Bran_

Pretty much sums it all up, The_Cook. Plenty of food for thought. It's been a very useful and inspiring post. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their input.

Oh I don't know about that, I'm still waiting for my hoverboard and my moon house. If it does all turn to goo, however, I'll need a few staunch members for the Plastic Purists Collective. I'll pin a sign-up sheet in the lobby in twenty years' time. Keep an eye out. Slogan tbc. Parts are certainly more limiting than imagination (or dreams perhaps). That's the biggest trouble I think. I'm looking forward to the day when I have so many parts that I don't know where to begin. Then I'll create a whole new topic about my over-abundance woes! In the meantime, I think it's a case of starting small and keeping an eye out for kids chucking their collections. I'm already sifting through ideas for a vitgnette! This topic has been most inspiring.

Good to know I'm not alone! Patience I can do. It's the only remedy for expensive tastes! A. You're right, I am more jealous. B. You're going to have to teach me all of your tricks! Don't make it public though... wouldn't want everyone cashing in now would we? I'm exactly the same I think. That's the challenge though; my imagination is tempered by my lack of resources! Which is why this is sound advice that I shall definitely be sticking to: And finally Yep, I'm with you completely. The massive builds are where I'd like to end up but that's one of those "twenty years down the line" goals I think

Well ElCrab, you've certainly succeeded in making me jealous!

I'm encountering the same problem! Mostly it's to do with funds (my mind reels when I hear of people buying more than one of a set?? ) but even in themes that I love there are some sets I just can't find the will(money) to buy - parts or no. Then I buy something I've really wanted and no longer have the heart to break it up. I'm a bit stuffed when it comes to PAB too - the nearest Lego store to me is about 80 miles away. The perils of countryside living. I'd actually not thought of that. I've always been frustrated to find sets I've wanted that don't contain minifigs (although I can more easily justify breaking fig-less sets down for parts I guess). I'd not considered doing the same thing. Do figs really sell for that much? I mean, I see them on for ridiculous prices sometimes but you've got to wonder how many actually sell for that price. It seems like haul hunting is the way forward. It'll probably be the cheapest option and it means I can smash 'em up without a thought. Unless I miraculously unearth a mint MMV...

Some really great advice there, thank you all. Used Lego store?? I can think of nothing more glorious. I wish someone would come up with that idea around here. I was actually one of those kids once upon a time (though it wasn't for video games...). I curse my younger self for lack of foresight! I've heard helms deep spoken of in reverence before. I had no idea how many suitable parts it had. Thanks for that! Though finding it for a suitable price will be a challenge. This is all god stuff, many thanks. Using the catalogue tool is a very good idea and I can see it becoming more useful with a growing collection. As it is I only have about 5 sets remaining from the 40+ collection of my childhood - 4 of which are tiny - but you never know, they might contain just what I'm after. On establishing the parts required: whilst I understand that everyone's going to have their own method, is it generally advised to plan a MOC down to the brick when starting out? Seems liked a good idea if I'm trying to avoid unnecessary parts. I eagerly await the days of sitting in front of a shelf of hundreds of neatly organised containers and letting my imagination dictate!

I'm just wondering how people most often go about collecting parts for their MOCs. I'm pretty new to the AFOL scene and I'm really looking forward to throwing some MOCs together but I'm kind of lacking on the parts front. I've read lots of articles on starting a collection but only a few on collecting with the intention of MOCing. So what do the folks on EB do more often for a new MOC that you need parts for - buy sets or buy required parts from bricklink etc? What would you do if you had no parts at all? (Posted here because it's castle/fantasy themes I'm most interested inl.)

This is such a solid looking fortress. Which is kind of difficult sometimes building with Lego. You really nailed it! Especially liking the sideways cheese slopes on the corners.

Exquisite! There's so much interest in every little corner. Love it. Brilliant little cart, too.

Thanks all! To TheLegGodt: as well as the older sets, I'm almost certain I even had a 10029 Lunar Lander a bit later on that went for no more than a Jason Donovan CD. Utter madness. Thank you for sharing, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one living with regrets! ;)

Hello folks, the name's Bran (or Sam if we're feeling intimate) and I'm afraid I have a confession to make. Having given up on Lego at a young age, I ended up taking most of my some thirty sets to a car boot sale when I was old enough to appreciate money, selling them all on for peanuts and not giving a damn. I've been at large for several years now and have suffered no justice for this most heinous of acts. I like to think of myself as a reformed criminal these days, starting once again on the magical Lego-brick road, but I know my past will always be murky and besmirched with poor choices. I ask only that you will try to find in your hearts to forgive a sinner. That or at least a heads-up before you alert the mob. Waffling aside, nice to be here! I'm not the most regualr of forum posters but I'm often seen lurking in the corners (I can see myself spending a lot of time in the pirate theme forums and hunting for lots of building technique posts). I think I'm considering entering the giddy world of MOCing, but we'll see how the hobby manifests itself. For now, I'm content with lots of ebaying for medieval style sets. So once again, hello! I look forward to spending some serious time here.