Vader's Red Helmet

[Wout]

Here you go:

great pic

If a employee has made them secretly and he was caught, wasn't he fired for this?

[LEGOMAN132]

A red Vader helmet would be very nice to have.

[the enigma that is badger]

Except for the fact that the machines never stop.

So that is doubtful if anything.

Mold testing it is - that and when starting up a machine after a mold change they usually use a different colour than intended. That makes the "start up" pieces easy to find and get rid of.

Like I said, it's just an alternate explanation that I once heard. The story certainly has its holes, but then again, the fact those parts are only available in volume from certain sellers does raise some interesting questions regarding from where and how those sellers obtained those parts in such volume.

badger

[KimT]

Like I said, it's just an alternate explanation that I once heard. The story certainly has its holes, but then again, the fact those parts are only available in volume from certain sellers does raise some interesting questions regarding from where and how those sellers obtained those parts in such volume.

badger

I agree. Where do they get them? I've heard that odd-coloured pieces are sometimes made by request of modelbuilders in the LEGOland parks. They've got access to non-set colours. I know this for a fact as I've noticed those bricks in different modelbuilder areas in the parks. That is one way the bricks appear. The rest (mold test and startup) + Ambassador bricks (mentioned above) seem to find their way into the hands of sellers on different sites. Maybe a box showed up in the PaB by mistake? The possibilities are plenty, I'm just glad I've managed to find/buy me a few of those.

Here's my latest buy from one of those sellers.

Not exactly a red Vader helmet, but it it a fine helmet and a pair of handy weapons, isn't it?

[darkrebellion]

That transcolored weapons look awesome . Them could be great for a stealth predator custom minifig .

[Fatespuppet]

I didn't think about Legoland builders needing off-color parts. I could easily see leftovers going into the PaB bins. If we expect that bricks are made in batches, then it stands to reason that they have an odd piece here or there that wasn't needed. Unless it goes into someone's private collection it makes sense that they just drop it into the PaB.

[LEGOscum]

I've heard that odd-coloured pieces are sometimes made by request of modelbuilders in the LEGOland parks.

Just had word back from LEGO and they were made for some of the LEGOLAND modellers. A small batch was made and they shouldn't have left the park but they somehow got leaked.

And on a snide note (see what I did there?!) the title of this thread sounds vaguely X-rated ;)

Edited August 12, 2008 by LEGOscum

[Hinckley]

snide note

That would be a great nickname for you...

[LEGOscum]

That would be a great nickname for you...

LOL!

Sorry, I meant:

Laughing Out Loud!

Jeremy

[Siegfried]

Just had word back from LEGO and they were made for some of the LEGOLAND modellers. A small batch was made and they shouldn't have left the park but they somehow got leaked.

That is the most believable explanation I have ever heard. I will treat this as fact and I'll tell everyone you told me it.

[Dragonator]

The occasional wierd colour I can understand, but I've been looking at one particular seller on bricklink (I assume this is the guy KimT bought his weapons off? I think Hinckley got his Vader helmets from this guy too. Store name is Magicbricks) who has a lot of weird colours etc, for example, some of the parts he says are special parts/colours include:

Bright Light Orange Cheese pieces

A Bright Light Orange Ghost ($300 USD! ) plus other colours such as red, black, trans-clear.

The trans-clear weapons KimT has bought, plus helmet

Red pistols

White Hair

White Bamboo leaves

White Minifig Visor

Dark Blue Kepi

Dark Red Cap

etc.

Some of these I can definitely believe, however it is very interesting how he gets them all. Either some of them aren't what he says, or he has some very good contacts. How though can I tell if they are truly real Lego? I guess with a perfect feedback record, he can't be scamming people, and I would really like to get some of those great colours. So, my reason for posting, I ask you, are all his parts that are labelled as being special parts/colours definitely official Lego products that were not produced in sets (ie. rare)? That is, were they made by the Lego company as testers? (As in do they have the usual Lego logo where appropriate, the copyright sign and the mold number etc?). It would be great if someone could tell me before I go ahead and pay lots of money for them. I hate being ripped off.

From what I have seen, it looks like he is legitimate, but some conformation from another party would be appreciated. Thanks for your help guys!

[Siegfried]

From what I have seen, it looks like he is legitimate, but some conformation from another party would be appreciated. Thanks for your help guys!

The store is on your list.

[Shadows]

The occasional wierd colour I can understand, but I've been looking at one particular seller on bricklink (I assume this is the guy KimT bought his weapons off? I think Hinckley got his Vader helmets from this guy too. Store name is Magicbricks) who has a lot of weird colours etc, for example, some of the parts he says are special parts/colours include:

He's one of two sellers who commonly have similar parts, both in the same area of Germany. They clearly have the same source, and are usually close in prices.

I ask you, are all his parts that are labelled as being special parts/colours definitely official Lego products that were not produced in sets (ie. rare)? That is, were they made by the Lego company as testers? (As in do they have the usual Lego logo where appropriate, the copyright sign and the mold number etc?). It would be great if someone could tell me before I go ahead and pay lots of money for them. I hate being ripped off.

You can't tell a normal set part from one of these. Everything is the same, as it should be.

There is one alternate explanation I've heard that relates to emptying the machines. Once the pellets have been melted and mixed or whatever, it's a done deal, you pretty much have to use that batch, so if they make the necessary amount of something, then plan to switch to something that is a different colour, you could get a small quantity of the next part in the old colour.

I have a fair number of swirled bricks that seem to be the same concept. Old colour on top of new colour in the vat resulting in mixed bricks.

LEGO has, from what I've heard, always been thrifty and would just dump it all in a bin to send to a nearby PaB. These two sellers are very lucky to be nearby. They used to give such things to their employees, and even now might do that, which could also have the same result.

