≡ Menu

LEGO Ideas update & new sets coming!

The long awaited first 2014 LEGO Ideas review results are finally here! I’m not sure what took so long, but as the saying goes; good things take time. As you probably know already, LEGO Ideas is a platform where LEGO fans can submit their own LEGO projects for consideration as a future LEGO set. Projects need to acquire 10,000 public votes within a year to be eligible for a review by LEGO’s own team. If they think a project is a good fit for LEGO, it will get approved and  released as an official LEGO set. 🙂

LEGO Ideas 2014 First Review

A surprising twist of this review period is that not one, but two projects got approved, with the very likely possibility of a third one that is still under final consideration (which seems to indicate that LEGO is still working on acquiring the license to produce the set). There were six LEGO projects that reached 10,000 supporters between January and June and qualified for this review. And to have half of them approved (I’m pretty sure one of the LEGO Doctor Who projects will be approved too) is super awesome, and is a great testimony of a company working together with its fans.

The first project that was approved is the LEGO Ideas Bird Project. It is the 9th set that came out of the LEGO Ideas (formerly LEGO CUUSOO) platform. This is what the LEGO Ideas team says about it on their blog: “A huge congratulations goes to LEGO Ideas member DeTomaso, a gardener, who designed these exquisite models to teach children and adults about birds. We’re happy to announce his mission will be accomplished through his beautiful LEGO Birds when his becomes the next LEGO Ideas set.”

LEGO Ideas Birds Project

Although some people feel this project is kind of boring, I think it has a huge potential to become a very popular set, and I wouldn’t be surprised if LEGO continues with similar sets in the future. First of all the birds are cute, and provide an interesting building experience. I’m pretty sure it will come with a booklet that talks about each bird, so there is educational value there as well. I can see this set being popular with adult LEGO collectors, bird-watchers, parents who like to give their children educational toys, and even with schools and libraries for their programs.

The second project (10th LEGO Ideas set) that was approved this time is the LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory. An interesting feature of this set is that it was designed by the same LEGO fan who created the highly popular #21110 LEGO Ideas Research Institute. Good for her! This is what the LEGO Ideas team says about this set on their blog: “This LEGO set will be a true match made in scientific heaven (well, actually in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), because the brilliant characters in this popular American TV show appreciate LEGO bricks, and LEGO Ideas members Alatariel and collaborator GlenBricker (plus their 10,000 supporters) love both LEGO bricks AND The Big Bang Theory show! A huge congrats to Alatariel and GlenBricker!”

LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory

Personally I don’t watch the Big Bang Theory, but I like the look of this set for the various geeky accessories. As far as the reaction of LEGO fans in general, I have heard/read everything from great excitement to utter shock – very similar to the reaction to LEGO taking up The Simpsons license. While the show may not be kid-friendly, I believe what LEGO is going for here is the geeky goodness that they can create with this set. Although they could have done that in a regular set without having to get tied in with a sitcom. What do you think? I would love to hear your opinion on this.

This review period also featured two LEGO Doctor Who concepts, and the LEGO review team is still evaluating them. As I have mentioned above, I’m almost certain that Doctor Who is going to be made into a LEGO set an they are just ironing out the last details. The fact that two project made it to 10,000 votes at the same time indicates the huge appeal of this set – in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if after the initial LEGO Ideas set there will be others in the future (like LEGO has done with Minecraft, which also originally was a LEGO Ideas project).

LEGO Ideas 2014 Second Review

The other two projects from this review period are not going to be produced as a LEGO set. This in no way means that the projects are not awesome, it is just that LEGO didn’t feel they were a good fit for them at this time. In the meantime, the second 2014 LEGO review is also in full swing, and we can expect results late January 2015. There are eight projects that qualified for that review period. My bet is on the LEGO WALL-E and the LEGO Hubble Space Telescope. And while we wait for the results, you can also check out the current LEGO Ideas sets at the Online LEGO Shop.

Shop LEGO Ideas

So what do you think? How do you like the projects that have been approved as official LEGO sets? Are you planning to get either or both of them? And do you think Doctor Who will be approved as well? And which project would you like to see approved from the second review period? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

{ 45 comments… add one }
  • lloydguy November 12, 2014, 11:01 AM

    First! all but the Hubble Space Telescope would be liscensed, huh?

