LEGO® part 4042: Curved Bar with Axle End and 1 x 1 Round Plate

Thomas Jenkins thought it was time to take a closer look at an interesting new element that has been appearing in more and more sets since its release earlier this year.

Bar Curved with Axle End and 1 x 1 Round Plate is a bended element we first noticed in two LEGO® Marvel sets earlier this year, but do you know which set it was originally designed for? Read on to find out more...

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The Curved Bar with Axle End and 1 x 1 Round Plate has a Design ID of 4042 and the Element ID for Transparent /Trans Clear is 6444527. Its official TLG name is 3.2 Shaft w/ Cross Axle.

Look at this thing! This Swiss Army knife of an element has a stud, axle, and bar connections. It wouldn’t look out of place among the submissions we received in last year’s Make a Wishbrick contest. 

The Curved Bar has appeared in 6 sets so far:

• 1 in 21342 The Insect Collection
• 1 in 43232 Peter Pan & Wendy's Flight over London
• 3 in 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle
• 2 in 76266 Endgame Final Battle
• 1 in 76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank - Collectors' Edition
• 8 in 76269 Avengers Tower

Development

We asked one of the people responsible for this element, Yoel Mazur, Design Master at LEGO how this part came to be:

When developing the Avengers Tower, we knew we wanted to be able to pose minifigures and small builds in different locations around the tower. We started with this older element, no. 49546.

This older element has a 1x2 plate with studs and tube-side [anti-studs], 3.2 shaft, and a round 1x1 plate with another 3.2 shaft continuing onwards. That’s a lot! 

We decided to create a similar element that introduces a curve. To avoid a left or right designs, we chose to create a symmetric element, and therefore needed a back-to-back stud."

- Design Master Yoel Mazur 

This new element also looks like it might be an evolution of the much smaller minifigure action posing accessories, particularly Bar, Angled with Stud on End (65578), which were introduced in the DC collectible minifigure line a few years ago. Those were first seen in Trans-Clear too. (For a refresher, check out Jonas Kramm’s article about element 65578).

Other elements we think it shares some DNA with are:  

• Bar 1 x 12 with 1 x 2 Plate End with Hollow Studs (49546)
• Bar, Angled with Stud on End (65578)  
• 1 x 8 with Brick 1 x 2 Curved Top End (30359).

As mentioned, the element has a bended bar with an open stud towards one end. The hollow stud is double-sided; a super-useful connection point, functioning just like a Plate Special 1 x 1 with Clip Light (4081).

At the other end, the element terminates in a Technic axle which provides a firm connection when used to suspend minifigures, however from a MOCing perspective it seems like more of a hindrance than a help. Yoel explained the rationale, when the element was developed for Avengers Tower:

Instead of a 1x2 plate geometry we used a cross axle, which is symmetrical and allows builders to connect and disconnect the element from the build easily. This is also why the Tower has many cross holes."

I really like how they used the element to "throw" Thor's hammer in the set. The clever use of the axle attachment for Wing 5X7, W/ Cross Hole, NO. 1 in Trans Light Blue (6508017 | 2149) works well to express power!

Geometry

In case you were wondering, the tip of the bar and the axle are at an angle of 112.5°, which is equivalent to Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #5 (32015). I do love it when the LEGO® System reveals itself like that! 

The small 3.2 shaft coming out of the double-sided stud is 1 module long and at 22.5 degrees. When I design new elements, I try to keep them on grid as much as possible. This is an advantage later on when the fans find new ways to build with them. 

Stacking and tablescraps

So, how about building with multiple 4042 bars? I consulted the New E. Brains Trust for some ideas. 

Given that the plate portion of the element has a stud on both sides, a little thinking is required to line up the elements in-System. An easy solution is to fit the bar tips into an element with hollow studs such as a modified brick with studs on side.

Another option is to slide rigid hose or a bar through the open studs, though a little care is required to equally space out each of the elements. Given its spacer in the middle, a 2-module bar helps to create the correctly sized gap, but will only join two.

Elspeth DeMontes also suggested using 1x1 "nipple" tiles (20482) to create 1-module spaces between the bars. She also used lots of 1x1 Tiles with Clip in her tablescrap. I think this would make a great roof. 

Here's another variant using plates with clip and cheese slopes.

Thomas Jenkins’ MOC using part 4042 

Elspeth and I have suggested some ideas for using the piece in a structural way, but how about building something that takes advantage of its aesthetics?  These elements were seriously good fun to play around with!

When I looked at the element, it immediately made me think of a jellyfish's tentacles glittering in the sea. For inspiration, I looked at Tom Loftus' undersea MOC that he built while looking at the parts in 76391 Hogwarts Icons. One of the things I liked most about that MOC was the colour palette he used to evoke an underwater world,  so I tried something similar here.

If you're buying the Curved Bar from LEGO Pick a Brick, please consider using our affiliate link: Element 6444527. We may earn a small commission.

READ MORE: LEGO® Ideas review: 21343 Viking Village

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