Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Vilhelm22]

9 hours ago, Lion King said:

I had a strangely interesting dream last night. In my drea, I saw a new modular buidling  with new streetlmaps - new color (black) and new molded piece in place of trans-clear minifigure head. And i think I saw there was a new detail for sidewalk, such as a black guardrail (I don’t know what it’s called exactly) and i loved that modular building. - it had  a shop and cafe with cool architectural facade (I can’t remember what period it is from…). Oh and that buidling ws a corner type. 

Of course, it was just a dream after awakening but sometimes dreams can come true. 

The black street lamps are already a thing - Spring Lantern Festival and a few other sets use them rather than the white ones in the main modular line.  
 

Unfortunately, I think dreams can’t always be trusted.  If they were true, I’d have died multiple times by now as in my nightmares.

[Lion King]

22 minutes ago, Vilhelm22 said:

The black street lamps are already a thing - Spring Lantern Festival and a few other sets use them rather than the white ones in the main modular line.  
 

Unfortunately, I think dreams can’t always be trusted.  If they were true, I’d have died multiple times by now as in my nightmares.

Thanks for letting me know. I didn’t realize there are black street lamps. I will look into it in Bricklink. 

Yeah well, Mateo and Izzy will save you from Nightmare King’s regime. 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Lion King

[merman]

About that ‘teaser’ video. It does include a dark yellow 1x1x2/3 brick that has not been released yet in this color. Of course this video is all rendered bur still an odd choice to use a not existing brick. 

[RichardGoring]

@Brick Clicker's latest video says the next modular should be revealed on October 27, and available for pre-order, coming with a repeat of the moving van (which is also available with any of the other modulars). Very interesting, given that they are generally so good at keeping the modulars under wraps. I wonder why they'll reveal it early this year?

[Mandy85]

Yes I was wondering the same thing. It’s strange that they are revealing it early. 

[Hippocampe]

A few years ago - I can’t remember which modular it was - the reveal was made, either from a leak or the official thing, well before Thanksgiving. It was a picture from the set or at least the theme was known. I should search from previous posts.

i just found it: with DD, the images were shown (maybe not officially) on November 18. I can’t go back further, I was a newbie on this forum then ☺️

Edited September 29, 2023 by Hippocampe

[Lion King]

This is very interesing and strange…

[BrickFit26]

Maybe LEGO is going to give the new modular a big reveal since it's going to be a big one.

[ddavid]

In the past I've gotten way too excited about supposed rumours "directly from a reliable source" for them not to be true. I doubt there will be a reveal so soon, especially since the trend went towards later and later reveals. It's clear that LEGO wants a replacement for the Assembly Square and with the rumoured piece count I think would translate to an 1,5 baseplate size again

Edited September 30, 2023 by ddavid

[Kalahari134]

On 9/25/2023 at 12:55 AM, Lion King said:

Thanks for letting me know. I didn’t realize there are black street lamps. I will look into it in Bricklink.

Winter village sets use them

[lostdriveway]

My guess is the early reveal means early release - most likely December. Which could mean the Orient Express delayed until January.

[jus1973]

8 hours ago, lostdriveway said:

My guess is the early reveal means early release - most likely December. Which could mean the Orient Express delayed until January.

It’s quite unlikely I think.  A January 1st release has been set for the modular building for some time now.  I doubt TLG would want to change it unless they had a much better reason than a delayed product.  

[Lyichir]

Yeah, if we do have an early reveal I imagine it'll just be because a bigger, more expensive modular could use a bigger lead-up (so that folks who weren't anticipating a higher price tag can start saving up sooner).

[Kallego]

3 hours ago, jus1973 said:

It’s quite unlikely I think.  A January 1st release has been set for the modular building for some time now.  I doubt TLG would want to change it unless they had a much better reason than a delayed product.  

Maybe a second modular being released next year could be the reason ;-) I know it is highly speculative. But I like speculating.

