Thinking about Modulars

[cubfan78]

I am seriously starting to consider buying modulars (strictly building, not investing). When I first got back into lego about 7 months ago, I decided that I did not want to build the big modulars and was set on getting only smaller creator 3 in 1 buildings for a small city scape. I should have known that would not last. Fast Forward 7 months and I have gone somewhat hog wild with some of the bigger UCS SW sets, fairground sets, and a couple retired winter village sets, bike shop, and some of the retired houses. I have put the small city scape on hold and packed up all the ones I already built. I will be moving at the end of 2017 and did not want to put time into building the smaller creator sets and putting them into a city scape at this point. Not to mention that once I got some of the bigger sets my interest in building some of these smaller sets went down.

At this point I kind of regret not getting the bigger modulars right off the bat and had a little buyers remorse with some of these smaller 3 in 1 sets. Several of the sets I bought multiples of so I could build and display all the variations in a city scape (which I still might do at some point). 

I guess my basic question, is with many of the sets already retired, is it even worth getting into? Is Lego going to continue with this modular theme for several years? Is there a possibility that Lego might start a new line of Modulars that are bigger and closer to a 3500 -4000 piece count like some of the landmarks? 

I know the modulars take up some serious space, how do most of you display them? 

I am on the fence on what direction I want to go at this point. I really like the modulars but I also really like a couple of the landmarks like TB and BB. Not sure if I can layout the cash for all the modulars, landmarks and the sets that are still going to be released later this year, considering how much I have already spent. I should have never walked into the Lego Store! 

 

[AirborneAFOL]

I can 100% relate to your dilemma. Very similar to my own back in 2013 when I came out of my own Lego hibernation.

Having missed out on the Green Grocer and Fire Brigade, I'll always feel like my modular display is "incomplete". But that said, the Creator Expert modulars (TH/PS/PC/PR/DO/BB) are the one and only theme I have yet to experience a single iota of buyer's remorse.

If it helps justify the pricetag, perhaps worth bearing in mind that they're a pretty solid bet to hold their value. Not long after retirement, even the "used" value is pretty much right about what you paid for it new/retail. If you for some reason you do find them unsatisfying (or Lego inexplicably terminates the line), you shouldn't have much trouble at all getting your money back out of them.

[ZULU]

Hey, 

Most of your worries have been addressed on this site already. 

Therefore just quick answers from me:

I guess my basic question, is with many of the sets already retired, is it even worth getting into?

Most investors say yes. Some are on the fence as retirements have been postposed multiple times. I'd add that the more supply, the less people will look to buy them all. Which puts a little of a ceiling on the theme. To be complete: some investors have stopped investing in them at all. But I think this is still a minority.

Is Lego going to continue with this modular theme for several years?

Sure. It started with it on AFOLS's request. It has generated a new very lucrative market segment for them. Why stop unless it goes out of fashion?

Is there a possibility that Lego might start a new line of Modulars that are bigger and closer to a 3500 -4000 piece count like some of the landmarks? 

Sure. Even if it overlaps the current offering, they have created the GB depot for example .

I know the modulars take up some serious space, how do most of you display them? 

On a shelf. (secret tech revealed :-)))

I am on the fence on what direction I want to go at this point. I really like the modulars but I also really like a couple of the landmarks like TB and BB. Not sure if I can layout the cash for all the modulars, landmarks and the sets that are still going to be released later this year, considering how much I have already spent. I should have never walked into the Lego Store! 

Nothing better than AFOL lego. Wait until you will want to build your own designs! That will take huge amounts of space :-)

[gregpj]

@fossilrock

I don't know what happened, but your reply was listed twice and I think two mods deleted opposite dupes (me being one of them). The reply was gone after I deleted the duplicate and unfortunately we can't get it back. Apologies, it wasn't intentional.

[marcandre]

When I started investing I only built technic. I bricklinked a Green Grocer (when it was still reasonable to do) planning on selling it. It turned out so nice I kept it and my modular town was born. I almost have all the modulars built and will start adding sets from brickbuilders pro. They are beautiful sets. Building a unique town is fun and rewarding. 

You don't have to run out and buy them all right away. Start out with two current ones and you can slowly build from there. Cafe Corner can still be bricklinked for a reasonable price, you could slowly do that too. 

The landmarks are nice but once they are done they are done. You are always adding to and tweaking a modular town. Tree's, hot dog cart, train station, you can always do something. I say go for it.

Edited May 26, 2016 by marcandre

[fossilrock]

Greg, no worries.  I was wondering what happened, and didn't think I said anything wrong.

Anyway, to repeat... Personally, I think it's never too early to start collecting modular buildings regardless if you've missed a few.  I've been investing in themed sets as well as architecture for quite some time now, but never gave much consideration to the non-themed creator line, and especially the large exclusives.  They were off my radar.  Then last year I used points on a pet shop mostly because my wife felt it would be cool to own a few of these.  We then built it, and became hooked.  So, we've bought a few of the others and plan to continue this line.   I personally, don't have and doubt i'll get cafe corner, green grocer, town hall, or market place because I just don't see myself spending a grand on a set just to be a completionist.  I still am looking to obtain fire brigade, and grand emporium.  But, the modulars are for my personal collection, and i'm not in it for the investment.... but I do think over a long enough time line, these all will do very well, because it seems that eventually people take notice to these and all the sudden become hooked then they start wanting to get some of the older ones.  I find these more fun to build, and display then any of the star wars UCS sets.  And you can always switch them around to make a new setup, if you want.  

With that said, I think all of the creator exclusives, whether it's modular buildlings, or the landmark sets are some of the absolute best sets to build, and you will feel rewarded with the finished product.  I was heavily into the architecture line for a while, but as time has gone on, I find myself less engaged with that line, and more into the larger creator sets.    I have never had buyers remorse on any of the one's I have bought.  And I plan on picking up brick bank once I get a couple more VIP points built up.

