Fresh Ideas
Posted by rock99rock,
Today we will be looking at some of the cars and buildings submitted to LEGO Ideas over the past month. Only one has failed to meet the new “100 Votes in 60 days” milestone set forth by the LEGO Ideas team a few days ago. Let’s see if you think it belongs in the 2nd tier!
The Iron Horse
Modular buildings are a dime a dozen on LEGO Ideas. Many have actually made it to the Review stage... from the Not Approved Natural History Museum to the currently in review Train Station and Construction Site. What makes this one stand out?
In one day, this project by Pau Padrós (as of this writing) has 178 supporters, kicking it up to 423 “Days Left” to achieve 10k votes. The porch on this building really sets it off. “There is so much room for activities!” immediately comes to mind. The interior is highly detailed and the exterior has architectural elements showing that a lot of thought went into the design of this restaurant. The builder was also nice enough to make the roof from the beloved sand-green color we all covet so greatly.
I am starting to wonder if a modular will ever make it in review. So many of them were great ideas and looked wonderful but never passed. Should it be assumed that the 32x32 domain is LEGO-only turf? Time will tell.
Fiat 500 F
The Fiat 500 has a storied past, mostly in Italy and surrounding countries. Released in 1957, it was considered a cheap and practical town car. Since its re-release in 2007 the brand has seen a resurgence and now, a fan-made model has hit the town.
Upon first glance, some of the lines are a little rough and can use some polishing. After seeing the features and watching the video presentation they created, it's easy to understand how so much press has picked up this F model (1965-1972). The doors, boot and roof open. The interior is detailed, and the optional luggage rack on the back is a nice touch. In a little over 2 weeks, the Fiat by saabfan (EDIT: and gabriele.zannotti) is already 2500 votes towards its 10K goal.
Is this a case of The Golden Girls; getting votes from national press and ultimately turned down in review, or does the Fiat have a legitimate chance of being approved in review? How do you think this set would look alongside the Mini Cooper and the Volkswagon Bug?
Advent Calendar
I am rolling the dice on this one. Advent calendars are a BIG seller for LEGO. Would this permanent display by ollie1978, have a big enough audience and come to fruition, or remain niche due to its size and price?
When I first stumbled upon this set, I blew it off as it just seemed like overkill. After my 2nd or 3rd pass of this last months’ Ideas submissions (the things I do for ya’ll…), it started to stick out and I questioned its necessity. I took a look at the LEGO Advent Calendars and thought it would be pretty cool to stash the daily gifts in the permanent display and use that instead of opening a cardboard flap every day on the way to Christmas. So this is as much about the idea presented as it is about the model itself, which makes it unique. It could easily be the centerpiece of the Winter Creator sets. The Christmas lights and trees adorning the exterior along with the snow covered roof really solidifies this massive building. It is nearly 2500 pieces and covers two 32x32 baseplates.
It may be too large a project or serve too small a market, especially considering this might only be displayed for less than two months of the year. Perhaps if it could serve a dual purpose while still keeping the piece count, it might find a 2nd or 3rd audience for support. What do you think? Any changes you might make?
Nissan R89C Race Car
This race car was introduced in 1989 and raced in the World Sportscar Championship, the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, and the ‘89 24-Hours Le Mans. The paint job is unmistakable, but this version of the car was not as successful as its later iterations. Will that prevent this model by A Pashoaletto from succeeding?
The model itself is stunning, and the race car elements are well represented in this scale. Some of the SNOT techniques utilized in this model are very well executed. The front hood and trunk are removable, with the latter revealing a highly detailed engine bay. The doors also fold up and to the front just like the actual race car.
Are looks enough to get votes? I think having this next to the Ferrari F40 would be pretty swell, but it is more suited to be displayed next to other non-Technic racing cars (of which none exist in this scale). This is the only project in this article that has yet to reach 100 votes and I don’t expect that to be the case that much longer.
