Monster Fighter sets no longer have all the same glow in the dark features?

psychopuppet

Did not see this mentioned anyplace. I picked up a second #9462 the other day for a second horse and noticed the glow in the dark effect on the Mummy was no longer shown on the box art or instructions like with my previous one from release. Sure enough the Mummy MF no longer has the glow in the dark feature. Horse still glows though.

ryanromusic

I recently purchased the Vampyre Castle. The glow in the dark stickers are no longer advertised on the box, but still listed in the instructions. My sticker sheet does not glow. LEGO was kind enough to add 100 vip points to my account for the trouble. Must be some kind of running change to the MF sets before they're discontinued; shame about the mummy though.

TheLoneTensor

Same here, I have one VC set with them and one without. How strange that we have this mystery.

allmybricks

It's due to international toy regulations... I believe the glow in the dark pigment is not legal worldwide. The LEGO product manager for MF made a presentation at BrickMagic last May and stated it would change in the middle of production of the sets.

Yellowcastle

This is really interesting. So everyone in the world got 100% Glow in the Dark sets at first but no longer? Will this create variants that need to be tracked? Does anyone know how each set differs and when the change occurred?

TheLoneTensor

I wonder if it's Artic glow in the dark.

piratemania7

So wait...did someone just "discontinued"? Ahhhhh. I need to get the haunted house! I hope it is still out towards end of this summer.

ryanromusic

For interest, here is LEGO customer service's reply to my inquiry about the sticker sheet. I don't entirely understand the reasoning. IIRC the Canadian boxes displayed the glowing stickers on the box last fall. The one I bought weeks ago did not. Losing a glowing mummy is a bigger bummer!

They added 100 VIP points to my account as an apology. All is good. Amazing set! =)

"I'm sorry to hear that the stickers that came with your Vampyre Castle set do not glow in the dark. The best way to for them to glow in the dark would be to leave the set in a lighted room.

We could send a replacement sheet out but due to needed changes for the glow in the dark ink we cannot maintain the quality and glow effect that will live up to our standards and can only replace with white non-glow ink stickers. If you would still like a replacement please let us know and we would be more than happy to send them."

piratemania7

Seems to be they have no intention of discontinuing, but they do seem to regard their policy and standard with tight control. Which is very "lego like". Thanks for the update!

psychopuppet

I wonder if the Vampyre's Hearse sticker is affected ? I think it was one of the Largest stickers that had the glow in the dark feature.

aid_77

psychopuppet said:

I wonder if the Vampyre's Hearse sticker is affected ? I think it was one of the Largest stickers that had the glow in the dark feature.

Yes it is! I bought one and it did bubkis just sat there all non glowy! Still like set though!

legomatt

Does anyone know what the reasons for the legality (or lack thereof) of the pigment is? I'd be interested to know what the issue is/what specifically is banned.

sidersdd

So is it just stickers and printed parts (like the Mummy)? Not glow-in-the-dark parts like the werewolf claws, Vampyre/Bride heads, horse, rat, and spider?

Legoboy

Can anyone post the sticker sheet numbers of those that don't have the the 'glow' feature? Would be interested to try and compare with those that do glow.

Crownie

For the Vampyre Castle, The Original GITD Sticker sheet is numbered 6008339/ 10905, and the newer Non-GLITD version (which I personally think looks better) is numbered 6032222 / 13742.

I have no idea what good that information does someone, unless you can use it when ordering from TLG directly, but there you go.

;-)

Bandit

Here are the sheets:

ryanromusic

Anybody have an extra VC glowing sticker sheet to trade? =P

Jonn420

Is this worldwide and can you tell the difference which is which by the outer box?

Legoboy

Thanks @Crownie and @Bandit.

TheLoneTensor

Jonn420 said:

Is this worldwide and can you tell the difference which is which by the outer box?

Yes, the non-glow sets don't show the glowing elements on the box, the glowing sets do: i.e. Mummy - mummy, Vampyre Castle - leaves, Vampyre Hearse - roof

UTtoyfan

I just got home from my LEGO store and they had both versions of the Mummy. The original is Item: 4654211 and the new is Item: 6032808. They have different UPC numbers as well:
Original 6 73419 16763 5
New 6 73419 19566 9

Yellowcastle

This is why i love this Forum. Before, an issue like this might never have been known by some of us.

