Unpopular LEGO Opinions

lowlead · February 2022

Here's a case in point: #6941 Battrax. Look how dense the page is! The chassis is done in 16 steps...

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/ms/qtfav56ipawl.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/pe/sodapw7ezqrr.jpg

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Marshallmario · February 2022

@lowlead I think you make good points until the pdf files. I really don't want to sit in front of a computer or my phone to build Lego. Probably the main reason I passed on the Ideas sets. I suppose I could print a copy every time I wanted to build something but I doubt it.

lowlead · February 2022

Marshallmario said:

@lowlead I think you make good points until the pdf files....

Oh god, agreed. Thus the 'wink' at the end =oD I used pdf instructions to build an 18,000+ piece Star Destroyer. That was a challenge - I had to rearrange the furniture in my office.

What about trimmed down physical instructions, supplemented by enhanced electronic files?

Who knows, I'm not an expert on the matter...but I might be willing to try out real solutions to control costs instead of bitching about rising prices - which will only get worse, btw....

Fizyx · February 2022

So, over the last year I've had several older second hand sets come into my hands, and had a chance to rebuild some of my own older collection from the 80s/90s space and underwater themes, and I think that a lot of the posts here are missing a significant difference between those older sets with the 'simple' instruction booklets and the newer/bigger modern ones. @560Heliport hit on it in part: Today's builds are far more complex, with far more small parts, than the older sets are. Every time I build one of the older sets I'm shocked by how few pieces there are and how BIG they are, in aggregate.

I know we all know this intellectually, as we always talk about how piece counts are increasing and there's more small greebling pieces and sets, etc etc. But one effect of this change in basic size and piece count is that it was possible to use fewer instructions to construct something of the same 'size.' You can even see this in some of the instructions above; if you look at the number of pieces added per step, on average, I'm not convinced it will have dropped all that much for the average set since the 80s and 90s. (Obviously @Istokg's example is a little different, but I don't know if I'd count those as real 'instructions' anyway :P)

I think @lowlead hit on the real change without even realizing he did: Old instructions are DENSE. New instructions have taken the steps and spread them out, making them much more readable. There's no more than 2 on a page in most cases, and they added the little parts used box to every step. And, having recently built some of the large, raised-baseplate Aquazone sets... if going to more old school instructions means no more parts used boxes again? Well, I'll keep my modern booklets, thank you!

Actually, the final thing about the evolution of LEGO directions that I think bears mentioning has to be the booklets and the paper they used. I think a large part of what likely drove the 'sparsification' of the dense LEGO direction page was a drive to make the directions more durable. The old large style booklets were... not great. And the fold-able single pages were way worse. They started falling apart very quickly. I think that LEGO likely moved to booklets for a lot of things as piece counts started to grow because, on top of being more readable, they also held together MUCH better than the old style directions over time. They also very clearly have improved the quality of the paper that they use in their directions, making fold-able single page directions harder to make work, since the paper is thicker.

Anyways, TL:DR after having spent way too long this morning thinking about LEGO directions, I don't think the change to LEGO directions over the last few decades has been driven as much by simplification of the building process as by the drastic increase in piece counts, decrease in average piece size, and desire to improve the durability and quality of the provided directions over all.

vizzitor · February 2022

I can't imagine the absolute chaos on the Lego subreddit if the instructions were any less straightforward than they are now. At least three or four times a day, someone posts that they have a large pile of "leftover parts" including bricks and large plates, or they need help with something not looking or moving the right way.

Usually, they'll either admit they might have skipped some steps, or else they'll try to say Lego have made a mistake and they've checked the manual multiple times. Every time you can tell what they've done wrong from just a couple of pictures or just going back one or two steps from where they are in the build.

And it's not just on the more complicated sets either.

Brickfan50 · February 2022

^Surely you're joking, Mr 560Heliport. But I agree: I prefer printed instructions above PDF's.

560Heliport · February 2022

^ No, I really don't own a computer. I have a smartphone, but I don't use many of the features.

Cymbeline · February 2022

I don't own a smart phone - I don't know anyone else who doesn't. It's becoming increasingly difficult to resist buying one because of two level verification, QR codes, etc.

Sethro3 · February 2022

Brickfan50 said:

^Surely you're joking, Mr 560Heliport. But I agree: I prefer printed instructions above PDF's.

They are serious, and don't call them Shirley. :P Oh Airplane, good times.

On another note, I would also like to avoid sitting in front of a computer if all instructions went digital. I understand the appeal of less physical storage, but I enjoy this hobby because I can avoid screens. If I had to use a screen to build everything, I honestly would likely quit the hobby, or at least never buy new. I'm on a computer at work, so I can check this page and whatnot, but don't have access to a computer at home outside of my tiny screen smart phone and that would be torture to try to build off of.

