UCS 10225 R2-D2 Revealed

[Lamonster]

That price is actually pretty good, considering the piece count and being a Star Wars set.

[Solo]

I am not happy about this:

...for several reasons.

[bigospedros]

What are those reasons, may I ask?

[Solo]

It's easier just to show you what this should look like, in my mind at least:

Excuse the rough shop job, but you get the idea. Looks like I'll be rebuilding mine a bit once it arrives.

[mooslug]

What's up with the photo showing a single 1x4 light bley brick?

[onions]

it's their 1:1 scale image that's found on a lot of sets these days.

i'm curious as to why they put in the regular blue elements and didn't just use dark blue all around.

[bigospedros]

Having looked at a top photo of R2 to remind me of what it should look like, I agree with your displeasure! I wonder why they did it the way they have?

[emmtwosix]

i'm curious as to why they put in the regular blue elements and didn't just use dark blue all around.

Yeah, that's an interesting choice, especially on a UCS set, given this isn't a TIE fighter from 10 years ago...maybe it's supposed to resemble "glare" or something like that.

[Brainslugged]

Having looked at a top photo of R2 to remind me of what it should look like, I agree with your displeasure! I wonder why they did it the way they have?

That may look better for the top view, but it needs to look OK from the side too (obviously).

[Solo]

It would:

[Witha_K]

I am not happy about this:

...for several reasons.

You can blame me for that Don.

[Solo]

So what was the reasoning behind those details? Specifically, the dome panels cut to 4 instead of 6 and the regular blue mixed in? I have my guesses about each.

[lividus]

Is it wrong that my first thought was to convert it to R5-D4?

[harrison]

I like the variation of blues gives it character, makes it look more real.

[Old Republic]

I'm even more impressed with sparkart's ability to make his version look so accurate with so many fewer pieces.

Who knows, maybe Lego intentionally adds pieces to pad the price, small pieces hidden away or pieces that don't seem to serve any purpose. I know I've noticed a trend of sets having more pieces than they really need, designed with many smaller parts when fewer larger parts would have sufficed.

Eight years ago you would have been lynched for such heresy. What you wrote was the best argument for 'juniorization' I've ever read. I kid of course because I suspect you don't really mean to call for juniorization but are making the same complaint I have often made the last few years...."What the hell is up with all the 1x1 dots??!!"
Take, for example, Diagon Alley; it has at least 50 gold 1x1 round plates that are there in the name of "detail" but we all know their purpose is to bump up the piece count.

[b4p]

10221 had a few places where you had to use two smaller parts instead of 1 larger part, but that set had numbered bags. Several bags had the same contents; even between number boxes I think (not 100% sure). This might've been done in order to reduce the number of *unique* parts in the set, as well as the number of unique numbered bags.

The instructions used color to make the build easier, and the 1x2 dark tan plate was easy to pick out. Also, does it really matter? It's your own fault if you judge a set by price-per-brick without looking at the type of bricks (which is common).

*edited for fun*

[cas]

Take, for example, Diagon Alley; it has at least 50 gold 1x1 round plates that are there in the name of "detail" but we all know their purpose is to bump up the piece count.

That's basically what I'm talking about, pieces that fall in the "1x1" and 1x2" categories. If they're used for detail and I can clearly see them, I don't mind as much (and less in a "special" set such as DA or the mod buildings), but I more concerned with parts that don't add detail and are used for "efficiency" (I believe b4p is correct in the assessment of reducing unique parts in sets), I mind because they add to the cost of the set. Two 1x2 plates in place of one 1x4 plate equals added cost, especially when it's done over and over again.

I can't speak for R2's construction, but I'm willing to bet there are plenty of places where two or three parts were used when one would have worked perfectly.

[GIR3691]

From what I understand, it's a matter of the number of unique parts in a set. Adding a single 1x4 blue on the assembly line is more complicated than adding an additional four 1x1 blues when there are already a ton in a set. More unique parts make things more complicated, and add to the cost of packing the boxes.

[emmtwosix]

Eight years ago you would have been lynched for such heresy. What you wrote was the best argument for 'juniorization' I've ever read. I kid of course because I suspect you don't really mean to call for juniorization but are making the same complaint I have often made the last few years...."What the hell is up with all the 1x1 dots??!!"

Looking back at the sets that were coming out in the late 90's and early 2000's, I can see why. A lot of huge, basically one-off pieces...uhh, SPUDs, I guess (I'm not good with LEGO slang, had to look this up.) But yeah, mostly talking about the 1x1s and 1x2s that boost piece count but don't really add value to the set. I'm all for both high piece counts and variety, but if you really need a few hundred 1x1 or 1x2 plates, get them on Bricklink. I'm sure you could find some place to buy them in bulk for a few dollars.

With that said, I don't know how much use this piece would get, but after running across this issue while taking a few sets apart recently, I would REALLY appreciate it if they came up with a 1x2 two-thirds thickness brick. After trying to pry those suckers apart again and again I often decide just to leave the 1x2 plates stuck together for all eternity. This would only eliminate one part-per-piece and would be a rarity, but the way I look at it, I've already lost those two pieces because I can't pull them apart very easily and usually leave 'em how they are. Just a minor quibble, not really holding out hope for this

[b4p]

After trying to pry those suckers apart again and again I often decide just to leave the 1x2 plates stuck together for all eternity.

get two of these
http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Brick-Separator-630