Year: 2015

Replacement parts

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[From the questions: What do I do if my set is missing parts? Where can I get replacement parts? One of my pieces is damaged, what do I do?]

Despite the best efforts of those who are responsible for the manufacture of LEGO sets, there is sometimes an item missing or damaged in your set. It could be an individual LEGO piece; it could be the instructions or the sticker sheet. LEGO are aware this happens. That’s one of the reasons they include extras for the little pieces – they know the parts are easy to lose. They also have changed their packaging so the stickers and instructions are better protected whilst in the box.

Things can still be damaged or missing, though, so LEGO has a service via their website from where you can order replacement parts. The pieces will be replaced free of charge but we recommend that you only use the service if you have a genuine missing or damaged part. Do not abuse the service.

Some parts will not be available via the LEGO replacement parts service, even though they may be from a new set. If that is the case, you may have some luck purchasing what you need from either Bricklink or Brick Owl. It would also be worth trying members of your local LUG or a local LEGO buy/sell/swap/trade group on Facebook. You can also purchase individual or bulk parts directly from the LEGO online store – either from their Bricks and Pieces selection or via their online Pick a Brick site.

Buying boxes of collectable minifigs

plasticbrick Buying ,

[From the question: Where can I buy a box of collectables minifigs?]

Unless you have an account with LEGO, you are limited to how you can purchase a full, unopened box of collectables minifigs.

You have three main options.

  • Local Toy Store or Department store – If you are lucky and the store owner/manager knows you well, you may be able to purchase an unopened box from your local toy store. They may expect you to pay full retail for the box but it is becoming increasingly common for them to provide a discount for purchasing a full box.
  • Bricklink – Until recently, this was the most common way to purchase a complete box. The initial price may be below regular retail but it will increase as each series goes out of production. Particularly useful if you don’t have a local independent toy store or LEGO retailer. Some of the early series are now worth a lot of money.
  • Ebay – Much like Bricklink, the quicker you purchase the box, the better the price will be.

Spotting LEGO selling scams

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[From the question: How do I know if this great offer is legit?]

It’s an unfortunate reality of our modern era that there are people out to scam others in order to make money.

It is very easy to get caught up in believing you have found a brilliant bargain when you see a LEGO set listed for a great price. Scammers seem to target those who are new to the hobby and are not sure about pricing or how to recognize a dodgy listing. It can happen in Facebook trading groups, on eBay, online classifieds and/or Bricklink. Even experienced purchasers of LEGO sets can be caught up if it involves something they have been after for quite a long time.

Here are some telltale signs:

  • It’s a set that normally sells for a high price. It can be a currently available set or something that has been retired. The listed price will be considerably cheaper than retail and sometimes cheaper than the wholesale cost
  • The person has multiple copies of the same high price set at a cheap price
  • Or they have a range of hard to find sets at good prices
  • (On Bricklink) a store that has low feedback but appears to have lots of high price sets
  • A seller that only accepts Western Union for payment
  • The products are copies or fake LEGO sets but they have listed them as being genuine LEGO products
  • (Possible stolen goods) A seller with a large range of LEGO product for cheap prices (below wholesale) where the seller does not seem to know very much about the product. They may use incorrect terms or claim to be able to get hold of an item in bulk when they are not normally available in such a way.

Note: someone selling products with inflated prices is not a scammer. They are just someone who wants a high return on their investment.

How to avoid buying from scammers:

  • purchase from well-known sellers or from the LEGO store online
  • only buy high price items from people with more than 100 feedback on Bricklink or eBay
  • Ask friends if they think it’s a legitimate listing. There are often discussions about this on the Bricklink forum
  • Assume anything that seems like a real bargain is likely to be a scam
  • Ask for photos of the set (not the standard set photos)
  • Make your payment via Paypal or offer to pick up in person

LEGO User Group meetings

plasticbrick LUGs ,

[From the question: What happens at a LUG meeting?]

LUG (LEGO User Group) Meetings are different in different parts of the world. Even within the same country/state/region they can vary. There is no “typical” type of meeting.

