What do you do when the box art and instructions differ?

[SheepEater]

A good example of what I'm talking about is this set: 7733 Truck & Forklift. (But there are many others)

The yellow liquid containers' top lid are displayed on the box art (and on the photos on the back as well) as green on top of gray.

But the instructions make you build it as gray on top of green.

Me, whenever that choice happens, I ALWAYS choose the box art.

How about you?

[LegoCloneFanatic]

In my opinion I do it the way it is to my liking

[SheepEater]

I forgot to add that this doesn't necessarily apply to brick assembly, but to stickers, as well. 8285's large red stripes stickers on the sides of the truck is a good example: if you do it as per the instructions instead of the box art, it looks plain stupid IMHO.

Edited June 29, 2012 by SheepEater

[LegoCloneFanatic]

The gunship is a good example

[LEGOman273]

The gunship is a good example

Huh? Of what?

I personally will do whichever looks better imo. Or I will MOD it if I don't like either.

[Vindicare]

I go by the instructions.

Edit: I HATE the iPad keyboard. Just sayin'

Edited June 29, 2012 by Legocrazy81

[Artanis I]

I usually go by the instructions, not that it matters, but that's what I do. Sometimes images on the back of the box will be different to each other too. Often this sort of thing happens with minifigs. Pretty sure Boba Fett's cape is around both ways in the Desert Skiff box art.

An interesting one for those who go by the box is this: SW Republic Frigate has different pieces included than the box art shows. I think the image on the instruction booklet is the same as the box, but the instructions themselves use the pieces included in the set. You'd have to go to your spare parts to make it look like it does on the box!

[LEGOman273]

An interesting one for those who go by the box is this: SW Republic Frigate has different pieces included than the box art shows. I think the image on the instruction booklet is the same as the box, but the instructions themselves use the pieces included in the set. You'd have to go to your spare parts to make it look like it does on the box!

Which pieces are those?

[purpleparadox]

I'd go by whatever looks best. I don't really care what the "official" way to build a set is, I just want to build it in the way that makes it look and/or function best. I'm fine with making my own modifications to sets, so neither the box nor the instructions are necessarily the way to go. I just want an awesome looking set!

[sharky]

I seem to recall the brick wall stickers for the 4867 Hogwarts castle add on set are upside down in the instructions. I'd have to double check to see if I remember that correctly. I think the box art has it correct.

Edit:Nope, I was wrong. They are correct. Must have been thinking of some other set.

Edited June 29, 2012 by sharky

[just2good]

So much sets do this, but they're usually minor stuff. I just follow the instructions.

[Mr Benn]

IIRC the Pet Shop instructions missed out one of the window boxes that is shown on the front of the box, but you get all the pieces for it so I guess it was just a glitch with the instructions. Ultimately I just go with what looks nice :)

[Artanis I]

Which pieces are those?

Some slopes and stuff on the top, I will get specific after I check again later.

[CP5670]

The box often shows a pre-production version of the set, before it was fully released. The instructions usually show the production version with any last minute changes TLG made. There have been many cases of this in the past.

I use whichever version I like better, or something else entirely. Like purpleparadox, I change small things on official models to my liking all the time.

[allanp]

I go for whichever looks/works best. In the 8868 (see my avatar) instructions, a fairly critical pulley wheel turns from one size to another the very next page after it is implemented.

Edited July 1, 2012 by allanp

[BrickPicker]

Whatever you like. There is no wrong way in LEGO building.

[Puck]

Personally, I'd go by the instructions. The box art just doesn't seem like the thing to follow in my world. :)

[CP5670]

I go for whichever looks/works best. In the 8868 (see my avatar) instructions, a fairly critical pulley wheel turns from one size to another the very next page after it is implemented.

That was just the example I had in mind. If you look at the "compressor & pneumatic" feature logo, which was obviously based on this set, it uses the smaller pulleys as well.

[SheepEater]

Yup, 8868 is a good example. I always use the medium pulley (as per the box) - it makes the pneumatic functions go a little faster.

I'd like to add that the box art is always the same as the instruction cover art. So the instructions are actually contradicting themselves when there's an error.

Edited July 1, 2012 by SheepEater

[TeufelHund]

I usually follow the box art, particularly if there are minifig torsos mixed up in the instructions compared to the box on the basis that the box art is what attracted me to the set. Saying that, sometimes I make small modifications to a completed set on the basis that it just looks better/more logical to me to do it that way.

[Artanis I]

Which pieces are those?

Box art:

Inside the instructions:

The parts included follow the 2nd image. I believe the instruction version is more solid (less likely to come apart accidentally) and looks less blocky. All artwork on the box, actual photos in the instruction booklet and pictures on the website depict the first image version.

[LEGOman273]

I agree that the second pic looks better.

[LEGO Historian]

With TLG... differences between box art and instructions go back to the 1950s...

Here is an example of a 1960 700/0 large basic set.... what is on the box top HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RELATIONSHIP to what is in the instructions on the box top inside... or the contents.... this was the rule, rather than the exception 1949-65. (Image from my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide 1949-1990s)...