Five years of Random Set of the Day
Posted by Huw,
On this day in 2018 the first Random Set of the Day article was published.
Sets are chosen by my digital alter-ego Huwbot, who got the series off to a good start with 6824 Space Dart I.
Since then, he's chosen 1,775 sets from those eligible and a further 51 in the Vintage set of the Week series that commenced last year.
Let's take a look at which ones have elicited the most comments, likes and so on...
Most views and most comments: 3220 'My Dad'
When this set was RSotD in 2021 it had the name 'My Dad' in the database which is odd because other sites call it 'Christian with Gifts'.
I have a strong suspicion that one of my daughters changed it to that in the site's infancy, although both deny it, or can't remember doing so!
Whatever the reason, it certainly piqued your interest.
6285 Black Seas Barracuda, the aforementioned 6824 Space Dart I, 5590 Whirl and Wheel Super Truck and 6394 Metro Park & Service Tower complete the top five most viewed random set articles.
The others in the top five most commented list are 6766 Rapid River Village, 6080 King's Castle, 6762 Fort Legoredo and 6930 Space Supply Station.
Most liked: 6990 Monorail Transport System
The RSotD article to receive the most likes is 6990 Monorail Transport System.
Released in 1987, it was the first of just three monorail sets ever released and remains the Holy Grail for many!
10185 Green Grocer takes second place, while 6762 Fort Legoredo is in third, both of which can also be regarded as cherished and coveted classic sets.
Least views: 4586 Stunt Race Track
Racers sets from the early 2000s were all much the same and very boring. That view is reflected in the fact that when this set was RSotD the article received just 400 views.
Least comments and least likes: 8208 Custom Cruiser
Nobody has much to say about or much appreciation for this small Technic set from 1998: the article attracted just two comments and 12 likes.
In fact, the five least commenced RSotD articles are all Technic sets, or Technic Racers sets: 8270 Rough Terrain Crane, 8209 Future F1, 8136 Fire Crusher and 8649 Nitro Menace.
Which sets are in scope?
In case you're wondering why some types of set never get chosen, here is the psuedo-SQL code used to select them:
SELECT {a set randomly} FROM sets WHERE
- {it has an image}
- and {it was released}
- and {it's a 'normal' set} (not gear, books and some other categories of items)
- and {it has more than 10 pieces}
- and {it was released between 1978 and 10 years ago}
- and {its theme group is not one of 'Basic', 'Educational', 'Pre-school', or 'Miscellaneous'}
You might also enjoy reading the other articles we've published at this time of year that debunk theories that Huwbot favours some themes over others.
Here's to the next five years of his eclectic selections...
283 likes
85 comments on this article
Had to go back and give the Custom Cruiser some love lol
Consider 8208 with 13 likes now…. :)
MY DAD ICONIC
I got 6824 last year. Nice little set with the OG Benny. And this year I got 6990! Will arrive next month probably, can't wait to build it!
Thank you Huwbot. Looking forward to the next five years.
A shame to see 2000s Racers get snubbed so hard, that was a great time for experimentation. Lot of unique builds, and the decision to make it across System and Technic was a choice I wish more themes would embrace. Though it's clear my opinion is in the minority, I think there's a lot to be gained from more crossover in part systems as well as more experimental and unusual sets from Lego. Don't get to see that too often nowadays.
Man, I wish 6824 had gotten a TLM or TLM2 polybag rerelease.
I have a feeling Huwbot will either pick a Clikits set or a My Dad set for today…..
At this rate he's more like OUR DAD.
We all share the ... love?
@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Man, I wish 6824 had gotten a TLM or TLM2 polybag rerelease. "
Missed opportunity indeed! One of the few CS sets where all parts are still in production.
6824 was one of the few small Space sets I had as a kid, probably all birthday party presents. Still got it, though the trans red aerial disappeared quite early on and hasn't resurfaced in the nearly 40 years since.
Five years?? That’s about the same time l have been reading brickset daily.. my fav lego page. It’s a lot more fun and inspiring than reading political news (which l also do sadly)
Huw is correct that the name was changed to My Dad in Brickset’s database but wrong about who did it. It was Huwbot!
Is there a way to calculate who has commented the most on Random Set of the Day articles? I have a feeling I might be the very top of the list alongside a few others.
That doesn't mean what I have to say has much value, I'm often ragging on the sets because I have nothing better to do, but it has become a routine for me to comment on the Random Set of the Day, get ready for bed, check to see who else has anything to say after 15 minutes, and then go to sleep.
Hey I didn’t have to email a reminder this year! Lol
Christian with Gifts? Isn't that just Santa Claus?
