Home› Collecting
Shopping at LEGO or Amazon?
Please use our links: LEGO.com • Amazon
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Modular Buildings, to pass on or collect?

135

Comments

  • vwong19vwong19 Member Posts: 1,191
    @romdam - come on lets reserve garbage for mega bloks
  • romdamromdam Member Posts: 136
    99% of what is coming out is way too big. Vehicles, these modulular buildings, and such. 6 wide vehicles are just way too bulky and what not. I will once in a great while find something that will fit in my layout. City Corner, minus the bus, the new Marina, the trains. They fit nicely with a classic layout. Everything else; not worth my time or money.
  • Si_UKNZSi_UKNZ Member Posts: 4,179
    (at least thats a slightly more reasoned argument!)
    Agree that the 2 'eras' arent very compatible. You either jump or you dont.
  • romdamromdam Member Posts: 136
    I should say tho, for what they are, they are ok standalone sets. Nice displays. I don't think they look good in any city layout tho. I do think my opinion got a little softer as well, lol.

    Hey, it's Lego, can't lose the love, unless we are talking friends,, then that's another story.
  • The_Brick_BuilderThe_Brick_Builder Member Posts: 658
    Modulars look great in a current City layout. It won't look as nice in a classic town layout.
  • Firox5000Firox5000 Member Posts: 61
    I can't wait for the town hall to come out, as long as I afford it Iam getting it. Seeing as I've missed put on every modular so far, I really like the mini modular. Iam so tempted to buy another set.

    Also, I think that in 2017 (ten after the cafe corner was released) they should re release the set with improved interior and exterior design while still basing it on the original design.
  • tategoitategoi Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2012
    I asked myself the same question. I have decided to start collecting the modular buildings, which include the Fire Brigade, Grand Emporium and the Pet Shop. And now eagerly waiting to add the fourth to my collection - Town Hall.

    Would I pay premium to get the 3 earlier sets? Nope. I have missed the boat. So be it.
  • Bosstone100Bosstone100 Member Posts: 1,431
    I may just pick up the Fire Brigade, hold on to it and see how I feel about it. I can always pick up some others before they go EOL. I'm not in any rush.
  • Firox5000Firox5000 Member Posts: 61
    Which modular should I get first, the fire brigade, pet shop or town hall?
  • DuchessaDuchessa Member Posts: 287
    Which modular should I get first, the fire brigade, pet shop or town hall?
    That's easy. If you intend to buy all of them, get the Fire Brigade now. That one isn't around for much longer.

  • DaddyWhaleDaddyWhale Member Posts: 130
    I asked myself the same question. I have decided to start collecting the modular buildings, which include the Fire Brigade, Grand Emporium and the Pet Shop. And now eagerly waiting to add the fourth to my collection - Town Hall.

    Would I pay premium to get the 3 earlier sets? Nope. I have missed the boat. So be it.
    Cafe Corner and Green Grocer are great sets. If you're buying not as investments but to enjoy the build and play potential, you might want to consider bricklinking parts and substituting colors, etc to keep costs down. I did this with Market Street (which I was not willing to buy for the going rate of $600+) and managed to get a very good version for around $200.
  • DuchessaDuchessa Member Posts: 287
    I asked myself the same question. I have decided to start collecting the modular buildings, which include the Fire Brigade, Grand Emporium and the Pet Shop. And now eagerly waiting to add the fourth to my collection - Town Hall.

    Would I pay premium to get the 3 earlier sets? Nope. I have missed the boat. So be it.
    Cafe Corner and Green Grocer are great sets. If you're buying not as investments but to enjoy the build and play potential, you might want to consider bricklinking parts and substituting colors, etc to keep costs down. I did this with Market Street (which I was not willing to buy for the going rate of $600+) and managed to get a very good version for around $200.
    I actually did the same thing with Market Street last month. I think I paid roughly $250 for a very decent version of the set (with some substitutions). But the shipping costs are a killer if you're based in Sweden, so someone in the US or UK should manage to get it for $200.


  • dimefielddimefield Member Posts: 314
    I built a heavily substituted version of Market Street just out of parts on hand (kind of looks plaid) but thats good enough for me.
  • forouza1forouza1 Member Posts: 2
    I was just at a SoCal lego store today and the manager said the Fire Brigade will indeed be discontinued along with the Emporium this year. Did not give an exact date but I'm assuming late 2012. She did mention she had an opportunity to see what the next modular building after town hall would be....can you guess? I was very surprised by her answer..




