LEGO factory playset on LEGO Ideas
Posted by Huw,
A couple of months ago, BrickJonas (KovJonas99 on Ideas) contacted me and asked if I would help promote his Ideas project, LEGO Factory Playset, and in particular whether I would be willing to build his virtual model in real bricks. I had already seen it featured on The Brothers Brick so I knew what a cool model it was, thus I was only too happy to oblige.
The project, a collaboration with Zanna, combines a designer's workshop, reception and factory into one model. Jonas has taken inspiration from the real LEGO buildings in Billund, although it is not intended to be an accurate representation. Instead, he has distilled the essence of each into small, compact sections that, like all good LEGO sets, are designed to be played with.
Jonas sent me instructions for the model and I was able to build it from parts in my collection. Having done so, I made a few improvements and suggested other enhancements which have now been incorporated into his submission.
It is perhaps surprising that LEGO has not made a model of one of its factories already as I am sure it would be very popular. Pledge your support, then hopefully that will change.
Read on for a detailed look at the model and all its cool features...
The three sections of the building have distinct architectural styles and are different sizes which adds to the model's overall appeal.
The sections are held together with Technic pins to enable them to be separated easily.
The roof sections can easily be removed to facilitate access to the interior.
The exterior of the designer's workshop building is reminiscent of the LEGO offices on Aastvej, Billund.
Inside there is everything a LEGO designer needs: drawers (designed by Adzbadboy) full of elements with models on display on top of them, a building table with the current project on it, and of course a coffee machine. .
The central reception area has sliding doors and company sign modelled on that in Aastvej.
Inside, brick pits filled with white bricks, shelves showcasing the current range of products and a reception desk with computer.
On the other wall, a minifigure statuette.
The factory section is the largest of the three. At the front, cycle racks, at the rear, ABS granulate silos and on the top, solar panels.
The inside is packed with details, the most of important of which is the moulding machine. There is a better view of it below. There is also a storage area for moulds and tools and an automated factory robot that in the real factory replaces crates once they have been filled.
The moulding machine looks great. The mould can be operated by pushing the 1x2 grille tile in and out.
Here is the factory robot.
You can see the storage shelves holding the moulds better in this picture.
I think it is fantastic and encourage you to support it. Jonas has the balance between accuracy and playability just about right. It is full of interesting details and influences from real buildings which makes for a good display model as well as something that kids could have fun with.
I am sure there is room for improvement, there always is, so if you have any suggestions I am sure Jonas will take them on board. However, ultimately, it is a balancing act between making it huge and detailed and keeping it a viable Ideas project.
It would be nice, for example, to have a bigger factory floor area so the robot can fit in more comfortably but that would require more plates, more tiles on the floor, more bricks for the walls, more windows and so on, so it soon gets out of hand and the parts count increases dramatically...
You can view more photos and stunning 3D renders of the model on flickr and pledge your support on LEGO Ideas.
Jonas, I wish you luck on your journey to 10,000 and I hope that my brick-built model encourages people to support it.
Mecabricks 3D view
The model was designed in Mecabricks so it can be viewed in 3D:
65 likes
56 comments on this article
It looks really cool! I have never been to billand,but could recognise the buildings from documentries on TV.
I will hop over to ideas now!
Really spiffy set idea, actually, but now my head's gone haywire in making a script for a LEGO factory sitcom. The size is just about perfect for a funny stop-motion short.
Recognised the tan building instantly! Well done!
That's really lovely! And brings back memories of the Brickset trip last year!
got my full support
Beautiful
Amazing model, but I thought the LEGO logo wasn't allowed on projects?
Thank you for the kind words guys! I'm really glad you like my project, and good to hear that some of you have personal memories of the real factory.. :)
@CM4Sci: we can't use the LEGO logo in our ideas (we can't place it for example in the top left corner of the project images), but we can use it as a part of the model itself. ;)
I second the instant recognizeability of this buildings.
I have been to Billund a couple of times and would love to have this brilliant set on my desk.
The details!!!
Designers building: The drawers, the outside shape of the building, even Jamie is here! :-)))
Central reception: The sign in front of the building, the crates filled with bricks, now please add the lego sign on the wall of the main entrance behind the desk! ;-)
The factory: The blue robot, the containers with the ABS pellets, the shelf with the moulds (:-O !!)
Absolute fantastic - supporting and following!
