New LEGO Factory and LDD online

[natelite]

ah xenologer proved the point. i guess despite what TLG said LDD's markup is even worse than sets. sets retail at 38% mark up.

but to suvieD's point the secondary market will still exist just not as profitable as before.

yesterday i finally received the t-1 typhoon set. it's only 605 pieces but it took me a long megablocks time to build it. like 3+ hours. building a large set online probably takes more since you need to search for parts, then click-and-drag, assemble, etc. it's not worth the hassle. i would probably spend $50 more than to spend 3+ hours ordering parts online. yuck!

[xenologer]

Hmmmh

From looking at the LDD galleries online...

Most of the models are made by kids.

and they are for the most part, rather expensive compared to official sets (which also tend to be ... more proffesional looking)

I cannot see the majority of uploaded models being actually purchased, aside from the novelty of a kid buying his/her own design.

I wonder how succesful this is going to be...

I think it might be cool to acually see some afols building and buying each other sets, perhaps done in a Classic Space theme? Anyone here up for that? perhaps we could have a sticky thread here with a listing of models intended for others? (not just for the parts or novelty of 'my own set')

[gylman]

Interesting price comparision... Does LDD beat the actual set... or not, hard to say.

I think I might buy it anyhow, nice looking Racer...

The fact that LDD even came close in price is remarkable. If the markup is only a few bucks, I think people are much more likely to use LDD.

Re: the quality of the sets on display... this is only the beginning. Think of it this way. Every year TLC releases 100 or so new system sets. Probably 10-20 are top sellers and generate real income. Now, all the AFOLs in the world can in theory make their own. Any size, withint the limitations of the bricks available of course. It only would take 2 or 3 really good sets that a whole bunch of people want to buy, to make this financially beneficial to TLC, assuming they are not losing money per set. If this catches on, TLC will have potentially thousands of master designers working for for them, for free.

IF it catches on with the AFOLs. I have used the software, and its OK, not great. The part selection is OK, not great......

[xenologer]

Yeah, parts availability aside (the future should fix this) the software itself has a few annoying issues.

For one, it is often very hard to get a brick to align right when connecting it to something else in a complex model.

I think a good solution for this, might be to before placing the brick, let me hilight on a current brick already on the model to give it a 'hint' about where I am trying to place the new one. So it focuses the snap connection there instead of totally random places, like the backside of the model....

Even better, how about the ability to use the arrow keys or numberpad to shift a brick 1 stud or 1 plate left/right/up/down, for precision placement?

This would serioulsy help when trying to slide a technic axle into position....

Last thing that bothered me (but you cant really blame them) is that LDD can be sometimes Ignorant of SNOT techniques

I tried doing an obscure SNOT connection, that I know works in real life, but the virtual bricks wouldn't align properly.

The basic SNOT stuff works, like brackets and headlight bricks... but it would be nice to rotate the model so that the side you're working on is facing the same direction as the brick pallet... save a lot of work rotating everything added...

All that aside, I do like it, and am continuing to use it.

Plan on ordering a bunch of my own designs later, I guess I'll let you all know how it works out.

[natelite]

Re: the quality of the sets on display... this is only the beginning. Think of it this way. Every year TLC releases 100 or so new system sets. Probably 10-20 are top sellers and generate real income. Now, all the AFOLs in the world can in theory make their own. Any size, withint the limitations of the bricks available of course. It only would take 2 or 3 really good sets that a whole bunch of people want to buy, to make this financially beneficial to TLC, assuming they are not losing money per set. If this catches on, TLC will have potentially thousands of master designers working for for them, for free.

that bolded comment really hit the nail on the head. that's the strength of LDD as i saw it too. However I was thinking more of cannibalizing the designs of other block makers such as C3, megabloks or best-lock. however having thousands of lego fans design sets for them IS a better business model. Agree with you 100%.

and as a bonus, the sets ARE BUILT ON DEMAND! there's only profit for TLG in this business model. since sets are not pre-manufactured, there's no inventory and no shelf-life expiry. TLG doesn't need to sell at discount to get rid of old stock since there is no old stock. profit will always be at the highest margin.

it will be interesting to see how this pans out. wonder if TLG will spend the effort and money to develop (ie. make more colors, parts and better programming, eg have the parts lock automatically at stud points for easy building) and promote LDD. great idea gylman! *y*

[xenologer]

I wonder how much it costs for them to actually sort bricks for these custom sets though.