    • legogeek November 12, 2014, 9:12 PM

      Yes but remember LEGO already has licenses for Disney(Star-Wars and Wall-E), Ghost Busters, Marvel, and Dc so they are all good on the licensing.

  • Strider November 12, 2014, 11:41 AM

    I think the Big Bang Theory set is good. So what if kids can’t watch the show, they can enjoy the pieces, or just not get it. I almost think this set is intended more for AFOL’s specifically. The bird project seems like a cool set overall. And I am getting Doctor Who Lego the day it comes out, if it comes out. I just hope they get 11’s face right….and 10…and Amy, and everyone else. I’m sure they’ll look great.

  • ninja of stealth November 12, 2014, 11:42 AM

    First in line again lloydguy, beat me to it again! :)I hope they do the X-mansion, or something like that because it is pretty big, the fan model. I don’t watch the Big bang theory but the cool “geeky accessories.” would be awesome to have! 😎

  • LegoUniverse Bob November 12, 2014, 11:47 AM

    Yes! The Doctor Who sets are approved! 😀 🙂 😀 🙂 Great timing too, because the latest series has just ended, so we can enjoy some more!

    • admin November 12, 2014, 12:00 PM

      I don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm, but the Doctor Who porjects are not approved as of yet. As I said in the article they are still looking at them, and I think one of them will be approved if everything goes well with licensing. But again, at this point it is still in the works.

      • Ray Kremer November 13, 2014, 9:47 AM

        Last time that happened, it just meant they were holding the set off to the next period in order to space out the releases a little. Not rejecting them outright means Lego certainly wants to make the sets.

        The Character Building Lego-clone company has been producing Doctor Who brick sets for several years though, and I don’t know if there’s any kind of exclusivity there or if Lego will be able to close the deal. We’ve certainly seen licenses like Spider-man alternate between Lego and Mega blocks in the past.

        I’ll probably buy the BBT set because I like the show, but it does seem a little odd for a Lego set. I think I like it better because of the precedent it sets. Lego is definitely willing to indulge our geeky fandoms, no 80s nostalgia required.

  • ninja5 November 12, 2014, 11:57 AM

    I’ve been waiting for Lego Birds to pass, as I love ornithology! I will definitely buy it once it is released.

  • Tom November 12, 2014, 12:21 PM

    The birds set looks fantastic and will be on the list for sure.

  • thelegodude19 November 12, 2014, 12:33 PM

    My dad and brother are hugely nutty on birding ( not my cuppa tea tho 😛 ) so they might enjoy one or two of these. Very cool.

  • YTjedi November 12, 2014, 1:38 PM

    The birds are nicely designed, but are not for my collection, so I will be passing on them. I’ve never really been able to get into Big Bang Theory but I’m waiting to see what the final accessories will be that LEGO includes in the set before I make a final decision there. If/When they announce the Doctor Who sets I am all in. I’ve built three versions of a custom TARDIS and Doctors 9-11 already, so it’ll be nice to have official representations.

  • Kim November 12, 2014, 2:11 PM

    I’m not a Big Bang Theory fan but I think it has potential to have some cool parts in it, so I’m probably going to get it. I don’t have an issue with Lego making sets and licenses that are themed more for AFOL as long as it isn’t like super horrible stuff, I just was annoyed at the people that had complained about The Simpsons being so bad and not for kids but maybe perhaps aren’t complaining as loud about this. If you’re bugged by “adult” stuff, be consistent. Though, I watched the Simpsons at 8 years old and I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as people make it out to be.

  • Håkan November 12, 2014, 4:27 PM

    Nitpick: *I wouldN’T be surprised*.

    Btw, I visited the Lego store in Copenhagen recently, and they seemed to have a large stock of most recent Ideas sets on their shelves, including Research Institute, Exo-Suit and Ecto-1.

    The BBT set looks kinda cool. I’ll wait and see how many printed parts the designers get to pass through.

