New LARGE Durham Cathedral set

KingDave

Just spotted this on fleebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Durham-Cathedral-Lego-LARGE-Model-Limited-Edition-of-500-contains-2000-bricks-/252176891877?hash=item3ab6e9ffe5:g:oGAAAOSwLzdWTcg6

No set number or box pic etc from description, but they state 2000 bricks and it look a decent size. I've done a quick search and can't see anything else about it on the interwebs, but others may have more luck (or already know about it).

Is this old or new news?

TechnicNick

It's created as a special edition for Durham Cathedral itself by Bright Bricks in the UK, and should only be available from the Cathedral's shop. To be fair, it does say all that in the listing. 

Huw

It's made by Bright Bricks so not an official kit, and thus no set number.

KingDave

Yes, but is it a NEW set or has it been about for a bit? I know they did a small version but I can't remember seeing this one before. Does anyone have a set number (did the old small one have a set number?)?

SirKevbags

Newish and different  (much bigger) than the one released last year. Last year they sold out in a short space of time but that was at a much lower price point. 

Sets released via Bright Bricks don't have a set number unless one is requested by the company commissioning the set. Hence FB 001, soon to be followed by FB 002 in the New Year..........

KingDave

It does look good in the pic. They could have put a few more pics up though and maybe something to give an idea of the size of it (it is a bit hard to tell from that one pic).

sklamb

They had a 500+ brick version that went on sale at the Cathedral shop in September of this year and sold out pretty quickly; it now goes for about $200 on eBay, which seems quite a markup to pay the reseller (it cost 55 pounds at the shop). I'd rather buy one of the 2000-piece sets if/when they become available at the Cathedral, but I haven't been able to get through to the e-mail address--both attempts came back as undeliverable. Can anyone in the Durham area help me out? Of course I'd pay for postage and a reasonable amount of packaging.

sklamb

Actually I'd most like to buy a copy of the 530-brick version if the Cathedral ever makes it available again--it includes the cloisters, which the larger model doesn't, and somehow I find it more appealing as well. But given that I can't seem to make contact with the Cathedral shop I doubt I'll be able to find out if more of the small version are ever going to be made--and I'd rather contribute to the Cathedral than have a reseller make money off the item.

CCC

That seller needs to be banned from eBay. Such rule breaking isn't allowed, even by organisations claiming to be backed by a god.

TheBernician

CCC said:

That seller needs to be banned from eBay. Such rule breaking isn't allowed, even by organisations claiming to be backed by a god.

Dear me. Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!
I for one am grateful for the info in this thread and the ebay details.
Because of this I have rang the cathedral shop and pre-ordered one.

TigerMoth

CCC said:

That seller needs to be banned from eBay. Such rule breaking isn't allowed, even by organisations claiming to be backed by a god.

I take it you're referring to the fact that it's basically just an advert? However, why, when previous versions have sold so quickly, do they have to advertise at all?

I also like the bit about "the UK only licensed LEGO makers". "UK only? Not really. But it isn't a LEGO maker, licensed or otherwise.

CCC

TheBernician said:

CCC said:

That seller needs to be banned from eBay. Such rule breaking isn't allowed, even by organisations claiming to be backed by a god.

Dear me. Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!
I for one am grateful for the info in this thread and the ebay details.
Because of this I have rang the cathedral shop and pre-ordered one.

Good for you. Would you mind if a company started advertising on the side of your church without paying?

DeMontes

I think the seller/Cathedral marketing executive meant that Bright Bricks are the UK's only certified LEGO professional....Im guessing of course....

"I also like the bit about "the UK only licensed LEGO makers". "UK only? Not really. But it isn't a LEGO maker, licensed or otherwise."

deephorse

That's a very strange auction.  "You can bid on this item but don't send me the money" etc.  So what happens if you do win?  Do you actually win anything?  

kiki180703

sklamb said:

They had a 500+ brick version that went on sale at the Cathedral shop in September of this year and sold out pretty quickly; it now goes for about $200 on eBay, which seems quite a markup to pay the reseller (it cost 55 pounds at the shop). I'd rather buy one of the 2000-piece sets if/when they become available at the Cathedral, but I haven't been able to get through to the e-mail address--both attempts came back as undeliverable. Can anyone in the Durham area help me out? Of course I'd pay for postage and a reasonable amount of packaging.

