Modulex parts

[Magnus Forsberg]

Anyone have any Modulex parts?

I'm working on a set of parts made by Chris Dee and Tore Eriksson. 
The zip-file contained the slopes, but are they correct?

In this image from the marketing documents they seem to be of the same height. Both the front ends and the backsides are all the same height.


  modslope.png (Size: 105.42 KB / Downloads: 475)

But if I look at the parts made for ldraw they are of different height. And there is not enough space inside the 45 deg slope for a stud.

   

The angle of the different slopes seem to be correct; 9, 18, 27 and 45 degrees

[David Manley]

I've got some Modulex parts. The height of the 45 degree slope is less than the height of the other slopes. Refer to this picture:

[Rene Rechthaler]

what size are the front lips? looks like only the 45° has a thin one...
how are the back heights compared to the modulex bricks?
can they be stacked/aligned? (like in the LDPE pic)
two identical antiparallel to a block results in what height?

[Magnus Forsberg]

I've got some Modulex parts. The height of the 45 degree slope is less than the height of the other slopes. Refer to this picture:

Could you please measure this?

   

Are all 3 red fronts the same height?  How many mm?
Are all 3 yellow backs the same height?  How many mm?

What is the height of the 2 green?

Is there some kind of cutout inside the 45 deg slope, like on the cheese slope 54200?

[David Manley]

Could you please measure this?



Are all 3 red fronts the same height?  How many mm?
Are all 3 yellow backs the same height?  How many mm?

What is the height of the 2 green?

Is there some kind of cutout inside the 45 deg slope, like on the cheese slope 54200?

I don't have a micrometer, so the measurements will be a bit inaccurate. If you would like, I can snail mail you the parts if you can measure them more accurately. You won't have to return the parts to me. PM me if you want to do that. Otherwise I'll provide my less-than-accurate measurements.

[Magnus Forsberg]

I don't have a micrometer, so the measurements will be a bit inaccurate. If you would like, I can snail mail you the parts if you can measure them more accurately. You won't have to return the parts to me. PM me if you want to do that. Otherwise I'll provide my less-than-accurate measurements.

I got some good contacts and help from Swebrick. But thanks for the offering.

[David Manley]

Part photos with measuring tape (mm) for each of the slopes,

• 1x1 slope
  

• 1 x 3 slope
  

• 1 x 4 slope
  

• 1 x 2 slope (9 degrees)
  

(pictures pending)

• 1 x 2 slope (27 degrees)
  

 

• Internal shot of 1 x 1 slope
  

[Magnus Forsberg]

• Internal shot of 1 x 1 slope
  

Is there a similar flat surface inside the 1x2 1:2 slope, or inside any of the other slopes?

[David Manley]

Yes, there is, apart from the 1x4 slope. The 1x3 and taller 1x2 have a horizontal bit about the same length. The smaller 1x2 has a longer flat bit.

[Magnus Forsberg]

How do I number the Modulex parts?

In the zip a standard brick is called brk0101.dat. I think the rescaled parts can't use the same number. It would brake any model made of those files.

A simple change would be to extend it to be brick0101.dat. The numbers tell the size. A 2x4 brick would be brick0204.dat.
A window would be window0502.dat

Or,
should it be a number series, like the Mursten bricks, u8000-u8999?

s = unknown sticker
t = third party number
u = unknown partnumber

[Jeff Jones]

How do I number the Modulex parts?

In the zip a standard brick is called brk0101.dat. I think the rescaled parts can't use the same number. It would brake any model made of those files.

A simple change would be to extend it to be brick0101.dat. The numbers tell the size. A 2x4 brick would be brick0204.dat.
A window would be window0502.dat

Or,
should it be a number series, like the Mursten bricks, u8000-u8999?

s = unknown sticker
t = third party number
u = unknown partnumber

imho u******

[Orion Pobursky]

Use u7NNN

[Chris Böhnke]

Anyone aware of this?
https://web.archive.org/web/201606011717...e/Modulex/

[Orion Pobursky]

Yes. This is Chris Dee's library mentioned above.

[Magnus Forsberg]

Yes. This is Chris Dee's library mentioned above.

Correct, but Chris's reference page is gone, and with it the zip-file.
That why I decided to finnish this project.

[Marion]

Correct, but Chris's reference page is gone, and with it the zip-file.
That why I decided to finnish this project.

Hi Magnus,

are you still looking for the original zip file from Chris, or do you already have it?
If you need it, I can give it to you.

Marion

[Magnus Forsberg]

are you still looking for the original zip file from Chris, or do you already have it?