[Lion King]

I had built Police Station in April, Botique Hotel in June, Jazz Club in August. Currently, I’m working on Bookshop and Downtown Diner. I will move on to Corner Garage after two diner and bookshop. I don’t want to go for the older sets since they are super expensive in secondary market…. I managed to snag Downtown Diner and Corner Garage at a (kinda) decent price I could find. 

So…. Yeah I’m a new collector and i am catching up with Modular Buildings Collection!

But I’m not sure about Assembly Square… I mean, the next modular set has a same price tag and (almost) piece counts as Assembly Square. Assembly Square will be retired by end of this year while the next Modular building will be available on October 27th for pre-order. Since I don’t count on the so-called teaser video, I will wait until we get some leaked info. TLG is very good at shrouding the modular building with veils of mystery. 

[Follows Closely]

@Lion King,

 Go buy Assembly Square now! It is a better build than anything else that is available now. And the price will be $100 more in just a few months.

[lostdriveway]

I know the modular release has been ingrained in a Jan 1 release since forever but I'm still of the opinion its going to be earlier - possibly Nov or Dec. 

[FrkW]

42 minutes ago, lostdriveway said:

I know the modular release has been ingrained in a Jan 1 release since forever but I'm still of the opinion its going to be earlier - possibly Nov or Dec. 

Honestly, I always thoughy the January 1 release was kind of weird because the latest modular is such a perfect Christmas gift for the AFOL in your life, and most of us doesn't have extra spending money after Christmas anyway. From that point of view December 1 would make more sense. 

[Vilhelm22]

3 hours ago, Follows Closely said:

@Lion King,

 Go buy Assembly Square now! It is a better build than anything else that is available now. And the price will be $100 more in just a few months.

Can fully support this @Lion King - it’s a terrific set and has so much detail in 3 buildings across 8 floors and a roof top, with some brilliant techniques used throughout the build.  It’s one of my best purchases and favourite sets to date, and had I missed out on it I would have been gutted.  Buy it while it’s here - it won’t be for much longer.

Also perhaps worth noting I’ve seen modulars sell out up to a month before the official retirement date on 31st December, so in reality you’ve probably only got two months from now when you can be confident it’ll be in stock.

 

Interesting about the release date and all the possible ’extra hype’ - definitely excited about it now!

[Lyichir]

3 hours ago, FrkW said:

Honestly, I always thoughy the January 1 release was kind of weird because the latest modular is such a perfect Christmas gift for the AFOL in your life, and most of us doesn't have extra spending money after Christmas anyway. From that point of view December 1 would make more sense. 

The problem with that sort of release date is that, if you want something to be a Christmas gift, releasing it that close to Christmas is a recipe for supply issues—and supply issues can lead to dissatisfied customers. There's a reason holiday-themed sets like the Advent Calendars or Winter Village theme are typically released several months ahead of the actual winter holidays.

Also, from Lego's perspective, having something big and exciting to lure folks back into stores even after Christmas is more useful than releasing a big set in a month when demand is already going to be really high whether or not there's a new Modular on shelves.

[RichardGoring]

21 hours ago, Lion King said:

... I don’t want to go for the older sets since they are super expensive in secondary market….

But I’m not sure about Assembly Square…

Might be an unpopular opinion, but the modulars before Parisian Restaurant feel much more basic and less satisfying compared to the modern modulars. If you can get them cheap, then certainly, but I would personally go for the modern ones for the building experience and level of detail. Parisian Restaurant, Detectives Office, Brick Bank, and Assembly Square are excellent though (of the ones you don't have). Definitely get Assembly Square before retirement, if you can. Don't overpay for the others, but if a deal comes along, you'll have a great time with them.

