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LEGO Spring 2013 Catalogue - Disappointed

bishbrickbishbrick Member Posts: 9
edited March 2013 in Collecting
It usually opens a big can of worms to state something along the lines of "what a disappointing year this is for LEGO sets". The Trickle of details regarding new year releases that comes through via the internet is good at catching interest but as an AFOL it is usually sitting down with a good old fashioned LEGO catalogue that I decide which new sets I would like to purchase during the coming year.

Yesterday, the latest spring catalogue arrived through my door. Post-dinner rum and cola in hand, I sat down with a pen, ready to put a big fat tick next to those "wants".

Oh dear... not a single tick.

I understand that I am a certain type of LEGO fan. I'm astounded at the amount of Sets some users of brickset purchase. I only look to buy a select few new or recent sets each year, as well as various pick-a-brick, Collectable minifigure and ebay purchases. I'm not a huge fan of licensed LEGO themes, and the Ninjago and Chima have no real wow factor for me.

I guess I was hoping for some decent City and Creator sets, but this spring I really do think they are a let down.

However, the lack of interest in this years sets will allow me to just fork-out the cash for a couple of biggies - The Haunted House is till out there!

I just wondered what other people have though of the Spring "line-up"?
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Comments

  • legomattlegomatt Member Posts: 2,548
    edited February 2013
    I'm quite glad for the lack of interest I have in the new ranges for my wallet's sake. The last few years have been expensive, as there's been so much to like! :o)

    My main buys are Star Wars OT, LoTR (but disappointed with the range so far), Super Heroes, and CMF's.

    I also really liked some of the Monster Fighters recently, and even bought some Ninjago (as I like historical cultures, so got some nice oriental bits in that), so I'm happy/relieved that I've no interest whatsoever in Chima, Ninjago has stopped tempting me with anything historically interesting, and there's no more Hammer Horror stuff.

    So, apart from the Turtles (which i'll pick the minimum sets up to complete the gang), I'm relieved to only have to save up for Rancor, and a few Super Heroes sets.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,556
    If you are not into licensed or Ninjago and Chima, there is very little left. Each series gets it own double page spread (x2 for SW), Creator gets 1x double pages, City 1x double, Cinema gets a full page, double for each of turtles, superheroes, ninjago, chima (x2 here), and technic. That's about all there is room for.

    I cannot understand why Life of George gets a whole page. They must really need rid of that one.
  • bricksanbricksan Member Posts: 566
    I agree with the OP so far I bought one set this year in the HE and my only other planned purchase will be the PC other than that will spend my money on Bricklink. Retail sets no longer do it for me as a builder, the only fun I get when building are in the exclusive models.

    SO far this year I have either parted out or sold anything that isn't a LEGO exclusive set.
  • bishbrickbishbrick Member Posts: 9
    CCC said:

    I cannot understand why Life of George gets a whole page. They must really need rid of that one.

    Yes, I thought that was a bit odd. It was almost as if the set hadn't been released yet and this was the initial promo for it!

  • caperberrycaperberry Member Posts: 2,226
    I didn't get a voucher this time. Did anyone?
  • DanGPDanGP Member Posts: 66
    ^ Neither did I but I usually do.
  • StevenAshbyStevenAshby Member Posts: 155
    first time i didnt get a voucher. was waiting for that to go get my palace cinema
  • piratemania7piratemania7 Member Posts: 2,146
    I know what you mean. I picked up Palace Cinema a couple weeks ago and until castle comes out there is really very little for me to get! So this is great news for my wallet. Of course, I have started to dabble in Star Wars so we will see how that goes but I do not think I will be "bit" by that bug like others. All in all, very lackluster I agree. I think LEGO is trying to consolidate their strength towards a couple of select lines and really hammer it home. Its a shame that so many other themes have to go unnoticed. Oh well, maybe the summer and fall will bring new surprises?
  • burnsiderburnsider Member Posts: 75
    caperberry said:

    I didn't get a voucher this time. Did anyone?

    Bummer. PC will have to wait until the summer. Actually, it will be a fight between PC and Tower of Orthanc if it gets released in June.