    • admin November 12, 2014, 7:09 PM

      Hakan, thanks for catching that! Got it fixed. Yeah, I’m also looking for lots of printed goodness in that set! 🙄

  • BLProductions November 12, 2014, 6:55 PM

    All the good Ideas projects that are worth being made into sets have been made, and now come the poor ones. 😕 Although I think Birds is an excellent project, and because of the mixed reactions, I may actually be able to get that one (assuming I like the final model). Looking forward to what the Doctor Who set will be like, if it’s even the third set. From the next review phase, I wouldn’t be surprised if none passed, and LEGO just did Doctor Who instead. But my bet is also on Wall-E, as it seems the only decent sized model of the lot. The Hubble Space Telescope and the Lightsabers are also possible, though Lightsabers is rather pointless. 😐
    Also, I just read something about the new Detective Agency, and can give a few details, if you’d like. 😉

    • admin November 12, 2014, 7:13 PM

      That could in fact happen with the Doctor Who set, as we have already seen something similar with the Research Instritute. Although I really feel that both WALL-E and the Hubble Telescope has a great chance. LEGO already has a license with Disney, and they do like scientific ideas.

      I check on the Detective Agency first thing every morning. I can’t wait! So did you find out anything new? I have read it was going to be a split set with an alleyway in between and something like a bar at the bottom, apartment on the top for one building, and a small dougnut shop or something like that at the bottom and the detective agency on the top for the other. 🙄

      • Håkan November 12, 2014, 7:49 PM

        I saw that someone on the Brickset forum claimed to have seen pics of it…

        • admin November 12, 2014, 7:59 PM

          Is that recent? I have been following the main conversation about it, but there hasn’t been any update in this past week or so.

          • admin November 12, 2014, 8:02 PM

            Oh, this is what you must be referring to, right? It was just posted like 30 minutes ago! “User Diggydoes on Brickset has provided more info about #10246 Detective Agency: It’s basically two buildings, the Agency and a Barbershop. The main colours for the Agency are light yellow (looks like it at least) and dark orange (masonry bricks!!!),the colours for the Barbershop are dark blue and medium blue! Apparently the (32×32) baseplate is Brown, although he’s not sure if it’s reddish brown or dark brown. Not sure how a pool table fits in with the above, but I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

            • BLProductions November 12, 2014, 8:21 PM

              Yep! That’s what I read. A Cool Yellow building, a Dark Blue building, and a Reddish Brown baseplate all in one set is sweet! 😀 But even though it sounds awesome, the Parisian Restaurant is the Modular for me. 🙂
              About the licenses for Ideas sets, LEGO’s license with Disney is for Star Wars, so Lightsabers is also a high possibility, though it’d be a disappointing selection. 😉

              • Strider November 12, 2014, 11:33 PM

                I would have liked grey and orange coloring, or grey and brown. I was thinking what with the bar and all; maybe it would be like an old detective film sort of thing, but I’m not sure how they would pull that off with yellow and blue.

                • Håkan November 13, 2014, 6:57 AM

                  Most of these films were black and white, though. I’m not sure on the actual color scales used in that era.

            • Håkan November 13, 2014, 6:58 AM

              It came up unexpectedly in the thread about blue base plates. Some AFOL:s fear the plates will be discontinued, though I doubt they’ll remain out of stock for long…

  • FloridaBrick November 13, 2014, 7:46 AM

    Hey – FYI LEGO just updated their “Retiring Soon” section to include what seems like just a bunch of Mixel, Hero and Chima crap.
    And question – so why doesn’t LEGO label TH and GE and HH as retired, if they are indeed retired as is what seems to be common knowledge? Frustrating.

    • admin November 13, 2014, 3:45 PM

      I can understand the frustration. But please note that LEGO fans going around repeating something doesn’t necessarily make it true. Even LEGO employees are very unreliable in this regard. I was able to purchase the Town Hall directly from LEGO after it was shown as sold out, and other people did the same. Often retired products come back based on consumer demand, logistics of production, etc. Sometimes LEGO fans want to doom a set for retirement for whatever reason, then other people repeat the same, making it sound like common knowledge. I don’t know how many hundreds of times I have heard that the Death Star is just about to get retired. It never happened. Sometimes it disappeared for a while, but then it was right back. Until LEGO specifically state that a set is retired, there is always some chance that they will produce it again. 😉

  • FloridaBrick November 13, 2014, 7:47 AM

    And sorry, I know this wasn’t the correct comment section. Couldn’t find where that was…

    • admin November 13, 2014, 3:46 PM

      It’s all right. I see all comments in chronological order, not by post. 🙂

  • FloridaBrick November 13, 2014, 8:26 PM

    I too bought 1 of the last THs from LEGO at their Orlando store, after they were OOS on their shop at home website, but those were just the last of individual stores’ inventories.

