Nice Parts Usage! Week Six and Seven: What the Heck is That?

LordofLego

Good morning, and welcome to Nice Parts Usage!, the new game in the forum. In this game, I will pick out a brick and you will come up with clever new ways to use it or show ways you have used it before. Unfortunately, I cannot provide prizes at this time, but you may donate a polybag or something to the winner. You will have two weeks this time around in a very special episode of Nice Parts Usage!

This week's theme is...

Off-brand parts! Nooooo!

Yes, I say. This week will be off-brand parts. I know something can be done with these abominations. I also know many of you are guilty of possessing these. I just... 




Know.


Thank you you for participating in...

Nice Parts Usage!

rdflego

Oooooh, I have an intersting part in mind... Does it all have to be off-brand or just one piece?

BrickDancer

I almost want to hit you with a 'Spam' or 'Disagree' for promoting clone/counterfeit parts.

dannyrww

Not sure I have anything left after the great mb purge of 2013

danstraindepot

Oh I have a whole bin of off-brand parts.... oh wait... garbage men already picked them up =)

LordofLego

rdflego said:

Oooooh, I have an intersting part in mind... Does it all have to be off-brand or just one piece

Use as many as you want.

LordofLego

BrickDancer said:

I almost want to hit you with a 'Spam' or 'Disagree' for promoting clone/counterfeit parts.

I didn't say go out and buy some. I just want you to use any you may already have.

BrickDancer

^That would be '0' bricks in this household sir =)

SirBen

Time to 'borrow' my son's Minion's...(given to the Minion-crazyed boy by the in-laws). 

snowhitie

No off- brand here either, only the real thing!

LordofLego

This may be harder than I thought. I only have one set, a Kre-o transformer given to me several years ago as a gift. I've got my entry built already.

Fauch

I have a off-brand one, from the 90's. mostly basic bricks and plates. colors are very slightly different from lego.

rdflego

Coolguy5000

Nice to see lego fighting  back  the invasion  :)

dannyrww

I feel dirty :s

mr.piggles

I wish I had some off-brand bricks to play. The most troublesome thing I can find at home are Bionicles. ;) I'm sure there are some off-brand bricks kicking around in my classroom somewhere... 

dannyrww

No other builds?

mr.piggles

I found some off brand stuff... I've got something coming! Just need to get out of work and actually have some free time :\

chuxtoybox

BrickDancer said:

I almost want to hit you with a 'Spam' or 'Disagree' for promoting clone/counterfeit parts.

I'm probably going to come off as a real bastard for what I'm about to write, but it won't be the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last.

 I have used @BrickDancer 's quote because @LordofLego what you have done here is bothering me and even though @BrickDancer and @danstraindepot  are being good sports about it and joking it off (I think) I feel that you have crossed a line.

I was actually going to participate in this, but couldn't bring myself to go through with it.  I have bought Megabloks brand toys and I was going to photograph my Megabloks Wolverine fighting my LEGO Hulk on some Megabloks "land" tiles I found at a yard sale last week, which were bought to resell. I actually think my Megabloks Wolverine is cooler than my LEGO Wolverine. So, my problem isn't Megabloks.

What's bothering me is that you started something on a forum for LEGO enthusiasts, "Nice Parts Usage", and a month later it seems like you've lost interest in it already. I understand this was a "joke" but why would you have it run for two weeks?

 I re-read your very first post about this idea you proposed and @Huw himself gave you his blessing! I don't think this was a very good way to repay him. I don't think this was a very good way to thank the people that were participating in your contest every week. I don't think this was a very good way to encourage other LEGO enthusiasts to join in on something that could have been, and could still be, really great. 

Brickset is "your LEGO set guide". It was created by a LEGO enthusiast for LEGO enthusiasts and if you're going to take on the responsibility of starting something major like this on Brickset's forum, you should take it seriously or hand the reigns over to someone else. 

And for the record, I do feel that LEGO is a better quality toy overall  than Megabloks. I have made LEGO my current hobby and try only to invest in it, not only instead of Megabloks but other toys and comic books and other stuff that turns my head as well.  

