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General => Report & Review => Topic started by: townklicky on March 09, 2013, 14:00:54

Title: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: townklicky on March 09, 2013, 14:00:54
Today, I got 5422 Alpine lodge and 5426 Cable Car, Both fantastic sets, but the Alpine lodge was not System X, (not one X piece or a yellow tool in site) Instead it is a slot system, with tabs more like steck, however will not combine as is different thickness and really can only be put together as instructions state. I was sure Playmobil had confirmed this was system X a while ago...

Really great content included, with a proper pub bar with a beer pump on it. Very solid when built and will fit in well.

I will post some pictures once camera battery is charged.
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: basilsdad on March 09, 2013, 14:34:32
This is great news, so looking forward to seeing some close up pics.  Thanks so much.
Joe
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: bonniebeth on March 09, 2013, 15:05:08
Not system x!? You're right, I'm positive that they confirmed in the PCC that it was system x! ??? Anyway... I'll be interested to see the new system, and some close-ups and different angles. Is the system customizable, meaning if you had more than one alpine lodge, could you expand it (if it weren't for the roof)?
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Rasputin on March 09, 2013, 15:15:56
This is bitter sweet news. I so wish playmobil would abandon the clip system. I and my sons would have wanted to expand this building into a properly sized mountain house or lodge but noooo. I guess Geobra does not want us buying the same set x10 and they need to cater to the unimaginative, uncreative, non engineering, whinny parents and their boring offspring

The bar and tap sounds interesting and we will look forward to your pictures.

Thanks for the info

PS, your right about Geobras answer


"PCC MemberPermalink Reply by PLAYMOBIL® on October 22, 2012 at 18:05


Dear Rasputin,
 
The chalet is completely made of System X.
 
Your PCC team
"
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Tiermann on March 09, 2013, 16:29:43
The instructions are available for download, which makes it pretty clear. I wasn't too keen on it at first but after looking through the instructions I think it is going to find a place as a restaurant/Biergarten in the Alpine section of my zoo. Looking forward to your review
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: basilsdad on March 09, 2013, 17:36:02
Thanks Tim.  I had no idea the plans were already available.   :wave:
Joe
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: nunney on March 09, 2013, 19:17:49
Today, I got 5422 Alpine lodge and 5426 Cable Car, Both fantastic sets, but the Alpine lodge was not System X, (not one X piece or a yellow tool in site) Instead it is a slot system, with tabs more like steck, however will not combine as is different thickness and really can only be put together as instructions state. I was sure Playmobil had confirmed this was system X a while ago...

Really great content included, with a proper pub bar with a beer pump on it. Very solid when built and will fit in well.

I will post some pictures once camera battery is charged.

thanks for the post. really looking forward to the pics and your thoughts about the cable car.

I guess Geobra does not want us buying the same set x10 and they need to cater to the unimaginative, uncreative, non engineering, whinny parents and their boring offspring

in fairness, most people aren't buying 10 sets of  a playmobil release or able to maintain stockpiles of toys the way that it appears you and perhaps other collectors are. i know it's disappointing that this item was misrepresented to you by a few employees at playmobil (maybe i would be upset also)  but isn't there a better way to voice your criticism about the direction of a private corporation's creative decisions without ad hominem attacks against parents and children?
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Wesley Myers on March 10, 2013, 02:49:18
thanks for the post. really looking forward to the pics and your thoughts about the cable car.

in fairness, most people aren't buying 10 sets of  a playmobil release or able to maintain stockpiles of toys the way that it appears you and perhaps other collectors are. i know it's disappointing that this item was misrepresented to you by a few employees at playmobil (maybe i would be upset also)  but isn't there a better way to voice your criticism about the direction of a private corporation's creative decisions without ad hominem attacks against parents and children?

In all fairness (and in a spirit of mediation!) Rasputin did not say parents and children were that way - he was stating, I believe, that Playmobil seems to be designing to a low common denominator rather than making the sets ever greater or building on what they had.

It's not a building toy system anymore. It's just a toy now.

The first sets were labeled as "Playmobil System" to show their interconnectivity and expansion potentials.

In fact, Herr Brandstatter expressed his surprise the newer sets were a different construction system!  He didn't even know what his own company was doing (they did not inform him or ask or consult about changes being done!).