    So that aside, just about 99% of everything I read (obviously not officially from LEGO) is that everyone “knows” that GE, HH, and TH are gone for good, end of story. Even though your explanation is generally speaking, it’s about as hopeful for continued production as there is! You don’t actually think TLG will start producing GE or TH again, or do you?

    I can understand that TLG are busier than heck, maybe more than they’ve ever been. So not following the logical path of Retiring Soon, then OOS, then OOS in stores, then Retired Product makes sense. They simply sold out too fast to update their labels. But now that someone has updated the Retiring Soon sets, why have they left them out? Although I don’t have a long experience watching TLG’s procedures, this tells me that there is a strong likelihood that these sets will continue production again. Otherwise why not move them to Retiring Soon/Sold Out like they did with all the Chima/Hero/Mixel stuff, or just update them to Retired Product already if that’s what they are? Instead they just leave them as Sold Out.

    And even with this new development, nothing seems to have changed in anyone’s minds today in the endless forums with veterans discussing EOL modular sets. WHAT IS GOING ON?!

    • admin November 13, 2014, 9:29 PM

      This actually would be a good topic for an article or even two. One about the pattern of the Modulars, and another about the meaning of sold out/retiring soon/retired labels.

      I have personally seen sold out products come back into production. This has happened several times to the LEGO Ideas sets, where they were shown as sold out and then came back. Please keep in mind that reproducing a set is not as easy as just turning a switch or pushing a button. Machines are running constantly, so reproducing a set means taking away production from something else. They have to take the pros and cons of that into consideration. It also means reproducing packaging, arranging distribution, etc. But the short answer is that there has been plenty of examples of LEGO bringing back sets that have been marked as sold out. This is not just wishful thinking, but a fact.

      Going back to the Modulars specifically, based on the established pattern of all of the previously produced sets, they get retired after four years. So the Grand Emporium was in fact due for retirement this year. Now, this doesn’t mean that they have to retire it, but based on the pattern, it wouldn’t be surprizing. The Town Hall was released in 2012, so it shouldn’t be retired until 2016. But again, LEGO can change its mind. But the point is it wouldn’t be surprising if they restock the set and they simply sold out of the current stock due to the Double VIP Points period in October – which is when most LEGO fans buy the larger sets.

      So GE getting retired wouldn’t be a surprize, TH getting retired would be out of the normal pattern, but there are a couple of abnormalities about the set. Rumor has it that it is getting retired early because it didn’t sell that well due to the higher price and a bit less interesting design. I have not heard this out of the mouth of a higher up LEGO employee though. Only LEGO fans and some customer service reps, but if you call LEGO on a regular basis you know that reps can say the exact opposite thing every time you call. 😉

      The third point you mentioned is about the inconsistency of the Online LEGO Shop. It is actually not at all that unusual. As a LEGO blogger I visit the site pretty much every day, and I can tell you there are a lot of abnormalities going on all the time. Sets appearing and then competely disappearing, placed in different categories, with different tags and designations from one day to the next. I would not take anything set in stone that you see on the website. Pricing is pretty consistent though, although I have seen sets going on sale in the morning and getting back at full price by the afternoon. Stuff like that.

      It seems like you have already gotten the Town Hall, so that’s a good thing whichever way the future of the set goes. Are you still missing the Grand Emporium? If you do, and if you have a LEGO store close to you (seems like you are close to the one in Orlando), I would make friends with the store manager. In situations like this they can be invaluable. Often when sets get a second run they will be sent out to stores but not listed at the Online Shop (just like it is happening now with the Exo Suit) and the manager can give you a call, and sometimes it is the other way around; the sets get listed online, but never appear in stores again.

      So to summarize, I would say the future of these set can go either way, and neither of them would be surprising or out of the ordinary. To take a strong stance on either side would be foolish in my humble opinion without direct confirmation from someone higher up at LEGO. Especially if the lack of definite information stresses somebody out. In general I would suggest to get the Modulars within the first year they are out. There is really no reason to wait. They are great sets, they never go on sale, and their value only goes up after they get retired. So there is really nothing to wait for, besides Double VIP Points periods, and of course if someone doesn’t have the necessary funds. But the sets have been released on a very consistent basis (January of each year), so there is plenty of time to save up and plan ahead. Hope this helps some. 🙂

  • FloridaBrick November 13, 2014, 11:52 PM

    It does help. Thanks for the explanation, seriously.

