Ok, Lego, lets talk business! Modular Legends now!

[Hey Joe]

Bricklink is a pain-in-the-you-know-what to use unless money is no object and even then it's no day at the beach. There are a ton of parts in those modulars.

Jamie B. makes a very convincing argument AGAINST re-releasing sets in his Brickset forum post, so I'll look forward to Bricklinking one when I've time which will probably be when I retire! Hopefully there will be an easier to use site than Bricklink by that time.

Joe

Edited May 19, 2013 by bjtpro

[Aanchir]

I've never given much credence to Market Street (like i believe many others haven't), i think mainly because to me it seems like half a modular set. I like the building but the side street seems like a cop out AND there's no interior. Maybe i need to re think and if i Bricklink (which is what you all should be doing to get the retired MOdulars, rather than waiting for a non-event re-release) i would just bricklink the building, which i have seen other people do...

Personally, I like Market Street a fair amount. It frustrates me that it does not entirely fit the modular building template (it has minifigures with faces other than the classic smile, though this is an easy enough fix). But at the same time, I for one really like the open-air market area. Since none of the modular buildings (besides arguably Green Grocer) have built-in alleyways, it's nice to have a set designed without the expectation that every building on the block sit perfectly edge-to-edge.

Additionally, there's nothing wrong with getting half a building if you paid the original price, which was less than half the price of any subsequent modular building. The only thing that frustrates me about Market Street is that the way the building's floorplan is designed makes the interior extremely difficult to furnish. Café Corner presents its own challenges (a reasonably-sized hotel is difficult to fit into the upstairs space at the building's default three-story size), but it's nowhere near as challenging as having the top of each staircase in the center of a room.

Market Street is the one modular building my family has been unable to acquire. I'm going to have to look into what the price is to Bricklink the parts. But there's definitely plenty of justification for not re-issuing that one. It's far from the most popular and design standards for the modular buildings have come a long way since then.

Edited May 19, 2013 by Aanchir

[Vindicare]

But it doesn't look awful compared to the rest of the mods! It deserves its place in the row. My obsessive compulsive gene urges me to tell you to bite the bullet and get it :)

I've never given much credence to Market Street (like i believe many others haven't), i think mainly because to me it seems like half a modular set. I like the building but the side street seems like a cop out AND there's no interior. Maybe i need to re think and if i Bricklink (which is what you all should be doing to get the retired MOdulars, rather than waiting for a non-event re-release) i would just bricklink the building, which i have seen other people do...

You really should get 10190 Market Street if you don't get it. I never understood why people 'turn up their noses'-so to speak- at buildings that aren't the 32x32 3 story ones. Not every building is the same size. People got upset because 10218 was too small, 10224 was too tall.

You can always take a floor from the right side building and put it on top of the left side building on 10190.

[Artifex]

Nice points in favor of a re-release of those older Modular sets and also some good points against it.

The one point that really makes me believe Lego won't re-release sets like Cafe Corner, Market Street and the Green Gorcer is the one that says: "Would you rather have new Modular sets and designs or would you rather have older sets re-released?"

I'd love to get those older sets, but if I had to choose, I guess i'd go with new ones. I believe it's just better overall.

But that doesn't make me any happier abou those older sets *sigh*

[Faefrost]

Space modulars !!

Market Space

Space Emporium

Can we agree on a fair compromise for all potential sides? Make it a Corner Modular Mos Eisley Cantina, complete with Band.

[gotoAndLego]

I missed CC and MS, but it doesn't really bother me. If it did I could bricklink it from parts, or just spend that money on MOCing something nice.

If they did rerelease it, you wouldn't be satisfied, TLG rerelease s the UCS Xwing, and its different. You still wouldn't get the classic Cafe Corner.

Edited May 19, 2013 by gotoAndLego

[splatman]

I would vote no re-releases.

How 'bout a now hotel/restaurant combo? And a new grocery/apartment combo? but not w/o other mods in between, so it would not look like TLG entered the Twilight Zone.

Even throw in a Space Modular or 2. I can already picture one, all blue and gray, with trans-yellow windows and trans-yellow sunroof. The Galaxy Grocer?

[medib]

The chances of re-releasing market street are very slim, since the set was designed by Erik Brok, who passed away. I wouldn't mind if they made sure they had all the elements available

for on-line pick-a-brick so you could make the market street, but even then you'd be looking at over $200 to complete the model.

I would be open to see a re-designed Cafe Corner in recognition of the 10 year anniversary of the modular line. Though if it was up to me, I would prefer if they re-released a new

Sante Fe SuperChief engine.

