tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post8668337546929650066..comments2024-03-28T22:25:17.706+00:00Comments on New Elementary: LEGO® parts, sets and techniques: Putting the leg into LEGOAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-47619917432321824352014-02-07T20:10:57.619+00:002014-02-07T20:10:57.619+00:00Chris, Brickset, as caperberry mentioned, is a goo...Chris, Brickset, as caperberry mentioned, is a good source for the TLG color names, although the names can be very vague. For example what Bricklink calls "Pearl Gold" is officially known as "Warm Gold" by TLG. Warm gold? What does that even mean, description-wise? For me, "Pearl Gold" nails the color description to a T, a gold color with a pearlescent-like hue, due to the swirls. Pearl Dark Bley [BL] is called "Titan Metallic" and Pearl Light Bley is "Silver Metallic" [TLG], while "Trans-Black" [BL] is called "Trans-Brown" [TLG]... <br /><br />My advice would be to pick a color database to use and stick to it, the varieties of colors to remember would be frustrating if you used both TLG and BL.<br /><br />As for why BL gets "colours wrong sometimes", I believe it's because BL is a user-submitted inventory (which can be prone to mistaking one color for another) as opposed to Brickset using APIs to retrieve inventory data from the LEGO.com servers. (At least, that's how I think it works at BS). Also, TLG sets can contain multiples of the same exact element in the same set, but some of those elements may be off slightly in the color. For example, I have the Hayabusa space craft set, which came with a lot of yellow bricks. When I had it all put together, I saw that some of these yellow bricks were slightly brighter or "shoutier" (eye-catching, i guess) than surrounding pieces; even several 1x2 yellow bricks varied.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-6616455107382805172014-02-01T21:36:33.512+00:002014-02-01T21:36:33.512+00:00@Anon:
Looks dark-red on a red head in the movie,...@Anon:<br /><br />Looks dark-red on a red head in the movie, so it would make sense for them to stick with that for the toys.Purple Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-90533841081176510742014-02-01T21:13:04.585+00:002014-02-01T21:13:04.585+00:00@Aanchir:
There's a reason for the necktie-ca...@Aanchir:<br /><br />There's a reason for the necktie-cape. It'll become obvious after Emmet gets stepped on...and that's all I'm going to say about it until the movie sees general release.Purple Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-11187199647330537552014-02-01T21:07:14.617+00:002014-02-01T21:07:14.617+00:00@caperberry:
I knew what part he was referencing,...@caperberry:<br /><br />I knew what part he was referencing, and I was fully prepared to dig through the "Brick, Decorated" category (even had it up on my computer) until the moment I remembered the brick-calendar. With the theory soundly disproven, there was no longer any point. Now, the Bizniz-Kitty arch brick might very well be (and probably is) the only standard element with three-sided printing. Even minifig parts that look like they might be three-sided are usually just two-sided print app on a curved surface. One rare exception that I can positively ID is the headdress from the S3 Tribal Chief. The hair on the back side of the headdress is painted black and can only be applied from directly behind the part. The tips of the feathers on the front _could_ be applied from directly in front of the part, but there are two gold circles on the sides that taper towards the back. That means they can't be hit from the front in a single paint app, and the fact that the feathers stick out wider prevents them from being covered in a single app from behind. But that's a minifig part, and excluded by the original statement. Stuff like the Trojan and Centurion crests I'd exclude even if minifig parts were fair game, since they appear to be straight paint apps rather than print like you'd find on most minifig parts.<br /><br />@Andrew:<br /><br />It took me a couple minutes to remember the calendar bricks as well. Actually, the reason I remembered them was because the first page of Bricks, Decorated is a bunch of 1x1 bricks with numbers and letters on them, which reminded me of the calendar day bricks.<br /><br />Yeah, I was thinking of the goblet connection, which I thought worked on the mug as well (and which really should be changed, the next time they have to retool that mold). Well, one quasi-cheating trick might work. Wrap a red Technic band around the base of a flame repeatedly and see if you can stuff it down inside the mug. No guarantees, but at least it won't involve resorting to Kragle.