Your LEGO regrets

[BlockLogo]

My "dark ages" lasted for 25 years, from the late 80s till last year when the LEGO Movie was released and my son caught the LEGO bug after watching it. We started to collect the sets from the movie (we have all but the polybags and the Seacow), and I enjoyed building them so much I got the Parisian Restaurant for myself and got back into it.

I recently found some of my old LEGO in storage at my parents' house. It was handed over to my little brother when I stopped playing with it and lots of it was utterly destroyed, as in physically bent and broken. I had some trains and classic Town, including a police station, Shell Service Station, and hospital, some late classic space and early Futuron, a lot of Lion Knights/Black Falcons Castle stuff from the mid 80s, and all of the very first Pirates wave of 1989, including the Clipper and Barracuda. The remaining sails of those were ripped and cut and had drawing all over them, and any pieces that were long and thin enough to break, like masts, lances, etc. were broken. The base plates were also mostly destroyed, torn, or seemed to have big holes drilled or punctured into them (wtf, bro??). At least some of the minifigures and road plates were in decent shape. I really wish I would have kept them to myself or stored them away instead of letting my brother have at them...

I also wish I had re-discovered LEGO in time for the first modulars (Pet Shop is the earliest one I will ever have), the first CMF, and great sets like Medieval Market Village, Haunted House, Creator Expert trains, Imperial Flagship, Town Plan, etc

[Im a brickmaster.]

I regret taking apart my 2011 Sith Infiltrator for the plates and stuff.... It looked so good all assembled. (Sob)

[YellowCorvette]

I don't have many sets,mainly because I'm a student that didn't go to work yet. (Yes,I'm buy Lego using the money from my piggy bank!)

But however,my biggest regrets on Lego is leaving my hobby to play with Lego in 2013.I get my interest with Lego once again in 2014,but at that time I has missed many great sets,like 75003 A-Wing,75004 Z-95,and 60009 Helicopter Arrest that already been retired now.

But luckily,at the same time,I also discovered Hero Factory Invasion From Below sets that are not bad too.I get 44019 at the time I'm interested once again in Lego,and I want to keep it.Forever.

Edited August 9, 2015 by ArmstrongYong

[ficbot]

My stepson is four and we build Lego all the time. We have a little ritual when he stays over where we all have a cuddle in the morning and then his dad goes back to sleep for an hour and he comes to the Lego table with me :) I am glad I came out of the dark ages before he got into Lego.

My one regret is that I did not discover my passion for the Friends Lego right away. I have been sorting out my pre-Friends stuff to pass along to my stepson and there is probably about $200 I wasted on Lego before I learned to specialize. Most of it is vehicle-themed because I liked the 3-in-1 sets to learn how to build. I did learn from them, but I can't really use so many wheel parts now. My stepson will enjoy these sets so I am not complaining too much, but I did waste money on Lego I didn't need. Now, I only buy the holiday sets and the Friends sets.

[Kalhiki]

I don't have many regret, but...

Not getting this space shuttle. I got the recent, smaller Utility Shuttle, but this one is a more suitable size. And much cheaper than the current, larger Space Shuttle.

I always seem to hold off on getting sets, and by the time I decide to purchase them, they've become out of stock. Most of the time I don't care, but this one I'll probably always regret.

Another one, I'd say, was not taking better care off my sets as a kid. I'm not really a MOCer, so I like to keep my sets together. But as a kid, I tore everything apart and mixed pieces. Nowadays, I have the job of sorting through all the parts to reassemble my old models. Not really a regret since I didn't know better, but it's quite the hassle now.

[MGCJerry]

Kalhiki, that's how I ended up with the bulk of my Lego collection. Received sets as a kid and took them apart after they wore off on me and built other stuff out of them. My mom's way of trying to keep the sets intact was to allow me to display sets only, once I took them apart or modified them too much they belong in the bin when I clean up before bed. Most of my creations didn't fit in the bin anyway and had to be dismantled... Guess that makes me a MOC'er. I remember getting the 1682 Shuttle for Easter one year. That set survived the longest.

