Where's the BLUE?

[gmshades]

Just like the topic says, where are all the blue kits? Looking through my collection of spare parts, all I see is black, grey, red, and yellow. The 2012 trucks have red frames with black bodies. A red plane. Why couldn't either the tow truck or log truck be blue? Most of my mocs are black cause that's all I have in variety. I can't believe kids don't like blue (if they get to pick the color of models during testing.)

Yes, it's nice to see orange in the mix. But I want huge blue kits!! Who's with me!?

[dhc6twinotter]

I'm with you. I'd like to see more blue Technic sets. Green would be even better.

[allanp]

I'de also like to see large blue kits, as well as large white kits (8480 :wub: ) Imagine a large dark blue or white supercar! OMG!

[gmshades]

I'de also like to see large blue kits, as well as large white kits (8480 :wub: ) Imagine a large dark blue or white supercar! OMG!

I'm not into the supercars, although 8880 was a great experience. But if they made a blue one, I would buy at least 2.

[Meatman]

Blue would be awesome! It seems as this has been a year that has seen a nice return of Black elements. 9395, 9397, 9398

[Blakbird]

Yes, it's nice to see orange in the mix. But I want huge blue kits!! Who's with me!?

Blue has been pretty rare all right, but not as rare as you might think. Here are all the blue sets I could find from the last 35 years. Even in the case of these, blue is often only a minor color and not the main color. The most recent of these is from 2009. The really rare color is green with only a handful of sets ever. Orange is the new green!

I'd also like to see large blue kits, as well as large white kits (8480 :wub: ) Imagine a large dark blue or white supercar! OMG!

You mean like this? This is a render of a potential blue/white version of Nathanael Kuipers' supercar. It uses the parts from the Williams F1 racer, but not all of the parts shown here actually exist.

I'm not into the supercars, although 8880 was a great experience. But if they made a blue one, I would buy at least 2.

It would look like this!

Crowkillers has tried blue years ago, but obviously finding parts is a problem.

Although the original was not blue, I built Grazi's monster truck in blue and love the results. Because of the relative rarity, anything in blue really stands out on the shelf.

If anyone is curious about what one of their favorite sets might look like in blue, I could probably render it without much trouble.

[The Joker1]

Thanks for that post Blakbird I didn't theink there was anywhere near that many blue peices in sets. Though I would like to see more aswell

Edited April 20, 2012 by The Joker1

[DLuders]

On this Rebrickable.com webpage, Technicmad (Nathan Thom) has this "pie chart" showing the Lego Technic parts Color Distribution:

[Erik Leppen]

Technic should have a much wider color variation in general. Not just blue, but white, green, orange, dark blue, tan, brown... I mean, we have seen loads of weird colors no one needs just for Friends and we're at about 50 Lego colors in total. Why is Technic left behind so much? Especially since a lot of parts do exist in blue and white. Why aren't they used? Are Technic models in McDonalds colors because those make people hasty and hungry?

Also I think there's way too much black and gray. That there's black in the unimog frame is understandable. But I think smaller sets, like the recent quad or snowmobile shouldn't have black or gray everywhere. But yes, there should be more blue and more white. Espeically in flagship sets. I applaud that 8071 is white, but all recent blue and white sets are small sets. Why? (Lego Ambassadors, could you ask TLG about this?)

Thanks to Blakbird for posting a list of blue sets. I expect the list of white sets to be smaller.

Also please note that in the circle diagram above, most of the blue is comprised by pins... So that is not very accurate ;)

[dhc6twinotter]

Also please note that in the circle diagram above, most of the blue is comprised by pins... So that is not very accurate ;)

Thanks for pointing that out. I was wondering why the blue pie slice was so large, but I didn't think about the blue pins being counted.

[Splat]

As someone that only come out of my dark-ages a few years ago, I am actually thankful that there have only been a few colours used. It means that I have been able to build up a collection of pieces that can be used to make MOCs with a decent colour scheme, and not a patchwork of different colours.

At the moment I can only use red, yellow or black, but at least I know I can get (most) pieces that I need in these colours. I'm sure I'll get tired of using these colours and wish for more colours soon enough though.

I just wish that when TLG introduce a new colour (such as blue, orange, green, or white) that they would release all of the major pieces in that colour (panels, beams, angle connectors, flexible axles, etc). That way you could make one of the great MOC supercars in the new colour straight away.

[PlaneCrazy]

I have most of the studded BLUE sets shown and one thing you notice is the blue has a tendency to discolour. Maybe due to this Lego avoids colours with known problems.

Quality issues may not be a problem now days with the studless components.

I do like the Dragster in my collection, the white and blue togeather really stands out as different.

You have my vote for more Green, Blue and White sets.

Jamie

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

Yes, I agree on voting for more studless blue, green and white. But more orange would be very welcome as well.

[DarkShadow73]

Last one that was notable in blue was the 8435 4WD from 2005 and the small dump truck (8415)...

Just like the topic says, where are all the blue kits? Looking through my collection of spare parts, all I see is black, grey, red, and yellow. The 2012 trucks have red frames with black bodies. A red plane. Why couldn't either the tow truck or log truck be blue? Most of my mocs are black cause that's all I have in variety. I can't believe kids don't like blue (if they get to pick the color of models during testing.)

Yes, it's nice to see orange in the mix. But I want huge blue kits!! Who's with me!?

[KEvron]

two words: bean counting.

KEvron

[Erik Leppen]

two words: bean counting.

