Miguel is writing to me this morning to point out a problem that may seem trivial to some but which may prove annoying for others who consider that at the price or we pay for our sets, we have the right to be demanding.

It turns out that the set from the LEGO The Hobbit range 79003 An Unexpected Gathering is delivered according to the boxes with two types of arches (Tan Brick, Arch 1 x 6 x 2 - 4114073 on the instructions of the set) different intended for the assembly of the window of the house of Bilbo: Some of these arches are indeed equipped with a plastic stopper making it possible to maintain the elements locked between two of these parts and others have just an empty groove there. The absence of this stop induces a floating of a few millimeters of the elements of the window which is for some quite unpleasant.

Unfortunately, it seems that the distribution of the parts concerned is random according to the boxes. Some buyers get the parts with the stopper pin, others get the parts fully hollowed out.

A dedicated topic was opened by Miguel on Eurobricks to try to determine the importance of the problem that several buyers of this box have already come forward to confirm.

The instruction booklet clearly shows this stopper in the center of the part's groove.

LEGO has been contacted regarding this issue, I will keep you informed of the response.

Here is the first episode of what was to be announced as an event and which has been the subject of a major teasing from LEGO in recent weeks.

In view of the first images, it looks more like advertising than a real animated series.

No line of dialogue, no scenario, just action scenes with the latest novelties from the LEGO Star Wars range ...

I'll let you judge with the video of the first part of the first episode below:

http://youtu.be/dGdhWDEAmvc

Come on, to complete this series of MOCs on Helm's Deep and because I know that there are a lot of Hungarian readers who visit the blog, here is a nice thumbnail offered by one of their compatriots Mihaly Toth aka Majkol, a freelance designer (see his website) LEGO fan.

The absurd but nonetheless epic scene in which Theoden, Legolas, Aragorn and the others come out of the fortress of Hornburg to go subdue the orc while awaiting Gandalf's arrival is interpreted here rather well.

You are going to reproach me again for my bad faith and tell me that I see evil everywhere. Or rather marketing everywhere. You may be right, but do you ever know ...

A few weeks ago, we had already been treated to the 2012 Christmas tale made in LEGO: a 10-year-old KFOL who spent the last two years of his youth patiently saving his pocket money to be able to afford the 10194 Emerald set. Night realizes that it is too late to buy it in the store and that this set is no longer produced. Alternative sources of supply are out of reach for the kid's budget.

He then writes to LEGO to ask if there is not by chance a box lying in a corner. LEGO's response is polite but negative. But a few days later, a package from LEGO arrives unexpectedly at the young man's home with in the box ... the set 10194 Emerald Night.

The parents of course took care to film the unpacking of the package by the boy and the hysteria that followed and to post the video on YouTube.

Immediately, the web ignites for this story and everyone is fighting to shout loudly that LEGO is a company with heart and who knows how to take care of its customers. Mission accomplished. End of the story, morality is safe and the part of the dream assured.

La new beautiful story of the moment is that of another 7-year-old KFOL who accidentally misplaced his Jay ZX Ninjago minifigure while shopping with his father.

Once again, and on the advice of his father, the young man therefore writes to LEGO to beg for the replacement of his minifig. He knows that he is solely responsible for the loss of the minifig and that LEGO may respond in the negative, but whoever tries nothing has nothing.

LEGO replies that Sensei Wu, the Ninjago master with a big heart and legendary wisdom, has decided to replace his minifig for free and even add another one, just to say ...

Here again, the story goes around the web and social networks. Everyone gets carried away by the generosity of the brand and the quality of customer service.

So, I want to believe that great stories do exist, that LEGO does indeed have a great customer service, that the brand has an excellent reputation, etc ...

But I always remain very circumspect in front of too beautiful stories, well staged, abundantly relayed on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and others and inevitably taken again by many media, specialized or not.

To find out all about these pretty Christmas tales or these well-conducted marketing operations and form your own opinion:

Tale N°1: I want an Emerald Night, there's more, give me one, please Mister LEGO.
Tale N°2: I lost my minifig, give me another one, please Mr. LEGO.

PS: For those who do not know the Milka groundhog, click on the image above. This is an advertisement.

Helm's Deep is definitely on the rise at the moment and many MOCeurs are trying to replicate the fortress of Hornburg or modify the one from set 9474.

It is Georges G.'s turn to offer us his version with this creation in micro format.

As far as I'm concerned, it's flawless. Everything is there, up to the manhole cover in the wall.

The MOCeur ensures that it is only at the beginning of a series of MOCs in micro format based on the universe of Lord of the Rings. And that's good.

Remember to consult regularly his flickr gallery, or come back here, to see the rest.