When I was younger...
When I was younger...
When I was younger, building with LEGO seemed so much simpler.
When I was younger...
...I would take out my LEGO and just start building until every part was used. Now I have so many parts that is virtually impossible to use them all.
...I could spend an entire day building with LEGO. Now I am lucky if I can find 2 or 3 hours in one evening to build.
...I only had to dump out an ice cream bucket to start building, and scoop everything back in when I was done. Now I have a massive sorting system that allows me to find any part quickly, but I probably spend more time re-sorting the parts and re-structuring the storage system than actually building.
...Every part I had was used, chewed, and worn out, but I was perfectly happy with them. Now I refuse to use such parts.
...I never felt like I needed to go and buy some specific part before building something. Now I spend plenty of time and money purchasing parts that I might use on some MOC I would like to build someday. (but probably never find time for)
Has anybody else found that their LEGO habits have changed over the years?
Due to these changes, I sometimes try to "go back" to a simpler building experience, and force myself to work with a limited pool of parts.
One weekend I opened a 10000 Guarded Inn, 2x 10039 Black Falcon's Fortress, and a 3739 Blacksmith's Shop, and sat down with my girlfriend to build with just those parts. It was fun. That is certainly more fun than buying 4 copies of Vladek Encounter on sale just to sort out the parts I want and file them away for later use.
Another thing I often do is to pick a part I don't normally use and try to build something with it or around it. Sometimes I just can't get the part to do what I want it to do, sometimes I do neat things with it, and I always learn something from the experience.
Does anybody else have ideas for "simplifying" the building experience when you have a large collection of parts?
When I was younger...
...I would take out my LEGO and just start building until every part was used. Now I have so many parts that is virtually impossible to use them all.
...I could spend an entire day building with LEGO. Now I am lucky if I can find 2 or 3 hours in one evening to build.
...I only had to dump out an ice cream bucket to start building, and scoop everything back in when I was done. Now I have a massive sorting system that allows me to find any part quickly, but I probably spend more time re-sorting the parts and re-structuring the storage system than actually building.
...Every part I had was used, chewed, and worn out, but I was perfectly happy with them. Now I refuse to use such parts.
...I never felt like I needed to go and buy some specific part before building something. Now I spend plenty of time and money purchasing parts that I might use on some MOC I would like to build someday. (but probably never find time for)
Has anybody else found that their LEGO habits have changed over the years?
Due to these changes, I sometimes try to "go back" to a simpler building experience, and force myself to work with a limited pool of parts.
One weekend I opened a 10000 Guarded Inn, 2x 10039 Black Falcon's Fortress, and a 3739 Blacksmith's Shop, and sat down with my girlfriend to build with just those parts. It was fun. That is certainly more fun than buying 4 copies of Vladek Encounter on sale just to sort out the parts I want and file them away for later use.
Another thing I often do is to pick a part I don't normally use and try to build something with it or around it. Sometimes I just can't get the part to do what I want it to do, sometimes I do neat things with it, and I always learn something from the experience.
Does anybody else have ideas for "simplifying" the building experience when you have a large collection of parts?
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- forester3291
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I don't have a large collection of parts but I know what you're talking about. My sister and I would spend hours down in our baement just building. Now I'm lucky if I get and hour.
I really enjoyed going downstairs with my frineds and making pirate ships and castles. I think some of the reasons I don't od that anymore is. Our basement is not my LEGO room anymre. There was plenty of room down there to build anytning. No all's I have is my room wich has my drums, dresser, desk, and computer in it. Not much room for building . Maybe it's time I moved my LEGO back down to the basement. Or not. My cats are down there!
Another reason is that LEGO doesn't have all the really nice small and in-expensive sets anymore. I used to get small $5 sets every month or so. Once I got a space and time cruisers set from friends of a friend. And they were free. And they were big too.
I will stop my rambling now and let someone else post their thoughts.
I really enjoyed going downstairs with my frineds and making pirate ships and castles. I think some of the reasons I don't od that anymore is. Our basement is not my LEGO room anymre. There was plenty of room down there to build anytning. No all's I have is my room wich has my drums, dresser, desk, and computer in it. Not much room for building . Maybe it's time I moved my LEGO back down to the basement. Or not. My cats are down there!
Another reason is that LEGO doesn't have all the really nice small and in-expensive sets anymore. I used to get small $5 sets every month or so. Once I got a space and time cruisers set from friends of a friend. And they were free. And they were big too.
I will stop my rambling now and let someone else post their thoughts.
Space rocks.
- Formendacil
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Ideas for simplifying?
Umm.... that would be no.
I understand what you're getting at, but other than just taking a random assortment of parts and seeing what can be made of them, I really don't have an idea.