    Haunted House.
  • The_Brick_BuilderThe_Brick_Builder Member Posts: 658
    Thanks for the insight, but I really doubt it will be a Haunted House.

    1) LEGO is already releasing a haunted house set
    2) A Haunted House wouldn't fit in with the current modulars.
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    ^ it's obviously the same product (10228). This store manager is clearly referring to it as the next modular, whether it is or (I believe) isn't. In the end, 10228 is an un-branded box in the Direct lineup, just like all the existing modulars, so it's easy to see how the mistake/assumption can be made.
  • forouza1forouza1 Member Posts: 2
    Yeah, I thought it was bizarre in that she was inferring that it was going to go along with the modular sets already released. I assuming it's probably being released under the "Creator" series.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    I sold my Market Street a few months ago for $998 on Bricklink. I didn't care for it at all. I personally don't think it goes with the rest of the buildings. Mainly because of the colors. It is also a smaller set than the others. I took that money and bought 2 Fire Brigades and 2 Grand Emporiums during a BOGO sale. I still had $548 to spend on other sets I wanted.

    I love this theme. I have all the buildings sans the Market Street and I was lucky to grab a second Green Grocier when it was on sale before it was discontinued.
  • AFFOL_Shellz_BellzAFFOL_Shellz_Bellz Member Posts: 1,263
    Like others here Market Street and Cafe Corner were already discontinued when I came out of my lifelong dark age (I'd never had Lego). When I bought the GG ste Cafe Corner was still available but I preferred the GG and purchased it. As more modulars came out I very much regretted not grabbing the CC when I had the opportunity. Recently I picked up both Market Street and Cafe Corner used from a seller on CL with just a few replaceable parts missing, as well as no minifigs. But while the price was good compared to ebay, the combined price was still over 3x the original shelf price.

    My advice would be if you really like them and you know you're going to want them all, start now with what is available and save for the others and watch ebay closely, there are buys to be found, but they are few and far between. Also watch craigslist, and be patient.
  • AFFOL_Shellz_BellzAFFOL_Shellz_Bellz Member Posts: 1,263
    I also meant to mention that we do have a city layout, and the Market Street building helps make an interesting transition from Town Plan area to Modular area, kind of like old town to current town. I've been thinking about changing the theme of Market Street to a Pub with an outdoor patio.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    I like the use of the fences to create a foldable loft ladder in the new Haunted House set. That's a good idea.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    I was just at a SoCal lego store today and the manager said the Fire Brigade will indeed be discontinued along with the Emporium this year. Did not give an exact date but I'm assuming late 2012. She did mention she had an opportunity to see what the next modular building after town hall would be....can you guess? I was very surprised by her answer..
    Haunted House.
    Given that its now been shown to be part of the Monster Fighters range, it seems we shouldn't listen to store managers, or at least not assume their knowledge of the lego range is close to that of ours or the brickset collectively.
  • SpaceCakeSpaceCake Member Posts: 291
    So was the Grand Carousel not related to the modulars? For some reason I always thought it was part of the theme...
  • brickmaticbrickmatic Member Posts: 1,071
    Grand Carousel was indeed not related to the Modular Buildings. The confusion might stem from the fact that Haunted Hourse, the Modular Buildings, and Grand Carousel are all 10xxx numbered sets, also known as direct sets because they are generally purchased direct from LEGO (although these days you can get it through 3rd party retailers). What distinguishes the Modular Buildings lineup is that it fits the modular template and can connect on two sides to other modular buildings. If you're unsure, you can tell which sets are Modular Buildings by looking at the box art: all the Modular Buildings were featured at some point connected to other Modular Buildings. This is why Market Street, which is the only Modular Building in the Factory lineup, is definitively considered part of the Modular Building lineup.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    I know Market Street was meant to go with the Modular Buildings, but it pales in comparison to all the other Modular Buildings in both size/pieces and in my opinion...looks. It was thrown together by only using PAB. This is my opinion of course and because of these reasons I sold it.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    It's great to collect the buildings, but for me, it's great to buy multiple copies and use the parts to make your own unique buildings and add them to your "street".
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    MS looks terrible lined up with the rest. Doesn't fit at all.
  • Brewer51Brewer51 Member Posts: 248
    I don't own any of the Modulars, and I must be in the minority. I like Market Street. I like the colour scheme, the simplicity of it, and I think it'd look good next to the Green Grocer.

