Random part of the day: Stick/Aerial

Currently building a set with two of these 3724

@Formendacil:
I spent a long time waiting for them to make these in clear. I discovered that Benny’s airtanks will fit onto a bar, but due to a reduction in the ID a little ways into the tanks, the old version barely contacts the airtank. With the flat tip, it should make a secure connection. I got some recently, so now I just need to dig out the tub with my LEGO Store MOC.

@Terrasher said:
"Fan of the flat top - the rounded tip doesn't clutch well with shallow, hollow stud connections as seen in Technic bricks, IIRC."

Oh that’s a good counterpoint. I hadn’t thought about that.

I don't like the flat-topped ones, either. To me, they look like they got a bad haircut. I get that flat ends are better for putting into hollow studs and such connections, but in my experience the main use for these was to attach flags and clips and things; someone decided they could be inserted, I guess, which must have prompted this redesign to offer greater holding power.

Pleased to have this in trans-clear in 71383 and 21165 (in which one of the product photos shows it holding a bee completely loosely by the opening in the headlight brick, whereas the others show it firmly attached through the hole in its stud). The non-transparent-material version of this, 3957b, appears once and then again as a spare in 10703 and I don't know why.

@Terrasher said:
"Fan of the flat top - the rounded tip doesn't clutch well with shallow, hollow stud connections as seen in Technic bricks, IIRC."

I assumed there was some reason for it. Was the original rounded end for safety reasons?

@asherkobin said:
"Not the original but boy did I like sticking it all the way up my nose 30 years ago LOL."

Ever had to tll ms. hoover?

Anyway, glad they're available in trans-clear, super useful for hovering or flying assemblies. Suprisingly, they haven't used it in C3n1 yet, with all the birds there only sitting around.

@jkb, I also use them to represent flying and swimming underwater, though mostly minifigures rather than vehicles or brick-built creatures.

@asherkobin said:
"Not the original but boy did I like sticking it all the way up my nose 30 years ago LOL."

And you’re 60 now? ;~D

I still prefer the original 'rounder top aerial' part 3957, which has appeared in nearly 1478 sets since 1978, beginning in light gray for 928.

@ambr said:
"I still prefer the original 'rounder top aerial' part 3957, which has appeared in nearly 1478 sets since 1978, beginning in light gray for 928."
I remember when 3957 came out and thinking what a specialised piece it was. I never imagined back then that LEGO would eventually produce the highly specialised parts we have today! Can’t help but wonder what the future holds.

@Brickalili:
Possibly for safety considerations. Early elements with long sections of straight bar seemed to always end in hemispherical tips, like the butt of the spear, or the business end of the castle lance. One notable exception is the original halberd that appeared as early as 375/6075, and had a flat end like this, but I can’t think of any others from the 70’s/80’s off the top of my head.

@Zander:
None of the cars I build could have been designed prior to 2004, and Mater wasn’t possible prior to late 2018. I’ve been hunting through upcoming product photos for interesting new parts for as long as I can remember, and I anticipate continuing to do so until I’m much older than the current age of those who lament that they’re not still exclusively making cellulose acetate 2x4 bricks.