  • doriansdaddoriansdad Member Posts: 1,337
    I am not really into the licensed themes either. Was 31012 Family House or 31010 Tree House in the catalogue? Both look like fine sets to me.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    No voucher here either. Normally get one, but didn't get a catalogue at all in January so getting anything is something.
  • leego76leego76 Member Posts: 360
    No voucher for me either, and I usually spend the one I get. Much less likely to buy instore without one. At least free shipping has started again
  • rchaddrchadd Member Posts: 187
    edited February 2013
    seems everything is currently to appeal to kids (playsets)- Chima, TMNT, Clonewars stuff, Super Heros, Friends meh. nothing appeals to me either....
  • rchaddrchadd Member Posts: 187
    edited February 2013
    need more exclusives. already have the VW Campervan, Sopwith Camel and horizon Express (still not sure why i got that one!). PC will have to wait need to get TH first. I'll just wait until next AFOL sale for that one!
  • beabea Member Posts: 227
    I'm looking forward to several sets from this batch. The Palace Cinema and the Family House from the creator series are a must for me. To my surprise, I'm also looking forward to the smaller Lone Ranger sets, especially the stage coach. Lego city has been in dire need of a schoolhouse so I may spring for the Firends high school as well. I'm tempted by the wing pieces in Chima but I have no actual use for them so far.

    I'll suspect I'll be giving pretty much everything else a miss entirely although I reserve judgment on that rumoured Tower of Orthanc till I see it.
  • LegoBrickSteveLegoBrickSteve Member Posts: 43
    New Castle LEGO now, please!
  • tamamahmtamamahm Member Posts: 1,987
    rchadd said:

    seems everything is currently to appeal to kids (playsets)- Chima, TMNT, Clonewars stuff, Super Heros, Friends meh. nothing appeals to me either....

    I have to disagree with this, or at least my kids don't fit this. :-)

    Last year my son adored Ninjago, and there were some really strong sets.
    The year before it was all about Alien Conquest for my son.
    For my girls, they adored HP.
    In those years we bought entire lines.
    This year??? Sorry, there are no themes he cares for, unless one counts Ninjago, and most sets are small. We do not plan on all.

    I finally sat my 6 year old down yesterday.

    His list for the year.
    - The large summer Galactic Squad set. I don't recall the name, but it is $99.99
    - He did think the Lone Ranger Mine and Train were cool.
    - The Castle set with the Dragon was alright.
    - He liked 2-3 new Ninjago sets.

    Overall, though, he doesn't like any particular line.

    For my girls....
    One will get one large friend set
    One will get the other large friend set
    Elrond's Council is the only other item of interest.

    In general, the themes this year really just do not appeal to my kids. Bits here and there, and Friends.



  • jockosjunglejockosjungle Member Posts: 701
    I don't see a lot on the horizon myself, its almost as if Lego isn't aimed at 32 year old men.

    Still it'll allow me time to buy the Camel and B Wing before anything I really want comes out.
    woony2
  • LegoBrickSteveLegoBrickSteve Member Posts: 43
    I'm just relieved to see we're getting new police and fire stuff. LEGO never seems to make enough of those year in and year out.

    Sarcasm out of the way now, I was a little underwhelmed myself. City needs a little expansion...a school, post office, barber shop, restaurant, etc... Who is starting all these fires? And why can't ALL of these cops finally catch them?
    margotmaxfischerLegoFanTexas
  • StormsworderStormsworder Member Posts: 107
    I thought that Little Cottage was too small and looked more like a shed than a house. I've seen photos of the two other Creator sets and the Treehouse is just as little and looks a mess. Although the larger house looks good, Creator sets seem to be getting smaller. Also not really impressed by this year's Space sets. They should be doing more things like Space Police 3 (the larger police sets at least) and those alien saucers.
  • bishbrickbishbrick Member Posts: 9
    piratemania7 said:

    Its a shame that so many other themes have to go unnoticed. Oh well, maybe the summer and fall will bring new surprises?

