10027 train shed: dark bluish gray?

[AlmightyArjen]

Hi guys,

A while ago I bought a 10027 train shed from a dutch 2nd hand website. This train shed had for the dark gray parts dark bluish gray parts and I thought that was normal. I thought it was odd that the set had the new dark gray colour and the old light gray colour. I just assumed that the old gray colours weren't replaced at the same time (that replacement took place during my dark ages). This week I got another 10027 train shed and that set had dark gray (old) parts! So I checked Bricklink and it turns out that according to Bricklink the (old) dark gray colour should be in the set.

So now raises the question: could it be that Lego sold both versions during the time it was for sale? Or did the seller of the first set rip me off by replacing all the dark gray parts with dark bluish gray parts? He did a great job though, even the 9V rails are dark bluish gray!

[Murdoch17]

The set was produced during the color swap's time-frame (2003-2004) and after (2004-2006-ish). So yes, it was both color types (old & new) at the same time, and / or one old and one new. Sometimes some part types were old, with some being new. LEGO only stores them according to part number / color in their warehouse, and even then they don't distinguish between some differences. (such as Mini-figure heads being, solid, hollow or having a hole)

So basically, old dark gray and new bluish gray parts of the same type could have been picked for the same set, and shipped together. (such as old gray 9V track, and new(er) 9V track)

Hope this helps!

[AlmightyArjen]

Ah yes, thanks. I guess there's nothing more I can do than replace the dark gray parts with dark bluish gray parts, since I want both sheds to be as one big shed. Well, Bricklink, here I come...

[dr_spock]

That is about the time LEGO was transitioning from the old light grey and old dark grey to the new light blue grey and dark blue grey. I had an UCS Star Destroyer that had new dark blue grey and old light grey. It is possible that some sets of that era started using the new greys as the supply of the old was used up.

[Redimus]

You could try mixing them, giving the build a bit more texture (bricks in real buildings are rarely all the same shade).

[davidmull]

Is there any differences in both boxes codes etc?

[Phoxtane]

Did they mix the two colors for the same pieces (1x1 pieces in both old gray and new gray, for example)? Or was it like all of the pieces of a certain type were the same color, but there was color mixing among all of the gray pieces (all 1x1s were old gray, all 1x2s were new gray, etc.)? Or was it just simply all of of gray pieces in the set were old gray or new gray?

[davidmull]

Iv got 2 sets misb. Don't know what's in what would like the older grey parts.

[AlmightyArjen]

Is there any differences in both boxes codes etc?

I don't have the boxes but I have both instructions. It turns out that both instructions have the same picture and it seems that the bricks there are dark bluish gray.

[derhisort]

It is possible that some sets of that era started using the new greys as the supply of the old was used up.

Edited June 2, 2015 by derhisort

[zephyr1934]

Is there any differences in both boxes codes etc?

Nope, typically the boxes were identical, lego just assumed the "small" change in color was completely unremarkable and they claim to have often made numerous small changes to the colors over the years prior, just not as drastic. So now we have "blay" and "redish brown".

It is possible that some sets of that era started using the new greys as the supply of the old was used up.

Yep, and as noted above, sometimes they would mix old and new of a given gray in the same set.

[AlmightyArjen]

That mixing in the same set doesn't sound like Lego: mostly they are pretty keen on quality issues. The difference between dark gray and blay are significant according to me.

[dr_spock]

The USC ISD set I had has new dark blue grey 10x2 plates but the other pieces are old dark grey. Those new dark blue grey plates are used internally for the structure that can't be seen on the outside.

I think as one gets older, it'll get harder to see the difference.

[zephyr1934]

That mixing in the same set doesn't sound like Lego: mostly they are pretty keen on quality issues. The difference between dark gray and blay are significant according to me.

You would think, but no, it is for real and the AFOL's were none too happy. That was about the same time that Lego stopped using "duplo" instead renaming it "Lego Explore". They were not making good decisions in those days.