@Holodoc: I'm really glad you like all the details in the model! (Actually, the shelf with the moulds is Huw's idea ;-) ) I hope you will be able to buy it as a real set one day. I thought I could build the big LEGO logo in the entrance when I designed the model last year... I left the back of the rooms open because of playability, the logo would be a "blockage" there, but I'll see what can I do with it! Stay tuned, maybe it will be added in the next update! ;-)
So simple but so nice ! Well done, that's really great !
My first thought was that the reception area was a complete waste. As a kid (and possibly even an adult), there is nothing more boring than waiting in reception. I'm only trying to be helpful and certainly understand why it's there. It's just my opinion that a child would prefer a larger factory and a smaller or even non-existent reception area.
Looks great and I will end up supporting it but, this gave me an idea to build a SW factory, the Ties, SD and Walkers need to be built somewhere…
@lippidp: Yeah, that's true, waiting on reception is the most boring thing in the life - but I think it's a quite unique thing that at LEGO you can for example play with LEGO bricks while you wait there and just enjoy the great environment around you. But in some sense you are right, so I'll think about it until the next big update! Thank you very much for the feedback/suggestion! ;-)
@Lordmoral: awesome! Good to hear my MOC inpired you.
This is a fantastic model. Supported.
What a great idea. I've seen other toy manufacturers create products that are sold separately and then can be later joined together. I wonder if Lego would ever consider this. Sell 6 scenes / buildings that can be played with alone and when the consumer has bought all 6 they can be connected to form the larger structure.
Nicely looking model. I tend to agree with lippidp on the reception area--in the sense that it would be the first thing to drop for the official set (which can only be so big). It looks nice, but it doesn't offer any type of play features and uses an awful lot of pieces.
I do think it would help to enhance the play feature of the molding machine (I'm assuming it does something, but I cannot tell what from the pictures here). It would be cool if it pushed out full 2x2 red bricks. It'd be more in the spirit of process instead of being so accurate (and less playful)--being in the spirit is far more fun.
Voted for! I would love to have this set at home! My only factory in my Lego City. Fingers crossed!
I supported! It looks like a very promising project.
Cool model and well realised. Hats off to you both.
Supported.
Absolutely fantastic. Supported and extremely hoping I can own it one day!
If I were you, I wouldn't leave out the reception area. It adds more life to the model.
@minicoopers11, @eric moirez, @Tym Lydy, @ChicoCheco, @ZeeBricks, @waylander: Thank you everyone! :)
@Tym Lydy: Yep, maybe you are right, as it isn't a common thing that LEGO puts a reception in sets, because it isn't playable (or at least not as much as the factory for example). It was a hard decision for me how to arrange the rooms, and at the end, I found this one the best. (Designer's workshop on the left, factory on the right and the entrance/reception in the middle). As Huw mentioned in the article, "Jonas has taken inspiration from the real LEGO buildings in Billund, although it's not intended to be an accurate representation", so the model still needs to be similar to the real building and to be playable in the same time. It's a quite hard thing to do. As you can see in the street view which Huw linked in the post, the entrance of my factory is similar to the entrance of the Åstvej offices, that's why it's a little bit bigger/taller than the designer's workshop in my model. :) Your idea about the moulding machine is fantastic, by the way!
So anyway, I jotted down your suggestion - I'll try to find a nice solution for them! Thank you so much! :)
@TheBrickPal: Thank! Hope you can own this set one day! ;)
is there instructions for this available
I love this set, and supported it quite a while ago. It is great for a LEGO City layout, comes with great play-features, and it is also educational. I'm quite surprised LEGO haven't made a set like this themselves. I really hope this project achieves 10K votes.
This also gives me the idea that LEGO should make a "How It's Made?" factory series. Factories are so fascinating, and LEGO is the perfect medium to model them.
@akunthita, @Matt89190: Thank you!
@Knightwing01: I'm sorry, I haven't published the instructions for it. But hey, if we can reach 10.000 supporters, it might become a LEGO set, with real instruction! :)
I supported this long ago, still love it! And I like the reception area, I understand the other comments and they are valid, but I think its great just how it is!
Supported! Really cool.
Just supported! I would love one of these in my dorm on display, quite honestly. It's a beautiful set and definitely deserves to be the next Ideas set in my book.
mmm the receptionist is female while the designer and engineer are male...
@danstraindepot, @Straconus, @chrismajor2124: thanks! :) I'm glad you like it!