I cant imagine going through the pile of parts I have now looking for a specific piece to rebuild an old set. You have more patience than I do...

[DarthHank]

At one point I had nearly all the powerminers sets - but then I destroyed them all in one epic battle. That's actually an underrated theme.

Similarly, I got brickbeard's bounty, but it was destroyed in a confrontation with my knights, who also were destroyed. It's a shame; that was a fine ship.

I'm also sad I missed out on the original MTT.

A couple of years ago I partially destroyed my Star Wars collection, and only now have I totally repaired it. What a waste of time.

[DuckBricks]

This may be one that only CCBS constraction fans can relate to, but breaking down Witch Doctor for parts.

Another one, I'd say, was not taking better care off my sets as a kid. I'm not really a MOCer, so I like to keep my sets together. But as a kid, I tore everything apart and mixed pieces. Nowadays, I have the job of sorting through all the parts to reassemble my old models. Not really a regret since I didn't know better, but it's quite the hassle now.

This.

[x105Black]

I have the same regret as most others here, my Dark Ages.

Looking back, I entered the Dark Ages at a time that was appropriate to my interests, the late 90's. There weren't that many sets at that time that piqued my interest. I didn't emerge from them, however, until the last couple of years. I wish I had emerged sooner, gotten some Collectible Minifigures when they were still in stores, and gotten a few of the licensed sets.

My other regret is leaving some of my LEGO behind when I moved, as it was considered abandoned and given to others. It is now lost forever.

[A Gallifreyan Cat]

I got into LEGO trains just at the end of the 9v era. My first train set was the Holiday Train (10173) and a 9v motor. Soon I decided to get more track for even better layouts, and I saw that they were ending it. If I had gotten into trains a few months earlier I could have snapped up the last of those 9v tracks.

[Brandysnaps92]

Not picking up the Winter Village Toy Shop

Regret no more, its back!

I regret buying so many helicopters, they were so cool and I wanted them but now I have no where to put them all. A small city can only have so many helicopters.

I also regret Exo-Force, some of the pieces were cool and handy to have now but I'm left with some really chunky parts.

[parksroad]

Missing the Haunted House.

[Vectormatic]

I don't have many regret, but...

Not getting this space shuttle. I got the recent, smaller Utility Shuttle, but this one is a more suitable size. And much cheaper than the current, larger Space Shuttle.

I always seem to hold off on getting sets, and by the time I decide to purchase them, they've become out of stock. Most of the time I don't care, but this one I'll probably always regret.

Ouch, i missed that set as well (didnt even know about it till i read your post), and while i also have, and love the utility shuttle, this model is much better, the rear engine pods, the wing flaps and just general size..

My own personal "one that got away" is the 8051 technic street bike, saw it in shops a lot, but never picked it up because i was in a short "shadey age". Now i really regret not getting it, since second hand prices are far above new. Im compensating for it by pimping up the new 42036 street bike, so far ive spent a good €15 in bricklink orders for improving it.

[Gryphon Ink]

I have to say I regret buying a lot of smaller sets instead of saving that money for a few bigger display-worthy sets. I'm not much of a MOCer, so when I dismantle a set it goes into "the tubs" and just takes up space. I have some nice big display sets like MMM, the Burrow and the Constitution, and I'm always conscious of how many more of those I could have had by now if I didn't fritter away the money on $20 sets that I eventually dismantled and will most likely never rebuild.

This is on my mind right now because I've discovered I really, really want the T1 Camper and the other large-scale cars, and while I technically have the money for the camper, I really should have skipped some smaller sets to buy the one big one.

[WoutStopmotion]

I bought an MISB Explosion Studio once for €14...

And i opened it.

[fred67]

I bought an MISB Explosion Studio once for €14...

And i opened it.

Why is that bad? When I opened my Cafe Corner to build it, it had an aftermarket value of $850... I knew it and I opened it and built it with my family anyway, no regrets.

I mean, you bought it because you wanted it, right?

[WoutStopmotion]

Yes, i bought it because it was a set i wanted. I wasn't very aware of the pricing on MISB sets yet. If i was, i would've never ever opened it.