Don't tell me you daughters never called you Christian! Especially when you had some gifts for them...
Man, has it really been five years already? It feels like yesterday when the legendary 'My Dad' article graced us with its existence. Good times (terrifying too). And it feels like only a couple of years (way less than five) when these became a mainstay on Brickset.
I feel kind of bad for those older articles with barely any comments. Some of those sets I really like but I used to be less inclined to join comment sections back then.
@MCLegoboy said:
"Is there a way to calculate who has commented the most on Random Set of the Day articles?"
My bets are on PurpleDave. He often comments multiple times on the same articles and has done so for years!
How do you define "vintage" sets for VSotW? Same SQL but pre-1978?
@ao_ka said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Man, I wish 6824 had gotten a TLM or TLM2 polybag rerelease. "
Missed opportunity indeed! One of the few CS sets where all parts are still in production."
Close, but the 2x2 round with fins has been out of production for about 10 years. And though the walkie-talkie could be subbed with the new version, the original has been out of production 20+ years.
I'd give my left nut for that monorail set
My Dad is love, My Dad is life…
@MCLegoboy said:
"Is there a way to calculate who has commented the most on Random Set of the Day articles? I have a feeling I might be the very top of the list alongside a few others.
That doesn't mean what I have to say has much value, I'm often ragging on the sets because I have nothing better to do, but it has become a routine for me to comment on the Random Set of the Day, get ready for bed, check to see who else has anything to say after 15 minutes, and then go to sleep."
I'm also wondering who has commented the most... Might be a four-way split between you, me, @PurpleDave , and our resident Bionicle lore-master @GSR_MataNui . I know I try to post everyday at least once, though I miss it sometimes.
Can't go wrong with a monorail! My cousins had 6990, missed opportunity on my part to take it off their hands.
As someone else commented recently; maybe time for a random minifig of the day?
I love these, it's nice to get some comments and thoughts on older sets. Always like to see what the community has to say...
I remember 6824 - first set I had with a blue spaceman. I subsequently left the spaceman and some of the bits at a friend's house. Rather than buy 6824 again, I replaced it with 6805 and so didn't have a complete 6824 again until 2020.
6394 is one I had never really known about, and highly want. I would love to have it in a town with 6399 airport monorail, which is perhaps the whitest of whales for me. Gotta have a place for out-of-towners to park when they fly, and of course the city citizens can take the rail.
@binaryeye said:
" @ao_ka said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Man, I wish 6824 had gotten a TLM or TLM2 polybag rerelease. "
Missed opportunity indeed! One of the few CS sets where all parts are still in production."
Close, but the 2x2 round with fins has been out of production for about 10 years. And though the walkie-talkie could be subbed with the new version, the original has been out of production 20+ years."
Oof. I could swear I had seen that part more recently.
My daily kickoff: coffee and RSotD. Thanks Huw & Huwbot!
@legoapprentice said:
"How do you define "vintage" sets for VSotW? Same SQL but pre-1978?"
Yes, >= 1967, < 1978, and no Samsonite.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
"Is there a way to calculate who has commented the most on Random Set of the Day articles? I have a feeling I might be the very top of the list alongside a few others.
That doesn't mean what I have to say has much value, I'm often ragging on the sets because I have nothing better to do, but it has become a routine for me to comment on the Random Set of the Day, get ready for bed, check to see who else has anything to say after 15 minutes, and then go to sleep."
I'm also wondering who has commented the most... Might be a four-way split between you, me, @PurpleDave , and our resident Bionicle lore-master @GSR_MataNui ."
Hey, what about me?
;-)
2 years since My Dad blessed us with a visit, 5 years since the feature started. Where does the time go?
Agreed, how has it been 2 years since "My Dad".
Still remember reading all the comments as if it was only a few months ago. And then the review of him that followed...
The real question though, who's dad is it?
Mine?
Yours?
Huwbots?
Or perhaps he is a Dad to all of us.
@MacGyver85 said:
"Can't go wrong with a monorail! My cousins had 6990, missed opportunity on my part to take it off their hands.
As someone else commented recently; maybe time for a random minifig of the day?
"
That someone was me! I couldn't agree more with a minifig of the day!
@bnic99 said:
"The real question though, who's dad is it?
Mine?
Yours?
Huwbots?
Or perhaps he is a Dad to all of us."
Yes. All of the above
@Huw I also wholeheartedly support the idea of fig of the day - I specifically written fig of the day as opposed to minifig of the day as I personally think it should include everything, minifig, big fig(Hulk, Winston, etc), technic fig(very few there anyway) but not constractions. I also believe it should includes everything from the early days of 1977-1978 to present day. My two cents...
