How to recreate rare LEGO® sets without breaking the bank
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Are you yearning for a rare or retired LEGO® set that feels out of reach thanks to its hefty price tag? We’ve been there. Here’s how to recreate it, for less.
Whether it’s a nostalgic nod to your childhood or a collector’s dream, rare LEGO® sets are, naturally, hard to come by. And even when you do find them, they’re selling for hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
The good news? With a little creativity – and some help from BrickResales – you can recreate those bucket list builds without blowing your budget.
Why recreate rare LEGO® sets?
Fans know that some of the best LEGO® sets ever made are no longer in production. Think the original Café Corner modular, the 2007 UCS Millennium Falcon and the original Taj Mahal (and its re-release).
But here’s the thing: the joy of LEGO® play isn’t in the box. It’s in the build.
By recreating these sets yourself, you can:
- Enjoy the challenge of hunting down each piece
- Put your personal spin on a classic design
- Save serious money compared to buying the full set new or second-hand
- Improve your skills by learning more about LEGO® design and engineering
Finding and replacing missing LEGO® parts
Got your hands on a half-complete set from a garage sale, or even one you’ve held onto since childhood? Or maybe you’ve started building a rare set using instructions found online, only to discover you’re missing a piece?
BrickResales can help.
With a constantly rotating selection of both pre-loved and brand-new LEGO® parts, our Coopers Plains showroom and online store are both treasure troves for builders hunting down hard-to-find elements. You can:
- Search our online store (we add 50+ new products every day)
- Dig through the tubs in our showroom and fill a bag with the exact bricks you need
- Ask our friendly team for help finding trickier pieces
- Use our Click and Collect and combined postage offers to save on shipping
The benefits of sourcing from BrickResales
Aside from the warm, fuzzy feeling of giving LEGO® bricks a second life, shopping with BrickResales comes with other perks, too:
- Sustainability: Buying pre-loved parts helps reduce waste and keeps plastic out of landfill.
- Community: Our team and customers are passionate LEGO® lovers just like you. We love hearing about your projects – and even displaying them in our showroom when they’re complete!
- Flexibility: Can’t find the exact piece? We’ll help you source an alternative that works just as well (hello, rainbow builds!).
Budget-friendly alternatives to expensive sets
Let’s say you’ve always wanted to build the LEGO® Hogwarts Castle, but don’t want to spend $700 for the privilege. Why not:
- Source the instructions online (many are free or low-cost through LEGO® fan communities – or you might even find them in our showroom)
- Visit BrickResales online and/or in-store to hunt down the pieces
- Choose a simplified (or totally unique) colour palette to reduce the cost
- Reimagine the build – add your own twist to the design and make it truly one-of-a-kind
After all, LEGO® is about creativity, not conformity. And we’re big believers that good things take time!
Navitaging the grey area
Keen to start recreating LEGO sets yourself? There’s one more pro tip you need to know. In 2004, The LEGO Group made a big change to its colour palette. The old Light Grey and Dark Grey colours were replaced with Light Bluish Grey and Dark Bluish Grey (often shortened by fans to LBG and DBG).
Since sets before 2004 used Light Grey and Dark Grey, using bluish greys instead could make your build look off, especially to seasoned collectors or AFOLs. On the other hand, while they won’t match the tone of the original vintage pieces, Light Bluish Grey and Dark Bluish Grey pieces are easier to find today – they could make a suitable substitute if you’re interested in value for money (and time) over accuracy.
Generally, it looks better to use one or the other – so take your pick and commit to it. Either way, we have all of them in our showroom!
Start building your dream set today
At BrickResales, we think everyone should be able to experience the joy of building – no matter your budget or your brick count. Whether you’re a seasoned AFOL or just getting back into the hobby, our collection of LEGO® parts and our awesome community can help bring your next rare-set recreation to life.
Stop by the showroom, head to our online store or reach out via a DM. We’d love to hear what you’re working on!
Feature image courtesy of Mel Wieland.