47 minutes ago, Lyichir said:

The problem with that sort of release date is that, if you want something to be a Christmas gift, releasing it that close to Christmas is a recipe for supply issues—and supply issues can lead to dissatisfied customers. There's a reason holiday-themed sets like the Advent Calendars or Winter Village theme are typically released several months ahead of the actual winter holidays.
Also, from Lego's perspective, having something big and exciting to lure folks back into stores even after Christmas is more useful than releasing a big set in a month when demand is already going to be really high whether or not there's a new Modular on shelves.

This makes a lot of sense, having a halo set to bring people in during January. And then decent GWPs in February to do the same thing.

If they do release it earlier, I wonder if it's an attempt to bring more revenue into 2023, although a single modular set is probably a fraction of a percentage of their total, so unlikely.

[jus1973]

1 hour ago, Lyichir said:

Also, from Lego's perspective, having something big and exciting to lure folks back into stores even after Christmas is more useful than releasing a big set in a month when demand is already going to be really high whether or not there's a new Modular on shelves.

This is exactly my thought too.  It also means a healthy income in January, A month where toy purchases are usually low.

[Lion King]

6 hours ago, Follows Closely said:

@Lion King,

 Go buy Assembly Square now! It is a better build than anything else that is available now. And the price will be $100 more in just a few months.

 

2 hours ago, Vilhelm22 said:

Can fully support this @Lion King - it’s a terrific set and has so much detail in 3 buildings across 8 floors and a roof top, with some brilliant techniques used throughout the build.  It’s one of my best purchases and favourite sets to date, and had I missed out on it I would have been gutted.  Buy it while it’s here - it won’t be for much longer.

Also perhaps worth noting I’ve seen modulars sell out up to a month before the official retirement date on 31st December, so in reality you’ve probably only got two months from now when you can be confident it’ll be in stock.

 

Interesting about the release date and all the possible ’extra hype’ - definitely excited about it now!

Yeah, I acutally think Assembly Square looks great! I have seen reviews on Lego webpage about it and I love how detailed it looks from outside and isnide. I kinda hope the next modular building is not very similar to AS. Hopefully the info about the 2024 building se turns up in a few weeks!

1 hour ago, Lyichir said:

The problem with that sort of release date is that, if you want something to be a Christmas gift, releasing it that close to Christmas is a recipe for supply issues—and supply issues can lead to dissatisfied customers. There's a reason holiday-themed sets like the Advent Calendars or Winter Village theme are typically released several months ahead of the actual winter holidays.

Also, from Lego's perspective, having something big and exciting to lure folks back into stores even after Christmas is more useful than releasing a big set in a month when demand is already going to be really high whether or not there's a new Modular on shelves.

Agreed. Plus, the next modular building will be avaialbe for pre-order, it suggests there could be they are preparing it already of time. I have a feeling this set could be sold out in a few days after New Year’s Day if it’s not available for pre-order. I don’t think it will affect supply issues ahead of time. 

[BrickFit26]

6 hours ago, Vilhelm22 said:

Also perhaps worth noting I’ve seen modulars sell out up to a month before the official retirement date on 31st December, so in reality you’ve probably only got two months from now when you can be confident it’ll be in stock.

Yes. I've had the same experience, most modulars sell out and become out of stock before the retiring date during black Friday double and VIP points and GWP. It's like you get 3 gifts when purchasing a modular or any other set during black Friday and VIP weekend in November. That's why most likely in November they'll all be sold out after that black Friday weekend.

[FrkW]

5 hours ago, Lyichir said:

The problem with that sort of release date is that, if you want something to be a Christmas gift, releasing it that close to Christmas is a recipe for supply issues—and supply issues can lead to dissatisfied customers. There's a reason holiday-themed sets like the Advent Calendars or Winter Village theme are typically released several months ahead of the actual winter holidays.

I'm sure your right on the money about getting sales after the holidays, but the Advent Calendars and Winter Village is usually brought out before Christmas. Calendars need to sell by December 1 and many people start building their villages weeks if not months before Christmas Day, whilst early to mid November would probably be fine for something going under the tree.