@sklamb I emailed them yesterday and they said postage (to Canada) would be around 20£. Did you check the email address that you used to email them?

sklamb

I cut and pasted it from their website. (Two separate times!) Perhaps their mailbox was full? And was it the 2000-piece version that would cost 20 pounds, or the smaller one?

kiki180703

^ Yes, the 2000-piece one 

sklamb

Did they mention a price for the set itself?

kiki180703

No, I asked them a few hours ago but I think they will only get back to me tomorrow. When I receive the email, I will post the price here @sklamb !

kiki180703

 @sklamb The price is £199 per set. With the exchange rate, it's $402CAD here in Canada :( It's as expensive as the Ghostbusters HQ for us

for you, it's $300USD

sklamb

Given the 530-piece one was 55 pounds, I suspected the 2000-piece one would be about that. At least it makes the cost of shipping seem reasonable....

Ouch ouch ouch. I think I may have to pass it up and try to reverse-engineer the smaller version.

HangedSanchez

I like this, but £199 is a bit hole in my lego budget, decisions, decisions!

Istokg

Bright Bricks is part of the LEGO Certified Professionals program, which gives them some special permission to build and sell LEGO sets that may contain the LEGO logo, but with disclaimers, and NEVER an official LEGO set number.

Just checking out their webpage gallery....
http://bright-bricks.com/gallery-2/

Identifying LEGO display models that are LEGO Model Shop produced, versus those created by LEGO Certified Professionals, and those just created by regular AFOLs has been more challenging since the beginning of the new millennium.

TheBernician

Got the new Cathedral model today.
Model looks really good. The Instruction book is A5 with a metal ringbind. Good quality and images and actual instructions are vivid and clear. Bricks are in 3 un-numbered zip lock type bags.
I am well looking forward to diving in this weekened and building it.
It will look superb amongst my other cith buildings.

kiki180703

@sklamb I received this email today:

monkeyhanger

TheBernician said:

Got the new Cathedral model today.
Model looks really good. The Instruction book is A5 with a metal ringbind. Good quality and images and actual instructions are vivid and clear. Bricks are in 3 un-numbered zip lock type bags.
I am well looking forward to diving in this weekened and building it.
It will look superb amongst my other cith buildings.

You'll have to get some pics up of the finished article. I'm tempted to pop through and buy one.

CCC

TheBernician said:

Got the new Cathedral model today.
Model looks really good. The Instruction book is A5 with a metal ringbind. Good quality and images and actual instructions are vivid and clear. Bricks are in 3 un-numbered zip lock type bags.
I am well looking forward to diving in this weekened and building it.
It will look superb amongst my other cith buildings.

That's Sith, not cith. Should fit in nicely.

paul_merton

kiki180703 said:

@sklamb I received this email today:

Requesting credit card details via email? Oh my days.

Dedgecko

Why not at a minimum do PayPal?

KingDave

They are probably working on some sort if honour system (to the delight of online fraudsters the world over). If you ring them they will probably write down all your card details to process later on.

sklamb

The telephone route seems secure enough. Judging from the website, Durham Cathedral is not trying to be cutting-edge about things in the cyberworld.

However, time spent converting pounds to dollars, calculating shipping costs, etc suggests that $190 represents a fair enough price for a GBP55 set that is retired, after all. It's not as if Durham Cathedral didn't get their contribution when the set was first bought. For some reason, the smaller set that includes the cloister really appeals to me more than the larger set (as well as costing me substantially less, even with the reseller markup). I doubt it will ever be released again, and a larger set including the cloister would probably cost around GBP250 to 300, which would definitely be out of my price range, however much I might approve of the cause it's supporting. So I've wimped out--but I'm looking forward to my mini-cathedral all the same!