    I agree, it is a shame... Despite the fact that I'm always aware LEGO is essentially a toy, designed with children in mind, there's always a couple of sets I would like from the City theme - either for building fun-time or for the included pieces - but this season's 2 main sets (the museum and the hideout) almost remind me of Fisher Price Toys!

  • bishbrickbishbrick Member Posts: 9
    doriansdad said:

    Was 31012 Family House or 31010 Tree House in the catalogue? Both look like fine sets to me.

    I would like both of those, but no, they were'nt in the Spring Catalogue. Something to look forward to in the Summer perhaps. Only 31009 is in there and in my humble opinion that's a very poor and pointless model.

  • bishbrickbishbrick Member Posts: 9
    LegoBrickSteve said:

    I'm just relieved to see we're getting new police and fire stuff. LEGO never seems to make enough of those year in and year out.

    Sarcasm out of the way now, I was a little underwhelmed myself. City needs a little expansion...a school, post office, barber shop, restaurant, etc... Who is starting all these fires? And why can't ALL of these cops finally catch them?

    So true, so true. LEGO did manage to do a good job of adding something different last year, with a very good Forest sub-theme, but it is a bit ridiculous how many police and fire sets there are now.

    I like your suggested list of City sets... they could do a mini theme of school. With the LEGO's shorter legs now firmly established, you could have a whole range of kids. A big school building, gymnasium, school bus etc.

  • jasorjasor Member Posts: 839
    @bishbrick really? I like the Museum...maybe because I picture it in Gotham City, with the Riddler climbing out the window and Batman busting him yet again :)
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,556
    bishbrick said:


    I like your suggested list of City sets... they could do a mini theme of school. With the LEGO's shorter legs now firmly established, you could have a whole range of kids. A big school building, gymnasium, school bus etc.

    How many six or eight year olds want to come home from school and play with a school?

    And by school bus, I assume you mean a yellow North American school bus?
    icey117
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    ^ This, we had the happy land school - thought it was cute, would be nice for our little boy as he started to go to preschool. Almost never touched it. Now with LEGO and they're a bit older they are always building, something new every day, invariably a complex building (that rarely gets above 5 bricks high). Never once a school.
  • bishbrickbishbrick Member Posts: 9
    CCC said:

    bishbrick said:


    I like your suggested list of City sets... they could do a mini theme of school. With the LEGO's shorter legs now firmly established, you could have a whole range of kids. A big school building, gymnasium, school bus etc.

    How many six or eight year olds want to come home from school and play with a school?

    And by school bus, I assume you mean a yellow North American school bus?
    I think kids like playing school (the Sylvanian Families School was very popular back in the day. And kids have never had a problem with coming home to watch programmes about school (Recess, Grange Hill, Degrassi High etc). It's there world after all.

    A school bus needn't be the US kind, although it is iconic enough.

  • bishbrickbishbrick Member Posts: 9
    jasor said:

    @bishbrick really? I like the Museum...maybe because I picture it in Gotham City, with the Riddler climbing out the window and Batman busting him yet again :)

    But it's not a museum is it. It's just a foyer really. Why not design and sale a LEGO museum the similar size as the Forest Police Station last year?

  • CapnRex101CapnRex101 Administrator Posts: 2,364
    As a huge Star Wars and Super Heroes fan, those were all must haves for me, but beyond that only the Palace Cinema and the City 'Great Vehicles' interested me. I certainly see what you mean. However the Summer sets look incredible if you ask me, more Lord of the Rings sets (which look great) and some excellent Star Wars offerings too. Swings and roundabouts I suppose, some seasons are rather lacklustre while others I cannot spend money fast enough!
  • psychopuppetpsychopuppet Member Posts: 71
    Spring time almost every year seems to be the slow time for Legos for me. I usually use this time to catch up on other hobbies. I know this upcoming summer , fall , and winter will be wallet killing for me with the Lone Ranger , Superheroes , LOTR , and Lego video games. I have that to look forward to or dread depending on how my money situation plays out.
  • JenniJenni Member Posts: 1,390
    @CCC Mine, because then she can be the teacher :). It may be more a girl thing, which would explain Friends getting a school rather than City. Currently our Friends just have a lot of science fairs.
  • tamamahmtamamahm Member Posts: 1,987
    edited March 2013
    CCC said:

    bishbrick said:


    I like your suggested list of City sets... they could do a mini theme of school. With the LEGO's shorter legs now firmly established, you could have a whole range of kids. A big school building, gymnasium, school bus etc.