Astrobricks · February 2022

Maybe those who are luddites are happy that way, but most of the things you might want a computer for can be done on a tablet, and it’s waaaaaaay easier than on a smartphone. To save money, see if friends or family have an older one sitting around or buy a refurbished one. Digital building instructions are one thing that a tablet can do well.

daewoo · February 2022

I'm 100% onboard with the wanting physical instructions instead of digital. I've downloaded custom instructions (pdf) but I always print them before I build. I refuse to use a powered display.

SumoLego · February 2022

daewoo said:

I refuse to use a powered display.

I have an unpowered display, but my kids get tired of holding up the instructions to the window. And they get cold in the winter.

560Heliport · February 2022

Astrobricks said:

Maybe those who are luddites are happy that way

Yes. Yes I am. 😁

andhe · February 2022

How about just getting rid of instructions altogether? Why can't they just send the lego set pre-built, and optionally glued (well this is unpopular opinions...)

daewoo · February 2022

SumoLego said:

daewoo said:

I refuse to use a powered display.

I have an unpowered display, but my kids get tired of holding up the instructions to the window. And they get cold in the winter.

Put 'em to work! But it was a weird way to say it....not sure what was happening between my brain and fingers. :/

Sethro3 · February 2022

andhe said:

How about just getting rid of instructions altogether? Why can't they just send the lego set pre-built, and optionally glued (well this is unpopular opinions...)

I mean, that would save me a lot of time. I have limited time for this hobby these days. The time I do have goes to the endless sorting of pieces, so I'm still not enjoying it. And a lot of sets don't get built so I can MOC other things. But there are a few that I do want built. And as much as I like building, I don't have the time. So having it pre-built sadly could be good (but then why not just try a different hobby you ask...)

TheOriginalSimonB · February 2022

^Feel free to send your sets to me along with a reply paid label and a small handling fee and I’ll be happy to build and return.

WesterBricks · February 2022

My unpopular opinion for today:

I don’t care about small inaccuracies in models that are based on real-life subjects.

At the end of the day, Lego models are caricatures. Even a 1:1 model will still be inaccurate, simply because the medium dictates it.

Lyichir · February 2022

WesterBricks said:

My unpopular opinion for today:

I don’t care about small inaccuracies in models that are based on real-life subjects.

At the end of the day, Lego models are caricatures. Even a 1:1 model will still be inaccurate, simply because the medium dictates it.

I think that's reasonable. Especially for minifigure-scale models, since the minifigure's proportions are inherently unrealistic and often require compromises of one sort or another to accommodate. But even for larger scale models, sometimes one feature or another will need extra thickness for stability or a combination of imperfect shapes to avoid the need to introduce a bespoke, single-use part.

SumoLego · February 2022

daewoo said:
Put 'em to work!

Does the new Pokémon game count as work? Haven't seen my children in weeks.

Mr_Cross · February 2022

My current unpopular opinion (judging from instagram):
I don't like it when people pull off minifigure legs to "better" pose a photograph, especially when it's intending you to see it as a knee. It doesn't look right to me and I always think about dislocated hips.
I'm not especially keen on arms popped out of sockets either, but it doesn't bother me as much.

I do like the scene in TLNM where L-loyd loses his arm though. Garmadon: What's it look like?

The_Rancor · February 2022

Mr_Cross said:

My current unpopular opinion (judging from instagram):
I don't like it when people pull off minifigure legs to "better" pose a photograph, especially when it's intending you to see it as a knee. It doesn't look right to me and I always think about dislocated hips.
I'm not especially keen on arms popped out of sockets either, but it doesn't bother me as much.
I do like the scene in TLNM where L-loyd loses his arm though. Garmadon: What's it look like?

I think I made a very similar comment to this earlier in the thread - very much agree! Even though I’m a frequent Blocks mag reader, they’ve done it to minifigs for their lovely photography a few times. The Marvel CMFs was a good example.

Just accept the limitation of the medium. The medium being that minifig arms and legs are intended to fit together a certain way, and arguably aren’t intended to be pulled apart at all in the first place.

lessjunkfood · February 2022

Mr_Cross said:

My current unpopular opinion (judging from instagram):
I don't like it when people pull off minifigure legs to "better" pose a photograph, especially when it's intending you to see it as a knee. It doesn't look right to me and I always think about dislocated hips.

How about if the legs are on backward? See the box art for #1497 Pitstop and Crew:

WesterBricks · February 2022

Backward legs have always creeped me out. I’ve never seen it in an official image.

560Heliport · February 2022

I like #75325 The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter. I plan to get it Day One!

Bumblepants · February 2022

Ninjago City Gardens has backwards legs in the instructions. Chen's Noodle Shop signage has Chen attached that way.

