites with oodles of information on the awesome power of these sets. Once you move past the basics, take a look around online. You can find some really fun stuff to do with your kit!The Mindstorms for Schools sets are designed to be used with the Robolab software. They are mostly the same as the RIS sets, but the newest school sets come with some extra Technic parts, along with an extra light sensor, and light/lamp brick. These are usually only available to First Lego League teams and the educational market.

• RIS Expansion Sets
  Keep in mind these are all discontinued and getting harder to find! Most require the basic RIS system.

• Ultimate Accessory Set 3801

The Ultimate Accessory Set includes a Remote Control, an extra Touch Sensor, a Rotation Sensor, a Light set with transparent bricks and reflector, and some of the best Technic building elements. This is one of the few expansion sets also compatible with the Robotics Discovery Set (except for the rotation sensor).

• Robosports 9730

RoboSports includes a Challenge CD, a court mat, an extra 9V geared Motor, balls and pucks to play games, and parts to make Game and Sport robots.

• Extreme Creatures 9732

Extreme Creatures includes a Challenge CD, the RARE Fiber Optic element with optic cables, and parts to make Exotic creatures.

• Exploration Mars 9736

Exploration Mars includes a Challenge CD and parts to recreate special Mars missions included on the CD. Comes with extra long cables to power your robot from far away. Bonus - use the set with the Vision Command for some fun extra challenges on the Exploration Mars CD. It feels like your robot is really on Mars and you are controlling it remotely!

• Vision Command 9731

Vision Command includes the Lego Cam with software and parts to build seeing, spying, and smarter robots. This also lets your RIS robots see color for sorting machines, etc. The Camera can also be used as a webcam. This is the only expansion set that does not require the RIS system. It can be used as a stand alone product, but of course is a lot more fun with the RIS!

Advanced...

• Ultimate Builders Set 3800

The Ultimate Builders Set is the one of the most desired expansion sets not only for the pneumatics, but also for the special CD that has step-by-step building instructions from the LEGO Master Builders. The set includes aome pneumatics parts and lots of technic pieces to create some of the most advanced robots. Not for the faint hearted, but the robots are top-notch!

There are also many books and numerous websites devoted to the Mindstorms sets, too many to list!

News: 2008 Indiana Jones sets now available from the LEGO Shop

The main LEGO Shop page on LEGO.com hasn’t been updated yet, but the new Indiana Jones sets are now available from the LEGO Shop online.

You can get all four sets in the Indiana Jones™ Classic Adventures Collection. In fact, if you buy them from that link, you’ll be helping us pay the bills.

And now for a celebrity endorsement.











(Josie the dachshund is the celebrity, not me. He’s in a book.)

News: More 2008 LEGO Castle, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars set pictures

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Fans everywhere are running across better and better pictures of upcoming sets. Top LEGO Toys is famous (dare I say notorious?) for finding leaked pictures, and this latest batch is no exception.
Bearing in mind that we don’t yet know if these are just prototypes, and that LEGO has not yet confirmed that these are even “official,” here are a few of my favorites (see Top LEGO Toys for bigger pictures and several more I didn’t include here):

7622 Race for the Stolen Treasure: Lego Indiana Jones

7620 Motorcycle Chase: Lego Indiana Jones

7668 Rebel Scout Speeder : Lego Star Wars

7036 Dwarfs Mining:

Of particular note for Castle fans:
- Trolls in brown and green.
- Green dragon with armor.
- Two new helmets for the goblins and two more for the dwarfs.
- A new sword for the goblins and a new club for the trolls.
- Two new beard designs for the dwarfs.

LEGO Indiana Jones News

The fedora-wearing archaeologist is set to get the plastic brick treatment in time for Summer 2008...
LucasArts has confirmed the development of LEGO Indiana Jones: The Videogame ahead of a release to coincide with the launch of the fourth movie during Summer 2008.
Following in the footsteps of Lucas empire's other famous brand Star Wars, LEGO Indiana Jones: The Videogame will recreate the storylines of the first three movies in 'plastic bricks', and is currently in production at TT Games.
"LucasArts and TT Games are setting the bar for next-generation family entertainment with the LEGO Star Wars franchise, and our incredible relationship continues with LEGO Indiana Jones," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. "In addition to providing the quality bonding time inspired by any good family game, LEGO Indiana Jones delivers something a little different for everyone. Parents will enjoy the humorous take on some of their favorite movies, and their kids get some rousing action/adventure gameplay that may also introduce them to Indy's original adventures for the first time."
"It has been a real joy to work with LucasArts on the LEGO Star Wars games. Indiana Jones is the perfect character for the next LEGO-based videogame adventure," said Tom Stone, director at TT Games. "Indy also presents us with wonderful and memorable cinematic moments. The boulder scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark in LEGO is hilarious!"
LucasArts themselves are currently working on a new Indiana Jones videogame, set a year after the events of The Last Crusade, which is also pencilled in for release during 2008.

