The LEGO Thread

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I'm still in two minds. I much prefer the Pet Shop. The only reason I'm even considering the Fire Brigade is due to it being discontinued soon. Seems a strange reason to buy a set if you aren't that into it.

I might buy it but not open it just yet.

That's not a bad idea, actually, as the value will surely skyrocket. If I get the pet shop and grand emporium, see the next couple sets and decide I don't need it I could probably make a nice profit. I'm with you, pet shop is my favorite - not to mention my little helper's favorite, by far - but it will probably be the last of the three I purchase since there's no danger of it disappearing in the near future. Which....you're right...is kinda dumb.

Someone should compile a list of all the sets we know are going out of print this year...hmmm. Might do it myself later today.
 
I was going to get into the whole lego star wars thing but holy shit are they expensive.

Like $400-500 for a death star, $120-150 for the falcon.. i can understand paying around $100 for the falcon or maybe $150 for the death star but 400-500? that is just stupid ridiculous.

I might just start out with $30-50 star wars stuff like the x-wing.
 
Fire Brigade, Grand Emporium, and (possibly) Tower Bridge are more than likely due to go out of production this year.

@mrklaw I also have this weird feeling about the Fire Brigade, but I bought it anyways. One reason being that it is due to expire sometime soon, another being that it IS a really great looking display model next to other modulars. If you're into MOC'ing, there are a lot of great pieces (brick work much?), too.

If you really can't stand Fire Brigade for what it is, don't let production schedules dictate your purchases...Buy the Pet Shop and be excited about your purchase! But if you have any sort of collector's syndrome, FB is the set to buy right now.
 
I was going to get into the whole lego star wars thing but holy shit are they expensive.

Like $400-500 for a death star, $120-150 for the falcon.. i can understand paying around $100 for the falcon or maybe $150 for the death star but 400-500? that is just stupid ridiculous.

I might just start out with $30-50 star wars stuff like the x-wing.

Those $400 sets are the exception, not the rule, though. They've only ever done them for Star Wars and I think...?...there have only ever been about five of 'em in the history of the line. And it's not like they are ripping you off all that much...you get a number of pieces equivalent to 3-4 $100 sets (I think the Death Star is about 4,000 pieces), and most of 'em are standard pieces, so they're excellent for your MOC gray needs.

I wouldn't recommend anyone start out with a set that big, though, so you're right on target with your approach. The Death Star is a distant possibility for my collection if it sticks around long enough. I have little/no interest in the SSD Executor.

TBH I want $400 LotR sets sooooo bad. I would buy virtually any $400 lotr set they could dream up day 1.
 
Yeah I'd love picking up the SSD at some point as a cool display/fun to build piece but I dunno if I'll ever be willing to drop 400+tax on the thing :P
 
Sometimes I look at the Legos in my room and I wonder how much money I have spent on them over the years. Then I remind myself that that's not good for my health and reflect instead on all the fun I've had with them instead.

Like the Bionicle stuff? I have two shelves of those things in my room, man. Those were like, my action figures growing up.
 
Sometimes I look at the Legos in my room and I wonder how much money I have spent on them over the years. Then I remind myself that that's not good for my health and reflect instead on all the fun I've had with them instead.

Like the Bionicle stuff? I have two shelves of those things in my room, man. Those were like, my action figures growing up.

I regret nothing. Best toy ever. I've basically diverted the money I was dumping into my movie/game/book backlog into a hobby I have fallen in love with all over again, something I engage in practically every single day.
 
Sometimes I look at the Legos in my room and I wonder how much money I have spent on them over the years. Then I remind myself that that's not good for my health and reflect instead on all the fun I've had with them instead.

Like the Bionicle stuff? I have two shelves of those things in my room, man. Those were like, my action figures growing up.

I just remember that some people spend more of drink and dining. At the end of the day I still have a physical product to admire on my shelf. They have a hangover.

I only got the original six Bioncle figures and their tribal leaders.

I also have the three track CD.
 
That's not a bad idea, actually, as the value will surely skyrocket. If I get the pet shop and grand emporium, see the next couple sets and decide I don't need it I could probably make a nice profit. I'm with you, pet shop is my favorite - not to mention my little helper's favorite, by far - but it will probably be the last of the three I purchase since there's no danger of it disappearing in the near future. Which....you're right...is kinda dumb.

