Spare parts!

[davidmull]

I'm only back collecting technic the last year but I'm always having the problem of not having parts for mocs or changes to my models and it is quiet frustrating some times ;) whats the best way to build up parts?brick link or buying sets?I see pics of people's mocs on here and u can see the huge amount of spare parts ye have in the background of pics :(

Also what sort of trays do ye store ur parts in?

[timslegos]

I think maybe the best way to build up parts is buy sets rich in a variety of parts (like 8043 because of pf parts). Also, if you have a specific project in mind, ordering specific Lego parts from bricklink is probably the best may to complete a MOC.

tim

[Ultimario]

Best way to accumulate spare parts is to buy many many sets and not keep them all built. Bulild and dismantle, only keep a few sets whole and your spare parts will shoot in the sky in no time.

As for storage i use large tool boxes where i sort every different type or "group" of parts in a specific tray.

[Jim]

Timr and Ultimario are absolutely right. I you are a builder, you don't want to keep too many sets complete. Build them and them cannabalize them for parts. You should buy as many sets as you can (or want to) afford. First of all it's always fun to open a new box, look at the parts, sort them and build the model. Secondly, you gather lots of parts very quickly.

When you start building a MOC and you are missing parts, just take a look in Bricklink and order the parts. When I order parts, I always browse which parts the seller has in store for me that might be interesting. Since I am already paying for shipping and handling, it might be interesting to order a few more extra panels, wheels, gears, or whatever.

Storing the Lego is best done in compartimentalized boxes, like:

or

And my favorite:

(Wow, I see they are much cheaper at Amazon.com than in hardware stores in The Netherlands)

http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B00005QWYF

I always use Stanley boxes, but you might find cheaper alternatives!

Edited August 23, 2011 by Gekke Ted

[Burf2000]

I have tons of the bottom one! Brilliant to se

[Jim]

I have tons of the bottom one! Brilliant to se

Same here! They are very useful since you can get the different compartments out of the box.

I use the second box for Liftarms and for most of the other parts I use the last one.

[Burf2000]

Same here! They are very useful since you can get the different compartments out of the box.

I use the second box for Liftarms and for most of the other parts I use the last one.

I got a bit crazy with them, I think I have 1 box per technic beam colour, and main plate colour, plus ones to hold every main technic part. I don't have a lego room but a lego technic room!

[Jim]

I got a bit crazy with them, I think I have 1 box per technic beam colour, and main plate colour, plus ones to hold every main technic part. I don't have a lego room but a lego technic room!

Sounds all too familiar

[captainmib]

Storing the Lego is best done in compartimentalized boxes, like:

And my favorite:

(Wow, I see they are much cheaper at Amazon.com than in hardware stores in The Netherlands)

http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B00005QWYF

I always use Stanley boxes, but you might find cheaper alternatives!

Where do you buy these in NL and what do they cost?

[Jim]

Where do you buy these in NL and what do they cost?

I buy them at Gamma. If I am not mistaken they are priced around 18-20 Euros.

Or online...

http://www.bouwshopo...--1-92-748.aspx

http://www.toolmax.nl/stanley-koffers-assortimentsdoos-type-192748-p-13520.html

(I am beginning to doubt whether they are around 20 or 30 Euro at Gamma, probably 28 Euros, which is not cheap)

Gamma has several boxes, Stanley and other brands. It might be worth taking a look.

For larger (single compartment) boxes you can go to Blokker. They have nice collection of very cheap boxes. I use these for wheels, NXT and PF components etc.

Edited August 23, 2011 by Gekke Ted

[Alasdair Ryan]

Here is a few bad pics of my technic parts,the big red box was part of a job lot of technic of ebay.

[Jim]

Wow, it seems I am pretty organized hehe

You probably mean yellow box, right?

Edited August 23, 2011 by Gekke Ted

[timslegos]

When I order parts, I always browse which parts the seller has in store for me that might be interesting. Since I am already paying for shipping and handling, it might be interesting to order a few more extra panels, wheels, gears, or whatever.

haha i thought i was the only one who did that!!!!

tim

[Jim]

haha i thought i was the only one who did that!!!!

tim

Sometimes this results in paying 40 bucks for an original order value of 10 bucks

But I do have a lot of extra parts

Edited August 23, 2011 by Gekke Ted

[Burf2000]

haha i thought i was the only one who did that!!!!

tim

I do that to, to the point where I end up with bags and I mean bags full of lego I have no use for, then usually lose it somewhere in the house and so buy some more.

I trying to kick the habit, I have more Lego that anyone probably needs (my garage is storage place 2, with no car in it)

[timslegos]

Sometimes this results in paying 40 bucks for an original order value of 10 bucks

But I do have a lot of extra parts

haha yup i know the feeling exactly .

tim

[Jim]

I do that to, to the point where I end up with bags and I mean bags full of lego I have no use for, then usually lose it somewhere in the house and so buy some more.

I trying to kick the habit, I have more Lego that anyone probably needs (my garage is storage place 2, with no car in it)

I guess it's a common habit. Maybe there are Lego-collectors-anonymous-meetings for this

[captainmib]

I do that to, to the point where I end up with bags and I mean bags full of lego I have no use for, then usually lose it somewhere in the house and so buy some more.

I trying to kick the habit, I have more Lego that anyone probably needs (my garage is storage place 2, with no car in it)

So, need to sell anything technic?

My collection fits in one box...

[Burf2000]

So, need to sell anything technic?

My collection fits in one box...

I was thinking of selling some however we just had a baby and so thats a good reason to get more.

I had a bit of a lego habit, it was around 300-500 a month on bulk ebay deals.

How scary is this, when my wife and I moved, 2/3's of our stuff was Lego! He dad was totally blown away. My wife puts up with the habit (just about)

[jonwil]

I use these

http://www.fischerplastics.com.au/ProductPages/StorageBoxes.html

to store most of my technic.

Larger parts like wheels and things go in large boxes and drawers.

[davidmull]

I think I might have to start buying cheap sets for parts,the only problem in Ireland is that set never come up on sale,there's small hobby shop near me that still has 8258 for €159 :(

[Jim]

I think I might have to start buying cheap sets for parts,the only problem in Ireland is that set never come up on sale,there's small hobby shop near me that still has 8258 for €159 :(

Aren't there any webshops in Ireland?

I am really starting to think we are very lucky in Holland. There are tons of webshops (which sell sets cheaper) and we can get second hand sets for very acceptable prices.

Lego 8258 = 125 euro! (ex shipping, so around 130/135). Another online shop (with pickup possibilities, were I got my Unimog) sells for 129 euro.

Second hand there are 27 seller varying in price from 100 to 135 euros or so.

Edited August 23, 2011 by Gekke Ted

[Alasdair Ryan]

Wow, it seems I am pretty organized hehe

You probably mean yellow box, right?

No the red tool box.

haha i thought i was the only one who did that!!!!

tim

I do that as well.

[Jim]

I do that as well.

I guess Lego minds think alike

[Wiseman_2]

I think I might have to start buying cheap sets for parts,the only problem in Ireland is that set never come up on sale,there's small hobby shop near me that still has 8258 for €159 :(

You could use Amazon.co.uk.

I'm not sure if they'll ship to Ireland but since Amazon.de and .fr ship to anywhere in Europe, they should do. Amazon always tends to have a good price reduction on Technic. 8109 has barely been out a month and it's already dropped to £53.88.

I think buying sets is the best way to build up parts quickly. You get the basic parts necessary for any MOC and you can always choose specific sets based on their parts list. I bought 8048 because I had none of the suspension steering parts, for example.

As for sorting, I use Really Useful Boxes. The sorting is basic at best, but I only have about 10,000 parts (which sounds a lot but physically takes up less room than I imagined).