Aloysius

Well, I started building my collection a little over a month ago. Checked my bank statement yesterday, started totalling my purchases and stopped when I got past $600. Couldn't stomach going past that. :-$

Just to clarify: what I mean by ritual is having certain things in order to enjoy your legos..as in have some food ready, then some background noise or a movie, a clear space. I know most people just sit down wherever and build but Im curious about those that have to have things a certain way. Like me, I have to have food ready and right when i start. I cant start and then get something afterwards. I also cant have the kids running around.

Great replies so far guys!! Pirate Mod, sorry about the posting this in the wrong forum. I spend about 90% of my time here in the pirate section and I tend to forget about the other ones. :-P

Now I may be the only one here that thinks about it this much but I like to have a certain set-up/atmosphere whenever Im about to build a set or sort. I think of my LEGO time as holy, sacred, a date-night with myself if you will. Setting: At home. Kids asleep. GF asleep, occupied, or brisked away for a Girls Night Out (yeah, i can imagine: "So where your man at?" "Oh, hes at home playing with LEGOS" "Really now?") Workspace: The living room, using this big flat leather ottoman/table we've got set up in front of the TV. Food If its something small it'll be a light snack, maybe popcorn or Combos. If its something bigger...a six pack of Newcastle Ale, a pizza from Bella Napoli down the street, and I put three slices on the plate, cut them up, and eat with a fork so my fingers wont get greasy. Music Never use music while LEGOing. Dont know why but never have. Movies This is one of my favorite parts of my LEGO ritual. Movie selection depends on the theme of the set I'll be working on. Castle: Kingdom of Heaven, Braveheart, The Messenger (yeah I know her acting is atrocious but I liked the scenery and battle scenes. Star Wars: I'll watch the original episodes when building but not the clone ones. I dont care for the clone movies much but Ill save them for when I get a UCS Falcon or ISD. It'd pretty much be background noise as Im sure it'll take extra concentration for those sets. Western: 3:10 to Yuma, Unforgiven, Outlaw Josey Wales. Only used the first movie so far as I've only put one Western set together as of yet. Pirate: My first pirate set, the SES, should be here in a day or two and I've got Master and Commander ready for that one. I've seen it at least 10 times and I still havent gotten sick of it yet. Just bought the first book in the Aubrey series off eBay and Im looking forward to that as well. Afterwards, I like to do a little swooshing, sit and look at it while finishing the beer off, and find the perfect spot on the shelf or remove enough parts to slide it in the box. I need to get another memory card so I can start taking pictures.

I first checked the price guide on Brick Link and it fell within the average price range. I'd love to only pay $110 but I certainly havent come across any deals that good yet. Where did you get yours? Lagoon Lockup. :-)

oops, sorry about that. 8-|

Of course! I didn't think anyone here would interested to see them though seeing how pictures of the regular set must have been posted here numerous times and the only thing most would be interested in would be MOCs/WIPs.

I was wondering if anyone ever got burned from buying an MSIB set, eventually opening it up, and finding that pieces are missing or perhaps even the directions. I'm sure theres got to be at least one or two people in the world that have done so, only to find a few baggies of enlighten blocks or something. I understand that it could possibly be LEGO's fault but from what I heard its pretty rare. Im just trying to imagine getting some really nice MISB set, sitting there looking at it, and trying to keep myself from cutting it open to make sure everything is there and I didnt get ripped off. Even worse, what if you ended up selling it and got an irate phone call a few days later..

Its my very first one. I was planning on getting an outpost first, or maybe some minifigs to start out with but once I saw her it was love at first sight and I couldn't resist. *sigh*

Luckily (knocks on wood) Ive never had a problem with eBay and I usually dont make a big dollar purchase from sellers unless they have great feedback. For this one I checked his feedback, the feedback of the people that recently bought from him, etc. etc. I will say that I had to really think this one over but after getting in contact with him, I had a good feeling, and hopefully that feeling bears fruit. Yeah, I noticed that MISB set as well *wub* The minifigs and accessories look so lovely nestled in their plastic trays. That one will sell for alot. I'm thinking that I'll keep her stock and displayed until I eventually run out of room. Once my space is used up I'll probably break sets down for MOCs. I'm guessing that will be in about a year or two.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lego-6286-Pirate-Ship-...1QQcmdZViewItem *sweet*

Thanks!!Don't feel bad...I don't have the money either but I'll just have to eat less meals for the next weeks and drink Folgers. I already have a twinge of regret of spending the money but I know it'll vanish once the set arrives in the mail.

