Are Chinese Bricks getting, Better?

[xboxtravis7992]

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I remember when Lego first started manufacturing bricks in China there was a lot of fan outrage. I recall petitions to try and get them to stop, and posts here and on Brickset about how to differentiate between a Chinese Fig and a Mexican/Danish Figure.

Fast forward a few years later... I have bought a few collectible minifigures of late, and noticed a lot of improvements from my first "China Figs." The molds now used don't have the distinct mold marks which previously marked the difference between China Figs and Other Figs. While the plastic still doesn't have that "sheen" the Danish stuff does, the colors seem to be more improved and much closer to the rest of Lego's production. The amount of accessories we have got from these figs is outstanding too. The printing is sharp too.

Is it time to give the China Figs a break? Do you feel there are still mistakes to be rectified, or do you feel Lego's China bricks are getting better?

[Dosenbrot]

It has improved, yes, but it is still noticable, especially because the chinese plastic is so "shiny".

Also the clutch power of certain pieces (hands or heads for example) differs very much with chinese Figures, they have higher chances of it being weak.

[paul_delahaye]

I notice sometimes the collectable minifigs, the part where the legs join onto the hips, are often a little too loose, also the clutch power between the feet and the baseplate. They don't seem as good as the figures included in the sets.

But then again, over the past few years, there have been several other pieces which have questionable quality in my opinion,

The minifig seat for example, https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4079&name=Minifig,%20Utensil%20Seat%202%20x%202&category=%5BMinifig,%20Utensil%5D#T=C for the last 5 - 10 years (since the seat had the small dimple in the back of it), the clutch power to hold the figure in the seat is very poor. He easily falls out, I think this has improved in the past year, maybe they have a new mold now?

Another part post 2000 which went downhill was the small lever http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4592c02#T=C it had almost zero clutch power to hold it onto a plate, in comparison, the early versions of this part 1985 onwards, had so much clutch power, you almost could not get them off another brick. Again, post the last couple of years, it appears LEGO has sorted this out as well.

I'm sure there are other examples where the quality of the bricks are sometimes iffy.

[anothergol]

What's with a lot of parts having sprue mark in the front, btw? How could someone engineer that?

The seat is probably the best example - does it really reduce costs make it injected by the top? I don't really get it.

Edited November 1, 2015 by anothergol

[Tezclatipoca]

It has improved, yes, but it is still noticable, especially because the chinese plastic is so "shiny".

Also the clutch power of certain pieces (hands or heads for example) differs very much with chinese Figures, they have higher chances of it being weak.

I Totally agree ! The main difference IMHO is the weakest clutch power of some pieces.

I had trouble with a head that wasn't well clutched in an other torso than its original one and was moving too freely ?! never saw that before !

[AAG Spitta - LEGO Channel]

The stuff on eBay from China (obviously a LEGO knockoff)... I just cant comprehend.

Bad quality

Bad printing

Most start at $.99 as a bidding war (Most get like 1 bid because there are so many. They have taken over)

So sad...

[xboxtravis7992]

^ We are all agreed on the low quality of knockoffs: but the real question is to answer is if official Lego made in China is getting better (as in the collectable minifigures)