LESTER-1 & 40308 Are the minifigures identical?

psjuk

The short answer seems to be yes, maybe a little disappointing for anyone who paid for a limited edition LESTER-1. There was a rumour about the hat possibly being different but I can't find a link to wherever I read it.

I have both and decided to take a detailed look at them. Legs are obviously both just basic legs with no printing and I couldn't see any difference in the printing on the body or head.

The hat interestingly did actually have a difference, both hats have the same numbers as best as I can't tell (they are very hard to see) but inside the rim of the hat there is a 'notch'. On the LESTER-1 hat the notch is on the right side and the 40308 hat has the notch on the left. 

This small test is by no means conclusive but would be interested to find out if anyone else sees the same difference.

drdavewatford

psjuk said:

The hat interestingly did actually have a difference, both hats have the same numbers as best as I can't tell (they are very hard to see) but inside the rim of the hat there is a 'notch'. On the LESTER-1 hat the notch is on the right side and the 40308 hat has the notch on the left.

Is one of the figures just wearing the hat back to front?

psjuk

Haha no not back to front, the notch is either on the left or right side of the numbers/Lego logo.

Legoboy

Could be because the hats came out of different sides of the mould?  Could a bunch of random #40308s have notches on the left and the right?

psjuk

Legoboy said:

Could be because the hats came out of different sides of the mould?  Could a bunch of random #40308s have notches on the left and the right?

Yep that sounds like a possibility, I only have one 40308 right now so will have to wait to confirm.

samiam391

I know someone with both (so glad I never bought one of the first 275) and he has confirmed that they are completely identical, even the hat!