Chemical Plant
This is something I have wanted to build for myself for some time now. My father was a chemical engineer and used to visit plants like this frequently. The ultra-industrial scene has always fascinated me as it does the submitter Ymarilego, and looks like it could be a great play set or comic villian scene of destruction!.
With under 1000 pieces (EDIT: before the 2nd photo was added), it would not cause as much of concern for the review board as some other projects. The treatment sites, chimneys, storage vats and working laboratory span the 32x32 baseplate. The railings and yellow markers provide for a safe working environment.
I could really see this taking off should the right people see it. Granted, it would not per se fit within your standard modular street of Creator buildings, but I hope that does not stop LEGO from making it should it reach the required votes.
Featured Designer - Pau Padrós
Pau has been on a Modular building spree this year! Along with The Iron Horse mentioned above, he also released Magic Shop and Italian Villa both hovering around the 2500 vote mark. Go take a look at his other projects and throw him some support should you see fit.
So are modulars and other such similar buildings a lost cause now? What of the vehicle designs that are similar in scale to the Creator line from LEGO? Remember to vote, head back to LEGO Ideas soon as the new milestones will greatly improve the usability of the site. If you have any ideas for improvements of the above projects, head to the designers' comments section on the project page and leave some constructive suggestions for them to contemplate.
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28 comments on this article
That FIAT 500 is a doozey. That should be able to pass!
These are all SO cool! I especially love The Iron Horse and Chemical Plant.
Please support my projects. My LEGO ID is LEGONinja4335
I like the Iron Horse, and I really like the idea of the Advent Calendar permanent building! I would buy that in a heartbeat. Thanks for the article.
Fiat 500!
The Iron Horse looks great but like you mentioned in the article it seems that modulars are TLG's domain and that they will never approve such a project regardless. I think it would be great to see them pass a few fan based projects to mix it up as long as the quality is there and it doesn't repeat a presently covered theme of a modular already done.
I really do like the Fiat 500. It would go great with the other cars.
The Fiat will certainly pass through the review stage. Looks great.
The Advent Calendar is a very, very interesting idea. People love permanent ones that they can bring out year after year; there's always a lot of wooden and fabric ones in the shops and catalogues in the run-up to Christmas. And people love Lego Advent Calendars... putting them together seems like a natural choice, especially given the popularity of the Winter Village theme...
For the average person (not a car enthusiast), the Fiat model looks too similar to the VW Beetle just released. In fact, to my untrained eye, it looks eerily like someone took the VW Beetle and the Mini Cooper and created a hybrid of the two.
It's not unique enough relative to the two vehicles just released by Lego.
Well, the next Ideas set is a snazzy old car, I don't see why the Fiat or that Nissan racecar wouldn't make it. Not sure about the Advent Calendar, though, it really does need some other purpose to make it worthwhile...
I really like the chemical plant. So many useful parts for greebling and for building factories and such. The modular are nice too. Voted for all of them. :)
You guys have GOT to check out JediPippin's Minas Tirith Battle. It's incredible!
I really like the Iron Horse, but with Lego's upcoming release of the 'Steel' Horse, I don't think there will be room for this one.
Love these articles. They are laser focused and they force me to visit Ideas when I often forget in my hectic life.
The Fiat I'm not as keen on, and I love LEGO vehicles. I just think the Fiat design is too similar to the Beetle in shape/feel, and if we're going to see a new Creator type vehicle release, I would really like to see something that differs a lot from what we've seen before.
Pau's work is exceptional. So unique almost too much so, it might hurt it. It's hard to explain what I mean, but I'll give it more thought.
The chemical plant is awesome. Would love to see more City-type designs merge with Modular, but I don't know if that fits into LEGO's overall design plan. I think it should, but it just hasn't so far thematically.
So many talented people submitting stuff. It's great.