Parents have actually complained in the past about the numbers of small pieces and how they get lost easily! 

I guess a company doesn't want to potentially lose business by telling a parent they should be more responsible and to actually teach that to their children.  The "customer is always right" syndrome (which, of course, defies rational thought.)
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: townklicky on March 10, 2013, 12:35:54
Here are some photos to show the tabs  building system of this building plus the front, back and set up.
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Birdie on March 10, 2013, 13:07:07
Thank you very much for the photo's and the review! I've been looking forward to seeing this up-close.
It looks very charming.

I'm not too disappointed that it isn't system-X. Most small system-X buildings are not really expandable either (the game keeper's lodge, the small farm house ... > all come with big roof and front pieces that cannot be taken apart). The upside is that there are no holes in the walls and floor pieces everywhere.

Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: townklicky on March 10, 2013, 13:07:32
Some more pictures....
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: townklicky on March 10, 2013, 13:10:58
And more pictures of the tab, and a couple of the cable car (can go at 45% 2 metres in length.)
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: basilsdad on March 10, 2013, 13:24:54
The cable car is really cool.  :)
Joe
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: bonniebeth on March 10, 2013, 13:43:24
Oh wow, I love the beer glasses and the tap! It looks awesome! The tab system looks interesting. I wonder if this could be the premiere of yet another new building system?
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: tahra on March 10, 2013, 15:57:46
Oh wow, I love the beer glasses and the tap! It looks awesome!

Yes it does! Can't wait. Trying to resist the "cable car"...  Not fond of the tabs. But we're getting that house.

Thanks for the pics!
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Rasputin on March 10, 2013, 16:11:38
So do you think the cable car set could be made longer and more cars could be added ?

Thanks you very much for the pictures of the building and its design
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: townklicky on March 10, 2013, 17:58:42
Ref. The cable car, this could easily be extended with longer cord, plenty of room on both of the spools for probably up to 5 metres run, more difficult to get two on as one end is attached to the car itself.

The bar counter and glasses are definitely a highlight!
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Walts-Trains on March 10, 2013, 19:35:43
This type of tab connection is not new, it has been used before.
I have some farm buildings on my layout that use it.
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: bonniebeth on March 10, 2013, 23:57:01
If it's possible when you get a chance, can you take a closer picture of the cable car itself? I'd like to see inside it... are there seats? How many?
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: nunney on March 11, 2013, 00:11:54
In all fairness (and in a spirit of mediation!)
The first sets were labeled as "Playmobil System" to show their interconnectivity and expansion potentials.

In fact, Herr Brandstatter expressed his surprise the newer sets were a different construction system!  He didn't even know what his own company was doing (they did not inform him or ask or consult about changes being done!).

Parents have actually complained in the past about the numbers of small pieces and how they get lost easily! 

I guess a company doesn't want to potentially lose business by telling a parent they should be more responsible and to actually teach that to their children.  The "customer is always right" syndrome (which, of course, defies rational thought.)

i appreciate your thoughts, wesley. thank you for sharing them. i was unaware of your anecdote that herr brandstatter was unaware of structural changes to playmobil. was that in the transition from steck to system x or with the more recent introduction of this 'clip' system?

i think we're all on the same page as to the direction playmobil has gone with their structures over the years; perhaps it can even feel like a betrayal, but i'm continually inspired by the work i see on these boards and it's a constant reminder to me that whatever systemic changes are implemented by playmobil, folks here crack the playthings open and push the limits of playmobil's closed system through customization and reinvention.

in our household, we put a lot of natural emphasis on old fashioned play and couldn't imagine it any other way but i don't want to privilege our way over that of other parents.   i know that even the most modest of means and slightest luxury of time makes all of the difference in how and what people are able to play with.

nunney
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Limorrj on March 11, 2013, 01:05:22
I really like this new set 5422.
In Brazil we have a strong german settlement.
Despite doubts of new playmobil system, for us here playmobil is a very expensive toy, so less is better.
Ultimately, I think playmobil have forgotten stairs to the upper floor.  ???
Greetings
Leonardo
 
