Review: BrickLink Designer Program General Store
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has revisited various classic themes lately, including Space, Castle and Pirates. Western, on the other hand, remains consigned to the 1990s. Fortunately, the BrickLink Designer Program provides an impressive entry to the theme, with the General Store by llucky.
This model will be available for pre-order on the 7th of February and seemingly provides fair value, costing £119.99, $159.99 or €139.99. Considering the 1906 elements included and the apparent level of detail, I am looking forward to this return to LEGO Western.
Summary
910031 General Store, 1,906 pieces.
£119.99 / $159.99 / €139.99 | 6.3p/8.4c/7.3c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
An exceptional level of detail elevates the General Store, especially given its price
- Outstanding level of detail
- All sides look superb
- Impressive interior
- Covered wagon is a bonus
- Surprisingly good value
- Some fragile building techniques
- Compromises with minifigures
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Construction
BrickLink Designer Program sets have sometimes been criticised for their building experience, which can involve questionable techniques not used in standard sets. I think the General Store fares better than most in that regard, although there are instances of instability and you can feel that the model has not undergone the checks expected on LEGO retail products.
Nevertheless, the General Store definitely improves upon some of the sets produced already, which are genuinely fragile and awkward to handle.
Minifigures
The minifigures are often a weakness of BrickLink Designer Program sets as well, since they never include new printed elements. Unfortunately, there are relatively few parts in production for Wild West settings at the moment, but the designer has made effective use of any available pieces, in my opinion.
For instance, the owner of the store wears a suitable apron and I like the head chosen for this character. The colour gradient between his dark bluish grey hair and dark tan facial hair looks superb. Similarly, the visitor to the general store makes excellent use of a head developed for LEGO City, featuring some dirt beneath his hat, which again feels appropriate for the Western setting.
This minifigure rides the covered wagon in official images, so he comes with a whip and a rifle, presumably to defend against bandits. His torso seems more colourful than I would expect for the Wild West, although I think this style works, given the scarcity of options. The shopkeeper, meanwhile, carries a broom.
Hats are an integral feature of Wild West ensembles and a couple are included here, between the above fedora and the next minifigure's top hat. This pairs nicely with his formal garb, which originates from 21335 Motorised Lighthouse. Pocket watches are often associated with the Wild West and this character's moustachioed head looks perfect too.
The final two minifigures are less convincing. The first features long wavy hair, which does not really feel appropriate to the Old West and needs to be rotated slightly to create space for the satchel strap. Although this is not really a flaw, it draws attention to the differences between a conventional LEGO set and the BrickLink Designer Program range.
On the other hand, the dark green jacket with a jumper underneath seems vaguely plausible for the Wild West. By contrast, the last character's magenta garb is decidedly implausible. I like her double-sided head and accessories, but the torso looks out of place. While these characters are satisfactory, producing even one or two new printed pieces for BrickLink Designer Program sets could improve them hugely.
The Completed Model
Buildings across the American West were known for their weatherboard construction, covered porches and false fronts, all of which are faithfully captured in this model. The style is instantly recognisable and the whole structure is quite substantial, measuring 35cm across between the widest points of the base. The building alone measures 21cm wide.
The combination of tan and dark tan on the base looks great, particularly in contrast with the brown, white and sand blue of the general store. These colours strike an impressive balance between vibrancy and realism, as even the sand blue is relatively muted. Also, the occasional dark brown pieces give the impression of wear or mismatched planks of wood.
These dark brown tiles complement the few exposed studs on the boardwalk and the awning above, introducing some texture, which works brilliantly. The scattered sandy pieces look nice too, while the stickered sign seems completely at come in the Wild West. However, the wooden awning is very thin and feels fragile in places, as tiles can easily be dislodged accidentally.
Three stickers are needed in total and another is applied on a 1x8 tile above the entrance. The double doors look good from the outside and I like how the doors and windows are integrated with the weatherboards, looking realistic. In addition, the occasional 1x1 quarter circle tiles or grille tiles breaking up the boards provide wonderful detail.
Various accessories and furnishings are found along the boardwalk, including a lovely rocking chair, which is cleverly constructed using sausages. Again, this assembly is much more fragile than I would expect from a standard set, but it looks splendid. The fruit and vegetables are also welcome, adding some more colour to the model.
Another awning is placed on this side of the building and I love its angled supports, as well as the continued texture on top. The ground around the general store is detailed too, featuring an array of tiles and slopes to represent drifting sand. Moreover, the dark orange stems look lovely and match the tumbleweed in BL19004 Wild West Saloon, pleasingly.
Dark brown stems are also used behind the shop, alongside several boxes of provisions. Most are empty, but these stacked crates look superb and the back door further breaks up the sand blue weatherboards, so the structure is equally detailed on all sides. The water butt is another enjoyable feature, simply constructed using 4x4 tubs.
The stovepipe and texture on the roof are impressive as well. The designer has evidently paid close attention to authentic detail, so I like the shape of the stovepipe and the supports behind the building's false front. Furthermore, the mixture of dark bluish grey and dark tan parts on the roof is effective, so every surface seems worn.
Barrels and bails of hay are stored on the roof. These are fine, although I think there was an opportunity to include some more interesting details, similar to the storytelling features found throughout the Modular Buildings range, for instance. The brick-built vulture is a nice example, but there could have been more.
