NickLafreniere

True that. I think only sets that may seem childish, like Sesame Street or Winnie The Pooh, benefit from the black box as it classes it up and makes it a mature collectible. Almost everything else benefits from having box art with a background instead. The only sets that benefit from the black box are Architecture, and sculptures like the Star Wars helmets.

Agreed. The whole reasoning behind the black box art is so that adults feel less embarrassed to buy LEGO sets. It makes sense for sets like Sesame Street, where a bunch of people would feel silly or get made fun of for buying a $100+ set that would have been marked 6+. Now with the Space Shuttle, it could have used better art for sure, but maybe there will be those people who see a colorful box as a childish toy... It's too bad. I hope that in a few years LEGO limits how many sets they use the black box for. Some sets would really look even better with a nice, realistic background like they did before with Creator Expert.

I'm so glad that you all like it so far! Fantastic jokes by the way :P I will be making more "Episodes" of Toilet Adventures, and will be choosing a different theme for each update. But perhaps I can do another one with the pirate theme! How did I come up with this idea? Well, I was in the bathroom, thinking about what the next best LEGO Ideas product should be. I was thinking, "If the Typewriter got approved, I should also replicate a real life object..." So I sat there thinking...thinking...thinking....***FLUSH***... I open the door and exclaim "I'VE GOT IT!!!!!"

Hey all, here is an example of imaginative play in The LEGO Toilet, my newest LEGO Ideas project. If you think it's disgusting, make sure you take a closer look before you completely judge it :P

Excellent! Wait until you see my sick little update that I post later...

Wow, that's surprising that the toilet brush sold you! Originally, I wanted the "poop pipe" to use those new water slide tube elements from the LEGO Friends Water Park set. Unfortunately that wasn't feasible. I intended on people putting their minifigures in the toilet and through the pipes. The Toilet brush is built using a flexible axle piece, and was to be used to "push" your minifigure all the way through the toilet, if it gets stuck. Here is a picture of the inside of the tank: As soon as you see the inside of the toilet tank, it's no longer a joke and it gets quite serious! It will be satisfying to play with this. I also wanted to include a sound brick that would make a flushing sound, but that didn't make the final cut.

Although it's April Fools, this project is 100% serious. This could be the next LEGO Ideas Typewriter, Ship in a Bottle, Grand Piano, Earth Globe - basically the next LEGO Ideas replica of an object. At 550 pieces, this would only be like $50-60. This thing sells itself!

Hello. I present to you The LEGO Toilet. Build the most detailed plastic model of a toilet you have ever seen - The LEGO Toilet! Recreate this classic bathroom staple and learn about the mechanical parts that go into a toilet fixture. This beautifully shaped model makes for a wonderful conversation piece and collectible to add to your LEGO collection. You will be amazed at the functional mechanism, which is built of Technic pieces and pulls on a mini chain that in turn pulls open the “flapper” inside the toilet tank. Remember to put the toilet seat down - or not, it’s your toilet! Features Model measures 21 cm long, 13 cm wide, and 22 cm tall. 550 pieces. The toilet seat can be raised/lowered and the toilet tank top lifts off. Mechanical parts such as the flush arm, flapper, overflow tube, and float are represented in LEGO form in the toilet tank. Includes main toilet model, informational plaque with miniature toilet, toilet brush, brick separator, and a minifigure with toolbox and plunger. See all the pictures of the model here on LEGO Ideas!

I only looked at all the pics just now and have noticed the included train, which uses some expensive train wheels that only drive up the cost even more. I'm not too confident this will make the top 13...If it's going to cost $400-600, I could MOC my own station exactly how I want for probably cheaper than that.