    I totally agree with your last paragraph about not waiting. That’s the plan from now on. That’s how I roll, plan ahead and watch everyone else run around at the last minute. The problem is that my son is almost 3yo, thus he got some LEGO this year, thus I have been reintroduced to LEGO after 20yrs, thus I have come out of my dark ages with such a passion that sometimes it seems like possession. I have a room and I’m going to build a city. Not just a block, but a city with different variants of each building, many MOCs, etc, etc. But apparently there are already some sets that I’ve missed out on, unless I want to pay through the nose, which I probably will. So I’ve got some catching up to do, quick. But yes, from now on this will easily never be a problem of mine.

    Now that’s out of the way…

    What you explain makes perfect logical sense. And again, minus experience watching TLG specifically, and supported by a few new facts that you just enlightened me of, I’ve already come to the same conclusion of probabilities. It just seems like no one else has. Again, the oracles of LEGO forums have already “received word” that these 3 sets are retired, never to return, period. That theory rules pretty much every forum out there. I’m just trying to get my head around why they are 100% certain when TLG has proven to be inconsistent and unpredictable at times.

    And why would TLG choose not to update the statuses of sets that if they weren’t already collector’s items, they will be the instant they become retired? I’m sure the vast majority of the abnormalities you identified are either NOT likely to ever be collector’s sets or are between $10-$30, or both.

    What I’m talking about are 2 to 3 of THE expensive collector’s sets that TLG have intentionally left completely unchanged from Sold Out about a month ago (baring a few sets that sporadically kept coming back in Europe as inventories were exhausted).

    I mean, I’m in love with SW too. And the City series, and The LEGO Movie stuff. There are and will be some collector’s sets in there. Surely some LEGO Ideas sets are instantly valuable collector’s sets, ON THEIR OWN. The big BUT is that Ideas sets aren’t compatible. You’d have to be the worst kind of completionist if you HAD to have the Birds set to sit alongside (or to play with) your Big Bang Theory set. SW and City are the same way. There isn’t anything that I’ve really missed out on, that they will not only start producing again, but will likely significantly improve over the previous models making the old models redundant to some degree.

    The modulars buildings are a series in the truest definition of a series. There was a first that created a standard that everything after it is based on. Café Corner spawned an entire product line and will never be reproduced, or so significantly improved upon for that matter (IMO). Tell me ANY other LEGO model with those credentials. Although the series is evolving and improving, I don’t see it ever being a case of “that old building doesn’t fit in with my new buildings” or “that old building just isn’t up to the same standard as all my new models”. I don’t think there’s 1 fan of modulars that would choose NOT to have any of the retired buildings in their collection.

    No matter how big my city gets, I will always be missing that 1, 2 or 3 of the original buildings. There isn’t anything in SW or any other series that will ever be anything like that.

    I’ll stop my rant, thanks for letting me share.

    • admin November 14, 2014, 11:06 AM

      Hm… there are LOTS of people who whould chose NOT to have some of the retired Modulars in their collection. I’m one of them. I don’t like the Grand Emporium or the Palace Cinema, and I don’t really care for the first three sets either – I’m not saying they aren’t great, they just don’t appeal to me. I know that’s heresy to hear for some, and you may start throwing MegaBloks at me, but it is what it is. I have the money to buy them if I would want them, and even if you would give them to me for free, I wouldn’t want them (well, maybe for parts). And I’m not the only one. I have personal friends, and online connections that feel the same way. They get the Modulars that they really like – sometimes even just one – and they are perfectly happy with that. No insatiable desire in our hearts and minds to get every single Modular.

      In fact, people who get single-minded (and even fanatical) about a product line are always the ones who burn out the fastest. They start out all happy and excited, then they end up getting sets that they don’t really like – just because they are part of a series they committed themselves to. And make no mistake, just because the Modulars are the only sets that match, doesn’t mean that people don’t collect other product lines with the same burning passion, and experience almost physical pain and real anxiety if they miss something in the series. People collect Star Wars, Super Heroes, minifigs, polybags, 2×4 bricks in every imaginable color, posters, memorabilia, sets relased in unique boxes, and every imaginable item in the world of LEGO. I know people who’s goal is to collect every single element ever made, and at least one person who’s goal was to have every set ever made.

