LEGO* Gold Vintage Series

[Lobberuno]

Dear Lego:

I hope you find this humble idea. It's called LEGO* GOLD VINTAGE SERIES. What is it? Well, if you noticed, your best Castle sets were between 1984 and 1997. Lion, Black Falcons, Black Knights, Forestmen and Dragon Masters factions and all they are very loved by many people in the world, even the new builders generation.

So, What do you mind if you re-release those LEGO* greatest sets from past?(maybe remastered) or, What about to include the same number of minifigs, weapons, shields, armors, helmets and different style plumes, and horses with bardings as you used to do in the past? Be generous with your customers... and they will recompesate you all I told is true.

Write in a google, yahoo or bing search the following words: best lego castle sets. What are the results? the 6080, 6081, 6085, 6086, 6062, 6073, 6074, 7094, 7946, 6041, 6067, 6021, 6009, 6034, 6060, etc. I also know that new ideas came out and that's good for all: civilian style sets, very good for you, congratulations! . By the way, I like so much the Lego Castle 2007~2009 line, well done! Are you goin' to include a Chess set for every season?

Classic-Castle members, if you like this idea please say: Yes! I like this too!

[OverLoad]

Weren't a couple of old Castle sets re-released in the early 2000's? Can we continue that, LEGO?

So in other words, this is a fantastic idea and I would absolutely love it if LEGO released these sets again, remastered or not.

[JoshWedin]

Yes, it's a good idea. Lego already did this once. It was called the Legends series. Unfortunately, they discontinued it. I can't remember all the reasons that they gave, but I know that one was the difficulty of remaking the elements because many of them aren't in the current production runs.

Josh

[theboywarrior]

That would be awesome, and I could easily become the poorest guy in the world because of it. I particuarly like the sets fom 1986, especially the Armor Shop and the Guarded inn, not to mention the King's Mountain Fortress from 1990. Those were awesome, although I was born too late to get them.

[davee123]

Unfortunately, they discontinued it. I can't remember all the reasons that they gave, but I know that one was the difficulty of remaking the elements because many of them aren't in the current production runs.

The reason I got from Jamie Berard was that not enough AFOLs were buying them. I expect AFOLs bought the first few, because LEGO ultimately released 11 "Legends" from 2001-2004, and if they did poorly, I expect we'd never have seen them in 2003 or 2004. Roughly in order (I think):

2001 Guarded Inn
2001 Metroliner
2001 Club car
2002 Black Seas Barracuda
2002 Black Falcon's Fortress
2002 Pizza to Go
2002 Breezeway Cafe
2003 USS Constellation
2003 Main Street
2004 Hot Rod
2004 Century Skyway

LEGO took a lot of flak for not reproducing the sets accurately, which in some cases would have cost them a lot more money:

- Guarded Inn wall panels had different mold injection point
- None of the minifigs had solid-studded heads
- Metroliner didn't include pigtail element
- USS Constellation didn't contain squared-off 1x1 windows
- Black Faclon's Fortress torsos had incorrect crest printing (used the shield print, not torso print)
- Main street didn't include long 2x14 tile/bricks
- Century Skyway and Hot Rod used new colors
- etc.

So, some people refused to buy the Legends version because they didn't accurately reflect the originals (this was one reason I didn't stock up on more Black Falcon's Fortress legends).

Other people weren't interested because they already owned the original set, and weren't interested in getting (essentially) a second copy.

At the same time, many fans (mostly in Europe, IIRC) were disappointed that LEGO was spending its time releasing old sets when they could just come up with NEW sets in a similar style (like, say, if LEGO came out with a new BlackTron 1 ship next year).

However, in looking at my former comment (that they probably did well, then faltered), I have to say I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the reason why was the choice of sets. IMHO, the USS Constellation, Main Street, Hot Rod, Century Skyway, and Pizza to Go were poor choices to sell to hobbyists. Hobbyists that are looking to get the retired sets generally fall into two categories:

1) Collectors. These people buy ONE of each set they like so that they can say they have it. If they already own the original, they're not too likely to buy another copy.

2) Vintage Part Hoarders. They want stuff that hasn't been made in 20 years, and want TONS of them. Often, they're army-builders. These people will buy TONS of copies, as long as the vintage parts they're after are faithfully reproduced.

So... in looking at vintage castle sets, army builders would go NUTS for them. Same with people who hoard castle walls. Metroliner and Club Car? I'm no train-head, but I know train fans wanted lots of copies of the Club Car at least. And the minifigs from Black Seas Barracuda were (I believe) also sought after, even though they're not quite as hot-ticket items as the old bluecoat or redcoat imperial guards.

Anyway, makes me wonder what the success rates of the individual Legend sets were...

DaveE

[rogue27]

I think some of the set choices were poor, but I did buy 4 or more of both Guarded Inn and Black Falcon's Fortress. I was 9 when the originals released and could afford neither, and these Legends brought me out of my dark age. Of course, there were mistakes.

Guarded Inn's changed mold injection point was not a huge deal. Likewise, holes in the fig heads is a safety issue I don't expect them to backtrack on, and the stronger torsos are just a good idea. Cracked arm holes suck, I don't want original torso molds.

