10246 Detective's Office

[pugmom]

I agree on the size. I will probably add an extra level, but darn it, I shouldn't have to!

edit for grammar fail....

Edited December 24, 2014 by pugmom

[Off the wall]

Nice move by TLG. You now have to buy two sets to get the same type building you formerly got by buying just one set.

[Colossus]

TLG is on top of the world right now. They can afford to get greedy.

[AFOLguy1970]

I have to agree that the trend associated with size and more attention to the interior is not necessarily a good thing. I really liked the PR, but did not expect smaller buildings than everything before it to become the norm. It sort of reminds me of the Wendy's value meal. At first, it was great, and they had a nice dollar menu. Then, I noticed that either the food portions got smaller, or they bumped the price up, or they did both. This seems to be what is happening with Lego in general. We are getting smaller sets which cost more. Piece count might be comparable with the older ones, but there does seem to be a lot more of the smaller ones. I realize the vast majority of Lego is directed at children, but I honestly thought that the modular series and some of the creator/expert sets are geared more for TFOLs and AFOLs. This is not something you buy for an 8 year old. The DO is probably something I will purchase, but it is kind of unsettling to see how small it is compared to others. I do not mind some interior details, but I do not want it to significantly impact the exterior to where it does not compare to others. I also do not get the whole "cookie prohibition" thing either. There are wine bottles in PR, the Barrel Escape Hobbit set, last year's Thanksgiving feast set, a green one in this year's city advent calendar, and the Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina does not appear to be simply serving Aunt Berus blue milk. Therefore, I do not buy the whole "no alcohol" thing that TLG supposedly is holding to.

[Mandate]

On a whole LEGO sets have been degrading in a way that's hard to describe. We're getting awesome new sets and pieces all the time, but part of the magic of that defined many lines is easily getting lost. It just feels like now they're doing stuff just for the sake of it, like Minecraft and its updates.

[VintageLegoEra]

So anyone got this yet?

[namioik]

I will still buy it, I still like it, but I can see through the cost cutting. Sadly, these gen 2 modulars (PC-DO) will never compare to the gen 1 modulars (CC-TH).

I personally see gen 1 modulars as CC-GG. Gen 2 would include FB-TH and gen 3 would be PC-now

[The Executive]

I'm still going to get the DO but the set only comes with 2.5 floors compared to the PR and its even shorter. It just feels too small for $159.99 and would it kill them to design a full third floor. In my opinion the PR was really great because it had such a nice balance of detail. I really miss the nice full sized modulars like the GG and FB but those days are long gone and you can clearly see Lego's greed with their shrinking sets and increasing prices.

Edited December 27, 2014 by The Executive

[sithewok]

It definitely looks smaller next to other modulars than I expected it to. As someone who never does anything with the interiors after I build them, I would definitely prefer an impressive exterior, but I understand the opposing viewpoint. Seems like they could have done more with the exterior, though, to me...

I'll still pick one up as it looks like a fun build, but I hope this trend of smaller buildings doesn't continue..

[VintageLegoEra]

The PR is higher in number of pieces by around 300 pieces than the DO...

Little disappointing as if they made it at least same pieces as the PR then we can even see more features, levels...

[glendo]

Part count is a trick... Ignore it for size/weight/height dimensions.

[Off the wall]

The PR and DO are nothing more than starting points for me. Buy them, expand them and discard hundreds of parts that I can't use and don't value. Of course, it's unfortunate that either multiple copies of the same set and/or PAB orders have to be purchased in order to achieve what some of you have referred to as a gen 1 modular. Not everyone is inclined to make additional purchases to compensate for what should probably have been included with the set to begin with.

Edited December 27, 2014 by Off the wall

[Sven F]

Isn't the word "modular" used with these buildings because it was originally intended for them to get expanded? Since they all looked ok from a single set, not many people actually bought more of the same set just to add a floor. Now you might start to. Since DO is barely over the line of worth buying for me, i'm likely not getting 2 of them, but I can see many falling for this.

