Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Rob1321]

Newish to LEGO. AFOL I guess you would say. Are Modulars meant to be used in City layouts or are they more for display purposes to be combined with other modular sets?

Sorry if OT.

[finnbricker]

It depends on what you want, really. I suppose most of us like to think that the scale of City and the Modulars don't quite match whereas the scale of the Creator houses and Modular buildings match rather well. But you could always pick a City set, probably you'll need two of the same set, and rebuild it to fit your modular city.

[Off the wall]

Since the City Theme doesn't really appeal to me, I've used existing modulars to create MOCs for my modular city. For instance, I used a Pet Shop as the basis for a florist. Of course, you do need to build up an inventor of bricks, or be willing to purchase bricks, for this to work.

[Gongoro73]

Hi everybody at EB family.

Just registered, first post, non-native english speaker here, so apologies for my sintax and grammar. About a year ago I came back from my dark ages, that lasted about 25 years -I´m 40 now-. Blame it on Modulars.

Back on topic, I've been reading the first 20 pages of this thread, so I'm not sure if somebody has already mention it on earlier posts, but although I'm aware that next modular could be a Detective Agency according to rumours, I would love to see a Recording Studio in future years, with an old style Vinyl Shop on the street level, the Recording Studio office, relax room with a couch and restrooms on first floor and finally, a huge recording room with a cool rock band (or a jazz piano combo with a Billie Holiday-type singer) playing and the control room with a nice vintage mixing desk on top floor. The vehicle included should be, of course, a cargo van. That would be great.

I'm OK with Post Offices, Museums, Banks, Schools, Police Stations, Hospitals and almost everything you've pointed earlier, but don't you think that our modular cities needs and deserve some music? I think that would be a different, more colorful and fun approach to the modular theme. The facade could borrow almost any classic style since there are no standards for this kind of places.

Well, I guess this will never happen but I wanted to share it with all of you.

Have a nice day!

Edited September 25, 2014 by Gongoro73

[Big-whoop-Guybrush]

Great idea. I had the shop from the movie high fidelity in my mind as I read this

[Off the wall]

Hi everybody at EB family.

Just registered, first post, non-native english speaker here, so apologies for my sintax and grammar. About a year ago I came back from my dark ages, that lasted about 25 years -I´m 40 now-. Blame it on Modulars.

Back on topic, I've been reading the first 20 pages of this thread, so I'm not sure if somebody has already mention it on earlier posts, but although I'm aware that next modular could be a Detective Agency according to rumours, I would love to see a Recording Studio in future years, with an old style Vinyl Shop on the street level, the Recording Studio office, relax room with a couch and restrooms on first floor and finally, a huge recording room with a cool rock band (or a jazz piano combo with a Billly Holiday-type singer) playing and the control room with a nice vintage mixing desk on top floor. The vehicle included should be, of course, a cargo van. That would be great.

I'm OK with Post Offices, Museums, Banks, Schools, Police Stations, Hospitals and almost everything you've pointed earlier, but don't you think that our modular cities needs and deserve some music? I think that would be a different, more colorful and fun approach to the modular theme. The facade could borrow any classic style since there are no standards for this kind of places.

Well, I guess this will never happen but I wanted to share it with all of you.

Have a nice day!

Buy a PS or a GE and do the necessary modifications. It may well never happen if you wait for someone else to do it! Welcome aboard and have fun!

[Gongoro73]

^ Yes, in fact it's at the top in my list of future MOCs but first I have to bricklink a CC and GG, so I guess it won't happen until next year or so.

Thanks, Off the Wall, I'm having fun and learning a lot reading all your posts. Endless talent in this community.

[bjorn77]

Hi everybody at EB family.

Just registered, first post, non-native english speaker here, so apologies for my sintax and grammar. About a year ago I came back from my dark ages, that lasted about 25 years -I´m 40 now-. Blame it on Modulars.

Back on topic, I've been reading the first 20 pages of this thread, so I'm not sure if somebody has already mention it on earlier posts, but although I'm aware that next modular could be a Detective Agency according to rumours, I would love to see a Recording Studio in future years, with an old style Vinyl Shop on the street level, the Recording Studio office, relax room with a couch and restrooms on first floor and finally, a huge recording room with a cool rock band (or a jazz piano combo with a Billly Holiday-type singer) playing and the control room with a nice vintage mixing desk on top floor. The vehicle included should be, of course, a cargo van. That would be great.