A cactus grows beside the general store and I like its shape, although the cactus' connection to the base is extremely fragile, standing on a single 1x1 flower. The gnarled tree also looks great and suits the Western environment, but I am not convinced an extension to the base was really necessary and the model would be easier to display without it.
However, the few rocks protruding from the sand look authentic and the bench is reasonably detailed, including black sausages for the armrests. Additionally, the wagon wheel behind the rocks is a fun inclusion and I like the water trough and railings on the porch, where you can tie up your horse before going inside.
The interior is easily accessible by removing the roof, which is much stronger than some other areas of the model. Fortunately, the high level of detail on the exterior continues within, as the floor is completely covered with tiles. Like the wooden awning, these include some dark brown tiles and occasional studs, so the texture is appealing.
Rather than using 1x1 and 1x2 slopes for the weatherboards, the walls are constructed using stepped layers of plates and tiles. These panels are thus visible inside and I was worried they may seem awkward, but the panels simply look like overlapping planks of wood. Also, the dark tan colour blends naturally with the rest of the building.
Various items are available to purchase, although the sticker above the door highlights mining equipment and food in particular. Mining helmets and tools are therefore displayed against the wall, while a rack in the centre of the room shows backpacks and hats. Candles and bundles of dynamite, meanwhile, are stored in crates on the floor.
The stove in the corner is probably my least favourite part of the model. I like how the attached pipe continues outside, but the actual stove feels fragile and is surprisingly lacking in detail too. On the other hand, the stove's shape is appropriate for the nineteenth century and it serves its purpose as a piece of scenery.
Far greater detail is found behind the counter, where the shelves are laden with bottles, pans, jars and other accessories. I think including some more colourful items would have been ideal though, similar to those on the counter. The traditional cash register looks perfect and a couple of decorated elements are provided as well, which are always useful for introducing detail.
While the general store is undoubtedly the focal point, this set also contains a covered wagon. Once again, the Wild West styling is instantly recognisable and the wagon is quite substantial, reaching a length of 23cm. Moreover, the proportions between the wagon and the horses feel realistic to me.
The dark orange horse has appeared three times before, while its tan equivalent is available in six sets. I like the horses' contrasting colours and the harness around them looks excellent, but each horse is only connected to the wagon via one clip. This whole assembly is therefore rather flimsy, although the ball joint providing articulation is welcome.
A minifigure can sit on the front of the wagon and studs are available for a second, when the backpack has been removed. Several more passengers could be placed beneath the canvas, although this has not been designed for easy removal because the cover is firmly attached via eight clips. I think the cover would look better if it was taller and a fabric piece, similar to 6716 Covered Wagon, would be the preferred option.
Even though the cover is not as easy to remove as I would like, the interior looks superb. The stacked barrels and sacks are lovely and I like the folding tailgate, but some steps would have improved the design further. Nevertheless, the covered wagon is a delightful companion for the general store, building out the Wild West environment a little more.
Overall
Detail is the defining feature of the General Store, as every surface is beautifully finished with texture and authentic furnishings, inside and out. The colour scheme looks wonderful and this building is larger than I anticipated, particularly given the price of £119.99, $159.99 or €139.99. That seems very reasonable to me, improving on previous BrickLink Designer Program sets.
Some weaknesses of prior sets from the series remain though. There are areas where I think the stability of the design could be improved and the minifigures are pretty underwhelming, as there are very few elements suited to the Old West available. Nevertheless, this is a marvellous set on the whole and a worthy successor to the beloved Western theme.
This set and four others from the BrickLink Designer Program Series 1 will be available to pre-order from the 7th of February.
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56 comments on this article
Seems like fragility is endemic of these BDP sets, no wonder they are exclusive to the most niche of LEGO collectors and not the general buying public.
Aside from the minifigs (compromises is generous; the only one that looks remotely cohesive and appropriate here is the store clerk or maybe top hat man), this is a phenomenal Western build! You'll just need to Bricklink some proper Western figs if you don't already have them. Such is the woes of the Designer Program not having new prints and Lego not having much in the way of Western minifig parts in production. Remember when 910013 Retro Bowling Alley had printed bowling uniform torsos in the submission and funding stage only to ship generic torsos instead? But this program is all about the builds anyways.
140 euro is $151. In the US, sales tax is not included. Assume 8% on top of $160 = $173.
Why is the set 15% more expensive in the US?
Ty for the review
NPU on the cart
@CapnRex101 will there be more reviews of the BrickLink Designer Program sets before there are available?
I love the look of this set! It makes me wish they would revisit western at some point. As for Minifigures, the only ones that really bother me are satchel man and the lady. The lady being the most offensive. There absolutely was better options for her, such as the dress from the Jazz club/orient express.
My biggest issue with the BDP sets are their own limited availability. This looks like a great build, and despite having more of a MOC-like fragility, it still looks like it would be a stunning model to own. But the small release window of the BDP means really only LEGO fans with disposable income to burn at the EXACT moment have a chance to get the models. I would love to see the BDP re-run popular sets at least, and give people a second chance to get them in the future; but it's likely the timed exclusivity model is exactly what LEGO and Bricklink want to do here.
@johleth said:
"Seems like fragility is endemic of these BDP sets, no wonder they are exclusive to the most niche of LEGO collectors and not the general buying public."