    How many six or eight year olds want to come home from school and play with a school?

    And by school bus, I assume you mean a yellow North American school bus?
    Well, considering the Friends line has a school coming out this summer, I assume Lego believes there are plenty of kids that will. :-)
  • jasorjasor Member Posts: 839
    edited March 2013
    @bishbrick said:

    "But it's not a museum is it. It's just a foyer really. Why not design and sale a LEGO museum the similar size as the Forest Police Station last year?"


    Well, the bank with Two-Face chase wasnt much of a bank, either. I always take vignette set designs as a starting place, personally. They wanted to get Chase out there with a midsize set, and some nice play features. I think the museum has some good ideas, and gets it's point across with a manageable pricepoint.

    My CFOL doesnt even LIKE City, but she responded well to the Museum set rather well. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    edited March 2013
    tamamahm said:

    CCC said:

    bishbrick said:


    I like your suggested list of City sets... they could do a mini theme of school. With the LEGO's shorter legs now firmly established, you could have a whole range of kids. A big school building, gymnasium, school bus etc.

    How many six or eight year olds want to come home from school and play with a school?

    And by school bus, I assume you mean a yellow North American school bus?
    Well, considering the Friends line has a school coming out this summer, I assume Lego believes there are plenty of kids that will. :-)
    Plenty of girls that will. Given that lego dont make a city one (have they ever) and yet are making a friends one would suggest that they basically agree with CCCs point of view.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,556
    edited March 2013
    tamamahm said:

    CCC said:

    bishbrick said:


    I like your suggested list of City sets... they could do a mini theme of school. With the LEGO's shorter legs now firmly established, you could have a whole range of kids. A big school building, gymnasium, school bus etc.

    How many six or eight year olds want to come home from school and play with a school?

    And by school bus, I assume you mean a yellow North American school bus?
    Well, considering the Friends line has a school coming out this summer, I assume Lego believes there are plenty of kids that will. :-)
    Well, considering the Friends line has a school coming out this summer, I assume Lego believes there are plenty of girls that will. :-)

    EDIT: just noticed cheshirecat got there first!
  • EKSamEKSam Member Posts: 349
    This year I plan to get the Haunted House, strip off all the creepy stuff and hand it over to my 7 year old so Emma, Stephanie etc. have a place to stay instead of just piling in Olivia's House:-)

    Agree with all who think creator houses are getting smaller, that little cottage looks more like a restroom than a cottage:-)

    @jenny
    yes, little girls love playing school, setting up schedules and handing out report cards to 3 month old babies:-)

    I was actually looking forward to the Chima line, the minifigs look cool...the sets ...bleh
    ( just my opinion).
  • LegoBrickSteveLegoBrickSteve Member Posts: 43
    The School was just an example...I didn't mean to ruffle feathers.

    My suggestion was merely/mostly to suggest that it would be nice to get a better variety of buildings out there. My point was that we get A LOT of fire and police stuff year in and year out, and that it would be great to get a better smattering of structures.

    The mine, for example, was a welcome stray from the norm. If a school wasn't the greatest suggestion, I apologize.

    What about you guys? What good-sized city set would like to see of a building that would be a welcome addition to your LEGO City that we haven't seen from the company yet?
  • EKSamEKSam Member Posts: 349
    @LegoBrickSteve

    I agree with you, we need a wider variety of buildings and a school is a nice suggestion. Hospitals, city post office, restaurants...possibilities seem endless.

    I don't know about only girls loving "playing school". My daughter loves building be it City, creator, star wars or Friends. Harry potter frequently drops by to have ice cream at the Friends cafe.
    In my opinion you can have only so many fire stations or police stations.

