Andy D

Funny how this thread just keeps coming back. I believe that the short answer is you don't have to explain it. It is a hobby it is part of who you are, everyone has hobbies. Just this week my wife had her annual staff (ages 21 - 60) End of semester/Christmas party. Some long time co-workers anxious to see what I have been doing with my LEGO, new ones amazed. LEGO is not a hobby to be ashamed of, it is a hobby and an art form to be proud of. Andy D

Great entry! I hope no one gets stuck together because of the moisture of kissing and the subzero temps in the Winter Village ;) Also usually kising booths used to be 1,2,5 or maybe 10 dollars, she appers to be more expensive at $100 or maybe the $100 is for an extended kiss or several. ;) ;) Good luck in the contest with an extremely unique entry. Andy D

I don't know how I missed that one. I is really nice. I mave have to borrow the diagonal floor technique sometime. Very well detailed all around, lots of little details. Andy D

You know, I did make mud buildings. When I lived in Arizona I learned how to make adobe bricks, made some small buildings out of adobe bricks, the precursor to LEGO, but still stacking bricks. Andy D I remember that, I lso remember running barefoot across the school yard in the summer to avoid the thorns, it seemed if you ran you picked up fewer. I don't remember LEGO until we got some for my son in about 81 or 82. Andy D

I do not believe I have seen this. Unique combination to say the least. And welcome to all the "new" Old Timer's! Andy D

Hi LEGO Historian... And then there were seven! Andy D

And then there were 6... Welcome to the "Old Timer's" club. I hope somebody will please give Off the wall a badge. Andy D

LegoGal-- Thanks for starting this thread. Let's see if it brings the over 50 crowd out of the woodwork. My favorite themes are Modulars, Winter Village and Architecture. I have purchased miscelaneous others mainly because of one model or two or for parts or to see how some things are built. I learn a lot by building sets even though most do not last long (except for my three main themes). I also have some very small Star Wars models that I use as decorations for my Chrisrmas Tree in my studio. LegoGal theorized that a thread such as this would bring the AARP, CARP, over 50 crowd out in the open, let's not dissapoint her. Stand up, tell us who you are and what you collect. Andy D

Thanks for moving this to the proper location. And I did not retire early, I retired very late . Turned in grades, officially retired, done! And thanks again for the Title, I love it! Andy D

Oh, please, not "Old Farts" badge, it's "Old Timer's", please don't give anyone any ideas, I like "Old Timer's". I collect mainly Modulars, Winter Village and Architecture, but I do have some small Star Wars as decorations on my Christmas Tree in my Studio. I have a number of other times that I bought to assemble once to learn what I could and then use just for parts. This is actually the first day I would have gone to work that I won't. I used to teach on Friday's but I gave my final last week (as allowed because I taught a Hybrid class). I was a Guidance Professor, I taught Career and Life Planning (I felt it was the most important class young people could ever take) and I loved getting college freshmen, straight from high school so they could make "educated decisions" about their "first" career. Oh, and I only taught (as a professor) for 18 years of my 50 + years of work life, and the last 10 as a Guidance Professor, building the Career and Life Planning class. We need to start an "Old Timer's" thread for, as you said just to find out what we "Old Timer's" collect. Your Idea, maybe you should start it, I will be one of the first replier's. Wear your badge proudly! Andy D

I just noticed that I have a title. I wasn't expecting a title of "Older Than Dirt", but, well I did start a thread hunting for the "Older than dirt" crowd. I like my new title, I have lived long enough to wear an "Older Than Dirt" title proudly. I takes a lot of work to live this long! BTW: I finally retired this week week! All I have to do is submit final semester grades for my class and I am officially retired! Primary job now... LEGO! I don't know if this is the right place, but a big thanks for recognizing that I am "older than dirt". Next goal, "Older than time". But for now I am happy with "Older than dirt". Thanks again... Andy D

When I break a set I put the parts into my inventory according type, it is a set no more. If I ever want to rebuid a set (I doubt I would) I would just find the parts from my inventory. My storage system is by type, then if it is warrented, by color, for example if I have enough of a color of say, reddish brown 2x4 bricks it would get it's own baggie while other 2x4 bricks would remain in mixed colors baggies. I have seperate bins (full) of bricks, plates and slopes, etc. I plan to catalog my inventory by matching my loose bricks and sets to my Basebrick account, then put a sheet in each bin with the contents on the bin on the sheet. Hopefully that will make it easier to find parts, time will tell. I feel like most that a catalog/storage/inventory system is an ever evolving thing. I doubt it ill ever be perfect. Good luck to all... Andy D

