Modular Building 10197 Fire Brigade

[Yeow]

I agree with many posters that this one is is very cool, but maybe doesn't live up to CC and GG. It doesn't quite continue that European street feel, and anchors itself into a timeframe.

Jamie Beard, the designer behind CC and GG (and I believe this set) considers the CC from the 20s and 30s according to an interview here (bottom of page 28). Besides.. it's Lego, use your imagination people!

You people would complain if you were hung with a new rope.

"Too American"? What a load of BS. Personally I'm a bit insulted so many are upset about a flag that doesn't really look all that much like an US flag to begin with, and they think a "plain" building is automatically "American". That flag is 1 or 2 steps away from 50 other flags. Would you be so upset if it were a Canadian flag? What about Chinese? Would you complain if it were a French flag? (Replace three plates and you got a French flag)

--Tony

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way

[Rick]

I remember that the space taken up by the "?" on the Emerald Night video was more than 32 studs wide. Could there be a 16 wide Modular Building coming up that was sitting next to 10197 in that video or would it just be 10199 - for example - alongside 10197 in that video?

[BigOnBricks]

You people would complain if you were hung with a new rope.

"Too American"? What a load of BS. Personally I'm a bit insulted so many are upset about a flag that doesn't really look all that much like an US flag to begin with, and they think a "plain" building is automatically "American". That flag is 1 or 2 steps away from 50 other flags. Would you be so upset if it were a Canadian flag? What about Chinese? Would you complain if it were a French flag? (Replace three plates and you got a French flag)

Firehouses are utilitarian buildings, they're not supposed to be pretty, and they are very plain 9 times out of 10.

Not all firehouses have beds for the Firemen to sleep, some are just where they gather to await being called. All volunteer forces, especially, are this way. They may have one bed for someone on call, but for the most part they sleep at their own homes.

--Tony

Thanks for saying exactly what I wanted to say, but much more tactful than I would have been.

[Fluyt]

"Too American"? What a load of BS. Personally I'm a bit insulted so many are upset about a flag that doesn't really look all that much like an US flag to begin with, and they think a "plain" building is automatically "American". That flag is 1 or 2 steps away from 50 other flags. Would you be so upset if it were a Canadian flag? What about Chinese? Would you complain if it were a French flag? (Replace three plates and you got a French flag)

Dude, calm down, you're reading what you want to read, like a stereotypical american. Don't feel "attacked", just because something could "maybe have just the slightest negative hint towards you". People don't like that it is "too American" in the way that it doesn't fit well with the other CC buildings or just don't like the architecture. And about the flag, most people don't like it because it doesn't look good, it isn't detailed enough, it is also an unnessesary addition.

I kinda like it as a standalone set, but it doesn't go well with the other CC buildings.

Edited June 15, 2009 by Fluyt

[Natman8000]

Having now seen the first floor, I can say I am somewhat disappointed. The one thing about this set is that it lacks class. It really just is a plain building, and nothing too special inside. No special techniques, no tiles, etc. I still want it for the dk tan though.

[Eilif]

Well, I am impressed!

I've read through most of the opinions here, but I have to say that in almost all ways, this is a step up for the series.

1) is the first CC series to have full rear detailing!

2) This is clearly the most extensive interior detailing of any of the series.

3) The first CC series to have a vehicle

4) Tons of truely unique elements, and over half a floor of dark red!

In some ways, this is a bit of a comprimise. It's not as large as CC, and it's not as interior detailed as CC's first floor, but that seems like a small price to pay for all around detailing, full interiors, a vehicle, and a load of great parts!

This is on my must-buy list already!

[BrickBox]

Finally, pictures of the second floor! I must admit it's not fully satisfying my expectations, though. The stair's handrail is dissapointing, and I'm missing a carpet or a tiled kitchen floor like in Green Grocer. But what I really like is the fact that this is the first building with full interiour on all floors. The upper floors of GG contain just 1 to 2 pieces of furniture and seem much too empty to me, however the detailing of the bottom floor with it's tiling is still unmatched.

[Mr Hobbles]

Now that I've seen the second floor, I'm more impressed, except for two (Easilly rectifiable) issues:

1. The refrigerator. Fixed by replacing it with this: http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/2131c01

2. The ping-pong table - replace the two studded sides with tiles. Don't know why this isn't done anyway?

[Cale]

I never really thought of the Cafe Corner or Green Grocer as European specific in theme. I can visit just about any town around me here in rural Pennsylvania USA and see buildings very reminiscent of the CC or GG. So for me a least the new fire station fits in quite well.