FollowsClosely

They go directly into the trash in my home.

Aleydita

"crossed a line" ... dear God. Get a bloody grip.

LordofLego

chuxtoybox said:

BrickDancer said:

I almost want to hit you with a 'Spam' or 'Disagree' for promoting clone/counterfeit parts.

I'm probably going to come off as a real bastard for what I'm about to write, but it won't be the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last.

 I have used @BrickDancer 's quote because @LordofLego what you have done here is bothering me and even though @BrickDancer and @danstraindepot  are being good sports about it and joking it off (I think) I feel that you have crossed a line.

I was actually going to participate in this, but couldn't bring myself to go through with it.  I have bought Megabloks brand toys and I was going to photograph my Megabloks Wolverine fighting my LEGO Hulk on some Megabloks "land" tiles I found at a yard sale last week, which were bought to resell. I actually think my Megabloks Wolverine is cooler than my LEGO Wolverine. So, my problem isn't Megabloks.

What's bothering me is that you started something on a forum for LEGO enthusiasts, "Nice Parts Usage", and a month later it seems like you've lost interest in it already. I understand this was a "joke" but why would you have it run for two weeks?

 I re-read your very first post about this idea you proposed and @Huw himself gave you his blessing! I don't think this was a very good way to repay him. I don't think this was a very good way to thank the people that were participating in your contest every week. I don't think this was a very good way to encourage other LEGO enthusiasts to join in on something that could have been, and could still be, really great. 

Brickset is "your LEGO set guide". It was created by a LEGO enthusiast for LEGO enthusiasts and if you're going to take on the responsibility of starting something major like this on Brickset's forum, you should take it seriously or hand the reigns over to someone else. 

And for the record, I do feel that LEGO is a better quality toy overall  than Megabloks. I have made LEGO my current hobby and try only to invest in it, not only instead of Megabloks but other toys and comic books and other stuff that turns my head as well.  

I was writing it (week 6&7) the day before I left for a vacation and couldn't think of anything better to use that would take up two weeks. It was mostly meant to be a joke and I apologize if you take offense to it. I seriously overestimated the amount of time I would have for writing and so I also apologize for many posts being a day late. If you can't take a joke, stay off the internet as you will find worse jokes than this. If you simply misinterpreted my meaning behind my entry, well, I can't do anything about that. I chose off-brand blocks as a joke and because I had a fairly good entry already made. I will not have many more two-week posts unless I know in advance I will not be available to write all week.

I give you my sincerest apologies for offending you, but I do not feel that I have crossed any sort of line. I do not wish to get into a further argument on the last day for this entry, so unless you have something constructive to say, please do not comment again as I will not reply. I have not lost interest in the game, by the way. I was going on vacation and knew I would not have Internet access there. Perhaps I should have said so in the description, but I didn't really think people would be quite so taken aback.

LordofLego

Maybe I should have photoshopped the Megabloks logo in so Satan was holding it.

MrShinyAndNew

chuxtoybox said:

BrickDancer said:

I almost want to hit you with a 'Spam' or 'Disagree' for promoting clone/counterfeit parts.

I feel that you have crossed a line.

Seriously, considering how many people use BrickArms or Me-Models or any number of third-party parts sources, how awful is it if someone uses a clone part in a MOC? Do you fly off the handle every time someone does anything non-purist? You yourself admit to having bought Megabloks and you even state that some of their parts are arguably better than Lego's version. So what makes BrickArms and their ilk okay, while MB is anathema?

LordofLego

MrShinyAndNew said:

chuxtoybox said:

BrickDancer said:

I almost want to hit you with a 'Spam' or 'Disagree' for promoting clone/counterfeit parts.

I feel that you have crossed a line.

Seriously, considering how many people use BrickArms or Me-Models or any number of third-party parts sources, how awful is it if someone uses a clone part in a MOC? Do you fly off the handle every time someone does anything non-purist? You yourself admit to having bought Megabloks and you even state that some of their parts are arguably better than Lego's version. So what makes BrickArms and their ilk okay, while MB is anathema?

