10246 Detective's Office

[Xyver]

That looks a lot better Gongoro, the brown works a lot better than the light blue, especially with the increased size.

I like expanding my modulars out to 48x48, so now I will have some idea what it looks like. Maybe I need to buy three to add the extra level onto it as well.

[Off the wall]

That looks a lot better Gongoro, the brown works a lot better than the light blue, especially with the increased size.

I like expanding my modulars out to 48x48, so now I will have some idea what it looks like. Maybe I need to buy three to add the extra level onto it as well.

Totally agree. If they can afford it, some people are really missing the boat by not expanding modulars. Some easily lend themselves to expansion. GE and TH for example. To me, they just no longer look right without expanding them. The proportions on them seem awkward if confined to a 32 x 32 plate. Now, my 96 x 64 GE that's five stories high is a bit much, but my TH where I've added three windows on each side and each floor has really good proportions.

Are you going to leave the 'alley' between the buildings when you expand the DO or will you expand the Pool Hall so that it's wider?

Edited December 15, 2014 by Off the wall

[BirdOPrey5]

I misread AL'S CUT several times before I got it.

[satly]

I misread AL'S CUT several times before I got it.

That is definitely meant to be a U...

[Jern92]

Ah, now I wish I'm rich enough to get 3 sets! That enlarged DO looks absolutely amazing. Sadly I can only afford 1

I misread AL'S CUT several times before I got it.

hahahahahahhahaha I see what you mean!

[KringlesBricks]

You're welcome, OTW. I guess you're thinking of something closer to this:

Okay...great...you got me hooked!! ha-ha!

[lightningtiger]

Yeah, Al must like his cut of the cash from illegal candy sales !

Looks cool with the blue switched to brown if you were going to expand it........leaving it narrow the blue is fine, but increasing it's width......brown rocks better.

[Moebius118]

I misread AL'S CUT several times before I got it.

Now I don't feel as bad for having done the same.

[Gongoro73]

I misread AL'S CUT several times before I got it.

I've been trying to figure out what you mean for a while. I guess I got it...

L and I instead of U? :)

[bjorn77]

Does anybody know the height of the DO? From a few pictures I've seen, the blue building seems to be quite tall, at least taller than PR (which means taller than PS as well). If that's the case, I think extending it by one floor will look odd unless you do that for all (or most) of the other modulars as well.

[BirdOPrey5]

I've been trying to figure out what you mean for a while. I guess I got it...

L and I instead of U? :)

Indeed. I suppose the fact a recent South Park episode was still fresh in the brain didn't help.

[lightningtiger]

I've been trying to figure out what you mean for a while. I guess I got it...

L and I instead of U? :)

Thank goodness no one dropped an N in there neither.

That's the only issue with plate building words, some letters can cause confusion.....

[Herky]

Now this is the DO I wish they would have made, even if you didn't expand it sideways, going up a floor and switching to brown makes it look way better, thanks for the photo shop pictures...and for consistency, I also got CUT, but something else first. I wonder if you could just go BARBER across there instead.

[Sven F]

You fixed it!

The expanding is nice, but not overly necessary for me, however when you changed the blue to brown, that is it, that's how it was supposed to be.

[PastVPresent]

Gongoro73, great photoshop work! I think the enlarged dark brick version of Al's 'XXX' looks much more realistic than the original model and very similar to the type of NYC building I imagine this set was based on - a quick 'stroll' on google streetview (see two links below) results in lots of images of real life buildings that are very similar to your version.

I cant wait to see the mods everyone makes to this set - I think, like the PS, the DO will lend itself very well to all sorts of mods (different color bricks, more height, different commercial businesses/storefronts, etc) that help make modular streets unique and interesting.

https://goo.gl/maps/EBfoV

https://goo.gl/maps/sERDu

[drooppu]

Can't wait for this new set!!!

I was first into my local Lego store for 10243: I expected lines for some reason so I got there an hour early and no one was there... I plan to buy the Detective's Office on Jan 1 this time as well

If I were to be picky though, I would say that the modulars have been a little thin lately... I'm happy about the extra detail inside and the texture and variety on the front and back, but I hope that in 2016 that they give us a deeper modular like some of the older sets, but with the interior detail, texture, and variety of the newer modulars.

I find the left face of the building is a little plain on the second floor with the brick texture, but It fits the era they were going for well, so there is not much they could have done there within that style...

As an off comment, It seems like TLG might keep using the same toilet base from Pet Shop using the pot and lifesaver in white... I was interested in the pull chain toilet as I am making a few mocs of antique style modulars, and I was interested in the build from first mention, but as in the Pet Shop toilet it seems pretty straightforward.

All in all, I am pretty excited for the release of the new modular, and while this won't be my favorite, I will certainly enjoy it as I enjoy all the Modulars.

[lightningtiger]

I wonder how you can make "Barber" in plate writing ?

[Off the wall]

I wonder how you can make "Barber" in plate writing ?

Hmmm..not sure but I kind of like 'Al's' with the second word open to interpretation. :-)

[lightningtiger]

Hmmm..not sure but I kind of like 'Al's' with the second word open to interpretation. :-)

I guess that's why "Al's".....because it was easy.....and Al sounds a typical barbers name or that of diner !

[Xyver]

Are you going to leave the 'alley' between the buildings when you expand the DO or will you expand the Pool Hall so that it's wider?

I was planning to, but I will have to work out whereabouts in my city this is going to go first to see whether an alleyway is appropriate. I still need to upgrade my PR as well, so that will require my town to be re-arranged too.

[TheLegoDr]

I don't love how it looks compared to other modular buildings. I've said it before. But looking at the Photoshop I think I might be the only person that prefers the blue. I think in the smaller width the light blue works, but when you expand it, it is too much. Switching it to brown just makes it boring.

With that said, I typically don't alter the sets. I like working in that footprint. Limits to scale makes you more creative. With that said, again I must be alone, but if I were to mod this set, I wouldn't change al's, I'd actually change that ugly brick facade on the pool hall.

Just interesting how everyone is different.

Edited December 17, 2014 by TheLegoDr

[satly]

How about two more levels?

[Off the wall]

I was planning to, but I will have to work out whereabouts in my city this is going to go first to see whether an alleyway is appropriate. I still need to upgrade my PR as well, so that will require my town to be re-arranged too.

I'll do one build like it looks on the box. Then, after stock piling three or four more sets, I'll build up a story and eliminate the alley. Of course, on the modified version the blue bricks will also be replaced.

[Herky]

I like the one more level to fit in with the current offerings, but 2 more, while cool looking, would seem skyscraper to the current buildings. I do agree, if you are going to leave the blue, the skinny works, but the expanded across does not seem to work together with the light blue, darker blue maybe, I just see this offering as something that needs dark colors myself.

[Off the wall]

Agreed. If the rest of your city block is that tall, it might look okay. As a stand alone, or next to something like the PR, it's awkward. Sort of like those pictures of the GE that I've seen where people build up several stories but don't increase the width of the building. Awkward.