Bought some Older sets

[xenologer]

as you may know I've come out of dark ages about a year ago now, so the majority of my sets are relatively new stuff (bley age?)

anyhow, I decided to buy some older sets off ebay since the new themes are kinda dry lately, and I notice something:

The Bricks are Different.

color aside, the older ones seem more sturdy

when I connect them there's a solid 'click' noise, while the new ones just silently slide together.

disconnecting them requires a brick seperator less I lose fingernails, new ones I just squeeze at the right angle and they pop apart.

stacks of old bricks align perfectly, new ones I sometimes have to flip bricks 180 because of subtly offcenter stud issues...

I also think the old ones might wear out less; I've got pocketscale models with rounded corners on the new bricks from rubbing in my pocket!

Ok, so it seems that there's been some change in plastic manufacture....

Well, I'm not going to cry over that, nothing to be done (tho I'll sign a petition if you have one)

BUT!

I now have a great dillema:

Do I mix my oldstyle bricks together with the newstyle ones? or keep them separated as an elite class of bricks for building only the most special of MOCs?

What do you guys do in this situation?

[snefroe]

i mix them

btw, you don't need a brick seperator. just put another plate on the one you're trying to get off and push both to one side. that saves your finger fingers quite a lot of misery

[gylman]

Yes, the older bricks had sharper edges, both at the corners and on the studs.

They make a "clickier" sound. They seem to grab slightly better.

They feel stiffer, just like you say.

Yellow, gray, and white will also practically always show some aging (yellow) due to UV exposure, although often it is subtle.

I am sure there are other differences. No doubt some fan has listed them extensively somewhere.

I mix them. It is already too hard to keep everything organized. To duplicate the filing system for old and new bricks..... OMG that woudl be crazy. I used to keep my old gray and bley separate, but even that got too much. I just lump them all, and when I build I choose the right colours.

[Brick Miner]

interesting topic, that i don't think has been discussed yet...

as for the "clicky" bricks and the "smooth" brick... i mix thoughs.

however, here is one example of "new" and "old" bricks that i DO keep separated...

the holes in the support bars... i don't like them. although it has no playability reason. its completely nostalgic for me... i remember the bricks and plates without the holes... so that is what i am used to seeing. i actually sell the ones with holes in the supports bars on BL :-D

ya, im weird *wacko*

- Brick Miner

[xwingyoda]

ya, im weird *wacko*

Loool, we all have our odd habits and quirks :-D

Personnaly I do mix my bricks. Having said that:

* I never mix old colors and new colors (It took me ages to sort those 4 bloody greys *wacko* )

* Crappy old bricks and parts do NOT go in my sorting (fortunatly I don't have a lot of those, only a couple from BL or Ebay)

Like Gyl mentionned, sorting is already a hassle and lot of work so I don't see the point of overdoing it for no real reason ;-)

*yoda*

[JINZONINGEN73]

I mix'em. When making mocs, I seem to have picked up the habit of checking every few hours with a mini (white LED) flashlight that emulates camera flash, so I can see where miscolored / recolored parts don't jive.

I don't find too many issues where old parts and new parts have a problem staying together (though those light bricks with the Exo-Force sets are WORTHLESS underneath, clicking to nothing).

I prefer the new Lego parts. The old plates WERE hard to separate... way too hard. I'm known for having lobster claw hands and even I could sit there grunting like I'm constipated only to have my thumb slide and get a red impression. :-D

The new plates keep together more than adequately I'd say. I've briefly messed with just about every Lego ripoff, and can say any brick from any era beats them all.

Color issues aside, there is no moc you could make in the 70's that can't be made with the bricks of today.

The strength is there, it's always been there, and that's what keeps Lego alive & thriving.

[natelite]

what is interesting is that i got a mixture of new and old bricks in the same set, 8877. some of the 1x4 dark grey bricks had hollow centers and others had solid centers. and like you said they dont align properly. i even dented one of the studs because i was pushing them too hard. not sure which one got busted. will check when i get home.

[KimT]

Jinzo says it all.

KimT X-D

[ImperialJohn]

what is interesting is that i got a mixture of new and old bricks in the same set, 8877. some of the 1x4 dark grey bricks had hollow centers and others had solid centers. and like you said they dont align properly.

Well - It is not a mix of new and old parts. It is a mix of new and old molds ;-)

I have talked with a guy at LEGO and I quote:

"The hollow studs are made to save material in the new molds!" But all molds are still in use 8-

[xwingyoda]

p.s. Another guy from LEGO told about some new sets that you all will like - But that it a secret for 2007->

p.p.s. And NO - I will never tell what that will be. You will find out soon enough.

p.p.p.s. Seriously, can all of you with info shut the hell up if you are not going to reveal anything, its more than annoying !! How many times do I have to say that seriously :-|

Please show some respect for other members and stop the bragging |-/

*yoda*

[gylman]

p.s. Another guy from LEGO told about some new sets that you all will like - But that it a secret for 2007->

p.p.s. And NO - I will never tell what that will be. You will find out soon enough.

That's the second time you've hinted about something.....

hmmm.... can you be bribed?

[dunamis]

p.s. Another guy from LEGO told about some new sets that you all will like - But that it a secret for 2007->

p.p.s. And NO - I will never tell what that will be. You will find out soon enough.

p.p.p.s. Seriously, can all of you with info shut the hell up if you are not going to reveal anything, its more than annoying !! How many times do I have to say that seriously :-|

Please show some respect for other members and stop the bragging |-/

*yoda*

I second that. Either tell us what you know or don't say anything. Yes, we will all find out soon enough, but it is quite frustrating to have people continue on and on about super-secret info that they know about but aren't going to tell us.

[ImperialJohn]

p.p.p.s. Seriously, can all of you with info shut the hell up if you are not going to reveal anything, its more than annoying !! How many times do I have to say that seriously :-|

Please show some respect for other members and stop the bragging |-/

*yoda*

My mistake. Sorry. Not a word more about this.