@benredstar: there are 2 male and 2 female minifigures in this set - the recepcionist is female and there is one more female minifigure outside the building (she is a LEGO designer); the factory worker and the other designer is male too. ;)
Fantastic! I wish i could support. ( Im not over the age of 13 )
BrickJonas contacted me during his development stage and asked me what I thought of the project, I instantly approved the project, it was exactly what LEGO Ideas needed. The drawers using in this concept were designed by me with the intention to create an accurate replica of the drawers that are used by LEGO Designers during the design phase.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adeelzubair/28528749661
It was cool to have a hand in designing the drawers for this project, I don’t believe it hasn’t got more supporters. I would totally own one.
^Yep, that's true, Adeel designed those awesome little drawers! I LOVE them. :) Thank you again "Adzbadboy"! ;)
Yes they are indeed very cool and I've noted your involvement in the text.
One suggestion I have: maybe the design workshop should be slightly larger? Like, longer in width, in order to fit one more table so it's possible to seat both designers.
@TheBrickPal: yep, some people already suggested it, so I think I should do something.. It's quite simple to extend that room, so I'll see what can I do! :) Again, I need to be very careful with the size of the model and piece count, but thank you for the suggestion!
Cool set, well executed. Supported.
I like the idea of this more than the execution here, it's OK being true to life but the result is not a very interesting structure. If this was called "Plastic Cutlery Plant" noone would be that excited by it.
The vast majority of people have no idea of what the actual Lego factory looks like so it could be more interesting to create something more magical - think Willy Wonka's Factory but for Lego. As it is it could be any light industrial building anywhere in the world so at the least it would be worth making the architecture a bit more interesting.
It's a gorgeous set, and I really like it.
Supported long time ago :)
On the subject of the receptionist's office controversy (really?), I have to say that, when I was putting together buildings for my Lego city when I was a kid, I *always* put a receptionist's office on the ground floor, or else directly in front of the front entrance. I'd even adjust/rebuild actual Lego sets (the big police station that came out in '93 or thereabouts, or the fire station that came out in '95), to actually give them a front office.
Yeah, it's boring part of the space, but when you're a kid, that's what buildings have. When you go inside, you have the front office area. And kids generally don't have much business with lawyers or accountants, so the front office is all they see. Plus, you've got minifigs to work in the receptionist area with stories and houses and backgrounds, I mean, that's what I always did.
What I would give the receptionist here is a seat to sit down on behind the desk, because she'd be very tired standing on her feet all day.
Great job I love it! I was one of the earlier supporters and I have also commented on Lego Ideas. Other people have already said how good this is, but you can be sure that I love it so much. If this does not become a set, I will consider violently protesting outside Lego HQ in Billund. :)
For the reception, I suggest that you make the brick bins full of green and blue bricks (since you already have red and yellow) instead of white. The desk design is great, but perhaps it could be more U shaped. Also, I saw a picture of a Lego building with touchscreen glass mini walls (like in the Avengers movie) that showed the world and all the Lego Group buildings. Perhaps you could replicate this?
Huw, I have a question for you. Are Brickset members allowed to ask for promotion of their Lego Ideas projects on Brickset, or is this just a one-off because this is such as special set?
I've been to Billund but I can't say I recognize these buildings. It would have been nice if this article included a photo of the original building that this is supposed to be a model of. Maybe a link to Google Street View?
^ There's a link to Google street view.
Nice set. I have given my vote. It gives a good idea of the Lego producing process.
I was there last year. Just passed by this weekend.
Love it - voted!
@jaitheartist, @stonecoldcrazy, @mrfuture, @Snowhitie: thank you everyone! :)
@Zordboy Good to hear that! The chair is a good idea, I think she is quite tired, because she stands there since January :P
@Brickchap: Thank you for the suggestions! - and for your support too! :)
@joemmo: interesting comment. Sorry, but I'm thinking a little bit different. For example, I had no idea how the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 looks like, because I haven't seen the movie. After I saw the ideas project of it, I could see that it's a very good replica of the actual car. Some people don't watch The Big Bang Theory, so I think they have no idea how that apartment room looks like. Some people don't like racing cars, so they have no idea how the Caterham seven looks like, etc. :) So..I don't like to say good things about my own work, but in my opinion, I managed to replicate the shape and exterior of the Aastvej offices quite good, and I really tried to capture as much details as possible in the designer's workshop (the drawers, the mini models, etc.), the reception (the LEGO sets on the wall, the decoration on the red wall, and the life size minifigure statuette) and the factory (moulding machine, containers, factory robot) too. :) But thank you for the feedback!
