Would you open a MISB SYSTEM Pirate set?

[Jack Bricker]

You also have to consider that after 20 years the boxes can absorb moisture in the air and when they dry out the acid from the box will leak all over the bricks inside. And let us not forget that the plastic should get some air. I will never forget when I saw an action figure that had been sealed for 20 years that then decomposed right in front of the owner when he opened it because it did not have enough air. Granted Lego is not sealed up on a card like action figures but still, I would open the package just so the bricks can be stored properly in plastic storage bins.

[Stash2Sixx]

HELL YES I WOULD! My good friend Norro brought me a wonderful MISB gift a few weeks back...

Felt good to rip it open!

[Mister Phes]

You also have to consider that after 20 years the boxes can absorb moisture in the air and when they dry out the acid from the box will leak all over the bricks inside.

Most of the bricks are in plastic bags within the box anyway.

I keep hearing stories of how LEGO and its boxes degrade over time, but none of my 20+ year MISB Pirate sets seem to suffer from age related issues. Acknowledged nothing lasts forever, I still wonder if these concerns are true or just assumptions? Is there a society of MISB collectors who've failed miserably at preserving their sets over the past couple of decades?

Any serious collector would ensure their sets remained out of direct sunlight and away from moisture.

[Admiral BrickFin]

I'd never buy more than one MISB set as I (no offence Mr Phes!) think it's greedy, on the other hand, it's your choice.

I would buy lots of opened ones though.

Most of the bricks are in plastic bags within the box anyway.

True Mr Phes, but if the box was damaged or broken, it would no longer be MISB!

P.S. How do you make it say who you are quoting?

Edited September 13, 2010 by Admiral BrickFin

[michaelozzie]

I would have to open it. To see it on a shelf and never experience building that set? That would feel almost criminal. Free those Minifigs from that cardboard tomb i say!!

[Mister Phes]

True Mr Phes, but if the box was damaged or broken, it would no longer be MISB!

Yes, this is correct in which case you might as well open it, but the LEGO bricks inside are very unlikely to be damaged. Unless you're stupid enough to leave the box out in the rain for a month, then Jack Bricker moisture concern may become an issue.

P.S. How do you make it say who you are quoting?

Below each post is a "Reply" button, click on that when replying and the post will be automatically quoted to the author.

[Admiral BrickFin]

I surely will not be leaving my MISB Renegade Runner like that!

thanks for telling me about the quoting Mr Phes.

-Admiral BrickFin

[Praetorian]

An interesting thread with some interesting views and opinions.

I own about 430 MISB Lego sets dating from 1978 to this year. Most of them are not pirate sets (Classic Space, Town, Classic Castle, etc.) - I do have a MISB RBR on the way

I only collect MISB Lego sets because I'm a real perfectionist and a hopeless pedant so I want my Lego in perfect condition. I also love the nostalgia of owning sealed copies of sets that I played with when I was much younger.

While I fully understand collecting sets because they are MISB and keeping them in their sealed condition I'm not sure whether mine will stay sealed forever. I guess most collectors would eventually sell them to realise the investment value or open them to build and display. At present I don't have the time or the space to justify opening them so I'm storing the sets until I can better decide what to do.

[Mister Phes]

MISB sets that I own which will not be opened. Sorry for the picture quality and I'm actually thinking about selling them at some point.

Where abouts in the world are you and which sets were you thinking about selling?

[legofett990]

Personally I wouldn't buy a MISB pirate set. I like building and displaying sets, but also respect the fact that others prefer MISB- so if i buy used (but good/perfect condition) sets, its leaves the MISB sets to collectors. Best way i think :)

[CP5670]

Most of the bricks are in plastic bags within the box anyway.

I keep hearing stories of how LEGO and its boxes degrade over time, but none of my 20+ year MISB Pirate sets seem to suffer from age related issues. Acknowledged nothing lasts forever, I still wonder if these concerns are true or just assumptions? Is there a society of MISB collectors who've failed miserably at preserving their sets over the past couple of decades?

Any serious collector would ensure their sets remained out of direct sunlight and away from moisture.

They can have discoloring or brick grip issues depending on the conditions they were stored in. See this and this for more details. This is more of a concern with sets you buy though, not sets stored in your own collection. The bricks in those should last indefinitely.

Edited September 16, 2010 by CP5670

[ACPin]

Where abouts in the world are you and which sets were you thinking about selling?

NJ USA and all of them shown in the pic plus opened sets.