Yeah, I feel like that's the biggest flaw with these sets. Prioritizing looks over all else, to the detriment of the other aspects of a Lego set. Thus, they look fantastic, but not really able to handle much more than sitting on a shelf.
@watcher21 said:
"Ty for the review
NPU on the cart
@CapnRex101 will there be more reviews of the BrickLink Designer Program sets before there are available?
"
Check out these youtubers @RacingBrick, @TiagoCatarino, Solid brix studios for their reviews of the other set's.
@xboxtravis7992 said:
"My biggest issue with the BDP sets are their own limited availability. This looks like a great build, and despite having more of a MOC-like fragility, it still looks like it would be a stunning model to own. But the small release window of the BDP means really only LEGO fans with disposable income to burn at the EXACT moment have a chance to get the models. I would love to see the BDP re-run popular sets at least, and give people a second chance to get them in the future; but it's likely the timed exclusivity model is exactly what LEGO and Bricklink want to do here. "
Im not one to call all resellers 'scalpers'. Typically when people buy sets to sell later they are out for a while and people have more than ample time to get a copy, and if not, the reseller can actually keep aftermarket prices lower for such sets when they retire (as there are more stocks of such sets put there even after EOL-Supply and demand).
HOWEVER, this type of program is what can re-enforce 'scalping' behavior.. very limited numbers, and people buying multiples to try to corner a limited market to where they can sell their copies for dear later. At least with regular LEGO production the sets are readily available for at least 1 year, or 2, or 3 depending on demand or what line it is. This is a small availability window, that typically is not a good time for everyone to be able to reserve a copy, where you have a select few to gobble up copies and how many of those people are collectors who WANT the sets vs those looking to flip them later for a substantial profit?
@madforLEGO said:
" @xboxtravis7992 said:
"My biggest issue with the BDP sets are their own limited availability. This looks like a great build, and despite having more of a MOC-like fragility, it still looks like it would be a stunning model to own. But the small release window of the BDP means really only LEGO fans with disposable income to burn at the EXACT moment have a chance to get the models. I would love to see the BDP re-run popular sets at least, and give people a second chance to get them in the future; but it's likely the timed exclusivity model is exactly what LEGO and Bricklink want to do here. "
Im not one to call all resellers 'scalpers'. Typically when people buy sets to sell later they are out for a while and people have more than ample time to get a copy, and if not, the reseller can actually keep aftermarket prices lower for such sets when they retire (as there are more stocks of such sets put there even after EOL-Supply and demand).
HOWEVER, this type of program is what can re-enforce 'scalping' behavior.. very limited numbers, and people buying multiples to try to corner a limited market to where they can sell their copies for dear later. At least with regular LEGO production the sets are readily available for at least 1 year, or 2, or 3 depending on demand or what line it is. This is a small availability window, that typically is not a good time for everyone to be able to reserve a copy, where you have a select few to gobble up copies and how many of those people are collectors who WANT the sets vs those looking to flip them later for a substantial profit?"
It is the same issue I have with buying concert tickets these days, especially on platforms like Ticketmaster. Not only do you have to deal with the Ticketmaster fees already, but now you have scalpers scooping up the desired tickets right away and reselling them at inflated prices. It is honestly a terrible situation that just makes the consumer suffer more via a limited availability window.
I hate how the Bricklink Designer Program feels a lot like that. The limit of "only 1 or 2" per customer on Bricklink is a nice attempt to at least slow down the scalpers, but we all know it isn't going to stop the most dedicated from finding ways around the system.
To be fair it is not the first time LEGO has encouraged scalpers through intention (Mr. Gold) or incompetence/accident (pearl gray Toa Nuva masks)... but it is frustrating to feel like they have fully embraced it.
Very good looking! I wish it was a real Lego set. It would look amazing on my shelf
Beautiful looking set. And close to my heart, since it's designed by fellow polish Afol Lukasz Luciuk.
@johleth said:
"Seems like fragility is endemic of these BDP sets, no wonder they are exclusive to the most niche of LEGO collectors and not the general buying public."
I really wish they would take this into account when picking the models, but it's largely just vote based.
Personally when I build any MoCs I always try to make sure it holds up but that doesn't seem to be the norm.
@xboxtravis7992 said:
"My biggest issue with the BDP sets are their own limited availability. This looks like a great build, and despite having more of a MOC-like fragility, it still looks like it would be a stunning model to own. But the small release window of the BDP means really only LEGO fans with disposable income to burn at the EXACT moment have a chance to get the models. I would love to see the BDP re-run popular sets at least, and give people a second chance to get them in the future; but it's likely the timed exclusivity model is exactly what LEGO and Bricklink want to do here. "
There are going to be up to 30000 of each of these, so quite large quantities compared to past releases. You don't have to have the disposable income at the exact time, as you aren't actually charged until they are sent.
@ItisNoe said:
" @johleth said:
"Seems like fragility is endemic of these BDP sets, no wonder they are exclusive to the most niche of LEGO collectors and not the general buying public."
Yeah, I feel like that's the biggest flaw with these sets. Prioritizing looks over all else, to the detriment of the other aspects of a Lego set. Thus, they look fantastic, but not really able to handle much more than sitting on a shelf. "
I disagree, prioritizing aesthetics over stability and other design considerations typically included in normal sets is exactly what sets these Bricklink sets apart. Getting a display model with higher visual design quality then what can be achieved when designing for the general public is the whole appeal of these sets.