My only word of advice is to check on each part seperately before placing a large order. Occasionally, a part that they have listed as rare, isn't. Not intentionally, but because the part wasn't available in a colour, then became available in a regular set. It's sort of like the market was pulled out from under them on those.

Obviously, odd things like clear spears are probably never going to be issued normally, but I do think they prove a point that relates back to this forum (we've gotten way off topic, really)... I think they could make an all-clear minifig now. Say, a trans-blue spirit of Yoda...

You might want to read more in this thread from last year.

[LEGOscum]

That is the most believable explanation I have ever heard. I will treat this as fact and I'll tell everyone you told me it.

You go ahead and do that ;D

I'd really like a trans-black vader helmet so that I can stick a skeleton head on a vader body and then create the scene where Vader gets electrocuted by Palpatine at the end of Jedi.

How though can I tell if they are truly real Lego?

That's what I worry about. Now that these have shot up in price it won't be long before the bootleggers move in. If they haven't already.

[Dragonator]

The store is on your list.

Good point. OK, I take it then that it's all good then. Thanks for your help.

Simply out of interest, here are a few more of the weird colours I've come across:

Red and White triangular shields

Black beards

Flat silver book

Tan Barrels

I'm sure I'll continue to findd more too. Really, it amazes me that there are so many of these odd coloured pieces available on the open market...

EDIT: And that's to you both IS and LEGOscum. That has given me some food for thought. IS, I think your theory is the best one I've heard so far, so these must be real. I'm getting me some clear spears! And I will diligently check every piece, master. Man I wish I was as lucky as those two, getting all those neat pieces. They probably make a tidy profit out if them too.

Oh, and I agree, clear minifigs are what we need. And clear skellies too.

LEGOscum, I too worry, it would be a shame if some maggot-ridden sole decided to start making knock-offs and selling them at hugely inflated prices. That just wouldn't be cool.

EDIT 2: Oh, and nice title LEGOscum.

Edited August 12, 2008 by Dragonator

[Shadows]

White triangular shields

+

[Dragonator]

+

True, but do you have something clever to say for the red ones?

[Shadows]

True, but do you have something clever to say for the red ones?

Yes, yes I do. I just can't do it here.

[LEGOscum]

EDIT 2: Oh, and nice title LEGOscum.

Yeah, it is a nice title... Hinckley!

Edited August 12, 2008 by LEGOscum

[KimT]

Obviously, odd things like clear spears are probably never going to be issued normally, but I do think they prove a point that relates back to this forum (we've gotten way off topic, really)... I think they could make an all-clear minifig now. Say, a trans-blue spirit of Yoda...

Yes they can and they've done it. But it wont go into production.

Why? Simple answer:

The trans clear plastic is much harder than the regular colours. So if they made a trans clear minifig, it would be difficult to:

1. Move arms and legs, the harder plastic makes it difficult to move without damaging the attachment areas.

2. Attaching the arms or legs is hard and could cause the holes for the arms in the torso to crack or become milky white. The legs might break the attachment pin or the legs would crack and turn milky white.

3. Positioning the minifigs arms would be very difficult as mentioned above.

How do I know this? I wish I had a trans clear minifig and talked to a set designer about it. He's got one at his desk and he told me about these issues. They'd love to give us one, but until they figure out how to make trans clear minifig parts with the same plastic mix as regular colours, then we wont get one

Sad, but true (hey isn't that a song by Metallica?)

[Shadows]

Yes they can and they've done it. But it wont go into production.

Sad, but true (hey isn't that a song by Metallica?)

Yeah, it makes sense, it's just one of those things where you want the impossible. It's one of my few unrealistic LEGO dreams.

I'd settle for trans head and hands with everything else in sand blue. I know they can do that, since they have before.

I'm really easy like that. And I love parts in new colours almost as much as I love minifigs. The combination of the two are almost my whole LEGO existence right now.

Coming up next, "Sad, but True" by the Fabuland Metallica.

[LEGOscum]

Plus trans plastic shows up flaws (bubbles mostly) while opaque plastic is a lot more forgiving, so LEGO would have to tighten up their QA and the amount of cast offs would increase. Which means extra expense.

Jeremy

[blueandwhite]

I love seeing these rare parts. Even though most are utterly useless, the sheer 'gotta have them' factor for these makes them amazing! I think the first one I heard about was the Red Ghost which apparently was first found in Germany at a market sale. Despite fears of counterfiet I doubt that there will ever be a huge market for these. If rare parts became commonplace, many buyers would undoubtedly become skeptical and the store would be shut down pretty quickly. It would also be a quick doorway to litigation as the bricks would either be too close to the LEGO originals prompting action by LEGO themselves or easy-to-spot fakes which would set off alarms for consumers. Very few sellers are actually in a good position to get these bricks and it would appear that LEGO is more than ok with the ones who have them. Given the public nature of Bricklink, I would suspect that LEGO could easily clamp down on this down if they wanted to. That being said, I'm very happy with my black wizard beards.

[darkrebellion]

Anyone know where I can get a orange minifig skull ? I want it for a Ghost Rider MOC .

EDIT: Yeah, we need a topic where disccuss wierd finds, thanks KimT for change the title and for show the two heads. I think the second looks more badass so I think is better for what I have plan.

Edited August 12, 2008 by darkrebellion

[KimT]

Anyone know where I can get a orange minifig skull ? I want it for a Ghost Rider MOC .

I found these 2 versions:

Bricklink stores here and here

Hmm...looks like this is getting quite a bit off topic.

I'll consider moving this to a more proper forum.

In the meantime, do keep posting about rare parts here