Custom LL918 and LL924 1x6 bricks?

eMouse

Are there any LEGO custom printers out there offering 1x6 bricks with "LL918" or "LL924" custom printed on them in the style of the new Galaxy Explorer?

datsunrobbie

If not, you might want to look into Brother P-Touch labels. 

pxchris

Seems like a missed opportunity if somebody out there isn't making these.

Istokg

pxchris said:

Seems like a missed opportunity if somebody out there isn't making these.

@pxchris I'm glad these are only available as stickers.  I was updating the "Fake LEGO" chapter of my online collectors guide... which has gotten MUCH larger in the last 2 years... and the number of fake LEGO items causes big headaches for buyers on Bricklink and Ebay.  Sticker sheets are one of the easiest (although not always) ways to spot if something is not genuine.  Actual printed bricks may not be as easy to spot.

It is easy enough for new owners to say that something will only stay in their collections, thus preventing grief to others.  But it's another thing that (God forbid) any of us pass away, and our heirs sell our collections without the knowledge that some things are not as they seem.

With the improvements to 3-D printing, and improvements in color scanning/printing, the future of LEGO will have a lot of "surprise" fakes in the secondary marketplace.

Just look at the Mr. Gold CMF... there are probably 20 fakes out there for every 1 real one (although they are sold as $2-$5 fakes). 

pxchris

@Istokg I am actually in complete agreement with you when it comes to reproducing an official print from TLG. I know I've seen many of these fakes in the market - especially on minifigs. However, if it's a custom print of a part that LEGO hasn't ever made, in those cases I'm much less concerned (of course unless LEGO does end up making that part somewhere down the road and then there would be real pandemonium!) and believe in some cases it might fill a hole in the market.
But you're right, stickers in general is much less problematic.

eMouse

Istokg said:

@pxchris I'm glad these are only available as stickers. 

They aren't available in any form at the moment. The Brother P-Touch label reference is a DIY solution.

MaffyD

@Istokg - in this case, the 'fake' would be obvious. For the new Galaxy Explorer it uses a 1x6 brick with 'LL928' down the side. The alternate builds also use this brick, and so have 'LL928' down the side, but it would be much more of a faithful homage to the original two smaller sets if the 1x6 bricks had upscaled 'LL918' & 'LL924' on the sides. Neither of these would be mistaken for the original parts from those old sets, as the originals are 1x4 bricks.

eMouse

Yes, in this case I think it's well documented that the custom bricks I'm looking for aren't, and never have been officially made. Since it seems no one has done it already, I identified the font used in the new LL928 1x6 brick, and used that to design an LL918 and LL924 imprints that match its look. I'm looking into options for getting those printed, at least for my own personal collection. I don't think there would be any sort of rights issue with LEGO since the font used is publicly available. There were a couple minor adjustments needed to match up with the individual characters.

Brainslugged

I don't know what country you're in, but I'm sure there would be plenty of people willing to split the cost with you to get a set of these. (E.g. this guy).

MaffyD

^ & ^^ Likewise - this guy (me).

Huw

In the UK, I suspect https://fab-bricks.com would be able to print them.

eMouse

I'm in the US, but it seems I'm going to have to reach out of the country. So far, in order, I've had 'no response', 'we're booked for 10 weeks and aren't taking new orders at this time', 'we don't do requests', and 'it's too similar to the old 1x4 pieces'.

It is in fact a different font than the original 1x4, as well as being printed on a 1x6 brick, but oh well. Plus, I found a font that is likely what LEGO designers used to make the "LL 928" design, with some very minor adjustments. 

Hoping I can find someone who's willing to print the design I made. Reaching out to fab-bricks.com and we'll see what they have to say.

eMouse

Finally got a response I'm hopeful about. Hopefully this will work out.

MaffyD

Huw said:

In the UK, I suspect https://fab-bricks.com would be able to print them.

Fab Bricks have told me they won't do them.

pxchris

Well, somebody has managed to get them done...

eMouse

I have a quote that I'm happy with and am waiting for the unprinted bricks to arrive from LEGO so I can send them off to get 75 sets (300 bricks) printed up.

I think I found the same base font that LEGO used for their bricks. It required tweaking the 'L' and the '9' a little bit, and the '1' I left in the font's style, for the sake of being different from the original 1x4 prints. The '1' shown above is actually a modified '4'.

eMouse

MaffyD said:

Huw said:

In the UK, I suspect https://fab-bricks.com would be able to print them.

Fab Bricks have told me they won't do them.

Yes, this is one of the places I asked, and they said they wouldn't touch the project.

eMouse

This is what my versions should look like...

rich_b

If you’re willing to make them available once done, I’m in for a set. They look great!

