48
votes
What LEGO pieces have "real-world" functionality?
All Aboard!
I'd like to add my all-time favorite LEGO piece:
x870cc02, THE BLACK WHISTLE!
The white brick is a microphone. Attach it to your train's motor and BLOW THAT WHISTLE! Depending on how ...
- 2,548
38
votes
Accepted
How does the LEGO Super Mario figure know which power up is attached?
The Mario element has six switches on the front:
The inside of the pants in the power-up sets include six plastic ridges that can be either high or low. They interact with the switches on Mario's ...
- 41.5k
35
votes
Accepted
How do the various LEGO springs compare?
Over the years the LEGO group has made a number of different springs, dampers and suspension components. The most widely known ones are the springs in the 731 series, such as the above mentioned ...
- 17k
27
votes
Ø in LEGO part names
Ø is a pretty standard notation for diameter. So w/Ø 3.2 Shaft means the item has a shaft that has a 3.2(mm) diameter.
- 17k
27
votes
Is it possible to build a working 100% LEGO glider with the Technic Catamaran sails?
As it turns out, the answer is yes! Even though the wings are flat and can't generate much lift, I was able to get up to about 15ft of distance on a 10ft drop.
click to watch the video
Here's how I ...
- 13.3k
24
votes
What LEGO pieces have "real-world" functionality?
Minifig accessory "shovel" can be used for dispensing minute amounts of a powder. Urban legend attributes such usage to drug dealers.
The fact that amazon lists digital pocket scale (0,1 g resolution,...
- 341
23
votes
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What's inside the SPIKE Essential small angular motor?
As far as I know, this is the smallest motor LEGO has produced since the micro motor in 1993:
This new angular motor is not quite that small, but it is smaller than every other motor currently in ...
- 41.5k
22
votes
Accepted
How heavy is the LEGO Gold Brick?
25.65g (0.8246 troy oz)
14k Solid Gold LEGO Employee Brick 2x4 Brick in Display Box
This brick is 25.65g of 14K gold (0.8246 troy oz). The brick is the same size and shape as the original 2x4 LEGO ...
- 325
21
votes
Accepted
What is the rationale behind 32333 "Technic Pin Connector Block 1 x 5 x 3"?
This part was designed for use with the Technic Engine Cylinder 2850a (or 2850b). Like this standard V8 engine:
source
The strange geometry is due to the piston shafts needing to align with the ...
- 3,006
20
votes
What LEGO pieces have "real-world" functionality?
The holes in Lego Technic work very well as holes.
By which I mean, I have built very successful motor-driven cross slides for small machine tools using Technic pieces.
When paired with nominally 4....
- 301
20
votes
Should the LEGO Batcave step 264 use 1x1 Technic bricks?
This is likely correct. Here's the instruction step that you mentioned:
In order to keep costs lower, TLG tries to limit the number of unique elements in a set and in an individual bag within a set.
...
- 41.5k
19
votes
What LEGO pieces have "real-world" functionality?
I once published a paper in a peer reviewed scientific journal using data gathered using a remote translation stage constructed from Lego Technic.
I could only get ~ +-1mm accuracy out of it, where ...
- 291
18
votes
What is the Travis Brick?
The Travis Brick is the 1×1 brick with studs on four sides.
The nickname arose amongst LEGO Space builders. It was nicknamed The Travis after talented Space builder Travis Kunce. He liked the part so ...
- 9,121
18
votes
Accepted
What LEGO pieces have "real-world" functionality?
The web pieces made of flexible string are perfectly serviceable real-life webs, even if they are too small for most applications.
Of course the LEGO brand magnets are working real-life magnets as ...
- 17.1k
18
votes
Motorized speedboat from Technic Catamaran alternate model?
With a few Power Functions elements and a pair of propellers, I was able to build a motorized boat similar to the alternate model.
1x: 8881 Power Functions Battery Box
2x: 8883 Power Functions M-...
- 13.3k
18
votes
Can cherries connect to anything?
Yes, "Cherries / Cherry Pair" has 3.18mm connection also known as "bar". This type of connection is in system and is compatible with large variety of elements, including two you ...
- 23.2k
17
votes
Identify this license plate holder piece
There are two variant of that, which look very similar:
Stud.IO lists them as:
Brick, Modified 2 x 4 - 1 x 4 with Recessed Studs and Thick Side Arches
Brick, Modified 2 x 4 - 1 x 4 with Recessed ...
- 19.6k
17
votes
Accepted
Can you identify these parts and assemblies?
Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Digger Bucket Arm Holder and Vehicle, Digger Bucket Arm, Small - 2 x 6 x 2
Windscreen 5 x 2 x 1 2/3
This is a broken Hook Slope 45 2 x 3 x 1 1/3 Double with Arm and Light ...
- 23.2k
16
votes
Accepted
What's the smallest LEGO component, based on its largest dimension?
This tiny tiara piece is smaller than the 1x1 round plate on all sides (middle piece in my image below).
- 10.3k
16
votes
What LEGO pieces have "real-world" functionality?
One obvious answer is all components of the power functions family.
Lights can be used as lights, motors can be used as motors.
- 2,595
16
votes
Help Me Identify This Brick / Bracket
Picture little blurry, but this is what I see... The builder attached the tiles to Part Number Forty-Seventy.
Part #4864a, the (black) window piece is really trans-black in color, but the way it's ...
- 8,903
16
votes
Accepted
Will Duplo trains fit onto a regular 6 stud LEGO track?
For this experiment we're using the wheeled Duplo push and go motor block and red cabin from Set #10874.
The wheel width of the motor is the same width as a non motor base.
So, for this train ...
- 8,903
16
votes
Accepted
Can anyone identify the set these plastic flags belong to? They are mixed in with several old castle sets
These are:
Plastic Flag 3 x 6 Ninja Pattern Blue
and
Plastic Flag 3 x 6 Ninja Pattern Red
they come from the old Ninja sub-theme
one of each appears in
4805: Ninja Knights
- 12.7k
16
votes
Accepted
What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for?
This part is 3386 Plate 1 x 1 x 2/3 Half Round with Side Stud.
I recently encountered this part for the first time and wanted to share more about it as it is new to me and looks very useful. It was ...
- 41.5k
15
votes
What are the dimensions of a LEGO brick?
The precise measurements with an easy to understand technical drawing is available here. A PDF with the all the dimension is available for download.
- 181
15
votes
Accepted
Can you identify these snowy icicles for me?
Barb / Claw / Horn - Large Flexible
and
Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Tooth Vertical
Ice Cream Scoops
- 23.2k
14
votes
Ø in LEGO part names
To elaborate on hobbs's comment, that character should actually be ⌀, U+2300 DIAMETER SIGN, the meaning of which should be self-explanatory.
The character you asked about was Ø, U+00D8 LATIN CAPITAL ...
- 249
14
votes
Accepted
Are these round black 1x1 pieces LEGO?
These are Lego parts.
The part on the left is a hose end (752). It is found on the ends of hoses like this:
The one on the right is 6221 (Peeron 424).
This part was most commonly found in older ...
- 41.5k
14
votes
Accepted
What's the Difference Between an Open or Hollow Stud, and Solid Stud Brick?
While the difference is most often cosmetic, an open stud can serve as a connection point for bar elements:
This type of connection is less common than simply using the stud as a stud, but if you are ...
- 41.5k
14
votes
Hidden Side Paranormal Intercept Bus, Ghost Video Game?
According to the set designer for the Paranormal Intercept Bus set, Niek van Slagmaat, the released product contains 3 references in total, which he identified in a presentation at BrickFair Virginia ...
- 13.3k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible