Design Inconsistencies

[Still Raindrop]

As I've been building my town, I've noticed that LEGO's design, particularly with cars, is pretty inconsistent--even for sets that were produced in the same year. There are the more minor things, like whether the headlights are trans-clear or trans-yellow (I prefer trans-clear, but one could argue that trans-clear represents a car with its headlights off and trans-yellow represents one with its headlights on, so I classify it as minor), but there are also bigger things. Take the cars, vans, and trucks from the City 2011 sets, for example:

The vehicles in 3366 Satellite Launch Pad, 4645 Harbor, 7286 Prisoner Transport, 7288 Mobile Police Unit, and, strangely enough, one of the two vehicles in 7498 Police Station all have doors; the other vehicle in 7498, as well as 3648 Police Chase, 3658 Police Helicopter, 3661 Bank & Money Transfer, 4643 Power Boat Transporter, and 7285 Police Dog Unit are all without doors.

Similarly, the vehicles in the Police Chase set, the Power Boat Transporter set, the Prisoner Transport set, and one of the two vehicles in Bank & Money Transfer and Mobile Police Unit all have side mirrors; the rest of the sets (as well as the second vehicle in Bank & Money Transfer and Mobile Police Unit) all contain vehicles without side mirrors.

How do you deal with this, as far as creating a unified aesthetic? I find it weird to have a modern car with doors and side mirrors driving next to one without either, so I modify all my vehicles to have both, if possible; If I can't do so, I try to make them at least have doors. What are your solutions? And why do you think LEGO is not more consistent with this?

[lightningtiger]

I guess it depends on the designer, what parts they have at hand while designing a set and of course - COST !

Yes, the almighty dollar - just look at the say 7993, a great servo exterior.....but interior 3 parts.....goodness, the Select shop from 1999 had a better interior !

One day, Lego might wake up and learn to be consistant.

Brick On !

[pinioncorp]

I personally hate trans-light blue as glass. Clear as glass and trans-black as tinted glass makes sense. Blue, however, looks out of place.

[lightningtiger]

I personally hate trans-light blue as glass. Clear as glass and trans-black as tinted glass makes sense. Blue, however, looks out of place.

I do see your point about the trans-blue windscreens, clear and smoke windscreen seem more realistic. The main problem with Lego City vehicles is the wheels/tyres, incorrect size for the vehicle shape and more so the overhang on 4 wide cars.

[Modulex Guy]

I personally hate trans-light blue as glass. Clear as glass and trans-black as tinted glass makes sense. Blue, however, looks out of place.

Did you ever take out or replace a window or windshield in a real car? Hold it up to clear plate glass and its suprising how much of a blue hue the glass is. I have no problem with trans-light blue as it does hold some reality.

[Vincent Kessels]

Actually, I find the City vehicles pretty consisted compared to Technic models.

Their scale is all over the place.

[Still Raindrop]

I used to be more bothered by the trans-light blue for glass, but I'm more OK with it; I have enough trans-black to use for most of my cars, and the ones that I use trans-light blue on actually look pretty good.

I've found a solution to the tire size/overhang problem by using these wheels with these tires; the mudguards still look a little too big, but it's a big improvement. I think it's funny that, in the one area where it would be better for LEGO to be inconsistent (it would be nice to have smaller mudguards and wheels for cars, bigger ones for vans, even larger ones for trucks, etc.), they use the exact same pieces no matter what the size of the car.