Resurrecting old sets

[drdavewatford]

Lego has a pretty spectacular back catalogue - some wonderful old sets - which folks today are generally missing out on unless they are lucky enough to pick up a bargain on eBay or Bricklink.

Looking through the Peeron piece listing for some old sets recently, it occurred to me that it surely wouldn't be too hard for TLC to link to Peeron so that users could literally place a parts order direct from Peeron. Instructions could be downloaded from the Lego website, and Lego therefore make money out of supplying parts for old, retired sets. The main issue would I guess be parts which Lego no longer manufacture, in which case the website would list these parts, and the buyer would decide whether to order anyway and substitute parts or source the missing pieces via Bricklink.

Thoughts ?

Cheers,

D.

Edited April 13, 2009 by drdavewatford

[keetong]

Isn't PAB just like that. Well the're not just going to list every part. It would be a waist of resources if someone wanted one peice and no one else wanted it.

[legotrainfan]

Basically a good idea, but I believe there're people already doing this: using the peeron parts list and then buying the pieces to create discontinued sets. I myself played with the thought of creating a castle that way. But the older the set, the harder it is to find the discontinued elements for it. And TLC does not produce every element all the time, and they won't have discontinued elements in stock forever.

[rriggs]

I do this.

To download instructions, I use Peeron for older sets (more than 3 years old) and Lego's website for newer sets. I then use LDD to reconstruct the sets followed by either Bricklink or Factory/PAB to get the actual parts. I tend to focus on the 1980 to 1995 period but also have recreated the Town Hall from the 50 year anniversary and the blue truck from the current cargo train set.

Cheers

Rog

[Tyrant]

This would be a nice alternative to the Legends line. As others have said certain discontinued pieces would be an issue. The same would go for figures. They would also have to have some kind of disclaimer about using newer colors instead of the original colors. Personally though I would like to see the return of the Legends line. Looking at the current prices of the Castle offerings from Legends tells me that there is a market.

[drdavewatford]

I agree that you can laboriously recreate old designs using LDD and PAB, but my point is - there's a much easier way. Peeron already lists all the parts, and instructions for the old sets are readily available on the web. It would be far quicker and easier just to click a link on the relevant Peeron page to order the listed parts from Lego. Think how cool that would be !

D.

[prateek]

I agree that you can laboriously recreate old designs using LDD and PAB, but my point is - there's a much easier way. Peeron already lists all the parts, and instructions for the old sets are readily available on the web. It would be far quicker and easier just to click a link on the relevant Peeron page to order the listed parts from Lego. Think how cool that would be !

D.

that will lead to the end of the world. dont ask me how, it just will

[Shadows]

I agree that you can laboriously recreate old designs using LDD and PAB, but my point is - there's a much easier way. Peeron already lists all the parts, and instructions for the old sets are readily available on the web. It would be far quicker and easier just to click a link on the relevant Peeron page to order the listed parts from Lego. Think how cool that would be !

D.

The Peeron database isn't even vaguely compatible with TLG. They frequently use different numbers, describe colours with different names, and refer to parts in ways that TLG doesn't (seperating assemblies, or combining parts that TLG doesn't). Further, it includes many parts that no longer are in production and more errors in inventories than you would imagine. Add the need for sticker sheets that go back to the 60's and colours that are no longer available, and you've got a disaster.

For your plan to work, TLG would have to develop their own database or buy Peeron and do more work than it's worth.

It's a nice idea, but it just isn't realistic.

[Freddie]

...or you could just use Bricklink's inventory function to get a list of the parts you need, then use Bricklink itself to search and purchase said parts. Or the set itself.