@KovJonas - Hi - thanks for responding and I understand your approach. My comment is really that I can see you've made a good interpretation of the real factory & design office but as it is, does it have the same broad consumer appeal as the other examples that you've given? Could you for example stay true to the realistic foundation but take a more creative approach to the building design and develop a more appealing looking structure? Modify the flat roof design for example?
I could really see something like this working as a City or a Modular set but it would need a looser interpretation of the subject. Anyway, best of luck and respect your work and how you've engaged with people on the site here.
@joemmo: Hi, that's a good point, actually. And no, it doesn't have the same broad consumer appeal as the ones mentioned in my comment above. You know, this is a non-IP-based set idea, which means it's harder to promote it (for example I can't put it on a Star Wars community forum, etc), AND there aren't that much people who will support it - I already knew it when I uploaded it on LEGO Ideas, but I thought I could at least try to reach a couple thousand supporters with it. :)
I read all your comments on LEGO Ideas, here on Brickset and everywhere where my project has appeared and I'll do my best and try to improve my model with every single update. ;) Again, thank you so much for your feedback, it means a lot for me!!
Fabulous. Added my support. Would love to see this made as an official set.
I supported this, it definatly looks like something I would buy.
As mentioned by earlier posters, I wouldn't have known it was a Lego brick factory, if not for the big title at the top. I actually like it. I thought maybe it should just be a large diorama of the factory floor and the entire brick-building process. I don't see the point of having the reception area and the office. Even if it's about creating a modular building itself with a removable roof as featured in the pictures, I would have preferred it to be completely walled up. Great effort. Excellent for show and tell, but I don't see the appeal as a good commercial set. That said, I still like it. :D
Also, I want to point out that a lot of people can rebuild this set from their own spare bricks. I'm just not sure whether anyone wants to pay more for an Ideas set like this one. Already, I have seen many people use the VW beetle and Mini to build the Caterham, instead of buying the actual Ideas set.
@kiwicarol, @jonwil: thank you - I'm glad you like my project! :)
@johnnie_tee: Okay, so you said you know that it's a LEGO Factory because of the sticker with the "LEGO Factory Playset" text, and the designer's workshop and the reception are unnecessary. But, these two rooms can help you to figure out that it's a LEGO Factory, in fact.. :) Imagine you are walking somewhere in Billund and you see a big gray building. Would you know that that is the LEGO Factory, if there weren't huge LEGO bricks around it and if there wasn't a big LEGO logo on its sign board? :) The LEGO production process starts in the marketing area and in the designer's workshop, so in my opinion, it's necessary to include that part of the building in the playset.
You also said "maybe it should just be a large diorama of the factory floor and the entire brick-building process". Now I have a question: would you buy a set, full of gray LEGO bricks and for example with 5 same moulding machines in it? I think you won't. ;) I can understand from your comment that you'd like to see the packaging process and for example a little warehouse with a truck - I had the same idea in my mind when I designed the model last December, but the model currently has about 1700 pieces in it, which is a little bit critical for a LEGO Ideas set, so I need to be very careful what I include in it, and what I don't.
"Also, I want to point out that a lot of people can rebuild this set from their own spare bricks." - Maybe there are some people, who have many spare LEGO bricks for building MOCs, etc., but I think there are much more LEGO fans who don't have a huge collection and who buy LEGO sets. :) (LEGO wouldn't make those little sets with 50-100 pieces if they weren't necessary for the LEGO fans.) I also don't have a big collection, that's why I haven't built it with real bricks, but with virtual ones. ;)
All in all, thank you for your feedback/suggestions, they are very useful for me, and I'm very glad you like my project after all its deficiency. :D
@KovJonas, stick with it, this is a great project, well worth becoming a Lego Ideas set. Unfortunately, when you come up with great ideas, there will be those that have to be negative about it, regardless how good it is.
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I love how people hate on countless other projects for relying on third party IPs, or being basically a project would fit into an existing Lego line. As soon as someone comes up with a unique idea they should deem worthy of Lego Ideas, because it ticks all the boxes, yet again, not supporting, why, because reasons....that's why. Seriously, with some of you, I have to wonder if there is a Lego Ideas project you would support, because it seems like those individuals just want Lego Ideas gone.
To the people that took this "VIRTUAL" design and realized it in real time, I applaud you and am impressed by your skills and talents! Your minor changes made this model shine. LOL if it becomes a real set I hope the designer gives you guys a few sets as a way of saying thanks!
@MrMouth1117: Thank you! :)
@VorpalRyu: Thanks! Sometimes I have the same feeling, but I'm happy because many people wrote their opinion here, so I received some nice feedback here on Brickset. :)