Random part of the day: Plate (A) 4M 45°

I never knew that this was actually officially called an "A plate"!

Whenever this is in a set, it's either using a cool building technique or creating a frustrating arbitrary angle in place of hinges.

@Norikins said:
"Whenever this is in a set, it's either using a cool building technique or creating a frustrating arbitrary angle in place of hinges. "

45 degrees is arbitrary?

@MeisterDad said:
" @Norikins said:
"Whenever this is in a set, it's either using a cool building technique or creating a frustrating arbitrary angle in place of hinges. "

45 degrees is arbitrary?"

It's better than, say, a 43° angle... but, yeah, I kind of agree that it tends to get used to make something at a non-right angle mainly for the sake of being a non-right angle--and that the older-school LEGO fan in me would prefer things open out properly on hinges.

I hate trying to store this piece. Other than direct overlay stacking then using a brick separator, it’s very unwieldy to pack away efficiently.

This is not a tub.

@Formendacil said:
" @MeisterDad said:
" @Norikins said:
"Whenever this is in a set, it's either using a cool building technique or creating a frustrating arbitrary angle in place of hinges. "

45 degrees is arbitrary?"

It's better than, say, a 43° angle... but, yeah, I kind of agree that it tends to get used to make something at a non-right angle mainly for the sake of being a non-right angle--and that the older-school LEGO fan in me would prefer things open out properly on hinges."

The dream is to combine hinges with wing pieces so you can still get a fixed angle for the parts, but have the option to open it up or easily customize for new angles

@Iceranger22:
No, but it is Henry Winkler’s favorite part.

@unslipped said:
" @peterlmorris said:
"I have yet to work by his into an awesome starfighter, but my brain has wanted to for years.

Something Ikaruga style. "

I feel similarly... I have a pile of these that I want to do something fun with, but can never think of anything..."

I used 16 of these to make a funfair helter-skelter slide in Lego Ideas, https://ideas.lego.com/projects/d4716d9c-091e-47f2-b558-cf993e63b80e , which was originally an entry into the April day at the beach competition. I had to resort to using Technic axles as the frame, since the biggest problem is that when you place 8 in a circle the diameter is not an integer number of studs, which means that you cannot build a carousel/merry-go-ride or playground roundabout on top. If TLG moved the overlap of the two 1x4 plates slightly this could be solved. So as in the expert creator carousel sets you have to continue to use 8 Technic 45 degree connectors instead to make your octagon shape which looks messy for smaller models.