I have it, and now all parts are re-scaled and re-worked. 
Only a final polishing left before they are ready for an upload.

[Jeff Jones]

should ldconfig be updated for the unique modulex colors? or maybe a whole new ldconfig?

LDconfig_MX?

[Magnus Forsberg]

should ldconfig be updated for the unique modulex colors? or maybe a whole new ldconfig?

Some are already in there, some are indeed missing.


https://www.newelementary.com/2019/05/co...theme.html

[Chris Böhnke]

Here's a list of how they would compare to LDraw colours and what's missing (all Modulex info by Rylie Howerter/Brick Colorstream):

Original ones, a lot of these line up with Fabuland colours and the original 50 System colours, even their TLG IDs match:

• 0 Clear - 47 Trans Clear/40 Transparent
  
• 1 White - 15 White/01 White
  
• 2 Grey  - 7 Light Grey/02 Grey
  
• 3 Black - MISSING (Note that this noticably off from regular Black)
  
• 4 Terracotta - 450 Fabuland Brown/04 Brick Red (Fabuland Chairs, Raccoon)
  
• 5 Buff - 19 Tan/05 Brick Yellow
  
• 6 Ocher Yellow - MISSING
  
• 7 Olive Green - MISSING
  
• 8 Teal Blue - MISSING (Maybe this is TLG's 08 Cobalt Blue?)
  
• 9 Brown - MISSING
  
• 10 Clear 47 Trans Clear/40 Transparent or 10 Clear (a short-lived replacement for 40 in the 1980's)
  
• 11 Pastel Blue 313 Maersk Blue/11 Pastel Blue
  
• 12 Orange 366 Earth Orange/12 Light Orange Brown (Duplo Lion, HP Ron's Hair)
  
• 13 Red 508 Fabuland Red/13 Red Orange (Fabuland and Duplo Cows)
  
• 14 Pastel Green 510 Fabuland Lime/14 Pastel Green (Fabuland Crocodile, few Duplo Parts)
  
• 15 Lemon - MISSING/15 Lemon (Note this colour alsoo exists for a few Duplo parts and Paradisa Prints)
  
• 16 Pink 351 Medium Dark Pink/16 Pink
  

Second Colour Palette (also included the older ones), most of these seem to be exclusive to Modulex and not match existing ones:

• 10 Strong - Red 4 Red
  
• 31 White - 15 White
  
• 32 Grey - MISSING
  
• 33 Pink Red - MISSING
  
• 34 Aqua Green - MISSING
  
• 35 Light Yellow - MISSING
  
• 37 Violet - MISSING
  
• 38 Medium Blue - MISSING
  
• 39 Light Orange - MISSING
  
• 40 Charcoal Gray - MISSING
  

Foil Colours. These were exclusive to special paper foils, intended to be cut and to "colourise" white bricks. Whilst some might be intended to match other colours, they might still look different than the plastic colours:

• 80 White
  
• 81 Black
  
• 82 Dark Gray
  
• 83 Light Gray
  
• 84 Dark Green
  
• 85 Light Green
  
• 86 Dark Blue
  
• 87 Light Blue
  
• 88 Violet
  
• 89 Dark Red
  
• 90 Yellow
  
• 91 Orange
  

Modern Modulex colours, exclusive to (printed) tiles it seems, no numbers are known and they seem to not match:

• Mx Tile Gray
  
• Mx Tile Brown
  
• Mx Tile Blue
  
• Mx Very Light Bluish Gray
  

Other known Colours; Boards/Baseplates only (might just be one of the regular colours with poor colour matching?): 

• Mx Ice White
  
• Mx Planning Board Gray
  

[Chris Böhnke]

Maybe this is the right time to finally request System colours 15 Lemon and 17 Rose?

[Orion Pobursky]

I think we should have Modulex categories. Let's make a list and I can get them added to the PT.

[Chris Böhnke]

Some are probably too much detail, so might not be needed:

Modulex (Generic entry for anything that doesn't fit below)
Modulex Brick (regular ones only)
Modulex Brick Modified (profile bricks, open end 2x20, corners like Mx2401A)
Modulex Slope (regular Slopes XxYxZ)
Modulex Tile (Regular and Modified)
Modulex Tile Printed (Printed only)
Modulex Windows and Doors
Modulex Baseplate (actual Baseplates and Wallhanger Plates?)
Modulex Noteboard (Slides, Holders etc.)
Modulex Figure (Figures and Furniture)
Modulex Foil (Cardboard Foil for Bricks)
Modulex Human Tool (Cutters, Tweezers etc. for Foil)

[Orion Pobursky]

This is a bit excessive. We should limit to 2 words: Modulex <existing category>.