      I will venture to say that this has NOTHING to do with the product line; how much it matches or makes sense to collect. It has to do with someone with a collector’s mentality fixing their eyes on one line of product with a single-minded determination. Then they will use their intelligence to try to convince themselves – and the rest of the world – why what they are collecting is the most logical choice, and why it is superior to the collection of everyone else.

      Most times collectors are a fun bunch. They actually do immense service to the community – and even for history – by collecting items nobody has ever heard of or have long forgotten about. I collect some things as well, and it can be a fun hobby. The sad part though is that I have seen this same mentality also completely destroy people. It usually starts out with an inner conflict brewing up inside the person; when their heart and intelligence say they really don’t like something in a particular product line, or they are getting sick and tired of the entire collecting thing, or it is starting to hurt their bank account, or marriage, or time with their friends and family – but the obsession won’t let them stop. At this point the fun of collecting turns into an addiction full of anxiety, shame, secrects, even feelings of hate and dread. They also lash out on others with a vengeance who question their obsession. The most consistent group of people I have seen exiting the LEGO hobby because of being completely burned out are not the MOCers, or people who buy sets that they like, or the casual collectors. It is the people who obsessively collect something.

      Frankly, I don’t think the Modulars match. Yes, they are on the same size baseplate and they have pegs to connect them. But other than that, I can detect at least three different styles that would most likely never be next to each other in real life. But I’m the daughter of an architect. 😉

      Your LEGO City project sounds really fun. I have also considered rebuilding some of the modulars in different colors. The Pet Shop and the Parisian Restaurant especially lends themselves to that. I have also just seen someone redo the Green Grocer in Sand Blue and it looks really sweet. You might like to check out the YouTube channel of JANGBRiCKS (I have featured his videos here many times). He is one of my most favorite LEGO reviewers and he is also building a very large City taking up an entire room. He only builds MOCs though, but they are super nice. Wishing you the best with our project, and if you like, you can keep me updated. 🙂

      • Håkan November 14, 2014, 11:27 AM

        It might border on hoarding too, in some cases… =/

  • FloridaBrick November 17, 2014, 5:52 AM

    Man! I can cancel the appointment with my shrink next week.

    Really, 2×4 bricks in every imaginable color? What a weirdo.

    You’re right. I do need to watch myself. I don’t want to get burned out and being obsessive could drive me there.

    It doesn’t help that this point in time, technically a month or so ago, seems like such a significant time for Modulars. Although HH is from a different product line, it is compatible with its pins and everything, and is needed if you want that 4th corner. So not one, but three sets went out of stock and informally retired within a couple weeks of each other.

    And I wasn’t trying to say Modulars are superior to other lines. I did say that I love SW, City, and TLM too. I just don’t believe there is any product line that is as significantly influenced by their predecessors. Considering how few sets there are (8 or so), as well as how much they retail for, then the act of retiring a model becomes a pretty big deal.

    Yep, I’ve seen Jangbrick’s huge mall and all the other cool stuff in his city. I am more of a “how can I make someone else’s design better” type. So when I said “a city with different variants of each building, many MOCs, etc, etc.”, it would have been more accurate to say “many of my own modifications” (MOMs ?). This sort of answers the question of getting models that I might not REALLY like (as well as multiples of each set), just because they’re in the product line. If a set isn’t awesome already right out of the box, then it simply gives me something to work with. Exactly like your example of using different colors – anything I don’t like about a model, I’ll change, probably again and again to keep improving it to my taste. That modifying part is the most fun for me, as much or even more than building them exactly to their instructions in the first place.

    Anyways, almost immediately after writing my 2nd essay to you I figured it out. Writing it out to you made me realize that TLG understands this:

    sets that if they weren’t already collector’s items, they will be the instant they become retired

    We’re in the middle of gift shopping season. Although TLG isn’t scared of the secondary market, they are at least aware of it. If they update them to Retired now, all it’s going to do is shift at least a small amount of attention and demand away from everything else. The best thing for TLG to do is just let them sit there without any update to draw as little attention as possible until after the holiday shopping season is over.

