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Christmas

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Original poster

Can you rebuild the big Lego sets?

22 replies

Bearbehind · 06/10/2019 16:57

Just that really - if you buy one of the huge £300 or £400 Lego sets, can they be dismantled and rebuilt or is it too hard because the blocks aren’t in the bags they originally came in?

OP posts:

Drizzzle · 06/10/2019 16:59

Yes you can, but it will be more difficult.

RobinsParasiticEye · 06/10/2019 17:01

Why would the blocks need to be in a bag? Do you not just find the one you need? They never used to come in numbered bags

Allthepinkunicorns · 06/10/2019 17:25

When we break a big set up we put all the bits in a zip lock bag and label the set so we don't lose the pieces and we can remake the set over and over again. My ds has a few sets that he likes to rebuild.

OrchidInTheSun · 06/10/2019 17:27

Yes you can but it's harder when you don't have a lot of separate bags. If you put them in ziplocks split by colour, it probably helps.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 06/10/2019 17:39

Yes of course. Ds1 is in the process of rebuilding 10 years worth of Christmas and birthday presents, that had been dismantled and shoved in several tubs. He’s rebuilding to check he’s got the bits before selling them. It’s keeping him busy!

bonbonours · 06/10/2019 17:43

As long as you have all the bits you can do it. The problem in our house is we're bound to have lost a few tiny bits and spend ages searching the Lego storage for it. It does take ages to find the right bits if you have a massive set.

MamehaSan · 06/10/2019 17:43

A lot of the big sets don't have numbered bags anyway. The last few we've done, all the bits are jumbled across multiple unmarked bags, so no different to re-doing a model later.

Original poster

Bearbehind · 06/10/2019 17:46

Thanks for the replies - I’m specifically thinking of the Harry Potter Castle which I understand does come in numbered bags.

Trying to justify the cost, which is more acceptable if it can be handed down.

OP posts:

Kyvia · 06/10/2019 17:53

I dismantle mine into ziplock bags by colour, sometimes by stage & colour. I kinda enjoy the organisation aspect of dismantling them almost as much as building them in the first place :-)

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 06/10/2019 18:47

You will be able to hand the HP Castle down through your children, and by then Lego will no longer be selling that version of an HP Castle and you will be able to sell it for more than you paid for it.

DelurkingAJ · 06/10/2019 20:58

We rebuild my castle from 1986. I lost a piece and rebought it from the Lego shop. We rebuild the other big sets my DS has. We keep Lego very roughly in sets in Really Useful boxes with hobby compartments.

Redm · 07/10/2019 16:10

Hi,

For the huge sets, with 1000+ pieces it's best to work backwards and dismantle the parts working backwards. Doesn't have to be exact, but Lego instructions are in sections so you flip back to where the last bag starts then dismantle the model to that point and put the parts in a labelled zip lock bag. Just go backwards...I did this with the Lego star wars collectors millennium falcon set with 7500 pieces...took about 19 bags. It does take time( took 3 hours for such a set) but is doable and now when I move to new place, can happily rebuild this thing

CCquavers · 07/10/2019 21:18

Even when Lego comes in numbered bags often you need to open other bags to get a few bits that have been put in other bags. Especially for the tiny or fiddly bits.

Neome · 07/10/2019 21:29

How lovely and what a fabulous set to build. Feeling wistful.

I've been experimenting with different storage ideas for Lego so it's easier to rebuild. Storage designed for eg nuts, bolts and screws especially where you can change the shape of compartments is good for medium sized pieces, sorted into colours. Hobbycraft fold out transparent boxes are good for sorting small or special pieces and storing figures.

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/clear-storage-caddy/578084-1000

Happy building

Redm · 08/10/2019 05:37

BTW, I have that Harry Potter Castle...it does indeed come in numbered bags and it's actually a very precise and challenging build(from experience it's more complicated than the Star Wars huge spacecraft due to the many 1 stud pieces.....it is in 37 bags or so....

AlliKaneErikson · 08/10/2019 05:37

Yes- DS 10 just bought millennium Falcon for £50 on eBay (he could never afford it new) and none of the bits were in bags.

Grammy78 · 08/10/2019 07:21

I dismantled mine by doing the instructions in reverse and putting them back into numbered zip lock bags.

Gabrielknight · 08/10/2019 07:24

I own the hp castle its a challenging build due to the number of tiny bits. My nephew 10 got bored with it very quickly. I love it bit I'd say its more an adult lego item.

22Giraffes · 08/10/2019 09:14

You definitely can, I recently sold most of ds's Lego sets (we still have a huge tub of random Lego and base boards) and I had to reassemble some of them to check they were complete. I really enjoyed it

Original poster

Bearbehind · 08/10/2019 17:52

Thanks for the replies - I think I’m going to go for it!

OP posts:

confusedjuly2019 · 08/10/2019 19:50

Never did this but always considered the option of supergluing the whole thing together as we went along, as per Legoland 'mini land' (well I've always assumed it's glued together!).

Maryann1975 · 08/10/2019 20:46

No one is allowed to touch my Hogwarts castle in case it gets broken accidentally. I don’t think I’d have the patience to rebuild it, it took long enough to build anyway. But I reckon ds would have a really good go if I let him as he was desperate to build it the first time round. I think there were 37 bags of Lego and 4 thick instruction books to the set, so if you think you will have enough patience to do it, that’s great. I do like the pp idea of ding the instructions backwards and putting it in to freezer bags to aid the rebuild though.
It is a fantastic set, there is so much detail in it, you wouldn’t be disappointed.

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