Random part of the day: Deco. Shell 12M W. Ø3,2 Holder
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random part is 43030, 'Deco. Shell 12M W. Ø3,2 Holder', which is a System part, category Decoration Elements.
Our members collectively own a total of 17,874 of them. If you'd like to buy some you should find them for sale at BrickLink.
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17 comments on this article
Perfect for hot air balloons.
I loved the use of this piece as the fenders in 70911, even if they didn't blend that well with the rest of the car
I wish we got these in transparent colors, they could be excellent windscreens and modern architecture glass details.
@TheOtherMike:
Different part…apparently. The first version was used on two balloons, a car, a spaceship, and a palace, last appearing in 2019. This version was in one balloon and a golden snitch, first appearing in 2020. The gap isn’t long enough for the original mold to have been retired from disuse, so there was apparently some reason they made a running change. Penguin’s car is the only set I own with this part, so I don’t have any of the newer version to compare them to.
This was akin to a part of Prison Island’s hot air balloon I built with one of my sons. Red and black. First time I ever encountered it, and we had a lot of fun together with that balloon.
This part is great. I don’t know how we ever understood balloons before it.
@peterlmorris:
5956.
@PurpleDave said:
" @peterlmorris:
5956."
There's no real easy way to make a zeppelin shape like that with these pieces or any other special pieces. Either track down that obscure adventurers container piece, or arduously brick build it. These new balloon pieces can make simpler hot air balloons, but they were previously made of large opaque colored windscreens in 7415 and 5988. And they look so cool, and appear to have clever ways of attaching the net on top. The new shape is more accurate, but the old technique of NPU was "great" as well.
@Norikins: 41184 and 70503 managed decent zeppelin-type airships with the older version of this piece.
"Wouldn't like to fly, in my beautiful balloon..."
"First ya' have build your 'beautiful balloon'..."
Sorry, I blame 'Minions 2' for send down a the garden-path of songs around that 60's-70's time period:)
We need these in green colours from the botanical collection for leaves real soon.
I see a lot of talk about how its been used for balloons and windshields...but, with its name and all, has it ever been used to build a actual shell?
@Brickalili said:
"I see a lot of talk about how its been used for balloons and windshields...but, with its name and all, has it ever been used to build a actual shell? "
Does the ship hull of 70830 Sweet Mayhem's Systar Starship count?
I love that set. You don't often see spaceships with actual rooms. Or teardrop shaped ships with the round part in the front. Or the pilot's helmet being the same shape as the ship. Or minidoll alien astronauts...
Even landing gear on spaceships is uncommon.
And it even has an engine just like the Benny's Spaceship 3x ones!
And all made possible by the previous version of this part!
Lego does love maing up new part numbers for basically the same part, don't they?
I get why (mold differences and/or due to certain colors like transparant versions or metallic parts). But it makes me always just go to Bricklink for parts and inventories.
@Binnekamp said:
" @Brickalili said:
"I see a lot of talk about how its been used for balloons and windshields...but, with its name and all, has it ever been used to build a actual shell? "
Does the ship hull of 70830 Sweet Mayhem's Systar Starship count?
"
See I was thinking more in terms of clams or conches but nice to hear your enthusiasm
I think when you use it for minifig balloons, they turn out comically small. Great use in 70830 though.
Fantastic piece, but damn hard to get it (nearly) perfect. One of my toughest builds ever.
@brick_r said:
""Wouldn't like to fly, in my beautiful balloon..."
"First ya' have build your 'beautiful balloon'..."
Sorry, I blame 'Minions 2' for send down a the garden-path of songs around that 60's-70's time period:)"
The 5th Dimension is not a band you hear very often these days (read: I've never head it on the FM radio, not even once, in my entire life). I personally prefer the latter portion of "Age of Aquarius / Let the Sun Shine In".