Modulex? Nanoblocks?

[Flare]

Hey there,

I've heard of these miniature sized blocks, called Modulex which I thought were official LEGO from who knows when. But when I searched them up on Brickset... I got nada. Am I confused, are they really from the LEGO company, or somewhere else?

Also, I've seen the website for Nanoblocks, they look just like the modulex. Anyone here used them?

I can't seem to find either modulex or nanoblocks anywhere on the online shopping sites.

Thanks for the help!

Flare

[Plastic Nurak]

Uh, 'search' option, this unknown !

Edited September 16, 2010 by Plastic Nurak

[Flare]

Uh, 'search' option, this unknown !

Sorry, I haven't just found any real information about Modulex yet.

[Plastic Nurak]

Yeah, surely I've dreamed all those Modulex MOCs threads! Oh, now I'm surfing in one of these. I've got visions?

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45312&st=0&p=793042&hl=modulex&fromsearch=1entry793042

Another link:

http://www.brickfetish.com/timeline/1963.html

[def]

Nanoblocks are Japan-only, as far as I know, and are made by the Megablocks company of Japan, Diablocks. They also make Transformers and Gundam Wing Lego-ish looking sets. Don't know Modulex.

Here is a page (or 3) of Nanoblocks

http://www.amazon.co.jp/tag/nanoblock/products/ref=tag_tdp_hd_istp

They're starting to look good as my little Japanese apartment gets over-stuffed with Lego.

[Flare]

Yeah, surely I've dreamed all those Modulex MOCs threads! Oh, now I'm surfing in one of these. I've got visions?

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45312&st=0&p=793042&hl=modulex&fromsearch=1entry793042

Another link:

http://www.brickfetish.com/timeline/1963.html

They don't say anything about the history of modulex, or where you can buy them....

Thanks for that other link, that helps a lot. Also I thought of looking on Bricklink and they are there also. Thanks for the help

Nanoblocks are Japan-only, as far as I know, and are made by the Megablocks company of Japan, Diablocks. They also make Transformers and Gundam Wing Lego-ish looking sets. Don't know Modulex.

Here is a page (or 3) of Nanoblocks

http://www.amazon.co.jp/tag/nanoblock/products/ref=tag_tdp_hd_istp

They're starting to look good as my little Japanese apartment gets over-stuffed with Lego.

Yeah thanks, now that I've learned more about modulex I think I'm going to look more into modulex, rather than nanoblocks.

Nanoblocks still look cool though! I'll use google translate to look at that site

Edited September 16, 2010 by Flare

[Modulex Guy]

Someone say Modulex?

History of Modulex:

To start off, Modulex was founded in 1963 by Godtfried Kirk Christensen and the LEGO Group.

The reason the company was started was that Godtfried was modeling houses out of LEGO and that in the end he was not satisfied with the end result due to LEGO's different size ratio of brick to reality.

LEGO bricks have a 6:5 size ratio, and since modulex bricks are essentially a cube (1x1 brick is 5mmx5mm) gave modulex a perfect 1:1 size ratio.

Modulex was started to give architects and engineers a unique tool to create their models from and not worry about scale and converting the ratio from LEGO to 1:1.

The bricks were marketed and sold widespread primarily in Europe until about 1973-75, and were also available until the late 80's as a very special order/limited production run.

The first bricks were sold under the name of "M20 System" featuring the word "LEGO" on the studs of each brick, later bricks were sold under the "Modulex System" name and had a simple "M" on the studs. The M20 name was derived from the 1:20 scale that was intended to be used by the bricks, thus M20.

M20 boxes were white/tan boxes and trays with blue lids and box tops with the M20 logo, later boxes were all black with the Modulex name across the top, and the patent info on the back, later 80's to 90's sign system boxes were all white with an updated logo.

Modulex also had many specialty bricks and systems during the "brick" years, such as slopes, windows, doors, textured bricks, beams, plates, letter/number tiles,angled bricks, and (I have yet to find these) pre-glued people-esque figures, chairs, tables, and a few more accessories.

about 1974, Modulex focused on the planning board system which featured a wall mounted board, tiles which had months, dates, letters, numbers, symbols, and name plates to make company planning easy. This system was produced until the mid 90's

At the same time Modulex in about 1984-5 began development in architectural signs and graphics. To this day Modulex is known world wide as a high quality sign producer for many applications from simple "enter/exit" signs to massive corporate sign and art installations.

As for where to buy, They have not made the bricks since the 70's so, they are rare and vintage. You can find Modulex on Bricklink, but its quite pricey, I know since I buy lots of it. or Ebay from time to time (where you most likely will run into a bid war with me as well)

Edited September 16, 2010 by Polish Guy

[Flare]

Someone say Modulex?

[...]

As for where to buy, They have not made the bricks since the 70's so, they are rare and vintage. You can find Modulex on Bricklink, but its quite pricey, I know since I buy lots of it. or Ebay from time to time (where you most likely will run into a bid war with me as well)

Hmmm... I better go buy some fast before you raid the supply!

Thanks for all your help, I knew you would pop up sometime.

I hope you expect to see me join your modulex ranks sometime in the next few months.

Edited September 16, 2010 by Flare

[def]

Nanoblocks still look cool though! I'll use google translate to look at that site

It's Amazon, so you just need to press the 'English' button, but product names will still need to be translated. A quick way to check is Babelfish for Firefox (which Google can get for you quickly )

[SlyOwl]

Just thought I'd throw in my lot - there's an interesting review of Nanoblocks here, which partly compares them to Modulex.

I'm doing a dissertation-type thing on Modulex at the moment, so if anyone wants to talk Modulex over the next few months, talk away!

[Flare]

Just thought I'd throw in my lot - there's an interesting review of Nanoblocks here, which partly compares them to Modulex.

I'm doing a dissertation-type thing on Modulex at the moment, so if anyone wants to talk Modulex over the next few months, talk away!

I'll start talking modulex once I invest in some

EDIT: And yes I saw the review earlier today, actually. Thanks.

It's Amazon, so you just need to press the 'English' button, but product names will still need to be translated. A quick way to check is Babelfish for Firefox (which Google can get for you quickly )

OK thanks :D It doesn't ship outside of Japan though

Edited September 16, 2010 by Flare

[Modulex Guy]

Hmmm... I better go buy some fast before you raid the supply!

Thanks for all your help, I knew you would pop up sometime.

I hope you expect to see me join your modulex ranks sometime in the next few months.

A CHALLENGE!?!! Oh its ON!!

J/K J/K

I'm happy right now with my close to 40k collection thus far.

I wish you luck in getting what you want.

[Flare]

A CHALLENGE!?!! Oh its ON!!

J/K J/K

I'm happy right now with my close to 40k collection thus far.

I wish you luck in getting what you want.

Haha... 40k? Thats larger than my normal brick collection!

Thanks!

Edited September 16, 2010 by Flare

[Karyn]

Just thought I'd throw in my lot - there's an interesting review of Nanoblocks here, which partly compares them to Modulex.

I'm doing a dissertation-type thing on Modulex at the moment, so if anyone wants to talk Modulex over the next few months, talk away!

Can you tell us more about your dissertation-type project? Would love to hear more.

[SpiderSpaceman]

I totally overlooked this - but posted in another topic - select nanoblock sets are sold in the USA now, so not Japan only anymore - but not what I really want, the bulk packs.

They don't use stud and tube, so modulex has the advantage there. but I'm still hooked

[Karyn]

SpiderSpaceman,

I had a friend in Japan help me out. I ordered via Amazon.co.jp and had them ship it to my friend in Japan, then my friend sent it to me in the US.