[Chris Böhnke]

How about this:

• Modulex [Now referring to everything irregular] [BL entries: 107]
  
• Modulex Brick [BL entries: 39]
  
• Modulex Slope [BL considers them generic Modulex pieces]
  
• Modulex Tile [BL entries: 989]
  
• [Modulex Windows] [Not sure about this, also there are a few doors, could just be the generic Category] [BL entries: 57]
  

There are those weird corner "bricks" in varying lengths. Would those be bricks like BL calls them or something else?
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...x2401A#T=C

The number of tiles BL list is a bit excessive, though all of them seem to be various prints.

[Magnus Forsberg]

This is a bit excessive. We should limit to 2 words: Modulex <existing category>.

I think even that is unnecessary. A single "Modulex" category will do.
We don't have subcategories on any of the other "brands", like Belville, Clickit, Duplo, Scala or Znap.

[Philippe Hurbain]

I think even that is unnecessary. A single "Modulex" category will do.
We don't have subcategories on any of the other "brands", like Belville, Clickit, Duplo, Scala or Znap.

I  agree, since the variety of Modulex bricks is pretty low a single category will do.

[Magnus Forsberg]

Modulex Tiles with printed letters/symbols need an exemption from the "In set"-rule.
There are no known set numbers to use in the listings.

Don't know how they where sold. Boxes of 100 pcs? Maybe like modern day Pick-a-Brick?

[Orion Pobursky]

I'll exempt the whole Modulex category.

[Chris Böhnke]

There were some large bulk packs of those tiles (at least at some points). Given that Modulex was primarily used for larger companies, large quantities seem more likely.

There are a few set numbers out there, but they are barely readable at all:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

Also given, those numbers likely overlap with regular set numbers, it really seems best to just leave them out.

EDIT:
Here is a readable example for at least the regular one letter/number tiles:
https://ryliehowerter.net/mx/SortimenteF...nungen.pdf

Translation:

984 - 25 times each letter of the alphabet, size 10 x 10 mm
986 - 25 times each number and symbol [doesnt say which], size 5 x5 mm and 10 x 10 mm

[Javier Orquera]

Hello: maybe you are aware of this web page; anyway I post it https://www.newelementary.com/2023/10/mo...s.html?m=1, it have a link to the modulex library by Ryan Howerter. Hope it is of any use.

[Chris Böhnke]

Hello: maybe you are aware of this web page; anyway I post it https://www.newelementary.com/2023/10/mo...s.html?m=1, it have a link to the modulex library by Ryan Howerter. Hope it is of any use.

That's where I took that info from 

It also seems the theory is correct, they were sold separately, but even then only in bulk.

[Orion Pobursky]

I'll exempt the whole Modulex category.

I'm still working on this. The submit code is done but the header edit code is giving me fits.

[Magnus Forsberg]

   

All the parts from the original zip-file is now rescaled, reworked and uploaded to the Part Tracker
I made a new summary page here, mirroring the original reference home page made by Chris Dee.

Thank you to David Manley, here at the forum, and Godtfred at SweBricks for helping with the measurements.

Now we need some colour codes.

[Chris Böhnke]

As stated a few posts ago, there are 31 colours exclusive to Modulex (though 2 are a bit unclear if not just a plastic issue/testing colour).

1. Should they get their own dedicated number range (11000-11030 for example) to avoid overlaps with the Lego ID+10000 concept for currently missing legacy colours (not that many anyways) where the real ID was already taken?
   
2. Some Modulex Colours have official IDs assigned to them, though there will be gaps/overlaps. Use those + some 5 digit number?
   
3. Is there any need to create duplicate entries for Modulex colours that are known as identical to regular Lego colours (like White or Maersk Blue)? Bricklink for example does distinguish those. Affects 13 colours.
   
4. There are no official Hex codes known for the missing ones (according to https://ryliehowerter.net/colors.php). How to handle this? Use the Bricklink ones/measure somehow?
   
5. 12 of the missing colours are special "foil" colours, exclusive to what appears coated paper? Would that require a new colour type?
   
6. Name: "Modulex " + <official Name>?
   

[Orion Pobursky]

I'm still working on this. The submit code is done but the header edit code is giving me fits.

Modulex category is now fully exempt.

[tom alphin]

This is very cool to see... I will consider adding a Modulex section to my LEGO Parts Guide in the future. Since it is a different 'system' than LEGO Bricks, Technic, or Duplo, and has very limited compatibility with those other systems, it will probably require a new top-level category.

(By contrast, it's reasonable to consider Znap a sub-category of Technic.)

---tom