Andy D

I have read every post in this thread, at least twice, maybe three or four times. Started contributing to this thread in May 2011. I have been trying to get organized for the last, at least two to two and a half years. I started with the Plano boxes (too limiting) then I committed to the Akron Mills drawers (didn’t want to have a room full of boxes) then I put some shelves in the closet and committed to the Glad Entree food storage containers. Then I had a room remodeled to create my studio, ( http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=80916 ) added a build desk, display shelves and five enclosed cabinets to store sets and parts. This was going to be the answer to all my problems my LEGO storage salvation and solution (yeah right). I decided to commit to (again, another commitment) to 15 quart plastic tubs and freezer baggies for parts storage (I have room for about 22 tubs). Now I have decided to use a combination approach; some small parts in the food storage containers in the closet, some storage in the Akron Mills drawers and the 15 quart bins with the plastic baggies. It all seemed so easy... I am getting my parts sorted. Just grab a tub or baggie or bunch of parts, sit at my desk and sort. But what do I have? And where are they? I have an account with BaseBrick which lists sets and loose parts that I have cataloged, but not all done. I was trying to find some parts today... That I am sure I have, but it just wasn’t easy. I found some parts, but not exactly what I was expecting but for the purpose, but they worked. I need to do better. I am looking for inspiration for a sorting, storing and organizing solution... What are some of you doing that use tubs? (if you just throw all your parts in the tub, regardless of color or function, I am not sure you are organizing, you are just just storing.) Do you put parts in tubs by color? Or by function? Are you happy with your solution? Help! Or is this beyond help? Oh well, back to the never ending sorting (or as them movie poster says “Forever Sorting”) Andy D

I am getting ready to sell some of my minifigs. I have figs from LOTR, Hobbit, Star Wars and others. What I am mostly trying to determine is packaging and shipping costs so I don't spend more on packaging and shipping than I sell the fig for. I live in the USA, so imagine it would be best to ask for USA buyers and use the postal service. For those of you with experience with this, approximately what does it cost to mail the average minifig? Does the post office have prepaid mailers that you have used, and are they satisfactory so that the fig gets to it's destination without damage? Thanks Andy D

Happy 4th of July... Independance Day in the USA. I celebrated by building Jabba's Palace. What did others build today? Andy D

I am a nerd. There I've said it. From what I read here on EB many folks seem kind of nerdy (I say that in the most kind and respectful way). From my observations nerdy people tend to be more educated... Therefore you can imply that many AFOL's tend to be more educated. Andy D

Great find! No to get parts for a TARDIS and get the proper printing. Andy D

Very nice! Two mirrored worlds with radically different temperate zones. The tan bushes work OK, but too bad they are not available in a more ice-like temperate zone color. Oh, and the river as a separator of the worlds.. Very clever. Overall, I really like it! Andy D

Now that I think more about it, I would have to add the Taj Mahal to my list of missed opportunities. At the $500 retail price it was more than I wanted to spend then... But then it came up as a half off, I found out about it and clicked in just minutes late... Bummer... I don't think I would have pain full price back then, but half off... I try to keep a closer watch now. Still, Bummer... Andy D

Excellent upgrade timmy! I think my favorite is the interior, i really like the new screening area (looks like Imax) and lobby Andy D

You really asked two questions. The first was where does the money you use go? The second was what are you paying for? I believe the most important is the first... Where does the money go? Where it goes is mostly to benefit the local economy where you purchsed the set... Salries, retail space rent, and taxes to benefit the local area. I do a lot of online shopping, but I also like to support local merchants as it in turn supports the local economy in many ways. I'm sure someone else will answer your other questiom. Andy D

My mind is officially and completely blown. You never cease to amaze me with your creations. Thanks for sharing this with us. Andy D

I usually buy a set because it is architecturarly interesting. I like the modular series and the Winter Village series. I buy sets to display minifigs just add to he cost and not to the displayability for the most part. I do buy sets just to part out for MOCs because of the variety of parts that I might not think about when Bricklinking parts. I sometimes buy parts from BL just because they look interesting, not knowing what I am going to do with them, in that respect buying sets for parts helps me there to learn about new parts and if I need more of a new found part... BL. I sometimne but 2 or 3 sets of a prticular set. One to build and he others to use to MOD. Andy D

I guess we will have to wait and see. I hope BL continues to be as useful, and more so as promised by the new owner. But we will just have to wait to see how BL 2.0 in implemented. Andy D

Welcome! Iwill be looking for it. Andy D

Good idea... Only buy sets that you would like. Never pay full price... Only buy from a reputable dealer (to make sure you have complete sets). Andy D

Welcome, welcome! I am glad to see more "elder statesmen", like me on the forum. Andy D