Someone should compile a list of all the sets we know are going out of print this year...hmmm. Might do it myself later today.

Please do! I am going to a Lego Store in the next week and a half and look forward to spending some money there :p

Do these Lego sets going out of production retain/go up in value even if open, put together, and then broken down? Or are you guys just buying an extra and leaving it boxed?
 
Please do! I am going to a Lego Store in the next week and a half and look forward to spending some money there :p

Do these Lego sets going out of production retain/go up in value even if open, put together, and then broken down? Or are you guys just buying an extra and leaving it boxed?

value going up isn't guaranteed at all, but more likely with the exclusive/hard to find sets. Of course you get more for a mint, sealed one. I lost my box for my 8421 mobile crane which is annoying as I'm looking to sell (not so into technic now). So I'll definitely look after my boxes from now on.
 
I just remember that some people spend more of drink and dining. At the end of the day I still have a physical product to admire on my shelf. They have a hangover.

I only got the original six Bioncle figures and their tribal leaders.

I also have the three track CD.

I followed Bionicle all the way till they finished the Toa of Light Arc, then I was like "Man, a flashback? I don't do those." Little did I know the Flashback would last for like, 3 years. Then Lego went and announced "Oh hey the originals are back!" And I got fooled into caring again, since they were "back" but wouldn't matter for like, another 2 years. Then I missed the end of the whole series anyway.

But basically I bought the 1st team of heroes, the 1st team's upgrade, several of those bug like things (which were always fun to make smack into the heroes), the raptors with staves, the Toa of Light and Makuta, then I didn't get anything till the underwater year, because the villains were wicked sweet. Then I got the second upgrade of the 1st team, modded those because the new masks were ugly as sin, and got me the villains for that year.

My one regret is I didn't get any of the disc launchers, because that looks fun. The underwater year's stuff was lame. The villains had these rubber squids you could shoot, and it was hard to do, and the heroes had gattling guns, but the bullets don't fire.

I still greatly prefer the gears from the first sets, because I liked just whackin' dudes in the face.
 
Well I have got a box of random Bionicle pieces that I picked up at a jumble sale. Have no idea where they fit into the story.

I have a few of those ball creatures as well, but they were so samey which is why I stopped getting them. This was the start of when I stopped buying Lego for a period of years.

My favourite was the Earth dude. A serious arse kicker.



Just bought the Queen Anne ship. Haven't even seen the movie, it just looks like a nice ship.

Guess I'll have to put the Medieval Market Village on hold...
 
Please do! I am going to a Lego Store in the next week and a half and look forward to spending some money there :p

Do these Lego sets going out of production retain/go up in value even if open, put together, and then broken down? Or are you guys just buying an extra and leaving it boxed?

Historically speaking, any of the modulars will increase in price, as will any larger Star Wars set. The super sets tend to increase in value, too (see Taj Mahal), so the Tower Bridge will likely accrue in value.

E: And to answer you other question, yes - sets that have a high after market OOP price go up in value no matter the condition. The amount of increase depends on the completeness of the set, though. Keep the box and instructions, keep the minifigs, sticker sheets, and extra pieces. If all of those are in good condition and the set is complete, you WILL make money on an aftermarket set (assuming it's "one of those" sets).

One thing to note, many themes do NOT accrue any real aftermarket value. From my research into it, it's either resell at a small loss to small gain, or resell for a huge profit.
 
Okay, here's the compiled list, no guarantees that this is correct since most knowledge of what's going OOP spreads by word of mouth. Lemme know what I'm missing!

Rule of thumb: expect sets to go OOP after about 2 years and stay on shelves no longer than 3

Sets we think are going OOP sometime this year
Fire Brigade
Grand Emporium
Tower Bridge
Medieval Market Village
Winter Village Bakery
Nuckal's ATV
Ninjago Battle Arena
Skeleton Bowling
Republic Dropship with AT-OT Walker
Tantive IV
Clone Turbo Tank
All PotC sets (available sets listed below)
Isla de la Muerta
Cannibal Escape
The Mill
The Black Pearl
Captain's Cabin
Fountain of Youth
London Escape
Whitecap Bay
Queen Anne's Revenge
All Harry Potter sets (listed below)
Hogwart's Express (mini)
Quidditch Match
Hagrid's Hut
Hogwart's Castle
The Forbidden Forest
The Knight Bus
Hogwart's
Diagon Alley
All Alien Invasion sets
Alien Defender
Tripod Invader
UFO Abduction
Alien Mothership
Earth Defense HQ
Jet-Copter Encounter
Alien Conquest Battle Pack
Alien Striker


Recently discontinued lines - all will be gone when current stock runs out
Atlantis
Kingdoms*
Pharaoh's Quest

*Excluding Royal Joust, which is brand new. All other Kingdoms sets are OOP.
 
