Got myself the Orthanc set at last

[Tomsche]

And immediatly had to build it of course, so after 7 hours, this graced my shelves

[Ranger_Elegost]

I still want to get that set, would you recomend it??

[Cammo]

I still want to get that set, would you recomend it??

Personally I like it better than Helm's Deep. It's a nicer display piece and if I were you I wouldn't wait that long to get it. Since all the rumours that the Lotr-theme is ending (for now).

[Alcarin]

I never understood for example look these 2 pictures from the thread opener:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D9c9deuOG-w/U8TSdjWZ2rI/AAAAAAAANOY/K0DiZwU8lZE/s1600/P1130193.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ogJzkvtOjyA/U8TSeNy5WXI/AAAAAAAANOg/WanQErgfIao/s1600/P1130194.JPG

Why does LEGO decides to use such bright colors as fillers? Do you think thats intended? Because to me such variety in colors really annoys my re-sage if I want to create something and MOC cos those colors are so bright it destroys my ''earthern'' feel....

Is there any explanation why such bright green, yellow orange red are used as fillers that are not seen on the end model, is it cheaper for LEGO to produce those colors or do they have them leftover or what?

[Ranger_Elegost]

Personally I like it better than Helm's Deep. It's a nicer display piece and if I were you I wouldn't wait that long to get it. Since all the rumours that the Lotr-theme is ending (for now).

I'll see :P It's pretty dear though :(

I never understood for example look these 2 pictures from the thread opener:

http://4.bp.blogspot...00/P1130193.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot...00/P1130194.JPG

Why does LEGO decides to use such bright colors as fillers? Do you think thats intended? Because to me such variety in colors really annoys my re-sage if I want to create something and MOC cos those colors are so bright it destroys my ''earthern'' feel....

Is there any explanation why such bright green, yellow orange red are used as fillers that are not seen on the end model, is it cheaper for LEGO to produce those colors or do they have them leftover or what?

I've always wondered why they've done that, it's kinda stupid, but I believe that its cheaper for the Lego company to use the bright bricks as fillers. I really don't like them, but I don't have any control over what they put in the Sets

[MKJoshA]

I think it might have something to do with trying to make the instructions easier to follow. For those who may not build with Legos on a regular basis it's a lot easier to see that their millionth little black piece goes on top of the green piece instead of next to yet another black piece.

[Alcarin]

I think it might have something to do with trying to make the instructions easier to follow. For those who may not build with Legos on a regular basis it's a lot easier to see that their millionth little black piece goes on top of the green piece instead of next to yet another black piece.

Well I would assume someone buying and building Orthanc is not a rookie builder and not 10 years old really, but its atleast a logical assumption

The problem I have with that is, that its alot harder for me to reuse such parts in MOCs due to colors....

[kibosh]

I think it might have something to do with trying to make the instructions easier to follow. For those who may not build with Legos on a regular basis it's a lot easier to see that their millionth little black piece goes on top of the green piece instead of next to yet another black piece.

This is exactly why they do it. Toss in a bright brick every now an then and you get a great reference point, especially in large mono-chromatic models.

[Alcarin]

This is exactly why they do it. Toss in a bright brick every now an then and you get a great reference point, especially in large mono-chromatic models.

Yes but that passes for ''small'' builds or builds for actual children... Orthanc is 16+ and a 16 year ''kid'' or older I expect to be able to build a build even with all black pieces.... its not that hard is it?

[Venkefedo]

Yes but that passes for ''small'' builds or builds for actual children... Orthanc is 16+ and a 16 year ''kid'' or older I expect to be able to build a build even with all black pieces.... its not that hard is it?

Sure it is. It can be infuriating trying to figure out if something is supposed to be dark bley or black in the instructions, and sometimes you don't wanna rummage around in a pile of black for the one specific black piece that you could've sworn was there but now can't seem to find (not everyone builds the same way!). Also, Lego is taking a cue from AFOLs anyway who often use the bright (or otherwise clashing) bricks to build up the interiors of thick castle walls, foundations for landscaping, etc.

And it's pretty ridiculously easy to replace the colorful bits of Orthanc with a small, cheap Bricklink order, too

Edited July 15, 2014 by Venkefedo

[TheLegoDr]

They do it based on what pieces are in production at the time and what pieces can be separated into the set. It may have a second bonus by making the instructions easier, but I don't think that is the sole purpose.

It's the same reason you will sometimes have two 1x3 plates instead of one 1x6 plate. It depends on what is available and what will make production easier.

I'm sure Faefrost will have a great explanation for all of this.

[kibosh]

Yes but that passes for ''small'' builds or builds for actual children... Orthanc is 16+ and a 16 year ''kid'' or older I expect to be able to build a build even with all black pieces.... its not that hard is it?

Is it hard? No. Does a red or yellow brick thrown into a build as a point of reference make it easier on the builder? Yes. Why not make things as easier? If it really bothers you that much that a yellow piece is buried in your black build, by all means, swap it out.