The real problem, IMO, is that the hanging tavern sign was using a newer style flag made from the bendy and textured PP plastic used for whips and things, rather than the hard ABS plastic of the original. This caused the printing to look awful.

Likewise, BFF was missing the extra elements, had the wrong torso printing, and the flag was again not printed as sharply as the original due the the change in plastic.

Despite these flaws, the sets were great for the price and I was very happy with them. I recall the Legends series being discontinued by LEGO due to complaints about part accuracy by adults (the target audience for these sets), and it is probably true that they didn't sell as well as was needed. The Legend series was discontinued at the same time as the new shades of gray replaced the old ones. I suspect that between the complaints about Legends and the complaints about them changing gray, the last thing they wanted to do was re-release an old castle in the new gray.

Still, I think they could do well by re-introducting the occasional old Lego set, but by updating it rather than trying to accurately reproduce it. Imagine, for example, a new set based on 6066 Camouflaged Outpost or 6086 Black Knight's Castle using modern colors and elements? I'd buy it. Maybe it's time for them to revisit the idea.

[Thoriun]

hi ppl

I'm sure about reissue old sets as they were. doing a remake with the new pieces is another thing.

The truth is not everyone is going to like if its done one way or another.

Personaly i would like for 2012 to Lego if the would think about releasing old sets, to do a new falcon line or a new florestmen istead of re-releasing old sets.

Thoriun

[Kosh]

I would not expect a repeat of the Legends line any time soon. Shrugs, I'm guessing here but its one based upon past experience.
I'd rather see revamped version that people cannot complain about the 'parts being right for the set/era' Give me a line that's an homage to the classic lines, that way you can pick up wider interest Megablocks it's not just seen as a retread with inferior parts....

[Lobberuno]

Yes, I already knew about the Lego* Legends Sets. I love all those Black Falcon and Black Knight sets... Once, I saw the Black Falcon's Fortress and I don't bought it. The stupid reason was that "Legos are only for 4~12 ages... but, with the time I understand there are no ages for these... playing, collecting, takin' photos, making MOCs, customizing... all these available in this web page, http://www.classic-castle.com, it's because it had a begin: in our childhood. Once we get adult, we still show to our nephews or sons how funny it's to play or build with the bricks.

The main reason is the classic Lego sets inspired generations and they still do it. The Kingdoms 7946 is very similar to the 6080, so I think Lego is gettin' inspired from the greatest Lego sets in this moment. So, Lego remasterized the 6080 (but less minifigs and horses, ). Why not to give a chance to Vintage? I must recognize Lego it's doing a great job with the new Kingdoms sets (and for the Castle 2007~2009 line).

[SPACE MARINE]

I like the idea of "remastered" sets. Kinda like when they make graphically updated ports of video games, or when Disney brightens the colors for the re-releases of their cartoons. Say if Lego took the Black Monarch's Castle, and updated the Castle and figures to today's standards, but kept the same heraldry, general shape, and maybe threw in a new feature or two, it'd sell faster than bionicles on 99.5% clearance in a store full of soccer moms.

[Blueandwhite]

I'm not really convinced that we need another Legends line. The market was certainly there for the first few legends (Black Falcon's Fortress and The Guarded Inn) however there was no comparable castle line at the time. Right now we have some of the best castle products LEGO has ever produced. Beyond folks who are looking for a nostalgia trip, would a remastered set produced in the wrong colours (bley not grey) really outshine the new sets LEGO is producing today?

In all honesty, I think the Kingdoms line does an excellent job replacing most classic castle sets. I just won a copy of the King's Castle at Brickfete and I must say that I am very impressed. It really pays homage to 6080 without being overly traditional. The new wall panels are far nicer than the often cumbersome wall panels of the 1980s. The dragon knights and introduction of peasant life is also fantastic. With so much castle-oriented product already available I don't see too many buyers jumping on board for an inaccurate rehash of old sets.

[mencot]

I'm not really convinced that we need another Legends line. The market was certainly there for the first few legends (Black Falcon's Fortress and The Guarded Inn) however there was no comparable castle line at the time. Right now we have some of the best castle products LEGO has ever produced. Beyond folks who are looking for a nostalgia trip, would a remastered set produced in the wrong colours (bley not grey) really outshine the new sets LEGO is producing today?

In all honesty, I think the Kingdoms line does an excellent job replacing most classic castle sets. I just won a copy of the King's Castle at Brickfete and I must say that I am very impressed. It really pays homage to 6080 without being overly traditional. The new wall panels are far nicer than the often cumbersome wall panels of the 1980s. The dragon knights and introduction of peasant life is also fantastic. With so much castle-oriented product already available I don't see too many buyers jumping on board for an inaccurate rehash of old sets.

Now that Kingdoms line is most likely ended and the only castle theme is going to be LOTR sets, they could make some remastered sets. I would not say no to get my hands on a remastered 6086 black knights castle, I never got that one because it was pretty expensive too back then. I got the wolfpack tower what isn`t bad I still have it built but 20 years have passed and I am still unhappy about I never go one