whitswj

hmmm.... I've got a bunch of "rarest parts".... https://flic.kr/s/aHsku7eEGF

Thanks for the mention! I'm really flattered.

Here's a few odd parts I've got recently that aren't on this tread. Trans clear clip brick by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Trans clear track (9v) without rails. These will be used for an ice planet train. by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr - This is 9v track without the metal rails but still works very well with RC trains. Prototype ancient Egypt textured bricks by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickrp prototype Ancient Egypt themed bricks Non production red part by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Non production red part by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Gray Lego juniors motorcycle part by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr 6x6x3 old style canopies in non production colors by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Non production colored castle parts by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr

....Because as of last week there were still some Chima on the shelves at a TRU I was at. As far as the other themes I mentioned, I guess I'm saying time will tell and the answer will be provided by what is on discount after the holidays.

I think one thing is being overlooked. I see a lot of criticism about the expensive sets. I think the question should be, are these not selling? Last I checked, there's no deep discounts on many of $200+ specialty sets. To me, that indicates that the problem is somewhere else. Maybe the margins are too low on the expensive sets but it does not point to a loss. I guess the best indirect indicator is going to be what is still plentiful on the shelf the day before Christmas. There must be a lot of development and advertising costs for Nexo Knights, Lego Batman, Chima (discontinued), Ninjago, and Friends. I think those would need to yield a high volume of sales to justify development.

Some more goodies I have acquired in the past few months: Red prototype helmets- all are molded with Lego by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Non production 8x8 yellow modified plates by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Non production colored castle parts by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr New light Gray balloon segments by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Non production Red tap with black base by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Blue non production windshield by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr

Eat your heart out! Non are for sale except some of the marbled parts. https://www.flickr.com/photos/66166063@N07/albums/72157664349312823 What are you looking to do with the parts? MOC with them, collect?

Its hard to say. In the US, there was no solid story-line told. In fact that's what I kind of liked about them. they fit into whatever story-line you wanted to make for them. Ye, the idea book made them look like some kind or rescue group but the sets never had medical equipment. The images were fairly peaceful with the occasional minor blacktron conflict. Most catalog and store displays (There were a few) looked like this https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?G=p90mtron or Mtron!!!! by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr I could see the recovery-response aspect to M:tron in this prototype series TLG made in 1987 (original source in a Brick-Journal Article). Capture by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr

I picked old brown because it was a bold choice in regard to using a rare color and using a color that was never used in the space themes of the late 70's through late 90's. As many of you know, I like to use rare parts in my MOCs. So I wanted a MOC to make these parts a good fitting MOC: Prototype old brown 2x5 slopes by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Prototype 2x4 slopes by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Maybe next I will try Yellow with trans purple with some touches of grey, and small touches of transparent yellow. I have been MOCing with M:tron for the past several years. Here's a bunch that I have made in the actual M:tron color scheme. I go much heavier on the gray for a more space-like effect. Surveyor Landing by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Mtron Base by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Space Salvage 2 by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Mtron cargo transport by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Mtron remake of the classic star fleet voyager by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Mtron remake of the classic star fleet voyager by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Mtron portable salvage base by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr

There was Blacktron-II and Space Police-II but never M:tron-II. I have been trying to come up with a concept for Mtron- II. I decided I would go with old brown as a major color because it was never done in Lego space and it would show an industrial gritty look. Here is what I came up with: M:tron-II Salvage Recovery Ship by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr M:tron-II Salvage Recovery Ship by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr M:tron-II mobile rescue base by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr M:tron-II mobile rescue base by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr I hope you enjoy! Feel free to check out some of my MOCs on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/66166063@N07/albums/72157686946208850

Some occasionally have numbers molded into them. Many of the prototype parts have "TF" or "FF" molded into them. I have been told that this means temporary form and final form. I am unsure if this is entirely true. Maybe some expert reading this forum can shed more light on it. Oddly, I have part 2443 in blue that has TF2443 molded into it. I can only assume it was made for use for the original Aqua sets (since it came from a batch of prototype parts matching the theme) which would have been developed in the early 90's so that is odd. Another possibility it that it was a much older part from the mid eighties and found use for the development team in the 90's. Anyway...just a guess. It is safe to assume there are families of parts that were developed. For every type of slope, an inverted one, a corner and concave version. As far as other parts the logic would be similar. As far as cataloging, that would be interesting. A proto catalog would be handy for people into digital design. I think you could end up with a ton of possibilities. Most of what I have in my collection is mid eighties to early 2000s. I am sure they produce less off the wall parts now because of a better digital design process. I really would love to see some of the odd parts from the mid/ late 70s that were made for the original town, castle and space themes (and possibly an early underwater theme that was never made). I have seen nothing from this time period but was a point in time where Lego was very concerned about competition (much like now). Again, I'd love to hear more from any experts out there.

Here's another update of some more non production parts I have recently obtained. As I have said before, I collect these to MOC with. Some other collectors have called me crazy for doing so.... but what is sadder than a toy that never sees the light of day. I have an Ice planet build in the works so this is a nice addition to the trans orange pneumatic parts that I have. Non production trans neon orange panel by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr I like the octagonal modified brick system. This is the third prototype mould of this system that I have in my collection. This will be good for classic space: Prototype modified brick- this is the inverse of the production part found in aquazone sets. by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr For some Castle MOCs: Orange castle wall panels by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr 90s castle test print flags on white flags by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr ...And for some other space MOCs: Trans clear 8x8 plate by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr Non production color bracket part. These are available in a ton of colors in high quantities from a lot of sellers. This particular bunch came from a Lego modeler in the US who was contracted. by Walter Whiteside Jr., on Flickr

Which 2 by 5 slopes do you mean? I have a couple funky 2 x 4 in trans neon green. I would love to see and get a 2x5 slope. I've got another new weird aquazone octagonal prototype part on the way. It looks like they made a lot of parts for that system that never saw production. There are now five that I know of that never got produced, two of which I don't have- a stubbier cone part and a 2x2 octagonal plate.

I have no idea. All I know is that it was developed/ made in the late 90's. For me, it will be in a space miners MOC based on the collectible minifigure series.

I think a Disney monorail theme would be a good idea. At the Disney parks, a monorail sells for 100-150 usd. If you want two stations or landmarks it will set you back 100-200 USD more. They sell these things hand over fist and the quality and functionality is poor. It is a basic battery powered monorail with a stop/go button on it. Honestly speaking, its kind of a POS. Something tells me if Lego had a Disney monorail set for around 250 USD it would sell extremely well. From what I know, the original monorails were a bit of a sales failure but I don't think that would be the case with Disney. If they sold 200 a week at each Disney location (a very low ball number IMHO), they would sell over 10,000 a year at each location.