<br /><br />On the leg thing, I thought there was a pic that popped up at one point that showed plates attached to the back of LB's legs. Maybe it was part of the prototype design and they realized there were bigger failure points than the feet (specifically somewhere in the stacks of 1x2 plates). I can say with 100% certainty that it does _not_ factor into the movie, as I just watched a sneak preview this morning. Without getting too spoilery, there's one point where you see them self-assemble, and repeatedly throughout the movie they actually change height (intentionally, like they have hydraulic lifts built in). At no point are they at risk of being ripped off.<br /><br />As for the off-color PoR, there is a scene that would justify it coming in some sort of silvery color. Chrome would be most accurate, but to get the best all-around look it should actually be painted silver, like the head on the microphone piece (I think that's the Flat Silver that you're referring to). That way other elements could be decorated with silver that's an exact match for the PoR.Purple Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-39231129126248391132014-02-01T16:11:47.151+00:002014-02-01T16:11:47.151+00:00I am assuming the reason you could not plop a stan...I am assuming the reason you could not plop a standard 1x1 brick over the leg extensions is not due to thickening of the extension, but rather the small protrusion on the back of the spike. That protrusion needs a relief point, such as the back of a minifig leg, to snap into. If you're willing to risk, I'll bet you could snap a headlight brick down on to the spike. That's assuming the spikes aren't too tall for the headlight brick. Which is probably why you used a 1x1x5.Daghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16702225969943437639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-56335365493555785042014-02-01T14:27:43.253+00:002014-02-01T14:27:43.253+00:00Ha, I had forgotten about those calendar bricks (d...Ha, I had forgotten about those calendar bricks (despite owning that set myself). I think the reason Biznis Kitty's torso stood out to me is that it's printed on three sides, some of which are perpendicular to each other.<br /><br />Unfortunately, not only is Angry Kitty's 1x1 round plate with hole Dark Red instead of Bright Red, but it wouldn't work for attaching flames to Lord Business' helmet anyway. Unlike the minifig wineglass, 1x1 round plates and bricks don't connect to the top of the minifig coffee mug.<br /><br />Two last points which I forgot to mention in my initial post: For one, I wouldn't be surprised if the slopes connecting Lord Business' legs had that anti stud on the back so that they can be secured via SNOT. It's true that with the firm connection that wedge provides that isn't needed, but perhaps they needed extra stability at one point in the movie, or perhaps it's an artifact of an earlier design that used a normal stud to attach to the legs.<br /><br />Secondly, don't get too excited at the prospect of the Piece of Resistance coming in Medium Stone Grey. None of the pics of the Robot Emmet fig are good enough for me to tell for sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that that piece is actually Silver Metallic (the current Flat Silver color on Bricklink). Which would be cool in itself, seeing as few basic bricks exist in that color; but it'll probably be slightly less versatile if that is the case.Andrew Barnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723179808721244651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-22599782968930015032014-02-01T13:47:00.843+00:002014-02-01T13:47:00.843+00:00I assumed Andrew was referring to Biznis Kitty hav...I assumed Andrew was referring to Biznis Kitty having printing on three sides...but like you I can't be bothered trawling through BL!Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-7584463355162751352014-02-01T03:40:47.499+00:002014-02-01T03:40:47.499+00:00@Andrew:
The ironic thing about the GAM bases is ...@Andrew:<br /><br />The ironic thing about the GAM bases is that in all three instances in which TLC used these in sets, they were _not_ used as basic minifig bases. The two GAM sets had them as an integral part of the minifig. This set has them as spotches of Kragle (or Krazy Glue) holding the two security guards in place (just figured that out one or two weeks ago). This is the only instance I can think of where TLC released a part that we AFOLs primarily use in _less_ creative ways than they did.<br /><br />The flood of new minifig parts stems directly from the fact that they finally realized how addicted we are to them. That's why SW suddenly gets a new minifig in pretty much every set after years of giving us the same core characters every time.<br /><br />If it's true that Uni-Kitty will come with a red version of the 1x1 round plate w/ hole, plunk a couple of those on top of the mugs and you'll be able to attack a few different styles of flames.