Andy D

In the past two years, not too well! But I am getting a handle on it. I have a closet full of unopened sets that I need to either build or part-out or sell (feeling guilty about parting-out some sets, should sell some instead as they are sets some really want) I have slowed down on buying (sort of) as I don't buy it just becases, or maybe, I try to only buy what I really want, not just sort-of want. This new buying pattern is working, sort-of, maybe it will work better in 2014. Andy D

Great! It looks like it will help to keep your assembled sets fairly dust-free. Andy D

Good idea, anyone can just go to Bricklink with sets you are interested in and do the math, and it is fun to share with the rest of us. Thanks, Andy

Parents, no, my wife and I are the older generation in our family. Grandchildren, not likely my son and daughter (in-law, more of a daughter to us) are 33 and children are not likely. Building LEGO -- We have a tradition, on Christmas Day me, my son and his wife will build LEGO, while my wife prepares Christmas dinner (doesn't seem fair, but she enjoys seeing the family doing things together and we all do it in the same room, table off the kitchen in the Family Room so we all interact with each other). This year we are going to Build the Helms Deep, a perfect set to divide up both instructions books and bags of parts. When done, since it is modular castle it will fit together as one unit. I am really looking forward to that! (Note to mods: Please don't bust us yet, this is really a fun thread for the Old Timers, we're working on an alternate solution) Andy D

I never buy insurance for BL orders, I am willing to take the risk at my expense. If one is not willing to assume that risk they should buy insurance. I had an order which had not arrived from Canada to the USA after about 4 weeks. I contacted the seller (Fig Bits) told him my story and said I would just like to place another order for he same parts. He decided to replace it on his own, I did not request he do that, the only stipulation was that if I ever received the original order I would pay for the replacement or return it. Seemed like a more than fair deal. He even included an extra minifig. The original order never arrived, I suspect the mail delivery person delivered it to the wrong house. For a while were were getting the wrong mail and others were getting ours. I suspect someone else got my package and just didn't bother to get it to me. We now have a new Mail Carrier and there many fewer mistakes Bottom line, be prepared to pay for another order or maybe the seller my help you out somehow, just don't blame a normally reputable seller or force him to replace the order, or initiate something that would cause him to have to replace it, after all, it was your error for not buying insurance, not his. Just MHO, YMMV, Andy D

Very nice cinema! I really like the Art Decco look. Andy D

Very nice village! Looks like a fun place for your minifigures to visit during the season. Thanks for sharing this, Andy D

In the larger sets it looks like the cost per gram is about the same as brick only sets regardless of PF. The smaller parts count sets seem more expensive than larger sets. Andy D

Yep, but it always seems to come back to topic as well, in fact, the little side trips are just ways of getting back to the topic of what we collect. Andy D

This exercise was mainly just for fun, I guess just too much time on my hands that I didn't feel like doing much else and I had just read a review where one of ways the set was evaluated was price per part. When I bought sets, I used to do the mental calculation of PPP, but lately my evaluation is just... 1. Do I want the set? (no matter why, build, display, parts, whatever) 2. Is the price of the set in the range of what I want to spend. It was just interesting for me to see that the price I pay is fairly uniform across sets. Andy D

For the larger sets it really doesn't matter. The cost is almost uniform, you don't need to calculate the cost per any unit. Just decide if the cost of the set is in the range what you want to spend vs the value of the set to you. The cost for smaller sets and sets where the minifigure to builing part ratio may be different. Outside the cost of individual minifigures I wonder if the cost per part/gram is that much different regardless of minifigures. After the minifigure is designed and mold made I wonder if the sales price is that much different than sets without minifigures. I imagine the cost per gram/part may be higher in lower part count sets, I leave this as an exercise to someone who collects smaller sets or sets for minifigure content. I collect mainly larger sets. Eurotrash --- I don't know if the packaging/instructions is included in the weight, I assume so, but since these are all larger sets the cost of packaging/instructions should be consistant across the sets. I leave it to you to do the additional statistics and I look forward to reading the results. If someone wants to tke several sets and weigh the parts without the packaging that would be interesting as well. I guess you could just weigh the assembled sets. Waysofsorting... It all depeds on how well you stack the PAB tub, the price per unit of measure is how you buy any part at Legoland. So in LEGO stores it all depends on how well you stack. Andy D

This thread has gone all over the place in the last two days, wow! LegoLand passes... My wife and I have had the Merlin (or equivalent pass to Legoland) for the last 3 years. Good for Legoland CA and FL. I doubt I will got to the FL Legoland, because when I we go to FL we usually just check into our resort at WDW and only leave the property once to go to church on Sunday. I don’t like to drive on vacation, so LL FL is most likely not going to happen and a limo to LegoLand from WDW is just well, too much. As for age and how old we feel... I feel younger some days than others, but I do try to enjoy each day. I only got seriously interested in LEGO in 2010 (age 65), now I envy those of you who are at the low end of the AARP age group (50). Just admit you are 50, and enjoy your LEGO, and enjoy the Oldie’s group. Myxo: Nothing wrong with being an “Old Timer” at 56, wear the badge proudly, lots of people don’t get to be 56. Be happy at 56. BTW: Can someone give Myxo an “Old Timer’s” badge? Look like our lego interests are all over the place, just like any age group, although I do think I see a few more folks in the modular or buildings type of interests, some Technic and Mindstorms (what got me started before I moved to modualrs). Have a great day, Andy D