I would guess that sorting and packing for official mass produced sets is relatively cheap.

My theory is that they actually have a dedicated factory floor for each production set(or each bag), with the molding machines needed for just that set all in one place. So the bricks just need to be checked for count and dropped right into bags, without long term storage and inventory moving around. Counting may not even be all that necesarry, since if you're producing them on the spot, and know how many each mould makes... it might just be a matter of ejecting the mould into a grid of chutes positioned so that each one catches the right number of bricks for a set...

Thats how I'd probably do it anyhow, for custom LDD sets though a continous production line probably wouldnt work, theyd have to have inventories and then go through them to get the right number for each different set. Seems like it'd be really slow and probably require an actual person doing the sorting.

all just a guess, anyone know more about how it works?

[natelite]

this is done by machines. you can check out the interactive guide at the lego.com website where they show you how the bricks were made and ended up in the boxes.

having humans do this would be utterly chaotic. *sweet*

but the sorting and packaging cost has been accounted for in LDD. otherwise it wouldn't have cost more vs sets.

[xenologer]

Interesting

I made a 'parts pack' set in LDD.

And I guess it got Non-Approved, since it's gone from my set gallery online now.

I purhcased it along with a few other sets though, before it got approve/rejected, and it appears on the invoice. Tho I havent gotten a final ship confirmation yet.

I wonder if I'll get anything in the mail or not.... or if having the entry deleted from the LDD database will cause problems with their manufacture/packing process and make a big problem with the entire order.

I suppose they don't like people using LDD just to grab bulk parts.....

Humh, I thought I did a pretty good job of arranging the pieces to look like a plausible 'space junkyard' vignette... complete with mini rocketships

I'm going to be highly annoyed if that order gets messed up....

Ohwell

Anyone else actually purchase anything from LDD Factory yet?

[alex54]

I make a house for my town. I call it trainstation to make it "trainer" :-D . I added some parts to compleat my town too. And I will buy it soon! If I can...

[Mithrandir]

Interesting

I made a 'parts pack' set in LDD.

And I guess it got Non-Approved, since it's gone from my set gallery online now.

I purhcased it along with a few other sets though, before it got approve/rejected, and it appears on the invoice. Tho I havent gotten a final ship confirmation yet.

I wonder if I'll get anything in the mail or not.... or if having the entry deleted from the LDD database will cause problems with their manufacture/packing process and make a big problem with the entire order.

I suppose they don't like people using LDD just to grab bulk parts.....

That doesn't make sense. Why would Lego care if it's just parts or an actual model?

They make money either way. Heck, they could make even more money if they gave you an option to turn off the box printing and just get generic boxes of bricks.

[xenologer]

I dunno

But if you look at the Factory gallery, there are No 'parts packs' at all shown. Its hard to believe that no one else tries to build any...

Maybe they let you buy them, but reject them from the online gallery, since no one else would care to see someone else's random parts? But that doesn't explain why it would be removed from my 'manage sets' personal gallery too...

I wonder if they're being more... "stringent" with what gets posted to the gallery in general? With the old Factory and the whole 'see what else you can make' (since it was all brick pallets based) it makes sense I guess to see lots of possibilites. But now that all sets are individualized, maybe they want to save space? I note that there's no 'voting' system or top rated gallery anymore, stuff just disappears from the 'latest models' gallery after a few days and becomes all but impossible to find other than by username search.

[alex54]

I have buy my LDD model! I wait and see... I will make a LDD review when I will have my set, if you want!

[xenologer]

UPDATE:

My LDD order finally came in!

sorry, but no photos my cameras dead

just some of my thoughts here:

First of all, the box that arrived on my doorstep was Huuuuge!

far too big for legos.

Upon openeing it, I see the reason why:

I purchased 5 of my LDD models, thus they come in 5 individual 'Factory' boxes.

All the boxes are the same size, about 9*12 inches. Even though 4 of my models are Very Small, the same oversized box is used for all of them.