Thanks, I will rework my design to fit into a 16x16. Andy D

Like most of you I quickly found that the "sort by color" doesn't really do it for me. I sort by function first, then if there are enough of the same color I break it down by color. For example I have a bin of plates from 3x3 to 8 x16 sorted in zip lock bags by size, then if there is enough to warrent it, by color, but brocken down by size first. I have several other bins filled with bricks of different sizes, sorted similarly to the plates, first by size, then by color, each size in their own bag and a bin of slopes and a bin for doors and windows. I don't have a handle on minifigs yet, I just have them in their own bin. For smalls, I have them in Akron mills cabinets and Glad Entre size food storage containers, the food storage containers are stacked inside each other without lids to save space. So I have two stacks (about 10 high) of tiles, a couple of stacks 1x1 and 1x2 of various function. Some containers by mixed function, but constant by size. I think my collection outgrew my available time to build and sort. Now I need to play catch-up on both building and sorting before it outgrows my available space. I do refuse to allow clutter to creep out of my cabinets and closet into my build and display space. I have too much time, effort and $$'s invested in the space to allow it to look cluttered. Andy D

Sounds like the thanks is going back an forth. Since you can't agree, I say thanks to the both of you for the shiny new "Old Timers" badge. Now we just need to attract more members. Andy D

Little late, but looking for a clearifiction. The rules state that you can use multiple 8x8 modules. Do the 8x8 modules have to be arranged in a 16x16, or can they be arranged in an L or T shape like... 8x8-8x8-8x8 8x8 Or 8x8-8x8-8x8 8x8 Thanks, Andy D

Our "Old Timers" club does not seem to be growing. I guess there are only three of use here on Eurobricks... Kind of makes it an exclusive club! But it shouldn't be! Just kidding, how about it? Step up (LEGO Historian?) and other of the more senior (age wise) LEGO builders. I still like my shiney new "Old Timers" badge and I wear it proudly and I will. As long as I can stack bricks! Andy D

Most of my storage is in Serelite 15 quart containers in plastic freezer bags. I try to put as many bags as possible in a container and I try to squeeze all the excess air out of the bags. I cannot see my storage for the parts taking much less space once the 35 cubic feet of sets are parted out. I may have to reduce my purchases and convert my boxed sets storage area to parts storage. I have an enclosed space with room for 16 Serelite containers and I currently have 12 of 16 Serelite containers full. I have identified a space for 18 more containers, maybe that will keep me for awhile. I have plans to try to reduce my sets purchases to the modular of the year (1 or 2 copies), the Winter Village set, and maybe only 1 or 2 other sets and not too many duplicates. I also need to build some shelves in my closet to store 10 or 12 built models so I will have space to rotate my display. I do not want a cluttered display. My feeling is that when too many special things are displayed, nothing is special, it just looks like clutter instead of a display and nothing will stand out. I already rotate my Halloween and Christmas displays. I start Halloween in early September. Put Halloween away in early to mid November and start Christmas which stays up until mid Janury. The rest of the year I just put out new things that I like. So 5 months out of he year I have seasonal displays and 7 months I have other displays. This means I have to store my seasonal displays. I need to store Halloween for 10 months and Christmas for 9 months. All this takes storage space. Right now Christmas takes up 5 Serelite bins and Halloween takes 3 Serelite bins. This storage space is seperate from the 16 bins of parts storage. Whew, I think the magnitude of my problem is apparent. I need more space, but my wife has already laid down the law! She said that I cannot spread into the guest room (also her sewing/hobby room). Andy D

We did Duplo early on for our son (first Christmas after he turned 1). However it was just the sets with big pieces that would not break, no small pieces to come apart. All that said, we still watched him, no matter what toys he was playing with. Before age 3 many children learn about the things they interact with by putting it in their mouths, which is another good reason for cleanleaness, not to the extreme, for they have to develop some resistance to everyday life and that cannot be done in n anticeptic world. Andy D

Very nice. Different from most. Put me in the "I like the pink sidewalk camp" . Was this building inspired by an actual building? It looks like it coukd be an actual building. Andy D

OK "Old Timers"! Step up and join the club and you will get (I hope) a bright and shiney "Old Timers" badge (I think). BTW: Thanks to whoever gave us the shiney, new "Old Timers" badge. Andy D

Thanks for joining us... As long as you look down to see the grass, not up to see grass from below you are not too old. As long as I can stack bricks on top of each other I am not too old. Just label me... Still stacking bricks! Andy D

Only 2 of us willing to stand up! I know you are out there! I know there are more than 2 of us in the over 50 club. Come on, who / where are you? Andy D

I was looking at my unassembled sets and my sorted and unsorted LEGO the other day and I just realized something very important. I may have aready outgrown my new studio and storage area / system. My unbuilt sets occupy about 35 cubic feet of space and most of my bins in my new cabinets are full. I still have one area left to organize. What am I going to do? (retoricle question) Does anyone have any idea how many cubic feet of storage space about 150,000 assorted LEGO bricks and pieces will occupy? I've either got to rethink my storage solution or start seling some sets, maybe both. Two years ago I never imagined I would be having this problem(?). Andy D

Welcome to Eurobricks. Sorting and storage is a problem we all have eventually, some sooner than later. As Eurotrash the thread on sorting and storge is a treasure-trove of informtion. There is quite a lot, but I have been through it several times to refine my sorting and storage, I know it is long, but it reads like a great how-to book, wonderful resource. Also there is an article on the Evolution of LEGO sorting and storage on LUGnut at http://news.lugnet.com/storage/?n=707 Great read as well. Have fun and good luck with your sort / storage solution. Andy D