vittorio

Thanks for the replies! Here are some updates: I was able to pull the assembly apart by using the tip of a metal nail file to open up the tiny gaps, and then with a much thicker metal wedge to pry them apart. It still wasn't easy, though, and some of the bricks got dented as expected. But what surprised me was that the metal wedge easily scraped off a thin layer/strip of plastic from the bottom of a curved brick when I wedged it in. I started re-building my sets to check the condition of the other elements. There are some 1x2 dark tan bricks that now have little or zero clutch power! They're tight when stacked with each other and with other elements, but when connected to base plates they don't hold up. Again, I don't recall it being like this before. This is baffling. Thanks for the tip, Erland. I have only three sets with this element but I can't tell which set these came from in particular. I did check the other curved bricks and the dark red ones noticeably have more clutch power than the rest. I'm also starting to think that it's probably more of a production slip. Then again, why does it seem that nobody else has noticed it? And now I also have the inverse problem with the loose 1x2s. Aaah, I don't know.

I tried to do that but the whole assembly is so tight that I fear the 4x6 will break when I do that. I think the curved brick has too much clutch power on both the 2x6 and 4x6. I found a similar thread from earlier this year. It seems that others have encountered this problem as well: Plates that stick together TOO well Yes, I used two. But it's so tight that it seemed it would break the wedges of the separators. I didn't want to force it more than normal/necessary. I also have another stuck assembly from this build: two 1x1 round studs. Normally this would come off easily using two separators but they won't budge either.

Weird question, I know. This post is a bit long so I appreciate any help and thoughts on this matter. I took out one my sets and re-assembled it for kicks. I built it only once before, when I bought it in 2011, and then sorted the parts along with the rest of my collection. While I was building it yesterday, I noticed that most of the bricks had more clutch power than usual. I had to wiggle and forcefully push down some of the connections. There was a lot of squeaking plastic and it just didn't feel right. I then disassembled the whole thing today, except for this component: The curved bricks won't budge upward. I can't pull down the brown plate below. Brick separators (I use the old ones) won't work. I tried wedging a cutter blade between gaps to somehow loosen them but the whole assembly is stuck solid. I was still able to remove two of the curved bricks by attaching a 1x1 to have more grab surface at the top: There was a lot of pulling and pushing and wiggling and cursing involved but I was eventually able to detach them. I wasn't so lucky with the next row, though. This is what happened: This one snapped off the main assembly, ricochetted around my room, and managed to cut a 2-cm gash on my right index finger (already bandaged but still bleeding as I type this post). So I have two questions: 1. How can I disassemble this? I've had my share of hard-to-detach connections but this just beyond my comprehension and physical abilities. It's like the whole thing is super-glued. 2. How did this happen? I did not have a hard time dismantling this component the first time I built it. Can clutch power increase over time or because of certain environmental factors? Like I mentioned earlier, the bricks didn't feel right at all while I was building the set. I wondered if the plastic might have expanded, but I can't find a possible reason why that would happen. I keep my bricks in tackle boxes and store them inside a closet when not in use. I don't display my sets and MOCs for more than a week. I live in a tropical climate but there's nothing extreme here as far as the weather is concerned. My building sessions are usually once every 3-6 months. Perhaps the prolonged idle time makes the plastic brittle? Has anyone else encountered this problem? My collection is fairly new. All sets are from the last six years, but I'm worried that they're now also in the same condition. I tested another random curved brick and it's also now stuck on the top row, even with ample grab space at both sides.

Quite a relief that I only want two figures from this series (cheerleader and DJ). I just hope they end this at, I don't know, maybe series 10. This whole CMS thing is just mind-boggling as far as value for money is concerned. Do you think TLG achieved what it originally wanted with the CMS line? Collecting, blind-purchasing, and swapping seemed such a great community-building scheme. Instead, from what I've experienced it's all just rabid hoarding and reselling, especially for countries/markets without a direct LEGO retail presence like where I am right now.

He looks more like Fed, though, with the headband and the hair. Gutted. And Murray's thank-you speech!

It's been more than a year already and I am still thinking about this. If you had to choose between these Winter sets, will you get the bakery or the post office? Fell in love with the toy shop when I saw it and bought it ASAP. Undecided about the other two, though. Both have their pros and cons parts- and design-wise. The rational and financially responsible side of me wants to go only for one. But sometimes I just feel the need to complete this Winter series! And you all probably know how dangerous being a completist can be. If I really wanted to complete the whole thing, I'd have to have the Winter train also and that's like diving headfirst onto the slippery slope down the depths of destitution and I don't want that to happen. So -- if you had to choose, which one would it be?

I like this. Quite a refreshing departure from the usual block-y behemoth look of most modular MOCs.

Yup. LEGO Trains has always seemed to be a niche market for me. If we're targeting the young market, perhaps the main con is the price range? A train set inevitably has to be a big one, complete with tracks and a PF system and some track-side structures -- at least in the USD150 range. Would a parent be willing to shell out that much for a train set for their child? And even just for LEGO in general? A more varied product line offering individual cars and track packs and structures and whatnot could balance out the price range of the theme, but I don't think a typical non-train-focused kid would bother with a 'mix-and-match'/modular system of play.

Long-time listener, first-time caller! Been lurking for years. Planning to join a contest, so I might as well make my presence known. Name: Vitto Age: Twenty-something Location: Manila, Philippines Focus themes: modular buildings, city, trains MOC site: Flickr but I can't post a link yet or edit my signature Other interests: carbohydrates, hibernation Body parts injured by LEGO bricks: arms, lower leg, fingernails, gums, soles Most embarrassing LEGO moment ever: Using the old brick remover as a minifig speedboat and discovering its real purpose only after my dark age Saddest LEGO moment ever: Closing my eyes and imagining that I was playing with sets that my parents thought were too expensive Most ridiculous LEGO daydream: TLG offering me a job at age 8 to work as their in-house product tester Not-so-ridiculous LEGO daydream: approaching Jamie Berard at an event, clutching the box and instructions for Cafe Corner for him to sign. "I.Am.Such.A.Huge.Fan!" Age started playing with LEGO: 7 First set bought: 535 Basic Building Set 5+, involving a dramatic stand-off at the toy store with my parents on Christmas eve Start of dark age: 1997 Catalogs accumulated while visiting LEGO retailers during dark age: 7 End of dark age: 2008 Set that ended my dark age and opened the floodgates of cash: Fast Flyers Set I regret selling: Fast Flyers Set I regret not buying: Town Plan Last set bought: Stephanie's Outdoor Bakery + some Series 7 figs Set I will buy next: Town Hall Bah, who am I kidding --- sets I will buy next: Town Hall, Sopwith Camel, Winter Village Post Office, maaaayyybbbeee Winter Village Bakery as well and oooh that new big R2-D2 looks cute too. Oy vey!

I was trying to detach two plates stacked together. This was before I knew how to use the brick separator (ergo most of my pre-dark age bricks have bite marks). I was trying to wedge my teeth on two opposite corners, then they suddenly came apart and scraped my gums. Ow. Yup, its the modular contest.