LEGO Nostalgia

Never seen one. You may have luck doing a trade on Craigslist as well.

DSGamer wrote:

Has anyone gone to a Bricks and Minifigs store before? We have one locally and I’m debating selling a couple of sets. I was curious what the process is like.

I have two Harry Potter sets where I’d rather have an Architecture set instead.

I have sold several sets at the Bricks and Minifigs store in Beaverton. I think all the sets I sold had the original box and instructions, but looking at their used Lego, I'm sure that's not required. It was really straightforward - I brought them in, they looked over them, checked a database, and gave me a cash offer. I'm pretty sure I also had to show my ID and sign something. It was about as easy as Gamestop or Powells. One time I came in the person who does the buying was on lunch, but that was the only hiccup.

While I'm sure I would have got more money from eBay or Craigslist, it was painless, which was worth it to me.

I’m pretty addicted at this point to the Architecture skyline sets and I’m wondering if there’s a reasonable way to buy more pieces to build my own similar stuff creatively?

I got back into LEGO in my early 40s via the Volkswagen van as we had that when I was a kid and I was always fond of it.

I quickly figured out, though, that since one of my passions was travel, the Architecture skyline sets really speak to me. I gobble them up and I always enjoy building them.

The problem is I want to keep building, but what happens when I literally run out of sets to build?

I kind of enjoy Creator macro buildings and stuff like that, but I need more of my real fix, impressions of buildings.

I decided this last spring that I’d try buying the Architecture Studio with the hope that I could get a little more creative and spend time with that instead. Spend a little less money as well.

I enjoy the Architecture Studio, but it’s not the same thing. The included pieces are clearly in quantities where they intend for you to build more macro sets (buildings as opposed to skylines). More importantly, the lack of color bothers me more than I thought it would.

So how do I scratch this itch? Basically for the first time in my life I’m thinking of purchasing some bricks in bulk with the intention of making creations of my own, but on a skyline scale.

What I’m thinking is lots of the black base bricks. Lots of blue plates for water. Lots of clear plates, colored plates and the required bricks to work with the various SNOT style builds found in the skyline sets.

My understanding (being late to LEGO) is that people who want to build creatively will often buy used in bulk or buy large basic sets where a lot of the parts aren’t too specific (castles, buildings, etc.) and then use those as a starting point.

I can’t think of an analog, though, for the kinds of pieces you frequently see in skyline Architecture sets. Is the cheapest way to do this to use BrickLink and buy bulk loose pieces based on the pieces in the various Architecture sets on the market? Or are there any sets with lots of small plates, single studs, etc?

Oh, and I suppose the obvious things I could do here would be to buy used Architecture sets and use them as bulk parts. Or make use of my existing Architecture sets. I figure, however, that I enjoy these sets so much that whatever I own Is like to display on the shelf.

I'd go with Bricklink, or scour Ebay for people selling the existing sets inexpensively. I've gotten some really good deals on older Technic stuff on Ebay, from serious collectors who are clearing their storage areas. If you don't insist on the original packaging, you'll see much better prices.

Glad to see you are finding a passion for Lego!

1) So first, if you just want to build your parts collection up to just build free build you can buy large sets on sale (any theme) and use them for parts. Another good one is to go on craigslist and there are always people selling off their kid's lego by the pound. It is a good way to get a lot of random pieces.

2) If you want to start building non-official sets start searching moc sites that sell instructions.
Here is an example site where I searched "architecture" Rebrickable example .
Here is a "Back to the Future skyline" one I picked and you can buy the instructions for like $10. Example.
The instructions should tell you what pieces you need so you can see what you have on hand and buy the extra pieces on bricklink or the lego store.

3) You can also move to building some of the larger Creator building sets AND the best of course the Modular sets. The modular sets are great in regards to architecture and detail. In the Parisian Restaurant (which won't be around much longer) the insides are pretty detailed. The bottom floor is a restaurant and youi'll build a cool chef's kitchen with all the appliances, knife rack, etc etc. The outside of the modulars also have cool and detailed designs. You can check out some youtube videos on the available modulars to see all that detail.

Or just design your stuff using Studio and then buy the parts later.

Norfair wrote:

Or just design your stuff using Studio and then buy the parts later.

I just learned about this yesterday. Really cool. I want to keep getting hands on them, though. It relaxes me. I spend 10 hours plus a day in front of a computer for work alone. LEGO is a break for me from screens.

I just need to figure out a relatively inexpensive way to have flexible sets of bricks on hand.

Have you tried a good, complicated Technics build, DS? I find gearboxes and hydraulics and suspensions oddly relaxing to build, as they come together into something complex out of simple pieces. Might be an additional way to get more sets that interest you. Tons of reasonably priced older Technics (helicopters, cranes, trucks, etc) with really cool functional parts.

Robear wrote:

Have you tried a good, complicated Technics build, DS? I find gearboxes and hydraulics and suspensions oddly relaxing to build, as they come together into something complex out of simple pieces. Might be an additional way to get more sets that interest you. Tons of reasonably priced older Technics (helicopters, cranes, trucks, etc) with really cool functional parts.

Funny you mention that. I’ve been thinking of that, but I don’t know where to start. Like what a good set would be with lots of parts and replayability.

