New lifevest piece?

[muscleman]

I have a question about this item. I buy it this evening:

http://brickset.com/detail/?Set=4642-1

AND

http://brickset.com/detail/?Set=4641-1

...but I found a different type of life jacket, more smaller and different shape. it's normal? I never see this item before now.....only that... it's similar ( but not the same..) to that...

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3840pb18

any one?

Edited September 22, 2011 by Hinckley
Do not post topic title in all caps.

[BasOne]

Ooooohhh that's an old piece.

It's not a life jacket, it's used mostly as a jacket for construction workers.

Don't think they have been used in a few (20) years orso.

[meyerc13]

You are probably thinking of:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=3840pb17

Edit: It's from the 7239 fire truck, which is still on store shelves.

Edited September 22, 2011 by meyerc13

[Clone OPatra]

Don't think they have been used in a few (20) years orso.

A similar piece was used in some World City and Fire sets from several years back, in dark blue and orange.

To muscleman, did you buy this in a new set, or in some old lot?

[muscleman]

no, maybe i have explain a wrong idea...I found on the fishing boat(4642) and speedboat(4641) on the istead of the normal life-vest...a new one...yelow but more small and similar to the pices i link..but not the same....

[paul_delahaye]

I too remember seeing a new life jacket mold with one of the 2011 city harbour sets, I assumed it had already been discussed. Maybe it was the male and female minifig on the jetski I saw the new mold on? can't recall now.

[muscleman]

that's i talk! lol...sorry for the poor quality of the photo!

[prateek]

Huh, that's pretty cool. Were those sets new in the box when you got them? They might be third party.

[muscleman]

Huh, that's pretty cool. Were those sets new in the box when you got them? They might be third party.

I buy it today. and i found that inside the set 4642 (x3) and 4641 (x1)

[prateek]

That's pretty cool then. Does it have a part number printed anywhere on it?

[muscleman]

That's pretty cool then. Does it have a part number printed anywhere on it?

No in the catalog but inside it yes..let's me ceck, in the catalog i see the old one... number 4260843

and I must correct into item 4246 are 2 and no 3

the code is 97895 1-1

Edited September 23, 2011 by muscleman

[jonwil]

There is also discussion of this over on the Brickset forum

http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/1105/new-lifejacket/p1

and another thread here that talks about the new piece

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=57292

I wish there was a way for me here in Australia to get some of these without paying $$$$$$$ to buy some from someone overseas or taking a gamble and buying some City Harbor sets in the hope that I get one inside. I could use some for a MOC I have been collecting parts for...

[prateek]

I wish there was a way for me here in Australia to get some of these without paying $$$$$$$ to buy some from someone overseas or taking a gamble and buying some City Harbor sets in the hope that I get one inside. I could use some for a MOC I have been collecting parts for...

Awwww, I got a copy of 30015, but I got the old life jackets.

[Tamamono]

Wow, that's pretty strange. According to the other threads, these only came in 30015 in the UK, but you got yours from 4642 and 4641, correct? The Harbor sets I bought had the old life jackets (although that was a few months ago). Are you in the States or Europe?

In any case, it's a very nice piece. Maybe TLG plans on using it in future sets?

[Rick]

I've encountered these in a copy of 30015 and I much prefer the old mould. The new one raises the minifig head up without covering up the exposed neck from the front (like most 'neck accessories' do). Also, I like the slightly oversized 'cartoony' look of the old mould. The new one uses a lot less material though, which is probably a reason for changing it.

My guess is that the old ones are just phased out (stocks are used up) and replaced with the new one.

[Horry]

geez, they look great! Just imagine if they came in black - the SWAT/Special Forces/military MOCers around here would be quite happy, I guess.

[muscleman]

Wow, that's pretty strange. According to the other threads, these only came in 30015 in the UK, but you got yours from 4642 and 4641, correct? The Harbor sets I bought had the old life jackets (although that was a few months ago). Are you in the States or Europe?

In any case, it's a very nice piece. Maybe TLG plans on using it in future sets?

Yes it's right. I'm in Europe. Italy. It's the first time i see this pice so for that I ask...and yes The new one raises the minifig head up without covering up the exposed neck from the front, but the design is really cool for me, more modern...i hope LEGO continue to release it :)

[Man with a hat]

I haven't seen the piece in real life. But if I look at the picture the exposed neck is really bad. So I can't say that is an improvement.

I prefer the old one.

[WhiteFang]

I just opened my 30015 Jet Ski and my polybag was from the UK... I was actually preparing to do up a review and I am actually very annoyed with the new lifevest... I thought I was alone in this until I saw this topic.

Below is a preview image of these hideous life vest with the minifigures together.

[Jargo]

That is quite an ugly piece. Very sloppy design. I've just bought 30015 online from a british seller. If I get these I'll either replace them with the old lifesaver or take a Dremel mini tool to the neck attachment.

[CorneliusMurdock]

I agree that the neck should sit down inside the vest. They can do that with beards, why not this? That simple fact ruins a perfectly fine looking redesign.

[Aanchir]

Not sure how I feel about the new lifevest... for one, I have a lot of nostalgia for the old one, since it was in the first set I ever owned. Also, this new one doesn't cover up the torso especially well, making the area with the "belt" a little bit unconvincing. The extension of the neck doesn't bother me too much (the old one sort of did it too if I remember correctly), but in general I think it probably could have been engineered much better.

It's kind of surprising that it was substituted into many of this year's sets that otherwise have the older life vest. Usually when stuff like this happens, there's a very small discrepancy between the older part (usually the one in official pics) and the newer part that appears in its place-- an example is the use of ninja swords with square hilt guards versus ones with octagonal hilt guards. This is a much more visible and significant change, to the extent that this lifevest feels like a brand new part design rather than just a retooling of the old design.

Out of curiosity, does it have a part number embossed on it anywhere?

[TheWarden]

I was indifferent until I saw the picture that shows heads don't fit. I doubt all of them are like that, but those I would consider a failed part akin to a missing or broken part and would seek replacement on LEGO's site.

[muscleman]

Not sure how I feel about the new lifevest... for one, I have a lot of nostalgia for the old one, since it was in the first set I ever owned. Also, this new one doesn't cover up the torso especially well, making the area with the "belt" a little bit unconvincing. The extension of the neck doesn't bother me too much (the old one sort of did it too if I remember correctly), but in general I think it probably could have been engineered much better.

It's kind of surprising that it was substituted into many of this year's sets that otherwise have the older life vest. Usually when stuff like this happens, there's a very small discrepancy between the older part (usually the one in official pics) and the newer part that appears in its place-- an example is the use of ninja swords with square hilt guards versus ones with octagonal hilt guards. This is a much more visible and significant change, to the extent that this lifevest feels like a brand new part design rather than just a retooling of the old design.

Out of curiosity, does it have a part number embossed on it anywhere?

the code is 97895

[meyerc13]

With the guy in the diving suit, it isn't great but doesn't look as bad as the girl because at least with him the dark color of his neck makes it look like it could be part of the wetsuit. Too bad this piece has the major drawback, because other than that it looks nice.