Oh yeah, the Advent Calendar. I think that is a brilliant idea. If I were a LEGO reviewer? I would probably reject the idea. Only from a financial standpoint. It is SUCH a great idea to have a DIY Advent Calendar I would not want it eating into my other Advent Calendar sales, which I gotta believe are significant.
Would love to build one on my own though. :)
"I am starting to wonder if a modular will ever make it in review." says rock99rock.
I agree, so here's my last appeal for reform of the IDEAS system: LEGO should allow us to buy a copy of the building instructions* for sets that make it to review but not production. After all, anyone who submits a set to IDEAS has already signed away their Intellectual Property Rights.
* or LDD/LeoCAD files or bricklists or whatever: I'm thinking off the cuff here.
A modular building is never going to happen. They're a Lego in-house baby, carefully and lovingly tended to by the masterful Jamie Berard and his team. The odds of one being picked up from Ideas and sold in the modular line are about as great as a random game developer making a new Super Mario game and having Nintendo publish it.
Ain't gonna happen, accept it and move on.
Another thing; look at all of the sets that have come out in the Cuusoo/Ideas range and see how many of them live in the $100+ range. The answer is none. The most expensive sets are $60-70 and most of them are $35-40. Use this as a guide when predicting what sort of sets are likely to be approved in reviews. The upcoming Caterham Seven might break the $70 barrier, and if it does that would mean the Fiat 500 has a solid chance.
@Rare White Ape - I'd normally agree with you until the Saturn V was approved. I'll move on after that set "sets" the precedent.
I like all of those big sets. The Iron Horse looks fantastic, and so does the Chemical Plant (what a great place for an epic hero/villain brawl). Those two modulars down the bottom look really great too, and I'd love to add that train station or construction site to my city.
But at a guess, yeah, the modulars are Lego exclusives, and they're either too big (or they set a rough precedent) for them to be allowed through, which is a shame.
Nice Fiat. I kinda wish it were yellow though; then I could do the whole 'Lupin III' thing.
Probably not the same model, but a man can dream right?
First time posting here on brick set... don't know if this is a regular post be really enjoyed the review of lego ideas. Love everything lego but really enjoyed this article. . Keep up the good work.
I agree with Space:1979 regarding modular sets posted to LEGO Ideas. As a designer that has a modular set currently posted to LEGO Ideas, I'm definitely invested in this topic. If a modular set has zero chance of being approved via the LEGO Ideas program, it would be nice to know. I love the idea of providing the building instructions for ideas which reach 10.000 supporters but are not approved to become official sets. LEGO could charge a small fee to download the instructions and give the designer a percentage of profits. It could be another great way for independent designers to establish a working relationship with LEGO. All that being said, I absolutely LOVE the Advent Calendar idea. Already supporting & following. My family would be thrilled to own this set. [LEGO Ideas Username: ChadSteahly | Current Project Link: Autumn Café - https://ideas.lego.com/projects/150136]
@ rock99rock,
Oh yeah. I'd forgotten about the Saturn V. That'll be quite a large one if it comes out in a similar size to the submitted project.
The way the magic shop's roof fits over the façade of the next building is just genius. I'm surprised no official modulars have incorporated that sort of interlocking feel yet.
Never give up hope on a modular being offered as LEGO Ideas.
The very first modular (Market Street) was exactly that. It was offered thru' their first incarnation of Ideas.
In fact, it could be argued that modulars would never have happened without our input!
@blogzilly Regarding your Advent Calendar comment, I don't think this would eat into the current Advent set sales at all, but rather promote them. I wouldn't sell this set already filled with the daily gifts. It would be up to the set owner to choose from the available yearly advent sets and fill the building with them, yearly. They wouldn't even have to be LEGO, but whats the fun in that :) This set would serve more as a shell than a package deal. Although, I can see that causing confusion for the consumer so who knows if that idea would work.
LOTR fans rally!!! 813 votes needed to reach 5000 - https://ideas.lego.com/projects/96034
Don't let the orcish deadline win!