<br /><br />And Uni-Kitty's body (either version) is at best the seventh brick to have double-sided decoration. The brick-built calendar has six double-sided month bricks. If you count Duplo as well, there's also a crapton of double-sided 1x2x2 promotional bricks (though, to be fair, I don't think that shape has been used for anything non-promotional, so maybe it wouldn't count as a "basic" brick anyways). There might be more, but I'm not going to sift through the Bricks, Decorated category on Bricklink now that I've remembered that I have several examples sitting right on top of my fridge.Purple Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-77418911513205593542014-01-31T15:21:09.535+00:002014-01-31T15:21:09.535+00:00(same anonymous again) I would bet on it being dar...(same anonymous again) I would bet on it being dark red, after all, what else could it be. It's definitely darker than the rest of her. I was actually kinda hoping for regular red because I desperately need it in a Spyrius MOC. It would have been nice of them to have a blue one on astro-Kitty. Well, at least they are making them in more than one color, maybe that means they will make more colors of it in the next few years. Now if only they could make T-bars in more than one color. That robot Emmett with the gray POR looks interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-52656744621415297752014-01-31T13:39:25.887+00:002014-01-31T13:39:25.887+00:00Hi Chris,
for particular elements you can use Bri...Hi Chris, <br />for particular elements you can use <a href="http://brickset.com/parts/browse/" rel="nofollow">Brickset</a>. For a comparison table, <a href="http://peeron.com/inv/colors" rel="nofollow">Peeron</a> is very useful, but it has problems - it's getting out of date, plus Bricklink actually get colours wrong sometimes, but for the most part it's very helpful.Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-80803386114107724102014-01-31T13:35:36.417+00:002014-01-31T13:35:36.417+00:00Hello Same Anonymous, well, I'm not sure it...Hello Same Anonymous, well, I'm not sure it's Dark Red either. Terribly dodgy to be guessing from a couple of random pics. So we shall see in the fullness of time!<br />But, whilst I'm dodgily guessing stuff, I think the 1x1 plate on Astro-Kitty's feet look Pearl Gold in the pic...Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-39859892583600605682014-01-31T05:41:00.333+00:002014-01-31T05:41:00.333+00:00Where do you find all of the names for the colors ...Where do you find all of the names for the colors that TLG uses? Is there some place with a list of all the color names like there is on Bricklink?Chris from Umichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12755107683725951110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-44241406695969353502014-01-31T03:57:43.499+00:002014-01-31T03:57:43.499+00:00Good review. Although I'd like to point out so...Good review. Although I'd like to point out something amusing: Have you ever looked at Lord Business from the back while he's wearing the cape?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-5212069803175443412014-01-30T23:29:32.043+00:002014-01-30T23:29:32.043+00:00Ah, I did not see that particular picture, so I di...Ah, I did not see that particular picture, so I did not notice that it was dark red(I'm the same anonymous as before). Did anybody else have a problem with bizness kitty's head being kind of warped?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-17854361761791295392014-01-30T23:02:13.689+00:002014-01-30T23:02:13.689+00:00Interesting suggestion about the printing on multi...Interesting suggestion about the printing on multiple sides. A hard one to check. Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-69813847514443101642014-01-30T23:00:03.885+00:002014-01-30T23:00:03.885+00:00I never noticed that about Unikitty's tail - t...I never noticed that about Unikitty's tail - thanks! Playing with it nowAdminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188856208086872634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-26475766966070057132014-01-30T21:34:27.859+00:002014-01-30T21:34:27.859+00:00Good review! This is one of the sets I want most t...Good review! This is one of the sets I want most this year. I love a good evil lair, especially one as humorous as this! And as the only set that features Lord Business and his ridiculous battle suit, it's a must-buy.<br /><br />The clear army man bases will probably get a lot of use (especially by customizers) as simple fig stands, but that's far from their only use. I've seen the green ones used very effectively as toxic chemical spills, and I'm sure these clear ones will make great puddles for damp scenes!