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I just bought and built the relatively recent Lego typewriter set [1], and I had this exact same question: how much of it was going to be purpose built, and how
by OskarS 5y ago
I just bought and built the relatively recent Lego typewriter set [1], and I had this exact same question: how much of it was going to be purpose built, and how much would be just generic pieces. The answer is: almost all pieces are just regular Lego pieces.
A small number of components (the curved edge just above the keyboard, for instance, or the roller handle) seemed purpose-made for this model, but, like 99% of the pieces were totally generic. And this is in a set with more than 2000 pieces with lots of very intricate mechanics (there's a roller, a carriage, air pistons, and a ratchet/escapement mechanism that moves the carriage), but virtually all of it was made up of standard bricks, rods, connectors and generic components. I was super impressed. Even the keys are just Lego disks with stickers on them. The spacebar is just regular Lego with a smooth surface.
I feel like people have been making this complaint against Lego forever, and it's always "when I was kid, we just got a box of bricks and let our creativity take over!". The harsh truth is that Lego didn't change. We just grew up.
[1]: https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/typewriter-21327 https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/typewriter-21327
- mattashii 5y ago> Even the keys are just Lego disks with stickers on them My set had the letters printed on the top pieces of the keys; did you have to put stickers on them seperately? If so, then that's a major setback in quality: I really dislike Lego sets with many stickers as the stickers always loosen over time.
- OskarS 5y agoI was mistaken, mine was printed/painted as well.
- Zachery 5y agoLego very very rarely will design a new element for a set, let alone a Ideas/Creator set. For a new part, its in the neighborhood of 300-500k for a new injection mold for a single new piece. That's not going to happen for most one off sets. Sometimes sets do get designed with new pieces in mind, or when they really have a shortcoming. But I don't see anything obvious in the typewriter set that is purpose built. Reviewing the bricklink entry for the typewriter, the only noticeable new items are the painted key tiles for the typwriter. Painting is a great way to give new life to old tiles. I see some new color options as well, but nothing "new" https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=21327-1#T=I https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=2132...
- OskarS 5y agoYou’re right, I misremembered: the keys didn’t use stickers, they were painted on. But as you say, they were standard Lego pieces, just painted.
- bluetomcat 5y agoFor good creative play, they have to limit the diversity of pieces and colours within a single theme. Different sets from the same theme need to have similar pieces in the same colour scheme so they can co-exist nicely. Take these 3 sets from the classic 1990s Pirates, for example: 6259 "Broadside's Brig" https://brickset.com/sets/6259-1/Broadside-s-Brig https://brickset.com/sets/6259-1/Broadside-s-Brig 6267 "Lagoon Lock-up" https://brickset.com/sets/6267-1/Lagoon-Lock-Up https://brickset.com/sets/6267-1/Lagoon-Lock-Up 6265 "Sabre Island" https://brickset.com/sets/6265-1/Sabre-Island https://brickset.com/sets/6265-1/Sabre-Island Combining these 3 on a big baseplate can give you something completely new and interesting that still belongs to the Pirate theme. The bulk of the parts are white and yellow-coloured bricks for walls and architectural elements.
- Zachery 5y agoWas this reply meant for me? I agree overall!