From what I know, Lego’s sets undergo a pretty extensive and careful design process to make sure everything is as good as it can be. But still, there are models and sets that have certain design choices that just make you ask: why did they design it like that? Why didn’t they do it differently? They could’ve easily done it so much better!
Do you have any sets with designs that just leave you scratching your head? Show and discuss it here!
The 2005 City construction sets are quite cool. The XXL mobile crane is among the best of System sets for me and the comically oversized dump truck is awesome. However, these two are quite notable for having all kinds of weird mishaps in their official promotional images and instructions.
I’m going to talk about 7248, the excavator from this wave. It’s a sweet little model, but if you build it according to the instructions, you get this:
Yeah… Its rotation looks quite odd, doesn’t it? I’ve never seen a real excavator that turns like this. It’s because the turntable is located towards the front of the chassis.
Now its rotation is centered. That looks so much more normal, doesn’t it? Again, I didn’t add any extra pieces, I simply swapped some parts around on the chassis.
And while I’m at it, it takes me wonder why they chose 2x4 plates with holes for the chassis. I mean, they work perfectly fine, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to use these when regular 2x4s would’ve done the same.
Does the set use 2x4 plates with holes elsewhere in the set where the holes are actually necessary? I notice that, especially in sets aimed at younger kids, Lego tries to reduce the number of unique parts in a set where possible.
Yeah this was one of my first sets and it always confused me a bit. Especially if I had stuff in the bucket the whole would tip over when turned. I still have a soft spot for it as a set tho.
No, it only uses these plates on the chassis. However it does have a regular yellow 2x4 plate on the canopy, which only makes it even weirder - this increases the number of unique parts for no particular reason.
After checking BrickLink, I found the source of the confusion. According to their inventory, different versions of the set were made; in addition to other minor changes, the standard plates were all swapped for plates with holes at some point during production.
Is there a difference between grey and black versions of this Technic connector? I’m currently rebuilding the Volvo excavator 42053 and it has both, they’re even used next to each other. It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense using both colors here, especially because this assembly is hidden inside of the model (thus having no effect on the color scheme). Same goes for the half thick bushings which are included both in yellow and grey, and the frictionless half pins which appear in grey and blue.
Stealth Hunter’s fine! No irreversible connections there. It’s the rifle from the combo model with Grand Titan, Mountain Warrior, that has the permanent connection
