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Re-purposing production LEGO sets into easy MOCs or alternative builds

madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,794
in Building and Techniques
Given many people do not have time or the funds to spend massively for parts for huge MOCs I was wondering what people have done to easily re-purpose sets for use as other buildings and vehicles.
For example, I recently took another look at the #41005 and see a cheap re-purpose into a train station will little effort, or even a ticket venue for a zoo, or other event (like a race track).
As this has many windows on the one side of the building I see those as possible ticket booths for patrons, or riders.

I'm sure others have had great ideas for easy re-purposing of sets into MOC, lets hear them.

Comments

  • ColoradoBricksColoradoBricks Member Posts: 1,659
    Rebrickable is a great site for extra alternative build for sets. For example #5867 Super Speedster has 3 alternate builds, #6743 has 6 alternate builds, many more sets have those.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,755
    edited August 2013
    ColoradoBricks said:

    For example #5867 Super Speedster has 3 alternate builds

    Interesting that you should mention that - I've just this week reviewed a book on Gimme LEGO which contains instructions for an additional ten vehicles which can be made from the parts contained in #5867, and I'm pleased to report that they're actually of a pretty good standard.

    http://gimmelego.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/spoiled-for-choice.html
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    drdavewatford said:

    and I'm pleased to report that they're actually of a pretty good standard.

    even if they are BOLOCS!

    I'd still pass at the price. I'd probably buy an e-copy online at £2 if it was available that way. But even at £1.50 or so per set of instructions it seems too expensive when you consider you must buy all 10.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,755
    edited August 2013
    :-)

    BOLOCs indeed !

    I agree that it's a bit overpriced, but I suspect that it'll be discounted by Amazon or The Book People in due course; it's already a third off RRP at Amazon's US site.
    Cam_n_Stu
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,794
    Actually I was kinda hoping that people would use this thread to note cheap or quick ways they (not referring to another website) would, or have re-purposed LEGO sets, I think it is a nice distraction from the countless threads about reselling and predictions about sets values and whatnot.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,755
    edited August 2013
    So you don't think that a (fairly) inexpensive book offering 10 alternative sets of instructions for an official set is a cheap way of re-purposing a LEGO set ? Sorry I bothered to even mention it....
  • haakonohaakono Member Posts: 62
    The Lego remix stream on flicker is dedicated to such things:
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/legoremix/
    I find it inspiring.
    binaryeyemurphquake
  • bmwlegobmwlego Member Posts: 819
    Thanks for the link @haakono...cool pics in that group's pool.
  • tamamahmtamamahm Member Posts: 1,987
    What I have not done, but have considered...
    MMV for an edition to Diagon Alley.
    Monster Fighters Castle as another school in the world of HP


    I Bought two of last years little Christmas train to create a bigger one.
    I intentionally bought the $40 mine deal from Walmart last year with the intention of using the large mountain parts for a ski hill, and the rest as spare parts for my kids.
    CMF's are continually used and modified to add onto sets.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    madforLEGO said:

    Actually I was kinda hoping that people would use this thread to note cheap or quick ways they (not referring to another website) would, or have re-purposed LEGO sets, I think it is a nice distraction from the countless threads about reselling and predictions about sets values and whatnot.

    I'd take any large grey set such as Helm's Deep and convert it to a castle. Or to a sentry gate.

    But that is not cheap. Or quick. Any good remodel is not really going to be quick (unless you only have a small number of bricks). If it is quick, chances are that it is either a boring build (such as a flat plain wall) or too similar to the original.
  • caperberrycaperberry Member Posts: 2,226
    haakono said:

    The Lego remix stream on flicker is dedicated to such things:
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/legoremix/
    I find it inspiring.

    Great group, thanks for posting. Lovely seeing what people come up with - that lobster is fantastic!
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    edited August 2013
    caperberry said:

    haakono said:

    The Lego remix stream on flicker is dedicated to such things:
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/legoremix/
    I find it inspiring.

    Great group, thanks for posting. Lovely seeing what people come up with - that lobster is fantastic!
    The same guy has done a bird, gorilla, shark, kangaroo, etc with 6914. They are all better than the original!
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    The Ice Age critter's great.
  • Thanos75Thanos75 Member Posts: 1,120
    Thats what I really enjoy. taking two or three sets to build one really nice one. Because of the modular line I think that every building should be built to those standards...darn you Pet Shop.
    jasor
  • DrLegOBrickDrLegOBrick Member Posts: 68
    I've turned a few Train Stations (i.e. 4556 ) into Bus Stations/Transport Hubs in my city as I don't have space for Trains. I've also turned 7236 into a civilian car and 7635's 4X4 into an undercover Police 4X4. In addition, and if anybody does use this idea I don't mind, I've thought about buying and turning 4440 from a Forest Police Station to an Airport Police Station after watching a few Thunderbird episodes. And I've used Bane's Drill Tank thing from the latest Batcave for Miners. I'm an absolute terrible MOCer, and I have little to no spare parts, so I try and use official sets as a basis for a new building/car/truck/etc.
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,794
    edited August 2013
    Great ideas everyone.
    @Thanos75 I too have thought about combining sets, like two 3661 banks into one larger bank and say with the #4429 helicopter rescue set into a large hospital
  • Thanos75Thanos75 Member Posts: 1,120
    I bought 4 of the Daily Bugle Spider-Man sets#76005 with the purpose of building a big one . I still have a ways to go on it but it should fit nicely in our city when completed. The museum break in #60008 would aslo be a great set to combine I think.
  • Thanos75Thanos75 Member Posts: 1,120
    I like the idea of building a big bank aswell. Maybe combine the #3661 with the bank from the Two-Face Chase... #6864
  • brickgrrlbrickgrrl Member Posts: 6
    Thank you for the links! The flickr group has my 7 year old happily rebuilding the eagle creator set into an owl. Good challenge for his skills. :)
    klatu003
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