Wow is Kingdoms already over? I thought it was a recent line (shows how much I have been out of the loop)

I really NEED the Pet Shop

And lately I seem to have fallen in love with Queen Anne's Revenge :/ But I ain't got the cash man.
 
I had a new idea for the MOC competition I wanted to float around...how do you guys feel about doing something similar to the photo/writing challenges? Instead of everyone buying the same set, just decide on a "theme" of some sort - not an actual LEGO theme or a specific thing to build, but just a loose idea/concept. Everyone posts a photo of their build and folks are welcome to vote on the winning build. The winner goes on to choose the next theme.

That way nobody has to spend anything, and even those who aren't currently into buying 'em can whip out their old LEGO and participate. And we could do it several times a year rather than just only ever doing it once or twice. What do you think?
 
I had a new idea for the MOC competition I wanted to float around...how do you guys feel about doing something similar to the photo/writing challenges? Instead of everyone buying the same set, just decide on a "theme" of some sort - not an actual LEGO theme or a specific thing to build, but just a loose idea/concept. Everyone posts a photo of their build and folks are welcome to vote on the winning build. The winner goes on to choose the next theme.

That way nobody has to spend anything, and even those who aren't currently into buying 'em can whip out their old LEGO and participate. And we could do it several times a year rather than just only ever doing it once or twice. What do you think?

Sounds amazing!
 
Every day this week during lunchtime I have popped open eBay and looked up the various UCS Star Destroyer kits for sale. And every day my mouse pointer hovers precipitously over the Buy It Now button, just daring my finger to make that fateful keystroke.
 
Okay, here's the compiled list, no guarantees that this is correct since most knowledge of what's going OOP spreads by word of mouth. Lemme know what I'm missing!

Rule of thumb: expect sets to go OOP after about 2 years and stay on shelves no longer than 3

Sets we think are going OOP sometime this year
Fire Brigade
Grand Emporium
Tower Bridge
Medieval Market Village
Isla de la Muerta
Cannibal Escape
The Mill
The Black Pearl
Captain's Cabin
Fountain of Youth
London Escape
Whitecap Bay
Queen Anne's Revenge
Winter Village Bakery

Recently discontinued lines - all will be gone when current stock runs out
Atlantis
Kingdoms*
Pharaoh's Quest

*Excluding Royal Joust, which is brand new. All other Kingdoms sets are OOP.



Are we including the Star Wars sets, because if we are this list could get a lot more complicated.
 
Harry Potter sets - discontinued by July
Alien Conquest sets - discontinued by July
2011 Ninjago sets - almost all gone, except for 2506 Skull Truck and 2507 Fire Temple; remaining playsets and spinners are on clearance until sold out

Star Wars sets rumored to be going soon are:
10195 Republic Dropship with AT-OT Walker
10198 Tantive IV

Star Wars sets recently discontinued:
8038 Battle of Endor



By the way, I ordered the Fire Brigade last night. Buzz on that one going soon is strong. Order from the LEGO store if you can though, because there has been an issue with a missing bag of parts from orders coming from Amazon.
 
I've had a 2nd fire brigade sitting unopened in the cupboard since they came out, picked it up about $70 off the local RRP...just waiting patiently for the day they're not longer easily available.
 
I had a new idea for the MOC competition I wanted to float around...how do you guys feel about doing something similar to the photo/writing challenges? Instead of everyone buying the same set, just decide on a "theme" of some sort - not an actual LEGO theme or a specific thing to build, but just a loose idea/concept. Everyone posts a photo of their build and folks are welcome to vote on the winning build. The winner goes on to choose the next theme.

That way nobody has to spend anything, and even those who aren't currently into buying 'em can whip out their old LEGO and participate. And we could do it several times a year rather than just only ever doing it once or twice. What do you think?

