How-To by Forestboy - Fire Strands

[Bruce N H]

Hey all,

Tell me, do you have your mages, wizards, and necromancers casting fire like this? Like a wimp?

Would you rather have them cast fire like this?

Read the rest of the How-to article on fire strands by Forestboy.

Thanks, Forestboy! And to everyone, please let an admin know if you are interested in writing up anything for our How-To section.

Bruce

[JoshWedin]

Nicely written "How-to". We can never have too many of these.

I would like to make one correction though. I don't think that trans-red flames ever came in a set. Peeron lists set 7074 as having come with trans-red flames but Bricklink lists it as trans-orange. The set pictures show trans-orange as well. I think there is an error with the Peeron inventory and I have never personally seen a trans-red flame. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Build On,
Josh

[Rick-Ricks]

So I've noticed with some of my more used fire pieces that there is a small crack in the nook that fits the second piece. I'm guessing that there is a minor size difference that's causing this, but I'm no expert, has anybody else had similar problems?

[Robin Hood]

Hey, great article. Likely as not most user here know how to do this, but that doesn't negate the awesomeness of this article one bit. It adds to the great wealth of knowledge that is CC. And I'm sure many people will make use of it. I myself hadn't heard about the mold change, and am obviously shocked and disappointed in that. Good to know though, thanks.

Dan

[ACPin]

Nice article, though the technique does not apply only to Castle.

Here's an old MOC from 2005 for Mustafar where I used it.


AC

[Forestboy]

I don't think that trans-red flames ever came in a set. Peeron lists set 7074 as having come with trans-red flames but Bricklink lists it as trans-orange. The set pictures show trans-orange as well. I think there is an error with the Peeron inventory and I have never personally seen a trans-red flame. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Hmmm...I think your right because I just checked peeron to see how many colors there are, but I myself have never seen one in person. Although, in the back of my head I feel like I've seen it before...

So I've noticed with some of my more used fire pieces that there is a small crack in the nook that fits the second piece. I'm guessing that there is a minor size difference that's causing this, but I'm no expert, has anybody else had similar problems?

No, I haven't had this problem, although I haven't really used the fire strand a lot.

I myself hadn't heard about the mold change, and am obviously shocked and disappointed in that.

Yeah, same here. And that part was what Bruce edited in too. (Thanks!)

Here's an old MOC from 2005 for Mustafar where I used it.

Awesome moc!

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

[rgurskey]

I used trans-purple to represent lightning in this MOC.

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3078249

Good article and I have seen the change in the flame piece in some new sets.

[Shadowviking]

I'm surprised a how to article for this hadn't been written until now. So many people have asked about that technique, as simple as it seems.

Very nicely written article too. Well done Forestboy... good selection of example MOCs too.

-EDITED for clarification-

[Skalldyr]

I'm surprised this hasn't been done before. So many people have asked about that technique, as simple as it seems.

Very nicely written article too. Well done Forestboy... good selection of example MOCs too.

Agree! This is really crazy with these parts. You can build forever with Lego, and also do not discover such a thing after years!

[Forestboy]

You can build forever with Lego, and also do not discover such a thing after years!

Yeah, I've had that happen to me a lot! I saw fire strands being used all the time and I had no idea how to make one until I sat down and tried to figure it out. With Lego, you're always learning.

Oh and, the article says that Purple strands are very rare and such (which they are), but I'm pretty sure that Sean Kenney's bricklink has 500+ purple fires for anyone who wants 'em. I think I might go get some and make some purple mage shooting out purple fire.

[Skalldyr]

I think I might go get some and make some purple mage shooting out purple fire.

You should, You should!

[legokilt]

Thanks for the great how to post. Now I have a way to liven up some of my MOC's.

[SlyOwl]

Good article, at last a definitive, clear explanation!
One of my favourite MOCs using this technique is Lolas' Miller's Nightmare, from the CCCV, as gushing water.

It's also worth noting that the small plume/fire piece fits in the nook, so can be used to add another dimension or texture to the flames, although it has to be on the end of a "chain".

[Lord Lego 436]

So I've noticed with some of my more used fire pieces that there is a small crack in the nook that fits the second piece. I'm guessing that there is a minor size difference that's causing this, but I'm no expert, has anybody else had similar problems?

Yep, only one works. One is slightly smaller.

[Rick-Ricks]

I'm attaching it using the correct nook. I wonder if there's a difference in some of the molds.