Why is microscale so underrated?

Call it microscale or miniscale, there is something for every taste below minifig dimensions. From tiny models made of few parts to larger creations, the possibilities are endless, far beyond commemorative sets or feeble architectural attempts. No excuses, amounts of small parts shouldn't cost a fortune. For instance, from a business perspective and considering the younger customers' market segment, wouldn't it be better, at a price of a minifigure polybag, to buy some small pieces in order to actually give life to something? A first step, at an entry-level cost, in a new world.

We ran out of shelves - nanoblock anyone? - but space-saving priority does not mean giving up on elaborate buildings. There is nothing that can't be achieved by microscale.

koalayummies · April 28, 2020

A large chunk of Lego fans are just minifigure-centric. If it isn't minifigure based then many don't have interest. I agree a lot of some of the greatest builds are mini/microscale or even larger than minifigure scale (scale modeling, special themes, figures, robotics) but you'll see they generate far fewer "likes", comments and general interest.

Those are some excellent examples though.

Edited April 28, 2020 by koalayummies

Mylenium · April 28, 2020

6 hours ago, astral brick said:

For instance, from a business perspective and considering the younger customers' market segment, wouldn't it be better, at a price of a minifigure polybag, to buy some small pieces in order to actually give life to something? A first step, at an entry-level cost, in a new world.

Your argument falls apart at the single, most important point: Abstraction and perception of the world around you. Posed differently, one could argue that we should live in a world overflowing e.g. with painters, because ultimately you can do great things with toilet paper and a cheap pencil, but alas, we're not in that world. A huge fraction of the populace just hasn't any such inclinations. And even within the remaining artistically inclined crowd it may simply not be for everyone. Just as much as you have to be able to create this stuff, you have to be able to enjoy it based on the same principles. As far as I'm concerned I enjoy looking at other people's work of that kind, but I honestly couldn't be bothered to get into creating nano scale stuff myself. I simply prefer other things and have different aspirations. It's about more than cost and storage space.

Mylenium

koalayummies · April 28, 2020

10 hours ago, Mylenium said:

because ultimately you can do great things with toilet paper

Toilet paper is meant for the butt, stop wasting this precious and hard to obtain commodity.

pombe · April 28, 2020

I don't think microscale is underrated at all. And I think AFOLs definitely appreciate MOCs at that scale.

As for TLG not putting out microscale polybags, I actually see the polybag for the microscale train right now on sale. There was another microscale train polybag recently for sale during Christmas. Then there's all the Star Wars polybags for X-wings, snowspeeders, and AT-ATs. And there were polybags for Marvel Super Heroes vehicles, like the SHIELD Quinjet and the jet from Black Panther. And there was the LEGO Batman Batwing polybag. And there were Creator and Speed Champion polybags for cars and semi truck cabs. There was a microscale Zane's tank from the LEGO Ninjago movie (which I bought several of to get those chain links!).

And the entire Architecture line is microscale (though, not polybag).

Then there was that Toys R Us exclusive line of mini-modulars, though those are gone now.

I'm not sure I understand why you think that microscale is underrated.

Toastie · April 28, 2020

14 hours ago, Mylenium said:

~~Your argument falls apart at the single, most important point:~~ Abstraction and perception of the world around you.

@Mylenium - I took the freedom to strike out the ... well, maybe personally intrusive (I am German - don't know how to phrase it better) part - but I completely agree with the latter.

Micro scale needs another dimension of abstraction. And the willingness of "seeing it" - I believe this is the core of the matter.

I personally find it so much tougher to get something across in micro scale - and even more so people need to be willing to go that abstraction/perception route (with fun and appreciation) as well. I love it.

I am not saying that large scale is easier. Or better. Or more appealing. But when I see large scale models, I take it with the Technic folks: There is much, much more "responsibility" :laugh:

All the best,
Thorsten

deraven · April 29, 2020

I think microscale is appreciated, certainly by AFOLs and also by others that see those creations somewhere and, as pombe said, TLC has been making random microscale sets or polybags for a while now. The Mini-Modulars, Harry Potter, and original Minecraft ones come to mind as larger examples.

I think where it may be an issue with TLC not producing sets regularly or as a whole line in their own right has 2 main issues that aren't worth them trying to overcome.