And, of course, not knowing HOW your Lego is sorted, in exact detail is a problem. I mena, if it was sorted is such a way that you could just take one bucket and build from there, I'd say do it.
Of course, that would be unlikely with any highly-sorted system.
Umm.... that would be no.
I understand what you're getting at, but other than just taking a random assortment of parts and seeing what can be made of them, I really don't have an idea.
And, of course, not knowing HOW your Lego is sorted, in exact detail is a problem. I mena, if it was sorted is such a way that you could just take one bucket and build from there, I'd say do it.
Of course, that would be unlikely with any highly-sorted system.
sometimes when i am in a hurry i will sweep the tables clean and put every spare lego lying around in a tub for later sorting. sometimes these tubs dont get sorted for a long time. sometimes I like to sit down with these tubs and see what I can come up with.
also - I build with my son. I know, I know - I have said this repeatedly.... but it still holds true. Build with a little kid.
you would be surprised at some of the things they come up with.
stormtroopers riding dinosaurs with jetpack wings..... now THATS original.
also - I build with my son. I know, I know - I have said this repeatedly.... but it still holds true. Build with a little kid.
you would be surprised at some of the things they come up with.
stormtroopers riding dinosaurs with jetpack wings..... now THATS original.
Re: When I was younger...
Hello!
Three years ago I only built with parts that I got from sets I bought. Now many sets are ugly and come with too many parts that I will probably never use, so i opt for BrickLink.
Bye
Jojo
Oh yes.rogue27 wrote:When I was younger, building with LEGO seemed so much simpler.
Right.Now I have so many parts that is virtually impossible to use them all.
But back then I had a finished model in the end of the day. Nowadays I only have some small parts of a model finished....I could spend an entire day building with LEGO. Now I am lucky if I can find 2 or 3 hours in one evening to build.
I had a simple sorting system when I was younger. Plates separated from bricks, from tiles, from slopes, from wheels, from minifigs + accessories. You are right, though, I'm in the process of resorting right now......I only had to dump out an ice cream bucket to start building, and scoop everything back in when I was done. Now I have a massive sorting system that allows me to find any part quickly, but I probably spend more time re-sorting the parts and re-structuring the storage system than actually building.
So do I. But even back then I used worn out parts only in invisible places....Every part I had was used, chewed, and worn out, but I was perfectly happy with them. Now I refuse to use such parts.
Oh yes! I have got lots of parts from BrickLink that I never used and only bought for the eventuality......I never felt like I needed to go and buy some specific part before building something. Now I spend plenty of time and money purchasing parts that I might use on some MOC I would like to build someday.
Three years ago I only built with parts that I got from sets I bought. Now many sets are ugly and come with too many parts that I will probably never use, so i opt for BrickLink.
Bye
Jojo
- Robin Hood
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Well I don't know about simplifying, but I do know that about six years back or so, I spent hours building MOCs out of just this set. http://guide.lugnet.com/set/?q=6036_1&v=z I think that half the reason I built with it so much was because i wanted a Castle and I didn't ahve any while my brother had two.
Now I have a lot more sets and castles, and I make way less stuff than I did. I think that when we were younger the playing and building was more important to us, now it might be that the having is more impotrtant, I dunno there must be some reason why we built more in the past.
Dan
Now I have a lot more sets and castles, and I make way less stuff than I did. I think that when we were younger the playing and building was more important to us, now it might be that the having is more impotrtant, I dunno there must be some reason why we built more in the past.
Dan
I build, therefore I am.
Brave words coming from a guy called grapenuts.
Brave words coming from a guy called grapenuts.
- MaxiVisVires
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When I was younger, I didn't care if my castle was all grey. Now, it's different. I had so many legos when I was a kid, that my parents got me a tool box to store them. Now, I have a huge plastic drawer system. I still build for more than an hour, but my creations now are less creative than when I was a kid.
The best way to just go back to the creative way of our childhood is just to buy a creator bucket and start building. Who cares if your creation isn't the same color? You didn't care when you were a kid. Just build. You won't have all the 1 x 2's or 1 x 4's you're gonna need, but you didn't care when you were a kid. Build it and post the pics. Look out for the yellow red white blue green castle of doom!
The best way to just go back to the creative way of our childhood is just to buy a creator bucket and start building. Who cares if your creation isn't the same color? You didn't care when you were a kid. Just build. You won't have all the 1 x 2's or 1 x 4's you're gonna need, but you didn't care when you were a kid. Build it and post the pics. Look out for the yellow red white blue green castle of doom!
"The Wise Warrior, When he moves, Is never confused; When he acts, Is never at a loss."