Some things that you may expect at meetings:

  • General informal chats about LEGO and other topics. This may be about a new LEGO product or it could be about a new movie or TV series or something completely different
  • A formal section where announcements are made and there may be a discussion
  • Guest speakers or presentations
  • Sharing of building ideas and techniques
  • Trading/selling etc or LEGO sets, parts, minifigs or other items
  • Competitions (Build competitions, Tower Build, Dirty Brickster, Blind Build, Speed Build, Build in the bag etc)
  • People building a LEGO set they have bought along for that purpose (some people don’t get much time to build at home)
  • Sorting of LEGO bricks (might belong to the LUG or an individual)
  • An excursion to the local shopping centre to buy LEGO sets
  • Partsies (especially in Melbourne, Australia) or Parts Drafts
  • Brik Wars
  • Cooperative building of a model
  • Display of someone’s latest MOC

Some meetings are held in clubrooms, some are at restaurants or pubs. Others may be in private homes or rented rooms in community centres or similar buildings.

They may run all day, just for the afternoon or just in the evening. Weekends are popular for meetings but they may also be held on weeknights or whenever people are available.

Starting your own LEGO User Group

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[From the question: How do I start a LUG?]

With LEGO being very popular at the moment, lots of people want to join a local LUGs (LEGO User Groups) or start their own.

We recommend checking the LAN page to see if there is one in your local area. Some of the LUGs have been around for a long time and are often happy to meet fellow LEGO enthusiasts of all ages. Some LUGs are aimed at just adults whilst others are inclusive and have members of a range of ages. The LAN page will tell you if there are any Registered LUGs (RLUGs) in your region. Sometimes there will be ones in the same state/region but they may not really be close to you. If possible, try to attend some of the meetings of the nearest group to see how they operates and what sort of things they do at a meeting. This is worth doing so they can get to know you and offer some assistance in setting up a group nearer to where you live.

It can happen that there is a local LUG that is not yet registered and it would be worthwhile checking Facebook or doing a Google search to see if there is anything in your area.

If you do decide to start your own group, here are some suggestions that may help to become established:

  • Find some friends or other people with a similar interest. You may have to create a flyer to place around town to attract the attention of local LEGO enthusiasts. Local libraries or community centres can be good locations in which to promote your group. You may even choose to place an ad in the local online classifieds.
  • Find a venue in which to hold your meetings. Lots of LUGs have had their beginnings in someone’s lounge room or garage. If you require somewhere larger, you might like to consider Scout or Guide Halls, Community Centres, Church halls, Libraries or Schools. These places often rent out rooms to community groups and may be suitable. Some may be free whilst others may have a small cost involved. Share the costs amongst your attendees.
  • Create a Facebook page/group or webpage for your LUG. Remember to not use the word “LEGO” in your URL if you are creating a website. This will help promote your group and can be a good way to promote activities and meetings.
  • Attend local events organized by other groups. You may meet other people from your region who may like to join your group.
  • Once your group has at least 20 members and has been established for a year, you may like to consider registering the LUG with the LAN so other people can easily find your group. This will give you a LEGO Ambassador who will act as a direct contact with LEGO. Once registered, you LUG will be able to participate in special programs run by CEE Team from LEGO.

Reasons to join a local LEGO User Group (LUG)

plasticbrick LUGs , , ,

[From the question: Why should I join a local RLUG or LUG?]

Registered (RLUGs) and non-registered LEGO User Groups (LUGs) can be found all over the world. Most countries have multiple groups and there is likely to be one in your regional area or state. This online map may help you find one near you.

Some people are happy to not interact with other LEGO Fans or prefer to do it just on an online environment (via the Official LEGO website, Facebook, online forums or email lists). Every person is different but there are many great reasons to become part of a LUG that has meet-ups and social events.