Just for Devil's Advocate: BrickArms and the lot are designed for use to fill in areas in brick design that Lego leaves out, while MB and those are direct competition.

TheLoneTensor

I like it when folks discuss off-brands (or add-on brands like BrickArms, etc.), though I'm not a fan myself.  I'm with most folks here that they usually end up in the garbage.  However, I think the competitors are vital to push Lego to up their game and not become too lazy.  I do wonder if someone over at MB (or whatever) is thinking about fast-tracking an Xmas set/theme to pile on Lego being lazy and complacent this year.  Overall, I don't see this particular thread hurting anyone, because it gets people thinking out of the box, which either opens their eyes to the possible usage of off-brands in their models or reinforces their position to keep them out out out.

It also needs to be said, none of my opinions reflect any respect whatsoever for counterfeit items or those that traffic them.  They need to DIAF.

dannyrww

I really did think this challenge was done as a tongue and cheek humorous thing....not done to sully our forum in anyway. I assumed that the reason it was a two week challenge was because LordofLego would be away or something so that did not concern me at all. I'm more upset that what has been a fun weekly challenge is now being turned into a place for us to argue. I don't think this thread was meant to promote or condone clone brands in any way. Just to see if we could come up with a funny way to use them in our MOC Lego builds.

LordofLego

dannyrww said:

I really did think this challenge was done as a tongue and cheek humorous thing....not done to sully our forum in anyway. I assumed that the reason it was a two week challenge was because LordofLego would be away or something so that did not concern me at all. I'm more upset that what has been a fun weekly challenge is now being turned into a place for us to argue. I don't think this thread was meant to promote or condone clone brands in any way. Just to see if we could come up with a funny way to use them in our MOC Lego builds.

You are correct.

LordofLego

Next one: this evening or tomorrow morning.

MrShinyAndNew

LordofLego said:

MrShinyAndNew said:
 So what makes BrickArms and their ilk okay, while MB is anathema?

Just for Devil's Advocate: BrickArms and the lot are designed for use to fill in areas in brick design that Lego leaves out, while MB and those are direct competition.

That's true, but there are plenty of clone sets that can arguably be said to "fill in" missing aspects of Lego sets. MB, for example, has many themes that Lego doesn't have, many unique figures or accessories, and many different colours. There is some overlap but also some innovation. I can understand making a purist/non-purist distinction but the hatred for clone brands gets a little hysterical and hypocritical at times.

For my part, I try to be a purist about it most of the time. But I admit to using the 2x2 plate with studs on both sides that MB makes one time... it was the perfect piece that greatly simplified the feature I was constructing. Why doesn't Lego make a plate like that? Who knows, but MB "fills in the gap", so to speak. Does that make me a bad person? Well, I don't care if anyone thinks so.

LordofLego

MrShinyAndNew said:

LordofLego said:

MrShinyAndNew said:
 So what makes BrickArms and their ilk okay, while MB is anathema?

Just for Devil's Advocate: BrickArms and the lot are designed for use to fill in areas in brick design that Lego leaves out, while MB and those are direct competition.

That's true, but there are plenty of clone sets that can arguably be said to "fill in" missing aspects of Lego sets. MB, for example, has many themes that Lego doesn't have, many unique figures or accessories, and many different colours. There is some overlap but also some innovation. I can understand making a purist/non-purist distinction but the hatred for clone brands gets a little hysterical and hypocritical at times.

For my part, I try to be a purist about it most of the time. But I admit to using the 2x2 plate with studs on both sides that MB makes one time... it was the perfect piece that greatly simplified the feature I was constructing. Why doesn't Lego make a plate like that? Who knows, but MB "fills in the gap", so to speak. Does that make me a bad person? Well, I don't care if anyone thinks so.

I think there's already a thread for discussing clone brands in general. 

chuxtoybox

I will start off by apologizing also for coming on too strong. I realize this was meant to be a joke, but at the same time  this and other delays  you've done in your last contests really was making me think that you had already lost interest in what you had started. 

