Lego Minifigure Displays and loose feet

[sadowsk1]

I recently purchased one of those lego minifigure displays and set some figures in it. I was looking at an old figure I have and he doesn't stand in place so well anymore because the stud holes in bottom of his feet are bowed out a little and from the looks of it, it's because of studs he was standing on. Does anyone know if there are long term negative effects of keeping a figures feet locked in studs for long amounts of time in normal room temperature conditions?

[legitimatealex]

Not that I'm aware of. I know that older minifigures do tend to eventually wear out a bit around the stud holes, but whether that is from age or being placed on studs for a long period of time I could not tell you.

[natelite]

yes, the cmf series are of poorer quality and the legs do not fit on the display piece well at all.

[vynsane]

I don't see any mention of CMFs in the original post - from what I gather, sadowsk1 is asking about the effect of long-term exposure to studs on the clutch power of minifigure feet regardless of where or when they were manufactured. I can only assume, based on the qualifier "old" in front of "figure", that he's not talking about a CMF.

That said, I'm sure like any other toy, a LEGO minifigure is subject to wear and tear. The more any piece is used, the more its clutch power will be infinitesimally that much more diminished. It's possible that the figure in question was just "well loved" throughout its play life, thus incurring a lot of wear and tear.

[sadowsk1]

I don't see any mention of CMFs in the original post - from what I gather, sadowsk1 is asking about the effect of long-term exposure to studs on the clutch power of minifigure feet regardless of where or when they were manufactured. I can only assume, based on the qualifier "old" in front of "figure", that he's not talking about a CMF.

That said, I'm sure like any other toy, a LEGO minifigure is subject to wear and tear. The more any piece is used, the more its clutch power will be infinitesimally that much more diminished. It's possible that the figure in question was just "well loved" throughout its play life, thus incurring a lot of wear and tear.

That's hitting it pretty close to the mark on my question. I guess when I originally posted this was I had in mine those new minifigure displays/carrying cases and if a figure was just left in there for display purposes only in time if that same wear would occur as though it was played with over time.

[vynsane]

It's really hard to say what the long-term effect will be - on the one hand, any two regular LEGO pieces that are connected to each other would theoretically have the same amount of stress at the connection point, and I don't remember any of my sets that stayed built for years incurring any stress-based loosening... but minifigure legs are quite possibly a little less sturdy, being that they aren't a full 1x1 brick - the small amount of separation between each leg means less reinforcement of the plastic.

Over-all, I'd say that they will incur some stress, but it won't be as much as would be incurred by a "well-loved" figure.

[BobaFett2]

It's really hard to say what the long-term effect will be - on the one hand, any two regular LEGO pieces that are connected to each other would theoretically have the same amount of stress at the connection point, and I don't remember any of my sets that stayed built for years incurring any stress-based loosening... but minifigure legs are quite possibly a little less sturdy, being that they aren't a full 1x1 brick - the small amount of separation between each leg means less reinforcement of the plastic.

Over-all, I'd say that they will incur some stress, but it won't be as much as would be incurred by a "well-loved" figure.

I think you've hit it. 1x1s are weaker in general-the smaller the attachment area, the weaker. For example, I have a split 1x1 tile. Split right down the middle. And it's new. None of my 1x1 tiles are cracked (since I don't have that many), but a lot of 1x1 bricks are. The headlight bricks are the worst-the connecting area is like a 1x1 plate with no top, making them more vulnerable (like Minifigure legs), and some even have gaps! The small slit makes no sense, and LEGO alternates between with slit and without slit. As a result, some are VERY weak.

[sadowsk1]

I think that as a just in case type thing I'll do what my fiancee recommended and rotate the display stock and give some of the figures a rest. It's nice to change the scenery every once in while. Thanks for all the helpful insight!

[legitimatealex]

No problem. I definitely can vouch for the wear and tear on older pieces. Dug out a huge bin at my parents house and a lot of the bricks have terrible connection issues.

[StClair]

Hmmm... I was doing a google search with this same question in mind. Wonderful that my searching directs me to toysnbricks

I realize this thread is a bit old but does anyone have display tips that don't involve standing minifigs on studs? I have considered a loose wire around the torso or legs to loosely tie them to a post in display case (to hold them up).

My other idea was to build a base with 1x2 "holes" on the "ground" that they would stand. Think minifigs buried up to their ankles in lego plates. That would take considerably more plates to build displays with though than simply standing them on studs.

Perhaps I shouldn't worry about it and snap them on the studs.

[vynsane]

HA! Nice.

In all honesty, I wouldn't bother worrying too much about it - LEGO pieces are meant to be snapped together! If you're concerned, I think the "regular rotation" method sadowsk1 mentioned last would be of benefit, everyone needs a break from clutch power now and again

[StClair]

HA! Nice.

In all honesty, I wouldn't bother worrying too much about it - LEGO pieces are meant to be snapped together! If you're concerned, I think the "regular rotation" method sadowsk1 mentioned last would be of benefit, everyone needs a break from clutch power now and again

Yeah I'm not gonna worry about it. I started rebuilding my display stands in my cases tonight which made me think about it.

[sweetpea_123]

you could always attach them by the back leg holes.





If you don't like the look of them bending over, you could use a plate in between.

[ncbarrett]

I experienced this (no clutch power) with my blue classic spaceman that came with the build-able figure displays from LEGO. I emailed LEGO and let them know. They sent me replacement blue legs. As always LEGO CS is second to none.