RuMontag

Those look excellent! I'd certainly be in as well :)

Oldfan

I'd love to have a set as well, if possible!

MaffyD

Same! Although if you're based in the US I imagine that would be expensive to post.

Brainslugged

MaffyD said:

Same! Although if you're based in the US I imagine that would be expensive to post.

It would work best if @eMouse could send to a single person in the UK who could then distribute. I'd happily take point on that (assuming @eMouse was willing).

As well as a pair of LL924s, I'd love two pairs of LL918s. I never got the two larger craft as a kid, but my brother and I both had 918s so I'd love to recreate that.

PDelahanty

I'd actually like one that says LL10497.  Older sets reflected the set number and I feel the new one should as well.

andhe

Have you tried https://www.steindrucker.com/

Brainslugged

andhe said:

Have you tried https://www.steindrucker.com/

It would appear they are well ahead of us!

eMouse

Checking it out. I'm planning to continue to pursue getting my version printed up. Waiting for the bricks to arrive so they can be sent off to the printer.

Captain_Eyebrow

I am tempted to explore a slightly different registry system and lean in on Star Trek a little bit.  

Given its been more than 40 years since the original 928 I could apply the same logic as has been given to the Enterprise and this Galaxy Explorer could be either LL 928-B or LL 928-C.

That would indicate a shared linage of the crafts rather than just a direct replacement.  After all the Galaxy Explorer is just as legendary as the Enterprise.

MaffyD

andhe said:

Have you tried https://www.steindrucker.com/

Have you SEEN the amount of Classic Space prints they do? I am going to regret clicking that link, aren't I? :-)

MaffyD

Captain_Eyebrow said:

I am tempted to explore a slightly different registry system and lean in on Star Trek a little bit.  

Given its been more than 40 years since the original 928 I could apply the same logic as has been given to the Enterprise and this Galaxy Explorer could be either LL 928-B or LL 928-C.

That would indicate a shared linage of the crafts rather than just a direct replacement.  After all the Galaxy Explorer is just as legendary as the Enterprise.

LL 928-A I reckon is the logical nomenclatura. There hasn't been one in between (and I don't want to class it as a refit - it's clearly a new version).

I like this idea, but I don't like figuring out how to put it on a 1x6 brick.

eMouse

New bricks arrived, invoice was paid, and bricks were sent off to the printer. Estimated return is toward the end of October.

jedivalkyrie

I’m in for a set if you’re distributing. 

eMouse said:

New bricks arrived, invoice was paid, and bricks were sent off to the printer. Estimated return is toward the end of October

datsunrobbie

Has anyone found the right font for Classic Space? I ordered some new label tape, have not been able to find the right font.

MaffyD

German site came through:



(bought some extra bits and bobs at the same time).

Brainslugged

MaffyD said:

German site came through:

Nice! Are those flags printed on both sides?

Edit: Scratch that. Just been to the website and seen that they are.

Brainslugged

MaffyD said:

(bought some extra bits and bobs at the same time).

I'm sold! just placed my own order for the Galaxy Explorer package plus two other packs I've had my eye on for several years. Never ordered from him before so v excited to see how they look.

MaffyD

Yes, flags are both sides. The only difference to Lego printing that I can see from handling them for a bit is that the print is ever so slightly matte, so at a certain angle they don't reflect in quite the same way. This is barely noticeable though (I didn't notice when I took that photo).

jedivalkyrie

Borrowed my wife's Cricut machine and voila!  Ship registrations!

(I fixed the off kilter "L"...)

eMouse

My custom print order was delivered yesterday! I now have a whole bunch of these. Started listing them on eBay and I need to look around for where else I can make them available. 

eMouse

I have posted a listing in the Marketplace forum.

datsunrobbie

Found a Facebook post that recommends Eurostile Bold Extended as the font to use, will post samples once I get time to print a few labels. 

datsunrobbie

Printed using Eurostile MN font - needs to be a little taller

datsunrobbie

Printed using Eurostile MN

Switchfoot55

What are you printing with, @datsunrobbie?

datsunrobbie

Switchfoot55 said:

What are you printing with, @datsunrobbie?

Brother P-Touch 2600 with 3/8" tape, using the P-Touch editor program on a PC.

Spidrax

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1304943459/1x6-space-bricks-afol-moc

Captain_Eyebrow

Ahhhhh, the registry is correct and the new Galaxy Explorer can head out into the unknown. The original LL 928 can be safely retired to the fleet museum for future explorers to wonder at and hear tales of its adventures . . . . . . .

Thanks @Spidrax that was a top link and worth every penny.