Potential Questions for LEGO Designers

[DrJB]

Question #1: I recall for the 8450 The Mission, the designer mentioned that they were 'forced' to use the 19L flex axles. Hence the question: Are specific parts introduced based on true needs or are there 'other' compelling reasons? If so, what are they? (e.g. too much stock of a specific part).

Question #2: There was a time where the color selection for any given part was all over the spectrum and that did not help production. Now that the new injection machines can color the parts on the spot, would we see a resurgence of new/more colors under the technic theme (this seems to be the trend).

[Blakbird]

Question 1: How would I go about getting more attention from the ladies?

[Jim]

Question 1: How would I go about getting more attention from the ladies?

The answer to that question probably doesn't involve a lot of LEGO

[Blakbird]

The answer to that question probably doesn't involve a lot of LEGO

Well that's likely my problem then.

[DrJB]

@ SR71 ... Show your 'feminine' side, by using lady colors in your builds (as you did on the GBC factory). One never knows.

Edited March 16, 2016 by DrJB

[allanp]

@ Blakbird

Well, you could take all your clothes off and ride a tricycle down the street with lit sparklers in your ears while whistling the theme tune to Dallas. That would get loads of attention!

Um, do we have any more questions for the designers?!

[THERIZE]

POWER FUNCTIONS

When and how are new power functions parts created? Why don't we have micromotors? Has there been sets that were cancelled because of the Power Functions limitations?

[Paul B Technic]

The answer to that question probably doesn't involve a lot of LEGO

Or maybe it does ;) At our expo's I always get a lot of attention from the mothers....

Will we ever see studded beams make a come back?

[BusterHaus]

This may have been answered before, but why do current PF and Mindstorms motor sizes start at Medium? Is this a marketing gimmick, or is the Small size intentionally left available in case Lego decides to produce a smaller motor?

Edited March 16, 2016 by BusterHaus

[deehtha]

@ Blakbird

Well, you could take all your clothes off and ride a tricycle down the street with lit sparklers in your ears while whistling the theme tune to Dallas. That would get loads of attention!

Um, do we have any more questions for the designers?!

It worked for me :-)

Why was the airport fire truck cancelled/delayed? Have other sets met a similar fate?

[Moz]

Does Lego have a giant automatic parts sorting machine to deal with the debris from designers, or do you have to take things apart and put them back in the right bin like us normal mortals?

Are you ever tempted to "go back in time" and build a set that only uses parts available 10 or 15 years ago?

Do designers have little internal contests to use parts in unusual ways? I'm thinking of specialised parts like the "Light Bluish Gray Technic, Pin Connector Block 1 x 5 x 3" which I have seen a couple of times outside the one thing it was designed to do.

(and in answer to "have other sets been cancelled"... yes, a few years ago a few lucky people/LUGs got piles of one set that was cancelled after production, without instructions or stickers. I suspect the pain of manually opening bags and sorting parts far exceeded their replacement cost, and melting them down would have been a waste)

[Jim]

Does Lego have a giant automatic parts sorting machine to deal with the debris from designers, or do you have to take things apart and put them back in the right bin like us normal mortals?

I can answer this one; they "throw the parts away". And before they do that, they stand on the model and crush it

Seriously; they recycle the prototypes they don't use. It's more expensive to sort the parts than too use new parts and recycle the old ones.

[februar88]

I know that managers from other entertainment businesses sometimes like to read community's opinion (vox populi) as the saying is "under the rose" (for example: Blizzard's managers said many times, that they often read several forums and especially they are interested in getting feedback from top-players for instance about current game balance).

So my questions are:

1) Do TLG employees like to read some fan-forums (comunity's FB public-pages etc)?

2) Is it usable to cry somewhere (ofc i mean "here" first of all) "i hate this bla-bla-bla, I want TLG to make it other way!"

Edited March 17, 2016 by februar88

[Jim]

1) Do TLG employees like to read some fan-forums (comunity's FB public-pages etc)?

2) Is it usable to cry somewhere (ofc i mean "here" first of all) "i hate this bla-bla-bla, I want TLG to make it other way!"

1) Yes, they do. Not sure how often and if they all do it, but I know they do.