1. The abstract and perception thing again: what makes sense for the subject matter for a wide audience and what play features do you include to try to appeal to the lower age ranges as well since clearly there isn't enough demand just from AFOLs to have made it a product line, and kids definitely "get" microscale but probably don't have enough interest to buy it over the other sets available. I definitely think Polly Pocket or MicroMachines playsets could get some traction, but again probably not enough to build a whole wave around, especially considering TLC's penchant for character-based storytelling to go along with their sets.

2. As we well know, TLC is all about the System, and when it comes to microscale there doesn't seem to be any consistency for size/scale. I don't see that as a problem at all for doing creative builds in general, and it's a lot of fun when you see that perfect part usage in a micro build that you just know the rest of the MOC was built around. But when you're trying to develop a whole wave, what scale do you settle on so there's consistency? If I were trying to decide on a standard, based on parts availability I think there would be a different "natural" scale for land vehicles, aircraft, sea vessels, and buildings, and that could be hard to reconcile for a commercial product.

Going back to your thoughts on efficient space utilization, set cost, etc., I think one thing that TLC could try would be a small group of Creator-style sets that are basically a big parts box (like the Minecraft Crafting Boxes, or the 40222 holiday promotion set from a couple years ago, with each one being able to build a whole variety of microscale things. A whole tiny village, or train layout, or naval armada, etc., all from a few hundred small pieces and adaptable to all sorts of other things with the techniques shown in the instructions as inspiration. That could be fun, and I think would have mass appeal at what could be a very reasonable price point.

astral brick · April 29, 2020

On 4/28/2020 at 11:16 AM, koalayummies said:

A large chunk of Lego fans are just minifigure-centric. If it isn't minifigure based then many don't have interest.

I think you are totally right.

On 4/28/2020 at 11:16 AM, koalayummies said:

Those are some excellent examples though.

It was so difficult to make a selection, there were so many great models from which to choose. They deserve so much to be released as official sets.

23 hours ago, Mylenium said:

Your argument falls apart at the single, most important point: Abstraction and perception of the world around you. Posed differently, one could argue that we should live in a world overflowing e.g. with painters, because ultimately you can do great things with toilet paper and a cheap pencil, but alas, we're not in that world. A huge fraction of the populace just hasn't any such inclinations.

I think you are underestimating people's inclinations. In fact, isn't Lego all about abstraction? After all, people don't build things but their representations, according to their own perceptions of the reality and using bricks. What are bricks if not small plastic cubes? Maybe, without realizing it, Lego users are contemporary cubist artists :-)

astral brick · April 29, 2020

4 hours ago, deraven said:

I think where it may be an issue with TLC not producing sets regularly or as a whole line in their own right has 2 main issues that aren't worth them trying to overcome.

1. The abstract and perception thing again: what makes sense for the subject matter for a wide audience and what play features do you include to try to appeal to the lower age ranges as well since clearly there isn't enough demand just from AFOLs to have made it a product line, and kids definitely "get" microscale but probably don't have enough interest to buy it over the other sets available.

If Lego keeps playing safe we will never know the answer. Another potential market that will remain unexplored.

4 hours ago, deraven said:

2. As we well know, TLC is all about the System, and when it comes to microscale there doesn't seem to be any consistency for size/scale. I don't see that as a problem at all for doing creative builds in general, and it's a lot of fun when you see that perfect part usage in a micro build that you just know the rest of the MOC was built around. But when you're trying to develop a whole wave, what scale do you settle on so there's consistency? If I were trying to decide on a standard, based on parts availability I think there would be a different "natural" scale for land vehicles, aircraft, sea vessels, and buildings, and that could be hard to reconcile for a commercial product.

Intriguing question. I believe that the solution is price range, scale and inherent number of parts related to various segments of markets. Coexistence of various scales is possible, for instance I think of Harry Potter theme.

4 hours ago, deraven said:

A whole tiny village, or train layout, or naval armada, etc., all from a few hundred small pieces and adaptable to all sorts of other things with the techniques shown in the instructions as inspiration. That could be fun, and I think would have mass appeal at what could be a very reasonable price point.

Interesting suggestion, although I am not convinced about its final price being reasonable.