To plain you say? I submit to you one Leo Fire Engine House from Red Lion PA. Very plain and utilitarian but still nice looking. Not every building has to be elaborately decorated top to bottom. Buildings come in all shapes and sizes and styles. I think some diversity in architectural styles make a town much more interesting and lively.

To American? So what. Does every building have to be European? I realize this is Eurobricks and that is probably a stupid question to ask. Perhaps a better question would be if the next building in the series is say Japanese themed would you guy's still be complaining. Is it the country of origin or Is a continuity thing? As I stated earlier for me the new fire station fits in well with the previous sets in the series.

I like this set. I love it a lot actually and will definitely be buying. Now I need to go back to preparing for Brickworld.

Cale

[wednesdayware]

You people would complain if you were hung with a new rope.

"Too American"? What a load of BS. Personally I'm a bit insulted so many are upset about a flag that doesn't really look all that much like an US flag to begin with, and they think a "plain" building is automatically "American". That flag is 1 or 2 steps away from 50 other flags. Would you be so upset if it were a Canadian flag? What about Chinese? Would you complain if it were a French flag? (Replace three plates and you got a French flag)

--Tony

God forbid we should express an opinion contrary to yours. What WERE we thinking?

The majority of the the complaints are that it doesn't fit well with the two existing sets, and that the American feel is part of that. The CC and GG are very European in their design, and the firehouse seems to stick out like a sore thumb.

As to why you're "insulted" about people being upset, that's your own deal. Nobody is making this out to be America vs the World, that seems to be in your head.

[DJ Force]

Personally, I don´t think the CC and GG look European. Instead, they look rather universal! That´s the point. CC and GG could be in every town, in every country. Worldwide. They could be in America, they could be in Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, you name it. Whereas the Firestation has a very strict American feel to it. With the addition of this American looking building they would take away the universalness of their tabletown. Let´s say, if they were to build a tabletown of the Netherlands, they would have to either pass on the Firestation or heavily MOD it to blend in with their layout.

I have to admit, I couldn´t care less if this looks American or European or whatever. I was planning to build the Ghostbusters station anyway for my tabletown and that would have definetly been American.

Next modular building might be a Japanese restaurant and next year TLG might present a typical German Fachwerk house, and voila, there you go. Lots of nations combined in one tabletown. As long as its LEGO and matches the overall style of the modular buildings (meaning NO open backs, NO primary colors... NO CLASSIC town!), the sets will blend in perfectly.

And if not, it´s LEGO! MOD it, for christs sake!

[Teddy]

You people would complain if you were hung with a new rope.

"Too American"? What a load of BS. Personally I'm a bit insulted so many are upset about a flag that doesn't really look all that much like an US flag to begin with, and they think a "plain" building is automatically "American". That flag is 1 or 2 steps away from 50 other flags. Would you be so upset if it were a Canadian flag? What about Chinese? Would you complain if it were a French flag? (Replace three plates and you got a French flag)

Firehouses are utilitarian buildings, they're not supposed to be pretty, and they are very plain 9 times out of 10.

Not all firehouses have beds for the Firemen to sleep, some are just where they gather to await being called. All volunteer forces, especially, are this way. They may have one bed for someone on call, but for the most part they sleep at their own homes.

--Tony

God forbid we should express an opinion contrary to yours. What WERE we thinking?

The majority of the the complaints are that it doesn't fit well with the two existing sets, and that the American feel is part of that. The CC and GG are very European in their design, and the firehouse seems to stick out like a sore thumb.

As to why you're "insulted" about people being upset, that's your own deal. Nobody is making this out to be America vs the World, that seems to be in your head.

Oh my...

Dear SavaTheAggie I guess you're a bit overly sensative. You read stuff into replies I don't see...

I for one am a big fan of American style firestations.

Personally, I think people are just comparing styles. Jugendstil vs Art Deco.

Although I'm not completely sure CC and GG are Jugendstill.

I guess they call the one a European-style and the other an American-style, but I'm not sure if that is entirely correct.

The main complaint about the flag was the lack of detail. But'I'll turn it in a Dutch one anyway.

As a Dutchmen I would rather die than make it a French flag.

We didn't defeat that murderous Napoleonic French at Waterloo for nothing, after they occupied our nation and destroyed our 200 year old Republic.