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I didn't care about colours until December '03. my MOCs were colour co-ordinated, but with a HUGE range of colours. My MOCs were a lot bigger back then... Now I can't even use multi-colours for hidden supports 'cos I KNOW THEY ARE THERE.
I need help...
I need help...
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- JPinoy
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Back in the day, I would just build whatever I felt like. Now Im more into realism.
Back in the day, I would mix up any minifig part and I was okay with it. Now I feel like a fashion designer making minifigs look good when I switch around minifig parts.
Back in the day, I had few parts and built things in System scale. Now I have them by the thousands and Im building on a MASSIVE scale.
Back in the day, when I had 10 soldiers, that was called an army. Now, I don't consider anything an army unless there's AT LEAST 100 of them.
Back in the day, I would mix up any minifig part and I was okay with it. Now I feel like a fashion designer making minifigs look good when I switch around minifig parts.
Back in the day, I had few parts and built things in System scale. Now I have them by the thousands and Im building on a MASSIVE scale.
Back in the day, when I had 10 soldiers, that was called an army. Now, I don't consider anything an army unless there's AT LEAST 100 of them.
Peoples_General, master of the vast LEGO armies!
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- JPinoy
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If you REALLY REALLY want a creative experience... try building with this set.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=453412
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=453412
Peoples_General, master of the vast LEGO armies!
[url]http://www.bricklink.com/aboutMe.asp?u=Peoples_General[/url]
Behold! The mighty armies of my ORIGIN theme!
[url]http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.c ... lesGeneral[/url]
[url]http://www.bricklink.com/aboutMe.asp?u=Peoples_General[/url]
Behold! The mighty armies of my ORIGIN theme!
[url]http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.c ... lesGeneral[/url]
- Formendacil
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It's a micro-microfig mountain!JPinoy wrote:If you REALLY REALLY want a creative experience... try building with this set.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=453412
Hmmm.... By that token, I have a mountain range incorporated into my castle.
Back in the day, I thought those were great pieces. Actually, I still do.
That is really a nice set to start with! No useless parts at least.
Well, when I was younger, and that is long, long ago, LEGO-life was simpler indeed. There was only red and white, and you could buy bricks almost piece by piece.
Then, I built two castles in one hour and was totally content with them.
Now, one castle means a year of searching, designing, drawing and building, and when finished, I mostly think; It could have been better.
All the things rogue27 mentioned, are true, but I don't think that it is reversible. The ambitions of most builders are bigger than the amount of bricks available. And I can say you guys, that is a constant process till you are old and senile.
Well, at least for me it is...
Well, when I was younger, and that is long, long ago, LEGO-life was simpler indeed. There was only red and white, and you could buy bricks almost piece by piece.
Then, I built two castles in one hour and was totally content with them.
Now, one castle means a year of searching, designing, drawing and building, and when finished, I mostly think; It could have been better.
All the things rogue27 mentioned, are true, but I don't think that it is reversible. The ambitions of most builders are bigger than the amount of bricks available. And I can say you guys, that is a constant process till you are old and senile.
Well, at least for me it is...
"Too low they build, who build beneath the stars".
Edward Young / Night Thoughts.
Edward Young / Night Thoughts.
I picked one up last night. It was great! First I built a rock, then I built a small mountain, then I built a mid-90s style castle. All I had to do was use my imagination!JPinoy wrote:If you REALLY REALLY want a creative experience... try building with this set.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=453412
Maybe it is. A big part of my problem is crowding. After taking a few parts from one container, I have to snap it shut, and stack 5 other containers on top of it before getting to the container holding the next parts I need. I'm working on re-arranging my room so I will have more room to spread out my LEGO and that should help.forester3291 wrote:Maybe it's time I moved my LEGO back down to the basement.
I am quite familar with these unsorted tubs you speak of. I never thought to try building exclusively with them, I usually just dump more parts into them instead.LEGOFREAK wrote:sometimes when i am in a hurry i will sweep the tables clean and put every spare lego lying around in a tub for later sorting. sometimes these tubs dont get sorted for a long time. sometimes I like to sit down with these tubs and see what I can come up with.
Actually, I build with my girlfriend, and she's always doing silly things like octopuses that ride elephants or hiding small parts inside of my treasure chests.LEGOFREAK wrote:Build with a little kid. you would be surprised at some of the things they come up with. stormtroopers riding dinosaurs with jetpack wings..... now THATS original.
Now that is a truly dreadful thought. It's about what I was thinking when I decided to start this thread too. That is the thing I most want to get away from. Fortunately, I've scheduled my time in such a way that I will actually have time to play this weekend.Robin Hood wrote:I think that when we were younger the playing and building was more important to us, now it might be that the having is more impotrtant...
Thanks for the replies everybody, I enjoyed reading them all even if I didn't directly respond to what you said.
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