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Jay on March 11, 2013, 01:40:02
Thanks for the pictures. Is that an accordian on the bench? That's neat. As far as the upstairs, I think the pallets and the toliet are a waste of space,considering that seems to be the only furnishings up there.  I would think that it could have been nicely furnished. If that's all that's there, it seems just to have been thrown in.
However, for the building itself, I can see a real beer garden developing out there. Perhaps upstairs can even be turned into a private dining room.  I'm sure some of the many folks here with skills greater than mine, (as well as money) will turn out some really neat displays based on this shortly.
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Tiermann on March 11, 2013, 18:26:56
Yeah, it's definitely destined to be a restaurant-biergarten at my zoo. I will probably use the upstairs as a storage area. Will the big barrel fit up there?
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Rasputin on March 12, 2013, 00:39:11
I see ours or at least one of them as a large hotel at the top of a snow covered mountain. 2nd story is the rooms and the downstairs is the lobby, restaurant/bar, dancing etc... A  train will go under through the mountain in a tunnel and the cable car will take people from a village to the top of the mountain. Below the cable car will be a ski resort. Then at the bottom of the ski resort a 2nd smaller building as a lounge that is full of broken klicky skiers and snowboarders.
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Lindama on March 30, 2013, 10:06:38
Thank you so much for the review. I love this! The glasses are fantastic. Cant wait to own one (one day!)
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Richard on January 09, 2014, 05:07:17

Today, I got 5422 Alpine lodge and 5426 Cable Car, Both fantastic sets, but the Alpine lodge was not System X, (not one X piece or a yellow tool in site) Instead it is a slot system, with tabs more like steck, however will not combine as is different thickness and really can only be put together as instructions state.

ATTENTION ALL STECK LOVERS

Suffer through this video and judge for yourself if the Alpine Lodge (5426) is indeed "Steck System".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdK0N2n_TA

Has Steck actually returned? Will there be more?
Have our years of pleas to Geobra been answered? You decide!


There is also a newer review of the Alpine Lodge (5426):
http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=13483.new#new
However, it doesn't discuss that this might be a new Steck System set!
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Rasputin on January 09, 2014, 06:18:59
wow, 24minutes of that was hard. To save a lot of trouble the part is at 10:25 where he shows how it connects to the first 3 tabs of a stecks wall. So how could this be used with stecks? It only connects the 3 tabs and how would you used the pre-turned walls back straight to make one big lodge? That base plate has the slots in it and the beautiful roof is one piece. Those fools at Geobra do not understand how to keep the building system as an educational aspect to playmobil, very frustrating on these new beautiful themes. That lodge is a mountain shack in its current size.
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Birdie on January 09, 2014, 08:00:22
Thanks for the link Richard, and also thank you, Ras, 'cause I wasn't going to watch all of that  :lol:

I've got that lodge and there is no way you can do anything else with it, besides maybe putting in a second floor.

On the PM fair LuxPlaymoDays I did see a huge Alpine Lodge (can't seem to find any pictures), but that must have been cut and welded or something.
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Richard on January 09, 2014, 14:27:21
Those fools at Geobra do not understand how to keep the building system as an educational aspect to playmobil, very frustrating on these new beautiful themes.

It might be a beginning, Ras. A beginning of a return to Steck. We can only hope ...  :)
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: Rasputin on January 09, 2014, 15:09:59
It might be a beginning, Ras. A beginning of a return to Steck. We can only hope ...  :)

Hope does not go far. We need to organize and storm the offices and demand that Geobra stay true to their founding fathers mission and have a "play system" . Fisher price designs are not acceptable

I keep thinking that whiny unimaginative parents who do not even want to spend quality time with their own children have been complaining so much about building time that Geobra took notice. It would take an even greater force to reverse the problem

This type of construction reminds me of the tree fort style.

Birdie, please if you find the pictures be sure to show us
Title: Re: 5422 Alpine Lodge
Post by: bonniebeth on January 09, 2014, 15:46:40
I keep thinking that whiny unimaginative parents who do not even want to spend quality time with their own children have been complaining so much about building time that Geobra took notice. It would take an even greater force to reverse the problem

I know, that drives me nuts! Spend quality time assembling it with your child. It toys, not a chore. And they also complain about the tiny parts, but that's the beauty of playmobil, small detailed items, all to scale.