Phoenixio · February 2022

I just finished building #10297 Boutique Hotel and I can finally say it: I'm good with sand green for now. Let's move on to new colors.

JudgeChuck · February 2022

The unveiling of #76219 Spider-Man & Green Goblin Mech Battle made me think of one:

Am I the only one who is getting a little tired of nearly every, single theme going mech-mad? Especially Ninjago, Monkie Kid & Marvel.
Now, mechs are cool, but the last couple of years seem to have hit new heights of overkill and every other set seems to be a mech! Even the Jurassic World theme got in on the act with #75938 T. rex vs Dino-Mech Battle! Going back a bit I see there are a couple of DC Comics mechs, as well as Overwatch, Nexo Knights & Legends of Chima, which I had initially forgotten.

Isn't it all a bit lacking in imagination? And I'm not aiming this just at Lego, but the owners & writers of these properties! Need to spice up Spider-Man? Chuck him in a mech! ;-)

Disclaimer: This is said fairly tongue-in-cheek. I have a couple of mechs from Ninjago and I'm sure kids *love* mechs!

Edited to add: I've just checked my collection and I have a total of 4 "mechs", one of which is debatable!

#70754 ElectroMech - Only one Ninjago mech after all. I thought I had more!
#21109 Exo Suit - Love this one!
#30529 Mini Master-Building Emmet - LOL! Well, hardly a mech, really!
#31115 Space Mining Mech

Astrobricks · February 2022

Based on how many mech sets Lego makes, I guess my unpopular opinion is I have no interest in mechs.

pxchris · February 2022

I wouldn't say that I have no interest in mechs, and I understand their appeal, but I most certainly would agree that it's just gotten to be too much lately. Like with any fad though, I'm sure this too shall pass.

sipuss · February 2022

I'm certain that Spider-Man and Iron Man mechs outnumber all the other ones by now.

daewoo · February 2022

My Nieces' and nephews' children absolutely love mechs, so it doesn't surprise me that Lego keeps pumping them out. I don't see a point to them, but I'm old and out of touch with cool.

karrit · February 2022

I don't care for the Mechs either. To me they look like Bionicles on steroids crossed with Transformers and those ugly Starwars Buildable Figures they did a few years back. They are for me mostly a bunch of useless parts for what I prefer to build. This is the reason I was uninterested in most of the Monkie Kid sets. If half or more of a set is one of those ugly things I'm spending my money on other more interesting sets and trying to buy the few interesting pieces & Minifigs off of B&P.

Sethro3 · February 2022

The problem with mechs in Marvel at least, if they keep putting them out with a neat or unique figure, then I'll still buy them because just buying the figure is likely just as expensive. But under normal circumstances I wouldn't want to buy too many mechs. They do get a bit old, especially since I don't normally build them, so just toss the pieces into the bins that I'll likely never use.

JudgeChuck · February 2022

Oooh, maybe not such an *unpopular* opinion then! I'll try and think of another one. ;-)

Istokg · February 2022

Cymbeline said:

I don't own a smart phone - I don't know anyone else who doesn't. It's becoming increasingly difficult to resist buying one because of two level verification, QR codes, etc.

Add me to your list... I am now retired, and spend most of my time at home... can't think of a reason for a smart phone. Plus as someone who can type 80 words per minute... texting is torture. And I like the 27 inch monitor for my computer... great for watching videos/movies... the thought of using a SmartPhone for that sounds torturous.

There are drawbacks to not having a SmartPhone... cannot use Zelle app, nor Uber/Lyft... but I can get around that. Plus I use my large large computer monitor to Photoshop hundreds of images for my next iteration of my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide... makes it much easier on the eyes.

And the best reason of all... LEGO Sets/MOCs look bigger when not viewed on a SmartPhone! 😁

KungFuKenny · February 2022

JudgeChuck said:

The unveiling of #76219 Spider-Man & Green Goblin Mech Battle made me think of one:

Am I the only one who is getting a little tired of nearly every, single theme going mech-mad? Especially Ninjago, Monkie Kid & Marvel.
Now, mechs are cool, but the last couple of years seem to have hit new heights of overkill and every other set seems to be a mech!

I agree, but every now and one comes along that is just irresistible!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/p9/wifimo30bv2m.jpeg

Marshallmario · February 2022

Hoping for a lighthouse that turns into a mech! (with a small helicopter as a backpack)

Astrobricks · February 2022

Istokg said:

Cymbeline said:

I don't own a smart phone - I don't know anyone else who doesn't. It's becoming increasingly difficult to resist buying one because of two level verification, QR codes, etc.

