Interesting Ideas
Posted by rock99rock,
Once again I've been trawling the depths of LEGO Ideas to find recently added projects that are worthy of your attention and support.
This week I've selected five projects including two sailing boats, old and new.
Icon Ford Bronco
UPDATE: This item was removed from Lego Ideas shortly after this article was published, as the submitter was not the actual creator of the vehicle pictured. All credit goes to Paul Kim for his original design, which can be seen on his Flickr page here.
From afar, the initial impression of the first picture is that it is actually a Ford Bronco. Upon closer inspection, its bricky veins start to appear and woo you. The mostly Technic chassis melds wonderfully with the brick body. The exterior curves are matched brick for brick, without the need for stickers.
With the size kicking in at just over a foot long and half a foot wide (40cm x 16cm), this highly detailed model has some features such as a removable hardtop, detailed engine compartment, and opening doors. The steering wheel is not attached to the front wheels, and this is not a remote controlled vehicle. Now, I could see where those missing features would deter some voters, though I am not swayed. This is a beautiful model and looks like it could use the Mini Cooper as a ramp on its way across a pond!
- PROS: Design, Heavy brick over Technic use, Scale
- CONS: Limited features and play-ability
Beach House
One look at this model and you know that it has a fighting chance. From the choice in colors to the modern architectural design, this beach house just begs for you to come join in the relaxation it offers. The removable roof and 2nd story reveal a bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen. There is also a hobby room. I wish I had a hobby room.
The footprint, piece count and design SCREAMS for a LEGO Creator Expert theme spot on a shelf. Other than Winter Village sets, there aren’t any residence buildings in the Creator Expert family that are not modular, so hopefully this set can break that mold. With the slanted roofs and open-concept design, there is much room for the many creative and decorative furniture elements throughout.
If one were to be picky, they would request a bit more flair for the front exterior of the house (opposite water side) as it is drastically more drab than the rest of the home. The dock while very appealing seems fragile and may benefit from some large blue plates representing water. Other than that, where do I sign up for the time share?
- PROS: Design, Wide appeal, Playability
- CONS: Its not on my shelf yet
HMS Beagle
Over the week since my last post, there has been a bevy of nautical themed projects being submitted. This is the first ship on that list. Ahoy matey! Toss me yer line and dock here! This ship (along with Charles Darwin) sailed around the world exploring far lands and making discoveries in the mid 1800’s.
The ship has over 2000-pieces (including the brick sails). The set has 8 minifigs including Darwin, Captain Fitzroy and some assistants and sailors. It also includes three small 6x6 vignettes depicting some of Darwin’s discoveries.
This ship holds mass appeal as it is not only a large ship, but holds an educational element as well. The set itself would fit right in with existing ships such as the Imperial Flagship, or being chased by some Pirates! The color scheme and design holds up well to the original HMS Beagle, and the simple interior matches the period well. It feels like it is lacking something, maybe an additional layer like the inner cargo hold? Perhaps that middle section can be built up a bit to add that room and give it some living quarters or freight storage.
The submitter notes at the end of his post that more than 700-bricks would be saved if canvas was used instead of bricks for the sails. A MAJOR part of the appeal of this set for me personally are the brick sails. I do not know why, but there is an inner purist that really enjoys the look of them. They are most probably causing the ship to become top-heavy so I can understand the canvas substitution… but goodness she's a beaut! If this set does get enough votes and is selected, I would gladly purchase it and then hound the designer for the brick sail plans.
- PROS: Mass appeal, Educational, Fits with existing themes
- CONS: Needs more detail
Sailboat: Hallberg-Rassy 40 Mk II
More brick sails? SWOON! This classy take on a consumer-grade sailboat is a good take on a modern design. The brick sails grabbed me again on this one, and I hope I’m not alone.
There are great interior and exterior details including a full cabin, detailed mast and hand railing. Many details of the ship seem to be missing from the description, such as the size and parts count. It would be of great benefit if designers included such information in their write-ups for the readers. I think the more details you can provide, the better. It not only shows how much thought was put into the project, but may even point out something positive that someone missed in the picture(s). By my modest estimation, this is about 34cm long or just over a foot.
Right off the bat, the port and starboard sides of the boat are in need of immediate assistance. When designing a LEGO boat, even though it may not be designed to float, you want to make sure that it at least looks like it can float. Unless those hinges allow the side of the boat to open up to some sort of James Bond escape hatch, the sides should always be as smooth as possible and a hole-less hull.
- PROS: Boats! Boats! Boats!, Interior features and design
- CONS: Needs hull rebuild
Drum Kit
What a delightfully fun little kit. The amount of detail packed into such a small display by Sérgio Batista is well thought out and everything is optimally placed. As a former musician, I can understand the appeal for having a neat little kit on display in the band hall or in the practice room.
There is little room for critique here. The odd angles are only possible through the fragile clips of part 4289542. This isn't a real shortcoming, just a limitation of the pieces available. It might have more wide appeal if it was part of a larger band set, containing, say, a keyboard player, lead singer, guitarist and a stage set with hanging lights and speakers from the structure. But then again that just made it a $50 set instead the more appealing $10.
The designer has shown 3-4 other drum sets ranging from “Beginner” to “Professional” allowing the consumer to decide which is more appropriate for them. This would make a fantastic addition to a stage set, or may even prompt you to start building one!
- PROS: Cheap, Musical appeal, Great design in small package
- CONS: Possibly fragile (though its not like the minifigures will just start drumming away right? RIGHT?)
Featured Designer - Richie2537
Holy moly! This gent submitted 20 large WWI-era fighter aircraft to Ideas over the course of two weeks. The amount of time and effort involved in making sure every last detail was true to the original aircraft must have been staggering. After a bit of sleuthing, he’s just been a life-long fan of the WWI planes and inevitably started building them after his daughter started getting into LEGO. (source) I’m sure a couple of you can relate to that last bit! The models are all 1/22 scale and are minifigure optimal.
What an amazing undertaking by Richie2537. He could film his own LEGO version of Howard Hughes’ “Hell’s Angels” should he choose to do so! I would be more than happy to have a couple of these on my shelf next to Jamie Berard's Sopwith Camel.
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23 comments on this article
Not a great week IMO. I didn't find anything I wanted to support except for my own project( https://ideas.lego.com/projects/93781 hope no one minds me "billboarding" (-; )
Are you a new News Editor on Brickset? I can't see any posts done by you.
Nice little selection. These would make good sets.
Yes
I am working on a really awesome Star Wars vessel for LEGO Ideas... I expect to upload it next week. I hope you guys will like it!
I hesitate to say it, but I don't think LEGO will produce any Ideas set that's based on a former or existing IP, so you might be better off setting it in an alternative universe.
The link for the Hallberg-Rassey sailboat directs to the drum kit page.
The link should be https://ideas.lego.com/projects/93646.
This version of Lothlorien looks really good as well: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/70260
The beach house is quite lovely, but it sort of seems like a combination of the 4996 beach house and 31012 family house. Not intentionally, of course, but I'd still pass over something that's so fairly reminiscent of something else.
I really like that drum kit, but seeing small sets like that or Masao Hidaka's piano has me wondering if LEGO has a minimum size/price point when selecting projects. We know that large Creator Expert or UCC projects probably won't pass review, but what about really small ones? I'd bet that just as LEGO doesn't want to go above $60 for an Ideas release, they also wouldn't want to drop below $20.
Thanks for doing the research Huw. I love your choices and I supported them all!!! One thing I always have an issue with is deciding on the price point when voting. The builds with a lot of interior detail obviously crank up the part count and then the price which I don't mind at all but I don't want to kill the set because I put a high price because I WANT the detail. (Blah - long sentence!) I know that one vote doesn't make a difference but why do they even ask?? It depends so much on the finished design...I mean some of these are so cool that, as someone else said, "I'd sell a kidney for" so price is irrelevant......Maybe they should add a new category!
Thank rock99rock, not me...
^ There are a couple reasons, I'd assume. LEGO obviously needs to know if the market is there for these projects if released. A simple "support" doesn't necessarily indicate that. If the supporters of a 1,000-piece set are only to willing to pay $30 on average, then that's a big problem.
On the flip side, if the supporters of a 300-piece set are willing to pay $50 on average, then that not only shows enthusiastic support, it gives LEGO a better idea of their price ceiling.
Sorry Huw! Thanks rock99rock!
^I agree with everything you've said, Modok. The beach house is a beautiful design, but even saying that it's an "Expert Creator" doesn't differentiate it enough from the other beach house's TLG has been producing. It's wonderful, but is that enough to product it to compete with the standard line of sets?
Also, I have long wanted to say something about the pricing vote and how important it probably is in the review process. Often folks are upset that a set didn't pass review. We know that a licensed Idea is often advertised to fans of that license who may have no idea what LEGO bricks really are or cost. Those folks might all be willing to only pay $50 (and I bet most might even vote for a lower price) for a set that should cost $100 based on the piece count and license. Even though it gets the 10000 votes, it would not be a practical decision for LEGO Ideas to develop the set.
I love the drum set. I am a drummer and I recently was just thinking about how it would be awesome to have a little lego drum kit like that. Now to go support it.
8 days ago I all ready saw the Beach House pass by. I mentioned it back then in a comment on another article about Lego Ideas. It's going fast. And all though I'm not in to city or creator sets. I like this one very much. I give it a big chance to be the next Creator set. Nice build.
I have supported the boats/ships all so. I really like those. Especially the HMS Beagle. Will make a great fit between the pirates.
These are all nice projects, but you missed the best in my opinion:
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/94072
The Secret of Monkey Island is just brilliant executed and on top of it it's a medium sized model that has a lot more chances than the projects presented in the article due to its moderate number of parts.
Also, more than 200 supporters in 3 days is not bad.
@Huw - I suggest you to include it in the article if you like it.
"I've been trawling the depths of LEGO Ideas to find recently added projects that are worthy of your attention and support"
I definitely approve of this.
I'm quite liking that Beach House, and could easily see it becoming the launch pad for a series of "Summer Town" sets to mirror the Winter Village.
And seeing as I was never able to get 850486, having a drum kit to go with my other rock themed Collectable Minifigures would be great.
Wow, this Richie guy is inspiring. =O
Not related, but Lego has announced The Lego Jurassic Park Videogame! spread the news!
Thanks rock99,there are so many sets out there, and not always got enough time to spot all the good ones, great new feature. Like your writing too!
Love the house, but I think it won't make it to production, sadly, even if it is around $60... maybe if they cut down on sand around the house :)
From my point of view the bronco is the best of all.I supported it.