Column: Buying new sets isn’t the only way to enjoy LEGO
As well as buying new sets, there’s another way to enjoy the world of LEGO that includes old LEGO sets, a burst of nostalgia and a fun experience.
I’ve been in this hobby for almost two decades and have been building with LEGO elements since I was seven, starting with LEGO Star Wars 7657 AT-ST. On my journey through childhood, my teenage years and even going into my full-time career, I’ve kept LEGO with me every step of the way. A few years ago, I found myself needing a burst of nostalgia but was busy using any spare funds towards my future.
Instead of saving up for a brand new build, I decided to rebuild an old set that had fallen into disrepair: 4997 Transport Ferry from 2008. Its pieces were yellower than I remembered, and I’d misplaced its caravan, but reliving my childhood through the 1,279-piece model remains one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had with LEGO.
Now, this build remains intact, but should I find myself without a LEGO set to build and need a familiar, reliable and fun experience, I know exactly what to do.
2007’s 7993 Service Station similarly fell into disrepair, but I didn’t originally have intentions of putting it back together, having sorted the pieces away into my collection. After rebuilding 4997 Transport Ferry, I spent some time rebuilding the older LEGO City set too and now it serves as an ample display for my favourite LEGO Speed Champions models.
As the portfolio grows and changes, the joy and functionality of LEGO sets and pieces remain the same and despite LEGO cars majorly evolving in the past five years, they will always need a place to refuel, even though they don’t fit in the car wash anymore. Thankfully, my old car from 7240 Fire Station can enjoy the full facilities.
One of my all-time favourite experiences with an older LEGO set started with a Star Wars model being given to me for a task. A friend had bought a copy of 7965 Millennium Falcon from 2011 second-hand and discovered that it was missing instructions and that all the pieces were in one bag. Not feeling up to the task of rebuilding it, they asked me to give it a go.
Accepting the challenge after finding joy in rebuilding old sets, I set out to remake the iconic LEGO Star Wars ship. Unfortunately, it was missing half of the elements, including some important pieces such as the windshield. This increased the challenge but with the help of BrickLink and Pick a Brick as well as the online instructions database, I discovered exactly which parts were missing, ordered replacements and put the Millennium Falcon back together.
Upon transporting the model to my friend and telling them the story, they even let me keep the set and occasionally come back to revisit it. 7965 Millennium Falcon has helped us stay in contact after we left school and it’s all thanks to repairing a broken set from years gone by.
As well as making something new out of your older models, it’s just as enjoyable to rebuild the set exactly as it was originally intended. Whether they’ve come apart over time or are still fully intact, feel free to start from scratch and relive childhood memories with your old LEGO sets. You’d be surprised where it can lead.
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Author Profile
- LEGO has been a part of my life ever since I was young. It all started when my brother passed down 7657 AT-ST to me. It’s guided me through my early years, through school and eventually through my degree in journalism. I still have all my collection proudly on display, including my many NINJAGO sets, my favourite of all the LEGO Group’s themes. Outside of Brick Fanatics I am an avid gamer and enjoy a good game of Dungeons & Dragons.
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Sure rebuild them old sets, but for me the building of something out of my imagination as and adult with knowledge of new techniques is so much fun.