I keep reading reviews and other posts about how expensive some sets are. One set may be considered a good buy because it costs $0.08 per part and another very expensive because it costs $0.13 per part. I suggest that there is a more accurate way to determine the cost (not value) of a set. The value of a set varies, each of us may value a set differently, but cost is a numerical calculation. With that in mind I decided to check the cost of several large parts count sets, both licensed and not licensed. I had some surprising results. All parts counts and weights are from Bricklink. Most of the non-licensed sets were in the same cost range, except the 10228 Haunted house. The 10228 Haunted House has a price per part of $0.088 per part (on the low end), but costs the most per gram at $0.063 per gram. I noticed a range of prices from $0.056 per part for the 10214 Tower Bridge (lots of small parts, 556 tan cheese slopes) to a high of $0.13 per part for the 10221 Super Star Destroyer. But, the cost per gram is not that different for these two sets. For the nine sets I examined the average cost per gram is $0.055. So instead of looking at an average of $0.10 per part as a measurement of cost for a set I suggest that looking at $0.055 per gram is a more accurate measurement. Reason, some sets have lots of larger parts, so the cost per part is going to be higher, but the cost per gram will hover around $0.055 per gram no matter how many parts. The variation of cost for sets is really not that much when you consider the cost per gram. Below is a list of the sets, costs and calculations I used for my example... 10234 Sydney Opera House $320, 2988 pieces, 5670 grams, $0.10 per part, $0.056 per gram 10214 Tower Bridge. $240, 4287 pieces, 4335 grams, $0.056 per part $0.055 per gram 9474 Helms Deep. $130, 1330 pieces, 2407 grams, $0.098 per part, $0.054 per gram 10211 Grand Emporium $150, 2154 pieces, 2905 grams, $0.075 per piece, $0.052 per gram 10221 Super Star Destroyer $400, 3124 pieces, 6965 grams, $.13 per part $0.057 per gram 10224 Town Hall $200, 2732 pieces, 3825 grams, $0.073 per part, $0.052 gram 10193 Medieval Village Market $100, 1565 pieces, 1935 grams, $0.064 per part, $0.052 per gram 10228 Haunted House $180, 2035 pieces, 2880 grams, $0.088 per part, $0.063 per gram 10213 Shuttle Adventure $100, 1204 pieces, 1960 grams, $0.083 per part, $0.051 per gram If you are still reading, I hope you enjoyed the read, Andy D

That's the thread. I was Googleing Everything but that. I never thought of Googleing "Winter Tree" The tree came out gret! Now I need to put the decorations on the tree then I will photo the results. Thanks, now I know who to credit, thanks legoboy3998! Andy D

Only if they are young and good at snapping whips ;) ;) Andy D

I am on the verge of completing my expansion to the Winter Village Toy Shop Christmas Tree. Someone made an LDD file (back in November) of several new levels for the Toy Shop Christmas tree. I downloaded the LXF file, made an Excel spreadsheet, Bricklinked the parts (about $45) and I am now completing the last level. I would like to know who to credit for the LDD and what forum a photo of the resulting Tree should be posted. I assume that the Special LEGO Themes forum is the proper place (or maybe Town because of the WInter Village connection), Mods please feel free to move if I am in error. Most importantly I lost the original thread and I want to know who to credit for the design. Thanks, Andy D

I count about 8 of us so far! Where are the rest of you? I know you are out there. Come on in, tell us what sets you collect, or if you MOC only, what theme(s) do you MOC? I noticed some of you discuss trying to hide you purchases in public. I did as well, but in the last year or so I proudly discuss my LEGO hobby with people in stores, staff and other customers I run into (who are typically buying for their children), I even help parents with purchases for their children. I guess I've learned some from my experience and some from reading reviews to be able to help parents. Hmmm... Seems like a whole new way we as AFOL's can help others and contribute to the furthering of the art form / hobby. Rambled on long enough... Andy D

Huh??? Andy D

Discovering why we have this"Societal drift" should not be too difficult. The world economy is still not great and people want to make sure that the necessities of life are covered before luxury items are purchased. Most Christmas gift, including LEGO are luxury items. Andy D

^ What he said...^. ;);) Andy D

You also, I hope those minifigs have a speedy recovery.

Your post shows what can happen when you mix LEGO and alcohol and is a story that should be told. Andy D

Response deleted Andy D

I was at Legoland CA yesterday to see the way Legoland was decorated for Christmas and I came cross the LEGO Business Card Holder (850425) which has a number of alphabetic, numerals and a few punctuation character tiles. Now I can provide signage and street numbers for creations. I noticed it today on shop@home for $15 or an Amazon reseller for $25. Not a bad deal for $15. Andy D

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