That wagon has me wanting to play some Oregon Trail. Here's hoping I don't die of dysentery...
Okay, there is literally and figuratively a lot to unpack here.
This is the first “PREVIEW” we’ve ever had for a BLDP set so I think we left a lot of important details out of the article. Additionally, this is “Series 1” which differs significantly from the previous invitational or Rounds 1 thru 3. I wish the article had touched further on the relevant aspects of this new series and clarify how reviewers are even getting sets to review that LEGO has not even yet committed to build?
As many of you know, I’m a big big fan of the BLDP and my Safe, Bowling Alley, and Train Station are some of my most beloved sets. I have many of the others too and can’t wait to finally build them.
Key Points for Series 1:
*Entries are no longer competing against each other. So there’s no need to worry that your favorite needs to be funded the quickest. If any one of these 5 sets reaches 3,000 pre-orders, it will be built.
*The “Urgency” of preordering should be gone starting with this series. People should have “some” time to order. As I noted, there’s no competition between sets. Additionally, the biggest problems with urgency occurred with Round 1 when LEGO only committed to build 5,000 max sets. The castle reached that mark (actually double that mark through a systems error) in under an hour, if recollection serves. While they then extended the max to 10,000, the castle never came back for pre-ordering. Starting with this series and as @CCC said above, LEGO will build up to 30,000 sets of each, assuming of course the set reaches the min 3,000 requirement. The lack of intra-competition and significant increase in number of sets will absolutely give all of us and hopefully many others a reasonable opportunity to pre-order during the 3 to 4 week funding period.
*Fan votes are only an element of ultimate selection by LEGO, not the final arbiter. This is why they don’t publish those votes. They just use them as a barometer to help them make their final decisions.
*The BLDP is already back with a furor. While Series 1 days away for pre-order, Series 2 and 3 are already set as well and will open for crowd-funding later this year. Series 4 opens for fan voting on Monday.
*With regards to scalping concerns, the significantly increased amount available along with the high prices and limit of 2 units per household should really assuage fears. I know we often think of investors as scalpers, but I support them keeping short run sets like this available to us months and years to come. And it’s not like LEGO isn’t creating these situations itself with its shorter and shorter production runs. I never even saw the Monster Fighter castle in person before it was gone. Just like Nebula. And that table football (lol). BTW, I was one of the lucky ones to find Mr. Gold and he and whatever scalper value he has happily sit on my shelf atop a dewback. :o)
*While these are pricey, you won’t be charged until they ship in June so you can be like me and rationalize it as a layaway type situation. :o)
*While there have been a lot of improvements, there are still drawbacks. There will be no printed instructions. There’s still a lot of waiting. After ordering, sets won’t ship for about 6 months. Series 2 will come up for crowded sourcing in June for eventual shipment just before the end of the year. And as Cap noted, the builds can be a bit unorthodox and fragile. That being said, LEGO itself designed the ferris wheel and carousel, two sets I can’t even look at without them disintegrating.
@CapnRex101 - Did Brickset get all 5 sets to review? Did they come in the finalized boxes or loose somehow due to the sets not yet being funded? How did the app building process go? Did LEGO mention why preview sets were going out for this series and/or any other new or interesting details?
Are these sets going to be in the Brickset database?
@Bri3k_b01 said:
"Are these sets going to be in the Brickset database?"
Yes.
@yellowcastle said:
" @CapnRex101 - Did Brickset get all 5 sets to review? Did they come in the finalized boxes or loose somehow due to the sets not yet being funded? How did the app building process go? Did LEGO mention why preview sets were going out for this series and/or any other new or interesting details?"
No, we only received the General Store. The others have been sent to other outlets. The parts arrived packaged in ziplock bags, but arranged according to the numbered bags shown in the instructions, so the building experience should be essentially the same.
The digital building instructions were as expected. BrickLink mentioned in advance that there may be small mistakes in the instructions and indeed there were a couple of graphical errors, but those will apparently be resolved prior to production.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @CapnRex101 - Did Brickset get all 5 sets to review? Did they come in the finalized boxes or loose somehow due to the sets not yet being funded? How did the app building process go? Did LEGO mention why preview sets were going out for this series and/or any other new or interesting details?"
No, we only received the General Store. The others have been sent to other outlets. The parts arrived packaged in ziplock bags, but arranged according to the numbered bags shown in the instructions, so the building experience should be essentially the same.
The digital building instructions were as expected. BrickLink mentioned in advance that there may be small mistakes in the instructions and indeed there were a couple of graphical errors, but those will apparently be resolved prior to production."
Very interesting, thank you. Are you yourself looking at pre-ordering any? Will Brickset be publishing an article when crowd funding starts next week?
@ItisNoe said:
" @johleth said:
"Seems like fragility is endemic of these BDP sets, no wonder they are exclusive to the most niche of LEGO collectors and not the general buying public."
Yeah, I feel like that's the biggest flaw with these sets. Prioritizing looks over all else, to the detriment of the other aspects of a Lego set. Thus, they look fantastic, but not really able to handle much more than sitting on a shelf. "
Funny, because that's exactly what most current adult oriented official LEGO sets appear to be designed for - to be built once and then put on display, never to be taken apart again.
Honestly, with display sets like this one I don't give a smeg about stability or all the other "qualities" LEGO seems to prioritize with sets for the general public.