Kind regards,

Teddy

Edited June 15, 2009 by Teddy

[CP5670]

I don't really see this set as "American" as opposed to the earlier "European" sets, simply more modern than traditional. And I think this is a good thing, as I don't particularly like that traditional style.

There are very few real life buildings like CC and GG in the places I've lived in (except at my university, which has many of them), but I know they are common in older cities with a longer history, in both the US and Europe. This new building, on the other hand, could fit well into a modern town if you remove the 1932 sign and maybe the bell.

But, more than that I'm worried about brick quality, evident especially in this pic:

The light colors are very "megabloks-milky", and the alignment of the bricks is crap. I hope the builder was just in a hurry and he had only bricks of early last year's assortment or older at his disposal. Because if that is the brick quality the set comes with I'd be pretty... annoyed...

Most sets have had the milky colors for the last two years, and I would expect to see more of that here despite the high price. Some pieces have improved lately though.

As for the brick alignment, it's common to see that in these preliminary images, so it might just be due to bad building on the marketers' part. The same issue came up here.

Edited June 15, 2009 by CP5670

[Ratshot]

I don't really know how to put this, but that is one wickedly awesomely sweet Fire Station I WANT IT

P.S The tan side bag is nice too.

[General Magma]

Wow.. someone smash me with a club... is this for real!?!

I don't even have any of those sets but I really would like this one! GIMME! GIMME!

Aye, I ain't got a Lego City/town/whatever but I was thinking about making one. [possibly on an island similair to the one from that game "LEGO Island"]

And look at that sausage! That's just awesome..and a fire-cook..

I'll try to get this somehow.

Edited June 15, 2009 by General Magma

[prateek]

the side of the pinpong table shouldve been tiled. i like the sideways door on the roof but what will happen if it rains? overall the 2nd floor is pretty cool

Personally, I don´t think the CC and GG look European. Instead, they look rather universal! That´s the point. CC and GG could be in every town, in every country. Worldwide. They could be in America, they could be in Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, you name it. Whereas the Firestation has a very strict American feel to it. With the addition of this American looking building they would take away the universalness of their tabletown. Let´s say, if they were to build a tabletown of the Netherlands, they would have to either pass on the Firestation or heavily MOD it to blend in with their layout.

I have to admit, I couldn´t care less if this looks American or European or whatever. I was planning to build the Ghostbusters station anyway for my tabletown and that would have definetly been American.

Next modular building might be a Japanese restaurant and next year TLG might present a typical German Fachwerk house, and voila, there you go. Lots of nations combined in one tabletown. As long as its LEGO and matches the overall style of the modular buildings (meaning NO open backs, NO primary colors... NO CLASSIC town!), the sets will blend in perfectly.

And if not, it´s LEGO! MOD it, for christs sake!

what is considered a european fire station?

[SavaTheAggie]

Dude, calm down, you're reading what you want to read, like a stereotypical american.

I am calm, have always been. I would like to invite you to go back and read the entire thread again, since you seem to have missed much.

--Tony

[Bob]

*dodges by the verbal bullets*

The set itself looks great! I espesially like the ping-pong table, and I expect that to be removed and some beds to take its place.

I can think of some good uses for alot of those pieces, and it will still be going into my little city.

[Bonaparte]

Dude, calm down, you're reading what you want to read, like a stereotypical american. Don't feel "attacked", just because something could "maybe have just the slightest negative hint towards you". People don't like that it is "too American" in the way that it doesn't fit well with the other CC buildings or just don't like the architecture. And about the flag, most people don't like it because it doesn't look good, it isn't detailed enough, it is also an unnessesary addition.

I kinda like it as a standalone set, but it doesn't go well with the other CC buildings.

I would like to request not to call another member "dude" or refer to someone as "stereotypical american". I really like the way the discussion is going, but we should take care not to cross the line which I just pointed out. Thanks

[Captain Blackmoor]

Awesome set! There are some great techniques on it, like the bell and the decorations on the walls.

I wish TLC always made sets like this!

Thanks for sharing! A must buy!

[alex54]

You people would complain if you were hung with a new rope.

"Too American"? What a load of BS. Personally I'm a bit insulted so many are upset about a flag that doesn't really look all that much like an US flag to begin with, and they think a "plain" building is automatically "American". That flag is 1 or 2 steps away from 50 other flags. Would you be so upset if it were a Canadian flag? What about Chinese? Would you complain if it were a French flag? (Replace three plates and you got a French flag)

Firehouses are utilitarian buildings, they're not supposed to be pretty, and they are very plain 9 times out of 10.