The only downside is they take up a lot of space.  3 modular buildings put together will take up about 3 feet in space.  So, that is one of the downside to these large creator exclusives.  As long as you have the space to commit to them, I say buy at least one!  This line will go on for perhaps a decade +, and I think it will go on without the need for repeats.  So over that long span of time, even hoarded sets like Pet Shop will probably be over a grand even if people today are skittish about it.

[cubfan78]

Thank you for all the feedback. This is pretty much all I needed to hear. I am going to order PC, DO, and PR sometime in the near future. I will probably wait until June for the Fountain promotion. It looks like I might have to go through Amazon to get a Pet Shop but that's okay.

When displaying vehicles in your layout, what series has the appropriately scaled vehicles for modulars? 

Apologies for the short reply. It's morning time here in Hawaii and I have go to work. 

[Phil B]

I recently got all of the currently available Modulars (PS, PR, DO, PC) excluding BB. My strategy has been to utilize my credit card points (I have a measly 1% cashback which I can cash out in Amazon gift cards) and the occasional EBay flash sale/EBay Bucks promo. I'm guessing we can look forward to another few $15 off $100 flash sales on EBay next month (end of the quarter) so that might be a good time for you to look at the Modulars.

[Guest brickcrazyhouse]

4 hours ago, cubfan78 said:

When displaying vehicles in your layout, what series has the appropriately scaled vehicles for modulars? 

 

most vehicles that are 6-8 wide seems to work for me.

 

[Alpinemaps]

hahahaha...love the Cybermen Beatles.

[cubfan78]

10 hours ago, brickcrazyhouse said:

most vehicles that are 6-8 wide seems to work for me.

 

 

Thanks for the info, that makes sense. I just wish there were more cars. Most of the vehicles seem to be service or race theme!

On a side note, I just placed an order for Pet Shop through Amazon! I am on the fence on what to get next. I might buy a GE from Ebay before they go up in price anymore. 

[AirborneAFOL]

Personally I'd grab a PC pre-retirement before GE on the secondary market. But it's definitely a judgment call based on instincts and reasonable arguments could be made either way.

[Guest brickcrazyhouse]

3 hours ago, cubfan78 said:

 I just wish there were more cars. Most of the vehicles seem to be service or race theme!

I picked up a bunch of the speed champion sets but haven't built them yet. Don't really want all the figs driving better cars then mine but I doubt TLG will make Ford Escorts

[Phil B]

27 minutes ago, brickcrazyhouse said:

I picked up a bunch of the speed champion sets but haven't built them yet. Don't really want all the figs driving better cars then mine but I doubt TLG will make Ford Escorts

They do however make a Ford F-150 raptor - did you pick that one up in your Speed Champions purchases? Pretty common US car .....

[Thumper]

44 minutes ago, brickcrazyhouse said:

I picked up a bunch of the speed champion sets but haven't built them yet. Don't really want all the figs driving better cars then mine but I doubt TLG will make Ford Escorts

Hey ya never know... they made a Smart Stupid Car as set# 3177

[fossilrock]

4 hours ago, AirborneAFOL said:

Personally I'd grab a PC pre-retirement before GE on the secondary market. But it's definitely a judgment call based on instincts and reasonable arguments could be made either way.

I agree! I think it's the most stunning out of all the ones available, and would see the biggest EOL demand.  I'd rank the current available lineup like this PC > PR > BB > PS > DO, but that's just my opinion. 

[cubfan78]

7 hours ago, AirborneAFOL said:

Personally I'd grab a PC pre-retirement before GE on the secondary market. But it's definitely a judgment call based on instincts and reasonable arguments could be made either way.

That makes good sense. I will probably grab PC and PR in June, DO in July, BB with my VIP points, then GE a couple months later. 

[AirborneAFOL]

DO & BB should have at least a year of shelf life left on them. The PC - and to a lesser degree PR - are the two that nobody would be shocked to see hit EOL by the end of the summer.

[Phil B]

6 minutes ago, AirborneAFOL said:

DO & BB should have at least a year of shelf life left on them. The PC - and to a lesser degree PR - are the two that nobody would be shocked to see hit EOL by the end of the summer.

And PS - though everyone has given up on that one retiring, much like they did with 10188 ...

[cubfan78]

2 minutes ago, Phil B said:

And PS - though everyone has given up on that one retiring, much like they did with 10188 ...

I ordered PS from Amazon last night. I would order PC and PR now but I want to wait for the fountain promo. 

[cubfan78]

Just ordered PC and PR! I almost ordered the DO too but wanted to wait one more month. I also bought an Ecto-1 and Mystery Machine, both of these are more for nostalgia. I am on the fence on GBH, I want to get a few of the retired modulars first. 

[Phil B]

5 hours ago, cubfan78 said:

Just ordered PC and PR! I almost ordered the DO too but wanted to wait one more month. I also bought an Ecto-1 and Mystery Machine, both of these are more for nostalgia. I am on the fence on GBH, I want to get a few of the retired modulars first. 

I hope those were separate orders ... to get the promo 2x .....

[cubfan78]

4 hours ago, Phil B said:

I hope those were separate orders ... to get the promo 2x .....

Actually, I placed three separate orders!

[thoroakenfelder]

I did an exchange yesterday on some stuff I was thinking of reviewing. When I realized I had little to no interest even for variety's sake I wound up with a PC. Thinking about trading it for some of the sets that came out today.

[cubfan78]

PS came in the mail today! I'm not sure if I am going to start it tonight or not. I need to work on a bench I am building (Woodworking, is my first hobby) so I might just wait until Friday night to start the PS, after the kids are asleep.