With these display sets awesome looks should be the highest priority. Stability is a nice bonus, but not really required on something that is destined to spend its entire life on a shelf as a display piece.
On the contrary, I think LEGO's stability fetish can often be to the detriment of a set's quality for me as a buyer who is asked to pay often hundreds of dollars for something that is severely compromised in its looks just because LEGO thinks it needs to be built like a tank and withstand an earthquake. Or which needs to be so simple to build that even putting more than three or four pieces per step together is too much to ask.
Otoh, companies like Cobi have proven that sets can both look awesome AND be built like a tank - in some cases in their portfolio quite literally ;-)
@yellowcastle said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @CapnRex101 - Did Brickset get all 5 sets to review? Did they come in the finalized boxes or loose somehow due to the sets not yet being funded? How did the app building process go? Did LEGO mention why preview sets were going out for this series and/or any other new or interesting details?"
No, we only received the General Store. The others have been sent to other outlets. The parts arrived packaged in ziplock bags, but arranged according to the numbered bags shown in the instructions, so the building experience should be essentially the same.
The digital building instructions were as expected. BrickLink mentioned in advance that there may be small mistakes in the instructions and indeed there were a couple of graphical errors, but those will apparently be resolved prior to production."
Very interesting, thank you. Are you yourself looking at pre-ordering any? Will Brickset be publishing an article when cries funding starts next week?"
I am considering the Mountain Fortress and yes, we will be publishing articles when pre-orders open, as well as when voting opens for Series 4 on February 5th.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @CapnRex101 - Did Brickset get all 5 sets to review? Did they come in the finalized boxes or loose somehow due to the sets not yet being funded? How did the app building process go? Did LEGO mention why preview sets were going out for this series and/or any other new or interesting details?"
No, we only received the General Store. The others have been sent to other outlets. The parts arrived packaged in ziplock bags, but arranged according to the numbered bags shown in the instructions, so the building experience should be essentially the same.
The digital building instructions were as expected. BrickLink mentioned in advance that there may be small mistakes in the instructions and indeed there were a couple of graphical errors, but those will apparently be resolved prior to production."
Very interesting, thank you. Are you yourself looking at pre-ordering any? Will Brickset be publishing an article when cries funding starts next week?"
I am considering the Mountain Fortress and yes, we will be publishing articles when pre-orders open, as well as when voting opens for Series 4 on February 5th."
You know you want the train shed, too. :o)
I wish this was a real set.
I also wish Lego would take time differences into account. Australian & New Zealand fans are unable to participate in the BDP unless we get up at I believe it worked out to be 1.30am or 2am in the morning. Some really really keen fans might, but to expect that of people is ridiculous.
Hence I've previously suggested breaking BDP down into regions with each region being allocated a certain amount of sets and have the times open at reasonable hours for people in the various time zones.
The minifigures really detract from this otherwise excellent set, don't they? The blacksmith apron works alright, but even the top hat chap screams 'I'm made of random parts' (let alone the others which are terrible). They could have at least given more of them the fedora piece.
I agree that BDP sets should have at least some new prints, like Lego still has to manufacture and distribute these sets so why not go that little bit extra? Also, if we get special stickers then why can't we get special stickered torsos? (or ideally proper printed minifigures). Most BDP sets wouldn't require anything too over the top.
Especially in this case we could have got some great Western prints that didn't have to be limited to Western. A plain button up shirt in a neutral colour would be really useful and versatile, likewise we rarely get any form of dress for lady minifigures (and if they wanted to lean into the Western theme, they could still make a dress torso print + printed dress piece or unprinted that would also work for Pirates and/or Castle, maybe 20th century situations etc.).
I'd also like to call out the stickers. On the store sign, 'Tools' (after Food and Mining) should be capitalised, but particularly concerning is the no entrance sign at the back. It should be No Entrance (capitalised) which is both grammatically correct and also much more appropriate for the Western setting. These are stickers too, not prints, so I don't understand the problem with capital letters here!
@AustinPowers I agree. Case in point, Orient Express. There is absolutely no problem with it being motorised using standard contemporary Lego motors. It works fine, and will continue to work fine for a long time. I'm not even sure what level of strength/weight pulling capacity a Lego train needs to have, if OE can only pull carriages for 9 years instead of 10 years worth of use, I really don't think that's going to bother any Lego fans (especially when the alternate option is no motorisation, but keep the high price as if it had been motorised).
But yeah some sets are as you say built like a tank rather unnecessarily, and we should also note that the examples we are both likely thinking of tend to be sets targeted at adults. I.e not ones that are going to be picked up, shaken around, slammed on the ground or chucked, like kids sets. Hence, for adult targeted sets 150% structural integrity shouldn't be necessary, especially if 98% for example allows for a much better model aesthetically and in regards to detail.
I'd also like to call out all the haters of fan designers, and remind them that not all official Lego sets are that structurally integral either. For example Jangbricks noted how the bridge in the microscale Hogwarts Castle actually stressed the bricks on either side. If HC had been a fan design, the community would be sending them to eternal damnation for that issue, yet because it's made by Lego, it gets swept under the carpet.
When exactly will the instructions be available?
@Brickchap - I may of course be proven wrong, but I feel confident you will have multiple days if not weeks to preorder most if not all of these 5 sets. I suspect that the castle and train shed will go quickest but 30,000 is a lot of sets to shift, especially at these price points and household limits of 2.
