Subject:
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Re: what makes a legend?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.lego.direct
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Date:
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Fri, 19 Oct 2001 22:56:14 GMT
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Viewed:
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630 times
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Hi Brad,
I think Matthew has pretty much got it bang on here - I agree that the
helicopter instructions were great in the Mania magazine. The new version of
the model had the same spirit as the original one, even though some of the
bricks were substituted due to the originals not being available anymore.
I think that is the important thing, that any new 'Legend' release is done
in the same spirit as the original model and follows the original design as
closely as possible. I think that we would be able to handle part
substitutions where neccessary, but for my own part, I would be most upset
if parts were substituted due to reasons other than the parts not being
available (eg cost), for example, using a 1x2x3 brick instead of 3 1x2
bricks. If you have to substitute a part, then try and get the new part as
close as possible (use red wheel hubs for the substitutions of the old axled
wheel sets). I guess what I'm saying is don't juniorise any Legend sets, but
I'm guessing that you realise that that would be a fatal mistake!
I personally would be happy to see any old models and I'm glad you are
thinking even further back than the guarded inn! I would love to see some of
the early town sets from the late 70's early 80's (you know - the ones with
car doors and real lego pieces!) Of course Classic space would be brilliant
as well - I'm sure there are going to be many people screaming for the
Galaxy Explorer, but I would even be happy with some of the smaller models
such as the old 886 Space buggy.
On the subject of stickers - I personally aren't very keen, but will accept
them if neccessary, for example if the only way you could release Space was
by using stickers, then I would rather we had the stickered sets than no
sets!
Just my 2 cents worth
Richard.
"Brad Justus" <legodirect@lego.com> wrote in message
news:GLH3tC.Iw@lugnet.com...
> We're having a debate here in the ABS-paved halls of LEGO Direct that I'd
> like to throw open to the community.
>
> The topic is: what makes a LEGO Legend a legend? Or, more precisely, if we
> cannot bring back a set precisely as it was (or pretty darn close), can it
> still qualify as a Legend?
>
> In my June announcement of the LEGO Legends series, I wrote that "LEGO
> Legends are reissues of landmark LEGO sets -- perhaps the first set in a
> particular playtheme, or a set widely acknowledged as a superlative • building
> experience, or perhaps simply a much beloved set."
>
> The first three offerings in the series -- the Guarded Inn, Metroliner, • and
> Club Car not only meet the above criteria, but are as faithful to their
> originals as we could possibly make them. Setting aside boneheaded • mistakes
> like (doh!) putting an Indian horse in a medieval castle set (unless, of
> course, you were going for the "Tudor Teepee" look), these three sets vary
> only slightly from their honored ancestors -- minor differences, such as
> "ventilated" minifig heads instead of the original solid ones are all that
> set them apart.
>
> Now we are considering where we go next with this line. We've gone back to
> the early 90s with the Metroliner and Club Car, and to 1986 for the • Guarded
> Inn. Now we'd like to dial the Wayback Machine a bit further back... and
> here's where we start to run into "issues."
>
> Without revealing what specific sets we have under consideration (hey, • we're
> trying to maintain an aura of mystery here!), the dilemma is this: in
> general, the farther back we go, the more compromises are necessary in • order
> to make the set. For example: the old metal-axle wheelsets? Forget it.
> They're not coming back; we're stuck with the wheels we've got now.
> Baseplates and road plates have changed, too -- on some of the road • plates,
> we use one fewer stud now (8 instead of 9) between the roads and the edge • of
> the plate -- which could affect the "look" and arrangement of sets using
> those plates (e.g. buildings could be closer together than in the
> originals). And the list goes on: unavailability of certain decorated
> elements (though we could use stickers); the need to use slightly • different
> elements to replace an element for which we no longer have the mold; and • so
> on. You see the problems...
>
> We can bring back almost any set (but before you ask: the Airport Shuttle • is
> not in the cards -- there's no way to get the motors and track -- and
> believe me, I'm as disappointed about this as you are). The thing is, we
> can't bring them all back *exactly* as they once were. There are some sets
> which are comprised largely of basic elements, with a few rarer bits • thrown
> in. And there are others which require compromise. And then there are • those
> which require a whole lot of compromise.
>
> So here's my question for you all: how much compromise can you live with?
> Should we just cross any older Town set off the consideration list because
> we can't use the metal-axle wheelsets? Are stickers ok? How many changes • are
> allowed before it's not a Legend anymore? Where do you -- where should • we --
> draw the line? Is the Legend in the spirit of the overall set or in the • details?
>
> Next year, we hope to give you at least one opportunity to vote -- from a
> short list of candidates -- for the Legend set you'd like to see us make.
> When we post the contenders we'll be specific about any changes we'll have
> to make from the original. But it would be incredibly helpful to us now to
> know how far we can go with those changes.
>
> We've received great input from the community here, and from many of you
> individually, on the direction we're taking with products coming from LEGO
> Direct. We need some of that input now. Please help us make next year's
> Legends everything you want them to be.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> Play Well!
>
> -- Brad
>
> Brad Justus
> Senior Vice President, LEGO Direct
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | what makes a legend?
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| We're having a debate here in the ABS-paved halls of LEGO Direct that I'd like to throw open to the community. The topic is: what makes a LEGO Legend a legend? Or, more precisely, if we cannot bring back a set precisely as it was (or pretty darn (...) (23 years ago, 19-Oct-01, to lugnet.lego.direct) !!
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