LEGO Ed. Part Switch
When I received my Education Resource Set, it included this wheel--which also appears on the cover of the box. I used four of these as feet for my camel in the ZOO book. Now, I've discovered that LEGO Ed is not including this wheel, but is, instead, including the wheel that is already in the base kits. Message to LEGO: If you must choose one wheel hub for all things, let it be this one. It offers many more creative building options.
Comments
http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/44292
have Technic pin holes while the newer ones do not:
http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/56145
Unfortunately, if you look on the set dates you'll find the 56145 version is the one that LEGO seems to be moving towards... so it may be that LEGO Ed can no longer use the 44292 version because their supplier (LEGO) no longer makes them.
It's frustrating to people who've purchased my book---and me.
What you bring up is a fact of life with LEGO, I fear - things change, and they don't change in the ways you want more often than not. You may be too "young" in a LEGO sense to understand the color pallet reduction issue... or the "bley" issue... or the studless issue... or the window issue, fleshy minifig issue, tree issue, train issue(s), monorail issue, etc. But this has been a constant over the years.
When building LEGO, do not count on having what you want... but always know you can find what you need :).
http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/4185
These are half-unit widths, but if you put two in the same orientation on the same axle, then the holes line up to accept Technic pins. These are very handy as well, being one of the few ways to get true 120° connections in LEGO.
--
Brian Davis
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=44374
Josh
Brinklink #'s:
44374 (3 blade liftarm) = $1 to $2 & up!
4185 (wedge belt pulley) = 3 to 6 *cents*
bb205 (hub w. 3 axles) = $1.30 to $1.80 & up
That last is another great part... but uncommon. And thus expensive.
Trust me - I love wedge belt wheels as much as everyone else ^_^ I would like to see a double thick one though, just so it could hold pins better.
Josh
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=bb258