tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.comments2023-05-15T13:09:46.478+01:00Big Sal's Brick BlogBig Salhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-67172561719657782852019-06-10T10:11:48.836+01:002019-06-10T10:11:48.836+01:00This is such a great resource that you are providi...This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/users/construction-company-ny" rel="nofollow">construction company NY</a> Samiullahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15242594581825473355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-72473579262795070022016-04-02T12:40:49.183+01:002016-04-02T12:40:49.183+01:00Cool article it's really. Friend on mine has l...Cool article it's really. Friend on mine has long been awaiting just for this content.Website development serviceshttp://www.calypsocode.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-37838881218620288452015-09-01T09:22:27.077+01:002015-09-01T09:22:27.077+01:00Hi rodiziorobs, good to see you here even if it is...Hi rodiziorobs, good to see you here even if it is a bit late :P<br /><br />You're right of course, it probably all comes down to money in the end. Still, TLG must be making more than enough money these days to cater to my personal whims :PBig Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-39238695273323913272015-09-01T04:39:59.443+01:002015-09-01T04:39:59.443+01:00Hey Sal,
I realize this reply is about a year too ...Hey Sal,<br />I realize this reply is about a year too late, but I believe the reason TLG stopped printing alternate back-of-the-box models is not as simple as "parent's compaints." TLG does an exhaustive amount of testing on sets before they are released to market nowadays, and these are things which they simply didn't do in the past--or at least, not as throroughly as now. This includes everything from clarity of the instructions, to quantifying certain build tasks or techniques based on age, to testing model stability, to baking completed sets in a oven to simulate the effects of age and weathering to a set on display. Not to mention stricter toy safety guidelines to adhere to. As TLG began to research and fine-tune this testing process, it became more costly for each model. Whereas before they likely sat around, took a set and set it in front of their designers to build an alt model, voted on their three favorites, then slapped them on the box. To do that now, each alt model would have to be submitted to those high safety and performance standards, to ensure the best play experience. As I said, that gets costly.<br /><br />Additionally, If I remember correctly the alt models as box art seemed to end about the same time that TLG was recovering from their near failure as a company--a time when they were examining every step of their production process. These rigorous testing methods were likely developed to help improve that process and drive toward the end result of improved play experience; as a natural result of tighter standards, such alt models were no longer compliant with TLG's own internal policies without incurring significant costs. So, it really is all about the money :Prodiziorobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10558468682815335055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-3092494828276639072015-04-15T09:45:40.632+01:002015-04-15T09:45:40.632+01:00There may be some effect due to this, but probably...There may be some effect due to this, but probably not as much as you think because a piece in say 1970 doesn't have to appear in 28 categories in 1970 to count as non specialised - it has to appear in 28 categories over the whole of Lego history.<br />So the 1x1 brick (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3005&in=S&viewSum=Y) that appears in this garage set from 1955 (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=1236-2) counts as non specialised because it has appeared in basically every category over the years - I didn't only count the 1 category that existed in 1955.Big Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-55382356778868573882015-04-14T23:49:56.974+01:002015-04-14T23:49:56.974+01:00I think your graphs are biased towards the present...I think your graphs are biased towards the present-day. The 25% should be adjusted for every year, imo, especially since back in the 1970's and 1980's, there wouldn't have been 28 categories to split into, hence the very high % in those years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-51778000308601162662015-04-14T22:17:39.011+01:002015-04-14T22:17:39.011+01:00I think it's mostly because Bricklink classes ...I think it's mostly because Bricklink classes older styles of basic bricks as different parts which, because they were phased out before there were many themes, show up as specialised in my data. See the old style of 2x4 brick for example (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3001old&v=3&in=S). <br /><br />That goes some way to explaining the difference between this graph and the graph of basic bricks in my last post. I should put a note about this in the main text, thanks for pointing it out!Big Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-24423815538916478272015-04-14T22:03:45.763+01:002015-04-14T22:03:45.763+01:00I don't fully understand this chart, but it ap...I don't fully understand this chart, but it appears that specialized parts are only decreasing and decreasing... How come the early sets have such high stats? All these tin cars?HÃ¥kan S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00767889630145885090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-86886238395311878562014-11-27T20:06:14.282+00:002014-11-27T20:06:14.282+00:00Hi there,
