Continuation of Modular Building series

[Lego Wargammer]

Just discovered these sets recently. I bought a Green Grocer and it just arrived, I look forward to building it.

If it's as cool as I think it will be I hope the line continues.

[wooootles]

Just discovered these sets recently. I bought a Green Grocer and it just arrived, I look forward to building it.

If it's as cool as I think it will be I hope the line continues.

Good for you (and LEGO, not for your wallet)

I just placed an order for CC as well (I was going to have it as a b-day present for myself, but that plan is accelerated due to the posts in this thread )

[Carbohydrates]

Good for you (and LEGO, not for your wallet)

I just placed an order for CC as well (I was going to have it as a b-day present for myself, but that plan is accelerated due to the posts in this thread )

I know how you feel! I got Fire Brigade this month and was hoping to wait until December or so to grab CC, but I think I'll just make a run to the LEGO store ASAP at this point... might walk out with a Winter Toy Shop while I'm at it. ;)

[MetroiD]

From the looks of it, LEGO are definitely not planning on pulling the plug on the Modular Sets line (but still, let's hope that's not wishful thinking / interpretation on our side...). As Jamie Berard has shared in his interview with Captain Zuloo (a huge THANK YOU goes out to Z for providing us with that!), LEGO are obviously paying attention to what fans want - and especially to what AFOLs have requested in terms of exclusive sets. Actually, if that weren't true, I don't think that sets such as the Imperial Flagship, the Carousel or most of the Modulars would have ever seen the light of day!

I myself would like to see the Modular Sets being expanded at the rate they've been going so far - one set per year feel just about right (on my wallet, mostly ), especially bearing in mind that there are also other wonderful exclusives such as the Emerald Night, the VW Beetle or the Imperial Flagship that most of us would never be caught missing out on.

So for the summer of 2010 (when I hope the next Modular would be announced - if there is one), I would be very happy if we could get something along the lines of.... the Market Street. Yes, you're not mistaken, I'm really talking about set 10190 which was a bit neglected and remained in the shadows of its two (now three) "bigger brothers". To me however, that set was a wonderful foundation which any AFOL could improve as they saw fitting, all the while keeping the original idea intact. In other words, it is a wonderfully-designed set which wouldn't get dismantled immediately after it is built (as, for example, is the fate of all Creative House sets that I buy) and it leaves more than enough room for your imagination to fill in the gaps (furniture, decoration, etc.). Most of all, it provides realism to LEGO Modular City streets - because let's face it, not every building in town can or should be a 32x32 behemoth (which in some cases even gets boosted by unlimited extra floors... right, Svelte? ).

That said, I'd be chuffed if LEGO were to release a library using the same approach as the Market Street - a bit less bricks, a bit less furniture / decorations, but the same originality in architecture and colour variety and that very same level of sheer awesomeness. What's more important, I feel that now that the Modular Set line has been more or less consolidated, a cheaper alternative for next year would be a smart marketing move (Market Street did cost a mere 90 EUR which was more than affordable compared to the price of the three "official" Modulars). That way, sales of the Fire Brigade would continue unabated by the introduction of a new set, which in turn would also bring in quite a lot of cash for TLG. At the end of the day, both sides need to happy, right?

[tedbeard]

... not every building in town can or should be a 32x32 behemoth

Excellent point! There have been some amazing creations using 16x32 baseplates. I would love to see a fish and chips shop or a bookstore in that size creation. They could do lots of great details and reduce the number of bricks(cost) ading variety both to the "street" and to the price points.

That said, I'd be chuffed if LEGO were to release a library using the same approach as the Market Street...

And again, I am with you on that one. If it was left mostly empty on the interior it could be tricked out as a library or a bank or even a pub - all of which uses have been shared by real-life buildings in my home town.

[WesternOutlaw]

From the looks of it, LEGO are definitely not planning on pulling the plug on the Modular Sets line (but still, let's hope that's not wishful thinking / interpretation on our side...).

That way, sales of the Fire Brigade would continue unabated by the introduction of a new set, which in turn would also bring in quite a lot of cash for TLG. At the end of the day, both sides need to happy, right?

Great thoughts!

I think much of it will depend on continued sales of these sets, especially the Fire Brigade. If LEGO sees the financial reward, they are certainly more likely to continue the line. It was great to hear Jamie say that LEGO is listening like never before.

I'm very much looking forward to the next few adult exclusives. I'd love to see a modular Train Station.

[legotrainfan]

I'm very much looking forward to the next few adult exclusives. I'd love to see a modular Train Station.

That's what I'm waiting for as well. It would be absolutely fabulous to see a modular train station. But if TLC is going to release one, it'd have to be veeery big. I mean I once saw a big and brilliant modular train station here. Don't know where it is. It was a dead-end station, as far as I can remember. I'd be amazing to see such a station released by TLC.

[peterab]

I'd love to see a modular Train Station.

Although I'd like to see a train station, I'd be afraid the sales of it wouldn't be good enough. I'd rather see a bank or chemist, or post office. In other words a more generic building with wider appeal to people who don't have trains.

[Captain Zuloo]

I mean I once saw a big and brilliant modular train station here. Don't know where it is. It was a dead-end station, as far as I can remember. I'd be amazing to see such a station released by TLC.

Would that be this one from Teddy?

(Pic is link)

[legotrainfan]

Would that be this one from Teddy?

That's exactly the one I meant! Thanks!

[tedbeard]

^ A beautiful train station but I could never afford a set with THAT many pieces. It must be a huge part count.

[peterab]

If anyone hasn't listened to it, in the Train Tech forum, Cpt Zuloo has posted an interview with Jamie Berard the designer of the Modular Buildings and the Emerald Night.

In it he says that while he isnt able to discuss particular products he is working on, he is working on Exclusives (as well as Creator). I think thats the closest we'll get untill we have an official announcement or leaked pics of further modular buildings. He could just be working on other (non-modular buildings) exclusives but I hope not.

[GRogall]

Well just having finished building 10211 Grand Emporium, I was think of how this series will continue in the future.

Lets say that Lego continues with the series for the following next 8 years, with a corner building released every 3 years we would

have an amazing city block! excluding (Market Street)

Have a volume 102 x 102 centimeters or roughly 40 x 40 inches.

Have build with roughly 26,000 lego bricks.

Have spent 60 hours putting the sets together at roughly 5 hours per building.

Have roughly 48 Minifigs.

and have spent roughly €$ 1,800 for the whole block.

and we would finish in 2018

Where already 1/3 finished! so lets see what happens!

Edited February 24, 2010 by grogall

[Follows Closely]

I agree that a building of 32x64 would be a welcome change in this series. (See my sig below) The buildings make a street look much more realistic, not all buildings are the same with!

[Henri]

I agree that a building of 32x64 would be a welcome change in this series. (See my sig below) The buildings make a street look much more realistic, not all buildings are the same with!

I guess you mean 16 x 32, similar to market street.

32x64 are the large, wide buildings like Jesper Joppe Greers built.

here's the link to his stunning page.

Visit Jasper Joppe Geers website

Henri

[ChefAgf]

Lego should hire JJGeers... That way Lego can release magnificent modular buildings twice as fast...

On the other hand that means that money will fly out of my wallet twice as fast...

Nah, i think the tempo is right as it is.. Else its getting way to expensive since i cant resist any of those modular buildings..

[Follows Closely]

I guess you mean 16 x 32, similar to market street.

32x64 are the large, wide buildings like Jesper Joppe Greers built.

here's the link to his stunning page.

Visit Jasper Joppe Geers website

Henri

Yes, thanks. I just finished a 48x32 to go along with many 32x32 and a few 16x32 s. I do not have the time or funds to go to 64.

[gotoAndLego]

^ A beautiful train station but I could never afford a set with THAT many pieces. It must be a huge part count.

Without any licensing fees we can extrapolate the pricing based off their other high-piece count models.

The Taj Mahal is 300 USD for almost 6000 pieces, but those are all very similar colors, while the new Emporium is 150 USD for almost 2200 pieces. Considering the Train Station would have a similar diversity in pieces and colors we're probably looking at 500 USD for a massive 8000 piece deluxe train station. So the question is whether TLG would base its decision on how well the UCS falcon, the only other 500 USD set they make, sold considering these appeal to different demographics, although with some overlap.

I think it would be bad-megablocks though, and would be a really cool way to display my Emerald Night alongside my modulars.

Edited March 5, 2010 by gotoAndLego