    I like it more than Cafe Corner.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    I think the Market Street is more Euro Styled thus I believe it has more appeal across the "pond". The color scheme certainly stands out, but it doesn't go well next to the other buildings.
  • SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
    I'm beginning to break my Modular street up into a couple of streets; and combined with some MOCs, the Market Street set doesn't look so out of place anymore. I'm glad I kept it.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    To me, you can't mix Art Decco with Gothic Architecture. I think what Legos plan is to create buildings in different architectual styles and then you can add similar styled MOC's to your "street" I may be way off, but that's just what I'm thinking.
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    edited June 2012
    ^ I don't think (at the start) LEGO had any kind of long term vision or plan for the modular buildings, it was just a building. Then a fan made another one, which they decided to market as a companion. Had they had any kind of plan at the beginning, MS would not have been released, or at the very least it would have been completely re-designed in house using a bigger palette of parts.

    But sales and reception were enough that they started doing yearly releases, and they may have developed a plan at that point in time (starting with GG or FB), or perhaps even later. But I think you are right - they don't have any kind of rigid architectural plan - they just try to do interesting and unique things with each release. Obviously, these aren't always going to go together in such a way as you would see in a real-world street from any one setting. And that's ok, it's supposed to be a fictional amalgamation of a variety of generic styles, not a representation of any one place.


  • hoyatableshoyatables Member Posts: 873
    I'm coming very close to deciding to sell my Market Street. I'd much rather pick up another Pet Shop and mod it to create some rowhouses. The value is just too tempting. I do love the Cafe Corner -- not likely to part with that one.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    I agree. I sure do enjoy seeing what people have done with their streets. The Brownstone would never just stand alone by itself. I plan on buying several copies and maybe tweaking it a bit. Remember the box on Cafe Corner? Lego suggested that you buy several copies of Cafe Corner to make a very large street corner. Why didn't I listen?

    I really could do without the minifigures though. I know it adds "play value", but I think this theme is geared toward adults and I'm sure we all have enough minifigures to populate a row of buildings right?
  • vwong19vwong19 Member Posts: 1,191
    ^ They should not remove the minifigures from the sets because they bring life to the model. Some of the minifigures have specific roles for each building, which is hard to substitute for normal collectors. The figures also assures collectors that the scale of the building is minifig scale, which I think helps with sales of the sets. Also I doubt we would save much in costs by eliminating the people from the sets. The price per piece is already below $0.10 unlike the licensed sets.

    I also need to buy more copies of Pet Shop before I come to regret it.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    ^ and ^^ I know quite a few people that got a lot of the Sun promo fire cart a few weks back in the UK, just to populate their FB with the minifig.
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    ^Do you have a pic of the minifig in question?
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    ^ Fire chief poly.

    http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=30010-1
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    Thanks @CCC! Gonna pick up a couple (with regular smiley face though) to fill out the FB as suggested.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^ They should not remove the minifigures from the sets because they bring life to the model. Some of the minifigures have specific roles for each building, which is hard to substitute for normal collectors. The figures also assures collectors that the scale of the building is minifig scale, which I think helps with sales of the sets. Also I doubt we would save much in costs by eliminating the people from the sets. The price per piece is already below $0.10 unlike the licensed sets.

    I also need to buy more copies of Pet Shop before I come to regret it.
    Pet Shop will be around for awhile, so you wont have a problem. The set is so versatile. Savvy builders can change the Pet Shop Name to something else. I just added glass to let some light in.

