Overview

The generation 11 molds are close related to both the 05, 12 and 13 generations. The major differentiator between 05 and 11 is the inside logo, as it is not apparent in the 11 bricks. Likewise, 11 and 12 / 13 is differentiated by their pip style: While 11 bricks all have narrow corner pip-marks, the 12 generation bricks all have a wide centered pip-mark and the 13 the first ever mold with stud-pip.

The brick types span from 1x2 to 2x10 bricks, with some quite intersting evolutions for some of the brick types. All bricks have internal ribs on the short ends, and most bricks have a mold positioning number.

Mold relations

flowchart LR
    R["Gen 11"] --> P1x2("1x2") & P2x2("2x2") & P2x3("2x3") & P2x4("2x4") & P2x8("2x8") & P2x10("2x10")
    P1x2 --> M1d("11q") --> M4d("11r") --> M5d("11s")  
    P2x2 --> M6d("11j") & M10d("11m") & M2d("11c")
    M6d --> M8d("11k") --> M9d("11l")
    P2x3 --> M2d & M7d("11h") & M11d("11i")
    P2x4 --> M12d("11d") & M14d("11f") & M15d("11g") & M2d
    M12d --> M13d("11e")
    P2x8 --> M16d("11n") & M17d("11o") 
    P2x10 --> M16d("11n") & M17d("11o")  & M18d("11p")
    style R fill:#616161
    style P1x2 fill:#FF6D00,stroke:none
    style P2x2 fill:#FF6D00,stroke:none
    style P2x3 fill:#FF6D00,stroke:none
    style P2x4 fill:#FF6D00,stroke:none
    style P2x8 fill:#FF6D00,stroke:none
    style P2x10 fill:#FF6D00,stroke:none
    style M1d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M2d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M4d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M5d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M6d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M7d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M8d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M9d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M10d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M11d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M12d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M13d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M14d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M15d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M16d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M17d fill:#00C853,stroke:none
    style M18d fill:#00C853,stroke:none

1x2

• 11q - Sloped stud-recesses
• 11r - Sloped+Normal stud-recesses
• 11s - Normal stud-recesses
• 11t - Sloped stud-recesses sideways numbers

The 1x2 bricks in the 11q, 11r and 11s generations are very closely related. There are a flowting transition between these molds, and hard to define a clear destinction for each mold member. The bricks obviously come from the same mold, with an evolution in one of two directions:

• From sloped stud recesses to normal (straight) stud recesses
• From normal (straight) stud recesses to sloped stud recesses

The three molds are now ordered based on the first option. There is a good argument for the actual evolution being the other way around: If the evolution follows the first option, the studs-shape in the bottom mold would have to grow by adding metal to the mold-shape, which seems quite hard to do. On the other hand, if they for some reason wanted to, it would be quite easy to grind the existing mold to create more rounded stud-recesses.

In either case, it's clear that the evolution has taken place in multiple steps, possibly many more than the three molds accounts for. Between one and four evolution stpes have been identified for each mold member.

The 11t mold shares many properties with the three other 1x2 molds, but can clearly be differentiated by the mold positioning number, which is rotated and enlarged compared to the other three.

2x2

• 11j - Sloped stud recesses - handwritten numbers
• 11k - Sloped stud recesses - typed weak numbers
• 11l - Sloped stud recesses - typed strong numbers
• 11m - Normal stud recesses

The stud patterns show that the same top mold have been used across the three different mold evolutions. The mold numbers used in 11k and 11l are identically placed for those two molds as well.

The final 2x2 mold (llm) is not directly related to the other three molds. This matches with the sloped / normal variants found for both 2x3 and 2x4 as well.

Unnumbered 2x2 bricks are not related to these molds.

2x3

• 11h - Sloped stud recesses
• 11i - Normal stud recesses

The two molds are not directly related.

Unnumbered 2x3 bricks are not related to these molds.

2x4

• 11d - Centered and mirrored numbers - corner-pip
• 11e - Centered and mirrored numbers - centered pip
• 11f - Sloped stud recesses
• 11g - Normal stud recesses

The two first molds are quite different from all other bricks found, with centered mirrored numbers. The two are closely related, with matching mold numbers for both versions. One could expect matching patterns on the bottom surface as well, but no such patterns have been identified.

Mold 11f and 11g are not directly related.

Unnumbered 2x4 bricks are not related to these molds.

2x8

• 11a - Single pip
• 11b - Double pip

These two molds are closely related, sharing both the upper and bottom parts.

The molds with only 2x8 bricks are identified by having the pip on the opposite side compared to the bricks in the 2x8/2x10-molds (11n, 11o).

2x10

• 11p - Double pip
• 11y - Single pip

As with the pure 2x8 molds, the same pattern is present, with both single and double pip bricks. Both top and bottom part of molds are identical across 11p and M11y.

The mold with only 2x10 bricks are identified by having the pip on the opposite side compared to the bricks in the 2x8/2x10-molds (11n, 11o).

2x8/2x10

• 11n - Single pip - sloped stud recesses
• 11o - Single pip - normal stud recesses

The two molds are not directly related.

Unnumbered

• 11c - Unnumbered

The Unnumbered 2x2, 2x3 and 2x4 bricks in this mold is not related to other molds.