Yellowcastle

So, as far as i can tell, we're only talking sticker sheets and one printed figure?

UTtoyfan

Yep! I think the sets affected are the Mummy, Vampyre Hearse, and Vampyre Castle that I know of. If there are any others, please feel free to correct me! I only saw this change today. lol!!

ryanromusic

I would love to know if the Ghost Train is affected. Especially the flame and circular faceplate. It has so many glow in the dark pieces!

CapnRex101

@ryanromusic - I think the glow in the dark parts seem to be safe, only stickers and printing are affected at the moment from what I can gather.

jigglypuff

it seems that you can order the glow-in-the-dark mummy parts from lego.com

Legoboy

aid_77 said:

psychopuppet said:

I wonder if the Vampyre's Hearse sticker is affected ? I think it was one of the Largest stickers that had the glow in the dark feature.

Yes it is! I bought one and it did bubkis just sat there all non glowy! Still like set though!

Can you let us have the non-glow Hearse sticker sheet number?

SirKevbags

@legoboy If you have the glow in the dark versions of the sets, do you really need the non glowing stickers?

Legoboy

Yeah? For when the lights are turned on!?

I think the non-glow versions are way more valuable than the original glow versions. How many of us afols stare at our sets in the dark? My lights are usually on when showing off!

SirKevbags

I did order some spares last week but they have not arrived yet. I assume they will be sending non glowing but it wasn't mentioned.

CCC

I also prefer the non-glow versions.

The issue may well be with cracking and flaking of the gitd stickers. I've noticed this happening on some of the kids' parts where they have applied stickers after only 6 months or so.

coachie

I suspect it may be a safety issue with the fluorescein based dye used in the printing and stickers. Not so much of an issue perhaps with the molded parts as it is locked into the plastic.

You would probably have to lick a fair few mummies before you got ill though.

Legoboy

Just a quick update for you.

The updated sicker sheet number for #9464 Hearse is 6032267.

Both the Hearse and the Castle sticker sheets were replaced due to cost and their durability. They had had complaints that the paint wasn't particularly hard wearing and not "glowy enough". Interestingly, the Hearse also had "legal issues" but no information was available on that.

I questioned why the Haunted House wasn't affected but he didn't know.

TheLoneTensor

Legoboy said:

I questioned why the Haunted House wasn't affected but he didn't know.

Probably because the Haunted House has no glow in the dark stickers (or lickable mummy printing), same with the werewolf, scientist, ghost train and zombies (not like that's still in production or anything though).

TheLoneTensor

Legoboy said:

I think the non-glow versions are way more valuable than the original glow versions. How many of us afols stare at our sets in the dark? My lights are usually on when showing off!

I'm not following your logic here:

a) Are you implying that the glow-in-the-dark stickers can't be seen in normal light? Sure they can

b) As far as value goes, I would think just the opposite, that the sets with glow-in-the-dark stickers/lickable mummies are going to be the valuable ones. In fact, I think once this word gets spread, they will be big-time valuable

SirKevbags

^ In response to a) I'll bet a recent large sticker order it was a joke.

CCC

tensor said:

a) Are you implying that the glow-in-the-dark stickers can't be seen in normal light? Sure they can

They can be seen, but they don't look as good due to colour.

Legoboy

tensor said:

Legoboy said:

I think the non-glow versions are way more valuable than the original glow versions. How many of us afols stare at our sets in the dark? My lights are usually on when showing off!

I'm not following your logic here:

a) Are you implying that the glow-in-the-dark stickers can't be seen in normal light? Sure they can

b) As far as value goes, I would think just the opposite, that the sets with glow-in-the-dark stickers/lickable mummies are going to be the valuable ones. In fact, I think once this word gets spread, they will be big-time valuable

Unless exhibitors are walking round their homes with the lights off and the curtains shut 100% of the time, glow in the dark stickers are not as aesthetically pleasing as the coloured ones. This is demonstrated by way of @Bandit's pictures. Shut the curtains and leave the lights off and the stickers won't get 'charged'. No win either way.

