I recently started collecting Classic Space and Futuron sets. I have a few questions
about specific parts listed on BL in the set inventory.
1) Classic Space Helmets: there are 2 types 193a2 and 193b2 which I see regularly.
BL has 'undetermined type' in their inventory. Sources on the internet
say that 193b2 was introduced in 1985, so I collect my pre 1985 sets with 193a2
and 1985 and onwards with 193b2. However, when I buy sets, I get 193b2 on sets
as early as 1979. They are not MISB so could be tampered with, but I get the
impression that this pre/post 1985 is not as clear-cut. Any ideas on how to collect
these? Do people bother to make the distinction?
2) A similar question for the heads of futuron astronauts. Depending on the astronaut
color they should be solid stud or blocked open studs. I see them only in solid
stud variety.
At first “Blocked open stud” head was an only US market thing, in the EU we had
solid stud much longer. As most sets are parted out in the US the blocked open
variant shows up in a lot more sets than we had in Europe. Very clear when you
look at early Pirates sets…
I recently started collecting Classic Space and Futuron sets. I have a few questions
about specific parts listed on BL in the set inventory.
1) Classic Space Helmets: there are 2 types 193a2 and 193b2 which I see regularly.
BL has 'undetermined type' in their inventory. Sources on the internet
say that 193b2 was introduced in 1985, so I collect my pre 1985 sets with 193a2
and 1985 and onwards with 193b2. However, when I buy sets, I get 193b2 on sets
as early as 1979. They are not MISB so could be tampered with, but I get the
impression that this pre/post 1985 is not as clear-cut. Any ideas on how to collect
these? Do people bother to make the distinction?
I think it's fairly clear-cut. There was a transitional phase in the mid-80s,
before then chinstraps were thin, after they were a bit thicker. There definitely
were not thick chinstraps in 1979 - the problem is that the BL inventories have
minifigures and not parts for these, and minifigures can have thick chinstraps.
Some even have this more or less officially. But the whole reason for the thick
chinstraps is that the thin ones were so fragile.
is also a thing ... not too long ago I had 3 yellow spacemen with this helmet.
You might find some other differences, like whether there are tiny prongs inside
the torsos or that they are prong-free. Or whether the legs have L and R stamped
on them, etc.
2) A similar question for the heads of futuron astronauts. Depending on the astronaut
color they should be solid stud or blocked open studs. I see them only in solid
stud variety.
It doesn't depend on the color as far as I know, but the BL inventories might.
[…]
I think it's fairly clear-cut. There was a transitional phase in the mid-80s,
before then chinstraps were thin, after they were a bit thicker. There definitely
were not thick chinstraps in 1979 - the problem is that the BL inventories have
minifigures and not parts for these, and minifigures can have thick chinstraps.
Some even have this more or less officially.
And no Alternates in minifgures’ inventories.
Also, one thing to understand & remember about the catalogue is that the dates
for parts are automatically derived from the inventories they are in.
So, if a set was produced from 1984 to 1987, with a new variant appearing in
1986, the catalogue will say both variants are from 1984 to 1987.
Apply that to multiple sets and you get the older variant going from 1979 to
1992 and the newer from 1979 to now, while the older variant really was from
1979 to 1988 (or more¹) and the newer variant from 1986 to 20-something.
——
¹ Not “1986” because of stock and LEGO uses old stock, sometimes very old stock.
Thank you all for the insightful replies. I made up my mind now. I'll continue
to aim for the thin chinstrap helmets for sets
and I'll accept that my Futuron heads have solid studs
Thanks all, F.J.
Netherlands, Gelderland
Canada, Ontario
France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Sweden, Västra Götaland
USA, New Jersey
