Subject:
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Re: When did "smooth" slopes start appearing?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Wed, 25 Apr 2007 02:39:11 GMT
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Viewed:
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2490 times
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In lugnet.general, David Simmons wrote:
> WARNING: short but rant-y post!
>
> I searched the newsgroups on Lugnet just now and couldn't find any previous
> posts on this matter, so forgive me if this topic has been discussed before.
>
> While foraging through used bulk bricks at a friends garage, I noticed that some
> slope pieces had significantly less texturing than they had before. I mentioned
> it to some of my Lego buds who were present and they said, somewhat
> fatalistically "that's how they're making them now." I was shocked.
>
> I've come to peace with the color change, tolerated the replacement of
> finger-hinge pieces with click-hinges, and managed to abide the viral invasion
> of Bionicle parts into the System. Now this new variable that seems to my
> mistrustful eyes yet another needless change that will not, IMHO, help to
> increase the appeal and/or profitability of the product. I'm sure some of you
> may see this as a "fix" since slopes are the only pieces that are textured, but
> why the h*** change something else that's been around for decades?! Was there a
> massive problem with textured slopes ever? If so, I've never heard about it and
> I browse a half-dozen ng's on Lugnet almost every day! :-)
>
> I took a few pictures so that you can see what I mean:
>
> <<http://www.xenobuzz.com/MyLegoCreations/Odds%20&%20Ends.htm>>
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> I've always loved textured slopes. They remind me of that fond time when Lego
> first began to develop a real System beyond blocks and plates. I see a textured
> slope and I get a sweet tinge of nostalgia every time.
>
> I love Lego bricks, and I always will, but I deeply wish that TLG would stop
> trying so darn hard to test my faith.
>
> Dave S.
Dave,
I don't believe that the textured slopes are going away any time soon.
I see these new slopes as additional parts produced in conjunction with other
parts that have smooth surfaces. For example, among smooth slope bricks, only 3
or 4 of the 12 regular 45 degree slopes can be found in a select few recent
sets, and in very few colors.
Textured sloped bricks were first introduced in late 1958, soon after the
introduction of the patented tubes found underneath all modern LEGO bricks.
These 1958-59 45 degree sloped bricks were originally only found in in red in
sizes 2x2, 2x2 peak, 2x4 and 2x4 peak bricks.
Then in 1960, 9 additional 45 degree sloped bricks were introduced in red and
blue. These were the 1x2 triple (half pyramid), the 1x2 slope, the 1x2 peak,
the 2x3 slope, the 2x3 peak, the inside corner 2x2 slope, the outside corner 2x2
slope, the gable connector peak (2x2 double/inverted), and the 2x2 double
concave/double convex peak.
Of these 13 parts, only the 2x2 double concave/convex peak was retired (in
1972).
I have thousands of sloped bricks from the 60's-70's-80's, and they do come with
varying degrees of courseness to the textured surfaces.
Anyway, getting back to your original question.... I think that the new smooth
slopes are NEW parts with different uses, other than as regular roof slopes.
Otherwise, I do believe we would be seeing them in a lot more colors, and
definitely in a lot more different shapes.
Hope that calms your fears somewhat.
Cheers,
Gary Istok
P.S. The earliest examples of "smooth slope" slopes have been around since the
late 1970's, used in some space sets.
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: When did "smooth" slopes start appearing?
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| (...) I'd agree that they are different parts, but I'm not so sure about the new part. I've got at least one slope that came in a promotional set from 1999 that has no texture. It has printing on it, so I assumed that was the reason. -Elroy (18 years ago, 25-Apr-07, to lugnet.general)
| | | Re: When did "smooth" slopes start appearing?
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| (...) Hey Gary, Many thanks for your very informative response and I fervently hope that you are correct! As many others opined with the advent of click-hinges, I'm cool with new parts but not so much with replacement parts! Here's hoping! (...) (...) (18 years ago, 25-Apr-07, to lugnet.general)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | When did "smooth" slopes start appearing?
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| WARNING: short but rant-y post! I searched the newsgroups on Lugnet just now and couldn't find any previous posts on this matter, so forgive me if this topic has been discussed before. While foraging through used bulk bricks at a friends garage, I (...) (18 years ago, 25-Apr-07, to lugnet.general)
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