LEGO responds to concerns around mould mark on printed Star Wars UCS plaques

As LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series sets introduce printed plaques at last, the LEGO Group has responded to concerns around the mould mark in the middle of its 8×16 tiles.

75355 X-wing Starfighter will be the first UCS set to swap out its stickered info plaque for a printed piece, following in the tyre tracks of 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3. It’s a change long requested by the community, given the difficulty involved in correctly aligning such a huge sticker – but it introduces its own complications, namely the injection-moulding spot in the centre of the large 8×16 tile.

That mark was previously covered up by a sticker, but is now fully visible on the printed piece. And the LEGO Group clearly knows it’s an issue, having seemingly gone to great lengths to hide it in close-up images of 75355 X-wing Starfighter. The good news is that it’s apparently not a permanent compromise of receiving printed UCS plaques.

In a recent roundtable interview with Brick Fanatics and other LEGO Fan Media, the LEGO Star Wars team explained why the mould mark exists in the first place – and that it’s well aware the community isn’t completely happy with the piece as it stands.

“Whenever we’re designing a new element – it doesn’t matter what it is – the top priority is to make sure that we can make them all work,” says LEGO Star Wars Design Manager Michael Lee Stockwell. “The plastic has to be able to float to all areas of the mould and create an element that’s strong and functional and whatnot. Now from an engineering standpoint, they are looking not necessarily with the same glasses as we’re using.

• LEGO’s sneaky UCS X-wing images aren’t fooling anyone
• Five things we’ve spotted in LEGO Star Wars 75355 X-wing Starfighter

“They’re looking at what’s going to produce the most stable, production-friendly mould possible. And we’re looking at what’s going to produce the most beautiful element possible. So we have to try to reach a compromise. I know that there’s been a lot of feedback about these elements, because now we are starting to print more on them, so I know engineering is getting this feedback.”

The results of that feedback are yet to be determined, but Stockwell added that reworking the element further down the line is definitely not off the table.

“What happens is we don’t just run out and scrap moulds, but there could very well be information put in a mould reorder that means the next time around, [when] we design this element – I’m not saying that we’re doing it – but I think we could look into, ‘Are there any other options to place the inlet that will still give us a result that won’t disturb the ability to print?’ Because some elements we are able to put inlets in other places. But this is a pretty big element, so it’s quite challenging.”

Just as it’s taken nearly a quarter of a century for LEGO Star Wars UCS sets to move from stickers to printed plaques, we could be waiting a good while for the 8×16 tile to receive a redesign. LEGO moulds typically last for several years – a few mathematically-minded redditors estimated a mould could run for anywhere between eight and 15 years – and the LEGO Group will obviously want to squeeze the maximum mileage out of its current mould.

[bdproduct search=’star+wars’ sort=’discount’ numberOfRecord=’4′ brand=” sliderMinValues=’0′ sliderMaxValues=’750′]

For now, you’ll be able to get your hands on the first LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series printed plaque in 75355 X-wing Starfighter, which launches on May 1 for VIP members (and May 4 for everyone else). Check out all of this year’s May the 4th sets, deals and free gifts by clicking here.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO using our affiliate links. Thank you!