<br /><br />The A-frame's stability is indeed its greatest asset. As a "constraction" builder, a big lesson I've learned is that more articulation isn't always better—if a part of your model isn't supposed to move, it's worth your while to secure it! This set uses it in a configuration that basic hinge plates would work fine for (indeed, being able to rearrange and re-angle the individual segments is the main advantage modern scenery-based sets have over classic ones bound to baseplates), but for some of the other things it's been used for this year (such as aircraft in the Ninjago theme), stability is very important! It's no fun to swoosh something around if it keeps changing shape when you don't want it to!<br /><br />I think the preponderance of new elements for figs in this theme is partly due to the time-tested principle of character design that important characters should have distinct silhouettes. Hairpieces are one of the only ways to do this when you're mostly working with the standard minifig body type, hence Wyldstyle's askew ponytail and hoodie, Emmet's cowlick, and President Business' boxy 'do. On a less gracious note, it serves an added incentive for kids to buy the sets because it means that a kid's Emmet that they self-assembled with a construction torso and standard hairpiece will be even less authentic than the one that comes in sets (at least, until next year, when I wouldn't be surprised if at least Emmet and Wyldstyle's hairpieces work their way into other figs).<br /><br />Lord Business's helmet is indeed a very specialized part, but I almost wish it were more specialized. If the cups were molded into it, it'd be easier to give them attachment points for flames like the ones that emit from them in the movie. But that's a minor issue, and probably not worth the more complex mold it would need or the even lower versatility of the part itself.<br /><br />Uni-kitty's tail has a neat feature, despite having only one attachment point. The piece is molded with a cavity/groove on the inside edge, which on Uni-Kitty herself allows it to be set at angles other than the standard 90 degrees off her brick-built body. I imagine this helped the filmmakers to make it seem more dynamic by waving to and fro! On the subject of Uni-Kitty, her "torso" in this set is interesting—I think it's the first time a basic brick has been printed on multiple sides. It'll be interesting to see if that printing method is ever used in the future, but I wouldn't be sure. These days stickers are often preferred for basic rectangular elements, and the main reason Uni-Kitty uses printed parts is that she represents a character (like a minifigure, or the Cars from the eponymous theme).Andrew Barnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723179808721244651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276033407505619194.post-60985506383540454442014-01-30T21:14:58.018+00:002014-01-30T21:14:58.018+00:00Good review, but you totally forgot Lord Business&...Good review, but you totally forgot Lord Business's amazing necktie-shaped cape! Together with the coffee cups on his headgear and the gray business suit it gives him a hilariously absurd "corporate overlord" look.<br /><br />Oh, and technically, there's no rule that parts listed as single LEGO elements are not meant to be taken apart... after all, the LEGO Friends, BIONICLE, and LEGO Batman accessory packs that each include over ten pieces each are listed as single elements since the parts (presumably) come out of the same mold and are packed immediately. The same obviously applies to any parts that come on a sprue. I think the fact that the legs comes pre-assembled and a "standard" set of minifigure legs is also provided is a stronger hint that the legs and their supports are not meant to be separated.<br /><br />Unikitty's tail is a bit bizarre, but having attempted to create a brick-built alternative for my Robokitty (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aanchir/11341369374/), I know that a really shapely alternative is not really possible with existing pieces. Perhaps the new piece could have been designed with more versatile uses in mind (perhaps as a simple 1x2x1 dome piece with a traditional 1x1 brick attached underneath for the tip of the tail), but I have no doubt that a new part of some kind was necessary.<br /><br />One feature of the tail that would not have been possible with existing bricks is the groove underneath, which allows it to be mounted on Unikitty at irregular angles, rather than being limited to 90-degree intervals.<br /><br />In any case, Unikitty is one of my favorite new characters from the LEGO Movie. She's just so very DIFFERENT than anything the LEGO Group has ever released previously, and with her drop-dead-adorable appearance and attitude, she's a welcome addition to the LEGO universe. I'm glad there are going to be so many different variants, especially Astro-Kitty from Benny's Spaceship! Spaceship! SPACESHIP!<br /><br />Overall, this set is definitely on my family's wish list, and really highlights a lot of what makes the LEGO Movie equal parts epic and hilarious.Aanchirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04758261805365974871noreply@blogger.com