Offset colors used in sets

[NioN]

I don't know if that has been asked before but I've always wondered why Lego includes offset colors for some parts in many Lego sets. It's mostly bright yellow, green, blue or red pieces that are used when building a set. These pieces are (almost) always covered with pieces in the colors that match the set.

It might be unclear what I mean but a good example is this video building a grey themes Star Wars model. Many small red, blue and yellow parts are used in the build which are later covered with grey parts. You can see it from 1:00 in the speedbuild video:

or in the image below.

The only reason I can think of, and to me it's not even a logic one, is that it's to ease the building proces for younger builders. Anyone knows why Lego uses this technique in many Lego sets?

[Boettner Builds]

I always thought it was for the younger builders, but I remember reading somewhere that its done because they are super common colours/parts that they have a surplus of.

[xboxtravis7992]

Both, makes it easier for younger builders, and they are common parts in production.

[HawkLord]

Common color parts and adds variety. It helps when you get a mostly grey set to have some primary colors sprinkled in to help with MOCs down the road or build a collection.

[AndyC]

Sometimes it's also to help make sure you're following the correct orientation when there are a lot of rotated steps with a similar, but not entirely symmetrical model. Much easier to follow if one end has a bright blue plate on it.

[Space Police XVIII]

It's to leave you weeping, gnashing teeth and rending garments when you realize you can build something in the set's color scheme except for this stupid little handful of pieces for which you have pretty much nothing matching, which incidentally means you need to buy more Lego.. it's evil, insidious and I kinda like it.

Edited February 24, 2016 by Space Police XVIII

[dr_spock]

Also to help new builders. It helps make the building process less confusing and frustrating so builder won't swear off future LEGO purchases.

[KlodsBrik]

Or to remind us we´re all Rainbow Warriors deep inside ?

[anothergol]

I suspect one of the reasons is to make it less different parts in the set. Like if the set already contains a lot of yellow 1x2, and somewhere hidden it needs a 1x2 or even a 1x4, it will use more yellow 1x2's instead of adding another part, which probably has a cost.

The other reason is that all Lego designers have to dress like this.

[Stice]

I suspect one of the reasons is to make it less different parts in the set. Like if the set already contains a lot of yellow 1x2, and somewhere hidden it needs a 1x2 or even a 1x4, it will use more yellow 1x2's instead of adding another part, which probably has a cost.

The other reason is that all Lego designers have to dress like this.

Well that would do it ...lol..

[Aanchir]

It makes it easier to identify the pieces you need and where to put them in the building instructions, as well as to find those pieces when they're all in a pile. In some cases there are also other factors — a certain part might not currently be in production in a set's main color but it might be in production in a brighter color. But the main reason is to streamline the building process.

[Hobo Fett]

interesting.

[alanyuppie]

I think this is ingenious because its much easier to follow the work in progress . If one were to built wrongly, backtracking /dismantling

to spot the error, and rebuilding won't be troublesome. Imagine undoing your mistakes to find the partially built chunk is similarly color toned.

Edited May 24, 2016 by alanyuppie