General Part Discussion

[Zerobricks]

One thing I noticed with the wave of new sets in 2021 is that the following parts have been redesigned, so they can't accept a bar connection inside the pin anymore:

6628 - Ironic, because Lambo uses this connection for the brake calipers

33299 - not only is the pin a differtent shape, the added a literal wall inside the hole.

48989

These are the redesigned parts I saw so far. For me it's kind of sad they are removing functionality and usage...

 

[astyanax]

  On 1/6/2021 at 4:25 PM, Zerobricks said:

33299 - not only is the pin a different shape, the added a literal wall inside the hole.

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I find this change the most infuriating. Pushing a bar through the pin is truly my #1 usage of this part -- it holds the bar very securely, which I've found very useful in many scenarios.

Fortunately, the new version received a new part number (61408), which is treated separately on BrickLink.

[chlego]

  On 1/6/2021 at 4:25 PM, Zerobricks said:

6628 - Ironic, because Lambo uses this connection for the brake calipers

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What did they change on that one?

[LvdH]

  On 1/6/2021 at 5:36 PM, chlego said:

What did they change on that one?

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The insides of the pin are more square, so bar shaped pieces don't fit inside anymore.

[howitzer]

I'm thoroughly annoyed by these design changes concerning bars inside pins, as the older design allowed bar to be used with liftarm to remove the pins. Sometimes in tight spaces this would be a very useful feature but only the black 2L pins and blue 2L axle-pins allow this currently.

[astyanax]

  On 1/6/2021 at 6:17 PM, howitzer said:

but only the black 2L pins

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Hasn't always been this way. I have 100s of black 2L pins from the early '90s mixed with recent black pins. You can't push a bar into an old pin..... Whenever I intend to use bars, I need to select my black pins carefully.

Edited January 6, 2021 by astyanax
typo

[howitzer]

  On 1/6/2021 at 7:45 PM, astyanax said:

Hasn't always been this way. I have 100s of black 2L pins from the early '90s mixed with recent black pins. You can't push a bar into an old pin..... Whenever I intend to use bars, I need to select my black pins carefully.

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Yeah, you couldn't push pin through them, but you could still insert bar's end in the pin to help with extracting the pin from another part. This was especially useful with the first iteration of pins (from 1988 or so) as they were horribly tight and sometimes impossible to separate with fingers only.

[TechnicRCRacer]

I browse are Rebrickable often and there have been so many Technic pieces labeled as “rare” because they are a new variant to prevent inserting a bar (called squared pin holes). LEGO has been going crazy squaring the pin holes on many parts and I don’t understand why. 

[Void_S]

  On 1/7/2021 at 1:45 AM, TechnicRCRacer said:

I browse are Rebrickable often and there have been so many Technic pieces labeled as “rare” because they are a new variant to prevent inserting a bar (called squared pin holes). LEGO has been going crazy squaring the pin holes on many parts and I don’t understand why. 

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Because the new shape is additionally reinforced. I can't say nothing about the pin-mounted parts but vanilla pins (2L, with slot and friction sides) from 2010-2020 cracks so easily, so possibly TLG decided to reinforce the "pin" shape everywhere.

[TechnicRCRacer]

  On 1/7/2021 at 9:44 AM, Void_S said:

but vanilla pins (2L, with slot and friction sides) from 2010-2020 cracks so easily,

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I’ve had only one pin ever break, and it was the blue 3L reinforced one.  I still find it odd because in the 2021 Senna GTR set, the taillights are bars pushed into pins. 

[howitzer]

  On 1/7/2021 at 3:34 PM, TechnicRCRacer said:

I’ve had only one pin ever break, and it was the blue 3L reinforced one.  I still find it odd because in the 2021 Senna GTR set, the taillights are bars pushed into pins. 

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Maybe this is a similar case to the bushing-type axle holders breaking? Those which for some people seem to break constantly and for others almost never.

[TechnicRCRacer]

  On 1/7/2021 at 7:15 PM, howitzer said:

Maybe this is a similar case to the bushing-type axle holders breaking? Those which for some people seem to break constantly and for others almost never.

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Mine break constantly but are still usable, sometimes they completely disintegrate. I would rather have the axle holders redesigned than the pins.

[Lira_Bricks]

Can you use Technic, Pin 1/2 instead of the other pins? Or are they going to put walls in those pins too...?

I really do not like those walls in the pins, why would they do that :(

 

As for why it happens more to some than to others, maybe something like temperature or climate?

[johnnym]

  On 1/6/2021 at 3:33 PM, Thirdwigg said:

Some, though not all, of the new 2021 technic parts are now available on Bricks and Pieces. Some of the panels are still not available, but, for instance, the tires from 42124 and 42122 are available. 

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I checked today and there it reads (not sure if that's only the case for Germany, though):

  Quote

Bricks & Pieces purchases are taking about 5-7 weeks to be delivered. We’ll send you an email once your order is on its way!

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Wat?!! A few days ago the tyres weren't available and now that they are available delivery takes up to nearly two months?

[Thirdwigg]

@johnnym sorry about that. I check daily after the new sets are available and buy right when they are. For you, I hope they are quicker, but you better get your order in. Who knows how long my will take. 

