Ideas for new City sets

[Zuloon]

I'd like to see an "office" line.

They could have cubicles, offices, and levels of the building, and you could combine the levels to make a big building.

[Ricecracker]

the office theme is a great idea and you could have technic pins to connect the different sections.

you could also have different types of rooms like cubicles, lobby and washroom (each sold separately)

[msavageesq]

Hi, I'm new to this excellent forum, but not new to Lego.

This thread has been great, reading through people's very good and often original ideas. Alas I have few to offer myself, other than to second the ideas above about a coastguard/lifeboat theme (mostly because my sons are lifeboat obsessed) and also the winter sports theme, which would be amazing (we are currently making our own one, we have Santa & his sleigh, a snow-mobile and a skier, but alas would not photograph them as few of our buildings are ever colour-coded. I'm just expanding the collection again as my children grow into Lego....

For myself, I would like to see a return to the small 'pocket-money' sets, such as I remember from my youth. If we could afford these in my childhood, I'm sure they would be affordable now and spread the Lego message and market. I suppose the only downside was, I used to frequently end up with two or more of each.

Sets I am thinking about include

Four wheel drive

Medical car

Tyre change

and a personal favourite, which to the present day is the closest I've come to owning a convertible:

Convertible

I am aware that things like the current doctor's car are out there, but in the UK these can be quite difficult to source. Infact, I wanted to buy a police car and doctors car for my sons a month or so back as a reward for their good behaviour. Neither Toys R Us or Woolworths had them. Makes me sad to see how little Lego is available in the shops these days compared to my youth...... (cue chat about 'the old days' etc.....)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all on here.

Edited December 23, 2007 by msavageesq

[marvinblue]

I'm thinking of a tow truck and also a semi-trailer that carries petrol to tie in with the current service station.

[Zuloon]

I'm thinking of a tow truck and also a semi-trailer that carries petrol to tie in with the current service station.

That would be awesome!

[AgentRick]

An office series, something like this?

Anyway, a modular cube system could work, with 8x8 cubicles and interlocking hallways. they could all be stacked up to be a tall office building type thing!

[Klaus-Dieter]

Excuse me that I answer very late but I was ill since Christmas Eve and am not really in health yet.

So - for now - only a short comment:

Office buildings would be very nice, a great addition to the City theme, all-round useable e. g. for offices, banks, doctor's offices, ... and - in my eyes - absolutely necessary for every good and nice Lego City!

I wish you a happy new year!

Klaus-Dieter

[Klaus-Dieter]

Since I'm now in health - here my detailed comment on office buidlings:

You already mentioned that there should be different offices/office buidlings. So what about this idea:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There are four different floors which include different offices. But these four floors are separated (perhaps even seperate sets - for each of the four floors a separate set? or a base set and two expansion sets => read below, too!) but include a mechanism so that you can build them up how you like it. You can take the stickers and the furmishing of each of the floors and trade with each of the stickers and the furnishing of the other floors. And you can build as many and as high office buildings as you want. If you want to put the fourth floor somewhere downstairs then you take away the aerials and the chimney and put it on the floor which is your upper floor.

The different four floors are: foyer, doctor's office, bank office and insurance office.

There could be two little expansion sets (floor two and three) and one big base set with floor one and four.

Base Set Office Building:

First Floor: Foyer:

a foyer with a revolving door, a counter and a lounge with a sofa, a seat, a little table and a foliage plant

including a suitcase and a black limousine with doors

minifigs: receptionist and officer (not police officer!)

Fourth Floor: Insurance Office:

an insurance office with a big office with a little cupboard with a coffee machine, a writing table with computer and telephone and three seats; on the roof are some aerials and a chimney

including two cups and a clear tumbler

minfig: insurance officer

Expansion Sets Office Building:

Second Floor: Doctor's Office:

a doctor's office with divan bed, electronic medical equipment, a writing table with computer and a chair

including some medical equipment and other tools

minifigs: doctor (female) and patient (male)

Third Floor: Bank Office:

a bank office with writing table with computer, telephone and three seats, little cupboard with water dispenser and a safe&co

including a security transport car with doors, some jewels, some bills and gold pieces, two grey suitcases and two clear tumblers

minifigs: security transport car driver, bank officer, female client

If you buy all these three sets so that you have all the four floors you can combine them as follows:

Combination one: Foyer, Doctor's Office, Bank Office, Insurance Office

Combination two: Foyer, Bank Office, Doctor's Office, Insurance Office

...

