Why ....WHY is that window frame GREY?!?!

I am referring to

I ask this because I recently "got lucky" and won an bulk ebay auction that had 5563 in absolute junk condition but also had 5571 sitting in a box (not pictured and not mentioned). As icing on the cake there were an extra 4 of the 68.8 wheels also in that box.

Anyway, after glancing through the parts I noticed that I actually had that grey window frame as needed to make the model but...gasp....one of the hinge holders had broken off and the piece was useless. So after checking the part I realized what I am sure all of us have realized at some point or another...this just happened to be one of those parts that for silly reasons is unbelievably rare and will never be made again (due to the color change).

Regardless of the rarity I started thinking about what else I could do with this new found bounty of wheels (16 in all) and 99% parts needed to make 5571 and I remembered Grazi's tow truck. I looked it up and I will certainly be gathering the needed parts but as I looked through pictures of the model I noticed that sure enough, he had used a red window frame in place of the grey one. I went to checking other MOC adaptations of 5571 and I have to say, at least 50% use a red frame.

So I ask, why...in the middle of a red stripe design...with a FULL red window on the opposite side, did lego ever use a grey frame for that part?!?!

Sorry, not adding much to the conversation, but I had to look some of those sets up to see what they were. I thought that I might include some pics here for other people's reference (click the image for more details).

5563 - Model Team Racing Truck

5571 - Model Team Giant Truck

68.8 tire and wheel

Grazi's Tow Truck

Edited October 13, 201212 yr by Splat

Guess you're going to have to buy a $20+ replacement window frame on Bricklink, or spraypaint one of a different color.

You will find no satisfying answer. I have ranted about several other such pieces such as the 1x6 thin yellow liftarm. The window frame you mention is especially odd since it actually would have been better in red in this model. Oh well. Just use a red one for your tow truck. I used a gray one for mine only because I had one. Finding the 12ea 68.8 wheels and tires for that thing is a real wallet buster as well, but you are almost there. I wish those were also made again.

Even worse than this is when there are parts only found in one set in ANY color.

And there are numerous of examples of those...

Even worse than this is when there are parts only found in one set in ANY color.

And there are numerous of examples of those...

Yeah, in this case, the part is available in red instead of old gray and the model looks better with the red frame anyway. It would have been a lot worse if one of the main doors were missing...