  • bigjsdbigjsd Member Posts: 62
    With the introduction of the Fire Brigade I could no longer stay on the sidelines of the modular line. However I really have no desire, or funds, to go chasing discontinued sets. The CC would be nice just because it was the first but honestly I wasn't overly impressed with it when it was first released. I had a trade worked out where I would receive the CC and give up my Giant Lego Chess set but I couldn't pull the trigger. I'm a huge chess fan and just love the set too much to part with. I have been debating about the GG because I have come across a few opportunities to land it at a much more reasonable price but still think I would rather use the extra funds needed to purchase it towards newer/better sets. For now I am satisfied with FB,GE, and the Pet Shop.
  • UKtsumiUKtsumi Member Posts: 630
    I bought both MS and CC not so long ago, and in my opinion they arent a patch on the newer models. I sold them on quickly afterwards, no regrets here!
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    With the introduction of the Fire Brigade I could no longer stay on the sidelines of the modular line. However I really have no desire, or funds, to go chasing discontinued sets. The CC would be nice just because it was the first but honestly I wasn't overly impressed with it when it was first released. I had a trade worked out where I would receive the CC and give up my Giant Lego Chess set but I couldn't pull the trigger. I'm a huge chess fan and just love the set too much to part with. I have been debating about the GG because I have come across a few opportunities to land it at a much more reasonable price but still think I would rather use the extra funds needed to purchase it towards newer/better sets. For now I am satisfied with FB,GE, and the Pet Shop.
    GG is a much better build and I like it much better than CC
  • fyrmedhattfyrmedhatt Member Posts: 128


    GG is a much better build and I like it much better than CC
    Yup, the Green Grocer is arguably the very best of the modulars, so if you have the opportunity to pick one up, do so. I got the CC as a completionist, but other than it being a lot of fun to piece together from Bricklink orders, I'd say it was probably not worth what I paid for it, not to mention the $1000+ it's fetching these days.
  • DuchessaDuchessa Member Posts: 287
    I had a semi-dark age when the first modular arrived, so I thought that I could never get them. But I gave up on my Santa Fee + two wagons (MISB, or at least never built) for a CC and a GG. Both had box but no instructions, and was about 75% complete (but the CC had lots of extra parts, since the seller had bought several CC and mixed them up). I don't know if he or I made a better deal, but since both of us were very happy, I think that it worked out well :)

    I also bricklinked Market Street. I substituted the dark blue for regular blue, but I'm slowly acumulating the dark blue ones. It's not as great as CC, GG or FB, but still a nice build.
  • DeadareusDeadareus Member Posts: 264
    just purchased Fire Brigade last week. My first dip into the modular world. Not particularly interested in getting stuff that I've already missed the boat on (MS,GG,CC) but want to make sure I grab GE and PS before they are gone for good.

    I'll also probably be grabbing the Haunted House for a Halloween display.

    It's been an expensive hobby having been in the dark ages for over 25 years. I'm almost there though. GE, PS and UCS Death Star are all I have left on my list to grab before it's too late. I'm assuming Town Hall, Haunted House and UCS R2 will be around for at least 2 more years.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    ^ If you can stand it, you might dip into Green Grocer... Expensive, at $500, but worth it if you really like the modulars.

    CC and MS are too far gone, even if you can afford them, the prices are just nuts. And I say this, having one more CC NIB to sell. ;)
  • DuchessaDuchessa Member Posts: 287
    just purchased Fire Brigade last week. My first dip into the modular world. Not particularly interested in getting stuff that I've already missed the boat on (MS,GG,CC) but want to make sure I grab GE and PS before they are gone for good.

    I'll also probably be grabbing the Haunted House for a Halloween display.

    It's been an expensive hobby having been in the dark ages for over 25 years. I'm almost there though. GE, PS and UCS Death Star are all I have left on my list to grab before it's too late. I'm assuming Town Hall, Haunted House and UCS R2 will be around for at least 2 more years.
    If you're not a total purist, why not bricklink a CC with some colour subtsitutions? It's a quite impressive building, I have to admit that.

  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^ If you can stand it, you might dip into Green Grocer... Expensive, at $500, but worth it if you really like the modulars.

    CC and MS are too far gone, even if you can afford them, the prices are just nuts. And I say this, having one more CC NIB to sell. ;)
    You would have one ;)

    Yes. GG is great. I built a 1/2 GG with spare parts and it still looks great. $500 is steep, but you can try to Bricklink the model. Wait and buy 2 Haunted Houses and use the second one for parts then bricklink the rest. I'm not a fan of Market street, but it you can buy GG and Bricklink CC, I would do it. CC is still a great model, but probably not worth spending $1,000 or more for it. I think you could Bricklink a CC for about $400.

  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    brick-linking CC gets even cheaper if you are willing to make some reasonable substitutions that don't really affect the finished model.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Shopping at LEGO.com or Amazon?

Please use our links: LEGO.com • Amazon

Recent discussions • Categories • Privacy Policy • Brickset.com

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Sign In Register

Categories

Brickset.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program and the Amazon EU Associates Programme, which are affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.