Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Off the wall]

Seriously, folks, I guess its 99% subjective. Have fun, build.

Even knowing their financial history, I'd like to see them try one of their secret MOCs that can 'never be made into sets.'

They might be pleasantly surprised.

[Dharkan]

Being subjective is not a problem, you're being aggressive by trying to dictate your idea so fiercely. It irritates people.

[scottwb2010]

Looking through post's on this thread, most people are in agreement that the modular series follow's a theme every 3 years ie Corner business - business/Residential combo - Government building. Also some think that as we have 2 modular build that had buildings in the Town Plan, we will get a Garage soon. Many would like another set build like the Petshop, ie 2 x 16 wide buildings. So to take the 3 year thread a step further, I think each 3 years could be in groups of odds and evens seeing as the Parisian Restaurant is a business/residential combo of 32 wide instead of 2 x16 wide we may get a 2 x16 build in 3 years with the 2 x 16 wide's in the even groups. Here is how my theory pans out and what may appear in years to come.

Group Year Set Build type Additional

1 2007 Café Corner Business Corner Build 32 wide

1 2008 Green Grocer Business/Residential Straight Build 32 wide

1 2009 Fire Brigade Government Straight Build 32 wide

2 2010 Grand Emporium Business Corner Build

2 2011 Pet Shop Business/Residential Straight Build 2 x 16 wide Buildings

2 2012 Town Hall Government Straight Build 32 wide Town Hall in Town Plan

3 2013 Palace Cinema Business Corner Build 32 wide Cinema in Town Plan

3 2014 Parisian Restaurant Business/Residential Straight Build 32 wide

3 2015 ? Government Straight Build 32 wide

4 2016 Garage Business Corner Build 32 wide Garage in Town Plan

4 2017 ? Business/Residential Straight Build 2 x 16 wide

4 2018 ? Government Straight Build 32 wide

But once the 2015 build is announced then this theory could be blown out of the water.

Edited May 29, 2014 by scottwb2010

[Off the wall]

Being subjective is not a problem, you're being aggressive by trying to dictate your idea so fiercely. It irritates people.

You might want to check your attitude. I tried to offer an olive branch. I advocate what I believe in. Frequently. Sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. I have not 'named called', just directed criticism at an object. It irritates you and some others. For many people, it either doesn't offend/irritate them or they just blow if off. Aggressive? Wow. Sounds like someone lives in a bubble. I'm sure your opinion is in the majority, but that's basically meaningless to me.

[Dharkan]

Around what time of the year they announce new modulars? I wonder how long we will be waiting curious about next one. :)

[alois]

There's no telling, since the release dates are not the same every year. One thing you can be sure of: the next modular has already been designed at this moment.

[Off the wall]

Do you think there will be another mini modular release?

[talos]

Isn't the Parisian Restaurant technically a 2014 release? It came out in January, I think.

I kind of see the Bike Shop & Cafe (31026) as a mini modular. I can't quite make myself want to get it yet though, it seems a little light to me, for the price. And the little car is a bit of a joke.. ;-)

[Faefrost]

Have you been to Paris? The only place where you can find this type of architecture is Disneyland Paris. No building in Paris is olive green.

If it helps to explain the color discrepancy, the actual building that Inspired Jamie on this one was a "French styled" French Restaurant located in New England where he grew up. Which probably goes a long way to explain the colors. A French style building painted in a more traditional colonial New England color scheme.

Not wanting to disturb the lemmings again, but the PR simply looks out of place along side the other modulars.

Everyone is welcome to their views on what works for them and what doesn't. Personally I always find Green Grocer to be the most out of place among them to my eye. It is a wonderful building, but it just feels slightly out of scale with the others. As a long time scale modeler I just can't see past that. I know it's just me.

As far as the buildings blending. Let's not forget they are pulling inspiration from all over the world. As someone else pointed out the only place you will ever see a street of buildings like this is a Disney park.

Does anyone know on the builders, are they just all based in Denmark or do they have builders in many countries competing for a grand vision on each modular? I would say if they have many, the synergy they could get from many builders vs one guy/gal all the time would result in a better product, just look at some of the MOCs out there that inspire others to be bigger and better...something TLG should take advantage of if they were smart.

I believe the designers are all currently employed in Denmark. But in recent years TLG has been going out of their way to recruit them internationally. While many are from Denmark they have a number from North America, assorted European countries, Korea etc. when designer positions open up it is a fierce international competition for the job.

Around what time of the year they announce new modulars? I wonder how long we will be waiting curious about next one. :)

That is one of the big mysteries. It used to be one a year, typically in April. But there have been some recent hints that the schedule between them might have shortened to around 8 or 10 months. If it has become a faster release schedule we might see one around Aug - October. Of course this might be pure wishful thinking, and the 8 months between PC and PR might have just been a scheduling fluke.

[Herky]

everyone seems to get offended way too easily...sheesh...it's good to have different opinions, it's how we grow

I wonder, would TLG ever announce and do 2 modular in a year? Say a January release then fall maybe? I know it hasn't been done but I bet the market would hold up and if they have enough designers to make it happen I don't see why not. I do like the garage idea, but in modulars what kind of car would go with it, we know they aren't afraid to put a car in, a la Fire Brigade and Cinema...would it be more of a muscle car type since it is a garage? I know there are many good garages out there and there was a town plan garage Esso Gas Station, that means a European car, I am not sure how you would go modular on it though, doesn't seem to lend itself to the traditional 3 floor plan.

[Sammael]

Seriously, folks, I guess its 99% subjective. Have fun, build.

Even knowing their financial history, I'd like to see them try one of their secret MOCs that can 'never be made into sets.'

They might be pleasantly surprised.

For one, the MOCs are not secret. They are available online and some designers show their stuff at various LEGO events (the LEGO Fan Weekend, for example).

But the designers damn well know (better than you and I) how the things work in their own company. Of course they can pitch ideas, and I think the Creator team probably has more liberty than other teams given the scope of their line, but they work under a lot of restrictions and everything they make is ultimately decided by the sales and marketing departments. Because, you know, TLG is a corporation, and its goal is to make money.

[Rick]

everyone seems to get offended way too easily...sheesh...it's good to have different opinions, it's how we grow

There's nothing wrong with having different opinions. EB is a discussion forum after all. What we have a problem with is the tone of some of the posts in this thread.

The lemmings with their pretzel logic have awakened! Btw, Steely Dan. Great band.

This, for example, is not the tone we'd like to see in posts.

[Off the wall]

I'm giving myself a self imposed thirty day 'time out'. You're welcome.

[rollermonkey]

I think the representative sample is too small to read patterns in the modular building line. Maybe if that 3-year pattern repeats again, we could lend credence to it... But it's just too slow of a cycle for me to really believe that it's something they would try to maintain.

Getting one modular each year is a pattern I can trust, but not what we'll see as one three years down the road.

[rollermonkey]

Oops

Edited May 30, 2014 by rollermonkey

[nesquik]

Do you think there will be another mini modular release?

It's quite unlikely as the original release was a poor seller. Also, the branding for exclusive product's is more streamlined today, so it would be an awkward fit.

[TheLegoDr]

I assumed they would do another mini modular release. They had 5 for the first series. Since then they have released 4 more Iincluding PR). Meaning, I assumed they would release one in a few years. I've seen some nice mini versions on here, but I was hoping to see official versions.

I didn't realize it was a poor seller. It was a day one purchase for me.

[Blakstone]

The Summer 2014 catalog which arrived today is missing the Grand Emporium. It appears that will be the next set to retire.

[talos]

The Summer 2014 catalog which arrived today is missing the Grand Emporium. It appears that will be the next set to retire.

I think you are right on that...I just got a 2nd GE, I have plans for it as something else though..

[Faefrost]

The Summer 2014 catalog which arrived today is missing the Grand Emporium. It appears that will be the next set to retire.

Could be. Although it would not surprise me if they have more stock on it than on some of the other older Modulars. I think the next one to retire will be whichever of the GE, TH or PS sells out first. I don't think any of those will see another factory run, so whatever is in the chain now is it. I think the GE received an extra production cycle more than the other two, so it may still have more stock. TLG's calender probably plans for it retiring first, but reality may not precisely match their marketing schedule. I think PS will probably be the first to disapear. It seems to be the lowest stocked one at the two Lego stores near me. Unless they do a sale to clear one or two of the older ones out to free up shelf space.

[Returntolego]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site and its my first post.

My question is once the ge is retired, which is the next to be retired. I have returned to lego as my son who is five loves it and I have fallen in love with modulars.

I brought the ge last week, so I want to get them all. Shall I buy the fire station on bricklink as a complete new set before it gets too expensive, did this get retired last year?

I'm just unsure of the order that they were released and then order of retirement.

Any help would be good.

Emma

Edited June 3, 2014 by Returntolego

[Sammael]

Order of release:

Cafe Corner (2007)

Market Street (2007)

Green Grocer (2008)

Fire Brigade (2009)

Grand Emporium (2010)

Pet Shop (2011)

Town Hall (2012)

Palace Cinema (2013)

Parisian Restaurant (2014)

Fire Brigade has been retired, you should get it while its price is still close to retail. Grand Emporium looks like it's about to be retired; while Pet Shop would be the next logical set to retire, Town Hall is a poor seller (as modular buildings go) so it may actually be the first to go.

The first 3 are long gone and really expensive on the aftermarket. A lot of people are "bricklinking" them (buying parts for them on Bricklink) since that's a bit cheaper than getting them as sets.

[Returntolego]

Thanks for that, I got ge last week and just starting to build it, thinking of getting another set to make it XL. I can see my new hobby getting expensive lol.

I think I will get a FB before prices get silly, then pet shop.

Is the town hall as bad as the sales reflect.

Thanks for replying

[rob-cubed]

^^

From what I understand, there is no planned retirement date. LEGO produces a bunch, and when the last one sells out it's retired. If it's an unpopuar set or if the production run is bigger, it may take longer to retire. 2-3 years on average. If you just got Grand Emporium, that's good since it'll likely be the next to sell out.

Fire Brigade *just* retired, but you can still get one at a premium and they won't get any cheaper moving forward.

EDIT: I don't know that Town Hall is bad per se, just more expensive and the play value isn't as high as other sets.

Edited June 3, 2014 by rob-cubed

[Sammael]

Town Hall is not too bad, it just has a lot more focus on its play feature (elevator) and interior design than on the facade (which is fairly simplistic by modular standards).