    Now you better wake up and do an article on the new Detective’s Office! I can’t figure out how you knew they would use Unikitty’s tail.

    • admin November 17, 2014, 11:01 AM

      That’s as good explanation as any in regards to why they haven’t moved the sets into the retired section. At least it makes sense… compared to some of the things TLG does. I already wrote an article on the Detective Agency but I won’t be publishing it until later this week as that was the earliest I could sqeeze it in. We can discuss it further at that time. As far as Unikitty’s tail, I have informants. One of the perks of running a LEGO blog. I can’t always share though what I know because I want to keep my good relations with LEGO. 😉

      My building style seems very similar to yours. I’m mostly a MOC-er, but when I really like a set I do buy it then keep refining it until what I consider perfection. And I agree with you, that’s the most fun part of the whole process! Right now I’m turning the Pet Shop into a grocery store. As I don’t have the Green Grocer, and my minifigs need food more than pets, I figured it is a reasonable conversion. I’m also mentally already converting the Detective Agency! 😛

      Based on the previous pattern the next Modular should be a corner building, so you only have to wait until next year to add a 4th corner. Again, this is not garanteed, but it is based on the previous pattern. Oh, and the 2×4 collector is my good friend and a contributor here. His collection and knowledge of LEGO colors is amazing. You may learn to appreciate his passion and commitment one day. 🙂

  • FloridaBrick November 17, 2014, 12:47 PM

    Ops! Here I thought you were talking about yourself, and that I was being funny. That’s what I get. I read your 100 things, but now see it’s 2x2s you collect.

    I’m super excited for the DO as well. Can’t wait for the official info and more pics later this week, and of course actually being able to buy and mess with it in a couple months.

    Hey, I really appreciate your responses here. I feel like I’ve been counseled! And like I owe something. So I can’t say thank you enough for the back and forth with the time you’ve spent and everything.

    I’m a faithful follower of your blog now, so I’ll keep checking it every day to see what valuable insight you guys are posting.

    • admin November 17, 2014, 1:05 PM

      LOL! I only collect 2x2s because they give a good color reference, and they are less “dangerous” as far as taking over your life as a collector. 2x4s are the elements LEGO uses for testing new colors, so the color variety is fascinating. But they are really hard to track down. I admire the dedication and envy the collection of 2×4 collectors. You can check out Maxx’s collection here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/maxx361/. Click the link at your own risk. They are addictive and Maxx is a great photographer too. He makes little plastic bricks look delicious! I always get hungry when I look at his pictures! 🙄

      After our discussion I decided to move up the Detective Agency post for tomorrow. I want to see what our readers think. I enjoy talking with other LEGO fans so the pleasure has been mine. With the continued growth of this blog I don’t know how long I will be able to respond to every comment, but as long as I can I will. And you are welcome to stick around and share your thoughts whenever you like. 🙂

  • FloridaBrick November 17, 2014, 2:41 PM

    No way! I play Legos with my only child Maxx every night. He’s the reason I’m into them again. They’re even spelled the same which is not that common. I hadn’t noticed his name on your Contributors list before. VERY impressive collection indeed!

    Understood. I was fortunate to find you when I did. And I sincerely wish you much success.

    FYI – TLG have named it “Detective’s Office” #10246. Pics of front and back of the box were posted on Eurobricks yesterday morning.

    • admin November 17, 2014, 3:10 PM

      That’s pretty cool. I think Maxx is a really fun name, but yeah not very common, especially with that spelling. I know the set is named differently, I just like Detective Agency better. I actually got the pictures before they were posted on EB, but choose not to post them. I have good relations with LEGO and I don’t want to ruin it. LEGO bloggers and website owners have a super secret group where we discuss information that we can’t share on our blogs and websites. 😎

  • FloridaBrick November 17, 2014, 3:52 PM

    I knew you were going to say that. Duh! But you kept messing with me calling it DA, which obviously is the better name.

    • admin November 17, 2014, 3:58 PM

      Yeah, I just got used to it. Don’t worry; in tomorrow’s article I will call it the proper name. BTW, I did a whole research on barbershops and pool halls that I included in the post. Interesting stuff. 🙂

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment