What's up with random colored parts in Lego sets?

[mostlytechnic]

We've all seen how Lego uses random colored parts in builds where it won't be seen - like inside structures, etc. Sometimes though, this just baffles me.

For example, last night the wife and I build the 10231 Space Shuttle. Great build, lots of white and black of course. Inside the orange large fuel tank though, there are 4 2x2 bricks in trans-dark blue used as part of the reinforcing structure. Why on earth did Lego do that? That brick hasn't been seen in that color since 2007, according to Bricklink (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=3003&colorID=14&in=A). So did Lego just have a bin of those sitting in the warehouse that they wanted to use up? Or are they coming back in an upcoming set? I can't believe that Lego would make them, just to be hidden inside the tank, when they already have 2x2 bricks in other colors in the set. Surely it'd be cheaper from an inventory standpoint to just put more white ones in the set rather than a new color.

Sometimes the odd color can make sense - sticking a random red or blue plate in a structure can make the instructions easier to follow. But sometimes, I just go huh?

[legocanuck]

I don't know for sure, but it does makes sense that perhaps they had a box of those bricks waiting to be used.

Also, I've noticed that Lego sometimes builds sets knowing that people will tear them down and use the pieces to build other things, that's why they include a variety of pieces.

[Jordan S.]

When I design models in LDD, I'll typically use random-colored (or brightly colored) parts on the inside of a model. It helps me to distinguish which parts form the internal structure of the model, and as you said, it makes those parts stand out in the building instructions.

Another reason I do that is so that if I order the model, I can more easily spot and distinguish the brightly-colored elements in a sea of mostly uniform-colored bricks. Typically, I'll use light green for the internal structure of vehicles like planes and trains - it's sort of similar to the green primer paint color used in real life.

[mikey]

The consensus in this thread was that they help give contrast following the instructions in the early stages. But sometimes the wrong colours are visible in the final build, which annoys me if I wanted to keep the set built, in which case I would swap it with a better colour.

[Phrea]

Are you complaining about how the inner structure of some sets is built up with bricks of which you can't even see their colour?

Like the above posters: there's a lot of reasons; one of the reasons to use them is to not make the build completely boring and for the builder to have some reference- and contrast points to distinguish where they are.

They also might have a surplus of a certain brick in a certain colour.

If you don't see it, what's the problem?

If you are a MOC'cer, the amount of 'other coloured' bricks is very limited in sets like this, and always welcomed.

Edited September 21, 2011 by Phrea

[WhiteFang]

Are you talking about this? One of my past building experience, related back to the 7198 Fighter Plane Attack, where the coloured portion refer to the mechanism of separating the wings apart.

[prateek]

I'm sure they use primary colours since they are the cheapest to produce. It makes sense, but it is kinda annoying. There was a topic a while back on just this same topic, but I'm too lazy to find it for you. Maybe someone else will.

What annoys me much more though is the funky Technic colours. 10 years ago, there were maximum 3-4 colours of pins and axles, but now it seems every single small piece has its own colour.

I know it's for finding pieces easily, but it's much more frustrating since these pieces are often used on the outsides of the model, and not just inside like the random bricks in System sets' interiors.

Edited September 22, 2011 by prateek

[wokajablocka]

Im sure I read somewhere that Lego puts in these random clours is so you get a variation of element colours for MOCing. Lego expects you to pull down the sets and make your own creations. Most OT Star Wars vehiles are mainly one colour so you would be getting a hell of a lot of grey elements in these sets. The can put some rendom clolurs in the insde if structures so they can bve used later in some other creation.

[mostlytechnic]

No, I'm not complaining, just curious how this works from Lego's perspective.

A few primary colored parts in a set makes sense.

In the particular case I cited though, it makes no sense at all. 4 trans-dark blue bricks, that can't be seen, and haven't been produced in 4 years... the ONLY way I can come up with that makes sense is that Lego had a bin of them and wanted to use them up. Otherwise, they SHOULD have used some red or blue bricks - the same color benefits and variety, but using parts that are readily available.

[AndyC]

In the particular case I cited though, it makes no sense at all. 4 trans-dark blue bricks, that can't be seen, and haven't been produced in 4 years... the ONLY way I can come up with that makes sense is that Lego had a bin of them and wanted to use them up. Otherwise, they SHOULD have used some red or blue bricks - the same color benefits and variety, but using parts that are readily available.

Or the (re)designer of the set looked at how much he had to spend on parts and realised he could slip a rare piece into the set without upsetting it visually, making it more desirable to fans. It's certainly not unprecedented for set designers to do this.