BrickLink Designer Program Ongoing Discussion Thread

[Follows Closely]

39 minutes ago, JohnTPT17 said:

Where are you seeing the percentages? I've been trying to track it, but just by eyeballing it.

In retrospect, it honestly wasn't too bad - especially since none of the sets are sold out after two hours, which should have given people plenty of time. In the moment, it was a bit frustrating, though.

You need to inspect the source and you can see the actual percentage.

 

[Wimmer]

So the Fortress’ bar on the US website  is now at “max”, but the order button is still available ?

I'm surprised to see that the sets lasted this long ?

But it all seems to be working fine now. 
 

😃

[JohnTPT17]

8 minutes ago, Follows Closely said:

You need to inspect the source and you can see the actual percentage.

Thank you! I can't read HTML super well, but I think I was able to get it figured out.

Also, after only three hours Mountain Fortress is now SOLD OUT! With people trying to sell the things on eBay for $1000. That's just wrong.

[RichardGoring]

3 minutes ago, JohnTPT17 said:

... With people trying to sell the things on eBay for $1000. That's just wrong.

No? Really?! That's such a crappy move to pull.

I was pleased to get a Moutain Fortress and then decided on the snack shack too. I wasn't sure about it, but then took the opposite view of whether I would regret not getting it, and with the harbourmaster set coming up, I decided it would all go nicely with the Old Fishing Store and Fishing Boat from last time.

Glad that they didn't go within minutes, and that there was a decent window with a functioning website to get it. And it was much clearer than last time where it felt there were more hoops to jump through to buy it.

[Lego Tom]

I forgot about the go live time, then remembered about a half hour ago and bought a couple of the Train Shed sets.

EDIT: I just got a notice that they are out of stock but they will send a notice when they ship them to me. Is that LEGO's way of telling I missed the boat or does it just mean they don't have them yet and I'll get them later?

Edited February 7, 2024 by Lego Tom

[MAB]

12 minutes ago, Lego Tom said:

I forgot about the go live time, then remembered about a half hour ago and bought a couple of the Train Shed sets.

EDIT: I just got a notice that they are out of stock but they will send a notice when they ship them to me. Is that LEGO's way of telling I missed the boat or does it just mean they don't have them yet and I'll get them later?

That is standard for pre-orders.

[Lord Insanity]

So the main one I wanted sold out before I (and most people) get home from work.  It amazes me that a multi-billion dollar company can be so completely out of touch with what there own consumer base actually wants.  Here they have a perfect opportunity to find out exactly what demand would be, and they artificially cap the quantity and never find out.

The entire point of crowdfunding is so they know how many to make.  Once again they have completely failed.  The bootleggers will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[JohnTPT17]

Snack Shack is over 90% sold, and OTES is over 80% sold. They'll both probably be gone in the next few hours, so get them now if you want them!

[Lego Tom]

Snack shack is sold out.

[JohnTPT17]

Old Train Engine Shed is now sold out. General Store is about 67.3 percent, and Parisian Street at 49.5 percent.

I'll fully admit - I did not think that the OTES would do all that well! I vastly underestimated the demand for train stuff. I do wonder how long, if at all, it will take for the other two to sell out. I think General Store might be able to make it, but Parisian Street might run out of steam by the end...

[RichardGoring]

I keep looking at the General Store and not quite getting there. But I hope it sells out too, as it's very neatly done, and the details are excellent.

[Wimmer]

18 hours ago, RichardGoring said:

I keep looking at the General Store and not quite getting there. But I hope it sells out too, as it's very neatly done, and the details are excellent.

That one will get sold I think. I’m with you, I look at it and like it, but not enough to order it. 
I was on the fence for Snack shack and Train Shed, but that decision was made for me… 😜 

I have the Fortress to look forward to now as that’s great. And then the station in the next round of course !!!

[RichardGoring]

On 2/10/2024 at 12:23 PM, Wimmer said:

And then the station in the next round of course !!!

That station! To be honest, all of series 2 looks very good to me. Of course, we don't know prices yet, but I suspect a complete set will cost about $1100, so I'll need to carefully consider in the run up to June.

I'm hoping that the three hours it took the Mountain Fortress to sell out is an indication that there will be at least a few hours for all future sets, and it won't be a 20 minutes thing like the Forestmen's castle in the 2021 series.

[Yoggington]

Having refrained from this round of the program, I think that gives me leeway to buy the Station next time, and maybe even the chocolatier the one after.

[JohnTPT17]

With the program now closed, neither General Store nor Parisian Street maxed out their sales. General Store sold a respectable 78.044 percent (leaving about 6,600 sets "unsold"), with Parisian Street at only 58.18 percent sold (12,500 "unsold"). I honestly think that most sales came from the first few days, and definitely not many after the first week. Interesting to look at, and I'm curious to see what will be chosen in Wave 5!