2) We've seen things happening which might have been influenced by our cry

Although they probably won't admit it

[februar88]

Although they probably won't admit it

Nah, that's doesn't matter. I need the result :)

So ok, cause you've just answered, i will ask more:

"Is it usable to make some special section on that forum - lets say "OUR TEARS", where we will collect our most hated parts (steering rack for me ) and maybe ideas how to make them way better?"

Edited March 17, 2016 by februar88

[Jim]

"Is it usable to make some special section on that forum - lets say "OUR TEARS", where we will collect our most hated parts (steering rack for me )and maybe ideas how to make them way better?"

The General Part Discussion topic is perfectly suitable for this.

[DrJB]

I can answer this one; they "throw the parts away". And before they do that, they stand on the model and crush it

Seriously; they recycle the prototypes they don't use. It's more expensive to sort the parts than too use new parts and recycle the old ones.

My dream summer job ... work at Lego for a summer, and pick-up / collect (save) all the trashed prototypes LOL

[Saberwing40k]

prepare for a long post, cause I have a lot of questions.

1. Why are certain new parts, like the fender pieces of 42039 and the sliding brackets on 42043 introduced in bright colors? To me, this is an odd design choice, and it lowers the usability of the parts, and they could have easily been introduced in different colors like black or gray, with minimal impact on the model. This is even more of a problem when the part ends up being a one set part.
   
2. Why is there so much color coding? Examples: the 3l axle with stop is brown, the new 16z clutch gear is red, even though it has no reason to be, blue 3L pins, red 2L axles, and others. This happens in no other line, and my opinion is that Technic builders should not need color coding. I feel that it helps nobody, and is a detriment to the look of the models.
   
3. Why are certain parts only one color? For instance, the Pneumatic Cylinders, Linear actuators, studless frames, and others are only available in one color, even if it would be useful to have them in other colors. The pneumatic cylinders, in particular, only really look good in yellow machines, and out of place otherwise. Gray and other color cylinders would be useful, or is this not possible due to how the cylinders are made? If production is subcontracted, that might make things difficult.
   
4. What determines color availability of a part?
   
5. What influences the color of a set?
   
6. Why do some sets have parts that should be a different color, but are not recolored? For instance, 42029 would have been better if the #3 angle connectors in the bumper were red instead of gray?
   
7. Why do sets rely on stickers for so much detail?
   
8. What determines the number of functions a set can have?
   
9. Approximately how much does motorization add to the cost of a set?
   
10. Some parts have odd design choices, like the sloppiness of the new wheel hubs. In addition, the front hubs are very difficult to integrate on driven axles. Currently, if the front hubs are used with a driven axle, the steering rods would clash with the differential, so it would have been better to have the mounting points be adjustable. What, if anything, influenced the final design?
    
11. What is taken into consideration for a new part to be added to the system?
    
12. Who names the sets? I ask because 42037 is not a very realistic Formula Off Roader, so that sounds like something marketing would come up with.
    
13. Not sure if it belongs, but why are parts packs no longer around?
    
14. Finally, what influenced the decision to make the Power Functions remote control system based on infrared? The Power Functions system is excellent in general, aside from the remote controls. It has poor range, no proportional control, and poor response time. Was it a simple cost decision, as in a radio based system would cost too much? Or was it how much radio systems are regulated? Or was it not possible to do the system RC at the time?
    

[RohanBeckett]

We all know they read this forum - and I bet they've all read this thread.. ;)

Must be SO hard working for the company, and not be able to comment publicly on some topics... I'm sure they all passed around some of the amazing builds in here, or also.. laughed at some of the silly questions/topics

my only wish is for you guys to publish 'advanced' instructions as PDF, or 3D Building Instructions.. for those that enjoy a challenge - minimum 20 pieces per step... and things like 'build a mirror image of this assembly', rather than have everything super simple

[februar88]

my only wish is for you guys to publish 'advanced' instructions as PDF, or 3D Building Instructions.. for those that enjoy a challenge - minimum 20 pieces per step... and things like 'build a mirror image of this assembly', rather than have everything super simple

Well this is double-edged sword. I don't want to think too much building lego sets. It's just a way to know new building techniques. I've built it, understand how does it work; now this set is only some amount of parts in my collection for MOCs.

