Review: Periodic Table of LEGO Colors, by WLWYB
WLWYB (We Love What You Build) released version 2.0 of their LEGO Color Periodic Table ($39.95 USD) recently. Updated to 65 colors and 12 LEGO elements, this eye-catching wall piece is meant to be both a reference and art. How does measure up to those standards? Well, BrickJournal got a chance to find out, and you will too!
Positives
Personally, I knew of the first edition of the table and some positive reviews of it, so it was a nice turn of events for WLWYB to send us an email concerning reviewing their latest version. And one week later, I got a package from FedEx International (the company is based in Hungary) with the following box inside:
(pay no mind to the red mark at the edge – I cut myself with an art knife. No LEGO was harmed, though).
The only hint of what’s inside is on the packing tape…
Here’s a video of the opening.
And here it is! The first thing you will notice is that it’s colorful! The second thing you’ll notice is that it’s compact – 15.5 x 12 inches. The size is defined by the part size and doesn’t hurt the overall presentation.
A closer look shows the setup of the table – the ‘symbols’ are derived from the name of the color (Dark Gray is Dg – and is the older Dark Gray).
The arrangement of the table is sort of like the spectrum and split so cold colors are one side and warm on the other.
The dotted line separates the warm from the cold colors. There’s also a red or gray square at the top left corner of each box to show warm or cold.
The legend itself is a little hard to see, but needs to be noted to understand the information on the blocks.
Here’s a closer look. The most important thing to see are the color number IDs for LEGO and Bricklink. For builders and vendors, that’s the BIG thing. And as a reference document, this is great in that respect for the 65 colors selected. There are 12 different elements used and glued on the board – and they won’t fall off, as they are securely on the board. The board itself is sturdy – I want to say it’s gatorboard, so it won’t easily bend or scratch. On the back, there is a hanger, too. It may hang with a list though, as most of the elements are on the left side.
The size of the table is small enough to NOT put on the wall, though. I like to keep it handy to check colors, so it’s at my building desk.
Negatives
There’s a lot to like about this table, but there are some shortcomings that you may have noticed – the black background is good for the graphic look, but makes the type on it hard to see. The size of the type is also small and a thin typeface, which is another reason why I don’t have this on the wall. My old person eyes with glasses needs to get closer to see names.
For a new builder, the overall design of the table will make sense until they try to figure out the name of the colors. Some are easy to figure out with the part by it (Tlb = Transparent Light Blue) while others (PDG = Pearl Dark Gray) are hard to figure out because the source part is so small. Looking to the side listing is a little helpful, since a person can figure the color selection there, but colors like Medium Nougat (MN) are hard to find when the Bricklink Color ID is not a primary marker on the color block.
That may be the main issue i have with the table – its setup is based on color, which makes sense. However, the color IDs of both LEGO and Bricklink are not so logical. You can find a color by name using the listing on the side with a little trouble, but finding a name from the color might be more complicated.
Overall
The second edition Periodic Table of LEGO Color is a pretty good sampler of the LEGO color palette and a good reference for new and experienced builders. The color ID information with the part is the best thing about the table and makes it an easy to use numerical index. The name of the color is a little trickier to figure out though.
As a piece of art, it’s pretty cool too. I like the graphic look of it and wish that there was a color chip book done for LEGO and Bricklink colors, thanks to this. And convert this to a flat poster that is larger!
An Offer and a Giveaway!
If you want to order a periodic table, you can go to the WLWYB site and use the code BJournal10 and receive a 10% discount from now until 3/24/21 ! BrickJournal will also receive a commission, so you support the magazine too!
You can also place an entry to win a table – To enter the giveaway you must follow WLWYB’s IG page and comment ‘what LEGO Color are you’ under your post. One person will be randomly selected to win a Periodic table. Good luck!