:)

[tmctiger]

The new UCS X-Wing isn't a re-release at all. It's a complete redesign. That's like saying that every single LEGO City fire engine is a re-release because TLG has released fire engines in sets before.

Anyway, pinioncorp summed up most of the reasons TLG doesn't do this very nicely. Jamie Berard, the designer of the Café Corner, made many of the same points here.

For my opinion it is a rerelease: the same topic, same size, even al lot of construction details are the same. But some are different.

So, a rerelease of the CC for example, could also benefit from some redesign - but it stays a rerelease because the theme of the house is the same, as the x-Wing.

A 1:1 rerelease is very unlikely, but a rerelease with some redesign not ...

Edited May 20, 2013 by tmctiger

[Rijkvv]

For me, a re-release is the same model with the chance of part substitutes (if the original parts are discontinued). With that in mind, I don't see a re-release of Café Corner or Market Street likely. And to be honest: I don't even want re-releases of those sets. Sure, they look great from the outside, but they haven't got any interior. And íf there is a re-release of any of these sets, it's likely there won't be a new modular the same year. With a modular like the Cinema, I wouldn't mind, but that's another discussion.

I would be happy if a new café/hotel will be released (IF it's nice looking, a decent interior and no stickers) but I don't even see that happen. I guess it will take a while before we see a café/hotel again.

[Darth Dino]

Hi

any re-release is an evidence of lack of creativity. It is just like that. A new X-Wing HAVE to look like that because there is the studio model. But no modular has to have an original to follow.

Lego is one of the most creative companies - they sell ideas for creativity. So i do not expect any real re-release.

Dino

[SeanM]

I'd love a limited edition CC and GG re-release. Has anyone put up the idea on LEGO CUUSOO?

[TheLegoDr]

I also like Market Street. I didn't love it at first sight, but the more you look at it, the neater it becomes. I don't love the mish-mash of tans and blues, but it somehow works in that build. I also like the side market area (it is called Market Street after all). It does break up the monotony of a row of buildings.

I think to bricklink MS, most of the parts are relatively easy to acquire. The most difficult is the dark blue arches and then I guess the front hose pieces, but only because the ends are different. I have a whole bunch of those from classic sets that the end differs a little bit, but not enough to justify the price tag of the new pieces.

Also, has anyone noticed the lamp post is a different design on the newer sets (as in, Palace Cinema is different than the earlier Modulars).

[Bamos]

I love the old modular buildings and I am currently buying parts for them right now .

But the question is would any one buy a medium blue and bright blue market street a white grocer instead of the green grocer as some of the parts are not made in green any more . Or a café corner with a reddish brown roof.

Bill

[Aanchir]

I'd love a limited edition CC and GG re-release. Has anyone put up the idea on LEGO CUUSOO?

Yes, they have, and that's part of the reason why the LEGO Cuusoo staff created a rule against proposals to simply re-release an existing set or theme. LEGO Cuusoo is intended for original ideas (hence why successful projects will include 1% royalties for the project creator), and is ill-suited for determining whether an existing set is worth re-releasing. As Jamie Berard said here, "In the end, more fans spoke of wanting re-releases than those who actually purchased them."

[GregD]

I hummed and hawed a bit before getting Market St but it definitely fits well in the street - there are a lot of unique, clever design features in it, even though it's just a half size one.

Once Lego put it in the mini-modulars that kind of clinched it for me.

So it is both a non-modular and a modular, both opinions are valid I think!

[TomLego]

Okay, talked me into it. I've started searching for Market St. As far as re releasing goes, even if you just started today, you can still get 5 of the 8 mods from Lego or Amazon. That makes for a nice display even missing the first three. I would suggest getting FB ASAP if you don't already have it. Is been out a long time and while it may not have the investment potential of some other Lego sets, still better to get it now before its retired.

[merman]

Very funny: once I purchased a used MS for 150€ (with box and instructions, just some of the hoses were yellowed) from a very nice Dutch Lego-fan, with the promise I would not sell it for €600, I don't want a rerelease anymore. Before that I was almost begging Lego to rerelease it. I know, I am such a hypocrite...

I also was very lucky with the CC. I bought it at the French Amazon for €130. A month later it was discontinued and extremely expensive...

Edited May 24, 2013 by merman

[LegoSjaak]

It is still possible to get all Modulars, guys... just search and find them!! I finished the Green Grocer yesterday after buying one second hand and washing all bricks and drying them.... It was a great build and i'm happy to have them all in the Original state, including boxes and books....Greetz, LegoSjaak

Edited May 25, 2013 by LegoSjaak

[TomLego]

Very nice, indeed. CC with box and instructions is on its way to me. I am going after MS from a couple of different angles and should have it shortly. Good idea getting 2 PS. Outstanding display.

