Mangled Minifigs & Cursed Connections: Spooky Edition
A few months back, I was cursed by the AFOL community because of everything I did to poor old Benny. With Halloween just around the corner, one of the old skeletons hiding in my closet, er, desk inspired me again. Spooky Scary Skeletons will be harmed…
Introduced back in 1995, the Skeleton quickly became a staple in many a LEGO theme, ranging from Castle, Adventurers, Pirates, and everything in between. The introduction of the skeleton was actually quite the controversial moment for LEGO, because outside of play, it represented the idea that a minifigure could die!
Arms seem a little floppy floppy, huh? about that…
Unlike standard poseable minifigure arms, LEGO skeleton arms used to end in a small ball socket that connected loosely to the torso. (Modern versions have a standard bar and clip connection like Battl eDroids). But the wiggly arms of the old skeleton have an awfully floppy connection that adds a lot of life and humor to the figure. But it lets us do some interesting things…
Shoulder Shenanigans & Antenna Antics
Shoulder socket
Oddly enough, this joint seems to have been made on a whim. Nothing else seems to match it. Well… nothing intended. When did that ever stop me in the past? Let’s see what can fit!
Same piece, but the tip of the blade has a slightly different shape
Element 37846: Minifigure, Weapon Sword, Foil has a conveniently shaped tip on the end. There are two versions of the sword, one with a ball and another with an elongated sphere, but both fit. The ball is loose, but the funky sphere actually gives a little friction, enabling some dynamic positioning.
The ball on the end doesn’t fit. What about the shaft?
If you are a LEGO Space fan, you probably have a bunch of element 2569: Antenna Whip 8L. The ball on the end isn’t quite the right size, but it turns out the skinniest part of the bar in the middle is close enough to stick an arm in.
Maybe, dont do this one…
For science, I had to try a smaller antenna, more commonly used as a lever. It fits… if you jam it hard enough. I wouldn’t recommend it, as it can damage the socket, or outright break it. Too bad, so sad. Well, time to BrickLink some more arms…
Befuddling Belville
It wouldn’t be a spooky article without something that cannot be unseen. Belville figs can interact with minifigure skeleton arms in some really bizarre ways… I won’t list each out, but you can take a look at the gallery and see the horror for yourself.
Chilling Conclusion
I don’t think it’s going out on a limb to say that the skeleton arm is an unusual connection in the world of LEGO. In fact, some of the examples described here today are downright humerus! Hope you enjoyed the article! But if you have a bone to pick, feel free to leave a punny comment.
Do you have any other nefarious connections not mentioned here? Do you find Bellville figures unsettling? Let us know in the comments below.
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