Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[SFmuscle73]

I do expand the sidewalks to the edge of the roads on the roadplates. I use dark bley 2x2 tiles and have street lights next to the one curb drain on each side of the road.

http://www.brickshel...y.cgi?i=5884665

Pirzyk - while you have expanded the sidewalk to the road of the road baseplate, have you also moved the modular building a few studs forward toward the road too with respect to the baseplate that it came with? It looks pretty cool, so I was wondering how many studs you pulled the modular building forward?

[GCO]

Maybe your are right 'GCO'.....all but the PS where you split it into the two halves appears to have a fancy and not-so-fancy side of town feel about them.

It's like one year fancy, the next not so, then back to fancy.....or I'm I reading too much into it ?

You certainly do, 'lightningtiger'!

[lightningtiger]

You certainly do, 'lightningtiger'!

Yes, but it might be the Modular Conspiracy ?

The hidden clues, the odd-ball back stories, the order of government and non-government buildings......

[GCO]

Yes, but it might be the Modular Conspiracy ?

The hidden clues, the odd-ball back stories, the order of government and non-government buildings......

... the order of regular buildings and corner buildings... ... next one should be corner again, right?

Who knows, maybe TLG really thought about all this...

[lightningtiger]

They could throw a spanner in the works and not release a corner one next to catch us off guard. At least there are still plenty of buildings they can release.....enough I feel for twenty years worth of sets.....man, I'll be in my mid-60's then.....ouch.

[pirzyk]

Pirzyk - while you have expanded the sidewalk to the road of the road baseplate, have you also moved the modular building a few studs forward toward the road too with respect to the baseplate that it came with? It looks pretty cool, so I was wondering how many studs you pulled the modular building forward?

I didn't pull them closer, they are in their original positions.

[Faefrost]

In the past there have been many discussions that the part count drives up the prices and so there is a compromise between the interior and the exterior to come to what is a marketable price. I am currently adapting a second Pet Shop, and I was very surprised by some of the inefficiencies of the bricks used. As an example, they would lay (2) 1x4 Bricks Short Side to Short Side verses using (1) 1x8. I’m not saying that I want them to use those awful completely pre built walls like in some of the City and Friends’ sets, but I hope they can be more efficient and then in turn give us a better balance of the interior and exteriors as both are important to me.

There is a great thread somewhere in the general forum that discusses why this is. It has to do with production line efficiencies. Remember each bag is packed by an automated line. There are only so many hoppers on a given filling line so there are limits to how many different types of pieces can be placed in each bag. When the Lego designers design a set they have to accommodate several factors that we never ever think about. Things like number of production stations needed to package it (fewer is better striving towards efficiency). Or is the part desired currently in inventory in surplus or does it require new parts be made (once again in stock where possible is better). And does the design and parts used translate into clear easy to follow 2d instructions?

By using 2 1x4's instead of 1 1x8 they likely free up a fill station to use for something else. Or to simply make the production more efficient.

[ItsaBRICKS]

I do expand the sidewalks to the edge of the roads on the roadplates. I use dark bley 2x2 tiles and have street lights next to the one curb drain on each side of the road.

http://www.brickshel...y.cgi?i=5884665

This is what I was looking for! I'll probably do this as well. Thanks, just wanted to see how it would look.

[Ray Oliver]

I think a cool building would be a newspaper printer. One floor could be a big printing press/conveyor belt just popping out copies of the LEGO News.

I was thinking it would be cool to have a newspaper building. One floor could be a printing press, one would be the newsroom, and something else. Could do sort of an art deco style for the exterior.

At some point it would be nice to another more substantial modular along the lines of Town Hall.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Ray Oliver

[Wodanis]

There is a great thread somewhere in the general forum that discusses why this is. It has to do with production line efficiencies. Remember each bag is packed by an automated line. There are only so many hoppers on a given filling line so there are limits to how many different types of pieces can be placed in each bag. When the Lego designers design a set they have to accommodate several factors that we never ever think about. Things like number of production stations needed to package it (fewer is better striving towards efficiency). Or is the part desired currently in inventory in surplus or does it require new parts be made (once again in stock where possible is better). And does the design and parts used translate into clear easy to follow 2d instructions?

By using 2 1x4's instead of 1 1x8 they likely free up a fill station to use for something else. Or to simply make the production more efficient.

I'm aware that the reason behind this is also to reduce cost which plays into your point Faefrost. Cheaper to utilise the 2 1x4's instead of the 1x8. You will notice this with many sets where they will have used the same part colour or brick/plate when building we would assume the 1x8 is more efficient to use. Another point is that the designers will use a part say red or blue etc to make the part identifiable/easier to find when building.

