Saturn V: 21309 vs 92176

CCC

So it looks like this is not strictly a 1:1 re-release.

There is a part difference - the old comes with 26 2x4 DBG plates, whereas the new has only 25 plus a 2x4 technic plate with holes.

The difference comes in the Lunar Lander ...

benbacardi

That seems like a very odd minor change to make.

CCC

Yes, especially when you cover up the hole in two steps time.

There doesn't seem to be any reason for having a hole on the underside.

stlux

I could understand if there other 2x4 technic plates already in the bag, so the machine had 1 less type of part to pick. However there's no instance of that technic plate being used anywhere in the set, let alone for the steps related to bag 12.

Does the technic plate fit better on the 85975 cone/fez it is put on? (step 324)

Shropshire

Even that little less plastic (the holes) multiplied by many sets is still a decent chunk of plastic saved. Maybe it’s part of their sustainability plans to reduce plastic where possible even when a small amount.

arathemis

it would be something to switch all plates that are bound to be covered in a ser to technic plates for the sake of plastic usage reduction :)

vanvonfull

Shropshire said:

Even that little less plastic (the holes) multiplied by many sets is still a decent chunk of plastic saved. Maybe it’s part of their sustainability plans to reduce plastic where possible even when a small amount.

Reminds me of a Mitch Hedberg bit: “ The Kit-Kat candy bar has the name Kit-Kat imprinted in the chocolate. That robs you of chocolate! It's a clever chocolate-saving technique.” 

CCC

Shropshire said:

Even that little less plastic (the holes) multiplied by many sets is still a decent chunk of plastic saved. Maybe it’s part of their sustainability plans to reduce plastic where possible even when a small amount.

There at plenty of internal parts in many sets that could be replaced with slightly less plastic ones. 

bricktuary

They've been doing this for years, it's nothing new. They saved on a whole shield generator from #75098 Assault on Hoth.

iwybs

Maybe it's related to some optimization decision in choosing the entire production run of parts for the 2021 model year.  After all, it's well known that set designers will sometimes include rare colors buried deep within the model in order to increase usage of that color to make it feasible for other sets or themes that really need the color to have it.  Perhaps for some reason they needed to produce more 2x4 Technic plates for another kit, and the best way to justify the increased production was to sneak one of them into the Saturn V?

Paperballpark

The cost saving of the plastic is probably more than offset by the additional cost of having to produce and include an element which wasn't in the set beforehand. The only possible reason I can think of is that it helps clutch on the parts underneath it. 

benbacardi

There aren't any parts underneath it

MugenPower

Gotta find ways to cut weight wherever possible.  It is a spacecraft, afterall.  ;)

Astrobricks

MugenPower said:

Gotta find ways to cut weight wherever possible.  It is a spacecraft, afterall.  ;)

Thus, no chairs :)

Paperballpark said:

The cost saving of the plastic is probably more than offset by the additional cost of having to produce and include an element which wasn't in the set beforehand. The only possible reason I can think of is that it helps clutch on the parts underneath it. 

And having to change the instructions.

Shropshire

Maybe they did it just because they knew it would cause this type of discussion in the community... i.e. having a bit of fun with us

560Heliport

Maybe they did it to force the extreme completionists among us to buy another one... because "it's different, so I need both!"

benbacardi

It's already different, it has a different number on the box and instruction manual!

Fizyx

My question is: Are there going to be changes to the total piece count on the set due to modifications like this?  From what I'm seeing this particular change isn't changing the total piece count, and this is the only difference being mentioned so far, so hopefully the great easter egg of the total piece count on the original set isn't something that will be lost with the new release.

Astrobricks

The new box art shows the same piece count, as expected.

Astrobricks

benbacardi said:

There aren't any parts underneath it

The descent engine nozzle is attached to the bottom center of the plate. See image above ^

pxchris

That connection of the fez piece to the plate does seem to be the most logical reason for the change. Somebody should do a little testing of the fit between the pieces for both the technic plate option and a standard plate option and see if they can feel a difference.

560Heliport

I don't know why they matched the piece count to the year of my birth. ;)

CCC

Fizyx said:

My question is: Are there going to be changes to the total piece count on the set due to modifications like this?  From what I'm seeing this particular change isn't changing the total piece count, and this is the only difference being mentioned so far, so hopefully the great easter egg of the total piece count on the original set isn't something that will be lost with the new release.

In fact, there are loads of changes in the inventory, as many of the printed parts have new element IDs. So there will be substantial changes in the parts listing section at the back of the manual.

benbacardi

Astrobricks said:

benbacardi said:

There aren't any parts underneath it

The descent engine nozzle is attached to the bottom center of the plate. See image above ^

In that case, I must have lost that piece on my one that sits next to my monitor on my desk!

Astrobricks

benbacardi said:

Astrobricks said:

benbacardi said:

There aren't any parts underneath it

The descent engine nozzle is attached to the bottom center of the plate. See image above ^

In that case, I must have lost that piece on my one that sits next to my monitor on my desk!

Maybe that’s why they changed it :)

Astrobricks

CCC said:

Fizyx said:

My question is: Are there going to be changes to the total piece count on the set due to modifications like this?  From what I'm seeing this particular change isn't changing the total piece count, and this is the only difference being mentioned so far, so hopefully the great easter egg of the total piece count on the original set isn't something that will be lost with the new release.

In fact, there are loads of changes in the inventory, as many of the printed parts have new element IDs. So there will be substantial changes in the parts listing section at the back of the manual.

Weird. Is that something they have to do if the part went out of production and had to be put back into production?

Fizyx

Astrobricks said:

CCC said:

Fizyx said:

My question is: Are there going to be changes to the total piece count on the set due to modifications like this?  From what I'm seeing this particular change isn't changing the total piece count, and this is the only difference being mentioned so far, so hopefully the great easter egg of the total piece count on the original set isn't something that will be lost with the new release.

In fact, there are loads of changes in the inventory, as many of the printed parts have new element IDs. So there will be substantial changes in the parts listing section at the back of the manual.

Weird. Is that something they have to do if the part went out of production and had to be put back into production?

That definitely lines up with their rational for changing the set number that they talked about when the rerelease was first announced.  Wouldn't surprise me if that was the case at all.

Astrobricks

Seems like a rational rationale :)

Gibbo1959

benbacardi said:

Astrobricks said:

benbacardi said:

There aren't any parts underneath it

The descent engine nozzle is attached to the bottom center of the plate. See image above ^

In that case, I must have lost that piece on my one that sits next to my monitor on my desk!

That made go and check mine! It sits on a round plate with central stud so shouldn’t fall off easily. Did you forget to fit it in the first place maybe?

benbacardi

Gibbo1959 said:

benbacardi said:

Astrobricks said:

benbacardi said:

There aren't any parts underneath it

The descent engine nozzle is attached to the bottom center of the plate. See image above ^

In that case, I must have lost that piece on my one that sits next to my monitor on my desk!

That made go and check mine! It sits on a round plate with central stud so shouldn’t fall off easily. Did you forget to fit it in the first place maybe?

Nah, mine was just in a storage box for a bit before I pulled it out to sit on my desk. I suspect the engine nozzle is still in the box. I don't have the lander sitting on a plate, though, just on the desk next to the Saturn V.