Lego and Big Parts: How necessary are they?

[Dharkan]

I hope this is the right place to open this topic, if not please feel free to move it.

Even though I am not a big fan of Lego City theme, I have always found big plane and ship parts really really annoying. I mean yes, almost every year we get many different new parts, but to be honest they never really make parts like that two kind of parts. I believe they are not suppose to be a part of Lego, they are so hideous.

So, what is your thoughts about that kind of big parts? Do you think they are a necessity? Can't Lego find a better replacement for them?

[emilstorm]

I tend to agree. I dont really build planes or boats, just to stick with your examples, but i have some of the hulls and wings from sets i have bought, and they just sit in a big bag in my basement. The floating boat hulls were great when i was little, and it's fun that they actually float, but if i wa to build a boat today they would not work for me. I don't like that you have to build a certain size, they are all to small, in my opinion, to build anything realistic. I like the pirate hulls, because they have a decent size and you can add as many modules as you need. As for the newer plane parts, I am not a fan, because every plane would pretty much be the same plane, only longer or shorter.

The same goes for most other "big parts", like raised base plates. I loved them when i was younger, because they give you a great hill to build on, but i wouldn't use them today, simply because i would have to adapt my MOC to the baseplate. I prefer it the other way around. I used to use a lot of the old 1x5x6 castle wall panels as well, even for city MOC's, but today i want it more realistic. The only parts like that i still use every now and then are the good old BURP'n'LURP's, because there shape is so irregular that you can easily disguise them in your rock and save a lot of bricks.

I don't think we will ever see Lego retire these kinds of parts completely. After all it is still a toy, and they work great for most kids. But having modular ship hulls like the pirate ones for modern ships would be awesome.

[CP5670]

I don't like the plane parts either, and especially hate that giant wing piece. I passed up some otherwise nice planes just because of that piece. It wastes a lot of room in the interior of the plane and constrains the dimensions of the plane, and is not easy to replace with something else. As you said, all planes become essentially the same plane.

The raised baseplates are somewhat more useful, although they do constrain a MOC to some degree as well.

[merman]

the boat parts, like the ones used for the Sea Cow are okay I guess...

But I agree, these big parts are awful. Looks like Playmobil...

[Faefrost]

It really really depends on the part and how versatile and functional it is. And sometimes the constraints of the parts can add a bit to the fun and creativity. "How to do what I want within this space" sort of thing. I love the pirate hull pieces. I like the larger floating hulls. I am not a fan of the smaller floating boat hulls however. And the zodiac boat hulls are just horribly overused.

The planes will depend. I like the fuselage pieces for the most part, except the tail sections. The wings and in most cases the specialized noses. Just no way to use them for anything else.

[fred67]

I think we all generally like LEGO to be more generic. When the parts get too big and specific, it's little different than a youth oriented plastic model.

But then, part of the LEGO target audience is younger, and I like to think the LEGO Group knows what they're doing.

At the same time, while I look at some of the newer train sets and don't like them for this very reason, TLG hasn't forgotten about us... there are more advanced trains, like the Maersk and Horizon Express, that don't rely on those big specialised pieces. A search for "plane" at LEGO S@H shows most of the planes are brick built (in both cases, there are some speciality pieces, like train wheels and propellers, but that's to be expected either way).

So, it's true, I see some sets I'm disappointed about, but I think they have a decent balance.

[Phrea]

Don't forget that LEGO City is more aimed towards younger children, and they like playing with their sets, so a boat with a hull that actually floats is a BIG plus for them, it ads so much playability, I know I used to love floating boats when I was young ! [i can't count the hours I played in bath with my floating ships]

Plus, bigger parts make the sets easier to build, another plus for the younger children: it is easy to build, and really looks the part !

Edited June 8, 2014 by Phrea

[dr_spock]

Big parts don't bother me all that much. They do make building some MOCs easier.

Propeller Rail Car par dr_spock_888, sur Flickr

[legobuttersstotch777]

They have there pros and cons but over all i will always love these pieces they remind me of being younger

[jonwil]

I dont mind the 6-wide parts like those seen in the photo above, they are quite useful for helicopters, airplanes and other things. The larger 8-wide airplane parts I dont like so much though, they are just too limited. Same with the large one-piece boat hulls (I have an orange one from a Coast Guard set that just sits there in my box of bits)

Edited June 24, 2014 by jonwil

[Blondie-Wan]

And the zodiac boat hulls are just horribly overused.

"Zodiac boat hulls?"

[Aanchir]

Floating boat hulls are as big as they are specifically so that they can float. There used to be six-wide, modular floating boat hulls, but there's only so much you can build onto a six-wide boat, plus there might be issues I'm not aware of like kids not attaching them together securely and the boats breaking apart in the water. Obviously this is a piece where the size is essential for the type of model it is designed for.

Pirate ship hull pieces are smaller and modular, and they cannot float, but are likewise designed for sturdiness (as has always been the case). Think of it this way — you're assembling a model as large as any LEGO building, but since it is not in fact a stationary building, it can't use a regular baseplate. Large boat hulls are essentially "baseplates" for boat models — they have to offer plenty of support both while building and playing with the model.

Likewise, the large plane pieces are designed primarily with sturdiness and shapeliness in mind. Are they absolutely necessary? No — you could conceivably build a plane just as large out of smaller parts. But it would not be optimized for kids to play with, so while it would be possible, it would not be nearly as effective.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Aanchir

[Zzz]

I am not really a fan of the huge wing, cockpit and hull pieces. But I liked the raised base plates. And I like the hull sections from the pirate ships. I guess I just dislike all the giant pieces that came after 2000.

And I can see the need for the floatable boat hull, and it's surely such a cool play feature, but once out of water, they are a tad too high in the water (you know what i mean..)