And when you buy more than one of each set you have nearly limitless possibilities to combine your floors and build your personal office buidlings!

The different sets include some extra stuff like minifgs, nice equipment and cars so they assure much playability for JFOLs and - in addition - the possibility to create your individual office building which is mainly interesting for us AFOLs. So these sets would be well useable for both - AFOLs and JFOLs!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

What do you think about this concept?

Would you like it or not?

How do you personally see the chances for its realisability?

But one thing is clear: Office buildings would be absolutely necessary to build a real and impressive Lego City!

Edited January 7, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter

[Ricecracker]

that is a great idea (though im not sure what safe&co is), but i think there should be maybe 1-4 more different types of floors (or even a separate building style for these) so that you could truly populate your cities....

now, for how possible i think it is, :-/ im not really sure, it would be very expensive (if it were nice quality, cc), so i dont think TLC would do it |-/ :'-(

[AgentRick]

Remember, He said it could suit JFOLs and AFOLs, so it won't be big (64x64) X-O , think like 24x24 *sweet* , that provides a lot of depth for the young and the old.

[xzanfr]

An office line would be great, as would shops but I feel the size and scale would be a problem. As mentioned by AgentRick57, they would have to be in the 'market street' size which would not be too good for huge skyscrapers but would really suit a dentist, florist etc.

Perhaps TLC could license a computer game like the sims which appeals to both boys and girls.

As a dream, I'd like to see a rollercoaster tycoon type set up with rides, shops and scenery available to buy separately. Again the problem of scale comes in to it as a minifig big wheel would be HUGE!!

There must be a lot of retail potential in anything that is modular and that, ultimately, is what it's all about!

[Klaus-Dieter]

that is a great idea (though im not sure what safe&co is)

Thank you, ricecracker!

A safe&co is a safe. I simply took the name of the Wild West theme where on the safes "safe&co" was printed.

Edited January 9, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter

[Klaus-Dieter]

Remember, He said it could suit JFOLs and AFOLs, so it won't be big (64x64) X-O , think like 24x24 *sweet* , that provides a lot of depth for the young and the old.

You're right, AgentRick57!

Since these office buildings should be produced for AFOLs as well as for JFOLs there would be no Caf

Edited January 9, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter

[Dr. Brick]

As a dream, I'd like to see a rollercoaster tycoon type set up with rides, shops and scenery available to buy separately. Again the problem of scale comes in to it as a minifig big wheel would be HUGE!!

There must be a lot of retail potential in anything that is modular and that, ultimately, is what it's all about!

Yes, I had thought about the Rollercoaster Tycoon idea aswell. That would be so good.

Rollercoaster Starter Pack

This set would include a start hill lift, a round slope down and a looping. The starting hill would work with the new electric system but the rest of track would work on the laws of speed. 8-

[xzanfr]

I can see where you're coming from, Klaus; Your idea as to the floor plan size seems right and, perhaps, the offices could be stackable wit a spiral staircase to reduce space.

There is a real need for a doctors surgery or dentist type building to link in with the hospital, also. TLC already have all of the moulds for the specialist equipment like the beds etc.

A town hall with actual offices in would fit in well to many peoples cities as the town hall in the town plan set only seems to have a reception. (I'm thinking of a planning department who refuse to allow permission for all your MOC buildings!. Imagine having to apply in writing then waiting 3 months for them to say NO! <bad day at work!!>)

With regards to the theme park, Dr Brick, I always thought the powered launch rollercoasters from RCT2 worked well in a small space. I think people would be interested in a rollercoaster pack idea to build 'woodies' for their park but a short powered launch would give more 'bang for your buck'. (i/e it would use far less pieces and still have a feature such as a loop or corkscrew to entertain). I've built a working Lego powered launch mechanism, initially designed to use magnets but I used a set of powered rollers so that I could test the track and see what sort of speeds were necessary to get up a lift hill / loop. Having done this, I think the following is the biggest problem to overcome:

BIG BROTHER "Look at my new Lego rollercoaster"

LITTLE BROTHER "cool, can I play?"

BB "Yes. Put your head on the track to hear it coming"

LB "O.K."

BB [/i]presses launch

LB Goes to school with Lego pieces embedded in his face like the villan from James Bond!

