Fresh Ideas

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Hello all! I'm back from hiatus and bringing you some more Ideas with a new name for the article. I was only able to scan back 60 days on the LEGO Ideas site before my beefy computer nearly ground to a halt and the browser started stuttering. Onto it!

Shopping Streets

Is the LEGO Modular theme too expensive for your wallet? LEGO Ideas member CHILTECH has you covered. With his Ideas submission, you can get a taste of that modular feel in a smaller package.

Upon a single glance, it all makes so much sense and I wish I had come up with it. This is a delivery platform for inexpensive LEGO City shops that could easily range from $10 - $30 each. Thinking of 20 different shops to put into this format is not too far-fetched. Looking at this second picture, it has me wondering if this build would benefit from a new baseplate designed for this purpose... As long as we can still customize that sidewalk of course! The shops look as if they can stand alone if need be, and the baseplate can be sold separate, or as part of a 3-shop set.

Although there is nothing I would change about this set, I would only suggest adding more shop suggestions in the Updates section.

  • PROS: Mass appeal, heavy playability, potential to be a series, affordability.
  • CONS: None.

Modular City Park: Emmet Memorial

Peace, tranquility and Emmet. This park has it all! Seating areas, a pond, an elderly woman feeding the birds, and Emmet memorialized in statue form.

There's really not much too say about this set - it's a park and has all the attributes expected of a park. However, if it hopes to fit in with other sets in the Modular line-up, the front entrance and fence need to be pushed back to allow for a sidewalk. This would make for a more seamless experience, because from what I’ve heard, minifigures do not like jaywalking. Also, it might benefit the build to have that stone pathway lead all the way to the rear, or use some combination of green tiles and stone pathway to fill in the studded-void in the center of the park.

Other than that, this is beautiful and would be a welcome addition to my Modular street.

UPDATE: (see second picture) LEGO Ideas submitter nunki-psi has submitted an update addressing some of the suggestions I made. Its looking great.

  • PROS: New use of familiar format, green space, immortalized Emmet.
  • CONS: Needs Modular-sized sidewalk, break up monotony in center of park.

Arc de Triomphe

Liberté, égalité, fraternité! Meant for the Architecture theme, the Arc de Triomphe is a sight to behold, and this representation does not disappoint.

With over 1300-pieces, this would not be the largest piece-count set for the Architecture theme, but would probably be the tallest. The details of the ceilings are captured exquisitely by using the back of plates. The “carved panels” and enclaves are populated with a number of the small trophy figures providing a unique detail to the set. Its actually almost too much detail near the top, as the roof looks like its just hovering above the trophy heads. I’m not sure how the LEGO Ideas submitter Eiffleman would accomplish it, but the top row of trophies just needs to be cleaned up a bit, if not removed and replaced with some greebling.

Regardless of that situation, this is a an excellent example of the iconic building and would be the flagship of the Architecture theme.

UPDATE: (See second picture) LEGO Ideas submitter Eiffleman has posted an update which appears to solve much of my original concern with the roof. It certainly looks more supported with the corner pillars, and still captures the essence of the original carvings.

  • PROS: Iconic building, great details.
  • CONS: The following comment was before the adjustment had been made (Top layer of trophies needs adjustment).

Lunar Roving Vehicle (including a Baseplate)

So many historical moments have happened in space, and LEGO has been producing many of the models that encompass those moments. Here we have a fine example of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (or LRV for short).

The rover looks good, and the minifigures are filming themselves planting the NASA flag? I don’t quite remember it happening that way, but okay :) Perhaps the submitter was just trying to be generic enough so that voters were not offended by the American flag, but I digress. The baseplate provides a nice detail, a certain addition that takes this set to the next level so it's not just a rover and a couple of minifigs. I’m not so sure the display plate is necessary, perhaps a bit of overkill. Maybe just a nameplate like the Architecture sets sport.

Seeing how the Curiosity set sold out like hot-cakes, I have little doubt that this would be another successful addition to the LEGO NASA genre.

  • PROS: Nice baseplate, mass appeal.
  • CONS: NASA placed the American flag on the moon.

Featured Designer - dr.runright

Tractors, grain carts, and havesters, Oh my! dr.runright has been very active on the LEGO Ideas site, having submitted 20 projects! Most fall within the farming realm, but there are other vehicles (and some expired projects that include buildings). The details of his vehicles at this small scale are quite incredible. I know my father-in-law would love to have that John Deere themed “4wd Tractor 1”. Give them a gander and throw some support his way should you see fit.

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15 comments on this article

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By in United States,

I definitely like that Modular shops idea...

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By in United States,

Okay...I love the combine!! If only it was in Gleaner gray instead of International red. As a farming kind of guy, I really like Dr. Runright's stuff!!!

The Lunar Rover and Arc de Triomphe are also nice.

Not sure I get the connection with Emmet and and being memorialized...

As for the shopping streets: they're nice, but feel a bit redundant based on what TLG already releases.

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By in United States,

They should make an Ideas set of the Good Mythical Morning set.

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By in United Kingdom,

Is... Emmet..

DEAD?

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By in Puerto Rico,

The shop idea is genius.

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By in United Kingdom,

Wow if the Architecture line looked like that Arc de Triomphe I would be all over it. I have also wanted a NASA moon landing type set from ideas from day one am surprised one has not made it yet.

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By in United States,

I would buy Arc de Triomphe like a lot of them ...

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By in United States,

I love the Shopping Streets, but a huge obvious and immediate "con" to me is that it looks like recent Creator sets.

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By in United States,

I need to get my project uploaded. That City Park is getting way too close to my idea. I've been working on it for months and finally just got decent pix taken, going up tonight! I need to get my project uploaded. That City Park is getting way too close to my idea. I've been working on it for months and finally just got decent pix taken, going up tonight!

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By in United States,

^^^ This was a consideration in my thinking, especially looking at the Toy & Grocery Shop. I think the most important thing to take away from the submission is how they were implemented though, and how the distribution model has the potential to really take off. So granted, the similarities probably should have been listed as a con. Thank you for your input.

^^ I had seen that yesterday, but my cutoff for submissions was 5 days ago. It might make the next one however.

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By in United States,

See, all of these make sense (they all seem to be decent to good designs and would likely have a somewhat low price tag if produced) and I can see LEGO strongly considering all if they hit 10K, with the exception of maybe the park.

Though @ericjohn does bring up a good point about the mod street being a lot like the creator sets of late.

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By in United States,

Zat Arc De Triomphe iz FANTASTIQUE! :)

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By in Denmark,

I thought the Arc-de-Triumoh was an already produced set. I was so ready to buy my first Architec set. :-)

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By in United Kingdom,

@rock99rock. Thank you for another interesting article on LEGO Ideas. Perhaps you could also consider including a last chance to support pick, if there are future articles. Here is an updated shortlist of all those ending soon projects with over 500 supporters and 60 days or less left before they expire. (Some could get an extension with some more support). Apologises if I have made any errors. : )
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/70624 The Battle of Kazad Dum. 3 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/70724 KITT & KARR. 3 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/55784 Batmobile. 5 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/71200 LOTR - Rivendell Part 1. 5 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/55656 Radagast's House. 6 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/71552 The Gilded Crow. 7 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/71203 LOTR - Rivendell Part 3. 7 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/71205 LOTR - Rivendell Part 4. 7 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/44370 Working Microscope. 12 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/72562 Origin 300i starship. 17 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/72716 Galaxy Explorer 2015. 19 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/73345 Boardwalk Arcade. 21 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/56745 Red Robin & Alfred: Gates to Wayne Manor. 25 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/74096 Emmet's Apartment from The LEGO Movie. 29 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/74229 MIDI-Scale Venator Star Destroyer. 31 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/68687 LL928 Comes Home. 31 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/74237 LEGO Minas Tirith. 31 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/74868 Chemistry Lab. 34 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/57773 The L. Rivendell Museum of Natural History. 34 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/57454 HERBIE the LOVE BUG. 36 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/58144 The Dark Knight Trilogy Movie Accurate 2 Seaters Tumbler & Bat Pod. 39 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/75440 Clash of Clans. 41 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/46489 BTTF - Doc Brown's GMC Value Van with small Delorean. 41 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/76375 Chinese New Year Dragon. 43 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/76114 RC Train DB E103. 43 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/58552 Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. LEGO Set. 46 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/76527 Doctor who's T.A.R.D.I.S. interior. 53 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/77118 Spirit of St. Louis. 54 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/59212 20.000 Leagues under the Sea NAUTILUS. 56 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/59237 10th Doctor's TARDIS. 56 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/59386 LEGO UCS TARDIS Console Room. 56 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/77597 Eve and Wall-E. 56 days left.
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/49504 Project T.A.R.D.I.S. 59 days left.

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