Smaller and cheaper versions of large vehicles for smaller budgets

[Pendleton]

Since the beginning of the license, many vehicles such as the x wing or TIE fighter have had several iterations made over the years, and each iteration has usually brought more detail and more accuracy to the vehicles the sets are emulating.

But with higher detail, comes more pieces, and with higher piece counts, come higher prices.

As of writing this, the newest iteration of the X wing has come in the form of 75149 Resistance X-Wing Fighter at 740 pieces retailing at $79.99 and released summer 2016 ,compared to 7140-1 X-wing Fighter at 266 pieces retailing at 29.99 USD.

Although the newer set is the far superior version, it does cost 80 dollars and it really sucks for people w=ho want a Lego X Wing fighter but aren’t able to lay the $80 for it.

This problem has happened with many vehicles such as the TIE fighter, Imperial shuttle, soon with the AT-ST coming out for rogue one, and the slave 1.

So with this In mind, wouldn’t it be great if Lego made smaller and less detailed versions of some of these larger vehicles, for prices such as 20-50 USD, that have fitting piece counts for the prices, can fit a minifigure in the cockpit for people who want a Lego version of these iconic vehicles but are on a tighter budget?

It would also be great if yall gave your opinion on this and maybe even discuss how these vehicles could be built!

[LegoRomania]

That would be cool,but Lego hates us.

Maybe next year sets will be cheaper.

I only need a Darth Vader minifig even if will be in a Junior set I will buy it.

[Robianco]

Well I don't think Lego hates us... Or anyone else for that matter.

Lego parts and designs have developed and improved since the license began and if you put 7140 on a shelf now it would stay there regardless of the cost.

If people just want a minifigure such as Darth Vader then they can BL one for a reasonable cost... Most of the figure was also available on B&P for a while including the two piece helmet.

Lego is a collectible toy... But one that mass produced so every set, at least for these licenses, are readily available for a long time and are subject to various sales from retailers at different times too.

We're just not going to get X-Wings for £35 anymore and Lego isn't going to dumb down its design ethic simply to produce cheaper sets. Early Slave 1 looked terrible compared to the last system scale set never mind the UCS minifig scale set, at least to me, although I know there are those that look on those designs fondly.

More importantly Lego is an editable toy. You can buy Lego bricks direct from them or from various sources to create anything you want to suit any budget.

Lego also do produce cheaper sets to pick minifigs up with lines such as the planet series or micro fighters ask well as main characters appearing in £20 sets for small budgets.

Lego aren't going to waste resources in designing, producing and marketing simplified sets when it would be perceived to be a backward step in their designs. Also... If they did create a 'cheap' version of a set it would effect sales of the 'premium' product which would be questionable from a business point of view.

[Jedi-Bendu]

wouldn’t it be great if Lego made smaller and less detailed versions of some of these larger vehicles

They already do. Those sets are called microfighters.

Here's the X-Wing

Edited July 10, 2016 by Jedi-Bendu

[Kman860]

Another thing, because I feel like this is subtlety complaining about price increases, with average american inflation since 1999, the year of 7140's release, it would be about $41 USD anyways.

[lostcarpark]

I can understand the sentiment, but I think the models being released today are (mostly) a huge improvement over the ones they were releasing in the early days, and in terms of the part count, offer pretty good value compared to the early LEGO SW sets, particularly when you look at what they'd cost today with inflation.

However, most of us can't stretch the budget to buy all the sets we'd like, and this can be very frustrating.

I think LEGO have done a great job with the microfighters, for around $10/€10 each they pack a surprising amount of detail into a very small model while making it a fun and easy build. However, they also provide many of the essential minifigs and useful parts if you want to have a go at a slightly larger scale model of the ship. There have been some really nice MOCs of "midifighters".

James

[jameseilers]

Personally I want all the detail... My UCS Slave I is the only set I have on display here at home that is for the most part out of the box. Everything else is a MOC or heavily modified from TLG set. I want to see TLG push their boundaries when it comes to parts and building techniques. The original X-wing was a lot cheaper... it also looked like crap.

Now, I am an adult. When it comes to kids, I get it, its another story. Oh you want to buy your 7 year old nephew the new x-wing set for his birthday and you get to the store and are like, "Err....hmm... how about a battle pack and a speeder?"

[ecmo47]

If you want (fairly) cheap models with less detail, just look on Bricklink/eBay/Craigslist for older sets without minifigs/instructions/box.

You can get a 6212 X-wing off Bricklink for $50.00, a 7140 X-wing as low as $27.00.

No need to go backwards in set design..

[Smitty500]

If you want (fairly) cheap models with less detail, just look on Bricklink/eBay/Craigslist for older sets without minifigs/instructions/box.

You can get a 6212 X-wing off Bricklink for $50.00, a 7140 X-wing as low as $27.00.

No need to go backwards in set design..

Yes indeed, I have not found great craigslist deal sin my area, but there are great ebay deals! You can find used sets for 20% the value(some sets have appreciated where this does not count) or even close to 50% the value if its missing some pieces/minifigs. I bought the Endor bunker set here recently for $50, was missing key minifigs and a speeder, but most the value in pieces were present, Still satisfied. I've also seen the 2010 Slave I go for around $40, incomplete.. but that's what Bricklinks for!

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

I've had the same thought. Resurrecting the older, cheaper designs (with slight modification where required or where it could improve things without adding to the cost) or alternately coming up with similar smaller and cheaper designs, and selling them as the basic line, while the more costly and complex designs are rebranded as Deluxe or Premium sets.

jameseilers, 7140 doesn't look that bad. And it's the only Original Trilogy X-wing set that's actually gray instead of white.

[SerenityInFire]

You could also always create your own LDD model and then bricklink/pick a brick the parts you need.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

You could also always create your own LDD model and then bricklink/pick a brick the parts you need.

Not the same thing as there being cheaper sets available on store shelves, though.

[PLP]

No its not, but while i do get the collecting element of modern lego sets and figures there does seem to be a move away from what to me is the entire point of Lego and that is it is intended that we break our sets up and build what we want from the pieces

[bananaworld]

No its not, but while i do get the collecting element of modern lego sets and figures there does seem to be a move away from what to me is the entire point of Lego and that is it is intended that we break our sets up and build what we want from the pieces

This is quite profound and something that many of us forget: the entire point of LEGO is indeed that it it intended to be MOCed!

[mon-o-mat]

Isn't that what happened with the last MTT and AAT? As far as i know it wasn't received very good after its predecessor was much bigger and more detailed, but of course more expensive.