[Off the wall]

'Falling' is probably the wrong verb for some of us. I'll buy extra sets to expand the original. It's a lot easier for me than buying bricks and waiting weeks for them to arrive through PAB. I call the store and make the two mile drive over there and pick up the set. Pieces that are useless to me wind up in a five gallon bin.

In the corner cafe instructions, they included ideas on how to combine multiple CCs. I'd like current sets to also include the designers ideas of how multiple copies of the same set can be incorporated into one larger building.

So, people like me really haven't fallen for anything. We simply recognize that the interests of those who enjoyed what has been referred to as the 'gen 1' modulars have pretty much been abandoned by TLG in favor of a modular series that's more of a City type product with less value than the original modulars.

No hard feelings. Someone changed my toys. Not my health insurance coverage.

[BirdOPrey5]

Make sure after you get the set and you follow the survey link at the end of the instruction booklet you let LEGO know you are unhappy with the size of this modular- I'd also prefer larger buildings and less interior detail if that is the trade off.

[Roger_Smith]

I decided that I'll put off buying the DO until the next Double VIP Points special. Then I'll get two sets and build expanded, stand-alone versions of the two buildings.

For now, I'll focus on aquiring the pieces for a MOC I planned in LDD and building it - a 3500 piece corner modular in about the same scale as Green Grocer

[Off the wall]

Make sure after you get the set and you follow the survey link at the end of the instruction booklet you let LEGO know you are unhappy with the size of this modular- I'd also prefer larger buildings and less interior detail if that is the trade off.

Not to worry. I will. Plus,,I,always review on Lego.com

Oops...edited

Edited December 27, 2014 by Off the wall

[Vindicare]

I think it looks fantastic, especially next to Green Grocer. Finally some substantial height difference in buildings.

[Temet Nosce]

As others have said, I would prefer to see a return to a bigger, more detailed, exterior. I mainly display mine and never look at the interiors. so while i appreciate the joy of building clever interior design i would still like a bit more bang for my buck in the actual imposing physicality of the building. Its probably the one set that i dont feel i need even to complete the collection.

[bootz]

To be fair, TLG has the Architecture line as well now, so the modulars don't necessarily have to always have super detailed exteriors. It's nice to see this one take itself a little less seriously. There have always been trade offs with each individual set in the series. PR is beautiful inside and out but it's small and not very modular, FB is a classic but only one floor is really furnished, GE is a lovely looking building and easily expanded but the build was boring...they're Lego's, you can always fix what you don't like.

[Off the wall]

The architectural line is a joke.

[Roger_Smith]

To be fair, TLG has the Architecture line as well now, so the modulars don't necessarily have to always have super detailed exteriors.

Does. not. compute.

First, the architecture line isn't in minifig scale, and second, a lot of the builds are so far on the microscale side of things that the overall aim is to get the general shape of the building right. Architectural details on the level talked about here usually get lost completely.

[Off the wall]

Does. not. compute.

First, the architecture line isn't in minifig scale, and second, a lot of the builds are so far on the microscale side of things that the overall aim is to get the general shape of the building right. Architectural details on the level talked about here usually get lost completely.

Well said.

We keep hoping for more detailed arch series sets. The first two scheduled for 2015 certainly don't give us much hope for anything except small buildings with very little detail.

[glendo]

I have my PR sitting on computer right now, and I've taken off each level to analyze it's contents....... where is this super high level of detail that sacrificed space?

-the Top floor's roof is not actually detachable, so the area where the door is cannot really be accessed.

- the middle floor is sparse. outside furniture for restaurant is commendable.

- ground floor completely furnished.

I dont see super high level of detail compared to other modulars here... the ground floor is on par with GG's ground floor, and the other two floors are comparable with GE and LESS that TH's interior design.

we just got ripped off in size.

Let's see how DO gives us more detail......................................................

[bootz]

Does. not. compute.

First, the architecture line isn't in minifig scale, and second, a lot of the builds are so far on the microscale side of things that the overall aim is to get the general shape of the building right. Architectural details on the level talked about here usually get lost completely.

The point being that at the debut of the modular line, they could have been considered architecture sets. Now with a dedicated line for people who want display pieces, the modulars can concentrate on being a bit more toy like than in the past.