1x1 brick alignment

[CP5670]

Do you bother to align 1x1 bricks and plates so that they are perfectly straight? Unlike larger bricks, 1x1 pieces are connected to other parts by only one stud and can freely rotate around it. This includes 1x1 bricks, plates, tiles and several variants of them.

I attach these pieces carefully when building both official models and MOCs, and take the time to completely straighten out the edges before I move on. This can be tedious to do in some cases, like the floor tiles in the Creator houses, but I think the end result looks much more nice and uniform. However, I often see misaligned 1x1s in pictures posted here and on Brickshelf, so it would be interesting to get some thoughts on this. I have in mind here situations where the intention is to have them straight (as opposed to deliberately misaligning them to achieve a disorderly look), which is how they're used in almost all official sets.

Straightening them out is actually easier to do today than it used to be 15-20 years ago. The bricks had a much stronger grip back then and you sometimes couldn't rotate a 1x1 piece without taking it off and putting it back on.

[cagri]

I always align my parts unless it's a special technique or the MOC requires it the other way. I'm quite obsessed with that. I have to align Technic pins too :(

[xenologer]

Yeah, but what really gives me trouble is aligning the 1*1 round bricks. What direction are they facing!?

[Mirandir]

Yes I align the tiles/plates. And I usually use the brickseparator to do it.

[brickzone]

Yeah, but what really gives me trouble is aligning the 1*1 round bricks. What direction are they facing!?

As much as it shows me up to be a bit ridiculous, I must own up and say that I align 1x1 cylinders by the moulding point (making sure it is facing inside, or against other bricks if possible).

[Natman8000]

U have trouble with this too. The worst is 1x1x5 bricks, they can never look uniform.

[xenologer]

As much as it shows me up to be a bit ridiculous, I must own up and say that I align 1x1 cylinders by the moulding point (making sure it is facing inside, or against other bricks if possible).

Yeah

I was really happy when they changed the mould for the 1*1 round plates to put the mould point at the center of the stud instead, so I could quit doing that.

I wish they'd do the same for the 1*1 round cylinder bricks; then again those have hollow studs... well maybe if they could put the mould injection point on the ?Inside?

[Davey]

This poll clearly indicates that most of us are either perfectionists or totally OCD.

-Dave

ToT-LUG

[BlueBard]

I normally align them using a modified 1x8 plate with rail after every line. It works specially well when you tile a floor with those "allways on the move" 1x1 tiles

[SlyOwl]

As I'm normally building "crude" stuff, like pirate and castle, it adds to the aesthetic not to align them.

Yeah, but what really gives me trouble is aligning the 1*1 round bricks. What direction are they facing!?

As much as it shows me up to be a bit ridiculous, I must own up and say that I align 1x1 cylinders by the moulding point (making sure it is facing inside, or against other bricks if possible).

Or you could line up all the Lego logos...

I do make sure the moulding points don't show myself (as well as on normal bricks, like 1x1)

I wish they'd do the same for the 1*1 round cylinder bricks; then again those have hollow studs... well maybe if they could put the mould injection point on the ?Inside?

Don't think stuff would fit down the middle sometimes, then (e.g. minifig necks)

[CP5670]

It looks like some of you are even worse than me with this. I place most pieces so that any molding marks are hidden or at least facing the same direction, although I usually don't bother with friction pins or 1x1 round pieces unless it's very noticeable. The good thing is that molding marks on basic pieces are not that common these days, much less so than they once used to be.

The poll results are interesting though. I was actually expecting it to be split roughly 50/50, given how often I see it in pictures posted here. Even very good MOCs often have misaligned pieces like this that don't appear to be intentional.

I normally align them using a modified 1x8 plate with rail after every line. It works specially well when you tile a floor with those "allways on the move" 1x1 tiles

I tend to use a brick (something bigger than 1x1) attached to adjacent studs, and then slide down the 1x1 piece alongside it. The best thing is to get the alignment right before you actually attach the piece.

[VBBN]

Well, I never have problems with them, I seeminly put them straight without thinking...and without any extra efoort.

[The Who]

This poll clearly indicates that most of us are either perfectionists or totally OCD.

[cough] Or both. [/cough]

I get that a lot. (The whole OCD/Perfectionist deal)

And obviously enough, I voted yes.

Edited June 15, 2009 by booger540

[JCC1004]

I always align my parts unless it's a special technique or the MOC requires it the other way. I'm quite obsessed with that. I have to align Technic pins too :(

I'm pretty much that way. If I intend it no but most times yes. I only do the pins if they are visible.

EDIT: I just noticed this is my 300th post!

U have trouble with this too. The worst is 1x1x5 bricks, they can never look uniform.

I know I hate those pieces!

Edited June 16, 2009 by JCC1004

[Bfahome]

Yes and I hate it. ;_;

[Rick]

Or you could line up all the Lego logos...

I do make sure the moulding points don't show myself (as well as on normal bricks, like 1x1)

I do line up logo's sometimes ... and I always make sure the injection points don't face outward or are covered by other bricks as much as possible.

[UserNameInvalid]

Thank god! I thought I was abnormal, but there are more like me here.

*opening arms for group hug*

The bricks must be lined up perfectly.

The mould marks must be hidden.

If I can't control my OCD, then the logos must be lined up aswell.

All visible fingerprints must be whiped off immediately. I wash my hands before Legoing.

Bricks with scratches or other imperfections get used only in case of emergency.

[legotrainfan]

Normally I don't indulge in the hassle of aligning 1x1 plates perfectly unless the instructions require to put other bricks next to them. If they are not aligned perfectly, it's sometimes difficult to do that. From time to time I also tend to hide mould marks by placing bricks in a way so that the marks aren't seen. But I don't often do that.

[Spyder]

I am a complete perfectionist, so I try to align the plates exactly, unless I have to have them in a certain way for a MOC. I also like my creations to be symmetrical.

The bricks must be lined up perfectly.

The mould marks must be hidden.

If I can't control my OCD, then the logos must be lined up aswell.

All visible fingerprints must be whiped off immediately. I wash my hands before Legoing.

Bricks with scratches or other imperfections get used only in case of emergency.

Exactly how I feel, the stickers must be perfect, or not applied at all. And if there is any little scratch or nick in the brick, it will only be used where you can't see it, if ever. In fact, I have a 2x3 plate right here on my desk, that has a couple nicks in it, I was deciding if it should go in with the rest of my yellow pieces.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Spyder

[Perterz]

Like most of you, yes I do align those 1x1 pieces, deffinatly tiles, unless it's chaos I want.

Also do I try to hide the moldingmarks, and fingerprints.

Honestly, it really doesn't feel good when 1x1 tiles aren't aligned, I HAVE TO align them.

It's almost kinda neurotic for christ sake... Remarkably, I do have this perfectionistic feeling with everything in my life but the creative energy I need for all my hobbies (I draw, make music, make pixelart etc...) is born in a total chaos. The total chaos inside my head and my workspot.

Anyway a finished project of mine regardless in which faction of my hobbies it's made, it just has to be EXACTLY as I want it to be or it ain't done and I could start all over anytime.

This sometimes gets annoying because it slows down the process.

[brickzone]

As regards lining up the logos, I don't usually do that. However, I did feel I'd made a slight error when applying the sticker to the front of Emerald Night. The logos in the 6x6 disc's studs are sideways now.