The Axe lost its glitter ...

Fry_slayer · Post by **Fry_slayer** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:56 am

I have a viking axe put outside storage for play for quite a while. Then a tip off from my brother had me noticed all the sparkling effect on the axe have almost completely gone so now what is left is like viking axe blades in complete black!

Common occurance or it is just me?

E of Alshire · Post by **E of Alshire** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:03 am

I've noticed that my older axes are darkened. This saves me the trouble of painting them, as I don't like the speckled effect.

Remyth · Post by **Remyth** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:11 am

None of my axe heads have done this, but I got most of mine recently. I will watch them and check this out.

In Christ,

Draygen · Post by **Draygen** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:27 am

Most of the speckle seems to rub away over use. A great deal of my regular speckled axes have rubbed away where the minfigs hand goes to hold it.

As for the attachable axe-heads? I haven't noticed them losing it as quick, but given enough time and handling they will.

Gives me hope for the breastplates.. mmm solid black.

Lamanda2 · Post by **Lamanda2** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:42 am

Interesting.. Perhaps I should try brassoing something speckled to see if it gets rid of it. Could be useful for those who don't like the effect.

~Amanda

Fry_slayer · Post by **Fry_slayer** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:54 am

While it is understandable some of us actually like it rubbed off IMO it is Megablocks shame for people who actually likes it. It disturbs me to a certain degree coating done by LEGO which is meant to add "snazziness" can come out so easily by mere casual play. LEGO stuff were meant to last, not even the crome sword suffer degradation this fast.

Miscalculation of coating durability or .....?

Perhaps some LEGO ambassador here can give TLC a tip off.

g2 · Post by g2 » Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:10 am

So I guess the speckles don't like the real world too much! Could it be to the UV light, like the yellowing of normal bricks?

I wonder if in 5 years time no-one will have specked pieces and they will be worth big dollars.

Post by **architect** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:42 pm

Fry_slayer wrote:While it is understandable some of us actually like it rubbed off IMO it is Megablocks shame for people who actually likes it. It disturbs me to a certain degree coating done by LEGO which is meant to add "snazziness" can come out so easily by mere casual play. LEGO stuff were meant to last, not even the crome sword suffer degradation this fast.

Miscalculation of coating durability or .....?

Perhaps some LEGO ambassador here can give TLC a tip off.

I will look into this for you.

Ben Ellermann
LEGO Ambassador

Maedhros · Post by **Maedhros** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:58 pm

Lamanda2 wrote:Interesting.. Perhaps I should try brassoing something speckled to see if it gets rid of it. Could be useful for those who don't like the effect.

~Amanda

If brasso can kill the speckled effect I´ll be a very happy Maedhros. Looking forward to see the results.

Maedhros, who always thought the speckled colour reminded him of MegaBloks

E of Alshire · Post by **E of Alshire** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:06 pm

Fry_slayer wrote:Miscalculation of coating durability or .....?

I must say, I was rather surprised to hear this. I had always thought the silver was injected into the final stage of the molding process, making it permenant(sp?). That would also explain the uneven distribution in the first round of peices.

Lord Felix · Post by **Lord Felix** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:57 pm

I have bought a set of Vikings and had the axes already very black (I was so happy. I dislike the speckledness of those axes and armor). Maybe we can get the speckled euro armor to do the same thing...

So. It must be friction causeing it. Like a kid shook the lego set that I bought when it was on the shelf.

Tanotrooper · Post by **Tanotrooper** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:13 pm

Lord Felix wrote:I have bought a set of Vikings and had the axes already very black (I was so happy. I hate the speckledness of those axes and armor). Maybe we can get the speckled euro armor to do the same thing...
So. It must be friction causeing it. Like a kid shook the lego set that I bought when it was on the shelf.

there already exists a black euro armour

could be interesting for the helmet, though...

TT

Fry_slayer · Post by **Fry_slayer** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:10 pm

architect wrote:I will look into this for you.

Ben Ellermann
LEGO Ambassador

Thanks Ben, it is good to know they will hear of this whatever the outcome eventually will be

E of Alshire wrote:I must say, I was rather surprised to hear this. I had always thought the silver was injected into the final stage of the molding process, making it permenant(

Me too, when it came new it had a feel of permanent bonding to it, as if it is molded with sparkle molten plastic.

Lord Felix wrote:(I was so happy. I hate the speckledness of those axes and armor)

Good for you

but looking from a greater point of view it is better to have options in diversified looks, most AFOL will simply spray paint it black if they really cant stand it, however for the people who like it as it is has no way of retaining the sparkle over time. The sparkle look, for its credit, has a kind of enchanted quality look in it which aren't completely "bad".

Imagine the looks on BrickLink store owners when they discover a few years later their stock some how turn darker to black with no sparkle but was labelled sparkle on store list

Recluce · Post by **Recluce** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:13 pm

I have already used Brasso to remove the silver speckle on the clip-on axe heads. Did that for Josh's X-mas trade fig, then I put gold rub 'n buff on it.

I also dislike the speckle only because it is random. I wouldn't mind a silver brush effect or something but not the random "tarnish" Lego designed.

Quite frankly I'm surprised you all didn't know that the silver could be removed.

kelderic · Post by **kelderic** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:57 pm

I find myself wondering what LEGO will do about this, if anything.

Kelderic