Dear Lego, why the odshape pieces?

Mike Viper · Post by **Mike Viper** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:58 pm

Dear lego,

While building houses for the mini castle contest, I have noticed something. This piece:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=4070

when the so to say "male" side (lack of better words) is up against as solid brick, it does not work. Why did you make it just out so much of even a millimeter that is won't work? Is it possible to change this?

Does anyone else have any odd-shaped pieces?

Limberger · Post by **Limberger** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:11 pm

I agree about this. If the stud coming out from the front were pushed back enough so that a flat tile could be attached to it, and then the whole assembly be placed to a regular brick as you said, it would have many useful applications.

As far as other strange parts, I cannot think of any at the present.

Post by **rogue27** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:46 pm

The reason it is sized like that is because the thickness of the top of the brick is the same as two plates stacked on edge.

This makes it practical for some SNOT techniques that it otherwise couldn't be used for.

If you want a brick with a stud on the face, use a 1x1 technic brick with the stud-end pin stuck in it.

Shurtugal · Post by **Shurtugal** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:25 am

Yes, I've noticed this, too, but I'm not too sorry about it. Lego has a lot of interesting math involved, and the shape of the bricks does have a lot of useful uses.

I wonder, however, would a brick or plate still stick if the 'male' side was just a bit shorter?

Post by **Bruce N H** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:03 am

The way they are allows for some great SNOT things, such as Brendan Powell Smith's headlight mosaics. However, I do wish at times that there was another piece with the properties you describe.

Bruce

wunztwice · Post by **wunztwice** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:25 am

Yeah, the math, geeze! I have often tried to figure out all the combinations of number that would have to make up all of this and my dyslexic head just isn't wired for it. I have used this part to my advantage many times. It owuld be nice to have one without the indent, but I have jsut submited to using the technic brick and a pin.

kelderic · Post by **kelderic** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:05 am

Limberger wrote:I agree about this. If the stud coming out from the front were pushed back enough so that a flat tile could be attached to it, and then the whole assembly be placed to a regular brick as you said, it would have many useful applications.

It would just be like a regular brick, then.

Kelderic

E of Alshire · Post by **E of Alshire** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:30 am

I've spent a lot of time working with the geometry of these peices, and must say that though it doesn't seem a great idea, it works better than one might think. Take a headlight brick, stick a regular brick on it, and join it with the 'female' side of a headlight brick for a SNOT floor, for example. You'll also notice that the profile of the leadlight brick is exactly two plates high, sideways.

Post by **Athos** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:15 am

the so to say "male" side

He he he...

Steve, who didn't really have anything constructive to add...

g2 · Post by g2 » Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:46 am

Bruce N H wrote:.... However, I do wish at times that there was another piece with the properties you describe...

Oh my.!!! Now those two pieces would be so confusing to sort and build with. It would be the headlight brick equivalent of the new shades of gray. Help us all, if this ever happens. - But then again it would be cool to have a headlight brick with the above mentioned properties.

J1A3L5 · Post by **J1A3L5** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:55 am

I use SNOT a lot in castles, in different increments, and I'm yet to come up against an issue in which this piece causes a problem - It's one of the most useful parts there is, in my opinion, specifically because of that offset.

If necessary for it to go against a brick, you can always put a 1x1 technic brick against the back, so the stud doesn't cause interference. There's a few other pieces that will work, too - Including another of these bricks!

If you play around with these bricks, and similar elements, there's a lot of solutions to be found.

-John L.