Mylenium · April 29, 2020

43 minutes ago, astral brick said:

I think you are underestimating people's inclinations. In fact, isn't Lego all about abstraction? After all, people don't build things but their representations, according to their own perceptions of the reality and using bricks. What are bricks if not small plastic cubes? Maybe, without realizing it, Lego users are contemporary cubist artists :-)

Yes/ No/ Maybe/ Perhaps/ Likely not. LEGO is part artistry, part simple technical problem solving. You could get all deep into the psychological and philosophical side of it, but suffice it to say that a three-year-old doesn't fall into that category at all (scientifically proven) and that even many older kids and adults struggle with this kind of "abstract" thinking. You could even go so far as to open up an endless discussion about how some people may be able to capture the appearance of an object, but the underlying structure is terrible, not just in engineering terms. And specifically to microscale you could also argue it it takes a particular "oversight" thinking and map-like spatial awareness, and there are studies on that as well why and how many people have difficulties with that. Don't get me wrong, as I wrote I admire anyone who does amazing micro scale/ nano scale stuff, but at the same time it seems all to apparent to me why not more people are doing it for pretty clear reasons.

Mylenium

koalayummies · April 29, 2020

That is a good point. It can be more difficult to build at the smaller scale managing the accompanying sacrifices in detail while still capturing the essence.

pombe · April 29, 2020

@astral brick Are you asking why if TLG can put out a line of 16 collectible mini figures for $3.99 each, why don’t they put out a line of 16 collectible micro sets for $3.99 each (sort of in the same vein as the advent calendars)? Maybe all 16 can be put together to make a micro city or a micro space colony or a micro medieval village?

MAB · April 29, 2020

15 hours ago, pombe said:

I don't think microscale is underrated at all. And I think AFOLs definitely appreciate MOCs at that scale.

Same here there are loads of good microscale MOCs. They are not underrated.

3 hours ago, astral brick said:

It was so difficult to make a selection, there were so many great models from which to choose. They deserve so much to be released as official sets.

If there are so many great models to choose from, then it suggests that microscale is not underrated.

I think the reason they are not official sets is because they are, for the most part, display items. The play value is near zero. The architecture range is the (official) big brother of these MOCs, aimed at older kids / adults. Whereas ~ $5 polybags are aimed at kids, where play value is important.

karmajay · April 29, 2020

I appreciate these types of projects and understand the work that goes into them. I'm sure they are a challenge to design and create as well. That being said I think they don't satisfy a couple of BIG reasons why a lot of people buy Lego. 1) The Build - building a minscale from a polybag usually takes minutes. A lot of people will not be satisfied by that. 2) The Display - A lot of people display or share their purchased builds and those can be appreciated. I don't feel the smaller scale stuff will be as appreciated by non-Lego friends and family that are being shared with.

AmperZand · April 29, 2020

8 hours ago, koalayummies said:

It can be more difficult to build at the smaller scale managing the accompanying sacrifices in detail while still capturing the essence.

This.

I don't know about other AFOLs (apart from ones who have posted above or who MOC at microscale), but I very much enjoy seeing pictures of builds at that scale.

My collection is mostly minifigure-centric and I only have one microscale build in my display collection, Poe's X-wing. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate microscale. @astral brick, I think your Classic Space microscale MOCs are inspired! :thumbup:

howitzer · April 29, 2020

I don't think microscale is underrated or underrepresented at all in official sets as many sets representing real life things are microscale, few examples that popped in my mind: Tower Bridge, Taj Mahal, ISS, Saturn V. All of those sets are of course very large when finished so they provide a good display, and they are also interesting to build being so large, so they are in entirely different category than polybag microscale sets or even Architecture sets.

astral brick · April 30, 2020

19 hours ago, karmajay said:

That being said I think they don't satisfy a couple of BIG reasons why a lot of people buy Lego. 1) The Build - building a minscale from a polybag usually takes minutes. A lot of people will not be satisfied by that.

How long does it take to assemble a minifigure?

19 hours ago, karmajay said:

2) The Display - A lot of people display or share their purchased builds and those can be appreciated. I don't feel the smaller scale stuff will be as appreciated by non-Lego friends and family that are being shared with.

Interesting consideration, we live in a world of image.

JintaiZ · September 18, 2020

On ‎4‎/‎29‎/‎2020 at 4:40 PM, howitzer said:

I don't think microscale is underrated or underrepresented at all in official sets as many sets representing real life things are microscale, few examples that popped in my mind: Tower Bridge, Taj Mahal, ISS, Saturn V. All of those sets are of course very large when finished so they provide a good display, and they are also interesting to build being so large, so they are in entirely different category than polybag microscale sets or even Architecture sets.

That's only when microscale was really necessary... Also I don't think Taj Mahal is microscale.

Sorry if I'm a bit late to the party :P

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