Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Off the wall]

I think the fact the museum could be a modular series release and could be priced at modular levels would limit the first day rush. If lego already has plans for the next several modulars (and I've read that they do.....source.....'the internet'.....so,it must be true), it's hard to figure where the museum would fit in unless TLG is willing to think out of the box.

[Sammael]

(and I've read that they do.....source.....'the internet'.....so,it must be true)

The source would be Jamie Berard, Design Manager Specialist for the LEGO Creator line. He stated that to an audience of 80 AFOLs at the Lego Fan Weekend.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Sammael

[Off the wall]

Like I said, my source is the internet. So, my source isn't all that reliable. If you have another, great.

[Off the wall]

Looks like I'll finally have an interior for one of my MOC projects....

http://www.neoape.com

[Colossus]

I was thinking the same thing! Thanks for posting the link, OTW. I've been eyeballing a custom set of The Big Bang Theory gang minifigs, and they ain't cheap!

Edited November 7, 2014 by Colossus

[Dharkan]

With the IDEAS Museum, it defiantly has some nice interior pieces; but, I have to say it certainly needs more color in it for me. With it all being in tan pieces inside and out, it seems bland and colorless even with the architectural designs incorporated in it.

I'd like to see something with a lot of color like the Pet Shop and PR; those sets really sold me on getting them...brightening up the city.

Indeed. It is not appealing at all. I don't think the build is good enough too.

And to be honest, Lego wouldn't need/want their next modular building to be decided in Ideas. It is all good for smaller sets but bigger ones are very unlikely. I mean, Western Town or whatever it was called was waaaaaaaay better than this project but they rejected it so.

[TheLegoDr]

If you think about it, even if the Museums set passed review, it would be branded IDEAS, not Creator Expert, so it wouldn't be another Modular release.

Granted, I don't particularly find it that appealing. It doesn't have the same effect as the official Modulars (granted this goes for Market Street for me too). It doesn't fit in, in my opinion.

But I do agree, it would need lots more color. Even a medium nougat instead of tan or something.

[Off the wall]

Just as many didn't agree with my comments on the PR, I don't agree with many of the negative comments about the museum. It could use more color, but other that that it's pretty good. Just a question of personal taste. Anyway, I don't see the museum making the cut as far as being selected for production by lego. It's simply too complex for a lego ideas offering. Looking at 10190 MS, it was about half the number of pieces that would be required for the museum. I'll probably have to use the hundreds and hundreds of similarly colored bricks from my GE project and make another one of my lame attempts at an MOC. The subject this time will be the museum.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Off the wall

[Jern92]

I actually like the lack of colours because I think it is appropriate for a museum. A lot of museums I have seen do tend to be tan-coloured instead of a mixture of bright colours.

Edited November 8, 2014 by Jern92

[escortmad79]

Consider Lego loves Bike Shops in their city, it's about time one came out in modular form.

Going on that theory, I'm surprised they've not released a police station (or 6!!) yet!

[JDW]

I'm excited about the Big Bang Theory set too--will definitely be putting that living room into a modular apartment complex.

[Faefrost]

Indeed. It is not appealing at all. I don't think the build is good enough too.

And to be honest, Lego wouldn't need/want their next modular building to be decided in Ideas. It is all good for smaller sets but bigger ones are very unlikely. I mean, Western Town or whatever it was called was waaaaaaaay better than this project but they rejected it so.

They rejected the Western Town because of a conflict with a not yet publicly announced license. Not on size.

If ever they are going to do a large $100-200 Ideas set, good money says it will either be a Modular Building or a Technique vehicle. The simple reason they have fantastic business data on such. They have made exclusive D2C fan designed sets in those lines, and they sold well. Well enough to satisfy the similar production and retail niche of Ideas.

A Modular building would be a spectacularly low risk for such a pricey Ideas set. They know exactly who the audience is. Literally, they have our home addresses. They know what we spend. And that each building in the series is mainly trending up in sales. Slipping an unofficial Ideas on in between the normal rotation would not measurably disrupt the normal fan enthusiasm.