  • It’s a great way to meet people who have similar interests to you.
  • It’s a fun social event with like minded people
  • You may be able to trade with others and pick up pieces that you need to complete sets. It might save you postage if you can pick it up at a meeting
  • Seeing someone else’s MOC in person can inspire you to create something of your own.
  • Great way to increase your knowledge on a topic or to learn new skills
  • May give you the opportunity to work collaboratively on a project
  • Advance notice of upcoming LEGO Fan events and displays involving the LUGs
  • Competitions and prizes
  • (in RLUGs) participating in LUGBULK
  • (in RLUGs) opportunity to be involved in special projects organized via LEGO
  • (in RLUGs) communication channel to LEGO via your RLUG Ambassador

Keeping LEGO set boxes

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[From the questions: Is it worth keeping your LEGO boxes? How do I store my boxes?]

Whether or not to keep your LEGO boxes is often a hotly contested debate within the LEGO fan community.

On one side, are those who are adamant that you should keep them “just in case” you wish to sell your LEGO Bricks and sets in the future. On the other hand, are those who recommend disposing (recycling/reusing) of the boxes.

The decision is really yours to make but here are some thoughts from both sides of the argument.

Reasons to keep your LEGO set boxes

  • I might want to sell my LEGO sets in the future and they will be worth more if I can sell them with the boxes
  • I really like the artwork on the boxes
  • My parents threw away all of the boxes for my toys and I have always regretted this
  • I use the boxes to store my LEGO sets
  • I use the boxes to store things other than LEGO products
  • There are sometimes alternate model suggestions on the boxes that are not in the instructions
  • They look great displayed behind the built sets

Reasons to throw away/reuse your LEGO set boxes

  • They take up a lot of room (even if flat-packed)
  • Everyone else is keeping them so they won’t be worth as much
  • They are a fire hazard
  • They can attract rodents/insects (especially if stored in a shed or garage)
  • I can use the cardboard to create boxes for the items I sell online
  • I can use the cardboard to create boxes for which to transport MOCs

If you do choose to keep the boxes, it may be easier to flat pack them so they take up less room. Store them in a dry area off the ground as they quickly become soggy and moldy if they do get wet.

Also, it is worth noting that you may not want to bother keeping the boxes if the LEGO sets have been purchased for children. In the event that you do wish to sell the sets, there may be missing pieces, the parts may be worn or broken and the boxes may have suffered damage whilst being stored (experiences may vary).

Buying LEGO bricks

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[From the questions: Where can I buy Lego bricks in bulk? Where can I buy individual pieces? Where can I buy LEGO Bricks online?]

There are many different places from where you can buy individual or bulk lots of LEGO bricks.

Garage/yard sales, swap meets, flea markets, trash and treasure markets and school fetes can be good sources of assorted bulk used LEGO bricks. However, finding any LEGO bricks can be random and there is no guarantee that will be any available.

Online classifieds like Craigs list and Gumtree often feature LEGO sets and bulk lots of bricks and are worth checking on a regular basis. Note, however, if you are checking the listings, there are probably many others doing the same and you should not delay in making contact with a seller if you are interested in their goods. The competition for purchasing LEGO sets and bricks via this method can be quite fierce.

These days, there is a wealth of Buy/Swap/Trade/Sell groups/pages on Facebook. Some are specialist LEGO groups and others are for general household goods and may feature LEGO products on occasion. It’s worth doing a Facebook search to see if there are any specific groups for your location. There are often regional groups for countries, states, localities and cities – these are great if you wish to pick up in person or save some money on postage. As with the online classifieds, it is worth stating your interest in an item straightaway, as they can be very competitive. Pricing may vary and you may pick up a bargain one day and then pay top price the next. Most of these groups have an established set of online etiquette and it is recommended that you read the pinned post if there is one available.

Bulk LEGO parts and sets can also be found on eBay. As with Facebook groups, prices may vary greatly and it is not unusual to pay top price for a rare set. On the other hand, there are always stories of people “grabbing a bargain” on eBay so it is possible. Be careful of sellers that appear to be selling a large number of the same LEGO set for a good price. These are usually scams where people hand over the money for a “bargain” but never receive the goods.