I'm a second year journalism studen...Hi there,<br /><br />I'm a second year journalism student at Leeds University, and I wondered if you were available for a brief radio interview about recent complaints against Lego? If you're available please call on 07896353499 or send an email to ed12e2b@leeds.ac.uk<br /><br />Thank you!<br />EmmaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-40651515355179730682014-11-26T16:24:39.731+00:002014-11-26T16:24:39.731+00:00Hi there,
would you be available to come on to B...Hi there, <br /><br />would you be available to come on to BBC Radio Wales tomorrow morning? We're talking all things lego. Please drop me a call on 02920 322598 or an email on laura.kenyon01@bbc.co.uk <br /><br />Thanks, Laura. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-3177010264227017492014-09-21T03:01:00.144+01:002014-09-21T03:01:00.144+01:00I would love to see a graph on the size of brinks ...I would love to see a graph on the size of brinks over time. Has the proportion of the 2x4 brick fallen?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-9170634181597590602014-08-31T20:21:21.981+01:002014-08-31T20:21:21.981+01:00Hi Big Sal,
I, too, miss those alternate builds. ...Hi Big Sal,<br /><br />I, too, miss those alternate builds. And with the technology they have today, they could really expand this. They could have a few of the "action" shots, as well as a couple of alternate models, labeled as such, along with a QR code that could be scanned with a phone or tablet, sending them to a website with more alternate models, maybe even with instructions there. I know in some of the Brickmaster books that have come out, they had alternate model instructions on a website. And for alternate instructions, instead of the extremely complete and simple ones, they could actually make them a little more difficult, for those that say they're too simple now.JRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06742719893795501354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-5381186131199543342014-08-29T13:45:59.217+01:002014-08-29T13:45:59.217+01:00I think Drew is on to something, and I also think ...I think Drew is on to something, and I also think that your last two graphs are on to the same thing.<br /><br />I have a suspicion that this sentiment could stem from the number of *different* parts per set. Whereas a 1980s 200-piece vehicle likely contained 20 different pieces, each one used many times, a modern 200-piece vehicle could easily contain, say, 50 different pieces, each one used fewer times.<br /><br />It would be interesting to repeat this analysis by looking at the number of different parts per set, corrected for set size. You could express this metric as an average of X different parts per 100 elements for example. I have a strong suspicion that this average has increased over time, contributing to this sentiment being so predominant.Leon Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13785434780144897823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-78643710951405461762014-08-25T18:00:33.604+01:002014-08-25T18:00:33.604+01:00Just as bad is that when people look at a model on...Just as bad is that when people look at a model on the outside, they have no idea how complex the construction is on the inside just to obtain a slightly more realistic aesthetic. I made a box truck that runs about 300 pieces (6-wide cab, 8-wide cargo space). People are astounded when I tell them that the non-functional roll-up door in the back took 78 pieces to achieve.Purple Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-63271120602094692942014-08-24T10:41:59.836+01:002014-08-24T10:41:59.836+01:00Hi Drew. Yeah, I think this is an important part o...Hi Drew. Yeah, I think this is an important part of it as well - as you say, when a builder finds a perfect use for a part it's going to look as if that's exactly what the part was designed for, especially if you don't know its original or usual role.Big Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-42797196501577554062014-08-24T08:44:27.499+01:002014-08-24T08:44:27.499+01:00You've gone statistical with this, where my th...You've gone statistical with this, where my thoughts for the outcry of "Specialised!" lie in the psychology of building.