Design and manufacture

Lego pieces of all varieties have been, first and foremost, part of a universal system. Despite tremendous variation in the design and purpose of individual pieces over the years, each remains compatible in some way with existing pieces. Lego bricks from 1963 still interlock with those made in 2008, and Lego sets for young children are compatible with those made for teenagers.
Bricks, beams, axles, mini figures, and all other elements in the Lego system are manufactured to an exacting degree of tolerance. When snapped together, pieces must have just the right amount of "clutch power"; they must stay together until pulled apart. They cannot be too easy to pull apart, or the resulting constructions would be unstable; they also cannot be too difficult to pull apart, since the disassembly of one creation in order to build another is part of the Lego appeal. In order for pieces to have just the right "clutch power", Lego elements are manufactured within a tolerance of 2 µm.
Since 1963, Lego pieces have been manufactured from a strong, resilient plastic known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS. Precision-machined, small-capacity molds are used, and human inspectors check the output of the molds, to eliminate significant variations in color or thickness. Worn-out molds are encased in the foundations of buildings to prevent their falling into competitors' hands. According to the Lego Group, about eighteen bricks out of every million fail to meet the standard required.Only one percent of the plastic waste in Lego factories goes unrecycled.
Manufacturing of Lego bricks occurs at a number of locations around the world. Molding is done at one of two plants in Denmark and Czech Republic. Brick decorations and packaging is done at plants in Denmark, United States, Mexico and the Czech Republic. Annual production of Lego bricks averages approximately 20 billion (2×1010) per year, or about 6000 pieces per second. To put this in context, if all the Lego bricks ever produced were to be divided equally among a world population of six billion, each person would have 62 Lego bricks.
In 2007, Lego Group announced a restructuring of the current production setup including the outsourcing of some of the production work to Flextronics, a Singaporean electronics company. Lego Group plans to close the production facility in Enfield, Connecticut and outsource this work to the Flextronics factory in Mexico. Flextronics will also oversee the factory in Kladno, Czech Republic. The Czech facilities would also be expanded due to the planned closing of the Swiss factory in Baar, which mostly manufactured TECHNIC parts.

History of LEGO

The Lego Group had a very humble beginning in the workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter from Billund, Denmark. Christiansen began creating wooden toys in 1932; the company began calling itself "Lego" two years later in 1934. The company expanded to producing plastic toys in 1947. In 1949, Lego began producing the now-famous interlocking bricks, calling them "Automatic Binding Bricks". These bricks were based largely on the design of Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks, which were released in the UK in 1947. The first Lego bricks, manufactured from cellulose acetate, were developed in the spirit of traditional wooden blocks that could be stacked upon one another; however, these plastic bricks could be "locked" together. They had several round "studs" on top, and a hollow rectangular bottom. The blocks snapped together, but not so tightly that they could not be pulled apart.
The company name Lego was coined by Christiansen from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means "play well". The name could also be interpreted as "I put together" or "I assemble" in Latin, though this would be a somewhat forced application of the general sense "I collect; I gather; I learn"; the word is most used in the derived sense, "I read". The cognate Greek verb "λέγω" or "lego" also means "gather, pick up", but this can include constructing a stone wall.

The Lego Group's motto is "Only the best is good enough", translated from the Danish phrase, Det bedste er ikke for godt. This motto was created by Ole Kirk to encourage his employees never to skimp on quality, a value he believed in strongly. The motto is still used within the company today.
The use of plastic for toy manufacture was not highly regarded by retailers and consumers of the time. Many of the Lego Group's shipments were returned, following poor sales; it was thought that plastic toys could never replace wooden ones.
By 1954, Christiansen's son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, had become the junior managing director of the Lego Group. It was his conversation with an overseas buyer that struck the idea of a toy system. Godtfred saw the immense potential in Lego bricks to become a system for creative play, but the bricks still had some problems from a technical standpoint: their "locking" ability was limited, and they were not very versatile. It was not until 1958 that the modern-day brick design was developed, and it took another five years to find exactly the right material for it. The modern Lego brick was patented on January 28, 1958, and bricks from that year are still compatible with current bricks.

BY Wikipedia