6824 was one of my favorite Classic Space sets when I was young. It had a great mix of a high ratio of translucent pieces and a very swooshable model.
@AustinPowers said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
"Is there a way to calculate who has commented the most on Random Set of the Day articles? I have a feeling I might be the very top of the list alongside a few others.
That doesn't mean what I have to say has much value, I'm often ragging on the sets because I have nothing better to do, but it has become a routine for me to comment on the Random Set of the Day, get ready for bed, check to see who else has anything to say after 15 minutes, and then go to sleep."
I'm also wondering who has commented the most... Might be a four-way split between you, me, @PurpleDave , and our resident Bionicle lore-master @GSR_MataNui ."
Hey, what about me?
;-) "
I'm sorry I missed you! You too are in the top group.
Wow. 5 years of these pointless bot posts. Why anybody likes these is still beyond me.
@Andrusi:
More like Krampus, I’d think…
Ah yes, My Dad... I remember him gracing my notifications, and the name pushing me into a state of confusion. I hope that My Dad has impacted others as much as me. I will never forget that pair of blue eyes staring at me from the packaging. I think we should rename him Our Dad in tribute to how it brought Brickset users together to wage war against the nightmare fuel.
We all love you dad. Never change.
I’ve definitely read the comments section on my dad more than once.
Wait did that sound weird?
"You might also enjoy reading the other articles we've published at this time of year that debunk theories that Huwbot favours some themes over others."
you MIGHT enjoy reading them....if you enjoy PROPAGANDA AND LIES!!!! we all know Huwbot absolutely DOES favour some themes over others.
@Okay said:
"Wow. 5 years of these pointless bot posts. Why anybody likes these is still beyond me. "
It's mix of nostalgia and novelty. We get to see sets we have never seen before or forgot about. It's also fun to see the bizarre choices Lego made in its past.
Sometimes the set or thread can be very entertaining(enter My Dad). Overall, it's a fun time reminiscing with others without the heated arguments that sometimes take place in the review or new set threads.
@Okay said:
"Wow. 5 years of these pointless bot posts. Why anybody likes these is still beyond me. "
Yet you took the time to come here and comment.
My Dad day was one of my favorite days on not just Brickset, but on the internet in general
Thanks for these Huwbot, it’s been great fun!
Shame we’ll never get any of those couple dozen of strange Studios polybags if the piece count has to be at least 10, nor some of the early 000s sports ones. Not that there’ll be much to discuss about them other than “what/why/where the heck?”
Amen to random minifigure of the day. Happy 5th Huwbot!
@560heliport said:
" @Okay said:
"Wow. 5 years of these pointless bot posts. Why anybody likes these is still beyond me. "
Yet you took the time to come here and comment."
Maybe @Okay just had a bad day or was feeling grumpy.
Then again, what better way to cheer oneself up than reading a RSOTD comments section? I know it always makes me smile :-)
So what about random part of the day? How long has that been going? How many days have been nuked for not being a proper part? (At least one since started daily reading last September.) What is the most commented part?
@AustinPowers said:
" @560heliport said:
" @Okay said:
"Wow. 5 years of these pointless bot posts. Why anybody likes these is still beyond me. "
Yet you took the time to come here and comment."
Maybe @Okay just had a bad day or was feeling grumpy.
Then again, what better way to cheer oneself up than reading a RSOTD comments section? I know it always makes me smile :-) "
Well, if it makes people smile, it can hardly be considered pointless, can it? :)
Why is Benny smugging 2 Blacktron missiles on the side of the wings.
@Murdoch17 said:
"
I'm also wondering who has commented the most... Might be a four-way split between you, me, @PurpleDave , and our resident Bionicle lore-master @GSR_MataNui . I know I try to post everyday at least once, though I miss it sometimes."
To be fair, I don't comment on ever single RSotD like others do. Then again, my messages on the BIONICLE posts often end up as 3-7 separate messages, so one set may cover me for a week in that regard.
28 likes for 8208 RSotD now! Going to need to update the listing, @Huw !
Still remember seeing the first article. Found it nice that the very first RSotD was also the first set I ever bought.
@Huw you forgot to mention Timmy, probably the most commented minifig after the appearance of 8-9 versions of the 4032 holiday jet :D
5590 is soooo cool.
It's timeless.
@560heliport said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @560heliport said:
" @Okay said:
"Wow. 5 years of these pointless bot posts. Why anybody likes these is still beyond me. "
Yet you took the time to come here and comment."
