Minifigure hands - which way up?

[SilentMode]

I've always been confused as to what the "correct" orientation of a minifigure's hands is, particularly when holding utensils.

I prefer to use the wide, flat part of the hand as the top, such as in this photo:

but I've occasionally seen pictures, and sometimes official Lego ones, that have the hands turned the other way.

[Rick]

That's the typical orientation, because the wider parts represents the longer fingers and the thumb (supposedly, first time I consciously think about it). Sometimes an accessory just looks better or can be better positioned relative to the mouth or eyes of a minifig when you turn the hand around.

[prateek]

I use them like they are in the picture, but it depends on what they're holding.

[Modulex Guy]

The photo above is what, to me, is the proper orientation of the minifigure hand when it is empty and holding basic utensils, but sometimes I use the hands the other way to get a different grip on a tool or to achieve a certain position. I say, whichever way works best for the application is the right way.

[WhiteFang]

Interesting. I don't know what's the right way but for all of mine minifigures holds the same orientation like yours,regardless of the items that they hold like the Forestmen image below,

[metalgearsolid]

Hmm... never really thought about it but when I look at the hands the other way seems more anatomically correct. Cos I look at my hands and when they are curled the top part is naturally curved and shorter cos of the thumb.

[fred67]

Hmm... never really thought about it but when I look at the hands the other way seems more anatomically correct. Cos I look at my hands and when they are curled the top part is naturally curved and shorter cos of the thumb.

Hmm.... that's not what I see. If my wrist is straight, and I make a fist, the top part (part with the thumb) is much higher.

Only when you bend your wrist down (so that your forearm makes a straight line, more or less, with your thumb) does the bottom part become larger... but then if you were to hold something that way, it would be at an angle with your arm. If you keep your wrist straight, what you held would be perpendicular to your forearm, which is how minifigures hold items.

IOW, long story short, the larger part on top seems to be the more anatomically correct natural position.

Edit: that's not my hand, BTW... I cut my nails!

Edited September 7, 2010 by fred67

[davee123]

Cos I look at my hands and when they are curled the top part is naturally curved and shorter cos of the thumb.

Technically, the thumb would be represented in a LEGO minifig by one entire side of the "clip". So one side is the thumb, and the other side is the 4 fingers. Given that the pinky is shorter, and that the thumb is further away from the pinky, I would think that the "fatter" end makes more sense to be the "top" of the hand (pointing up/forward).

DaveE

[Brickdoctor]

It depends for me. I think the proper orientation is with the wide end up, but for poses like spearmen at attention, I turn it upside down, because that changes the angle of the accessory and brings the spear in closer to the body.

[BearHeart]

Lol, this has something that I've thought about a lot too. I always use the longer part of the hand up, like the OP does in the picture.

[rriggs]

long story short, the larger part on top seems to be the more anatomically correct natural position.

I agree with that. Also, they do tend to be better with most tools, weapons, etc that way round. Add to that the fact that I've done it that way for the last 30-odd years and the other way round just looks wrong!

Cheers

Rog

[AndyC]

Yep, I have them as in the first post photo too. In fact, it's probably the one bit of Lego that I get all OCD over, it bothers me when the hands aren't 'right', even when I can't think of a reason for it. Thankfully the minifigs don't seem to mind this.

[David Thomsen]

I used to be very precious about having my minifigs hands the 'right' way up, until I realised that when I turn the hands upside down, my soldiers can hold their rifles over their shoulders, which looks much better when marching in formation.

It seems that having the large side up when they are holding a tool means that tool is 'active', but when the hands are upside down the tool becomes 'passive'.

[Artanis I]

What I do? Whatever works with the utensils being held. Some things require the hand to be sideways, generally in this case I have the flat side on the inside and curved side on the outside of the minifig. BUT, the default for me is with the flat side up, so if the fig is emptyhanded the hand is flat side up.

And I am very particular about this when putting the figures together!

[SilentMode]

It seems that having the large side up when they are holding a tool means that tool is 'active', but when the hands are upside down the tool becomes 'passive'.

I'd never thought of that. I've just given it a try with a minifig holding a goblet, and there's definitely a difference in how "active" the goblet is.

[dr_spock]

I set them in the same way as the top picture above unless they are holding something that I need to pointed at a different angle like this:

[SilentMode]

Mmmmm... Lego porn.

[Dunjohn]

Well, while we're on the subject of hands.... Hand up who didn't think that when they saw the photo?

[XimenaPaulina]

The proper orientation of the MF hands is like the one in the first pic. Just look at every official lego box showing the minifigs, the hands have always been in that orientation. Yeah, there maybe a few missed ones, but I'm pretty sure the numbers (of MF in that hand orientation on official lego images) don't lie.

And that official hand orientation is based on the that of real-world humans (us). Just look at yourself when you're standing, for sure you'll have that same hand orientation.

[alstda]

I just showed someone, who knows hardly anything about Lego, a minifigure with its hands orientated differently and she said the flat-topped, wider section up hand looked better. It's the way I have always done it and it almost seems non-politically correct to do so otherwise...

[fred67]

Well, while we're on the subject of hands.... Hand up who didn't think that when they saw the photo?

It's hard not to with that look on the Cheerleader's face. It's not the expression of someone getting a shot of penicillin.

[Athos]

Most people prefer them the way you have them in the picture. I generally go the other way, just because I like the position of the utensil they are holding better with the hand upside down. If they're not holding anything, they're usually upside down, since that's how they came from the factory or how I positioned them when they were holding something. Its really not something I pay much attention to.

Steve

[drdavewatford]

LOL

This is one of the things I love about the LEGO community - just look at the amount of time and energy being expended in considering this obscure topic !

No doubt non-AFOLs would think we're completely insane, but that's part of the fun !

Dr. D.

[legowill1]

I set them in the same way as the top picture above unless they are holding something that I need to pointed at a different angle like this:

Yum Yum!