Sounds super fun, cant wait to get some Lego!
 
I need to get back into picking up the Harry Potter sets I'm missing. Have a bunch of the early ones and some of the later ones but it's the bigger sets and the middle years I'm missing. I'm always tempted to buy some of those great Star Wars sets but I just know if I start buying a few I'll want more and more and more.

And the themed competition sounds great. I'm itching to build something so the sooner we get the theme up the better. Rules can come later! :P

Aaaaand.... I kind of want to finish off the Pharaoh's Quest line as I bought two of the bigger sets through Borders for cheap so it would be easier to finish that line off and be able to say I actually have an entire line of a theme!
 
Sounds like there will probably be enough interest. I'll put up the first challenge over the weekend...I need a little thinking time. ;) Whoever wins can do theme #2, assuming all goes well. It'll probably be a new thread, but of course I'll link to it here.

MOC-ers: how long of a window should we allow? Is a month enough?
 
I had a new idea for the MOC competition I wanted to float around...how do you guys feel about doing something similar to the photo/writing challenges? Instead of everyone buying the same set, just decide on a "theme" of some sort - not an actual LEGO theme or a specific thing to build, but just a loose idea/concept. Everyone posts a photo of their build and folks are welcome to vote on the winning build. The winner goes on to choose the next theme.

That way nobody has to spend anything, and even those who aren't currently into buying 'em can whip out their old LEGO and participate. And we could do it several times a year rather than just only ever doing it once or twice. What do you think?

Do it.
 
Sounds like there will probably be enough interest. I'll put up the first challenge over the weekend...I need a little thinking time. ;) Whoever wins can do theme #2, assuming all goes well. It'll probably be a new thread, but of course I'll link to it here.

MOC-ers: how long of a window should we allow? Is a month enough?

The way eurobricks does MOC competitions is ~1 month time. They put stipulations on the design, like theme, largest allowable base plate, height, piece count, etc. I think if we were to do one, we'd have to consider all of those parameters to keep it fair. I mean, piece count is usually approximated, but its more to be fair when you've got a huge field of players. :)
 
Well I'll be at my grandparents who only have a very small and very old set of white blocks and red roof pieces. I often build something when I'm there as it's fun to build something with such a limited choice. Still I'll give it my best shot during this challenge.
 
is there a general feeling that the Imperial Shuttle will be around for a while? Its my current favourite SW set but I think I have to get Tower Bridge first
 
The way eurobricks does MOC competitions is ~1 month time. They put stipulations on the design, like theme, largest allowable base plate, height, piece count, etc. I think if we were to do one, we'd have to consider all of those parameters to keep it fair. I mean, piece count is usually approximated, but its more to be fair when you've got a huge field of players. :)

Any idea on what those parameters should be? I guess I wasn't too worried about it because it's such a casual thing; nobody really has any skin in this game...beyond bragging rights, I suppose...but I'm definitely open to some loose rules along those lines.

Also kinda wondering what the rules should be for non-LEGO elements...for example, string/clear plastic to suspend flying bits. But I suppose that could even extend into scenery from toy train sets or scenery-type mats to lay the MOC on. What do you think?
 
Multicoloured houses should be allowed! Some of us just don't have the right amount of pieces.

Of course!
I'd like to keep this open to as many people as possible. Even if all you have is a couple hundred legos in a shoebox somewhere you should feel free to participate.
 
I think just keep it open. In photography comps I sometimes enter, its an open competition and the group decides with their votes whether you've used too much photoshop or not.

I'd prefer all pieces to be lego, with perhaps some leeway for string. Ultimately though its just a peer voting thing, so if the rest of us think you've gone too far with what you've used, then you won't get the votes.

Don't think you need brick limits or heights etc, this isn't a serious/heavy lego group. in photography comps again, its mainly down to your eye and composition - some of you will have 5DIIs, some will just have compacts. So what? Its all fun. I'm just as likely to vote for a really nicely executed tiny micro model of something as a huge extravagant piece.
 
I think just keep it open. In photography comps I sometimes enter, its an open competition and the group decides with their votes whether you've used too much photoshop or not.

I'd prefer all pieces to be lego, with perhaps some leeway for string. Ultimately though its just a peer voting thing, so if the rest of us think you've gone too far with what you've used, then you won't get the votes.