Just hunted down and found a sweet 6286 SES set!! It came to $276.95 and includes original box, instructions, all minifigs and pieces, and is just missing the plastic tray. I was planning on not displaying anything until I move into my new place but once this thing arrives its getting built and put up right away *sweet* All I have to do now is find some good Ramen noodle recipes and find a good hiding spot for the bank statement when it comes in. X-D

Well, let me be specific and say that I collect only OT Star Wars stuff. My personal opinion is that the prequel movies were an abomination and I sure as hell dont want any of it on my shelf. I only want the things that sucked me in when I was a little kid, like the ISD and X-Wing. Even though I know its valuable, I have no interest in a Republic gunship. I hear you on the BSB. Im fervently looking to buy one now but it has to be used, complete, and come with a box in decent shape. At the current time my funds are a little low to look for an MISB and right now I at least want one that I can jump into right away. Also want a RBR and an outpost or two. The castle sets I have so far are Black Falcon Fortress, Black Monarch's Castle, and Kings Castle Seige. The only one thats unopened is Kings Castle Siege. Im thinking that if I get the majority of the stuff that I want really really bad now, once I have the money I can buy the MISB stuff and not have the temptation to crack it open. I checked out the link for the contest. Some of the entries were unbelievable. I usually right click & save whatever MOC pictures I come across that could be used for future inspiration to a desktop folder. If Dubya would hurry up and get me my $900 tax rebate check I could start buying some pieces now.

Hi Ricecracker!!, Actually, I would like to MOC but thats something for the future...after I get certain sets purchased, stored away, opened, built, and displayed and also have the space and storage solution figured out. One thing I've always lamented is that I never had artistic talent. I couldnt sing, paint, play an instrument, or create art. One of the things I love about the idea of MOCs is that as long as you have the pieces you can build anything you can imagine. There arent any imperfect brushstrokes to worry about. However, thats something I want to save for the day when I run out of things to buy or I go broke, whichever come first. With my ADD and touch of OCD I've got a whole lot of LEGO fun to look forward to in the years ahead. I'm in the process of buying a new home (hopefully close on it in the next two weeks) and I told my girlfriend, "I don't care what we do to the house, what upgrades you want to get or in what order, or how we decorate it. All I want understood is that the workshop (a spacious windowed area to the rear of the garage) is mine and mine alone. That means its not storage, none of your knick knacks, and I get to do whatever I want with it." She agreed and Im a happy man. Shelving is already up and theres an abundance of space for LEGO displays and an ample-sized desktop area for building and fitting in storage cabinets will be easy as well. After I fill that up with built sets and slowly growing armies I'll finally start MOCs. Once I do start MOCS: Castle will be my main focus..or as close to focus as I can get. :-$

If I had an old set, something considerably valuable and tough to find MISB..I wouldn't open it. Because I'm slightly off I would actually get enjoyment just looking at the box and occasionally inspecting its condition, making sure the edges were crisp and clean, and fantasizing that someone somewhere in this vast world was sitting in their home with a pair of cuticle scissors, debating on whether or not to open their MISB set and imagining they'd give in. X-D After fondling it for awhile, I'd bust out the used copy and play with that.

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. My name is Aloysius and my Dark Age ended roughly a month ago. Since then I've gone into full blown addiction. Now it'd be one thing If I had an interest in just one line, say Castles (which is in fact my #1 love), but shortly after getting back into it its branched out to Pirate, Western, and Star Wars. In short, I'm bleeding money as of late. Seems like I'd be best off cutting off my internet access as I've been spending WAY too much time either researching, buying, or thinking about what I want next. I'm a Leo and an only child..thus it's obvious the deck has been stacked against me from the beginning. My first memories of LEGO were of seeing Castle Sets on the shelves when I was around 8-10. I never bought any of them (a $2 a week allowance pretty much killed that possibility) and my parents never got them for me so it came down to me playing with friends' sets or just making a beeline for the toy section to drool over what I wouldn't be getting. Years later, with a family and a little disposable income, I finally have the chance to indulge. So far my collection consists of 3 castle sets, an ISD, some Indy, and been working on building up an various armies using eBay. Right now Im looking for a 6085 on the cheap and whatever good deals I can find. So far I really like this site because everyone seems so passionate about LEGOS, and to be completely honest, its makes me slightly more normal to where I can say, "at least Im not THAT bad yet". Also, this site seems much more active than most of the other sites I've joined or lurked on and I dont think Ill be able to burn through all the threads anytime soon. Lastly, being the glutton for punishment and insolvency that I am..I plan on building a collection drawn from each of the lines listed above, ultimately 2 of each. 1 for building and play, and 1 to keep MISB. The MISB set will be bagged and stored above the ceiling panels in my house, where its nice and dark. Yes, Im serious Im embarrassed to say :'-(