[Gkaiser100]

I skipped series 1 due to the upcoming rescue mission for my collection in storage. I almost grabbed a snack shack though. I wouldn't have such a problem with resellers if there wasn't a 30,000 limit.

I think there should be a 1 every 24 hours cap on top of the overall 2 cap. Within 24 hours everyone who could've and would've has had time when they were both awake and off work to take care it. Maybe a week just to play it safe. A lot more happy people would have Mountain Fortress in that scenario. 

[RichardGoring]

I very nearly finished the Glass Studio from the Bricklink MOC Pop-up Store by @MingBrick. The Bricklink cart system managed to not include the full inventory, so I'm missing a few pieces, but it's close enough. Really fabulous model. The build was superb, and I loved the detail both inside and out. Delightful to make and look at. I would encourage MingBrick to add the instructions to Rebrickable and share this more widely!

[Yoggington]

On 2/29/2024 at 2:18 PM, RichardGoring said:

I very nearly finished the Glass Studio from the Bricklink MOC Pop-up Store by @MingBrick. The Bricklink cart system managed to not include the full inventory, so I'm missing a few pieces, but it's close enough. Really fabulous model. The build was superb, and I loved the detail both inside and out. Delightful to make and look at. I would encourage MingBrick to add the instructions to Rebrickable and share this more widely!

I actually polished this off a week or two back. Stellar construction around the floor angles especially. I was considering writing a review for here, but at this stage it's packed up before a future house move.

There are a few parts to the ground floor windowfront that are not super secure - like the far right as you look at it, or the doorway that could easily be connected to a snot brick in the grey wall, but minor niggles in an otherwise suberb model.

 

btw, I was able to get very good quality stickers made from the file you get from MingBricks, at the www.brickstickershop.com online store. Cost was €15 (basic print fee) + €6.90 (A6 transparent vinyl material fee) + VAT & shipping. A little steep maybe, but I think I'll be glad I did once I get around to lighting the modular street. Those front windows stickers make it.

 

[RichardGoring]

22 hours ago, Yoggington said:

I actually polished this off a week or two back. Stellar construction around the floor angles especially. I was considering writing a review for here, but at this stage it's packed up before a future house move.

There are a few parts to the ground floor windowfront that are not super secure - like the far right as you look at it, or the doorway that could easily be connected to a snot brick in the grey wall, but minor niggles in an otherwise suberb model.

btw, I was able to get very good quality stickers made from the file you get from MingBricks, at the www.brickstickershop.com online store. Cost was €15 (basic print fee) + €6.90 (A6 transparent vinyl material fee) + VAT & shipping. A little steep maybe, but I think I'll be glad I did once I get around to lighting the modular street. Those front windows stickers make it.

 

Yes, the stability in a few places is an issue, and so I'm wondering whether it needs to be avoided by the children - they play lots with all the other modulars - but if it breaks, it can always be put back together.

Good suggestion on the stickers, thank you! I definitely want to do them, but have a few other BDP MOCs to build first, and then I will get stickers for all of them.

[Retrocity]

Series 4 Finalists announced.
 

1. Merchant Boat

2. Wild West Train

3. Medieval Seaside Market

4. Siege Encampment

5. The Riverside Scholars

Nice sets overall though none of the sets I really liked made the cut. I also got a lot more selective in my voting compared to the first/second round (tried to limit how many per theme/style I voted for). I’d consider the train or market depending on the final design and price. I had really liked the western train set that had the town with it as well. 

https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/series-4/main.page?_refreshrnd=18047

Edited March 18, 2024 by Retrocity

[RichardGoring]

I recently finished building the Caravan Theatre by Nicolas Carrier from the MOC Pop-up store, and it was excellent. The Merchant Boat has a similar feeling structure, but I suspect it will be a great build and a lovely looking model.

[JohnTPT17]

No small sets this time? The smallest part count is 1933 pieces! I was hoping that the Snack Shack and the Mushroom House were a sign of things to come, but I guess not... I would have loved a Viking Ship.

I do find it interesting that most of these ones come from designers that have already had successful submissions. Maybe it's just a sign that they're really good designers, and Lego knows they can work with them?

Overall, though, I feel like this is retreading a lot of ground that has already been seen. A big boat. A train. Castles. And so on. I might be able to spring for one of the Castle sets, but I feel a lot less excited for this wave than I have for previous ones. 

[kuzyabricks]

The castle harbor is gorgeous, I just wish the big imperial ship had made it :(

[RichardGoring]

While there are no small sets, I appreciate that they are all under 3000 pieces.

[Artanis I]

6 hours ago, JohnTPT17 said:

No small sets this time? The smallest part count is 1933 pieces! I was hoping that the Snack Shack and the Mushroom House were a sign of things to come, but I guess not... I would have loved a Viking Ship.

Same, I was really impressed by the green one. Smaller sets can be under-rated too easily.

 

I'm glad about the siege weapon set - except for how long it will take for them to release it! The seaside castle thing I didn't vote for, but I might buy that and convert it to a different faction.