Rather than big 'feature' rides (like rollercoasters sold as stand alone toys), I was thinking of pathway base plates with smaller rides like bumpercars and merry go rounds along with the shops. They could even do a 'seat pack' or similar with bins and town plan style benches. Whilst on the subject, what about a zoo with animals and a safari section etc. I understand that zoo tycoon was popular with girls and that is a market that Lego really need to crack. I don't think Belleview is very popular (I may be wrong) and the regular Lego themes seem to be bought by only boys or exceptional girls!!

[Dr. Brick]

Oh I don't mean a shoot-roller coaster. I mean one of those chain lifts, wich go pretty slow and no extreme makeover will be needed.

I agree about the base plates and merry-go-rounds. TLC could just make a theme park line with small sets (shops,...), medium sets (merry-go-round, ferris wheel,...) and big sets (roller coasters).

A zoo is also a fun idea, maybe we would even get new animals. :-)

Dr. Brick

[xzanfr]

I know what you mean, Dr Brick. The traditional type that proper flex! (the best ones to ride!!). There are a couple of them that are successful (and famous) produced in Lego. I understand that they suffer a bit with reliability and keep needing to be squeezed back together, which is something Lego would frown upon in a product. Can you imagine the calls to the helpdesk?!

The reason you need a bit of speed is the amount of friction between the wheels and track. This is applicable to both types and would slow the vehicle down enormously coming out of the loop to the extent that you would need very big, banked curves and downhill straights just to get it back to the station. (with little or no humps and bumps on the return unless an undertrack motor could push it along).

It'll be great to have, though. Imagine buying

[Dr. Brick]

I'm sure LEGO would figure something out if they really wanted a roller coaster. It's possible in knex:

[xzanfr]

One of them lives in my brothers loft in a box!!. The track is awful and it's so weak you can't use it with the window open due to drafts!!

I have faith the the Lego designers have been trying this idea for at least 30 years! I can imagine the Lego design pixies in white coats with brick marked faces coming out of a lab simply saying "no"!!

Forgot to say that the supermarket shown earlier is perfect for a city, just the sort of thing needed to show real life. A supermarket trolley would be a great addition.

[Dr. Brick]

Haha, OK, forget the roller coaster idea. Luckily LEGO makes good quality toys that can resist a draft! :-D

Dr. Brick

[Derek]

I can imagine the Lego design pixies in white coats with brick marked faces coming out of a lab simply saying "no"!!

What? 8-|

[Klaus-Dieter]

I can see where you're coming from, Klaus;

What do you mean with this sentence, xzanfr?

By the way: I *wub* Town Plan very much and am very lucky that I bought it. But about one thing I am a bit disappointed - like you, too: That there is no "office" in the town hall or at least a writing table for the mayor or a registrar (for the merrying couple).

Offices are - like shops - a "must" for the City theme - and I hope that we'll get some of each in the future!

[Klaus-Dieter]

A zoo is also a fun idea, maybe we would even get new animals. :-)

Dr. Brick

Welcome to EB, Dr. Brick!

A zoo would be in truth a very nice idea!

Since TLC released a Duplo zoo - why not a "normal" City zoo?!

And you're right: The animals could be used not only for this zoo but even for the Wild West, the Adventure and the Castle theme.

[xzanfr]

What do you mean with this sentence, xzanfr?

Sorry for the confusion, Klaus-Dieter. It means that I agree with you and can see things from you point of view.

Thats my poor english (and I live here!!)

If a serious attempt was made to produce offices and shops etc (like a shopping street) then I would like to see new baseplates with printed pavements and perhaps a raised kerb. It would also be useful if they were wide enough to accommodate the 6 and 8 wide trucks that they sell.

The clear sections on the garage in the town plan make great display windows for shops. Especially with the curved pieces leading in to the doorway like a jewelers shop. (And you could display your gold bricks in the window!!)

[Klaus-Dieter]

When looking at the Indiana Jones minifig I had some idea:

Since shoulder bags are now very modern, his shoulder bag could be used for City sets, too, e. g. for a pupil or a student minifig, don't you think? OK, perhaps not in that brown color because that looks too old but perhaps in black?!

A new idea:

"Snow Locomotive" (don't know the real name)

a yellow colored diesel locomotive - best based on the 9 V system ;-) - with a "snow shovel" in front of it to clear the snowy tracks

including a handy, a "normal" snow shovel, a brush and some tools

minifig: conductor and train worker

What do you think?

Edited February 6, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter