Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Lion King]

10 hours ago, Perolav said:

Where do lego inform their plans to retire  lego sets? Or how do we know what sets are to be retired?

Basically, we have 5 Modular Building sets on shelves this year. Police Station, Bookshop, and Assembly Square are scheduled to be retired by end of this year since we have Boutique Hotel and Jazz Club are still on shelves (BH was released last year). So….it will make a space for the net Modular Building set. 

I suspect Lego would change “Hard to Find” label to “Soon Retiriing” or “Sold Out” later this year, just my guess.

But i don’t rmemeber where that EOl info is from. 

[RichardGoring]

11 hours ago, Perolav said:

Where do lego inform their plans to retire  lego sets? Or how do we know what sets are to be retired?

Stoneware.de and Promobricks regularly publish lists of sets that are to be retired, and there is a list on the Legoleak subreddit, but these can, and do, change, so it's never 100%.

[Lion King]

On 8/19/2023 at 9:21 PM, Lion King said:

Hey folks! I have a quick quesiton. While I built Jazz Club, I noticed a small stage on the ground floor more wobbly / rattling when i put minifigures on it. Does it happen to you? 

I’m quoting myself becuase no one answes my quesiton yet. 

Anyone?

[Mellish]

I have been catching up on the BrickLink designer program and two really caught my eye, maybe related to my wish for the next modular. 
 

I really like the hardware store and it’s cluttered inside, I can see this possible in an official Lego set as similar to what was in the Old Fish Store ideas set. Also great for adding too with other parts you have that don’t have a home. 
 

https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/series-2/656/Hardware-Store-and-Apartment-Renovation

I also really like the different shape of the ‘Glass Studio’ kind of how I wish the angle in BH was done to allow it to fit to other Modular’s cleaner. 

https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/series-1/344/glass-studio
 

So this made me wander, with all of these great ideas and superb execution by fans how does the Lego team tread the line of producing something original. The terms say you are giving the intellectual property up but I am sure the Lego designers would want their set to be seen as original and not a take on someone else’s. But from looking through the first two series all the usual request for the next modular have been done to a high standard, post office, library, hospital, museum. 
 

I then started searching for clues in the Jazz Club for the next modular, not sure that the developments overlap to allow clues to be hidden but it’s a nice idea (like Pixar movies)

The magicians Rabbit made me think pet store or Vet - both done already.
Motor bike repair shop? I assume CG can cover this. 
So, garden centre? We now have a lot of plants on the street and in that green house? Or is the florist in AS to close to this. 
Only original idea I have come up with is an opticians, having minifigs with alternate faces with and without glasses or different glasses? Maybe this is where the bass player gets his hearing aid from? 
 

Last thought for your opinion, would a window cleaners van make a good GWP? Quick search and I can’t see that it’s ever been a set, which surprises me for the city line. 

[BrickFit26]

@MellishLEGO designer Jamie already discussed this once in a video interview I believe. Basically they try not to do anything that fans have already done for example, a post office. But he did say that its always a possibility. And the Corner Garage already has a Vet office.

[Lion King]

I don’t think Jazz Club has any flute for next Modular Building set?

I understand that Police Station has a newspaper stand and we were suppsoed to have Newspaper Press set in 2022. However, we have Daily Bugle still on shelf so the plan is scrapped. Now w get Boutique Hotel instead. Now, Boutique Hotel has a “Music Live” ad that points us to Jazz Club. 

Nohting screams “CLUE!” to me out of Jazz Club. Rabbit? We have vet and pet shop. Scooter? We have corner garage. Greenhouse? Well… we have some greenhouses throughout the series. And we have florist’s shop. BUT I think a garden center will be a great addition for our cities! Clothes? Ehhh, I don’t know…. We have tailor’s business and the store department. 

What about a squirrel? How about a recreational park? Maybe it’s just meaningless. For example, we have a dove / pigeon from Police Station but it doesn’t tell us anything. Birds and squirrels can be found in cities, obviously.

Also there are a few rumors out there. It would be a larger AND inverted corner building. So we shall see…

[Mellish]

8 hours ago, Lion King said:

I don’t think Jazz Club has any flute for next Modular Building set?

Nohting screams “CLUE!” to me 

I agree can’t see a clue 

8 hours ago, Lion King said:

Also there are a few rumors out there. It would be a larger AND inverted corner building. So we shall see…

The only ways I can see this being done is buildings that can be mixed and match in configuration to give you and inverted corner or a straight, though I am struggling to figure out the logistics of this. Or it could be an inverted corner done with an alleyway/gap between two buildings. Think the left half of AS, the blue and green buildings. This could be an inverted corner, or a straight or ever a normal corner. And on a single baseplate 

An inverted corner does not work so well as your first display piece, and not all collectors would want an inverted corner. Giving options opens the market to all. 

Though I would be surprised by a larger set with the economic climate, there has been several very large sets released this year so possible. 

[Lion King]

2 hours ago, Mellish said:

An inverted corner does not work so well as your first display piece, and not all collectors would want an inverted corner. Giving options opens the market to all. 

How do you know it doesn’t work when we dones’t have an offical set released yet? I’m pretty sure some of us will find a way to display an inverted corner building. Like…at an end of your shelf? Or on the table? I think it’s best to reserve your judgement until we have an actual inverted building set on shelves!

[Lyichir]

I feel like for an inverted corner to be released it would need to be at least 1 and a half if not two baseplates in size so that it would at least have a little more "frontage" to look good on display on its own. The challenge of an inverted corner is that viewed from the "front", the two connecting sides (typically some of the least attractive views of a modular) would both be fully visible. I don't think that's 100% impossible to work around, but it's certainly a challenge that classic straight or corner buildings don't have to overcome.

[badbob001]

On 9/4/2023 at 8:41 PM, Lion King said:

Also there are a few rumors out there. It would be a larger AND inverted corner building. So we shall see…

If we include modular building compatible sets, then Gringotts bank is an inverted corner.

[Lion King]

2 hours ago, badbob001 said:

If we include modular building compatible sets, then Gringotts bank is an inverted corner.

Thats a corner-ish building, just like Boutique Hotel.  Not a L-shaped aka inverted. 

[hikouki]

10 hours ago, Lyichir said:

I feel like for an inverted corner to be released it would need to be at least 1 and a half if not two baseplates in size so that it would at least have a little more "frontage" to look good on display on its own. The challenge of an inverted corner is that viewed from the "front", the two connecting sides (typically some of the least attractive views of a modular) would both be fully visible. I don't think that's 100% impossible to work around, but it's certainly a challenge that classic straight or corner buildings don't have to overcome.

Unless perhaps Lego designs two consecutive (year) sets that are meant to be connected together. Although unlikely.

[Vindicare]

On 9/4/2023 at 5:41 PM, Lion King said:

Also there are a few rumors out there. It would be a larger AND inverted corner building. So we shall see…

I highly doubt it’s going to be a corner, unless they plan on breaking the pattern that has lasted the entire run of the theme. A corner, 2 straights. I would love an inverted corner though, but as has been mentioned, making an attractive front can be tricky...but I have faith in the designers that they could do it. 

[Lion King]

6 hours ago, Vindicare said:

I highly doubt it’s going to be a corner, unless they plan on breaking the pattern that has lasted the entire run of the theme. A corner, 2 straights. I would love an inverted corner though, but as has been mentioned, making an attractive front can be tricky...but I have faith in the designers that they could do it. 

100% agreed. It will be very nice that they keep Modular building Collectiong fresh by giving us different style, different building technique, differnet time period, etc. If those rumors are true, I don’t want to jump to a wrong conclusion and say “it won’t be sold well” or “it won’t work” without seeing this set myself. 

I know Lego is always unpredictable so having faith is a key. 

[Vindicare]

On 9/10/2023 at 5:11 AM, Lion King said:

100% agreed. It will be very nice that they keep Modular building Collectiong fresh by giving us different style, different building technique, differnet time period, etc. If those rumors are true, I don’t want to jump to a wrong conclusion and say “it won’t be sold well” or “it won’t work” without seeing this set myself. 

I know Lego is always unpredictable so having faith is a key. 

I’m pretty easy going when it comes to Modulars. There isn’t one I don’t like. A friend though has pretty strong opinions of dislike on a handful of them. I’ve only ever gone so far as saying Grand Emporium is a boring looking building...but that’s because it’s a shopping mall. It’s not like they’re exactly known for their beautiful architecture. 

[RichardGoring]

10 hours ago, Vindicare said:

I’m pretty easy going when it comes to Modulars. There isn’t one I don’t like. A friend though has pretty strong opinions of dislike on a handful of them. I’ve only ever gone so far as saying Grand Emporium is a boring looking building...but that’s because it’s a shopping mall. It’s not like they’re exactly known for their beautiful architecture. 

I recently got the Grand Emporium in a bulk lot. I'm not a huge fan of the earlier modulars for a variety of reasons (too clunky, out of scale, basic interior, just a bit bland compared to the more modern ones). Having said that, I wouldn't say no to any of them, but equally, wouldn't pay a lot for the older ones, unlike many others who seem to go crazy for them. I can see that you'd get an emotional attachment to them too, and that makes them even better.

