Does anyone know what the little black rectangle on minifigure necks are for? Well, not 'for, but why are they there?

Only reason I ask is cause i got a new minifig and it doesn't have the rectangle on it.

In retrospect this seems like a silly question...

Good question, not sure. Maybe whatever machine holds the piece before painting holds the piece in place there but I don't know.

I always thought it helped minifig heads stay on more tightly, since the heads on my old figs where the black rectangle is rubbed off tend to be looser.

Maybe the rectangles are there to show which side of the MF torso is the front? And maybe they are not there anymore because the printing machines have been upgraded?

Maybe the rectangles are there to show which side of the MF torso is the front? And maybe they are not there anymore because the printing machines have been upgraded?

That is probably it alright.

I thought I read somewhere that the black marks were used to attach heads properly, back when heads were pre-attached... since they no longer are, the marks are not needed?

I've always wondered this. But I do know that they are a good measure for telling the condition of a minifigure, as a new torso will naturally have unscathed paint.

I have no clue. Plain torso usally don't have them. I thought it made their head tight but it easily smeared and some where still tight without the rectangle.

I've always wondered this. But I do know that they are a good measure for telling the condition of a minifigure, as a new torso will naturally have unscathed paint.

Well, for minifigures with easy to attach heads, the paint stays on. I always try to make the paint stay on to make my minifigures look "new". I think that they only have no black or blue (on the black torsos) printing there if there's no printing on the torso (just a plain, one color torso).

to tell if the torso's new or not

I actually have a question. Do the magnet minigifs have the patch? Because my Dooku and Mace dont.

i think it is to show the old machines where the minifigs head should go so it can be lined up correctly.

cb (as there is some confusion cb stands fo crabboy

Edited March 27, 200915 yr by crabboy329

I think it is to allign the print when applying it, magazines and newspapers often have a press aim on the bottom of the pages, to see if the print is correct.

I actually have a question. Do the magnet minigifs have the patch? Because my Dooku and Mace dont.

My old Boba Fett does.

I think it is to allign the print when applying it, magazines and newspapers often have a press aim on the bottom of the pages, to see if the print is correct.

So far that's the best explanation. But how come the new magnet sets don't have them, as someone said earlier?

So far that's the best explanation. But how come the new magnet sets don't have them, as someone said earlier?

Perhaps they produced them really fast so they didnt bother to put them on? It doesnt really make a difference.

I think it is to allign the print when applying it, magazines and newspapers often have a press aim on the bottom of the pages, to see if the print is correct.

I think this explination is right!

Perhaps they produced them really fast so they didnt bother to put them on? It doesnt really make a difference.

Possible...or the colour-production have already success so that they don't need this little test pressure.

'Bricks'

I think it is to allign the print when applying it, magazines and newspapers often have a press aim on the bottom of the pages, to see if the print is correct.

That is the most realistic and Logical reason I have heard.

Also, I believe Black Torsos/necks have a light grey rectangle at the front.

jifel

I think it is to allign the print when applying it, magazines and newspapers often have a press aim on the bottom of the pages, to see if the print is correct.

Sounds the best reason.

Wouldn't want kids getting minifigures with their heads snapped to their backs!

I say someone send TLG an email and ask them! This is one of the many mysteries of lego, "why in the world is a little box on my minifigs neck??"