Ninja Mystery Piece in 6033

[WesternOutlaw]

Ninja Treasure Transport #6033 contains a strange piece. In the image of the set below (from the box), the grey ninja grabs a blue "antenna piece" with his left hand. The piece is held on the grey rock formation by a black vertical 1x1 clip.

Is this a staff? A scepter/wand? Or just a stick? Or even something else? I find the choice of blue an odd color and it's the only blue piece in the 51 piece set. What is this piece suppose to be?

Share your thoughts of this mystery piece.

[Asuka]

Strange.... maybe a carrying handle for this falsified camouflage?

[Brick Miner]

i think it is so that you can pose the ninja in an "attack" stance. like he jumping out from behind the rock. its more so you can "sets up" a scene (like in a diaroma) rather than play with the set.

though, blue is a weird choice for the color. however, i seem to recall some other odd choice pieces in sets, where there purpose is "fuction" (like in this set) not "to look good".

*y* great topic, by the way. i love discussion like this *y*

- BrickMiner

[Graynar]

I have the set, the blue piece is just a flag pole coloured blue. I always though it was supposed to be a trickle of water. :-P

[Brick Miner]

ok, here is an example of what i think it is... LEGO seemed to use a "different" color piece on purpose, when the piece fills the purpose of function.

in sheriff's lock-up 6755, the spring unit/mechanism that blows off the jail door uses a red plate. well like blue with the ninja set, red appears no where else in the structure. odd choice there too *wacko*

- BrickMiner

[WesternOutlaw]

Yes... very strange...

[Starwars4J]

The real reason? They had a surplus of blue antenna :-D

[WesternOutlaw]

Good answer. But what is it suppose to be?

[Starwars4J]

I honestly think the correct theory mentioned was that it's there to give the Ninja an action-y pose. Yes, grey or black would have worked better, but this is clearly meant to be hidden behind the rock. They probably had spare blue, so decided to use that. Same with the red 1x1 plate you showed.

[Brick Miner]

or the blue was supposed to be sky. skys are blue, and if the piece is really not there as a visual enhancer, then its better off blending with the background... which i guess is presumably sky.

- BrickMiner

[WesternOutlaw]

I don't think the "action pose theory" is correct in this case. The picture does not have the ninja in an action pose but rather just grabbing the piece, as if to use it as a weapon.

Oh, I take that back. His legs are off the ground. Action pose all the way! Maybe it is just something to hold him up.

[Athos]

I think it was explained once, don't ask me when or where, that Lego liked to put off/odd colored pieces in where they couldn't be seen, so that kids could have a large variety of colors to play with. It seems kids like many multi-colored pieces, even when it doesn't make any aesthetic sence, at all.

Steve

[Brick Miner]

thats a very good expination for the color... different colors/shapes inspire a kids imagination too (gets them thinking creatively when they try to come up with arlternate models), which is the ultimate goal for LEGO, right ???

i never bought into the whole, "they is the piece/color that had overstocked, so that is what they used" theory. i have way more confidence in LEGO than to say that. thanks athos !!! now, i can use the above expination in my arsenal for arguments (if i ever need to, hopefully not ;-) ).

- BrickMiner

[Athos]

I think I read it in a discussion over at fbtb about either the original millenium falcon or AT-AT. As I recall, it was an official Lego rep, probably Jake.

Steve

[Brick Miner]

oooohhh... so its official 8-

[WesternOutlaw]

At least is sort of makes sense.

[Athos]

oooohhh... so its official 8-

[WesternOutlaw]

But I would never guess that blue is a popular color for an antenna piece. I would think black, grey, or other more common color that the piece is offered in.

[Brick Miner]

that hints at NOT supporting the theory that LEGO uses what ever pieces are in stock X-D they chose a less common color !!!

- BrickMiner

[Starwars4J]

that hints at NOT supporting the theory that LEGO uses what ever pieces are in stock X-D they chose a less common color !!!

- BrickMiner

To me it makes sense. I mean they used a color that they barely used in other sets. Why? If it was one of the more common colors, they'd have plenty of use for it. For an uncommon color like that they'd have no use but to hide it away somewhere.

[WesternOutlaw]

Oh well... Wouldn't it be neat to be able to interview a set designer to find out his/her inspiration and/or thoughts on popular set.

[Norro]

The spring clean sets proved (and Jake admitted) that lego make pieces first, ie everything blue for a month, than design sets from whats in the warehouse. This is why they occassionaly have a very successful sell out and simply announce they have no way of restocking, because they are working on a yellow output at the time. I think this bizzare production practice/unnecessary warehousing are a large cause of Lego's economic problems. (Note how he boldly expands the topic... ;-) )

God Bless all,

Nathan

[WesternOutlaw]

Lego should offer color tubs then, in whatever the color of the week/month is. That would be a nice idea. You could really stock up in the specific color.