Not all firehouses have beds for the Firemen to sleep, some are just where they gather to await being called. All volunteer forces, especially, are this way. They may have one bed for someone on call, but for the most part they sleep at their own homes.

--Tony

Well, this Fire Station looks very amercian for me, like in this picture from Teddy:

And hopefully TLC doesn't build a French Fire Station. Because our Fire Stations look like this:

They look like a big garage area made with some metal cladding, nothing really exiting!

So the cliché of the Amercian Fire Station is very well done by TLC!

And like I said before, I don't think that this modular building:

- is less detailed than the 3 previous one.

In fact, we find some very interesting details like the grey parts on the top (made with curved bricks), the car grill, the brick built wall, the bell tower

(

... the bell is nice, but it's just 4 metallic tiles with a gold bowl stuck on the bottom - clever but not revolutionary.

It seems you're right. First, I though of a golden chrom bucket... )

-uses less interesting builind technics. In fact, we can see some snot here and there, like the windows on top of the garage door, the 1932 logo, and the use of upside-down bricks like the car grill (it seems to be the new building technic from this set), and some good used of "standard" pieces like frogs or doors for the roof.

The color scheme works very well for me.

So my only complain for this set is the proportion. When you look at the pics with the 3 buildings, the Fire Station looks kinda different. In term of architecture of course (but that is not a big deal for me) but un term of size!

I mean, CC and GG look very similar in proportion. They really seem to be made from the same scale, contrary to the Fire Station.

This station looks too big and small at the same.

Maybe too big because of its lighter front. Even if it is detailed, the front looks more empty than CC and GG which details look finer.

Maybe too small because I would have imagined a taller, biger and more impressive building for such an american firestation...

This is just my though...

And for the furniture, the fridge looks pretty nice...

[Blondie-Wan]

Oh, it's beautiful. :pir-wub:

I'm agog at all the complaints here. This is a gorgeous set. It is indeed the first distinctly American set, to be sure, but to my eye it actually fits quite nicely with the other modular buildings, which certainly wouldn't be out of place in some US cities, particularly in those parts of town that might also have a historic old firehouse like this one still in active duty. And the detail? This thing is still pretty lavishly detailed, really.

Oh, my. Such a wonderful parts / colors selection, too! And that fire truck! I love it love it love it.

The only thing I can think of that might improve this would be retro firefighter uniforms to go with the vintage building and truck - the Classic Town firefighter currently available in the Vintage Minifigure Collection Vol. 1 would be perfect, actually.

[CP5670]

They look like a big garage area made with some metal cladding, nothing really exiting!

I've seen fire stations that look like that around here too. As I said earlier, it's really a matter of modern or traditional architecture, rather than American or European. You'll find a mix of both types in any country.

[ILikePi]

Wow, that second floor (or first floor ) is really nice. I didn't think that there would be drawers and a cupboard (or is that a microwave?) for the kitchen. The ping-pong table is just OK, but it can be easily modified (if I can get the parts to do it). I was hoping for some new paddle molds, but having those two sign thingies as paddles is fine. I can't wait to see how "fully-stocked" the refrigerator is; I hope that it won't be disappointing. The bookcase looks more like a broken grandfather clock to me, since there are no books.

Overall, I will probably buy this set (even though I don't have the other two/three), unless there is another good set that is coming out that I want more.

Edited June 16, 2009 by ILikePi

[brickzone]

Well for me it's nothing to do with the flag, and indeed it is not specifically that the architecture style is American that means I like it less - it is the fact that the architecture style (i.e. that style of building from America) appeals to me aesthetically a lot less than the extravagant style the previous sets had.

And as for saying you can modify it - well obviously, but I for one do not go out and buy €150 sets just for parts (even if I later modify them or "steal" parts).

In any case I will probably buy this later on if I can afford to (after all the other Lego purchases I plan).

I think it's a bit sad that people can't cope with people saying why they do not find this set appealing to them as much as Green Grocer, Café Corner, etc.

It's a matter of preference and opinion. I can well understand others liking this set, and I think it would be natural enough if many from the US would like this set more as it is a style that is more cherished over there for it being the style of some of the earlier buildings there.

As an aside from expressing preferences etc. - one of my brother's first reaction was also that you could neatly mod this to be a Ghostbusters HQ, and I agree.