'Glass' in Technic Models

[DrJB]

The use of Trans-Clear parts is wide-spread in many themes except Technic. Of course, headlights do not qualify.

I was wondering how would fellow AFOLs feel about Trans-Clear parts to enhance styling. The first example that comes to mind is Conchas's 'Dune-Chaser', then there was a TC6 car entry (cannot find it now) where one of the fenders was made with Trans-Clear.

Few years ago, when Technic was primarily about replicating 'functions', a thread like this one would make no sense. However, in recent days where there is a big emphasis on styling 'form & function', this appears relevant.

What's YOUR take? Is there a need for Technic Trans-Clear and Glass parts?

PS. I'm aware of the here-and-there parts such as the lift-arms in Star-Wars (below), but I would not call those a 'respectable' Technic assortment.

Edited February 11, 2015 by DrJB

[D3K]

I've used trans-red liftarms to great effect for the rear lights of car MOCs, other than that, not so much. I don't own any trans-clear Technic parts though.

As for windows, I think it works very well in most cases to just leave things "open", as the variety of scale and form of Technic vehicle sets would make it hard to standardize "Technic window parts"

[5imon]

The problem I see is size. Most windscreens and other transparent parts are just too small for the majority of technic models. Then it would have to be stacked windscreens or even bricks / slopes. And gone is the transparency. So for me it seems the better solution to just leave holes.

An additional point might be the weight that is added by brick built windows.

[Saberwing40k]

It might be nice to have transparent Technic panels, but I'm not sure how well that would work. If you're not worried about adding some non-Lego stuff, then you could get some thin, transparent plastic, and cut that to size, kinda like how the solar panels are made in 7471.

[Tommy Styrvoky]

If you want plastistruct makes sheets of transparent acrylic in different thicknesses, the acrylic could easily be cut to proper shape, and it could be bonded to lego pieces with a modeling cement.

[Blakbird]

Technic parts don't work very well in clear for a number of reasons. Firstly, there are a lot of internal details in most Technic parts, so even if the material is transparent there is so much refraction that you really can't see through them. Secondly, transparent parts use a different kind of plastic which is less elastic and therefore harder to install pins.

Even modern Technic sets are still full of holes, so I'm not sure how much "glass" would add to the appearance. Model Team sets are another story. For example, I love the glass cabin in M_longer's excavator:

[braker23]

Honestly, having fully transparent panels, in all sizes, would not hurt at all, what do you think?

[Blakbird]

Honestly, having fully transparent panels, in all sizes, would not hurt at all, what do you think?

Technic panels are made of flexible plastic to be durable. Transparent parts are brittle. I don't think we'll see transparent panels.

[Erik Leppen]

Could anyone please name two recent Technic sets that would benefit from the same transparent part?

Adding windscreens to Technic vehicles would add a large part that I would consider a POOP (piece of other pieces) with a single purpose. They would suffer same problem with buckets and wheels.

Also, Technic (and the whole of Lego even) is still about suggesting a shape, rather than replicating it. An open rectangle suggests a window that's not actually there. In that sense, lego is akin to art. Art is also about suggesting things that are not actually there. What windscreens add to city trucks is that they have sides and if you'd leave them out you'd have to add the corners as separate parts, which would not work for small-scale cars. For large-scale cars, it's easier to build the corners, making a separate transparent windscreen part superfluous.

Creator cars, like some from the main Creator line a few years ago, and both Volkswagons and the Mini, show this.

Also, in my opinion a large transparent panel would be out of style given the looks of a Technic set. A crane arm also has holes that aren't there in reality. Technic is abstract. A windscreen doesn't fit the style, in my opinion.

Also it would drive set prices up.

So I hope they won't add them.

Edited February 12, 2015 by Erik Leppen