LEGO Basketball

Justin writes:

What are these Lego basket ball players on amazon all about?! Why are they so cheap? Shouldn’t these be really expensive? Are they new? What is happening?

Dear Justin,

After the unexpected success of LEGO Soccer sets, The LEGO Group expanded their sports lines to include NBA sets in 2003.

These licensed sets were produced in large numbers that did not meet market demands.  This is why the sets and figures are still affordable.

Sincerely,

LFan

Sculptures Set Values

Sandra writes:

I went to a tag sale and purchaed Ollie the Dragon, the statue of Liberty.  Also purchased 2 lego mini-fig sculptures.  I was wondering the value of these.

Dear Sandra,

Congratulations on your great discovery of sculpture sets!  The Statue of Liberty contains many rare sand green elements and is worth approximately $350 – $500 USD if complete.

The other sets can be built out of basic bricks and are not as valuable.  These sets should be worth $100 – $200 USD if they are complete with instructions.

Sincerely,
LFan

Minifig Scale

Claus writes:

Hi

Great BLOG you have got there!

What is the minifig scale?

Is it 1/32, 1/35, 1/48 or ?

And, the brick it self, in in connection with above…

Thank you very much in advance.

Cheers
Claus

Dear Claus,

A minifigure has odd proportions that do not exactly match one scale.  This is also true of sets featuring minifigures.  They have been and are designed in a variety of scales.

Please check out this interesting article regarding the original development of the minifigure by Jens Nygaard Knudsen: http://www.minifig.co.uk/default.asp?id=10

Sincerely,
LFan

LEGO Set Investment

Sammy writes:

Hi,

I used to play with Lego town sets in the late 80’s, early 90’s before entering the Lego dark ages. I have now fallen in love with Lego again and started purchasing the newer sets, but this time from an investment view. Also, I notice that the old Lego town sets have increased in value. Would it be wise investing in them at this point in time in the hope they will increase in value a further 10 years down the line?

For example, I recently picked up ‘6385: Fire House-I’ (a 1985 release) for around USD $250. Investment wise, is this a wise investment and will the value skyrocket 10 years go up down the line?

In terms of modern sets, apart from the modular and licensed sets, do other sets have value? For example, do you have foresee 7641: City Corner as a good investment?

Thanks!

Sorry for the many questions but I just want to make sure I am not investing around USD $1,000 a year in dead investments.

Dear Sammy,

Any investment carries the risk that you could lose most of your initial capital.  Collectors like rare sets in pristine mint condition.

Promotional sets with low production quantities will usually hold their value over the long term.  Recent examples include:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=7848-1

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=4999-1

Certain licensed lines such as Batman increased in value after the line was discontinued.  Many fans purchased, built, and played with these sets.  Later, they sold the used sets for a large profit in order to buy other Lego sets.

Sincerely,

LFan

Future of LEGO Star Wars?

J writes:

Maybe I already asked this via email, but do you know when the LEGO Star Wars line will be discontinued. I understand the contract ends in 2011.

Dear J,

The LEGO Star Wars line is extremely profitable for The LEGO Group and Lucasfilm Ltd.  Both parties are very likely to renew contracts as long as the line is profitable.

Sincerely,
LFan

Collectable Minifigures: Series 1

Michael writes:

Dear LFan,

Why were the Series 1 Minifigs so rare and difficult to find? Did lego really not anticipate the demand? Why the secondary barcodes that made each fig identifiable?

For those of us who were unable to complete a set of Series 1 MiniFigs and have some extras… where can we go about finding an active AFOL community to trade these rather than engaging in buy and sell on bricklink, ebay, etc.

Is TLG adjusting their production for Series 2? Sure hope so.

Dear Michael,

Large retail stores were skeptical that collectable minifigures would be popular.  These stores did not order many cases of figures.

TLG is aware of high demand for the figures and will likely increase production of future series.  Since most sets are produced months in advance, increased production will likely happen for later series of collectable minifigures.

Several fan sites have collectable minifigure trade treads:

http://www.classic-castle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19041

http://www.fbtb.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4093

Sincerely,
LFan

Yellow Castle Stickers

Filippi writes,

Hi LFan, 🙂

I’m drawing & building my old LEGO sets when I have time but the original stickers are all ruined. Take for example the flag logo and shield logos of the Yellow Castle, number 375.

Do you know if there is some place where i can find the original images so I can try to print them out and paste over?

Dear Filippi,

Please see images of the sticker sheets here:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=375.2stk01

http://www.classic-castle.com/bene/6075stickers.jpg

Sincerely,

LFan

LEGO Minifigures

Brad writes:

Hi LEGO fan!

I really like the new line of collectible LEGO figs, but I don’t live anywhere near a LEGO Store. Do you know if there is any option for folks like me? I know that many people have gotten their hands on them (enough that Eurobricks has held a contest based on them) and some people have been able to buy cases. So, my question:

Are there any retail outlets, other than LEGO Stores, that sell them? Are there any places that sell cases? Are there any plans for LEGO to sell them through U.S. Shop @ Home? Or are my only options ebay, bricklink, amazon, etc.?

Thanks!

Dear Brad,

The figures are selling out at North American Toys R Us stores in around two weeks.  This is due to the small supply (around two cases) that each store is receiving.

The figures will be available on Shop at Home soon:

http://shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Leaf.aspx?cn=634&d=70

Figures will be sold individually from SAH.  We do not yet know if customers will receive a sealed case if they order that quantity of figures.

Sincerely,

LFan