Last minute change in design...

[yellost]

I was just skimming through my LEGO catalogue when I noticed something rather weird : some of the models shown in it are not the actual models you get when you buy them. And even weirder, sometimes, the changes don't actually make sense (well, in my opinion at least). The example I have in mind right now concerns the Imperial Landing Craft. In the catalogue, they show it like this :

Now, I grant you, the difference really isn't obvious at first glance. But if you look more closely, you might notice this :

See better, now?

And then there is this too :

while the final design of the cocpit (not sure of the spelling, here...) is like this :

and of the whole thing like this :

Now, my question is, why the late change, even more when it's such a few thing. An why I beleive it doesn't make sense is because as a curiosity, I tried the previous design and guess what : the attachement is much sturdier that way and it takes even less pieces to do it !!! 8 1x1 pieces with that round hole thingy on the side, compared to 12 1x1 pieces with a pincer.

And then, I believe the pilot console looks a bit more detailed in the first version as well. So wht did they remove those? I believe that if we add the pieces from the console to the 8 pieces from the top, we get 12, which is the amount of little pincers we have instead...

PS: all the pictures come from the S@H website except the last one which comes from dunamis review. (you can see it there : Photo Review of 7659 Imperial Landing Craft )

[ApophisV]

I think its a good guess to say that there are two reasons for thise changes:

a) Most of the catalogues (including and especially those for sellers at the (toy) stores) are printed months before the release of the actual set and therefore often only prototypes.

b) TLC often can save a lot of money by changing subtle details. Maybe the black 1x2 grille in the cockpit would have to go 2 meters more way between the machine that produced it and the other one that puts in in the plastic bags than the 1x2 plate with one stud had. Not a big deal, maybe 1/100 ct cheaper this way (or whatever, have no idea about those things), but summing it up for all those many, many sets that are produced there comes together a nice amount of money you could afford some UCS Millenium Falcons for! ;-)

[xenologer]

I have no idea,

but maybe... the gray clip pieces are more commonly used than the white round pieces?

perhaps theres another set that uses the clip ones, so by switching they can have two products share the same moulding machine on a factory floor? saves cost...

Im pretty sure this is true especially for the case of slight color changes; ever notice a bunch of sets will tend to use the same odd part in the same color if they came out near the same time?

another thought:

perhaps the method used in the prototype, with the white round headlight pieces used to join handlebar pieces was rejected by their 'illegal building methods' comittee?

I've always found that particular connection to be rather... 'close' looking, it may not truly fit

[Zaktan of the Shadows]

Thats strange... I wonder why taht happend.

-ZotS