One of the more popular ways to purchase individual LEGO bricks and sets is via either Bricklink or BrickOwl. Both are online marketplaces that specialize in the selling of LEGO products. Bricklink has been around for a long time and is well established within the LEGO Fan community. BrickOwl is newer but is gaining popularity due to its user friendly interface. Both sites are made up of individual stores selling just about everything and anything to do with LEGO products. Many people prefer to use Bricklink as a reference point when determining the price of a LEGO product. The site maintains details of sales over the last 6 months for both new and used product.

If you are lucky, you may have a LEGO Brand Store in your local region. These stores are fun to visit and may be the only time that you will see the majority of a current range of LEGO sets in the one place. They also sell LEGO branded products like key chains, household items, books and similar products. Individual bricks may be selected via the Pick a Brick wall which is often at the back of the store.

LEGO also operates its own online store, which features current sets. individual pieces and LEGO themed products. The store is known as “Shop at Home” or “S@H” within the LEGO fan community. Sometimes, this may be the only way to purchase a larger set or specialized item if you do not have a Lego Brand Store in your region. You can also purchase individual bricks from their online version of the Pick a Brick wall. It is recommended to check here before purchasing from Bricklink as the prices can be quite competitive.

If you are specifically after bulk bricks at a good price, you might like to consider joining a local RLUG (Registered LEGO User Group). These are groups of enthusiasts located all around the world who have registered their group with LEGO and can therefore participate in a number of programs operated via the CEE Team at LEGO. One of the more popular programs is LUGBULK where LUGs are able to order and purchase LEGO bricks in bulk for specific building purposes. There are restrictions as to who may participate, what can be purchased and what you can do with the bricks. Contact your local RLUG for further information.

Washing LEGO bricks

plasticbrick Washing ,

[From the question: How do I wash LEGO Bricks?]

There sometimes comes a time when you need to wash a pile of LEGO bricks. It might be because they are dirty from regular use or, maybe, you have purchased a pile of pre-loved bricks. Either way, there are many different ways to wash LEGO bricks. Here are some of the suggestions:

We don’t recommend washing items with stickers, electronic parts or paper in this fashion. Make sure they are removed first and are cleaned with a damp cloth. Do not immerse them in water.

1.Washing machine

This is perhaps one of the easier ways to wash LEGO Bricks. Place the bricks in a delicates/lingerie bag or a pillow case and place in the washing machine as you would with regular washing.

Tips for using this method:

  • Use a cold or warm wash
  • Add towels or something similar to prevent the bricks slamming against the walls of the washing machine
  • Don’t over fill the delicates/lingerie bag or pillow case
  • Make sure the pillow case is sealed shut either by knotting the end or using a twist tie
  • Ensure the pillow case is not worn. Older pillow cases are likely to rip from the LEGO bricks and you’ll end up with LEGO bricks loose in your machine (personal experience). If you are particularly concerned, double up and use two.

Once the cycle has finished, spread out the LEGO bricks on a towel to dry. You may need to flip some of the bricks over the make sure they don’t hold any water. If you have a salad spinner, run the bricks through it to remove some of the excess water. This will reduce the drying time.

2. Dishwasher

Similar to the method for the washing machine but make sure you only use the top rack

3. Bathtub (or sink/basin)

This method is great for those without a washing machine or dishwasher.  Fill the tub with cold or warm water. Swish the water around a bit and leave to soak for a bit. Swish the water around some more and then drain water and rinse the bricks. Again, spread the bricks out on a towel to dry. You may find that some bricks are not totally clean and may need redoing.

4. Individually, by hand

Sometimes  you have to use this method if the bricks do not clean as well as you had hoped. I recommend the use of a “magic” white sponge – especially for removing marker pen or other types of ink. The sponges are usually available in the “sponge” section of your local supermarket. Sometimes they can be purchased from discount stores which can be more economical as they do not last very long.

Some people like to use a toothbrush but this can damage the bricks if you press too hard.

Welcome to The Plastic Brick House

plasticbrick Welcome

The Plastic Brick House is a developing resource answering many of the common questions asked by LEGO Fans of all ages. The answers have been created by LEGO Fans using the experiences of those in the local and international community.

This site does not belong to LEGO and is not endorsed by it in any way.

Send us a message via Facebook or Twitter if you have a topic you think we should cover.