[2GodBDGlory]

  On 1/6/2021 at 11:23 AM, Jockos said:

What do you think, seeing the ever-growing piece numbers at other themes (Colosseum 9000+, rumoured Death Star with 11000+), will Technic get the same treatment from TLG? And if yes, would that mean the introduction of bigger wheel hubs for bigger cars (e.g. 1:6 scale)?

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Honestly, 1:6 cars would be too massive I think. I have personally felt constrained by 1:8 size limitations, but by building supercars with the 94mm truck tires I achieved about 1:7, which was far bigger than 1:8. I see no need for 1:6, even for extremely complicated fan models, but 1:7 supercar tires would be intriguing! (By the way, the rear tire of the Harley Davidson has decent proportions to be the tire of a 1:7 sports car)

  On 1/6/2021 at 4:25 PM, Zerobricks said:

One thing I noticed with the wave of new sets in 2021 is that the following parts have been redesigned, so they can't accept a bar connection inside the pin anymore:

6628 - Ironic, because Lambo uses this connection for the brake calipers

 

33299 - not only is the pin a differtent shape, the added a literal wall inside the hole.

 

48989

 

These are the redesigned parts I saw so far. For me it's kind of sad they are removing functionality and usage...

 

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'Tis a shame. Fortunately, the loss of functionality will only make a major difference to a relatively small number of "serious" fans, who can afford to seek out the old designs.

[zoo]

With some clever additions to the parts catalogue I see no need for larger scale than the current 1:8 for the super cars. Should be plenty of room to fit all kinds of functions into a car model that size. Not to mention the current super cars take up more than enough room when trying to put them on a shelf.

[LvdH]

  On 1/7/2021 at 9:01 PM, johnnym said:

Wat?!! A few days ago the tyres weren't available and now that they are available delivery takes up to nearly two months?

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It has been hit and miss for my orders. I have had one that shipped within a week and arrived the next week but I've also had to wait a month for it to be shipped. The message has been there for months, it isn't something that just showed up randomly. 

[johnnym]

  On 1/7/2021 at 10:53 PM, LvdH said:

The message has been there for months, it isn't something that just showed up randomly. 

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Well, not for me, I saw that exact message today for the first time. But if it was there for you since months and your orders arrived with highly variable delivery time during that time frame, I assume it's just bogus then.

[LvdH]

  On 1/7/2021 at 10:57 PM, johnnym said:

Well, not for me, I saw that exact message today for the first time. But if it was there for you since months and your orders arrived with highly variable delivery time during that time frame, I assume it's just bogus then.

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I've seen it since around August, I believe. And to be honest it didn't show all the time, it went on and off. But I didn't notice any change in delivery time, before and after (or during, I guess) covid. That one order that shipped after a week was in October, it was a pretty big one too. I was really surprised how fast they shipped it out, because that's the first and only time that has happened to me.

[msk6003]

  On 1/6/2021 at 4:25 PM, Zerobricks said:

48989

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I buy new skid roader yesterday.

And while building, I find body part of this is shiny but pin part is not shiny. I don't know why TLG change like this.

[TechnicRCRacer]

The front landing gear frame piece in 42127 Race Jet is now extremely glossy instead of matte texture, no idea why.

[DrJB]

I have one question for the Technic Parts Experts :)

Today we have a multitude of tools when searching for parts. One of the best sites (to me) out there is peeron.com, as it offers, for any given part, all available colors and what year they were produced. I have not found such tool on other sites. Yes, the information is there, but a bit difficult (requires many clicks) to extract. For example I'm looking for all available colors for the various angled connectors. Anyone knows an easy way to obtain/compile such information?

Here is a sample page from peeron.com http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/32015 

One more question. Any way to tell whether these are genuine lego parts? It's on aliexpress so, I have my doubts

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001697480769.html?src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=494-037-6276&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&&albagn=888888&albcp=9765961330&albag=100795971798&trgt=893380455986&crea=en1005001697480769&netw=u&device=c&albpg=893380455986&albpd=en1005001697480769&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6MrQgj10Jt5S67XsqtZpE5SKiEzbNr8g3AQDgIQ69L-um34FVVZlrBoCXA8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

By the same token, that website offers metallic cardans, that appear sturdier than the original Lego-branded ones.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001253321277.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000060.2.5d9045e122wMFF&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.169870.0&scm_id=1007.13339.169870.0&scm-url=1007.13339.169870.0&pvid=5e0882c1-54b7-47f5-b253-3675011dda88&_t=gps-id:pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller,scm-url:1007.13339.169870.0,pvid:5e0882c1-54b7-47f5-b253-3675011dda88,tpp_buckets:668%230%23131923%236_668%23888%233325%237_668%232846%238113%231998_668%232717%237567%23917_668%231000022185%231000066058%230_668%233468%2315608%23160 

Ok, should stop 'promoting' non-lego stuff.

 

 

Edited January 8, 2021 by DrJB

[Jurss]

Isn't the same on bricklink.com, rebrickable.com?

[DrJB]

Yes, the same basic information is there, but on the page I shared, all the info is tabulated in a single table, near the bottom right .. very concise and easy to have lots of information in one shot.