I think "Nice Parts Usage" is a good idea. I've thought about entering many times. Brickset is mainly about collecting, buying, and selling but contests like this can help it expand even more into the other areas of LEGO enthusiasm, like creating MOCs. 

Hopefully, this response is taken as a positive one. I'm dying to respond to some of the comments others made but I don't want to make this thread an argument. If someone wants to private message me to further discuss anything that's cool.

@LordofLego, if you pick a LEGO element I actually have, I promise I will support your  next competition by entering. I really would like to see more people get involved in Nice Parts Usage. :p

LordofLego

chuxtoybox said:

I will start off by apologizing also for coming on too strong. I realize this was meant to be a joke, but at the same time  this and other delays  you've done in your last contests really was making me think that you had already lost interest in what you had started. 

I think "Nice Parts Usage" is a good idea. I've thought about entering many times. Brickset is mainly about collecting, buying, and selling but contests like this can help it expand even more into the other areas of LEGO enthusiasm, like creating MOCs. 

Hopefully, this response is taken as a positive one. I'm dying to respond to some of the comments others made but I don't want to make this thread an argument. If someone wants to private message me to further discuss anything that's cool.

@LordofLego, if you pick a LEGO element I actually have, I promise I will support your  next competition by entering. I really would like to see more people get involved in Nice Parts Usage. :p

I try to get them written on time, but they usually come out late. Only once or twice has it been later than my blog, so it's not too bad. I can't come up with a part to use for this week.

chuxtoybox

I have a suggestion if you want to use it. Bamboo leaves 3x3 Element 4114348. BUT, the challenge would be that it can't be used as a  plant or tree or any form of vegetation. I think it's a piece most people will have.

(Just don't tell them it was my idea or no one will enter!)  :)

LordofLego

chuxtoybox said:

I have a suggestion if you want to use it. Bamboo leaves 3x3 Element 4114348. BUT, the challenge would be that it can't be used as a  plant or tree or any form of vegetation. I think it's a piece most people will have.

(Just don't tell them it was my idea or no one will enter!)  :)

Sounds good. Might have to be tomorrow morning.

LordofLego

Time to pick a winner... Out of only two. The winner is...




@dannyrww !

Emmet's going to need a bigger garbage can.

Fauch

sometimes I'm wondering if it's funniest part usage. but I guess it was inevitable in this case.

LordofLego

Fauch said:

sometimes I'm wondering if it's funniest part usage. but I guess it was inevitable in this case.

Well, with only two entries it basically is the funniest entry. Oh, well.

LordofLego

Dammit. I'll be late again. 

dannyrww

LordofLego said:

Dammit. I'll be late again. 

s'allright. These are just fun things to do to liven up the forum. No pressure. Get your post up when you feel like and know that we do appreciate it.

LordofLego

dannyrww said:

LordofLego said:

Dammit. I'll be late again. 

s'allright. These are just fun things to do to liven up the forum. No pressure. Get your post up when you feel like and know that we do appreciate it.

@chuxtoybox has my permission to write it if I dot have it up by 8 tomorrow. I haven't heard back from him, though.

chuxtoybox

LordofLego said:

dannyrww said:

LordofLego said:

Dammit. I'll be late again. 

s'allright. These are just fun things to do to liven up the forum. No pressure. Get your post up when you feel like and know that we do appreciate it.

@chuxtoybox has my permission to write it if I dot have it up by 8 tomorrow. I haven't heard back from him, though.

Sorry! I could not log onto Brickset at all yesterday. I kept getting a message saying the server was down. Was I the only one?

I do appreciate @LordofLego asking me to write one after I was an (CENSORED). I do have some other building ideas if @LordofLego is interested and if everyone else would be willing to forgive me for my outburst against him.  Plus, I do not wish to step on his toes.

Galactus

chuxtoybox said:

Sorry! I could not log onto Brickset at all yesterday. I kept getting a message saying the server was down. Was I the only one?

I had some issues too: 

LordofLego

This is more what I was envisioning... A German Stuka dive-Bomber with a KRE-O 1x2 plate for the cockpit.