49
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 ...
- 2,498
37
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 ...
- 37.2k
33
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 ...
- 16.6k
28
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
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.
- 16.6k
25
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,...
- 351
22
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 37.2k
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
19
votes
Accepted
What is the purpose of this plate with door rail?
These pieces are frequently used for decoration now, but they were originally used for sliding doors, particularly on train sets. Here's one of the first uses from set 7838 in 1983:
While they could ...
- 37.2k
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
19
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 ...
- 14.7k
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 ...
- 21.5k
17
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
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 ...
- 19.5k
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).
- 10.2k
16
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 ...
- 9,061
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 ...
- 8,893
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 ...
- 8,893
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
- 11.8k
15
votes
What is the purpose of this plate with door rail?
In addition to what jncranton wrote, the plate with the rail is a perfect fit for sliding in the brick with groove:
You can see an example of that technique in the Cloud City set:
- 6,041
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
- 21.5k
15
votes
In what set is this brick used?
The specific part (870) is identified in the other answer, however it is part of an assembly with its own part number:
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=827#T=C&C=3
827 ...
- 260
14
votes
Accepted
Is this LEGO an authentic original?
This is a Minitalia brick - Lego produced different bricks for a while in the seventies for Italy (per Gary Istok's latest information: because the original LEGO was deemed too expensive). Minitalia ...
- 16.6k
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 ...
- 37.2k
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 ...
- 37.2k
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
14
votes
What are these pieces for?
According to the official description, these are for customizing the completed build:
This LEGO Batman toy playset includes 2 minifigures and children can customize their builds, minifigures and ...
- 14.7k
14
votes
What piece is this and what is its purpose?
We call them space binoculars. They're like binoculars, but in space!
- 7,179
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible