the evoultion of lego city

[greenjackson]

whats your opinion in the evolution of lego city sets? i believe that although some current lego city sets are amazing many of them have failed at taking a place alongside their elders such as the breezeway cafe or pizza to go. in the earlier years of lego city not lego land or lego town but lego city the sets seemed to have a variety and still some style. though todays current lego sets have proved to be a bit disappointing, simmilar, and boring.

also what is a good place to get custom lego sets? (not made by lego) or instructions

[escortmad79]

also what is a good place to get custom lego sets? (not made by lego) or instructions

Design & build your own?

[greenjackson]

Design & build your own?

yeah i do some of that but i like to modify more than i do build from scratch

[WesternOutlaw]

though todays current lego sets have proved to be a bit disappointing, simmilar, and boring.

I'd have to disagree with this comment completely. As a huge fan of Classic Town, today's LEGO sets are anything but disappointing and boring. It is true that many of the regular City sets do not have the charm of Classic Town, but I think LEGO has really excelled in offering a wide-variety of different "standard " City sets, especially in the last few years. We've seen the introduction of Farm, outstanding construction vehicles, Coast Guard, and a variety of other City sets that aren't related to Police and Fire. Then there's the Modulars that I don't even need to mention. Nothing has compared to these fantastic models.

[legomaniac83]

All I can say is what TLG is pumping out now is WAY better than the town sets they were putting out in 2000 & 2001. The juniorization totally turned me off of Lego, and contributed to the Dark Age I had.

Give it 10-15 years, and the sets that are comming out now will be classic City Sets. They aren't classic yet because they are new. Don't get me wrong, I think the classic Town sets are classic, and deserve their place in Lego history. I grew up with them and there is nothing like a classic 4-wide vehicle, but it can't be named classic if it has just been released.

I think TLG has taked huge steps since the debacle in the early 2000's, and I look forward for more great City sets coming down the pipeline.

[mikey]

...

It is true that many of the regular City sets do not have the charm of Classic Town, but I think LEGO has really excelled in offering a wide-variety of different "standard " City sets, especially in the last few years.

...

This is something I have been thinking about recently. I would go as far as saying that you can't really compare Classic to Modern. I grew up in the 80's, and I loved Town, it was amazing, the best toy you could play ever possess. Now when I see the sets from my childhood I smile, I feel nostalgic and I feel happy. But I do not want to possess them anymore, they are cute, but I dont think you can compare them to the City (Town) sets of the last few years.

Modern designs are more detailed and more realistic. I would agree that there is to much emphasis on Fire/ Police/ Construction, and we have maybe lost the civilian elements. But as an Adult I could decide to make these civilian elements if I wished. When I made the recent review of 3180, at the back of my mind was comparing it to my childhood version of this set (6695), and I thought that I would luv to be an kid building this, that it is so much better from the set released 25! years ago. I thought the same with other remakes such as Cement Mixer and Recycle Truck.

That does not mean the Classic designs are 'bad', what it means is Classic was long ago, so it is unfair to compare the two ages.

[lightningtiger]

If you look back at Lego's history is an evolution in toy making, from the first town plan of 1958 to the minifig one of 2008. Cities change, new technologies come along, peoples change, so Lego tries to show this.....along the way from about 1997 to 2005 they got lost in the dark ages only to break out with some awesome designs (although soemtimes slipping back into the days of TownJr (one hospital comes to mind OMG).

Classic town is like AM radio and City is like FM, related but still very different - both still having purpose. City is just Classic town grown-up a little as KFOL's seem to want to build more complex things the young they are - some 8+ sets are being assembled by 5 year olds.

I'm a conformist! !!!!

[greenjackson]

I'd have to disagree with this comment completely. As a huge fan of Classic Town, today's LEGO sets are anything but disappointing and boring. It is true that many of the regular City sets do not have the charm of Classic Town, but I think LEGO has really excelled in offering a wide-variety of different "standard " City sets, especially in the last few years. We've seen the introduction of Farm, outstanding construction vehicles, Coast Guard, and a variety of other City sets that aren't related to Police and Fire. Then there's the Modulars that I don't even need to mention. Nothing has compared to these fantastic models.

actually i do take back what i said earlier not all of the sets are boring. though i do miss the civilian aspect but hey i guess i need to learn to build my own stuff cfrom scratch. but even variety within the the police and fire were larger in 2003-2005 i remember there was a secret surveillance truck a while back. and i think that the 2003-2005 was my favorite time period for the city stage. what about you guys? do you like the classic, older, or brand new the best?

Edited January 18, 2010 by greenjackson

[peterab]

whats your opinion in the evolution of lego city sets? i believe that although some current lego city sets are amazing many of them have failed at taking a place alongside their elders such as the breezeway cafe or pizza to go. in the earlier years of lego city not lego land or lego town but lego city the sets seemed to have a variety and still some style. though todays current lego sets have proved to be a bit disappointing, simmilar, and boring.

At the risk of taking an unpopular opinion, I'd partialy agree with this. Some sets are amazing, for me city corner and wind turbine transport are good examples. Others such as the current garage with the orange tow truck and the recent coast guard and construction series tend to have faults which make them unappealing to me. I think partially what irks me with them is that the colour scemes are all the same for a theme. I guess its for marketing reasons, to try and get people to collect the whole set. I think the individual sets have good designs to a greater or lesser extent depending on the set, but are overwhelmed by the single colour scheme.

but even variety within the the police and fire were larger in 2003-2005 i remember there was a secret surveillance truck a while back. and i think that the 2003-2005 was my favorite time period for the city stage. what about you guys? do you like the classic, older, or brand new the best?

My nostalgia is set off by the 70's legoland sets, but given that was before minifigs, I can understand that most will not share that. I'm now fully committed to build modern style stuff, a bit of a mix of current city vehicles, modular style buildings, using techniques like the official sets and aspiring to copy examples like Hinkley's, and trains like some of the German train builders and the guys on Flickr.

[Scorpion]

Modern designs are more detailed and more realistic.

This is not necessarilly a good thing. Hear me out.

First, my LEGO credentials: I was born in 1986, smack-dab in the middle of LEGO's Golden Age. 4-wide ruled. There were city sets by the dozens. Cars, jeeps, tv trucks, jetskis, airplanes, helicopters, tractors, you name it! Then came '97 and World City *shudders*. My Dark Age had begun.

Nowadays, the spirit of the golden age is alive again, but not half as prolific. Why? I believe I may know atleast one reason. In 1987, Snorkel Squad had 145 pieces. The 2005 Fire Truck has 208. The 1990 Trans Air Carrier had 200 pieces. The 2008 Cargo Plane had 451!

More detail means more pieces per set. More pieces per set means more spending per set. More spending per set is a good reason not to risk on those wacky civvy sets...

Brick on...

Scorpion

[peterab]

Nowadays, the spirit of the golden age is alive again, but not half as prolific. Why? I believe I may know atleast one reason. In 1987, Snorkel Squad had 145 pieces. The 2005 Fire Truck has 208. The 1990 Trans Air Carrier had 200 pieces. The 2008 Cargo Plane had 451!

More detail means more pieces per set. More pieces per set means more spending per set. More spending per set is a good reason not to risk on those wacky civvy sets...

On the other hand if the less detailed sets of the past were offered now, they probably wouldn't sell very well, as kids expectations are much higher now.

[Davey]

I've highlighted this thread over on Classic-Town.net, so hopefully we'll get a few more people stopping in here to add their thoughts on Classic Town versus the newer City sets. It might be a good idea to add a poll to this thread to capture some of the opinions as well.

-Davey

[MarcusV3]

hmm... I don't really think I can honestly agree with one side of the argument, although classic town had some great buildings, and more of a variety of them they just didn't have that interesting aspect that city has now. But at the same time in City all we get are fire stations and hospitals and not as many good civilian buildings. I think all I can say is that they both have their fair share of pros and cons

[AllanSmith]

I started buying LEGO in 1985 when I was 29 (originally for my daughter ) I liked the Town sets back then and now have 398 sets starting from 1980. I have 18 World City sets and now 89 City sets. I really like the size and modern design of the current sets. So much so that I am thinking of selling off nearly all of my Town sets (but keeping my 2 6399 Airport Shuttle sets )

[paanjang16]

To me the current Lego City have some really good sets, but some of the sets still fail in comparison to some Classic Town sets which are still superior.

Example 1: Red Sports car in Road Rebel vs. Current Red Sportscar

Although the old one is only a normal 4 stud vehicle, it has a sleek sloped front, low profile front and rear lights, variable spoiler, radiator grilles at the rear, openable doors, Ferrari-hot red with yellow trim and to top it off there is a tow hook which can either tow a bike trailer or any other similar height trailer! And it is build in only 7 and a half short steps!!

Example 2: Utility Lift versus 2010 repair truck

Ingenious scissor lift mechanism, a separate van which you can go about its own way, a trailer which has its own lights and warning signs and can be used by other Town users, printed bricks!

Example 3: Metro Park and Service Tower versus..... errr, there has not been any car park set so far

Comes with car wash, fully equipped Shell station, 3 storey car park with elevator, 3 cars with one of them a convertible, 1 Shell truck, baseplates which can rotate to change setup

Example 4: The good old 9V light and sound system versus..... oh dear, nothing to compete against??!?

Light brick which can have blink and light up normally with such a turn-around of the light brick! Sound bricks with 2 sets of sounds by twisting the sound brick dial.

Of course the new sets like the farm set, crawler crane, tower crane as well as the pizza corner with the bus is a nice addition to the lego town, but to me the old sets are way more superior

[Claudio]

Hi, this is my first post!!

This is a very interesting topic for me. I collect LEGO since 1978, when I was a child, and I always admired the idea of a full town (with a lot more than police, racers, etc). The current line of City I think is headed in the right direction, with an amazing detail level, and new sub themes like farm.

Still I miss the big (for their scale) family houses of the 80s!!!

[Brick & Mortimer]

Hi, this is my first post!!

...

Welcome to EB!

I think everything is so very subjective when you compare classic town with the current city set.

When I was young (born in 1982) it was the golden age of Lego town. I'm happy to own sets like 6394 Metro Park & Service Tower, 6542 Launch & Load Seaport or 6689 Post Station.

Although I collect all the modulars and other exclusives like Town PLan, it's "obvious" I prefer classic town.

Don't get me wrong, modern city has beautiful sets. I bought the new City Corner, but partially I think it's because it reminds me so much of classic town

...

Still I miss the big (for their scale) family houses of the 80s!!!

You are right about that!

We want more houses! We want more houses! We want...

[Claudio]

In the meanwhile, I bought most of the houses of the 80s and 90s.

I can only imagine how a house would look with the current detail level!

[sebby]

I think a lot of this is down to nostalgia over the older sets. We always seem to remember things better than there are.

Yes I had some of the classic sets that have been mentioned and I still have fond memories of them. The hours I used to drive my 4 stud wide cars around and I used to love my little police motor bike with it windscreen.

But I don't think it is fair to compare it to todays Lego as todays is far superior.

Just look at

Compared to the older police stations I think this one wins hands down. Yes some of the modern set are bad but not every old set was great either. If Lego remains as popular for the next few years as it is now I sure TLG will bring out more and more great sets to prove this.

As much as I loved the Lego I had as a kid when I build a old style car now it just don't feel or look right anymore.