I think as long as you stick to a budget, it is possible to get bricklink sets at a reasonable price. I paid good value for the two I have and the revised logistics on the new series should allow for more availability.
I never tried to get into the previous pre-ordering but I'm going to try this time. The only problem I have with the site is I have use chrome because it doesn't work in my usual browser.
It occurs to me that the fragility inherent in these designs may also relate to how short the time is between the release of each series' palette and the opening/closing of submissions. Obviously you can start your design early using pieces you expect to be available, but the window they're offering is too short to be as rigorous in your design as Lego usually is. It's also an inherent issue I've found when I design things digitally in Studio - you never really get a feel for its fragility until you build it in real life.
@yellowcastle said:
" @Brickchap - I may of course be proven wrong, but I feel confident you will have multiple days if not weeks to preorder most if not all of these 5 sets. I suspect that the castle and train shed will go quickest but 30,000 is a lot of sets to shift, especially at these price points and household limits of 2."
The Mountain Fortress will likely be gone in 24 hours I believe.
@TheOtherMike said:
"That wagon has me wanting to play some Oregon Trail. Here's hoping I don't die of dysentery..."
Dude!! The kids have no idea... but, I suppose that's the drift.
I like this. I'm getting all of BLDP1. Well, I haven't decided for sure on the food camper and Rue Parisienne.
Meh/10. The inside is really bad with exposed bricks
@pedro_lego said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @Brickchap - I may of course be proven wrong, but I feel confident you will have multiple days if not weeks to preorder most if not all of these 5 sets. I suspect that the castle and train shed will go quickest but 30,000 is a lot of sets to shift, especially at these price points and household limits of 2."
The Mountain Fortress will likely be gone in 24 hours I believe."
Challenge accepted! :o)
@burra said:
" @watcher21 said:
"Ty for the review
NPU on the cart
@CapnRex101 will there be more reviews of the BrickLink Designer Program sets before there are available?
"
Check out these youtubers @RacingBrick , @TiagoCatarino , Solid brix studios for their reviews of the other set's. "
BrothersBrick has a written review of the Snack Shack, and Jay's Brick Blog and Brick Fanatics has the Train Shed.
@CCC said:
" @xboxtravis7992 said:
"My biggest issue with the BDP sets are their own limited availability. This looks like a great build, and despite having more of a MOC-like fragility, it still looks like it would be a stunning model to own. But the small release window of the BDP means really only LEGO fans with disposable income to burn at the EXACT moment have a chance to get the models. I would love to see the BDP re-run popular sets at least, and give people a second chance to get them in the future; but it's likely the timed exclusivity model is exactly what LEGO and Bricklink want to do here. "
There are going to be up to 30000 of each of these, so quite large quantities compared to past releases. You don't have to have the disposable income at the exact time, as you aren't actually charged until they are sent."
You do initially need the amount in your bank account though for the authorization charge check, which usually disappears after about a week and then the money will be ‘available’ to you again.
@AustinPowers said:
" @ItisNoe said:
" @johleth said:
"Seems like fragility is endemic of these BDP sets, no wonder they are exclusive to the most niche of LEGO collectors and not the general buying public."
Yeah, I feel like that's the biggest flaw with these sets. Prioritizing looks over all else, to the detriment of the other aspects of a Lego set. Thus, they look fantastic, but not really able to handle much more than sitting on a shelf. "
Funny, because that's exactly what most current adult oriented official LEGO sets appear to be designed for - to be built once and then put on display, never to be taken apart again.
Honestly, with display sets like this one I don't give a smeg about stability or all the other "qualities" LEGO seems to prioritize with sets for the general public.
With these display sets awesome looks should be the highest priority. Stability is a nice bonus, but not really required on something that is destined to spend its entire life on a shelf as a display piece.
On the contrary, I think LEGO's stability fetish can often be to the detriment of a set's quality for me as a buyer who is asked to pay often hundreds of dollars for something that is severely compromised in its looks just because LEGO thinks it needs to be built like a tank and withstand an earthquake. Or which needs to be so simple to build that even putting more than three or four pieces per step together is too much to ask.
Otoh, companies like Cobi have proven that sets can both look awesome AND be built like a tank - in some cases in their portfolio quite literally ;-) "
Utterly disagree, sorry. Some sets I build and display, some sets I play, build and display, but I thoroughly believe the assumption should always be the latter, even with AFOLs. You really need only look at the popularity of the Ornithopter 10327 - it's already sold out in a single day in one of our major retailers because it appeals to many age groups who will definitely play and display.
As a toy manufacturer and seller, their assumptions should be with the vast majority of would be purchasers, not the small minority who want a bespoke system. The BDP seems to fill the latter void nicely - for those niche buyers who prefer the unstable aesethically pleasing model. I'll stick to the robust for now and enjoy these models happily from afar.
@StyleCounselor said:
" @burra said:
" @watcher21 said:
"Ty for the review
NPU on the cart
@CapnRex101 will there be more reviews of the BrickLink Designer Program sets before there are available?
"
Check out these youtubers @RacingBrick , @TiagoCatarino , Solid brix studios for their reviews of the other set's. "
BrothersBrick has a written review of the Snack Shack, and Jay's Brick Blog and Brick Fanatics has the Train Shed. "
The articles you ve seen by Jay's Brick Blog and Brick Fanatics are not early reviews of the Old Train Engine Shed. ;)
@chrisaw said:
" @CCC said:
" @xboxtravis7992 said:
"My biggest issue with the BDP sets are their own limited availability. This looks like a great build, and despite having more of a MOC-like fragility, it still looks like it would be a stunning model to own. But the small release window of the BDP means really only LEGO fans with disposable income to burn at the EXACT moment have a chance to get the models. I would love to see the BDP re-run popular sets at least, and give people a second chance to get them in the future; but it's likely the timed exclusivity model is exactly what LEGO and Bricklink want to do here. "
There are going to be up to 30000 of each of these, so quite large quantities compared to past releases. You don't have to have the disposable income at the exact time, as you aren't actually charged until they are sent."
You do initially need the amount in your bank account though for the authorization charge check, which usually disappears after about a week and then the money will be ‘available’ to you again. "
Not if you use a credit card.
That brown "tree" around back looks like a Graboid from Tremors coming out of the ground.
I'm still not clear on what the BDP actually is.
@Montyh7 said:
"As a toy manufacturer and seller, their assumptions should be with the vast majority of would be purchasers, not the small minority who want a bespoke system. The BDP seems to fill the latter void nicely - for those niche buyers who prefer the unstable aesethically pleasing model. I'll stick to the robust for now and enjoy these models happily from afar."
Well, for sets aimed at kids I completely agree. As an adult I value good looks far more than stability. Then again, I don't play with my sets. And the good thing is, while LEGO cares for the needs of customers like you, many alternatives care for customers like myself.
@AustinPowers said:
" @Montyh7 said:
"As a toy manufacturer and seller, their assumptions should be with the vast majority of would be purchasers, not the small minority who want a bespoke system. The BDP seems to fill the latter void nicely - for those niche buyers who prefer the unstable aesethically pleasing model. I'll stick to the robust for now and enjoy these models happily from afar."
Well, for sets aimed at kids I completely agree. As an adult I value good looks far more than stability. Then again, I don't play with my sets. And the good thing is, while LEGO cares for the needs of customers like you, many alternatives care for customers like myself. "
I LOVE the look of the BLDP Bowling Alley and Studgate AND my older children have had no issues playing with them in my LEGO city. I think this notion of instability or fragility for some of these sets is largely overblown.
@yellowcastle : I completely agree. Just because something isn't built like a tank doesn't mean it's fragile. There's lots of levels in between.
@Andrusi said:
"I'm still not clear on what the BDP actually is."
Bricklink Designer Program https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/faq.page
@ItisNoe:
It's a tradeoff. Get your project accepted, and it gets turned into a set, but someone else will end up designing it. Get shunted from Ideas to BDP, and you get to have _your_ design released as a set. Go to a few AFOL conventions and it'll become clear that many are willing to deal with finicky designs if it results in a better looking model. This is why there's a market for true MOCs, sold at excessively high prices.
@madforLEGO:
To me, scalping is the act of buying stuff that's in limited supply with the intention of immediately turning around and reselling it at a significant markup. In the case of event tickets, this would include showing up outside the event and flashing tickets at anyone who walks by, knowing that there will be desperate people looking for exactly that sort of person.
Buying sets to sit on and resell later isn't really scalping. The FOMO buyers have largely either obtained a copy or given up, while buyers who weren't even in the market when it released will be looking to collect stuff they missed. Some of the people who are buying them to keep sealed are simply collecting them, with no immediately plans to end up reselling them (though they may change their minds at some point). TLG has apparently even gone to this latter sort in cases where they needed to replace stolen or damaged sets in their archive.
@xboxtravis7992:
I'm curious what the issue was with "pearl grey Toa Nuva masks". Are you referring to the ones that were exclusive to 8599/8600? I'm pretty sure I ended up with piles of those while trying to collect the Krana-Kal. At the time, I probably wished they'd at least expanded them to include a gold set, like they did with the metallic Toa Mata masks, but their overabundance was probably a boon for young collectors who had much more limited funds.
@Brick_Belt:
When they select the list of potential participants, nobody at TLG has built their model. They can't tell one that's fragile from one that's built like a brick outhouse. Only during the approval process do they get the chance to test out the design. By that point, it's a little late to completely overhaul the list of participants. They do have to eliminate outright illegal techniques, but the bar seems to be much lower in terms of structural integrity.
@Brickchap:
It shouldn't be marked "No Entrance" at all. How common do you think that would have been back in that setting? Most of these wild west towns were _one_ street. Customers were unlikely to approach a building from the back in general, and probably weren't used to encountering stores that had multiple entrances. Now you can go to a mall and find stores that have at least two exterior entrances, as well as one interior entrance per mall floor that they connect to. And there's probably at least one employee entrance somewhere, which is the only one that would be marked "No Entrance". Between the women and the sign, this feels more like a historical recreation of a wild west town than an actual period-appropriate design.
@PurpleDave - per the designer, “Lucky Town is a small mining community in the Wild West. It's the late 19th century. The general store is the heart of the town. It was built by the owner more than 30 years ago, that's why some buildings' surface damage is visible. The store is regularly visited by the Town residents and local farmers.”
So the intention apparently is that it’s a period piece, but I agree with Cap that there were probably some constraints in working with the currently available options. I like this set but it’s my 3rd favorite of the 5 in Series 1.