What do you mean?

[DLuders]

In the USA and Canada, the term "Bean Counting" means that accountants are worrying about a company's profits ("beans" instead of Dollars).

[technicmad]

Also please note that in the circle diagram above, most of the blue is comprised by pins... So that is not very accurate ;)

Actually, I just took a look and was going to make a graph with the pins excluded but the ratios didn't change very much. Overall black, blue and grays shrank in overall usage but there are still hundreds of blue parts such as:

These poor guys get forgotten

[KEvron]

What do you mean?

the more colors, the more seperate production runs and storage space required.

These poor guys get forgotten

it kills me that tlc only produced two sets which called for the 1x2, two-hole brick in blue ; the motorcycle set had only one piece, and the other set was a promotional, available only at legoland anaheim. any bricklinker who's got them in bulk is asking well over $1 per piece.

KEvron

Edited April 24, 2012 by KEvron

[nychase]

the more colors, the more seperate production runs and storage space required.

it kills me that tlc only produced two sets which called for the 1x2, two-hole brick in blue ; the motorcycle set had only one piece, and the other set was a promotional, available only at legoland anaheim. any bricklinker who's got them in bulk is asking well over $1 per piece.

KEvron

There are worse offenses out there with the $1 per piece catagory. 3713 in black () are ridiculously hard to find and buy and are in the 1 dollar range to get any decent quantity. And add to that the fact that near every MOC uses them.

Then again, finding that same part in blue is even harder to find.

[KEvron]

There are worse offenses

hey, at least when your prefered elements were released there were MORE THAN JUST ONE IN THE SET!!1!

i'm sorry, i don't mean to vent on you. it's just...of all the frizzle fraggin rommlefrazzits...

KEvron

Edited April 25, 2012 by KEvron

[Erik Leppen]

Actually, I just took a look and was going to make a graph with the pins excluded but the ratios didn't change very much. Overall black, blue and grays shrank in overall usage but there are still hundreds of blue parts such as:

These poor guys get forgotten

Oh, you're counting over all the years? How would the diagram change if you'd only count the studless era? (and then exclude color-coded parts like pins, axles and gears).

Edit: only do that if it's a few mouse clicks. Please don't spend a lot of time on a simple question like mine ;)

By the way, there has been lime for a while (8649, 8256, 8291, 8284, 8274, 8249). Why is its use discontinued? (I'm SO glad I have two Nitro Menaces )

Edited April 25, 2012 by Erik Leppen

[technicmad]

Oh, you're counting over all the years? How would the diagram change if you'd only count the studless era? (and then exclude color-coded parts like pins, axles and gears).

Edit: only do that if it's a few mouse clicks. Please don't spend a lot of time on a simple question like mine ;)

By the way, there has been lime for a while (8649, 8256, 8291, 8284, 8274, 8249). Why is its use discontinued? (I'm SO glad I have two Nitro Menaces )

(EDIT: oops was originally backwards) Querying the data is easy so here's the top 10 results from all Technic sets 1992 or later and excluding axles and pins:

Color	Total Parts
Black	21908
Light Gray	13109
Light Bluish Gray	7621
Yellow	6283
Red	5330
Dark Bluish Gray	2615
White	2056
Blue	2008
Dark Gray	601
Dark Turquoise	521

I'd love to allow ad-hoc queries like this on Rebrickable, so your simple question can be answered just as simply :) If anyone is interested in helping me out let me know!

Edited April 26, 2012 by technicmad

[Crtlego]

At the moment I can only use red, yellow or black, but at least I know I can get (most) pieces that I need in these colours. I'm sure I'll get tired of using these colours and wish for more colours soon enough though.

I just wish that when TLG introduce a new colour (such as blue, orange, green, or white) that they would release all of the major pieces in that colour (panels, beams, angle connectors, flexible axles, etc). That way you could make one of the great MOC supercars in the new colour straight away.

I share the same problem and hopes that you do.

[DarkShadow73]

I indeed forgot about the 8273 and 8052...but still no huge models in blue, I do wish they would gear away from the standard red/black/yellow colors and make a large model all in blue, New Holland construction equipment is mostly blue colored, wouldn't mind seeing a Front-End Loader or new Backhoe Loader in the blue, that would be really cool, another thing would a medium-large size (not as big as the 8043) excavator in blue or even orange...

Last one that was notable in blue was the 8435 4WD from 2005 and the small dump truck (8415)...

One thing I wish they would produce is a semi with a flatbed trailer all in blue, or better yet a low boy for loading construction equipment. I attempted to modify 8063's trailer into a low-boy, just didn't work, I lowered it and put ramps on the back but I'm not a great modder or MOC'er...

@Erik - I have 3 Nitro Menaces and have midnight blue paint for plastic, I'm going to 'attempt' to paint it that color, the others I will leave lime color, but paint the rims black and crimson red...I'm a good painter, used to work in a body shop and painted ABS plastic bumper covers, so hopefully it will work, at least if I wreck the one I plan to paint in blue, I still have 2 others...

Oh, you're counting over all the years? How would the diagram change if you'd only count the studless era? (and then exclude color-coded parts like pins, axles and gears).

Edit: only do that if it's a few mouse clicks. Please don't spend a lot of time on a simple question like mine ;)

By the way, there has been lime for a while (8649, 8256, 8291, 8284, 8274, 8249). Why is its use discontinued? (I'm SO glad I have two Nitro Menaces )