Wonder if similar sets will eventually appear for Chester and Exeter cathedrals, which are doing similar fund-raising projects in connection with Bright Bricks? Can anyone comment on that?

sklamb

Answering my own question--Chester does have a model for sale, at GBP99 for 1584 pieces, which seems to be on a scale in between the two most recent Durham models. Information is available at the Chester Cathedral website. At the moment Exeter doesn't seem to have one...but of course that may change!

SirKevbags

Any set that has been released through the LCP scheme can't be released again assuming a full production run of 500. That is the maximum that any LCP is allowed to produce of the same set. 

sklamb

Thanks for letting me know that, @SirKevbags! So given the one I wanted had been sold out, there was no reason not to buy the most reasonable offer from a reseller, right?

Istokg

I imagine that if any of the Female FOLs would be interested... St. Cuthbert would be appalled!! :-O  There is a line of demarcation in the nave of Durham Cathedral beyond which women in the middle ages were not allowed to cross towards St. Cuthbert's Tomb in the east end.  This explains why the Lady's Chapel in Durham Cathedral is located where ordinarily the main entrance would be....

Cuthbert... as a monk, abbott and bishop at Lindisfarne was not exactly a ladies man.  But I digress.... ;-)

TigerMoth

That's just a legend. The Lady Chapel was originally destined for the opposite end of the cathedral, as is normal, but the ground conditions basically meant it collapsed during construction. "Lady" denotes "Our Lady", not women in general.

The line was because women weren't allowed in the main cathedral due to the rules of the incumbent Benedictines. When the Priory at Coldingham burned down it was considered divine retribution for the less-than-appropriate behaviour of the monks and nuns. Yes, Cuthbert blamed the latter, and women in general. The two groups were separated after that.

Women  were allowed in the Lady Chapel because it was effectively separate. In the same way, music was later generally allowed in Lady Chapels, but not in the main cathedrals - different place; different rules.

Most churches had areas where women were not allowed - even just fifty years ago.

Legobusfan

I asked Exeter. They are planning a trilogy of models. The first to be released on 11/2/16 to tie in with launch of their giant Lego model.  Sarah

tecjam

34 quid to europe? What are they sending it with, a private jet? I think I'll pass. I may just check if they have any left next time I'm in Durham.

CCC

tecjam said:

34 quid to europe? What are they sending it with, a private jet? I think I'll pass. I may just check if they have any left next time I'm in Durham.

Angel post.

TigerMoth

tecjam said:

34 quid to europe? What are they sending it with, a private jet? I think I'll pass. I may just check if they have any left next time I'm in Durham.

Probably Parcel Force which is what most people would use to "just send a parcel". Experienced online sellers might have better ideas. Apart from which, if they're not paying for it, they can just use the first or most convenient service that comes into their heads.

sklamb

@legobusfan - thank you for posting this information! Now to try and guess whether the "middle" version will be the most desireable, the way it was for Durham--although I really like the look of the current Chester model, which I presume to be the first in that series since none of them have become available on eBay (UK or US) yet.

Also, when I ordered the Chester model (using a secure web form) they gave me a price cut, due to my being outside the EU, which compensated for almost all the shipping charge!

@tecjam - The previous version of the Durham model sold out in less than a month. (It was, I admit, a quarter the price of the current one.) Just saying....

Legobusfan

I have asked Chester if they are doing a set or just a one off. Not heard back yet.

tecjam

@tecjam - The previous version of the Durham model sold out in less than a month. (It was, I admit, a quarter the price of the current one.) Just saying....

Yeah, I've pretty much resigned myself to not owning this set ever. There are others I would prefer to spend my money on (both retired and still available).

And just to buy an already overpriced set only to sell at a profit isn't what I do. I'll leave that to others.

Legobusfan

Chester Cathedral are currently only planning the one model.