New Helmets?

[Dr Lucky]

Is it just me or are the 'standard' helmets in KK2 very slightly different than older ones? Old castle visors seem to fit a little too loosely on KK2 helmets, and KK2 visors seem to fit a little too tight on old helmets. Some are worse than others. The red visor sticks a little, but is usable, and the purple visor sticks even more. However, the green visor can barely move up and down if placed on an old helmet. It seems like the light blue and black visors barely even fit right on old helmets.

I'm not confused about the helmet types either. I'm not talking about the really old helmets that never really held visors, I mean the 'standard' helmet that Lego has used for 10 or 15 years now. I noticed this when I needed some black helmets for the new visors and tried to scavege from M-Tron and Blacktron II sets. The new visors don't fit on my old castle helments that had the original castle visors either, because those were the same part as in the space sets.

Has anyone else noticed this? Should these helms have a new part number?

[SuvieD]

It's not just you. I wondered about that as well. I wonder if they switched molds or possible had to have a new one made because the old one wore out.

[Cutty]

Same experience here!

I would prefer the new mold theory. The bad thing (well, for me) is: No KK2 helmets without applying force on old gray helmets...too bad.

Have a nice day,

Cutty

[Dr Lucky]

This isn't a 'new mold' issue. If it was a mold issue, it was due to a deliberate change. I actually work in the plastics/injection molding industry, and deal with exactly that sort of issue on a daily basis. Molds are precision made tools with tolerances measured in tenths of thousandths of an inch. ABS has enough give to accommodate a few tenths of a thou shift that might come in making a new mold that was to be a duplicate of the existing one. For what ever reason, this seems like it had to be an intentional shift.

Also, it is a universal shift. I tried it out with the white helmet from a new City Police set (The motorcycle cop set) and the KK2 visors fit great.

I really think this should have a new part number and stuff. I want to go on Bricklink and buy black helmets, but I want KK2 style helmets to use with the new visors. I have plenty of extra ones that I can't use with my new visors.

[blueandwhite]

Yes, this is annoying. There are actually three variations (that I know of) on this piece. The oldest two are slightly larger than the helmets now being used. The earlier two helmets have 'softer' edges, and seem slightly 'puffier. To discern the difference between each type, take a look at the stud-connection inside of each helmet.

The earliest design is a single undivided ring that attaches to a minifig head. This sticks better to the stud on a minifig head. Unfortuantely, the new visors are too tight, and scratch the helmet.

The follow-up design looks similar to the first design, however the connector ring has two gooves (one at the front, and one at the back of the helmet) in it. Again, the new visors are just too small.

The newest helmet is slightly smaller, and is easily recognized by its sharper contours. its connector ring is also divided by two grooves, however these grooves run side-to-side instead of front to back.

The first two helmets are essentially the same piece. The third helmet is distinctly different. Much like the old space helmets where they reinforced the bridge at the bottom of the helmet, the new helmets do not share the same dimensions as their larger predecessors. This means you need a new helmet for your KKII visors (could be a problem when buying 2nd hand).

Later.