I like the set, and I wouldn't mind owning it, but it is quite expensive and it isn't as great value as the Saturn V, so I will not be getting it any time soon. My biggest gripe with the set is how they represented the side hatch on the left side of the orbiter: LEGO only used a white 2x2 round tile with hole... Very primitive. A 2x2 square tile with a sticker that looks like the real hatch would have made this sooo much better. To me, the side hatch is one of the shuttle's most distinct details and they only represented it with one white piece, when the hatch itself is surrounded by a black circle. The new printed windscreen is pretty good, I guess it couldn't have been printed any better than that. Aside from that, I am happy with the shaping of everything else in the set, including the cargo bay doors/hinges. It also kinda sucks that the "Discovery" sticker is diagonal, but I guess the designers also couldn't do much in that situation, and it's better to have it than not. This beast is $270 and the GWP isn't even free... yikes. I will pass on it for now. I like it, but don't need it.

I think the train station is nice and all but will probably cost around $500 so I'm out :P Good luck to those who do scoop up this set as well as the other sets!

You make it sound like LEGO has permanently cancelled all LEGO train sets for the rest of time! Mike Psiaki, one the LEGO designers behind the Ideas Saturn V rocket said in an interview that he had been pitching the idea himself to LEGO for several years but they kept saying no. Then, once the project for a Saturn V went on LEGO Ideas they finally considered the idea. Sometimes LEGO just needs to see some concrete data first before they decide to take the plunge. What a huge success that was for LEGO though! The same is possible for trains on LEGO Ideas. There are quite a few 10K train projects, plus the votes data from the 90th anniversary fan vote, which show that LEGO trains are clearly in demand right now. Now that LEGO released the Crocodile, everyone is waiting to see what comes next and will probably buy it no matter what, just like the Crocodile. Social media and especially Youtube influencers can market LEGO trains like never before. Add to that the new 18+ age group who started buying LEGO during the pandemic and we will absolutely be sure to see an increase in sales of LEGO trains compared to the past. If LEGO can now do like 3 Creator Expert cars per year, I think they can do a train. 2020 and 2021 have so many adult-oriented models so it seems logical to get that niche filled soon! Jamied Berrard also said in an interview that LEGO will only make train sets that also incorporate a theme that is outside of just "model trains". For example, cargo train sets like the Maersk or BNSF are too specific to model train fans and might not sell to average person who simply just collects new LEGO sets. It's unfortunate, but we may not see train sets like that again... it's just a bit too niche. Sets like the Disney Train, Lone Ranger, Toy Story, Winter Village, Harry Potter, and Hidden Side train all have special minifigs and playability and loads of minifgure-interactivity. Even though the Maersk Train is quite nice, a kid would get bored since there is almost nothing for the minifigures to do, except just sit in the cab or stand in just a few spots. The "themed" train needs to be able to convince a non-train fan that it is worth getting. LEGO is looking for a fun "theme" that goes along with the train so that play is very imaginative and not simply just a display model. The Canadian as well as the Polar Express are both themed and we have each got 10K votes, which is quite difficult for a train project on Ideas, as you know. Although there are some wonderful realistic model trains on LEGO Ideas, they always struggle to get over a few hundred votes and eventually expire. Even if my Canadian train doesn't make it, it will have hopefully proved a powerful point - that we would like a good LEGO train set! When observing the people who voted for my project, many of them seemed to be non-LEGO fans, which is exactly who LEGO is targeting right now. I also saw lots of comments of people saying they actually intend on buying it, instead of just mostly comments like "wow, amazing MOC dude".

It looks like this contest entry did not make it to the next phase... There were so many great entries that did not get picked as well, including the USS Cardboard and some really nice retro-inspired ideas. Oh well, it was a lot of fun! I will for sure be submitting this project as a regular LEGO Ideas project soon. Edit: it was an error on the website, everyone's status in the contest has reset. I'm still in the contest :P

There's even a chance that the judges don't pick this one for the final 15. The judges' picks in the previous contests have always been unexpected, usually not picking the most popular ones for whatever strange reason. I could possibly see the judges not picking it because it's too similar to the Rocket Ride. Also without the text saying "USS Cardboard", some people might not understand what it is supposed to be. It also kind of relies on out-of-production parts, which seem crucial to the look. Although I like it, I would rather get some kind of 90's themed set, or 80's classic space if need be. The guy who made it is very talented though and made the Sesame Street LEGO Ideas set!

