This year, I have been slowly building my first Lego collection. My kids and GeekMom Jenny each have tubs of Lego bricks that belong to them individually. I felt left out after visiting Legoland with Jenny, so I started my own collection. When I started buying, I did a lot of research, so that I could get the most out of my investment in a fairly expensive hobby. The first thing I needed, no argument, was bricks. There are many ways to get a bunch of bricks at once. I started with the Lego Build and Play Box. It’s a great starter set, highlighted by its large storage box, but I’ve found some cheaper options. Here is a breakdown of the average prices I could find: 884 piece Lego Education Brick Set 779384 = 6.1 cents per brick 650 piece Lego Bricks & More Builders of Tomorrow Set 6177 = 6.3 cents per brick (discontinued and no longer available, as of 11/2016) 1,000 piece Lego Build and Play Box 4630 = 11.6cents per brick 650 piece Lego Creative Building Kit 5749 = 7.1 cents per brick
1,600 piece Lego XXL Brick Box 5512 = 13.4 cents per brick (this one has been discontinued, hence its elevated price) As you can see, the Lego Education Brick Set has some serious bang for its buck. It’s a medium size kit, with 11 sizes and 9 colors. The bricks are pretty basic, but that’s the best place to start. I get the most use out of basic shapes, because they are so versatile. Specialized pieces often have just one purpose, and don’t get used as much. The next thing I needed was a plate. Plates are the foundation that you build your creations on. It’s possible to build on a table, but plates make the whole experience simpler and more fun. Lego makes two 10″ plates, one in green for general use, and one in blue for water scenes. Generally you can find one for about five bucks. There is also an XL gray plate, which measures 15″, but it runs around $15 right now. I own just one green plate, and it is worth its weight in gold. Honorable mention goes to the Brick Separator.
Another thing that is invaluable. Saves me so much trouble when disassembling. Though these are often included in specialty kits for free. The last thing I needed was minifigs. There are hundreds of options. As a matter of fact, according to xkcd, there will be more minifigs in the world than people by the year 2019! Where to start then? This is definitely not a case for the basics. I wanted my minifigs to be special, ones I’d like looking at forever. Since Rory is my favorite character in (I mean, how could I not like a total dork with the same name as me?), I got the Series 10 Roman Commander (read: Centurion). The kids then surprised me with a pile of parts from old minifigs that they didn’t want any more. This was great because I was able to make a few that I liked, and have the ability to change things up. After that, the sky (read: wallet) was the limit. There are so many themed kits it would take an enormous amount of money to get them all. I suggest ignoring sets like the ones, for example, because the scenes are not versatile at all.
This makes me sad, because I love everything. I just don’t have room in my house for a permanent installment of Krang’s Lab, and it’s not fun (for me) to keep building the same thing over and over again. There are a couple of exceptions. If you love one of the kits so much that it’s worth its own place in your home, buy away. GeekMom Jenny has three Lego Architecture sets that have their own shelf in her office. Also, Lego Creator sets are somewhere between free form and regular kits. Each of them makes three things officially. I love the LEGO Creator Fierce Flyer 31004, which has three official builds: an eagle, a beaver, and a scorpion. The only rule of buying Lego products is to never buy something you won’t use. If that means you never buy basic kits because you’d prefer to build a Lego Delorean, that’s okay! Buy things you love, so you will get the most out of them. One last thought: If you are buying for your kids, let them help pick out the pieces they want.
Our kids keep a running list of which sets they might like to have. This is mostly so they know what they want to buy with monetary gifts, and so we know which sets to buy them as a surprise or as a gift. (Kit prices are current as of 11/21/2016)The LEGO Group began making plastic interlocking blocks in 1949. The company has since produced an exciting range of construction sets for everything from spaceships to pirate galleons. Every LEGO fan has his or her personal reasons for thinking a particular set is a worthy purchase. Options include the number of bricks, exclusive minifigures, blocks in rare colors, and an enjoyable building experience. With so many sets available, it is easy to find something to suit all tastes. LEGO often makes sets based on popular movies, but set 10232 offers something completely different: a cinema to show those movies. This collectible model features a range of accessories for recreating a star-studded movie premiere and six minifigures. As part of the LEGO Modular Buildings collection, it is possible to combine the Palace Cinema with other buildings to create an entire town.
In 2008, the LEGO Group worked in association with Cuusoo to create a new website called LEGO Cuusoo, which later became LEGO Ideas. The site encourages brick fans to submit their custom projects. Site visitors vote for the best ideas, which go on to become official LEGO products. For movie fans, the "Ghostbusters" Ecto-1 set, released through LEGO Ideas in 2014, is a must-have. Sometimes big is best, and in 2007, LEGO launched the largest "Star Wars" themed building set ever, the Ultimate Collector's Series Millennium Falcon. This set appeals to collectors for the 5,195 brick count, the cool theme, and a good selection of minifigures, including an exclusive Obi-Wan Kenobi figure. The Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon was LEGO's largest kit until 2010, when the Taj Mahal set went to retail. The set does not include any minifigures, but it is a genuine challenge to construct, boasting 5,922 pieces. LEGO had the rights to produce construction sets based on the popular "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies;
however, nothing from that range compares to the majesty of the Imperial Flagship launched in 2010. This classic sailing ship comprises 1,664 pieces, looks suitably large and impressive on display, and includes nine minifigures, including several exclusives such as Brickbeard the pirate. Most LEGO construction sets are for children aged 6 or older. However, for parents who want to get their children involved in this exciting hobby, there are LEGO Juniors sets. These kits use the same bricks but have simpler designs and easier instructions. For young superhero fans, aged 4 to 7, set 10672 is a good choice. It features a fun Batcave scene, the Batmobile, and three minifigures, including Batman and Joker. Some LEGO sets offer a challenging build, some are for display, and some are great fun to play with. The Batcave set from 2012 is quite entertaining. It comprises Batman's hideaway with a working elevator and holding cell, a drilling tank, and the Batcycle. There are five minifigures, including exclusive versions of Bane and Bruce Wayne.
For anyone looking for a grownup LEGO project suitable for displaying, the Statue of Liberty from 2000 is a perfect choice. This advanced sculpture is a challenging build with 2,882 pieces. In 2014, LEGO released the iconic house from hit television series, "The Simpsons." It is a large build with over 2,500 pieces and includes exclusive minifigures for all the Simpson clan, plus long-suffering neighbor, Ned. It is an essential construction set for any fan of the cartoon show. For a real building project, brick fans need look no further than the Sydney Opera House set from 2013. This advanced kit has almost 3,000 pieces and should keep even the most skilled builder occupied for several days. How to Buy LEGO Sets on eBay With so many LEGO sets available, finding what you need on eBay might seem daunting. However, thanks to the search function and the powerful filters found on any page, locating the right construction set is exceptionally easy. Start by entering a search criterion in the search field, including the LEGO set number if you have it, and then set the filters based on your preferences.