If you want to have a challenge, just close blueprints and built MOC or try to rebuild some set using only your memory.

Edited March 18, 2016 by februar88

[RohanBeckett]

I guess my line of thinking is: keep the instructions as-is for paper based ones... but offer an online 'hard' version, for those who like an extra challenge

I already build-without-instructions, with small sets, like mini creator/mixel sets! ;) it's quite fun to see if you can figure it out....

[Erik Leppen]

Why are there no half-width liftarms with round holes at the ends and X holes in the middle; and hardly any beams whatsoever with X holes in the middle? Adding a single such part would tremendously increase the different options, probably more than the recent 5 x 1/2 liftarm with X hole ends.

Why do flex axles have lengths 7, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 19? What's the logic behind this sequence?

What determines when a part is no longer used, for example, the 24t crown gear or the 5 x 7 x 1/2 beam with quarter ellipse?

Why are there 4, 5 and 8 axles with stop and not other lengths?

Also, one thing that annoys me a bit is how the axle 5 with stop has the same color as the axle 3 with stud, and the axle 3 with stop has to be a new color. The current color coding scheme for axles with stops and studs is now very illogical. The 3 with stud should have been a different color because it is a different type part.

I understand the idea of having color coding for parts, but why are the colors so bright? I.e. the red 16t clutch gear. Why red? Why not something a bit more neutral, e.g. brown, or dark tan?

I understand the idea of having color coding for gears, but why do the colors make so little sense? Why is it that not e.g. simply all gears with round holes (16t and 20t) are the same color, all sliding gears (8t and worm) are the same color, etc.?

Why are there no 28t and 32t gears to complete the bunch, similarly to how 3, 6, 5, 7 and 9 axles have been introduced over the years?

Why are pneumatics yellow? Wouldn't the new pneumatic system have been the ideal opportunity to finally produce them in a neutral color, e.g. use the power function double-gray color scheme?

Why do Technic sets almost always have blue seats?

Why is it that most colored technic sets have only a few elements in their main color, almost all the rest being neutral colors? E.g. how the recent buggy only has a few lime parts, or how the go kart only has about 10 orange parts?

Why are there so many colors in Technic that have only a few parts available? (e.g. bright green)

Why are some pretty basic parts still missing in some pretty basic colors? (e.g. yellow 1x2x0.5 liftarm, yellow angle connector #2)

Why does the recent go kart use purple 3x13 panels? Wouldn't it make more sense to have that panel available in a more useful color, like yellow?

[Moz]

1. Why is there so much color coding? Examples: the 3l axle with stop is brown, the new 16z clutch gear is red, even though it has no reason to be, blue 3L pins, red 2L axles, and others. This happens in no other line, and my opinion is that Technic builders should not need color coding. I feel that it helps nobody, and is a detriment to the look of the models.
   

This. It seems to be getting worse, they appear to be going to red and yellow axles to fix the "is that grey or black" problem. I pay quite ridiculous prices for some rare parts because I am not a fan of the blue pins, but there are now so many that are never made in black, and there is no colour that they're all available in. Fortunately I think I have enough 3 long pin friction in black now. I also gave up a while ago and bought a pile of 12L axles and cut them into 5/7 and 3/9 lengths, because 5 long black axles sell for silly money but 7 and 9 long just don't exist. At least with axles I *can* cut them down.

But if TLG did decide to offer "parts packs" of black pins I would be thrilled. Expensively thrilled, but thrilled. Just sell me these parts in black in bags of 1000 already :)

[1974]

.. because 5 long black axles sell for silly money ..

You can buy +50 @ BL for 0.02EUR/each. That shoudln't blow ya budget, no?

Ahh, the joys of classic studded Techninc. Axles are black and everything else is light grey with a smattering of fancy dark grey here and there

[RohanBeckett]

Erik: Whoa! been saving up all these gripes for a while? ;)

I personally think the alternating black/lightgrey for even/odd axles was good enough... obviously the general population STILL has trouble with it, thus, them introducing new colours...

but I do agree.. it would be nice for them to 'fill in the missings' with stop axles, and other parts...