My Building Quirk - Does Anyone Else Do This?

nmualumni · May 2018

So, when building I find myself making sure the LEGO logo on bricks, plates, etc. will appear aligned as much as possible. By this I mean if they can, I make sure in the final build has the logo upright or reading left to right.

Sometimes, this involves looking forward in the instructions several steps to see how that particular section goes into the final build.

Of course, many times this doesn't work out, as some pieces can only be applied in one direction. But for plates, bricks, etc. this can often be accomplished.

I mostly follow this "rule" of mine when pieces will have the stud exposed, but I also find myself doing it more and more with pieces that get buried in the build. It does add to the build time, but I still enjoy it.

Does anyone else do this?

kez · May 2018

Yes I do this too, you might find responses in this thread helpful :-D

snowhitie · May 2018

I do remember another similar thread a good while ago and when I'm on my computer tomorrow I'll try and look it up unless someone remembers the name.

I personally don't do this, but I applaud your patience and I'm sure it will make the building last longer, so more bang for your buck!

kez · May 2018

snowhitie said:

I do remember another similar thread a good while ago and when I'm on my computer tomorrow I'll try and look it up unless someone remembers the name.

I personally don't do this, but I applaud your patience and I'm sure it will make the building last longer, so more bang for your buck!

@snowhitie No need to bother searching, the thread is here ;-D

I managed to Ninja you on this occasion haha.

snowhitie · May 2018

@kez hihi - what goes around comes around!

Edit: ah it was your thread, I was just going to applaud your searching skills!

The_Rancor · May 2018

I do this, but I usually exercise restraint and make sure it's only really for clear exposed areas where symmetry is best

Polyphemus · May 2018

This very thought crossed my mind once, early on in my reintroduction to LEGO. I immediately recognised the danger and told myself "DO NOT go down this particular rabbit hole". I resisted, and have been thankful ever since! :)

Gibbo1959 · May 2018

@nmualumni you are not alone! Not entirely sure why I do this but I do have a preference for symmetry in other things as well. Not sure it’s doing my eyesight any good though.

ricecake · May 2018

I sometimes do it, depending on the size of the build. The pesky ones are getting round 1x1 plates lined up. Sometimes I even try to make the logos on the 1x2 tiles face the right way, even though they are completely hidden on the underside of the piece!

Baby_Yoda · May 2018

I only ever do it for accessories, where it actually has significant aesthetic influence. Mind you, accessories rarely use bricks and plates. The only time I ever tried to do it big-scale was with #7965 as that was my first big set and I wanted it to look perfect. Emphasis on the "tried".

rdflego · May 2018

I do this. The logo must point forwards or up, hiding as many mould marks as I can. If I can't get the piece to do that then meh

Switchfoot55 · May 2018

...I didn't even know this was a think until a few months back (the thought had never crossed my mind). Then I saw someone post about it in the Lego Old Fishing Store thread and now I have a hard time not doing it!

My brain attaches quickly to odd quirks like this, so I have to be careful to avoid them as much as possible. Luckily, I'm able to give them up pretty quickly if I feel they are taking away from my building experience.

As someone who doesn't have the opportunity to buy/build as often as I'd like, I don't mind taking the extra time in my builds currently.

I've managed to not be too strict on myself with this particular quirk. One of my biggest deals is alignment of tiles though. I've finally found a way to align them quickly that doesn't require hair pulling!

pxchris · May 2018

Yep!! I do this all the time while building. I don't worry as much about the logos all facing the same way for pieces I know are going to be completely hidden, but I absolutely do for exposed studs.

And it frustrates me when I can't align two pieces in the way I want to get the logos right! haha

willobee498 · May 2018

I only care about the orientation for round stud or tile pieces used as headlights on cars. Old sealed beam headlights had the brand moulded into the lense, and if it wasn't oriented correctly your lights wouldn't be quite right!

The_Rancor · May 2018

Kind of different to the original topic suggestion - BUT I definitely have a fixation with moulding marks on pieces. I always subconsciously feel that leaving moulding marks exposed, when it can be avoided, can always be amended. It's also easier to do than the Lego logo On studs because you often know where you can hide the mould marks without looking ahead. It's not something that can be done 100% of the time but I find that it makes the lines cleaner, particularly on the edges of tiles and technic lever arm beams.

Fauch · May 2018

I try to hide moulding marks too. I think of 1x1 cylinders in particular. the only time I've aligned lego logos was when placing the ingots on the facade of brick bank.

ricecake · May 2018

Another one I do which is a bit overkill is to make sure that when I insert Technic pins, the slots on them are aligned in the same orientation as they're shown in the manual.

pxchris · May 2018

ricecake said:

Another one I do which is a bit overkill is to make sure that when I insert Technic pins, the slots on them are aligned in the same orientation as they're shown in the manual.

Haha... SAME!!

DoktorL · May 2018

I am doing the same with trying to align LEGO logos. And totally agree that the round 1x1 plates are a pain ... Thank you for letting me know I'm not alone.

Cyberdragon · May 2018

ricecake said:

Another one I do which is a bit overkill is to make sure that when I insert Technic pins, the slots on them are aligned in the same orientation as they're shown in the manual.

What if they're in moving joints?

Baby_Yoda · May 2018

^ Then just never move the joints!

Shib · May 2018

rdflego said:

I do this. The logo must point forwards or up, hiding as many mould marks as I can. If I can't get the piece to do that then meh

I don't care about the logo alignment but the mould makings I do try to hide with some pieces - the newer 1x1 with upward clips are a prime example, the obvious divet in the side of the plate section annoys me

MaffyD · May 2018

^ Me too. I also try to hide the numbers on some of the axle things. I forget the part number. Hang on...

Technic axle connectors - https://brickset.com/parts?query=32034 is a good example.

CCC · May 2018

You mean you don't use those numbers for hidden messages in your builds?

ricecake · May 2018

Cyberdragon said:

What if they're in moving joints?

If it's a moving joint, then I'm satisfied as long as the orientation is correct at the time of assembly. After that, I realize I can't control the orientation easily, so I let it go.

Another one I do is make sure that the tires are facing a consistent way in cars that I build. For example, if the tires have any molding differences (logos, part identification numbers, etc.) that appear on one side of the tire but not the other, then I make sure that they are either all facing out or all facing in.

Muftak1 · May 2018

Fauch said:

I try to hide moulding marks too. I think of 1x1 cylinders in particular. the only time I've aligned lego logos was when placing the ingots on the facade of brick bank.

My wife did this too when she built the bank (after I had pointed it out to her on the box - just to be clear - I did not ask her to do that!)

scottdd2 · May 2018

I'm one for hiding the moulding marks too, trying to be a bit less obsessive about it though.

Brixfan02 · May 2018

i've thought about this, but I never do it. Not that patient XD

MorkMan · May 2018

My wife bought me #8169 Lamborghini Gallardo AND the ability to drive a real one on a race track for my 40th birthday. I left it on the shelf as a trophy for a year... then opened it when I turned 41. I'm 44 now and NOT done building it because of this quirk... Nevertheless, I haven't received any 'big' sets since.

MorkMan · October 2018

Update. I’m still not done with that Lamborghini.

alldarker · October 2018

I’ve got my two-year-old son building with Lego (can’t start them young enough), but sometimes, when he’s not looking, I reposition a brick he’s placed so the Lego logo is placed ‘better’. Definitely not something I want to pass on to him though...

WhiteDove · October 2018

Ha ha @alldarker, that’s me too. Yes to all of the above. Logo must be right side up or readable from the left, including on windows, where possible, whether hidden or not. Moulding marks hidden. Tyres matching. And I try not to mention this to my kids too, but I feel like it is a secret little challenge that adds to the building experience. For me it’s not an obsession that bothers me. It is just about the hidden neatness that nobody else will likely notice, but I like it. I was the same when I used to do cross stitch - always made the back as neat and lined up as possible, even though it isn’t visible once framed.

My Building Quirk - Does Anyone Else Do This?

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