AC

[Dan the Brickman]

Well Mr Phes, you can rest easy, as I do not foresee myself opening any MISB pirate sets, do to the lack of funds it would require... Much cheaper to simply buy the various ship parts I need off of bricklink or ebay....

However, if I could I probably would...but feel really guilty afterwords....

I do my best to keep my few old pirate ships clean, and dusted. Especially my Caribbean Clipper! ..I dont kiss it goodnight,...literally...but I do lightly blow off all the dust daily, keep it out of direct sunlight, and try to be gentle when I play with it.

I am off the opinion that lego should be played with, but gently, and away from small children and dogs.

_____________________________

On another side note, if I found any MISB M3@aB|*%s, I would burn them....

I am a Lego purist.

[______]

I would take it out and display it with my other ships, also it is LEGO, so you can always put it back together! Just keep the box in such a state you can reseal it.

[AdmiralAwesome]

The box may disintegrate but I am immortal. You knew that didn't you? >8-)

I DID KNOW!!!

[Andre1983nl]

You have no idea how many old sets are still MISB.

Like old stock in the Dutch shops Like Blokker or Bart Smit.

A year ago a Blokker employee found a box full of Jurassic Park The Lost World Action Figures. (I am a Dino nerd 2)

Some "steal" MISB from the shop put a set it for sale on a site.

Some get a set on his Birthday and has it double and sale it.

Dutch Marktplaats search for MISB lego sets

I hope that the link works

[Islander King]

Probably not, as I couldn't afford one, even if I found one In the depths of my cupboard I'd sell it, buy an opened one, I make money, everybody wins!

[Leg-godt]

hi,

as a student with limited funds I would open some sets and sell others and keep some. it all depends on the set

[lt.Gonville brickhead]

As much as I enjoy a sealed box from time to time I would open it as soon as I saw it.

(Anyway if the box disintegrates it woudn't be used Lego, would it???)

Edited December 21, 2010 by lt.Gonville brickhead

[gotoAndLego]

While most people like displaying and/or playing with their built sets it would be cool to figure out a creative way to display MISBs. In a similar vein I have two rows of framed albums on the staircase wall in my house. Some kind of framing system, even one made from Legos, would be a very cool way to enjoy your MISBs without opening them.

Edited December 21, 2010 by gotoAndLego

[brickmack]

Personally I don't even see the point of a MISB set. If you aren't going to ever open it then whats the point of keeping it sealed?? If I get a set it doesn't even last 15 minutes before it's opened, I couldn't imagine waiting years to open something.

[gotoAndLego]

Personally I don't even see the point of a MISB set. If you aren't going to ever open it then whats the point of keeping it sealed?? If I get a set it doesn't even last 15 minutes before it's opened, I couldn't imagine waiting years to open something.

Yeah, but how cool would it be to stumble across a box of 15yo sets you forgot you stored and then get to play with them now.

Edited December 27, 2010 by gotoAndLego

[Captain Grog]

A MISB Lego set is the same as any other collectible toy. It's worth much more money unopened. The second you open it, it loses its value. If you think it's silly then don't buy them. You're wasting your money if you buy one and open it because you paid a whole lot more for it being unopened. Though I will say to those who own more than one MISB of a set, why bother hoarding it? Let someone else have it and appreciate it.

[richthelegodude]

Yes - its against the whole point of lego to keep it boxed.

I loved the James May toy story on Hornby Trains. He brought a 1960s boxed Hornby Trainset at an antique toy fair and on the way out took the trains/coaches/track etc out and asked the auction receptionist to put the box in the bin. Although I don't really agree with chucking the boxes away - I hate the idea of toys never being used for people just to stare at the boxes, whats the point ?.

[-obelix-]

Ok here's an unlikely hypothecal: If the toy was a 2000 year old wooden doll once owned by a Pharaoh's daughter would it be insane to give it to a present day child? Yes it would! It would be considered a major archaeological find and belong on public display for everyone to see, not carelessly destroyed by a child who didn't appreciate it.

I think there is a bad comparison here...

A MISB Lego set wouldn't be like finding a doll that belonged to the Pharaoh's daughter, more likely finding like a wooden box with some hieroglif symbol on it.

Say you are an explorer. And on your every day digging you find a box with some hieroglif on it. You suspect what the inside looks like, but you don't know for sure. So the question is, would you leave it as it is, in a museum, OR would you explore it further. Now THAT one is a bit harder, isn't it!?

Yes, it would be considered a major archaeological find, and it would be in a museum, but if I was a curator, I would be presenting a completed toy (from an opened box), put together with great care and under optimal conditions for the materials it was made from...

But thats just me...