As to scalping, we’ve had this great debate over on the forum for years. Oh how I miss Timmy. There’s such a slippery slope. I agree with you that folks trying to immediately flip something limited for a profit is on the wrong side of the tracks for me. But folks identifying a set, limited or not, that’s going to significantly increase in value after it’s run and then investing in that set for future resale is perfectly reasonable and kinda an exciting venture, imho.
I don’t actively sell on the secondary market because I’m too lazy and love my little toy store I’ve created. But oh do I have MISB sets that would move. And if I were into investing, I’d try to get my hands on as many mountain fortresses and the forthcoming forest stronghold as I could.
I would love if Brickset would throw some chum in the water on a slow day and get us all having a rowdy fun time talking about all these “third rail” LEGO topics.
@yellowcastle:
I could see that being a legitimate description of the set, but I could also see that being the text on a plaque posted in front of the building in the wild west equivalent of Colonial Williamsburg.
@PurpleDave said:
" @yellowcastle:
I could see that being a legitimate description of the set, but I could also see that being the text on a plaque posted in front of the building in the wild west equivalent of Colonial Williamsburg."
Could someone please explain to me what is actually wrong with a period piece? So many people have this real hostility to any form of plausibility, realism, or historical accuracy in a set; or as we see here, even the very IDEA that a model is supposed to exist in a specific timeframe.
Why must EVERYTHING be modernised, or even futurised in the case of City??
On your earlier comment PurpleDave, that's true they wouldn't have had a No Entrance sign at all. The thought did cross my mind, but I was more concerned with the lack of capitals (which is a recurring problem and one that applies in both a 19th century or contemporary context)
@yellowcastle said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @Montyh7 said:
"As a toy manufacturer and seller, their assumptions should be with the vast majority of would be purchasers, not the small minority who want a bespoke system. The BDP seems to fill the latter void nicely - for those niche buyers who prefer the unstable aesethically pleasing model. I'll stick to the robust for now and enjoy these models happily from afar."
Well, for sets aimed at kids I completely agree. As an adult I value good looks far more than stability. Then again, I don't play with my sets. And the good thing is, while LEGO cares for the needs of customers like you, many alternatives care for customers like myself. "
I LOVE the look of the BLDP Bowling Alley and Studgate AND my older children have had no issues playing with them in my LEGO city. I think this notion of instability or fragility for some of these sets is largely overblown.
"
I think that's great, but I watched a few reviews and read some blogs and many people regretted buying some models and some didn't enjoy the builds or the models after either. I'm not in any way attempting to dimmish your experience, but I'm certainly not interested in partaking in it as my personal standards obviously differ.
As I said, this suits the niche target fine, but isn't for the majority of buyers. I mean you simply have to read some of the reviews on the Lego site, where people complain that sets, which I find quite easy to assemble (and I'm a complete and utter moron) are very difficult, or that their child, a certified "genius" was unable to assemble set x and Y and previously had no trouble with a, b or c to understand that the a toy manufacturer selling to 130 countries (which is an extraordinary reach of diverse people and with a diverse range of expectations - just try getting 3 people to agree on a movie to watch some nights) needs to provide instructions and stability at a somewhat consistent level (and sometimes I've found their official sets lacking).
@Brickchap:
There’s nothing wrong with a period piece. Castle, Pirates, Ninja, Adventurers, and even IP-based PotC, Lone Ranger, and Prince of Persia are all period themes. But the sign over the back door and especially the female minifigs’ outfits don’t exactly scream support for this being a period piece.
Buy a copy, and it’s entirely your choice. Play it straight as a period piece, call it part of a living-history museum, set it in the future as tech-west (with all the tech just “off-screen”, or throw it in a TLM-like setting where everything is Western solely because that’s the designated theme of that particular area.
Just a heads up as this always comes up. When you order these they will put a "hold" charge on your credit card for a few days after you order them. Drops off about 3-5 days. You won't be actually billed for them until they are shipped, which is over the summer.
I hope that Lego making these western Bricklink sets wont discourage them from making offcial ones. I love the ones from the 90s so much and crave more
@johleth said:
"Seems like fragility is endemic of these BDP sets, no wonder they are exclusive to the most niche of LEGO collectors and not the general buying public."
This is also why LEGO Ideas sets need to get redesigned by a LEGO designer. So they're suitable for retail release and are up to the usual LEGO standards.
@yellowcastle said:
"*The “Urgency” of preordering should be gone starting with this series. People should have “some” time to order."
Three sets were sold out within hours.
@Mind_the_Brick said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @burra said:
" @watcher21 said:
"Ty for the review
NPU on the cart
@CapnRex101 will there be more reviews of the BrickLink Designer Program sets before there are available?
"
Check out these youtubers @RacingBrick , @TiagoCatarino , Solid brix studios for their reviews of the other set's. "
BrothersBrick has a written review of the Snack Shack, and Jay's Brick Blog and Brick Fanatics has the Train Shed. "
The articles you ve seen by Jay's Brick Blog and Brick Fanatics are not early reviews of the Old Train Engine Shed. ;)"
Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. I suppose they didn't involve building the set. Nevertheless, they provided indepth, detailed analysis and editorial opinions. I call that a review. What do you call it?
BTW, I like (and purchased) your set.