DSGamer wrote:
Robear wrote:

Have you tried a good, complicated Technics build, DS? I find gearboxes and hydraulics and suspensions oddly relaxing to build, as they come together into something complex out of simple pieces. Might be an additional way to get more sets that interest you. Tons of reasonably priced older Technics (helicopters, cranes, trucks, etc) with really cool functional parts.

Funny you mention that. I’ve been thinking of that, but I don’t know where to start. Like what a good set would be with lots of parts and replayability.

I think all of them are two in one builds, so they each have some rebuildability.

My favorite is the Mercedes AROCS 42043, but it can get pricey since its retired. I got it on sale from a Christmas popup store on like Dec 24th, when they were about to shut down and no one had bought it.

Maybe the Mack Anthem? That's got some lifting arms and I suspect at least simple gearing. The Forest Machine 42080 has a motorized hydraulic boom and grabber, which I think is pretty cool. And some folks here have enjoyed the high end Bugatti and Porsche models, which also have interesting gearboxes although I have not built them.

Maybe go to your local Lego store and check out the Technic stuff? There are some cool cranes and such, and some interesting high-end models too.

Or you could just go whole-hog and pick up the UCS Millennium Falcon and invest another $60 or so in a buildable mount kit. That'll keep you busy for a while lol.

I think I want to play with something that’s more flexible for a while. On the Technic side of things I could go for a set that let you build a few basic machines.

Most of them are 2-in-1, with the two being similar to, or variants of, each other. That kind of comes with the parts included. Similar parts, similar designs.

Honestly, the AROCS is a great choice, and the Mack Anthem is on my list. Both are large, interesting to build* and unfortunately a bit pricey, but they also both have solid second builds.

*Some of the larger Technics sets, like the Bucket Excavator (which is totally cool and motorized) have repetitive build sequences for parts like the bucket wheel and the conveyor belts. While accurate, these can bore some folks. The AROCS and Anthem lack these design elements and also have distinct functions in different areas that interlink - working pneumatics (to simulate hydraulics) on the AROCS, gears, levers, extendible parts, cranes and grabbers, and so forth.

Oh, and I should mention that the Ideas Saturn V and the Lunar Excursion Module are *fantastic*, fun builds. The Saturn V is a masterclass in turning straight parts into lovely conical and cylindrical sections, and the LEM is just a joy of angles and spidery legs and antennae and other odd bits. Both are excellent for display (but unlike the AROCS and the Anthem, not so good for play.)

I see. I feel like it’s weird there isn’t a basic set of gears and parts where the gist of it is basically learning how machines work.

Maybe I need to pick one of the sets that’s a crane or a simple car with a gearbox. The Land Rover feels more like a display piece since they bury all the tech under panels.

It looks fun to build, but I imagine you never see the gears again after you build it.

Well, in the AROCS the cab hinges up (like the real thing) so you can peek down inside, and as you raise the bed of the dumper, you can also see the gears going.

If you google "Technic moc gearbox" or whatever simple machine you want, you'll find tons of examples, like this.

And to top it off, Yoshihito Isogawa has a large number of books dedicated to simple machines and more complicated stuff done with Technic parts.

Robear wrote:

Well, in the AROCS the cab hinges up (like the real thing) so you can peek down inside, and as you raise the bed of the dumper, you can also see the gears going.

Yeah, I just looked it up. It looks cool. What was the original price? In case I go looking for it used.

I want to say $169 USD? So you should be able to find it in the $250's, or if you get lucky, you'll get someone who just crams it in a cardboard shipping box with the manual for less.

The Mack Anthem is still in production and so it's $175. Two pretty different builds, one is a side-loading container carrier, the other is a top-loading commercial garbage truck.

Oh. That looks really cool.

Robear wrote:

The Mack Anthem is still in production and so it's $175. Two pretty different builds, one is a side-loading container carrier, the other is a top-loading commercial garbage truck.

My son got this for Christmas last year and has had a fantastic time with it. He built the main side-loading one first, then the garbage truck then back to the side-loader so it we got our moneys worth there.

Unlike some of the other bigger lego models I'm not sure it makes a particularly good display model (unless your a huge truck fan I guess), but it great to play with with lots of moving parts.

Still haven’t done anything with this yet. I’m still severely tempted to buy the 6 year old Mindstorms set like a sucker. That seems like the easiest way to get my hands on a bunch of random gears, cogs, etc. and just start tinkering.

Bear in mind, Technics parts are sliiiightly different from regular Legos (stronger), so if you need consistent strength throughout, stick to one or the other. Intermixing could lead to unanticipated disassembly under stress.

Er I had no idea this set was coming out...

Cool!

Those look super cool, and also, Lego somehow just knows how to get my money like in every way.

Just a heads up for collectors and whatnot (whatnot being those with kids, like me, who are gobbling these sets up), but Lego Movie 2 sets are half price just about everywhere. Can't imagine they go lower on Black Friday and whatnot.

I read on the interwebs that a 1989 Batmobile is going to be released soon.

karmajay wrote:

I read on the interwebs that a 1989 Batmobile is going to be released soon.

Not this one right?

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/b...

maverickz wrote:
karmajay wrote:

I read on the interwebs that a 1989 Batmobile is going to be released soon.

Not this one right?

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/b...

https://brickset.com/article/46709/7...