  • LegoBrickSteveLegoBrickSteve Member Posts: 43
    Absolutely...and as far as the school goes, it all depends on the model. If it was an awesome build and masterfully designed, I think most people would fall in love with it.
  • AnthonyC173AnthonyC173 Member Posts: 101
    that is where the friends set comes to play. It has plenty of buildings and some are actually quite nice.
  • LegoBrickSteveLegoBrickSteve Member Posts: 43
    I have found myself picking up some of the Friends sets just for some of the unique and differently colored parts.
  • StormsworderStormsworder Member Posts: 107
    edited March 2013
    There doesn't seem to be a big "themed" set this year. Last year there was a Jousting set complete with castle wall, and in previous years there have been things like Harry Potter's Diagnon Alley, that big pirate-era Imperial ship and that castle set with the blacksmith's forge and tavern.

    I would like to see more town sets like "Town Plan". They were kind of like new updated versions of the kind of sets Lego used to make - open-backed buildings but still detailed and not in any way dumbed down by pre-fab pieces. Another town set along those lines could contain perhaps a library, a cafe with residential rooms upstairs and maybe a shop of some kind. I think Town needs a few more non-emergency buildings as otherwise there's surely no point in having emergency services.
  • LegoBrickSteveLegoBrickSteve Member Posts: 43
    60026 Town Square seems to be something like this. I'm not sure when it is scheduled for release, but Brickset had a story (and some pictures) up on this back on Feb. 16.

    It features a bike shop, pizza place, statue, and number of different vehicles. A step in the right direction, I think...
  • figurafigura Member Posts: 6
    bishbrick said:



    However, the lack of interest in this years sets will allow me to just fork-out the cash for a couple of biggies - The Haunted House is till out there!

    That pretty much nails it for me already. I am glad that there is like a little "break".
  • BrikingBriking Member Posts: 768
    ^ A Haunted House restoration project to make it fit into the Modulars is definitely on the cards for later in the year.
  • PoochyPoochy Member Posts: 479
    How do you sign up to get the catalog? I'm a VIP member (even got the Valentine keychain :), but have never received a single one :(.
  • BrikingBriking Member Posts: 768
    ^ In the UK, shop.lego.com/en-GB/catalog/onlinerequest/ageSelector.jsp should do the trick.
  • PoochyPoochy Member Posts: 479
    ^ Sorry, I should have been clearer. I know you could request it, but I wanted to sign up to have it sent automatically. Anyway, I had to called Lego for some other thing and asked about them this. I was informed that you cannot "sign up" to have it automatically sent, that I would have to explicitly request it each month :(.
  • sosewsuzisosewsuzi Member Posts: 3
    I started out as a "Friends" collector but for me the release of new sets has been slow which made me expand my interest to Creator sets and modular sets. A good thing for LEGO but not for my wallet. I've been adding modular sets...Pet Shop, Palace Cinema, Emporium etc. In March I plan to pick up the Town Hall and Haunted House then back to Friends sets. I am getting a bit bored with all the animal themed friends set so I do hope they move onto other themes and bigger sets.
  • JenniJenni Member Posts: 1,390
    @EKSam That's the difference between "only girls loving to play school" and "girls only loving to play school" :). My daughter has reasonable star wars, city, creator, superheroes, Dino and Ninjago collections too, and now there's Chima. I love the picture of your daughter handing a report card to the baby.

    @legobricksteve you didn't ruffle feathers, this is a recurring topic of conversation. Pretty much all the adults want variety, and a school is near the top of the list with a zoo, but as LEGO doesn't seem to believe that non-emergency sets will sell well to 7-year-old boys it appears we won't be getting them. We used to complain about not having had a hospital for years but we got the ambulance station last year. We have been getting car themed sets, the city garage and the garage before that. There was the construction theme not that long ago, the mining sets seem to be the more recent successor to that. The City House was fairly recent too, I wonder how that sold.

    What I'd like to know is why the shops in LEGO City only sell pizza and bicycles. We obviously have the pieces for a bakery, do they really think little boys wouldn't be interested in anything that involves food? Or a toy shop?
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