[sharkweek]

A lot of people in this thread are forgetting that it’s not necessarily about the actual completed object but more the process of putting it together that often brings the most joy with LEGO.

I don’t think I’m more at peace than the few times a year I sit down with a new LEGO kit and build it. It’s a delightfully enjoyable break from just about everything else that keeps my mind busy and is such a calming activity.

[cainxinth]

This is my problem. I very badly want to build some of these (particularly the Saturn V and some of those huge Technic supercar models), but I really don't need another tchotchke collecting dust on a shelf.

[mtmail]

In Germany we have two companies that will send you a set (or 3, depending on plan) every month. It's like the old Netflix DVD model. Each sets gets washed, they added extra pieces and there's insurance for loosing pieces. (https://www.bauduu.de/)

[pininja]

That’s a brilliant idea! Is there something like this in the US? How has your experience been using it?

[spoonjim]

LEGO is vastly more popular in Europe than in the US.

[mtnGoat]

I believe there was a US based company doing it at one point but they went out of business.

[ElijahLynn]

There are a few US offerings: https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-lego-subscription-boxes-...

[wlonkly]

I believe those are all "recurring purchases", so your collection accumulates, where the European one upthread is "loaned and then returned", so you get the joy of building without the storage problems.

[slowmovintarget]

Have children. Then you get to buy as many Lego sets as you want, but they're really for them... honest.

The Saturn V set is excellent, BTW.

[Tomte]

I has nice building techniques, but unfortunately, it's all hidden behind a rather sparse exterior and doesn't look very exciting at first glance.

The playing features are cool (several stages that can be separated and put back together), but way too fragile to actually have children play with it.

It's a very fine display model, though. I've put it on a bureau right when you enter my apartment.

The ISS is superb, too (and rather cheap), but the new Space Shuttle was where I eventually drew the line. My pocketbook is very thankful for that.

[slowmovintarget]

I just ordered the Space Shuttle (with model Hubble telescope). It's totally for my kid... really.

[sharkweek]

My oldest, 3.5ish, is just starting to get into the little LEGO sets. To say I’m not beyond excited to uh… buy more kits for “him” would be a huge lie.

[Fricken]

Any kid I'm sure will gladly accept a pre-built Lego set once you're tired of looking at it. Many adults would too.

[bombcar]

Buy - build - sell.

Used in box sells quite well - especially if you sell after they’ve gone from store shelves. eBay or BrickLink.

[JohnWhigham]

What do people usually do, just break it down and put all the bricks in one bag? I feel like it'd take even longer to do that than put it together...and then to put it back together when you have to sort through thousands of pieces?

[bombcar]

Usually, yes. Most people just dump all the pieces out anyway when building.

It’s actually not as bad as it seems especially if you have space to spread out and roughly sort while working (special memory works well).

[organsnyder]

My wife gave me the LEGO grand piano this past Christmas. It was an absolute joy putting it together, seeing how the designer made everything work.

[gpspake]

That Piano was awesome. Everyone's amazed when they see it. There have been so many great "Ideas" kits.

[spoonjim]

To me, the greatest joy of LEGO sets is seeing brilliant engineering up close. There's brilliant engineering inside an iPhone, but I can't see it. It's all locked inside a boring looking little 1cmx1cm gray chip.

When you assemble something like a working pneumatic articulated motorized digger, 99% made out of the same basic 200 interchangeable parts, it's incredible.

[Fricken]

It really becomes apparent when you attempt to build your own creation to the same standards of some of the sets geared to older builders.

[ziml77]

I'm confused by the hate too. Like I wouldn't care to have yet another thing on a shelf that's just more plastic waste, but I don't have an issue with people enjoying this. It's not like something that takes a bit of effort to put together and then is just an art piece is anything new.

[criddell]

I believe a lot of people who buy one are mostly thinking of how hot this is going to be on eBay.