I was reading an interesting piece of news this past weekend on Brickset. Apparently, several sets that were released within the past few years will be available in revised versions. The selection seems rather random, and I’m not really sure what to think, but I have included the information below so we can discuss.
The #31058 LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs was a 3-in-1 set released in 2017, featuring a green dino that could be rebuilt into a triceratops or a pterodactyl. As you can see on the images below, this set is going to be released in two re-colored versions; the #77940 LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs with a brown dino, and the #77941 LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs with a dark-blue dino. Dinos are popular with kids, so it’s understandable that LEGO decided the set back, but it is not know why the change of colors, and why the two different colors. Nor is it known if this is going to be a wide release, something regional, or perhaps event-specific, but you can keep an eye on it at the LEGO Creator section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The pretty light-yellow #10271 LEGO Creator Expert Fiat 500 was released in 2020, and this year, we should be getting a light-blue version in the #77942 LEGO Creator Expert Fiat 500. As far as I can tell, nothing else is different besides the color. The first version is available at the LEGO Creator Expert section of the Online LEGO Shop. We don’t know yet when and where the second version will be released.
The third re-release listed by Brickset is a little different as it more than just a change of colors. The #60110 LEGO City Fire Station was released back in 2016, and although the upcoming #77944 LEGO City Fire Station is very similar, it does include some minor changes in the set design, minifigs, and box-art. Again, it’s not know when and where this set will be available, but you can look for it at the LEGO City section of the Online LEGO Shop.
It’s interesting to note that although in the past LEGO was very much against re-releases, it seems that their stance on this softened in recent years. An identical version of the #10189 LEGO Creator Expert Taj Mahal from 2008 was released as the #10256 LEGO Creator Expert Taj Mahal in 2017. Although both sets are now retired, a smaller version, the #21056 LEGO Architecture Taj Mahal, is available at the LEGO Architecture section of the Online LEGO Shop.
Another identical re-release is the #92176 LEGO Creator Expert NASA Apollo Saturn V from 2020, which first appeared as the #21309 LEGO Creator Expert NASA Apollo Saturn V in 2017. The new version is available at the LEGO Creator Expert section of the Online LEGO Shop.
I can understand the re-release of larger collector sets, I’m a bit puzzled by the re-appearance of the smaller sets. I’m unsure about why LEGO felt it was necessary to re-release the dinos and to change the colors, or what is the purpose of re-releasing an almost identical fire station. What do you think? What sets would you like to see re-released? And what do you think of the ones we discussed here? If you have some thoughts or insights, feel free to share in the comment section below!
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If they are going to do re-releases, I’d like to see re-releases/updated versions of the earlier modular buildings like the Green Grocer, Market Street, Grand Emporium, Town Hall and Cafe Corner.
The rerelease of the dinos makes crystal clear sense. Not everyone wants a green dino. Most, and I do mean nearly ALL lego builders don’t do MOCs and don’t have the brick supply to make changes such as color. I often don’t buy sets based on color because it is too darn difficult and often expensive to recolor a set. As for the fire station set. A small upgrade to more modern vehicles makes perfect sense. I didn’t buy the Fiat because the color was hideous. I won’t buy the typewriter because it doesn’t come in desirable colors. Nostalgia colors are ugly and it is the reason people repaint classic cars a modern color. Teal and turquois should be illegal.
What’s the difference between teal and turquoise? I thought they were more or less synonymous… Is teal darker and turquoise lighter?
Some comments on Brickset seem to state something to the extent of the dinosaur and fire station sets having sold very well among Lego’s core audience of 10-year old boys and their Christmas shopping parents, which sounds like a valid reason to semi-re-release / semi-retire them…
(I might be overanalyzing things, though…)
https://brickset.com/article/63066/more-revised-sets-coming-soon
I wonder if Lego is running out of ideas? If that’s the case of Lego bringing back sets from the past . I think maybe they should bring back some of the themes. There was a rumor going around that possibly more Lord of the Rings sets will be coming out next year but that’s just a rumor again I wouldn’t hold stock on it because that might be false. Maybe they can find themes like Legend of Chima and nexo knights and combine them. It might be a better wave.