If I had a choice, one or the other, I would choose 'coloured'. In monetary terms, of course the rarer, now EOL'd glow-in-the-dark version will be more sought after and so more valuable.

Deadareus

^^ That is really too bad. Love the GID eyes in the cracks. I'll have to see if I can find an older VC when it's time to buy.

Aanchir

Hmm, just earlier today I found a service.LEGO.com database entry for Tampo Ink, Hard Plastic (333) in color "Fluorescent Green Ink". It was among other new 2013 items numerically, so I wonder if this is a new phosphorescent ink color to replace the one used in Monster Fighters for use in future themes, the original phosphorescent ink used in Monster Fighters which is presumably discontinued, or something else entirely.

There are a couple other items I've found like it in "Silver Ink" and "Titanium Ink", obviously printing counterparts to Silver Metallic (the current Flat Silver color) and Titanium Metallic (the current Pearl Dark Gray/Dark Silver/Gunmetal color). "Tampo" is short for "Tampography", or pad printing, the method used to print LEGO elements. All were found sequentially near 2013 elements. The numbers in the item names seem like they may be Material IDs, the same sort of ID number used for the plastic colors of bricks (i.e. 21 Bright Red, 315 Silver Metallic, etc), in which case these ones are specific to the ink colors and not to the corresponding plastic colors.

Si_UKNZ

Shame, I was about to order some spare vampires castle stickers this week to make a glow in the dark graveyard. Oh well, never mind.

Always been a sucker for glow in the dark stuff.

MinifigsMe

I'm pretty sure the glowing eyes zombie heads are no longer available from Lego replacement parts BTW. Not sure about the mummy.

ryanromusic

More from LEGO:

"I am happy to answer your question regarding the glow elements of our Monster Fighters sets. Due to needed changes for the glow in dark ink, we cannot maintain the quality and glow effect that will live up to our standards. We have therefore felt obliged to out phase glow in the dark ink on this item and replace it with a white non-glow ink. You will mainly see this affecting the sticker decals in the Monster Fighter sets. Sadly, we have no way of identifying which sets have already underwent this change and which have not. I am very sorry, as I am sure that this is disappointing to hear."

Sounds reasonable that the Ghost Train will not be affected. In semi-related news, I disassembled Diagon Alley to put up newer sets. Using the 2x1 glow in the dark panels on the VC and Haunted House (which I will be picking up in a couple days).

Legoboy

Si_Dorking_Surrey_UK said:

Shame, I was about to order some spare vampires castle stickers this week to make a glow in the dark graveyard. Oh well, never mind.

They are currently in stock at [email protected] Give them a call. Both styles are available to purchase.

RomanticWarrior

Derp...I bought the VC two months ago and never even noticed that the stickers aren't GITD. I actually prefer it that way. I'm getting the VH later so I'm guessing it'll be non GITD too.

roxio

Legoboy said:

Si_Dorking_Surrey_UK said:

Shame, I was about to order some spare vampires castle stickers this week to make a glow in the dark graveyard. Oh well, never mind.

They are currently in stock at [email protected] Give them a call. Both styles are available to purchase.

Is telephone order the only way to get replacement stickers ?

CCC

^ Yes, they don't do them online.

ryanromusic

Legoboy said:

Si_Dorking_Surrey_UK said:

Shame, I was about to order some spare vampires castle stickers this week to make a glow in the dark graveyard. Oh well, never mind.

They are currently in stock at [email protected] Give them a call. Both styles are available to purchase.

That's odd. As noted above, when I asked LEGO customer service about it, they said they could not replace the glow sheet.

"We could send a replacement sheet out but due to needed changes for the glow in the dark ink we cannot maintain the quality and glow effect that will live up to our standards and can only replace with white non-glow ink stickers."

Legoboy

ryanromusic said:

Legoboy said:

Si_Dorking_Surrey_UK said:

Shame, I was about to order some spare vampires castle stickers this week to make a glow in the dark graveyard. Oh well, never mind.

They are currently in stock at [email protected] Give them a call. Both styles are available to purchase.

That's odd. As noted above, when I asked LEGO customer service about it, they said they could not replace the glow sheet.

Very odd. I bought spares of both styles.

ryanromusic

@legoboy did you have to call in or were they available on the website?