[Kallego]

According to Brickclicker the 4014 pieces for the new modular might be true... 

[Lion King]

5 hours ago, RichardGoring said:

I recently got the Grand Emporium in a bulk lot. I'm not a huge fan of the earlier modulars for a variety of reasons (too clunky, out of scale, basic interior, just a bit bland compared to the more modern ones). Having said that, I wouldn't say no to any of them, but equally, wouldn't pay a lot for the older ones, unlike many others who seem to go crazy for them. I can see that you'd get an emotional attachment to them too, and that makes them even better.

I only own the most recent Modular Buidlings (from Downtown Diner to Jazz Club) and I am not a fan of these older buildings either - kinda same reasons as you have. 

5 hours ago, RichardGoring said:

I recently got the Grand Emporium in a bulk lot. I'm not a huge fan of the earlier modulars for a variety of reasons (too clunky, out of scale, basic interior, just a bit bland compared to the more modern ones). Having said that, I wouldn't say no to any of them, but equally, wouldn't pay a lot for the older ones, unlike many others who seem to go crazy for them. I can see that you'd get an emotional attachment to them too, and that makes them even better.

I only own the most recent Modular Buidlings (from Downtown Diner to Jazz Club) and I am not a fan of these older buildings either - kinda same reasons as you have. 

[Lion King]

28 minutes ago, Kallego said:

According to Brickclicker the 4014 pieces for the new modular might be true... 

So that is the rumor we heard it may be larger. i wonder what buidling it would be this time. 

[Yperio_Bricks]

What's the time modulars usually get officialy revealed?

 

(I always forget things like that and could ask this every year )

[legomaniacj]

On 9/4/2023 at 3:32 PM, BrickFit26 said:

@MellishLEGO designer Jamie already discussed this once in a video interview I believe. Basically they try not to do anything that fans have already done for example, a post office. But he did say that its always a possibility. And the Corner Garage already has a Vet office.

I know a post office was done as a moc by someone before, but I also know this one has been asked for, for quite some time now and might just happen. newsroom/post office combo perhaps. I mean this is all just rumors and speculation. It doesn't matter what it is, I will always get it on the 1st of the year as long as they continue with the modular line. Probably one of my favorite lines aside from the Aquanauts of the 90s

[Lion King]

1 hour ago, Yperio_Bricks said:

What's the time modulars usually get officialy revealed?

 

(I always forget things like that and could ask this every year )

Between last week of Nov and mid-Dec i think Jazz club was revealed around early/mid Dec last year. 

[BrickFit26]

1 hour ago, legomaniacj said:

I know a post office was done as a moc by someone before, but I also know this one has been asked for, for quite some time now and might just happen. newsroom/post office combo perhaps. I mean this is all just rumors and speculation. It doesn't matter what it is, I will always get it on the 1st of the year as long as they continue with the modular line. Probably one of my favorite lines aside from the Aquanauts of the 90s

You're right. I still want a post office. I thought a Post office and office supply store would be good combo too. And I loved Aquanauts as a kid.

[legomaniacj]

4 minutes ago, BrickFit26 said:

You're right. I still want a post office. I thought a Post office and office supply store would be good combo too. And I loved Aquanauts as a kid.

Aquanauts were probably the best thing ever when I was a kid, then they had another one similar that came out that I believe I only got the base for because they had it at KB toys outlet. I still have all those sets, complete with everything except the box. As for the modular (let's stay "mostly" on topic) office supply/post office would be a great edition, or like I said, newsroom but not like broadcast but newspaper with printing press and such. As much as the idea sounds good, I don't think a hospital would make a good modular. I know this year is going to be the biggest one yet, but at the same time, a clinic and pharmacy would be better suited instead of a hospital. Make like detective office kind of with part being the pharmacy and the other being the clinic with exam rooms, a waiting room/reception, etc., and over the pharmacy part could be doctor's offices. I only say this as my opinion because I grew up in a small town, next to two other small towns/cities in upstate, finger lakes, NY and all three's downtown area had rows of "modulars" gas station/auto garage on the corners, shops, pizza, one had a music hall and music shop next door, but my hometown had a bank on the corner (still does), a post office on another corner (still there) and a police station and fire station, all old style buildings, still there to this day. the hospital is out in the sticks practically. I wish I had a photo of downtown so you could see it. 

[RichardGoring]

Exciting possibilities for something so large. Shame it's so expensive, but probably to be expected if they're going this large.