[1974]

Literally, they have our home addresses

No they don't. The majority of LEGO is not sold from S&H

[Colossus]

How many of us are VIP members, though?

[KristofBD]

I actually like the lack of colours because I think it is appropriate for a museum. A lot of museums I have seen do tend to be tan-coloured instead of a mixture of bright colours.

My thoughts exactly. A natural history museum being colourful, is like an Oxford history professor wearing a colourful Hawaii shirt and flip flops. Just doesn't fit

[Off the wall]

While I do like the museum, it lacks that certain whimsical factor that belongs in a modular building. It seems closer to what you'd see in the archetecture series. More true to what you would see in real life if you were looking at a real museum.

I would like to see the museum become a reality. It wouldn't take much to add those whimsical, colorful elements that would make it fit right in with the rest of the modular series.

[TheLegoDr]

I think that's why I suggested nougat color as opposed to a bright color. I think Modulars have that fun feel to them, while still trying to portray real life architecture. A museum (to most people) is rather boring. I don't mind going to them myself, but they would need a nice looking exterior.

[BirdOPrey5]

I think the current exterior of he Natural History Museum is great for what it is, I'd have no issue putting it between other modulars.

[Herky]

I emphatically agree with BirdofPrey, Chicago's Field Museum, which to me is the quintessential museum of natural history (haven't been to NYC) is not exactly colorful, so I like the whole thing the way it is. I even like the back wall in the pics at

Field Museum adds color with large banners that get draped down the front. A museum is not really supposed to be colorful, even the art institutes I see are drab outside...so this where OTW's architecture comment comes in I guess. But there are not sets that blend the two lines of architecture and modular. I would hate to see much changed by TLG on this build and honestly, if it hits 10K and there are no others that do in this review, it seems to be a travesty if something is not made.

Jamie, Astrid, whomever...get on the net and check some of these out, make it!

[AFOLguy1970]

It appears that the museum will make it into review with over 9000 votes now. The more concerning thing to me is that it will face fierce competition in the review. If it makes it in soon, it has to go against Wall-E, the Hubble Telescope, the Ghostbusters Headquarters, the Dr. Who sets that carried over from the last review, and others. Wall-E is not that big, which would fit in with the other sets from Lego Ideas. The Hubble Telescope follows the success of the Mars Rover, although it does appear large, which might be its main drawback. The Ghostbusters Headquarters might be the biggest rival in terms of similarity, because it acts as a modular. If Ecto-1 sold well, then that could factor in. Then, there is Dr. Who. Obviously, it has a lot of fans, and Lego did not flat out reject the sets, making me think they are trying to secure licensing. The last review proved that more than one set can make it, however it is not going to be easy for the museum. It's greatest weakness is its size, but the fact that it needs no licensing would certainly help.

[Colossus]

I think the concept of sets "competing" through the review process has passed. I get the impression from the IDEAS team that if they think the set will sell, they'll make it. This latest review resulted in the Bird set and The Big Bang Theory, AND the team is also considering one of the 2 Dr. Who sets from this review period as well. Personally, I'd gladly take the Nat. History museum as it. While it's not colorful compared to other modulars, I think the architecture makes one helluva statement. Now, to get that Paris Opera House to 10,000 votes and on the store shelves!

[Herky]

maybe I am mistaken but I thought that review period was over, so the museum would be review 3 period which has none in it right now. Review 2 was the WallE, etc group...from what the video said there are 3 review periods each year, BBT and Birds made it out of Review 1 with Who being considered, then Review 2 was Wall*E, hubble, GB HQ, etc. Then review 3 is whatever hits 10K next...or am I just nuts? That is a distinct possibility.

All I know is if the first modular was a fan created pre Lego Cuusoo/Ideas build and we get another in there, this should send a big message to TLG.

[KristofBD]

@herky and AFOlguy: four in already. I would not say competition is tough in this one, but still enough time to go for other projects to qualify.

Edited November 9, 2014 by KristofBD

[Off the wall]

I would encourage modular enthusiasts to also support this lego ideas project...

https://ideas.lego.com/projects/79922

[Regimus]

^Very nice, but do we need another tan corner modular?