The Explosion Studio is also a lot older than the Cafe Corner so it's much rarer to come across an MISB one, especially for just €14.

[Danorak81]

I regret selling several sets from my youth in my late teens/early twenties. It was a time when the Lego sets had changed quite a bit for me, and didn't seem like 'Lego' any more. I sold the bits that would command a bit more money and (fortunately) kept all of my childhood Lego.

It was mainly Technic I sold initially: I had the Pneumatic Digger/Combine Harvester, the Motorbike with chain and pistons: and the biggest regret: my Model Team Lorry/Helicopter. I carry a bit of guilt for the other two Technic sets as well as my parents never really had a lot of money, and the digger and motorbike were presents (Christmas and Birthday). They went towards funding my car hobby...

I also sold, early 2000, all of my Star Wars Lego. Tie Fighter, Darth Vader with light up saber, Snowspeeder, Land Speeder etc etc. Idiot! But at the times, needs must and I didn't think I'd ever get back into Lego like this. I've got the Snow Speeder back (as new), so really pleased with that-I just can't justify the cost of some legacy Star Wars when there's new bits and pieces that I'd like. And now I'm earning 'grown-up' money, the sets I usually want are bigger and more expensive!

[FrenchLegoBoy]

I know how you feel like, Danorak81. I got into Lego again when I was 15, but I already had experienced the little bricks before, when I was way younger. But when my interest rose once more for the brand, I realized my parents threw away every single part I had... I sadly had to buy what I needed to MOC again, but I don't have the collecting virus that much so my purchases were/are/will be mostly parts for Star Wars / LOTR builds

[arc]

Another one, I'd say, was not taking better care off my sets as a kid. I'm not really a MOCer, so I like to keep my sets together. But as a kid, I tore everything apart and mixed pieces. Nowadays, I have the job of sorting through all the parts to reassemble my old models. Not really a regret since I didn't know better, but it's quite the hassle now.

this 10x. I abused my poor sets as a little kid. All those broken and sharpied on parts...

One other little thing is not picking up bionicle titans axxon and brutaka. The aftermarket knows no mercy.

Edited September 8, 2015 by arc

[Tezclatipoca]

Missing the Haunted House.

Me too, I regret missing it and now it is sooo overpriced in the second market !

[Zoshi]

I regret my dark ages like evrybody does. Looks as if all the great sets came out in those years..

This. So much. Jabba's Palace now selling for almost 3 times the price…

Looks like I was lucky though, I still have my sets from my childhood. Was going to sell them but never got around to it…

Other than that… hmm. Never contacting Lego when my SW advent calendar was missing Santa Yoda (I contacted them about it on a whim recently, didn't expect anything but they sent me Yoda with Santa C3PO's torso, not perfect but I am really grateful. Another reason Lego is awesome )

Getting rid of my Lego games during my dark ages, drawing on the face of one of my minfigs in sharpie and then trying to remove it with a nail file… Removing legs/arms/hands etc. on minifigs for no reason, some of my minifigs have cracks/loose parts now.

[bricksfan]

I once traded a speedor (Chima) for a lightsaber stick/bar. I never got my bar.

Plus, there was this sale for everithing 60% off.I missed that spinner for $4

Edited November 24, 2015 by bricksfan

[BrickCurve]

Being outbid on a 6086 ( http://brickset.com/sets/6086-1/Black-Knight-s-Castle ) on eBay for $100 less than the Bricklink price.

[Junior Shark]

I have to say I regret buying a lot of smaller sets instead of saving that money for a few bigger display-worthy sets. I'm not much of a MOCer, so when I dismantle a set it goes into "the tubs" and just takes up space. I have some nice big display sets like MMM, the Burrow and the Constitution, and I'm always conscious of how many more of those I could have had by now if I didn't fritter away the money on $20 sets that I eventually dismantled and will most likely never rebuild.

This is on my mind right now because I've discovered I really, really want the T1 Camper and the other large-scale cars, and while I technically have the money for the camper, I really should have skipped some smaller sets to buy the one big one.

This.

Also, not picking up more of the 2009 Space Police sets.