Vintage Minifigure Collection Volume 4

[Remyth]

By far the best so far. That knight will be very welcome to any castler's collection and we get a plume. Nice going LEGO!

Hmm... with the rarity of the knight, I'm starting to wonder if one of the two rarer dark forestman figures will get into one of these. I sure hope so.

Thanks LEGO!

[porschecm2]

On a related note, I really wish Lego would sell these sets disassembled, and cut some of the cost. $17 for 5 figs is really on the steep side (though, I'll grant that it's cheaper than Bricklinking the original figs.) But I, for one, would be just as happy getting a simple cardboard box filled with loose pieces in a polybag. They should be able to easily lower these sets to the $10-12 range if they don't have to pay for the extra assembly steps.
This is also my thoughts on the battle packs. I just want the figs--I don't care about the fancy display packaging. One would think that would also apply to the battle packs demographics, which are, by design, people who just want to collect lots of the figs.

Cm2

[Athos]

On a related note, I really wish Lego would sell these sets disassembled, and cut some of the cost. $17 for 5 figs is really on the steep side (though, I'll grant that it's cheaper than Bricklinking the original figs.) But I, for one, would be just as happy getting a simple cardboard box filled with loose pieces in a polybag. They should be able to easily lower these sets to the $10-12 range if they don't have to pay for the extra assembly steps.

I completely agree. One of my favorite parts of building a set is putting together the figures and seeing them for the first time in person. I even try to save them until last.

Steve

[porschecm2]

Going a step further even, for these sets clearly targeted towards the AFOL/TFOL collectors, they probably get away with not even assembling the torsos (arms and hands) or pants. I think most of us are capable of putting together these items. I understand why this would be a really bad idea for sets marketed towards general audiences, but I think collectors could handle it, especially if it meant passing on the savings to us.

Cm2

[Blueandwhite]

Honestly, I think that these sets are being produced for a completely different purpose. They simply weren't meant to be army builders; they are something of a display piece. It's precisely because these sets are targeted to figure collectors that they are so expensive.

LEGO can make a serious profit on these because the torsos are out-of-print and for many of us, nostalgia plays a huge part to our collecting. The opportunity to get an updated 30-year old fig is one that many won't pass up even if the cost is absurd. Heck, these figures come with accessories, do they (I've never purchased one of these packs before)?

[Garbageman13]

Is the Forestman's cap reddish brown? I'm guessing it is, but I just want to make sure.

God Bless.

-Garbageman13

[Athos]

I'm curious about the forestman's plume. Really I'm more curious about what happened to the other two plumes that came on the wheel...

Did they design a new mold just for the smallest plume? Did they run a bunch of plume wheels, stick the smallest one of the forest man and simply toss out the remaining two? Did they hire a bunch of EFOLs (that's elfish fans of lego) to work in the toyshop putting the figures together and paid them with the remaining plumes? What's the story?

Seems strange they wouldn't have just used the new plume, since they used the newer helmet for the spacemen.

[porschecm2]

I hope we'll see the other 2 plumes in some subsequent set, and that they weren't simply melted back down or thrown away(!). On the other hand, if they did create a new mold for the single plume, that stirs up questions of creating new molds simply to revive out-of-use parts, purely for the sake of selling them to AFOLs. If this, why not other old pieces? I find the former option most plausible, however.

Cm2

[Athos]

I hope we'll see the other 2 plumes in some subsequent set, and that they weren't simply melted back down or thrown away(!). On the other hand, if they did create a new mold for the single plume, that stirs up questions of creating new molds simply to revive out-of-use parts, purely for the sake of selling them to AFOLs. If this, why not other old pieces? I find the former option most plausible, however.

So you don't think the EFOL explanation is plausible?

Steve

[porschecm2]

So you don't think the EFOL explanation is plausible?

No, I don't. The boxes say the sets were made in Denmark and China, but they don't say anything about the North Pole, which is where all the skilled toy-making elves are. I suppose the elves could have migrated to China, but China's usually rather picky about giving visas for such things, given the number of workers they already have.

Cm2

[Athos]

Well it is a global economy now... And Denmark isn't that far from the Northpole...

Steve

[architect]

Elves do not assemble Lego sets but they do have a knack for getting CC threads locked...

Back on topic:

I agree with some posters above who would like a traditional boxed minifigure pack (of current figures) if that would lower the cost. However, in the case of collectors items such as this latest Vintage Minifigures set, the packaging is much better for display and retail purposes.

This is the first minifig collection that has a truly rare figure. I know that some collectors were less than happy when Legends originally came out (Guarded Inn, Black Seas Barracuda, etc). How do you feel about very rare figures being reproduced? They are not exact replicas but will likely lower the value of collectors figures.

Personally I think it is great that new fans who would not be able to get these figures can now have them. Plus, the rest of us can slightly increase our collection and use them as a faction in mocs.

Ben

[porschecm2]

In all honesty, as long as I don't feel that the Lego group is just out-and-out price gouging and taking advantage of AFOL's love of rare figs/pieces, I think it's great that they're putting these sets out. It would be a different story if they began putting out, for instance, a "Star Wars Collector's Pack" with Mace Windu, Jango Fett, and some of the other rare figs and priced it at like $60, or something else ridiculous and clearly produced just to make a quick buck. While Lego is taking advantage here of the market for rare figs, I don't think they're doing so in an unfair way.

As for how it hurts the collectability of the original figs, I don't see it as that large of an issue. Most of these figs will have slight differences from the original figs anyway, and diehard collectors will want the originals regardless. And for everyone else, more classic-style figs is always a good thing. For people who spent lots on the original figs before the new ones came out, that's tough, but I guess they'll just have to deal with it. If they're not attempting to resell them, it shouldn't be too big of an issue anyway.

Cm2

[Blueandwhite]

Elves do not assemble Lego sets but they do have a knack for getting CC threads locked...

Back on topic:

...How do you feel about very rare figures being reproduced? They are not exact replicas but will likely lower the value of collectors figures.

Personally I think it is great that new fans who would not be able to get these figures can now have them. Plus, the rest of us can slightly increase our collection and use them as a faction in mocs.

Ben

I'm very pleased to see these collector sets. I did buy 10 copies of the BFF when it was re-released (none of them are MISB anymore ). I appreciate that they have a considerable amount of value on the secondary market, however I don't think that should preclude LEGO from re-releasing them for a new generation to enjoy. For me LEGO is a toy first and a collectable second. I understand that there are people who like to feel that re-releasing anything diminishes the worth of the original. I disagree. For a pure collector, the 1979 figure will always bring with it a certain sense of nostalgia and authenticity that a re-relrease cannot match. the fact that there are subtle differences between the re-release and the original ensures that the 1979 figure remains rare even today.

[DO+1]

I am glad they are continuing with the vintage minifigure collection series.

It allows some people who didn't have an oppurtunity to get the figs the first time around to have a second chance
to get them.
I wish they would have also continued with the Legends series also