[Alcarin]

Is it hard? No. Does a red or yellow brick thrown into a build as a point of reference make it easier on the builder? Yes. Why not make things as easier? If it really bothers you that much that a yellow piece is buried in your black build, by all means, swap it out.

I think you and

And it's pretty ridiculously easy to replace the colorful bits of Orthanc with a small, cheap Bricklink order, too

missed my point quite heavily.....

its not about swapping them, its about buying Orthanc which looks 100% black (dark) only to then use it for MOCs where ''countless'' pieces fall from usage due to colors......

when I do MOCs I almost always use only ''earthern'' colors, since I mostly build landscape (so green, brown, tan, gray black and all those mentioned tones (olive green etc))

so chances of using red technic connector are pretty much 0, while I could easily use black/brown one...... yes I know i can bricklink them, but you would think when you buy a set for 200€ that you get the feeling its 100% dark, you wont receive orange, yellow and bright red colors in the build, atleast not in form of bricks and technic connectors....

Also dont tell me

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ogJzkvtOjyA/U8TSeNy5WXI/AAAAAAAANOg/WanQErgfIao/s1600/P1130194.JPG

those red two swapping with black would change the difficulty of finding where to connect them.... thats almost insulting to the brains of builders imo.

[Venkefedo]

Consider this, then: the red versions of those might have been the only ones they had on-hand, rather than queueing up another run of them in black/brown/bley. Maybe not probable, but possible.

In any case, I think Lego likes using multiple colors where they can, where they're hidden. And it's hardly "countless" pieces; there's, what, 40-ish non-black/brown/bley/dk-green (Ent!) pieces in the set? Several are technic pins & bits that are definitely hidden. Some may be for detailing parts of the interior or belong to the Ent (I haven't pored thru the instructions to check). There's only 6 colorful bricks* (the orange & yellow ones), a couple bright modified plates, a couple tiles… hardly worth getting upset over, when you can easily get them elsewhere or already have 'em in your spare-parts bin (like light-bley replacements for the yellow technic bush bits).

Not every builder is buying Orthanc solely for an earth-tone parts-pack… just because you have no use for the red/yellow/orange technic & bricks doesn't mean everyone else will find them unusable for making MOCs.

*sorry, 10…forgot the 4 green axle-hole bricks

Edited July 15, 2014 by Venkefedo

[Alcarin]

Consider this, then: the red versions of those might have been the only ones they had on-hand, rather than queueing up another run of them in black/brown/bley. Maybe not probable, but possible.

In any case, I think Lego likes using multiple colors where they can, where they're hidden. And it's hardly "countless" pieces; there's, what, 40-ish non-black/brown/bley/dk-green (Ent!) pieces in the set? Several are technic pins & bits that are definitely hidden. Some may be for detailing parts of the interior or belong to the Ent (I haven't pored thru the instructions to check). There's only 6 colorful bricks* (the orange & yellow ones), a couple bright modified plates, a couple tiles… hardly worth getting upset over, when you can easily get them elsewhere or already have 'em in your spare-parts bin (like light-bley replacements for the yellow technic bush bits).

Not every builder is buying Orthanc solely for an earth-tone parts-pack… just because you have no use for the red/yellow/orange technic & bricks doesn't mean everyone else will find them unusable for making MOCs.

*sorry, 10…forgot the 4 green axle-hole bricks

Yes ofcourse I am not like crying, I just feel ''sad'' because I will/would haven o use of them in my creations and yes I also know I can sell them or even donate them :D

I also wrote countless under '' '' exactly because its not really loads, I just think personally even if its 1 its 1 too many :P

I am not getting worked over due to that fact, just find it weird and how would I word it properly...... :P

And yes the fact that those might be the ''only'' ones currently widely available its entirely possible and I understand its just too bad :P

[Tomsche]

I definitly recommend it for a Lego fan, or a LoTR fan, it looks impressive in the living room.

About the bright bricks, I don`t really care why they do it, but you can see zilch of them when it is build, and it is in the whole model only about half a dozen anyways.

[Robert_88]

Every fan should get this set as long as it is still available.

@Alcarin: This happens all the time. My R2-D2 and Death Star II contain some strange colours as well. I think this should make the building process easier and more interesting.

[Alcarin]

Every fan should get this set as long as it is still available.

@Alcarin: This happens all the time. My R2-D2 and Death Star II contain some strange colours as well. I think this should make the building process easier and more interesting.

It doesnt really matter how many times it happens, I am looking for a semi logical explanation, that does not make builders on a level 1 dumb user for instructions :P

Ill still probably buy it soon!

[ZCerberus]

First off the original part of this thread... The I bought Orthanc piece... not really a valid reason to start a thread. We want topics designed to spur discussion and normally this would have been a no go. Though it oddly seems to have worked here, as tangential as it ended up being, I am closing this thread as the original topic is a nonstarter.