<br /><br />When a person looks at a blocky model, the burden of imagination lies on the viewer to imagine whether the creation is a camel or a helicopter. Because they used their imagination, they project that the model must have taken a lot of it to build. When a model is clean, and crisp and has parts that are shaped and sculpted, it seems like they were meant to have been used exactly that way, no matter the original usage. The creativity lies completely with the builder, and the more successful they are, the more the viewer sees a lack of imagination. This translates to all models, official sets and custom creations alike, as I've seen people claim that a stack of plates and bricks comprising a car door as "specialised." I've read articles about how the design team in Billund, has to make active strides to show studs and not finish the model too much lest they be perceived as being "not LEGO."<br /><br />The added distance that many of the viewers/reporters/complainants have from actually being builders amplifies the issue.Drewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-37039166751990593402014-08-23T02:19:42.689+01:002014-08-23T02:19:42.689+01:00Interesting; my first reaction on seeing that tow ...Interesting; my first reaction on seeing that tow truck cab was that without the printing it would make a perfect locomotive cab...Katranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-5732120233540562782014-08-23T01:25:33.658+01:002014-08-23T01:25:33.658+01:00Ah, but alot of specialised pieces have a limited ...Ah, but alot of specialised pieces have a limited life then get discontinued - so, due to the increase in number of different sets per year, a 1980's specialised piece has less chance to appear in 100 sets before being discontinued than a 2000's specialised piece. It's difficult coming up with a good metric isn't it :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-60668662595168901312014-08-22T20:51:09.168+01:002014-08-22T20:51:09.168+01:00I appreciate your sacrifice!I appreciate your sacrifice!Omarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433668460260929017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-71381224928389947132014-08-22T20:42:53.609+01:002014-08-22T20:42:53.609+01:00Very sensible of you! I foolishly carried on readi...Very sensible of you! I foolishly carried on reading the comments and got so angry I ended up spending the best part of two weeks making graphs about plastic bricks :/Big Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-27527519180792758642014-08-22T20:24:57.508+01:002014-08-22T20:24:57.508+01:00I haven't yet either, but I imagine it's o...I haven't yet either, but I imagine it's only a matter of time. After seeing the boat piece from 70006 used to make a spaceship/hover-vehicle, I knew anything was possible. From that same set, I've seen someone use the olive green rafts for mech legs, which was brilliantly done. I know I'm probably not adding much to the conversation, but I couldn't help but chime in as I've been seeing the "basic bricks vs specialized bricks" thing come up so much recently, even from other AFOLs. The bad journalism bits popping up lately are the worst, obviously. I started reading the comments on one of those articles and had to stop almost immediately before they gave me an ulcer.Omarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433668460260929017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-1140646136662307222014-08-22T18:48:12.155+01:002014-08-22T18:48:12.155+01:00Hi Omar, I agree with basically everything you sai...Hi Omar, I agree with basically everything you said! There must be someone out there who's managed to use a plane cockpit in an interesting way for a MOC but I don't recall ever seeing anything.Big Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-17310197044375035962014-08-22T18:39:00.807+01:002014-08-22T18:39:00.807+01:00Yeah, I think colour is something that's not w...Yeah, I think colour is something that's not worth worrying about too much, with the possible exception of printed parts as I mention in reply to C's comment below.Big Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-14631140627763648722014-08-22T18:32:45.563+01:002014-08-22T18:32:45.563+01:00Ah, now here's the thing. Different colour par...Ah, now here's the thing. Different colour parts aren't counted separately in my analysis, but printed parts are. That's due to the fact that Bricklink counts printed parts as unique parts, but I think it's fair - printing is much more likely to 'specialise' a part than its colour.Big Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056872103177540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-411548021604271006.post-47408116081971212882014-08-22T17:58:12.456+01:002014-08-22T17:58:12.456+01:00As other have pointed out, I don't think colou...As other have pointed out, I don't think colour should be counted in what makes a piece unusual or unique- . I bet there are loads of printed parts that have appeared in only one or two sets, because the printing is specialised to that set or theme or something. For example, isn't the "cab" in the picture in the article the same one used in the 7939 cargo train, only in yellow in that set?Cnoreply@blogger.com