Should flick fires be discontinued?

[Takanuinuva]

Since we have the 1x4 spring launcher. The 4x1 disk launcher and the various 1x1 stud shooters. Do Lego sets nowadays even need to use flick fire missiles?

I'm not saying the piece itself should stop being made. I'm just saying that the use of that part as a projectile should be phased out and replaced with the better launcher types Lego has made.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Takanuinuva

[Junior Shark]

An unequivocal yes.

[Mr Greeble]

They hurt my fingers whenever I try to use them...

[AmperZand]

I can understand why kids like them: they're a fun play feature. But as an AFOL, I've never cared for them and mod them out of sets I otherwise like. Here's an example of a TLG design that I modded to remove the FFMs (plus a few other small changes):

[BrickJagger]

They're basically gone now, I think that Lego got the message. The spring-loaded and disc launchers are a massive improvement.

[Artanis I]

The good thing about the flick-fire missiles was that I never shot myself in the eye with those. Seems like every time I put a set together I get a spring-loaded missile in the eye. And unlike the inference from the little picture in the booklet, it doesn't make crude oil come out of your other eye.

[BrickJagger]

And unlike the inference from the little picture in the booklet, it doesn't make crude oil come out of your other eye.

This deserves recognition.

[Andy D]

I don't think I have ver flicked a flick fire missle. I look at them as purely decorative, stay or go no difference.

Just MHO, YMMV

Andy D

[obsidianheart]

I liked them just fine, but I like the spring-loads, too.

[Phoxtane]

They never really worked properly for me; they either hurt my finger or got stuck halfway out whenever I tried to use them properly. Apparently the best way to use them is to not flick them with the tip of your finger, but to push on them quickly from the end instead. Still don't work properly though.

[kibosh]

I don't think I have ver flicked a flick fire missle. I look at them as purely decorative, stay or go no difference.

Just MHO, YMMV

Andy D

Yep. Who cares?

[drclark]

I don't like the spring launchers. Too easy to have a negligent discharge. Also, flick fire parts are useful and can built into other things whereas the spring launch parts are pretty much single purpose items...

[Master_Data]

They never worked, but they still look good on sets. Until they find a launcher that small to replace them (stud shooters don't count), they're here to stay.

[YellowCorvette]

The flick-fire missiles are ok and barely bother me at all. But I don't really like the 6 stud shooters. The range is sometimes worse than flick-fire missiles and the play value gets old really fast after you find out how ridiculous is it to reload the studs.

[legoguy1984]

True that they never worked but the parts as has been mentioned are still useful. The best use I saw for one was in the last Castle carriage where it shot the lock for the gate out. I personally have never liked them but do we need to replace them with something that shoots the smallest Lego piece? They work almost too well and I have been scared of just shooting them off as you never know if you will find the stud again. The longer projectiles are fine, just that the projectile is kind of a one trick pony and where you can always replace a stud the projectiles are not so easy, same goes for the new shooting crossbow that I think comes with Ultimate Aaron, specialised projectiles. I do prefer the non shooting guns just for the loss issue.I guess this is Lego's way of appealing to a new market.

[Master_Data]

^ Now that you mentioned it, I think that Aaron's new crossbow piece is the perfect replacement for the flick-fires.

[dr_spock]

Flick fire can be left "loaded" on the model for long term display. With spring launchers, the spring could loose its tension if the ammo is left in "cocked and ready to fire" on a long term display.

[Lyichir]

I don't think so, no. Despite the plethora of awesome and often more effective launcher designs introduced in recent years, flick-fire missiles still have their merits. For one, they're easier to integrate functionally into a larger build with a dedicated trigger mechanism than many other launcher designs. For instance, the integrated missiles in 5982 Smash 'n' Grab would not work nearly as effectively with stud shooters or spring-missiles, since both of those are most easily triggered fairly close to the launcher's position rather than allowing for a custom trigger farther back (the 2x2 disc shooter does allow for custom triggers of this sort but has a very different profile and look). Secondly, the flick-fire missile allows for greater customization than most other launcher designs. Most parts can attach to the front of a flick-fire missile, allowing for unique ammo designs like on 70318 The Glob Lobber. The only comparable launcher as far as that versatility is concerned is the stud shooter, and not only is the anti-stud attachment for those much harder to add unique tips to, but because of the fairly standardized amount of force those launchers use their performance is generally affected more by the weight of the ammo than flick-fires.

Besides all that, if the flick-fire missile part itself isn't going to be retired, why put an end to its use for missiles? It's true that in many applications other launcher designs can be more effective, but there'll always be exceptions where the classic flick-fire works better, so there's really no use ruling that option out arbitrarily.

[legoguy1984]

That smash and grab set looks so awesome. The flick fires look good on that model too, I'm not saying get rid of them but use them wisely. They looked terrible on the swamp craft from the Monster Fighters but great in the above example. Granted that they are both completely different sets at completely different price points. At the end of the day though it's still Lego and you can do something awesome.

[Littleworlds]

I am glad that the flick fire non-missiles are on the retreat. They never worked for me. The most I ever achieved with them was a plopp to the ground. So the new shooter-things are a big improvement. Even when they are oh so very light to release. But usually I simply dont load them, until i really want to use them. Works good for me!

[anothergol]

Here, as an adult, I like stud shooters. Mainly because those look good, even used for other purposes. But they also work pretty well and I'm sure I would have loved them as a kid.

[HoganPrime]

The only issue I ever had with flick fire are in the rebooted ninjacopter set. The ff missiles just fall out at the front because they don't clip into their holder tight enough.

But I really like the disk shooters on misfortunes keep and the design of the 8 spring loaded shooters on the Coles black jet plane from the tournament of elements series. That design of the 8 spring loaded firing as the front of the blaster jet turns is a really great feature

[TeriXeri]

I think flick fire missiles could still be used if space is limited like the 2 on Lance's Mecha Horse, or to look unique on The Glob Lobber.

Nexo Knights theme uses a lot of different launcher systems:

- Sphere Launcher (ball projectile)

- Technic Cannon (rubber tipped projectile)

- Spring Loader 4x1 brick

- Stud shooter 2x1 plate

- Stud shooter Minifig held

- Stud shooter 6-shooter

- Stud shooter (Crossbow shaped) Minifig held

- Bar Arrow shooter Minifig held (used by Aaron as bow/crossbow)

- Disc Launcher 1x4 brick

- Plate with bucket & pinhole, catapult (launches 1x1 round bricks)

And some larger catapult mechanics using technic assembly , or even special rubber technic pieces.

Seeing how only 1 set in that theme uses traditional flick fire missiles (with the 1x1 cone) , it's vastly outnumbered by the many other mechanics, I think flick fires are on the way out but won't be gone completely.

The flick fire missile pin/bar piece is actually used as part on Macy's mace weapon as well :)

Edited April 24, 2016 by TeriXeri

[azog]

I personally think that flick fire missiles should be discontinued, kids love the new ¨flick" weapons and it goes a lot faster and hits your target almost exact as the flick weapons it was hard to aim with them

[Aanchir]

I think flick missiles, when attached some place you can flick them properly, are still reasonably effective. I was able to get the ones from Breez Flea Machine to sail clear across my bedroom.

Overall, I don't think they're totally obsolete, and as long as the piece is in production LEGO might as well continue to use them as projectiles where they see fit. They're not too hard to remove or ignore if you don't like them, and clearly kids get enough enjoyment out of them for them to exist in the first place, so no point stopping using them as missiles entirely.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Aanchir