This is what I get from reading Brickpicker. Buying and selling LEGO seems like a lot of work, with a lot of risk, inventory sitting (you have to dedicate a rather large, temperature controlled area for storage) with possibility of damage (does your homeowners insurance cover it?). Will the price go up or down? Some sets go down. Shipping costs and damage in shipping (who pays for damage?) Then there are the incomplete sets for various reasons, we have all heard about many missing pieces from sets, sets that were supposed to be LEGO, buy were rocks (who pays?) There are lots of pitfalls, some folks are making money, but is it enough or he risk? We all know who asumes the risk... The seller! I read about one person who makes a living reselling LEGO and other toys, his gross is in the $300,000 range and he still doesn't sell enough to buy from LEGO or a distributor. I have read that LEGO (in the USA) mainly sells to their own stores, Legoland, Target and Toys R Us Costco, WalMart, Sam's Club and other big companies, not individuals. In order to buy LEGO at less than retail you have to haunt sales, look or deals on Amazon, eBay and other resellers. Not easy to buy the "good sets" at reduced prices. As mentioned before one needs to purchace many sets and just sit on them for several years before selling the first set. Who has $20,000 or $30,000 (a small investment) to put into LEGO on the off chance that it will increase in value? We all hear about he random person making a good return on LEGO. But what about all the ones who lose their shirt? Good luck! Andy D

I am not sure I see anything bad about any of this. If someone wants to buy sets to try to sell later, for any price, be it reasonable or over priced, who cares. If be prices are reasonable folks may buy them, if prices are not reasonable maybe no one buys them, who cares. If someone wants to buy LEGO or anything else and stick them in a closet to never see the light of day again, who cares. Maybe that is just their hobby, to collect unopened LEGO or anything. No one person can buy enough to make a difference in the supply. Just MHO, YMMV Andy D

The word was "sell"... Andy D

All the parts for MOCing! Wow! Colors and parts selection great. But way, way too many mini figs for me. I need to start selling my Star Wars minifigs. Andy D

While it is not difficult to make a little money buying and selling LEGO it an awfully crowded field. Some folks are like you, just trying to sell enough to finance their hobby and others who sell up to several hundred thousand dollars selling LEGO and other toys, that's gross sales, not profit. Profit for $100,000 might be $$20,000 and an awfully lot of sets to sell $100,000. Say $100 per set, that means that they handle $1000 sets, that's 3 sets per day 365 days a year. Lots of work. I have read posts on a forum dedicated to LEGO investing. Some of the posters discussed buying multiple copies of LEGO sets to put away, just to sit on and wait until they gain value. Not all sets will gain value, some are just not popular enough to gain value and may never be popular enough, so you will be lucky to break even on those sets. If you want to completely fund your hobby, you may have to spend four or five times what you spend on your hobby for sets waiting to gain value. Say you want to spend $1000 per year for your sets, you might have to spend $4000 or $5000 on sets to put away so you can sell them in a couple or three years for a $1000 more than you paid for them, thus funding your hobby. So for the first 2 or 3 years you spend $5000 to $6000, per year, that might be $15,000 to $18,000 before you sell the first set, then after to or three years you start to sell. No guarantees that you can make the profit you expected. For me, it seems it is just cheaper to buy the sets I want and not worry about what I spend on my hobby. Unless you want two hobbies, building LEGO and buying and selling LEGO. Whatever you decide, good luck and have fun. Andy D

If you can't get plastic or lucite, the only way I can see this dream being realized is to use glass. You might look around and get estimates on having glass cut to your specifications, might be less expensive than you think. If you are attempling to do this on a budget you might look at stores going out of business or remodeling, particularly jewelery stores to find glass display cases inexpensinely, then disassemble and repurpose the glass for shelves. I still like your design, I hope you gt to make it happen. I know my new studio made all the differmce for me. Andy D

I don't see a "crash" however, I do see a market stabilazation. I see sets listed for 10x original price, but, is anyone buying those sets? I hope folks trying to make money, do make money. The only way the LEGO collector (not investor) can get sets at a reasonable price is to buy them new. I have come to the conclusion that there are some sets I will just never have and I live with that. If I want the set I will Bricklink it, it may not be exact, but it is good enough. I do hope we do see a stabilazation, but not a crash, I would not like to see anyone lose money, no matter what their investment. Just MHO, YMMV Andy D

I built my CC fro Bricklink, I also do not particularly like the hotel sign, I did not put it in, someday I plan to revisit the CC and correct some of the things I don't care for. Mostly it is one of my fav's for sentimental reasons not to do with LEGO. At one time I was all for re-issue, but now I would rather just have something new. I have a CC and GG from BL (not exact) and they satisfy my needs for those sets and I do plan to BL the MS at some point. I will substitute colors for the most expensive parts and I may do a major color change as well. I saw a tan MS that looked nice. It is not the color of those buildings that I like but rather the design of the building. As for getting your wife to appreciate the MS... Remember, "Some days the magic works, some days it don't" My wife is very understanding to a point, but $500 to $800 or more for a single LEGO set, well... Andy D

When you obsess over the first model to build in your new studio. I finally built the Fire Brigade (10197), and it was a great build! Also a wonderful inauguration for my new studio. Andy D

Your rendering already looks very good. I think you have designed in a good "do it yourself project". Assuming the back and table top could be something like melomine (a white covering on a fiberboard). The shelf brackets are reasonably availabel, all you need to do is find a place to cut lucite to your dimensions then it is a relatively assembly. It looks very do-able. Be sure to post photis of your finished project. Andy D