Random part of the day: Shaft 3M Ø3.2
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random part is 37078, 'Shaft 3M Ø3.2', which is a System part, category Signs, Flags And Poles.
Our members collectively own a total of 16,210 of them. If you'd like to buy some you should find them for sale at BrickLink.
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20 comments on this article
Careful. Don’t pick it up without a bolt attached.
Shaft's his name. Shaft's his Game.
You may think that you have a lot of this piece.
You would be wrong.
According to Brickset, this piece only ever came in one set: 75117, which only 7,681 of you appear to have. It's used as the smaller sideways blades in Kylo Ren's lightsaber. I cannot tell you why it's a whole different thing, because I have no idea and by the time I find out, someone else will certainly be commenting on why this piece is different and my research will have been for nought.
I personally think that the Star Wars buildable figures must have been made in a different factory, as has been seen before.
But I don't for certainly know.
@Randomness said:
"You may think that you have a lot of this piece.
You would be wrong.
According to Brickset, this piece only ever came in one set: 75117, which only 7,681 of you appear to have. It's used as the smaller sideways blades in Kylo Ren's lightsaber. I cannot tell you why it's a whole different thing, because I have no idea and by the time I find out, someone else will certainly be commenting on why this piece is different and my research will have been for nought."
This blade is 3 studs in length. Most minifigure blades are 4 studs in length. They rarely make these shorter length bars in trans-colors.
@Randomness said:
"You may think that you have a lot of this piece.
You would be wrong.
According to Brickset, this piece only ever came in one set: 75117 , which only 7,681 of you appear to have. It's used as the smaller sideways blades in Kylo Ren's lightsaber. I cannot tell you why it's a whole different thing, because I have no idea and by the time I find out, someone else will certainly be commenting on why this piece is different and my research will have been for nought.
I personally think that the Star Wars buildable figures must have been made in a different factory, as has been seen before.
But I don't for certainly know."
Lego has a different part number when a part is translucent. Example: a 1x1 plate in opaque colour is part number 3024 but for the translucent version of this, it is: 28554. While this works for a vast majority of parts it is not working for the bar 3L which come in variety 17715 and 87994 (87994 having translucent parts but also opaque ones - 37078 is not even recognized by Bricklink). The 'different plant' hypothesis starts to become an attractive proposition.
@Randomness: I'm one of those who have 75117, so I do have a couple of these. (plus the spare, obviously.) If you go to the element page, there'll be a section labeled "Pieces with the same name," of which this place has two. (This section doesn't always appear, and every so often the other piece won't even look the same.) I'd always assumed that was due to mold changes, but I suppose your idea of different factories makes just as much sense.
Mine is, umm, 6M.
@Jesse_S_T said: This blade is 3 studs in length. Most minifigure blades are 4 studs in length. They rarely make these shorter length bars in trans-colors
The rare trans color 3L bars seem to mostly come in CMFs.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Randomness: I'm one of those who have 75117, so I do have a couple of these. (plus the spare, obviously.) If you go to the element page, there'll be a section labeled "Pieces with the same name," of which this place has two. (This section doesn't always appear, and every so often the other piece won't even look the same.) I'd always assumed that was due to mold changes, but I suppose your idea of different factories makes just as much sense."
Different factories is possible but I believe it’s because trans parts are a different formula than opaque parts. Lego has different “laws” with trans bars connecting with other trans parts. For example, the 1x1 cone 4589b in any trans color can’t have a trans bar inside of it. That’s my speculation at least.
Considering the other version of this 87994 comes in multiple transparent colours in various CMFs, including in Trans red, I would say that the different factory theory holds water at least.
Always interesting with the parts.
Interesting as it is to see different numbers of the same part, I wonder if searching the Bricklink database would be feasible/desirable as it would eliminate most of these duplicate issues. The databases probably don't line up the best though.
I seem to have recorded 3 copies of this set. I should triple-check that.
my shaft is about 9m. flaccid.
And now you will feel the true power of the dark side...
Your 3M is nothing compared to the power of the Dark Side
Somehow I expected this part to be purple....
That's what she said!
@PurpleDave said:
"Careful. Don’t pick it up without a bolt attached."
Hilt. Not bolt. Thanks Apple autoincorrect! And it tried changing it to “Holy” this time around.
@Jesse_S_T:
They made it in red for the CMF Blacktron Cyborg. I’ve had one of the trans-bright-green 3L bars shear off near one end, so maybe during the gap is when they switched materials to prevent trans-lock when doing stuff like sticking a bar inside a cone.
@oukexergon:
6 modules, so 1-7/8”?
@sbpyrat:
And that’s a shame, because they look so much better as lightsaber blades for minifigs.
@NotProfessorWhymzi:
9 modules would be 2-13/16”.
What's the piece that won't cop out when there's building all about. . . . . . .Shaft. I can dig it.
@sbpyrat said:
" @Jesse_S_T said: This blade is 3 studs in length. Most minifigure blades are 4 studs in length. They rarely make these shorter length bars in trans-colors
The rare trans color 3L bars seem to mostly come in CMFs.
"
Yes. The Simpson's CMF series Mr Burns for example came with a trans green 3L-bar - which I use as a lightsabre for my Yoda minifigs. Makes much more sense than the standard bar which is longer than our little green friend.
3L should be the standard lightsabre for Yoda. Don't understand why they are so rare...