I'm OK with Post Offices, Museums, Banks, Schools, Police Stations, Hospitals and almost everything you've pointed earlier, but don't you think that our modular cities needs and deserve some music? I think that would be a different, more colorful and fun approach to the modular theme. The facade could borrow almost any classic style since there are no standards for this kind of places.

Well, I guess this will never happen but I wanted to share it with all of you.

Have a nice day!

Being a crate digger myself, this is my favorite suggestion for a modular so far. But I think it's a bit too niched to be a real contender for a future release. Guess we'll have to MOC it :)

[Colossus]

Welcome, G! I really like your record shop idea, especially the part about the jazz pit. Actually, if the next modular is a 1940's style detective bureau, then I'd love to see the first floor as a jazz club more so than a Chinese laundry or whatever as has been postulated by others.

[Herky]

that's a great idea, reading the Cormoran Strike novels right now and while those are set in modern times, the detective office is above a night club and his apartment is on the 3rd floor of the building, the lift is broken but the stairs go up to each floor, this could get really cool with something like that

[Off the wall]

If the next modular is a detective agency, then they are really off the rails with having the modular city reflect the true make up of a real city. I mean, a hospital, school or post office would seem more logical IF Lego wanted a modular city representative of the real world. As for me, I couldn't care less either way. Detective agency is fine. I think a shop that sells classic vinyl is also a good idea. As is a jazz club. As long as the building is pleasing, I don't care a lot about its theme. Besides, if this product line lasts a while, they'll get around to just about every kind of building. If not, build it yourself. :-)

[Lind Whisperer]

If the next modular is a detective agency, then they are really off the rails with having the modular city reflect the true make up of a real city. I mean, a hospital, school or post office would seem more logical IF Lego wanted a modular city representative of the real world. As for me, I couldn't care less either way. Detective agency is fine. I think a shop that sells classic vinyl is also a good idea. As is a jazz club. As long as the building is pleasing, I don't care a lot about its theme. Besides, if this product line lasts a while, they'll get around to just about every kind of building. If not, build it yourself. :-)

Hospitals, schools and post offices are more City than modular. The Modular line is based more around what we won't see released as a City set.

On a side note, a disco club can be seen in the Go-Mini-Man-Go video, that appears to be in a modular. Never released as a set, although I have been looking into how it might be recreated in real life.

[Off the wall]

Rick, here's another example of my new and improved level of restraint. :-)

[AFOLguy1970]

If the next modular is a detective agency, then they are really off the rails with having the modular city reflect the true make up of a real city. I mean, a hospital, school or post office would seem more logical IF Lego wanted a modular city representative of the real world. As for me, I couldn't care less either way. Detective agency is fine. I think a shop that sells classic vinyl is also a good idea. As is a jazz club. As long as the building is pleasing, I don't care a lot about its theme. Besides, if this product line lasts a while, they'll get around to just about every kind of building. If not, build it yourself. :-)

I wholeheartedly agree. The feature of the modulars that has drawn me in the most is the outward appearance of a building from an earlier style of architecture. Of course, there have been some nice details on the interior, and I like the way that each modular "tells a story". However, it is certainly the style of architecture that carries the building. Many people have already demonstrated how easy it is to convert the business to something else. Take the Pet Shop for example, it is rather easy to take down the white and blue bricks that spell out "PETS" and the interior can quickly be altered to show no evidence of it being a Pet Shop. Lego could probably sell me a sewing machine store as long as the building itself is attractive.

[talos]

FYI...this is becoming silly maybe...but the GE has again reemerged from 'Sold Out' status at the USA S@H to 'Out of Stock' with a delivery date of 2 October. I guess they found a few more to sell.

[jfbat]

Hospitals, schools and post offices are more City than modular. The Modular line is based more around what we won't see released as a City set.

Ah, hence the Fire Brigade!

[Gongoro73]

Being a crate digger myself, this is my favorite suggestion for a modular so far. But I think it's a bit too niched to be a real contender for a future release. Guess we'll have to MOC it :)

Thanks, bjorn, so glad you like the idea.

Welcome, G! I really like your record shop idea, especially the part about the jazz pit. Actually, if the next modular is a 1940's style detective bureau, then I'd love to see the first floor as a jazz club more so than a Chinese laundry or whatever as has been postulated by others.

Thank you Colossus, it's great to be here and share my thoughts with all modular fans out there.

Expanding the idea of a Recording Studio, it occurred to me that a small modular (or maybe a creator-type house) of the Abbey Road building would also be fine. The building itself is not an architecture masterpiece, but it has it's charm and indeed, is an iconic place. It could be completed with the road crossing and the Beatles walking in the middle. There are also little beautiful details around, like the street name plate with the graffittis, the white volkswagen beetle, etc. The interior of Studio one, where The Beatles used to record their albums, is so big and beautiful, with the control room upstairs and a staircase connecting the two rooms (a very unusual way to place a control room). I can picture nice George Martin and Geoff Emerick minifigures busy at the mixboard, Mal Evans (their roadie and long-time friend) listening to the sessions, and even Joko sitting next to John... :) I'd really love to see the Beatles converted as minigures.

After that, there are very nice possibilities to expand the theme. For example, the EMI building, where The Beatles played their last and famous concert in the roof. That moment would make a great LEGO scene, with all those bobbies around the band...

LEGO should talk to Apple records to get a license... but I know, I will have to MOC it myself.

Abbey Road building

Main entrance

The famous plate

Studio One

Studio one, opposite view with the staircase that leads to the Control Room.

The Control Room Mixboard in the '60s

Edited September 25, 2014 by Gongoro73

[Lego Conductor]

I think this rumored "Detective Bureau" will be a small town police station as in the "Fire Brigade" is a small town fire station. Although I have been known to be wrong from time to time.

[Off the wall]

I really need the next modular to be released. So bored that I just got three more GEs to add a fifth floor to my 96 x 64 GE. It's a tribute to Mr. Selfridge, I suppose. I would like to share a picture of it and my expanded TH. What website is best for picture hosting for those like me who are, at heart, Luddites?

Edited September 27, 2014 by Off the wall

[finnbricker]

I don't know what a Luddite is :) but I would really like to see your mega-size GE! Bricksafe.com is very easy to use and you can create a username + start sharing pics within minutes.

[Herky]

the best definition of a Luddite is someone who is opposed to expansive technology, in other words if you have an item and it works fine, then just use it, no need to go out and get the latest greatest...so if OTW has a cell phone that is a flip phone, he will not be getting a smart phone; essentially he will upgrade only when he is forced to.

I use photobucket for pics based on another hobby I have, but I have noticed that photobucket doesn't work here, I think most folks use flcker, seems there are so many out there, too bad we can't just use the copy and paste function from our pictures folders vs using an external site to host pics in the cloud.

His mega GE is pretty cool I will say, he shared a pic with me and he has put a ton of work into it, it is basically a full size city block dept store like the old days...it's pretty sweet IMO.

Don't forget 2x points start Wed so will be finally getting the PR here in Oct myself, looking forward to finally adding it to my block of buildings.

[sithewok]

I will finally be picking up the Parisian Restaurant with the October double points as well. Can't wait to build it since I've heard so many good things.

Will Lego be at New York Comic Con next week? Perhaps that is where the detective agency will be unveiled?

[VintageLegoEra]

I will finally be picking up the Parisian Restaurant with the October double points as well. Can't wait to build it since I've heard so many good things.

Will Lego be at New York Comic Con next week? Perhaps that is where the detective agency will be unveiled?

You will not regret it!

[nzlegolady]

I'm warming a lot to a Detective Agency - although I know I'll like it anyway, as I'm a modular junkie. It would have to be pretty bad for me not to want it. I'm about to start bricklinking a GG, which should tide me over for a while.

I wonder if the detective agency is perhaps more modern inside and traditional outside?

[Off the wall]

the best definition of a Luddite is someone who is opposed to expansive technology, in other words if you have an item and it works fine, then just use it, no need to go out and get the latest greatest...so if OTW has a cell phone that is a flip phone, he will not be getting a smart phone; essentially he will upgrade only when he is forced to.

His mega GE is pretty cool I will say, he shared a pic with me and he has put a ton of work into it, it is basically a full size city block dept store like the old days...it's pretty sweet IMO.

1. Oddly, but probably not surprisingly, I do have a flip phone.

2. Thanks for your nice comment about the mega GE. I've expanded it by one floor since I sent you the picture. It sits next to my expanded TH with a small park area in between the two.

Think I'll work on photo sharing this week.