Maybe @Okay just had a bad day or was feeling grumpy.
Then again, what better way to cheer oneself up than reading a RSOTD comments section? I know it always makes me smile :-) "
Well, if it makes people smile, it can hardly be considered pointless, can it? :)"
Which was exactly my point :-)
Perhaps @Okay just needs to cheer up a little.
Why didn’t we find out what the most commonly picked theme was over the past 5 years? Yes, we all know it is Clickits, but it would be nice to see Huwbot admit it.
Two questions:
1. What happened with the Huwbot-being-turned-into-a-set campaign?
2. What are the chances of there being a Random Minifig of the Day?
Apologies if these questions have already been asked elsewhere!
@Terry_Wright said:
"Two questions:
1. What happened with the Huwbot-being-turned-into-a-set campaign?"
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/1fe6cd31-fab0-430a-b469-72badfb331ad
@bue_car said:
"
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/1fe6cd31-fab0-430a-b469-72badfb331ad
"
Thanks, @bue_car.
I like random sets of the day because more often than not it's a good set coming up.
@bue_car said:
" @Terry_Wright said:
"Two questions:
1. What happened with the Huwbot-being-turned-into-a-set campaign?"
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/1fe6cd31-fab0-430a-b469-72badfb331ad
"
Instructions are available on Rebrickable
Th main reason I've not done a random minifig of the day is because the images we display come from BrickLink, with their permission of course, but some are not particulaly good quality so would not look good on the home page.
Someone suggested vetting the selection once huwbot has made it but that's extra work that would need doing every day.
Maybe one solution would be to only choose figures from the last 10 years or so, which tend to have better images.
@Huw said:
"Th main reason I've not done a random minifig of the day is because the images we display come from BrickLink, with their permission of course, but some are not particulaly good quality so would not look good on the home page.
Someone suggested vetting the selection once huwbot has made it but that's extra work that would need doing every day.
Maybe one solution would be to only choose figures from the last 10 years or so, which tend to have better images."
Have one of your girls do it. Every fig would be a version of 'dad.' :0
Jedi Father, Darth Dad, mean Dad without gifts, bigfig Dad, Bat Dad, happy Dad, sad Dad, Dad with cape, dad-bod Dad, 501st Specialist Dad...
Happy Birthday, Huwbot! May the years bring synchronicity to your algorithm.
@Okay said:
"Wow. 5 years of these pointless bot posts. Why anybody likes these is still beyond me. "
Don't make Huwbot cry....:(
Thanks, @DoonsterBuildsLego and @Huw.
Dammit Huwbot, I caved in and just bought 5590 Whirl and Wheel Super Truck :-O
As if the cab isn't awseome enough, it was seeing the secondary model that swung it for me. I might have to buy two...
@HOBBES said:
" @Huw I also wholeheartedly support the idea of fig of the day - I specifically written fig of the day as opposed to minifig of the day as I personally think it should include everything, minifig, big fig(Hulk, Winston, etc), technic fig(very few there anyway) but not constractions. I also believe it should includes everything from the early days of 1977-1978 to present day. My two cents..."
Good point. Fig (Ficus carica) of the day it is.
@Huw
"some are not particulaly good quality so would not look good on the home page."
Hmm. I don't think most people would be bothered by that. It might even encourage people to upload better pictures to Bricklink.
You could build in automatic image quality checks if necessary/possible. Haven't looked at the quality myself though.
A couple of years ago, a RSOTD was taking grief in the comments (probably one of those uninspiring late 90's/early 00's designs, can't remember which one exactly). I posted an offhand comment about how much vitriol would be heaped upon the set if it were, say, Galidor.
The next day's RSOTD was...Galidor.
My best moment on Brickset to date!
@Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Darth Dad"
You could have had 'Darth Father', it was right there. I'm not angry, I'm disappointed AND angry.
"
Ouch. I will work harder to restore your trust. I will do what must be done!
@Huw said:
"Someone suggested vetting the selection once huwbot has made it but that's extra work that would need doing every day."
More like every night, unless you had it pre-approved earlier in the day.
"Maybe one solution would be to only choose figures from the last 10 years or so, which tend to have better images."
Are minifigs generated fast enough to never run out? Would RMotW make more sense?
@Ridgeheart said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Darth Dad"
You could have had 'Darth Father', it was right there. I'm not angry, I'm disappointed AND angry.
"
Are you going to translate that into Dutch for those who live in the Netherlands?
@PurpleDave said:
" @Huw said:
"Someone suggested vetting the selection once huwbot has made it but that's extra work that would need doing every day."
More like every night, unless you had it pre-approved earlier in the day.