[Venunder]

Lego have already re-released the older Modulars. But they did it in micro format.with 10230 the Mini Modulars.

A straight re-release of Green Grocer, Cafe Corner and Market Street makes no comercial sense just now.

There are at least 5 Modulars that need making first.

1.Modular School

2.. Modular Hospital

3. Modular Police Precinct

4. Modular Library, although this could be replaced by a simple Tenement House

5. Modular Bakery or Butchers shop.

With one of them being the 4th corner building.

This would complete the the block of buildings to form a square.

However like Star Wars X-wings etc and the City police station sets there might come a day when a new version of a Vegetable Market Streeet or a General Grocery store might make sense.

We will have to wait and see.....

[snaillad]

I can't see any modulars getting re-released anytime soon. I think to put any of them back into production will probably be too expensive with retired parts etc which would then be passed on to the customer and you would probably have people complaining the price would be silly compared to the original RRP. I would much rather have production space and time spent making newer modulars.

In several years time if the modulars are still going, there will always be new fans of Lego who will discover them and wish they could get all the ones that were released before that have been discontinued. I think they will be disappointed. I missed out on 'Black seas barracuda' when I was a child and then didn't get it as a re-release under Lego legends as I was just getting back into Lego and couldn't afford it. I don't expect it to come back for a 3rd time but hope that someday an even better pirates theme (Including a big ship) will be released.

As for anyone considering bricklinking some of the older sets I think its a better idea than an ebay purchase, especially in the case of cafe corner. Mine has many poorer quality translucent bricks, the dark blue, red slopes and even in tan on the top floor, not sure its its the 1x8s or 1x6 bricks. Most of this is at the back so I don't notice it. Has anyone else noticed this?

Anyway IMO the best part about modulars is seeing all the quality examples like in last years modular contest for example, many of which were just as good if not better than an official set!

[Gremer]

I missed out on the GG in my "dark ages" but I still don't want an exact rerelease of it. I would prefer a redesign before a rerelease.

[TomLego]

Okay, so I finally got my Corner Cafe. As I've said earlier, I started after the first three in this series were retired. I was able to get a GG new in the box. My CC was not NIB, but is complete and came with all of the pieces, the box and the instructions. After assembling the CC, I can better understand the comments of those who oppose a reissue. There appears to have been a big advance in design and detail between CC and GG. As previously stated by others, the CC is lacking any meaningful interior detail. I also don't like the construction of the 'Hotel' sign as compared to the signage on later modular buildings. The CC is, and to a degree looks like, the 'first' offering in a series. Okay, some nice features, but clearly room for improvement. I would much prefer to see a new set that has the look of the CC but has the attention to detail displayed by later buildings in the modular series.

Now, I await delivery of the MS building. Maybe, once I see it in person, I will be able to come up with some sort of rationalization for buying it that my wife will appreciate.

[Andy D]

Okay, so I finally got my Corner Cafe. As I've said earlier, I started after the first three in this series were retired. I was able to get a GG new in the box. My CC was not NIB, but is complete and came with all of the pieces, the box and the instructions. After assembling the CC, I can better understand the comments of those who oppose a reissue. There appears to have been a big advance in design and detail between CC and GG. As previously stated by others, the CC is lacking any meaningful interior detail. I also don't like the construction of the 'Hotel' sign as compared to the signage on later modular buildings. The CC is, and to a degree looks like, the 'first' offering in a series. Okay, some nice features, but clearly room for improvement. I would much prefer to see a new set that has the look of the CC but has the attention to detail displayed by later buildings in the modular series.

Now, I await delivery of the MS building. Maybe, once I see it in person, I will be able to come up with some sort of rationalization for buying it that my wife will appreciate.

I built my CC fro Bricklink, I also do not particularly like the hotel sign, I did not put it in, someday I plan to revisit the CC and correct some of the things I don't care for. Mostly it is one of my fav's for sentimental reasons not to do with LEGO.

At one time I was all for re-issue, but now I would rather just have something new. I have a CC and GG from BL (not exact) and they satisfy my needs for those sets and I do plan to BL the MS at some point. I will substitute colors for the most expensive parts and I may do a major color change as well. I saw a tan MS that looked nice. It is not the color of those buildings that I like but rather the design of the building.

As for getting your wife to appreciate the MS... Remember, "Some days the magic works, some days it don't" My wife is very understanding to a point, but $500 to $800 or more for a single LEGO set, well...

Andy D