Add me to your list... I am now retired, and spend most of my time at home... can't think of a reason for a smart phone. Plus as someone who can type 80 words per minute... texting is torture. And I like the 27 inch monitor for my computer... great for watching videos/movies... the thought of using a SmartPhone for that sounds torturous.

There are drawbacks to not having a SmartPhone... cannot use Zelle app, nor Uber/Lyft... but I can get around that. Plus I use my large large computer monitor to Photoshop hundreds of images for my next iteration of my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide... makes it much easier on the eyes.

And the best reason of all... LEGO Sets/MOCs look bigger when not viewed on a SmartPhone! 😁

You are allowed to own both a computer and a smartphone, just so you know :)

I agree watching movies on a phone is torture.

FollowsClosely · February 2022

FollowsClosely said:

2021 was a slim year for my lego purchases. I aquired the 2021 modular, ninjago city gardens, castle in the forest and the creator castle. Ctually, that's more than I originally though. However, for 2022 I am going to get nothing, not a single set. I don't have the room, need or desire for additional plastic blocks.

I'll check in here if I fail.

#noLego2022

Well, I failed.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/6e/670n8cuxsjz0.png

I needed some pieces for my latest project.

560Heliport · February 2022

Astrobricks said:
You are allowed to own both a computer and a smartphone, just so you know :)

..........What? ;)

WesterBricks · February 2022

Here’s an opinion: I think I get more enjoyment from rescuing sets from bulk lots, than from building a straightforward brand new set. It’s a treasure hunt and a puzzle rolled into one experience.

SumoLego · February 2022

WesterBricks said:
It’s a treasure hunt and a puzzle rolled into one experience.

I agree. Except that I have about 20 of these projects still waiting for my attention...

(I agree with your unpopular opinion?)

CCC · February 2022

When creating bulk lots from incomplete sets too cheap to bother completing , I have fun putting about 1/3 the set in one lot, 1/3 in another lot, and the minifigs in a third.

WesterBricks · February 2022

^ Filed under “Chaotic Evil”

lowlead · February 2022

The LEGO Ideas BTS set is lame and the 'shelf life' of boy bands suggests that this set will pile up behind the Barnes & Noble check-out counters next to Queer Eye.

Although, one unique property of BTS is they seem to have the full faith and approval of their own government...so they have that goin' for 'em. Which is nice.

FollowsClosely · February 2022

By time the set is released, will anyone care about BTS. Wait, who is BTS?

Astrobricks · February 2022

^ and ^^

This is unpopular opinions. Please stay on track :)

Aanchir · February 2022

FollowsClosely said:

By time the set is released, will anyone care about BTS. Wait, who is BTS?

Honestly, I don't think the BTS set is a very risky choice at all. I mean, they've stayed ridiculously popular for what feels like a pretty long time to me at this point (speaking as a non-fan who only knows about them through social media).

I figure it will probably only take a year or so for LEGO to bring a set like this to shelves, judging from the turnaround time on other recent pop-culture-based Ideas sets like Winnie the Pooh, Home Alone, Seinfeld, and Sonic the Hedgehog.

And it's not as though one-off LEGO sets need to have a very long "shelf life" themselves! After all, the Flintstones and Steamboat Willie sets each retired after around a year and a half.

So I doubt LEGO cares too much if a set like this will remain popular in the long run as long as it makes a decent-sized splash in the short term. And if it genuinely doesn't do well at all? Well, then it's just one set, and there'll be another Ideas set to take its place before too long one way or another.

There's a certain amount of risk-taking implicit to the Ideas platform. And I don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to praise the platform when it encourages LEGO to take risks on projects AFOLs tend to rally around (such as the Old Fishing Store, Doctor Who, or the Medieval Blacksmith), then to hem and haw when it leads LEGO to take risks on projects we associate with fan communities besides our own.

Fizyx · February 2022

I'll give you an unpopular opinion then: The BTS Ideas set will likely be one of the best selling LEGO sets ever released, even if it's not put out for a couple of years. Even if it's released EXACTLY AS IS based on the approved Idea.

Not only has BTS been around since 2010, they (and K-pop in general) have been on an enormous upswing, and it shows no sign of stopping. And as an idol group, there is a very good chance that the group will remain both around AND relevant to the pop scene for literal decades to come if they follow in the tradition of many of the older/larger (size wise) J-pop groups like Morning Musume or AKB48 and start rotating new members in. And quite frankly, even if they don't, their popularity in the K-pop scene and the rabid loyalty of their fan base ensures that any set release will sell, and will sell WELL, for any time in the foreseeable future.

(Best selling numbers are likely to be when taking worldwide numbers into consideration. For many regions it may not be the best, and it may do poorly in regions where K-pop isn't that big. But there will be a LOT of K-pop fans that would never EVER purchase LEGO otherwise that will get this set because its BTS.)

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