[TheLegoDr]

I'd think that certainly factors in, especially if you won't see it in the end build. But it also would go along, what is on the pipeline currently that we could use as that random hidden support piece. It's like the extra 1x2x2 windows in the Town Hall that are used as support under the main floor. They already had tons of those in the set, so what is another couple instead of trying to get a 1x2x2 piece that wasn't anywhere else in the set.

I think it takes a lot more effort than people realize to design a set AND produce it efficiently. I'd love to take a factory tour. I'd actually love to see all of the inner workings of everything at LEGO...even the boring business meetings...

[Moebius118]

Does anyone think TLG would ever increase the modular creations to more than once a year?

Now that the DO is out and fresh, it kind of kills me to consider I've got another year to the next one.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Moebius118

[Jern92]

Does anyone think TLG would ever increase the modular creations to more than once a year?

Now that the DO is out and fresh, it kind of kills me to consider I've got another year to the next one.

There's the Kwik E Mart coming out, so you could build that while waiting for the next modular. Or even the Simpsons house if you don't have that yet. They're modular-ish.

[Andy D]

There's the Kwik E Mart coming out, so you could build that while waiting for the next modular. Or even the Simpsons house if you don't have that yet. They're modular-ish.

Kaki E Mart?

Andy D

[DD840]

I'm getting impatient waiting for the next Ideas approval announcement...there's a few larger sets that could possibly fit in a town setting if they pass.

[Herky]

DD, I think a lot of folks feel that those have no chance to pass through, esp the museum, but I am still hopeful. Moebius, this is why I haven't bought the PR or DO yet, didn't want to build them and just twiddle thumbs...so I got the R2 before it retired, that was a fun build and if you like Star Wars, I really think they nailed it.

I do plan to get the PR this year and then maybe DO late in the year so it feels like 2 modular buildings in the same year. I think TLG is already in the final stages of the next modular design and build, but haven't started producing it yet, I am guessing they gear up the factories in the 4th Q to have plenty of sets on hand for that January release but they need to retire the next one first to move to that production. I know a guy who said at Hallmark they are always doing the ornaments 2 years ahead of time so this summer they are working on 2017 ornaments since the 2016 designs are in the can and they will get them in production now for their July sale. I have to think TLG does something similar, that all sets are designed at least a year ahead and then production runs 6 months out to sale date. Would be interesting to know though, but I doubt we ever will.

[Moebius118]

I really should implement a similar sort of plan. Stagger my Lego purchases better then conveniently forget about modulars for stretches of months. Maybe easier to do if information isn't leaked but speculating is just too fun.

Or a certain UCS Helicarrier will materialize this year and help ease the pains.

I find your production and design lead time expectations believable as well.

Edited January 19, 2015 by Moebius118

[Off the wall]

I really, really hope we get the natural history museum from Lego ideas. If they would maintain the integrity of the design, then it would cost a whole lot of $$$$. But, you could have a great building with only one set and no modifications.

I know, I know. It's a fairly tale. But, I can dream.

[K4kitty]

I would LOVE the Nat History museum to become a modular too!

[Faefrost]

Does anyone think TLG would ever increase the modular creations to more than once a year?

Now that the DO is out and fresh, it kind of kills me to consider I've got another year to the next one.

If they do it would probably be by shortening the cycle slightly. Say reduce from 12 months between them to 10 months. I don't think we will see the rigid Summer/Winter waves we see with retail sets.

[BirdOPrey5]

They should produce a new modular every month and every quarter instructions for putting the previous 4 modulars together into some sort of MEGA Modular!

[hiroki]

Is the Town Hall set offically retired? I'm still hoping it comes out again...

[DD840]

Bigger projects keep passing the votes needed for review on Lego Ideas so if there is a size limit, they should put it in the guidelines. I'm hoping they'll see the demand is there and pass a building or two. In any case, I'm intrigued by the Scooby Doo mystery mansion and Friends grand hotel later this year.

The town hall is retired, they might as well update the website.

Edited January 19, 2015 by DD840

[BirdOPrey5]

Is the Town Hall set offically retired? I'm still hoping it comes out again...

Might depend where you live- it's definitely retired in USA.

[Faefrost]

Is the Town Hall set offically retired? I'm still hoping it comes out again...

I'm not sure it reached it's official EOL / Retirement date. But it is almost certain that as it sells out that will be it. It is likely not going back for any further production runs. So it is sold out in some regions already. Although it may pop up on S@H briefly from time to time as stock moves around and returns from stores etc.