Random part of the day: Propeller Ø71.84
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random part is 15790, 'Propeller Ø71.84', which is a System part, category Transportation Means, Aviation. It was introduced in 2010 and is still in use today. It's been made in 2 colours and has appeared in 59 sets, one of the first of which was 9335 Space & Airport Set.
Our members collectively own a total of 201,021 of them. If you'd like to buy some you should find them for sale at BrickLink.
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22 comments on this article
Didn't this come in 7734 as well? If it did, than this would be the first part in this series that I own.
@RaiderOfTheLostBrick said:
"Didn't this come in 7734 as well? If it did, than this would be the first part in this series that I own."
Different part number, 30332, from 2000-2009. This would be its replacement. As 7734 came in 08, it would have the first version.
Though it did coexist for a little while with this part, as it was in sets such as the silly hard to get 3222, 7206, 7307, and finally 9467 (while can be a RSOTD in 93 days)
Random part? How long has that been going on?
Probably my favorite propeller element. Not too big, not too small, easily reworkable in new builds!
@SearchlightRG:
You can count the previous RPotD entries on the blades of this propellor.
I've always loved how LEGO propellers like this were engineered to spin when air was blown at them. It's not strictly necessary but it shows a lot of extra care was put into designing pieces like this.
Comes in 59 sets and 58 of them are black. The one white one? A Friends set from this year. It took 11 years for this recolour. Although I wonder what other colours might be suitable — pearl grey or a metallic silver perhaps?
@Nokturn:
It doesn’t really take any effort. As long as it has an axis it can rotate around (either a pin hole, or an axle hole attached to an axle that’s fed through a pin hole), and blades that aren’t feathered or flat, you actually have to put more effort into borking the design than you do into getting it to spin. Like that double fanblade design from Exo-Force.
Also, we’re all hanging out in the other room, talking about a bigger propeller made of two smaller propellers.
This is a nice part and, ignoring that it's from the wrong years, among the first added to my collection. Good selection Huwbot.
Pretty cool piece, but I only have one of these... in a set that my not-exactly-as-LEGO-adept-at-the-time brother kind of wasn't able to finish and thus we lost quite a few pieces. But we didn't lose this part, at least. To tell the truth, I can't distinguish the LEGO propellers that much and I could've sworn we had more of these.
@SearchlightRG said:
"Random part? How long has that been going on?"
Like @PurpleDave humorously hinted at: for three days.
As for the part, statistics tell me I have 13 of the black variety and 1 white one. Love this feature.
Is it just me or these parts used a more soft plastic than the regular pieces? These propellers always had a different feeling and were more easily bendable than the rest.
Also, I'm fairly certain that brown propellers exist as well, just not tagged here. The piece should be joined with brickset.com/parts/4121698/propeller-ø71-84
I have one of these! From 76075 : Wonder Woman Warrior Battle - It's funny how you look at a part and think "There's no way I have this in my collection" but then you look at the design and actually you own 1 or more in a very obscure set...
For instance, the catchily titled Cockpit 4X5X1, W/ 3.2 Shaft, No. 2 - I have 2 of those in 76096 : Superman & Krypto Team-Up - not exactly a cockpit, and definitely not Nexo Knights.
And although I do have only a few Technic sets (less than 10) I imagine 42056 : Porsche 911 GT3 RS will include quite the variety. Sure enough, Right Panel 3X7 is in there. But it's also in 76021 : The Milano Spaceship Rescue, so even without Technic I've got it.
I have no Clikits, to my knowledge... and certainly my intention.
@Huw - the redesign of the articles to include extra detail and numbers owned by Bricksetters makes it much more interesting - thank you!
Is this element made from the same plastic that's currently sourced from plants? This particular propeller feels a tad bit softer than the smaller variant that also has a glossy finish while these have the rugged texture we see on traditional slopes.
I never realized they changed part numbers. I’m wondering if there’s any difference between the older part and this newer one.
I got this piece!
@andthenwhat said:
"Is it just me or these parts used a more soft plastic than the regular pieces? These propellers always had a different feeling and were more easily bendable than the rest.
Also, I'm fairly certain that brown propellers exist as well, just not tagged here. The piece should be joined with brickset.com/parts/4121698/propeller-ø71-84"
It is linked, as a 'Design with the same name'
@andthenwhat:
It’s made of polyethylene, so yes, it’s a softer plastic (that coincidentally happens to be buoyant).
@Kamiccolo:
Yup, PE is “plants from plants” plastic, but it’s chemically indistinguishable from PE sourced from crude oil.
I have a couple. In larger helicopters, this looks best as the tail rotor.
I have definitely come to realise one of the joys of this fantastic new Random Part feature is having a look to see if I have it in my collection, in this case just one set 31099 a wee propeller plane. But I am also wowed by how brilliantly granular it is, getting right down to the very essence of Lego and its myriad and brilliant individual parts. And really we have collectively have over 200K of these propellers!?
This is supposed to be a replacement for Part No .30332, a Design introduced in 1999's Rock Raiders Theme (it only appeared in one set that year 4980) although the number range implies a bit it might have been originally intended for Adventurers (maybe even 5956).
The main difference being an altered connection point that looks a bit more 'in system'. However I think they also altered the surface of the blades slightly to be more smooth.
I don't care that this comes in black, it's still a propeller. Propellers rank lower than wheels for usefulness for me.