Thank you! Yes, the hands use a very similar building method, but with modern pieces and proper claws. The tail and the front seat are also similar to the original, but with slight variations. I wanted to make the head be on a ball joint or turntable, but then it would have been a bit too clunky. The hoses would have also made it not really work out. The mouth can open and close though, so there's that :P Thank you, I agree! In the contest, this is currently the most popular entry that people want to vote on the most: Look familiar? :P There's a great chance that we will basically get the same thing again.

Hi everyone, I would like to show you my newest creation, Robo Raptor Xtreme. This has been submitted in the LEGO Ideas "Out of this World Space Builds" contest, where the winner's set will be turned into a Gift with Purchase set. This set is inspired by the RoboForce theme from 1997 and is a new vehicle design. Here is the original 2152 Robo Raptor The original Robo Raptor set was one the coolest sets of the old space era, and it inspired me to me remake that concept of a robotic dinosaur. The new version features ball joints for better mobility. I have also changed the accent color to neon trans-orange to differentiate it from the original set. I want the raptor to look "evolved" As you can see, the back of the legs are made of mailbox/container pieces. The original RoboForce sets had storage, so including that in the design was crucial. That crystal is a reference to the Rock Raiders theme. The Robo Raptor has a front seat and a back seat, and they have enough space to accommodate the minifig's oxygen tank. In the back the seat, the minifigure can face the front or the rear. I tried my best to design this set in a 90's style - using basic, simple bricks. I tried to use angular slopes instead of curves as much as possible for a retro look. By the way, the set is 220 pieces, which also the same piece count as the original 2152 Robo Raptor. The submission phase of the contest will be over in a few days and after that the judges will pick the top 15 entries. When the top 15 have been selected, fans will be able to vote for their favorite entry to become a free GWP! Let me know what you think, and be sure to check out my LEGO Ideas contest entry page.

I like the Polar Express project, it is has lots of playability and fans of the movie will surely love it. I would imagine that steam train fans would also buy it, regardless if they saw the movie or not. Many people really want it, but there are 3 reasons why they could possibly not approve it: 1. The Polar Express license, while obtainable, could be more expensive to acquire than other companies IPs. There are other toy companies who make the Polar Express, so if LEGO makes one that is adding more to the competition. For that reason, the license could cost more. We are all aware of how expensive Disney-themed sets are! 2. The Polar Express is mainly a winter or Christmas themed set, so sales are seasonal. It surely would sell extremely well at Christmas, but sales would underperform in the warmer months. If LEGO had the Polar Express license for 2 years, they would effectively only be getting just a few months of good revenue from it in those 2 years. Extending it beyond those 2 years would just cost more money with little gain. 3. Since the movie is mainly a kids/family movie, many parents will expect the set to come with track and electronics. While entirely possible, it would be more expensive than LEGO's own Holiday Train sets. LEGO will not want to compete against themselves, such as when modular buildings or Creator Expert cars get rejected on LEGO Ideas for that reason all the time. When I look closely at the pictures, I see that there are some parts of the build could be improved. For example, the wheels at the front of the train look like they cannot turn/swivel. I understand that the LEGO Ideas team will redesign the project concept anyways, but that is more work, development time that costs time/money, that needs to be considered. Making the Polar Express in LEGO is a very smart idea for a product, don't get me wrong! I'm sure LEGO has thought of it themselves in the past, but didn't go through with it and instead made their own non-licensed holiday train to keep it cheap and simple. It would be amazing if LEGO Ideas approved this idea though! We can always use more trains and I especially like wintery trains as a Canadian. LEGO Ideas has been doing the unexpected lately, like rejecting everyone except for 1 entry... But, LEGO Ideas approved the Typewriter, a product that no one asked for... so anything is possible and there is always hope! ;)

Yes, in the end it is really up to LEGO. They could say no if the project seems too complex, or if they are already working on something similar. It really comes down to if people will buy it if they see it on shelves. The most common type of LEGO Ideas project to get rejected are the ones that are based of movies/TV shows. They have to be absolutely iconic and cost less than $100 for it to work (Big Bang, F.R.I.E.N.D.S., Seinfeld) For example, let's use the Night at the Museum LEGO Ideas project. It looks nice, it's detailed, and about 3000 pieces. Do I like Ben Stiller? Yes! Did I like Night at the Museum? Sure, it was a good movie. Do I like it enough to spend $300 on a playset?? NO. However, if we use the new Home Alone LEGO Ideas set that was approved and will come out as an example, that is an iconic movie that is watched anually. Even if you have never seen the Home Alone movies, you could still buy the set as it is a very nice house build for a LEGO City (a very famous house in real life) I think that if a LEGO Ideas set is based on an IP, it helps if the model can be still understood and worth buying even if you've never seen the movie. With my VIA Rail projects, it doesn't matter if you are not from Canada, you can still understand what the set is about. Even if you are a 2 year old Chinese baby, you can still understand that my set is a train that can be played with minifigures. My set is of an iconic real-life thing, but is still a generic thing that people are familiar with.

Thank you! I totally understand if you would want to use the pieces from this set to make something else, and I had that in mind when designing it. There would be some extremely useful grey pieces such as the panel walls, the dome window pieces, and the custom printed transparent windows I made. You could use these parts to make other Budd cars or subway cars. I think this is yet another reason for someone to buy multiple copies of this set. There would be quite a few pieces made in new colors!

LEGO Ideas changed the rules and they can make new parts if needed. Some projects, like the Naruto project, even suggested multiple brand new pieces and it was allowed. The Sesame Street LEGO Ideas set has had multiple new pieces made for the minifigures, which could be reused once or twice in the future, but mainly just for Sesame Street characters. My suggestion for new train wheels could be used in at least 10 sets, and could even be a new standard for a mini train series. The small wheels offer advantages like being able to fit more details on train cars and possibly reducing cost as well. Another suggestion for 2 new LEGO pieces could help reduce the piece count, simplify the building process, reduce the “cracks” between the pieces, and improve stability. This would reduce the piece count by about 300 pieces. I bet you could all think of great uses for these pieces. 1 x 6 Grille Brick and 6 x 6 x 1 Curved Roof If LEGO does decide to approve the small train wheel idea, they would absolutely have to make new pieces as the current method has friction. In theory, you can just increase the train speed on your remote/smartphone a few notches. Normally when you run a standard LEGO train, you don't need to use speed 5 and beyond because it is too fast. You could use the high speeds to overcome that friction, but in practice that would be a bad idea. So, new pieces would need to be made. The LEGO roller coaster mini cars and wheels are quite frictionless, so a similar design to that would be great.

I have read some comments on stonewars.de and some people are saying that the VIA trains compete against LEGO's City train lineup. I disagree, LEGO City and Creator Expert/18+ trains are 2 separate types of consumer. Please keep in mind that my VIA train sets do not include tracks or electronic components, all sold separately. As an adult, I don't like the LEGO City trains and have no desire to buy them as they are quite childish. I also really like real-life models in LEGO, they offer more collectible value and encourage you to learn more about the real-life subject matter. There has been a void in the Creator Expert trains lineup for several years, and did the Crocodile even satisfy that void for a lot of people? I think not. Another point that I see is that if LEGO is already developing a Train Collection, then LEGO Ideas submissions are off the table. I think that could be true after a few years if LEGO does make new trains annually, but that is also up for debate. The way I see it is why not pay an enthusiastic train fan to design the train and pay them the 1% for the work? Sets like these take many years to develop because of the complexity. I think the whole LEGO Ideas story behind the development of the project also aids in marketing the set, which a risky endeavor like a LEGO train set could really use. LEGO Trains may not have performed well in the past, but it's been almost a decade since the last wave of Creator Expert trains (Maersk, Emerald, TGV) and the social media scene has changed a lot since then. The LEGO Ideas platform, social media, and LEGO Youtubers have such an influence these days so a quality LEGO train set could get more exposure this time around.

Thanks! I know that many of you on Eurobricks will prefer 7w or 8w for your MOCs, but I had to design a product and not a MOC for a chance at success. I personally only prefer the "official" style of LEGO trains, even if they have flaws and don't look 100% accurate to the real thing. If a LEGO set can capture a real life object at 80% accuracy and be sold at an affordable price, I consider that a success. After designing a legit 6w train that has been tested to work motorized the official way, I understand how there are so many compromises that must be made in order to create a product that is viable. I also just like making 6w trains because many of the train-specific parts are 6 wide! I prefer to work within the limitations rather than to try and go against them. I think the technique that allowed the train cars to get that extra level of detail was using the small train wheels. It is controversial, but trust me, I believe it could be the evolution of LEGO trains. The current small train wheel pieces have some friction (I have built it and tested it), but if LEGO could design a new frictionless small train wheel + small train wheel holder , that would change the game. Instead of tickling Elmo (they made a new mold just for the Sesame Street Ideas set), the LEGO Ideas team could spend their time designing a totally useful piece such as a new small train wheel. It could be used in Creator Expert trains, mine carts, or even in a Juniors 4+ kiddie mini train - there are many applications for it.

Actually, the rules state that they will not make accept any LEGO Ideas project on an IP that just got chosen, but only after it was chosen. If both projects are in the review period at the same time, it would be a valid possibility. I understood that from the beginning of the project, so it was also very important to get both projects to 10K together. For both of them to get approved together, they both either need to be in the same review period, or they can be 1 review period apart. Although every batch of LEGO Ideas projects to reach 10K is separated by 4 months, the review periods are 8 months long. That allows 2 batches of 10K projects to overlap in the review period. The deadline to be included in the current batch of projects to get reviewed is May 6 (I think). The Canadian has made it and ideally The Corridor could also make to 10K before May 6. However, it could still be reviewed at the same time as The Canadian if it reaches the next deadline after that, which is early September. If the LEGO Ideas team is reviewing both projects at the same time and decide to approve The Canadian and get the VIA Rail license, why not get the most out of the license and tempt the consumer with another product to buy? The work on the model has already been done. Here are the 3 scenarios that I can see if they decide to approve it: 1. The Canadian gets approved, but The Corridor does not due to not being as popular. 2. Both of the trains get approved! LEGO likes the idea of a LEGO Ideas product that upsells the consumer into not only buying additional electronic accessories and train tracks, but also multiple copies of the set itself. Not to mention the need to collect both sets if 2 are released! 3. Only The Canadian gets approved and the green locomotive is ditched and replaced by the yellow locomotive. The yellow locomotive has less complexity when it comes to prints/stickers and also uses more commonly available pieces.

Today my VIA Rail The Canadian train set reached the mighty 10,000 - a feat that is difficult for a train-themed project on LEGO Ideas. If you do not count the Toronto Subway TTC Rocket LEGO Ideas project ( I don't...just look at it), this is the first non-movie-themed train to get 10K. I submitted the project in May 2020 and it is now February 2021, so it's been about 10 months. While some LEGO Ideas projects get to 10K within just a couple of weeks, this is decent for something niche like the Trains theme. I won't repeat all the details here, so if you would like to learn more about the project go to the project page and check out the "Updates" tab for ALL the information: VIA Rail Canada - The Canadian I still have a 2nd train set on LEGO Ideas, VIA Rail Canada - The Corridor that is designed to compliment The Canadian set. Both sets are modular and can be mixed and matched. It could use more votes to catch up to The Canadian, so please vote for it if you haven't already. Let me know what you think of the project and ask any questions you have.

That piece is nearly perfect for the windshield, but perhaps it was just a tad bit too tall? Excellent build! I see Porter airplanes all the time at Billy Bishop Airport, so it is great to see it represented in LEGO!