"Maybe one solution would be to only choose figures from the last 10 years or so, which tend to have better images."
Are minifigs generated fast enough to never run out? Would RMotW make more sense?
"
The past two years have had 800 to 900+ sets released. If only half of those contained one Minifigure, we would have plenty to spare each year. Let alone if we started 10 years ago. I don't know if that was what you were talking about, or if it was something tech related...
What is the most (%) covered theme? I bet it's Clickits...
Has it really been 5 years of RSOTD? Well done Huw(bot), and well done all you regular contributors, you all know who you are. Had some great fun with this. Don't go changing ...
@PhantomBricks:
No, that’s what I meant, but remember that not every minifig is a new minifig. CMFs are always new, of course, but a lot of themes recycle minifigs. If this were to be limited to too short a span in order to avoid bad photos, it could leave a starting pool that’s smaller than you might think. SW may have 1252 minifigs, but only eight new ones so far this year. That’s spread out over 24 years now, so how many get wiped out if you only go back 10 years? If this were to happen, and that was the means of avoiding bad photos, I’d at least go back to 1999. That loops in the entire run for themes like SW, HP, Superheroes, CMF, Ninjago, and any theme using minidolls (if they get included).
@PurpleDave said:
" @PhantomBricks:
No, that’s what I meant, but remember that not every minifig is a new minifig. CMFs are always new, of course, but a lot of themes recycle minifigs. If this were to be limited to too short a span in order to avoid bad photos, it could leave a starting pool that’s smaller than you might think. SW may have 1252 minifigs, but only eight new ones so far this year. That’s spread out over 24 years now, so how many get wiped out if you only go back 10 years? If this were to happen, and that was the means of avoiding bad photos, I’d at least go back to 1999. That loops in the entire run for themes like SW, HP, Superheroes, CMF, Ninjago, and any theme using minidolls (if they get included)."
I was ambivalent of this idea, but now that I think about it: if we lose the forum, comments on the front-page articles will be the only means of interaction with fellow Bricksetters available on this site. So having another Random-something-of-the-day will mean more opportunities for comments and community engagement. So now I'm all for it, the more the merrier. Parts, sets, minifigures, instruction books, catalogs, boxes/packaging, etc.
@PurpleDave said:
" @PhantomBricks:
No, that’s what I meant, but remember that not every minifig is a new minifig. CMFs are always new, of course, but a lot of themes recycle minifigs. If this were to be limited to too short a span in order to avoid bad photos, it could leave a starting pool that’s smaller than you might think. SW may have 1252 minifigs, but only eight new ones so far this year. That’s spread out over 24 years now, so how many get wiped out if you only go back 10 years? If this were to happen, and that was the means of avoiding bad photos, I’d at least go back to 1999. That loops in the entire run for themes like SW, HP, Superheroes, CMF, Ninjago, and any theme using minidolls (if they get included)."
That's a fair point that I somehow missed in my thought process. That would certainly affect Star Wars and modern Harry Potter profoundly as well as City and super heroes. I'm now curious how many unique figures are released a year...
@PhantomBricks:
Just what I saw from SW and Superheroes, combined with CMF, Ninjago, City, there's probably enough (especially if minidolls are included) to keep it going long term. Having a healthy starter pool would allow it to weather a few years here and there that fall below 365, or long delay the end if a prolonged reduction takes place.
@PurpleDave said:
" @PhantomBricks:
No, that’s what I meant, but remember that not every minifig is a new minifig. CMFs are always new, of course, but a lot of themes recycle minifigs. If this were to be limited to too short a span in order to avoid bad photos, it could leave a starting pool that’s smaller than you might think. SW may have 1252 minifigs, but only eight new ones so far this year. That’s spread out over 24 years now, so how many get wiped out if you only go back 10 years? If this were to happen, and that was the means of avoiding bad photos, I’d at least go back to 1999. That loops in the entire run for themes like SW, HP, Superheroes, CMF, Ninjago, and any theme using minidolls (if they get included)."
Starting at 1999 still misses out on some of the greats, Basil the Bat Lord, Johnny Thunder etc... a lot of the fun of a random figure of the day would be seeing those old characters show up.
The issue is any arbitrary cut off date would undoubtedly cut off someone's favourite figure or character.
Best way is to either accept low quality images (I doubt regular brickset readers would mind)
Or have some condition/auto detection of low quality images.
@Huw would it be possible to look at an image's size/ number of pixels to determine this?
@bnic99:
File size might be the most effective way. If it comes in too low, kick it back into the pool (that way an improved image restores eligibility).
5 years? Damn I feel old