puddleglum Posted December 30, 2008 Over the last two days, I built my 7743 Police mobile command center. Two big quality problems:1) the 1x1 yellow plate with clip looks a lot different than the other yellow pieces (lighter and greener), but that's not a big deal. I noticed the same problem with that part (yellow 1x1 plate with clip) in the set Cool Cars (4939). The set includes 6 of these parts and they are all kind of a more mustard, almost greenish color like you describe. They must have had a bad batch of these around the time these sets were created. Interestingly, this exact part and color don't seem to be in any of the new 2009 sets (but I guess they're not all inventoried on BL yet). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CP5670 Posted December 30, 2008 I have also seen more parts quality slips recently. For example, various sized slopes are smooth on all sides, instead of having that rough texture on the angled part. This should change over the next year. I asked the TLG engineer at Brickfair about this and he said they're reverting to the rough slopes. Of course, it could be a while before their stock of smooth slopes actually runs out and we start getting the rough ones in actual sets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peppermint_M Posted December 30, 2008 You know, apart from the near constant changes in the grey shades ( which is nothing to do with quality at all) I have never encountered any problems with any LEGO bricks, plates or elements. In millions and millions of bricks manufactured, such few small instances are nothing to be too worried about. And LEGO is better than all competing brands and rip-offs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tohst Posted December 30, 2008 In the new attack shuttle sets, all 2 x 6 light grey plates were weird. They were just slightly lighter than the other light grey pieces. Sort of pearly if you know what I mean. The lego stamp on top of the studs was barely there as well. As if the plastic mix for these pieces wasn't quite right. Some of the other one-off quality control things haven't bothered me too much but this really seems like a slip in basic brick quality to me. Anyone else seeing similar control issues? -Tohst The least they could've done is thrown in a chrome vader if the normal pieces were inferior, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CP5670 Posted December 31, 2008 (edited) I took a few comparison pictures that show the main color problem, in case people don't know what some of us are talking about. (left one is mid 1990s or so and right one is 2008) In addition to yellow, this also affects white, red and orange, as noted by TLG themselves. They were just slightly lighter than the other light grey pieces. Sort of pearly if you know what I mean. The lego stamp on top of the studs was barely there as well. As if the plastic mix for these pieces wasn't quite right. Gray/blay is not one of the affected colors as far as I know. However, what you describe with the Lego logos is the same issue seen with the other colors. Edited December 31, 2008 by CP5670 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dfenz Posted December 31, 2008 Over the last two days, I built my 7743 Police mobile command center. Two big quality problems:2) Plate 2 x 2 with Wheel Holder: there are 6 of them on the truck; two just don't work! Wheels don't spin! I tried switching wides but nothing changed. Do you think I can ask for a replacement? I had the same problem on a crosstown craze set I opened yesterday. The wheels don't spin on one of the cars because the axel is slightly mishaped - its not perfectly round to accept the wheel smoothly. I'm not bothering putting a call in just for this piece but Lego customer service is the best around and they'll send you replacement parts if they are defective. David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Cobra Posted December 31, 2008 A couple of days ago, I filled an online request for replacements. They auto-replied they're sorry and they're sending me my parts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AgentRick Posted January 1, 2009 Anybody else seeing a problem in 2x2 round plates? Building my UCS falcon showed that some of them had the + in the middle misplaced so the rod wouldn't fit in normally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dadster Posted January 2, 2009 Two-Face...in the Indy sets?! Not really... Poor Willie. Now her acting career will never take off... "Scared side" face is okay, but now she has a "scarred side" as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Armendariz Posted January 2, 2009 That happens rarely never seen THAT kind of defect happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dadster Posted January 2, 2009 That happens rarely never seen THAT kind of defect happen. As far as I can remember, its the first defect of any kind I've ever gotten out of a set. On the plus side, she came with 2 tiaras... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lego Amaryl Posted January 2, 2009 I took a few comparison pictures that show the main color problem, in case people don't know what some of us are talking about. (left one is mid 1990s or so and right one is 2008) In addition to yellow, this also affects white, red and orange, as noted by TLG themselves. Gray/blay is not one of the affected colors as far as I know. However, what you describe with the Lego logos is the same issue seen with the other colors. I've noticed that the plastic looks different from old sets, it look more "transparent". This is more noticeable for light colours. In the same set you can find different bricks of the same colour made of the "old" plastic (they look more solid, with sharp borders) and of the "new" plastic. In the Model Town House I found that 1x10 bricks had a different shade of tan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
def Posted January 2, 2009 I got a 2006 Star Wars X-Wing set, and Luke's helmet had the paint 90% scratched off. I sent a request, and a free replacement arrived a week or two later, from Europe to Japan. I have no complaints with the Lego company whatsoever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CP5670 Posted January 2, 2009 (edited) I've noticed that the plastic looks different from old sets, it look more "transparent". This is more noticeable for light colours. In the same set you can find different bricks of the same colour made of the "old" plastic (they look more solid, with sharp borders) and of the "new" plastic.In the Model Town House I found that 1x10 bricks had a different shade of tan. Yes, this situation was common for a while. They still had stocks of the pre-2007 bricks left and bundled them alongside the newer bricks inside the same set. TLG claimed to have fixed yellow a few months ago in their manufacturing process, but I don't know what the new yellow looks like or whether it has actually started to appear in sets. I have not bought any recent sets with significant amounts of yellow. There hasn't been any update on the other affected colors, so I'm guessing those are still messed up. They say they hope to have everything fixed some time this year, so we'll wait and see. Edited January 2, 2009 by CP5670 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hewkii9 Posted January 3, 2009 Not really... Awesome! Say if you don't really want that defective part than could you consider sending it to me? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zarkan Posted January 3, 2009 Honestly, I must be one of the few who has not noticed any change in quality from earlier years. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough, or maybe it's because of my vision problems, but the quality seems fine to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thee Pirate Posted January 20, 2009 All the dark blue 1X4 bricks in my Market Street have a sort of swirl in them where it's a different color.. I only noticed it after the set was together, so I won't be taking it apart. Aside from that and some funky swirls in the new cannon, I don't have any color complaints with new Lego bricks. The only other issue I have is with a few Indy sets getting wrong heads. Two different Indys came with the Anakin face, and I got a grey haired mechanic's head in the Fight on the Flying Wing (instead of the advertised brown) I put it a CS request for the latter, but I still haven't heard back from Lego. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frogstudio Posted January 20, 2009 Today I received the whole Pirate line, and I must say I was shocked. Though the sets themselves are really great, the quality of the bricks is REALLY BAD. Al bricks came in a softer than usual kind of plastic, especially whites and light grays. White bricks were even a bit translucent, and some of the had a slightly yelllow hue. I'm REALLY concerned about this and is making me think wether I'll be buying other LEGO sets. I've compared the quality of the bricks with CLONE BRAND bricks, and, to my amazement, the clones were better!!!! (didn't even bother to check them against my old LEGO bricks, as it would be TOO SAD). Has other people who bought the Pirate line found the same issue? I would really like to know. On the other hand, I received Mediaval Market Village and the bricks, in this case, where of the usual quality, and the set itself must be the best LEGO set ever... :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
donneyboy Posted January 21, 2009 The only other issue I have is with a few Indy sets getting wrong heads. Two different Indys came with the Anakin face, and I got a grey haired mechanic's head in the Fight on the Flying Wing (instead of the advertised brown) Ya, that happened to me once, I bought the Jungle Cutter, and it came with two rebel trooper heads. also when I bought the General Grevious?'s starfighter in 2007, the cockpit was smoke, and white. the white was on the top part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thee Pirate Posted January 21, 2009 Ya, that happened to me once, I bought the Jungle Cutter, and it came with two rebel trooper heads. also when I bought the General Grevious?'s starfighter in 2007, the cockpit was smoke, and white. the white was on the top part. I only submitted a CS request for the brown haired mechanic, because quite frankly, I have enough Indys. The only set I don't have is the Shanghai chase one.... but I have two of the Akator Temple (leaving one MISB) and 4 of the Race for Stolen Treasure. I can use variety in my Indy heads.. but I really don't need 5 of the grey mustache soldiers. Haven't heard back from Lego, except for the auto generated response to my request. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skafte Posted January 21, 2009 In my Market Village, the reddish brown bricks have all kinds of colours. Well, they're reddish brown, but not the same reddish brown. I also noticed that some of the round 2 x 2 plates had the "+"-opening a little off center, as mentioned above, in the Troll Battle Wheel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JINZONINGEN73 Posted January 21, 2009 Also, some of the bricks don't seem to fit properly on others. For example, the bottom of a 1x6 brick had stud space too small to fit on top of other pieces, so when I tried attaching it, it slipped an cut my wrist. Lego is dangerous! I cut my thumb on a Bionicle Technic ball socket bar like that. I was pushing a ball in, then at the last second the things SNAPS, and my thumb slid forward onto the sharp protrusion. FUN! Really, Lego's quality is making me fear for them. The quality in the past 3 years has been steadily getting worse, but ALL the Bionicle sets I bought in 2008 had MANY parts that broke. See, not only did the quality of the plastic degrade, but they REDESIGNED the ball sockets into a BAD configuration! Reasons being: 1. They're thinner now. 2. The redesigned version doesn't let you put a 1x1 circular plate into the socket hole to make the connection's color look "solid"... which blows mightily for us mocers. Needless to say: Aaaaaand I even have more to do... but will wait awhile in fear of hitting whatever that magical "cut off" number I heard about is. Lego's said they're aware of the problem and that every year from this one forward will be better and better... but MAN it still blows that they remolded the functionality out of all the ball sockets. It's like they KNEW they were made of crappier plastic and tried to make them as single-use as possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deepwoods Posted January 21, 2009 I bought my Troll Assault Wagon last weekend and, to cut a long story short, after opening it found that one of the parts was... squashed? *wacko* ... X-O It appears that when the bag was sealed, the whip was melted into the seal, and nobody noticed it. I didn't even know this was possible, but it appears it is. I have of course since returned it, but it is a very weird occurrence, and probably doesn't happen often, if ever. Still, I thought it might be something you all might be interested to see. X-D Humm... I thought that was a pretty common occurance, a few years ago I purchased 100x 7779 Catwoman Pursuit sets & had 12 of them with this same problem. TLG will replace the part free if you call (& of course don't have another replacement request in the previous month) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Norro Posted January 21, 2009 Needless to say: That is just such a great image! I know the feeling. In 2002 I had only ever received one set with a missing part. Since then... God Bless, Nathan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JINZONINGEN73 Posted January 21, 2009 That is just such a great image! I know the feeling. In 2002 I had only ever received one set with a missing part. Since then...God Bless, Nathan Your 2002 sounds better than mine was. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