Don't think you need brick limits or heights etc, this isn't a serious/heavy lego group. in photography comps again, its mainly down to your eye and composition - some of you will have 5DIIs, some will just have compacts. So what? Its all fun. I'm just as likely to vote for a really nicely executed tiny micro model of something as a huge extravagant piece.

These were my initial thoughts as well, but I want everyone to be happy with the playing field. I'm still leaning towards keeping it open but I'm curious to hear some specific suggestions from nic or anyone else who wants to weigh in, if they feel there should be restrictions.
 
I finally had some time during lunch today to build the new Star Wars Mini Planet sets. Here are some photos.

6809488665_ff7dc802fd_b.jpg


6809487755_264a2d351e_b.jpg


As well as the new X-Wing I got the other day. There is a knob in the back that lets you open and close the wings.

6809481517_db526a70dd_b.jpg


6809482975_6619b97243_b.jpg
 
Historically speaking, any of the modulars will increase in price, as will any larger Star Wars set. The super sets tend to increase in value, too (see Taj Mahal), so the Tower Bridge will likely accrue in value.

E: And to answer you other question, yes - sets that have a high after market OOP price go up in value no matter the condition. The amount of increase depends on the completeness of the set, though. Keep the box and instructions, keep the minifigs, sticker sheets, and extra pieces. If all of those are in good condition and the set is complete, you WILL make money on an aftermarket set (assuming it's "one of those" sets).

One thing to note, many themes do NOT accrue any real aftermarket value. From my research into it, it's either resell at a small loss to small gain, or resell for a huge profit.

I can't decide whether I want to grab a set or two in the next couple weeks for the purpose of holding and reselling later or not.

Thinking of picking from these sets: Tantive IV, Queen Anne's Revenge, Fire Brigade, Grand Emporium.

I know it is a slight risk, which is why I take pause.
 
Wow is Kingdoms already over? I thought it was a recent line (shows how much I have been out of the loop)

I really NEED the Pet Shop

And lately I seem to have fallen in love with Queen Anne's Revenge :/ But I ain't got the cash man.

They're ending it 'early' on account of the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit line that's launching in August. I can't wait for it!
 
They're ending it 'early' on account of the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit line that's launching in August. I can't wait for it!

I have been considering getting the Medieval Market Village for a while now, and since it's about to disappear, now really is the time. And I figure the buildings could be easily modified to fit into a Middle Earth town setting.
 
Is it common to have a lot of messed up pieces or did i get a reject? lol

pic

The logo on the upper right peg.

That is were the plastic comes in at on the mold. It is normal... and new the gate used to be
in a different spot on older Legos. I dislike where it is now.
 
These were my initial thoughts as well, but I want everyone to be happy with the playing field. I'm still leaning towards keeping it open but I'm curious to hear some specific suggestions from nic or anyone else who wants to weigh in, if they feel there should be restrictions.

While mrklaw makes some good points, I think some restrictions need to be in place. For example...

1327249105m_DISPLAY.jpg


versus

1328215308m_DISPLAY.jpg


Seriously.

I mean, you can see that they are in COMPLETELY different categories of talent, theme, and brick availability. It's unfair. I know I have >20k bricks and over $1500 of stuff on my shelves right now. These are just estimates NOT including Bricklink orders and small sets I buy and never record. Something I create has, by default, has more potential than someone who has a smaller brick inventory to work with. I'm not saying I'm more talented than anyone else, but having the larger library gives me more ways to express my ideas.

Do we need to impart a piece count? Not necessarily. Saying, "No mega creations" or "Try to keep it small - medium in size" gives a relative feeling of build without putting a constrictor on our creative juices.

A theme? Absolutely. If the two pictures above were for the theme "A King and His Men", which one would win? If it was Open theme, the results would be different.

Base/height restrictions are more for creative challenges. :)

I realize it's not meant to be hyper-competitive. It's the creativity that ultimately counts, and that's why putting some basic restrictions on the builds allows someone like BGBW (who openly stated to have a smaller pool of pieces) to be able to confidently put his creation toe-to-toe against an MOC that someone who has recently purchased their fourth Death Star has thrown together. :P
 
I'd still prefer the fixed set -> buy something out of it method. Much, much fairer and more challenging for everyone.

Also, Gary: please post an inside view pic of your Fire Brigade :)
 
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