This is a waste of space in my opinion, TIP: when ordering LDD models in the future, combine several smaller ones into a single set to save space in the mail. (unless you are serously crazy about getting the 'custom' box)

which brings us to: The Factory Box

All the boxes are essentially identical carboard boxes, the 'custom' graphic on the front, is actually a piece of Inkjet Printed Paper, which is seen through a clear plastic front on the cardboard box.

They do not actually print on the box itself! This really takes the value of a custom box away for me, as I said above in the future I plan on combining entire orders into single LDD sets.

Inside:

rather than the Normal perforated plastic sealed baggies, the parts come in what looks like a sandwich bag, with a red tie wrapping the neck closed (they are not heat sealed). It looks rather unproffesional.

There are no printed instructions, you will need to go back to LDD software to view them.

Parts:

Of course, Since this is a model of my own design, the Parts Selection is excellent!

a good number of Transparent Headlight pieces, and the new large wheels as seen on the new batman sets.(in gray, not yellow)

There are NO extra parts, (with normal sets, you usually have a few extra round 1*1 'headlight' plates, or technic pins; here there are none)

Overall:

The 'custom boxes' are throw aways. However I will probably continue using LDD services, since it is a convenient way for me to get pieces for my custom models. I don't plan on buying anyone else's models from the Online Gallery though, since they tend to be overpriced.

I had to do a lot of work on my own models with adjusting the bricks and construction to get as cheap as possible while mantaining a good value for the model built. They are still about a 10% more expensive than their official equivalents after optimization work, but since official sets nowadays don't always appeal to me this is acceptable.

If you want purely parts (no custom model plans) you might stay with Bricklink though I havent used it myself so you'll have to ask someone else about this.

[UltraPrime]

Thanks for that. I've been thinking about using it to expand my city setup.

[Skinny Boy]

Whenever I upload something, I'm only allowed to submit it to the gallery, I'm not allowed to buy it? Anyone else have this problem? And I am using the train pallette.

[alex54]

Here my first review, the review of my firts factory set !

Name : train station (it is just a name to make my house

[kotua]

Here my first review, the review of my firts factory set !

Name : train station (it is just a name to make my house

[alex54]

Kotua, my LEGO.com username is superalex54. I don't know the place we are is important, in fact, I have already download some LDD files which came frome USA.

[WhiteHexagon]

Well it looks like the LDD has improved quite a lot since I last used it. Seems like we have much work to do with the modeller in WhiteHexagon. Maybe we should also support the purchasing of models :) although I think it's nice just to have an online world to show them off in ;) Anyway we made some small updates to the server today and the modeller should be a bit easier to use via keyboard now.

Cheers

Peter

[kotua]

Kotua, my LEGO.com username is superalex54. I don't know the place we are is important, in fact, I have already download some LDD files which came frome USA.

Thanks...although The house model you showed pictures of wasn't there...only another house...

[alex54]

Kotua, i have send my model to my gallery, but it is said that it will be accepted... just wait a litlle!

[xwingyoda]

Tks Alex for sharing the experience ;-)

Someone listening to Corneille can only build a nice house :-D

One question regarding the traffic lights: aren't they too high to have in a city with small buildings ? I'm asking because on your pic they reach the top of the first floor (and your building has 2) ;-)

*yoda*

[alex54]

Thanks Xwingyoda! You are a good observor! Do you listen to Corneille too? But this topic is not a musical one...

For the traffic lights, I can make them a little smaller by pushing the top of them. In fact the central axearrived just on the top of the circular piece, and I can make the axe to arrive at the top of the piece with the green light. I don't know if you will understand... Bu maybe they are a little big, but I find them good.

And does somebody know that you can open your Ldraw file with LDD? Yes, it works, but the pieces that are not allow don't appear.

[snefroe]

i got the ad for the lego factory today in my mailbox and i see several options, even though I still have to see if it works in reality.

1) first i guess it would be possible to rebuild the old classic lego sets and to order all parts fresh from the lego factory instead taking a high price at BL. No more fishing for all the right parts in different shops, no more paying 4-8

[xenologer]

1) first i guess it would be possible to rebuild the old classic lego sets and to order all parts fresh from the lego factory instead taking a high price at BL. No more fishing for all the right parts in different shops, no more paying 4-8