Random part of the day: Dome Ø47.84 W. Combi Hinge

60263 gave me this piece. I always found it useful.

Okay, I know they've had bubble domes since the 1990s. What was/were the previous part(s) just like this? ...because I have none of this, but know I've probably got at least half a dozen older versions.

@HAL_9001 :
Normally I’d say Bricklink is a great place to find that info, but this time they cataloged the 2007 and 2020 versions as one element, even though both part numbers are noted. And while a lot of times they will have photos comparing and noting the differences, that appears not to be the case when they don’t acknowledge them.

Good for spaceships. Me likey!

I do find it slightly interesting that this piece, an update of 50747, gets its own category along with the original while the updated clip we got a few days ago seems to have replaced it’s older variations on several parts lists

Hmmm...if TLG ever does more 'The Simpsons', these should be used to make 'The Homer'.:)

@brick_r:
Someone I know from Brickworld Chicago has actually built that, but it was no later than 2016, so it wouldn’t have been this specific version.

Sorry if it's a dumb question, but what is a "Combi Hinge"? Does it mean the hinge allows two different types of hinge parts on the opposing side? I see one of the keywords on the piece's page says "click hinge"...so is it just a click hinge then???

@PDelahanty said:
"Okay, I know they've had bubble domes since the 1990s. What was/were the previous part(s) just like this? ...because I have none of this, but know I've probably got at least half a dozen older versions."

I guess you are refering to part 30083 introduced in 1997's Divers theme (and at the same time, in one Time Twisters set). 30083 did come in 4 colors between 1997 and 2004, last seen on the wing tips of the first UCS Y-Wing.

The oldest variant used the classic 5-finger hinge (most commonly seen on '90ies car roofs and Space canopies). When practically almost all older hinge types were phased out in favor of the click hinges that were first introduced in Star Wars and Rock Raiders of 1999, it was time for this part to change as well.

The newer version became necessary for the then new underwater theme Aqua Raiders (not to be confused with the Aquazone sub-theme Aquaraiders); however it saw use in Mars Mission and Exo-Force in it's release year of 2007 as well. The modern (and also somewhat less elegant) version appeared until 2017 in a total of 7 colors (however 2 of the previous colors were missing).

The final version we have here began to show up in sets only recently. Unfortunately I only have the earlier 2 versions at hand, so I can't tell you the difference between type 2 and 3. According to Bricklink photos I'm guessing the changed the shape of rectangular area (where the hinges are) slightly, so it takes less material, but I'm not entirely sure.

Oh, and don't forget, there are printed versions of all 3 types as well^^

@melvlee said:
"Sorry if it's a dumb question, but what is a "Combi Hinge"? Does it mean the hinge allows two different types of hinge parts on the opposing side? I see one of the keywords on the piece's page says "click hinge"...so is it just a click hinge then???"

I’m curious about this too. If I had to guess, it’s because click hinges can be used as well as bar clips, even though it’s not a very secure connection. At least one example is in the 75301 X-Wing’s front landing gear attachment (…which is annoying and falls off easily).

This is the 6x6x3 sized canopy; there are smaller dimensioned canopies which look similar in design, but are a different part id.

Hah! I remembered what the key difference is! New Elementary ran an entire article on changes that have been made to click hinges. Early on, they were so loose that landing gear would collapse at the slightest touch. They stiffened them up, but so much that trying to adjust their position often ripped pieces off the model. So finally they removed a few teeth from the outer tabs of the click hinges. The result is that in a few key positions, the hinge offers less resistance, but for the rest of the range of motion, it’s still pretty stiff.

@MeisterDad:
The Detroit Zoo has some of these in the prairie dog habitat, but you have to be pretty small or double-jointed in your everything to get your head up into the bubble. I think they also have something like this in the penguinarium.

Can you post a link to that article? Sounds like fascinating reading. Because of how easily those early click hinges collapsed, to this day I don't trust them. I'd far rather use a bar clip in a creation, and when I have to use a click hinge in a creation or set I hardly ever change its position if I can help it.

@iwybs:
https://www.newelementary.com/2020/11/lego-moc-thomas-jenkins-75290-mos-eisley.html?m=0

Bleh. Took me forever to find it, because it turns out it wasn’t really an article. It was an offhand comment made during an article, followed by me commenting on it. To get the relevant parts, the third picture down is the 8x8x3 version of this dome (part 75290), followed by several pictures comparing the new 7-tooth vs old 9-tooth versions of various click hinge elements. Then in the comment section you’ll find two long comments by myself about why I _think_ they removed some teeth. No official explanations are involved.

@deathmoth said:
" @melvlee said:
"Sorry if it's a dumb question, but what is a "Combi Hinge"? Does it mean the hinge allows two different types of hinge parts on the opposing side? I see one of the keywords on the piece's page says "click hinge"...so is it just a click hinge then???"

I’m curious about this too. If I had to guess, it’s because click hinges can be used as well as bar clips, even though it’s not a very secure connection. At least one example is in the 75301 X-Wing’s front landing gear attachment (…which is annoying and falls off easily).
"

If you look closely at some box photos from 1999 sets, you will find out their prototypes even started as such (they are used instead of the real parts in the builds, it happens from time to time). However I am not sure if Lego considers this truly a legal connection...