Stability

[TomLego]

As I've said in other threads, I'm an older AFOL. I started building after my wife gave me the Fallingwater architecture as a gift. That was about 2 1/2 years ago. Since then, I've built all of the architecture sets, all of the modular buildings, Tower Bridge, the Space Shuttle, Taj Mahal, the VW Van and, most recently, the Eiffel Tower. Some were hard to find and more expensive as they were retired by Lego before I developed an interest in Lego. Most were rather routine builds. Some more challenging that others. Here's my question. I found the Eiffel Tower to be more frustrating than challenging. Same for the front roof on the VW Van. It's as if the way the pieces fit together just didn't allow for a level of support that created a relatively stable finished product. I fully realize that a Lego build is, by its very nature, fragile to a certain degree. But the a Eiffel Tower (more specifically, the lower level of it covered by the first instruction book) and the front roof of the VW Van just didn't seem like they were very well thought out.

Have you had this experience with a Lego product? Like I said, most builds are pretty good at staying together when I move them around. But a couple of them had some aspects that just didn't seem to work too well. I'll admit, maybe its just me.

Thanks.

[Tariq j]

Hi, I agree with you and I've had this problem before in a few sets in the past, the sign of the palace cinema (at least in my opinion) was weakly attached onto the front of the set, making it hard to attach figures to it, just a simple push on the top could cause it to fall down.

[jimmynick]

We (mother, sister and I) accidentally broke my dad's Eiffel Tower when we moved it from one table to another, but I managed to put it together again. My dad says he's broken it again and wants me to fix it now I'm home for a little while.

I completely empathise with you and your feelings about the Eiffel Tower; it's a great looker but falls down as soon as you breathe near it.

[pbat]

I'll admit, maybe its just me.

Nope, some constructions are really not as stable as they should be from a structural engineer's point of view. If you are sure you will never ever disassamble a well-beloved set, you might enhance stability by using something like this. But that's pretty much a one-way decission, so calculate its use carefully.

[TomLego]

jamesn

Well, I certainly feel his pain. But, unless you live alone, you've got to expect some sort or natural disaster to hit some of these weaker structures. The lady who cleans my house has strict instructions that Lego and antique radios are 'no dusting zones'.

Maybe you could sell your Dad insurance on the Eiffel Tower. For a small monthly insurance fee, you will rebuilt it when someone breathes on it or looks at it the wrong way. Just a thought. :-)

Thanks to you and Tariq j for your support. When making a comment like I made, I frequently get beaten up by Lego apologists.

pbat.....I may fill a spray gun with that stuff and aim it at the Lego Eiffel Tower.

Edited September 3, 2013 by TomLego

[pbat]

I may fill a spray gun with that stuff and aim it at the Lego Eiffel Tower.

Nah, that pretty sure ruins the optical appearance. Rather put little drops on the studs which won't be visible when another brick is put atop of it, especially at the crtical and unstable structures. This way you get a quite stable connection without ruining the visible surface too much.

[TomLego]

Thanks for the advice. The Eiffel Tower is a monochromatic hell. Even so, I'm holding back on pulling the glue gun's trigger.

:-)

[zux]

Nope, some constructions are really not as stable as they should be from a structural engineer's point of view. If you are sure you will never ever disassamble a well-beloved set, you might enhance stability by using something like this. But that's pretty much a one-way decission, so calculate its use carefully.

I don't own Eifel tower set and not familiar with it, but I think some sort of additional support made from trans-clear bricks might be better than glueing the parts?

[pbat]

I don't own Eifel tower set and not familiar with it, but I think some sort of additional support made from trans-clear bricks might be better than glueing the parts?

Additional trans-clear support elements? That won't be La Tour Eiffel any longer but rather some sort of Centre Georges Pompidou .

No, seriously, glue only those sets you are absolutely sure you will never ever disassemble, as it would quite contradict the purpose of Lego. But even if you glued your tower and regret it later: Put it in a tub of at least 40˚C / 105˚F hot soapy water, wait some time and the glue will peel away. I used to stabilise some fragile structures that way and I'm quite happy with the results.

[Faefrost]

The seemingly counterintuitive thing is the fragility of build is often more likely to pop up in the giant Adult and AFOL targeted display sets. These types of sets are built for look, not to survive play, and it often shows. Just look at the Star Wars UCS type sets. They are particularly notorious for this. Heck major chunks of the B Wing are just held on by a few studs. When doing some sort of technic pin connection would have been perfectly viable. The X Wing s a strange mix of super reinforced solidity and complete frailty.

Apparently we old foggies aren't viewed as a high risk for overly energetic swooshing?

[kermit]

Doesnt the bricks degrade a little in rigidity and strength if you put it in the water at that temperature? I would recommend gluing as a last resort. Remember these are lego bricks and structures can always be strengthened by ingenious used of bricks. For example, the imperial flagship was very weak at the front and i stabilized it by adding some stud pieces.

[pbat]

Doesnt the bricks degrade a little in rigidity and strength if you put it in the water at that temperature?

It depends: If the water is too hot for you to bath in, it probably is too hot for your bricks, too. But if you don't get blebs and blisters from the heat, your bricks will presumably survive it, too. Except maybe electric parts and stickers. Anyway, you shouldn't do that too often and only use mild soap: In any circumstance avoid the use of nail polish remover, acetone or similar cleaning compounds, as they almost certainly will mar the surfaces and blur the colours (although you might get some "unique" effects...).

I would recommend gluing as a last resort. Remember these are lego bricks and structures can always be strengthened by ingenious used of bricks. For example, the imperial flagship was very weak at the front and i stabilized it by adding some stud pieces.

Sure, gluing is nothing to be done thoughtlessly. But reinforcing gracile sets with improper bricks can be annoying as well. Why not give it a try? Be daring, but before ruining a large and expensive set, you might want to try it at a somewhat small and cheap one.

[eurotrash]

I don't buy a lot of sets, but I do MOC a lot (mainly Modulars and City vehicles) and they're probably all heavily over-engineered with internal structure to provide the support and strength they need.

Personally. I just can't see me glueing bricks together - my MOCs aren't built to last more than a month or two, but try it. If it works then great. If not (and hot water doesn't remove the glue) then a quick BL order can restore your set to it's original condition. So I don't think you've got a lot to lose - and you may gain some stability-induced sanity as a result!