BerndDasBrot

PICTORIAL REVIEW: 8858 Rebel Wrecker

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Thanks for reviewing all these old sets! Will you be doing any more?

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Ah a good old retro review. Those old school days had some pretty impressive sets, with alot more complexity than modern sets. If you have it may I recommend 8880?

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Nice pictures. I also sort out the pieces the same way if I'm rebuilding a model. *y*

This set packs a lot of functionality into a fairly small size, but was rather expensive for its size ($70) when it was still available, compared to other sets of that time.

You can also rig up the Technic flag sticker that it comes with to the main model. I've done that on mine. You may want to reinforce it with tape if you're going to leave the model on display though, as it will break up over time due to UV exposure like many stickers do. I had to do that with mine after it started to crack, although it still looks pretty good.

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the only original stickers are the front headlight-patterns on the 2 red 1x2 bricks. The others have been destroyed - must have been the bad decaying sticker quality that breaks when you'll remove it - so I printed them. I didn't print the flag for only the alternate model needs it, although it's a neat idea...!

and LordGalewind: clickey!

I keep that in mind. One of my 8880 is already dusty enough!

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Thanks for reviewing this classic set.

I got it when it first came out and still love it: the suspension, steering and robust look of the model haven't been done that well ever since.

This set puzzled me though, back in the days.

The rear suspending part containing the differential and some gears was shown different on the box from the instructions.

In the instructions it showed that the (grey part of the suspension) in the back had to be made using a 1x2 smooth tile and 4 cornerplates (2x2) in grey. The box however showed a much sturdier solution using a 1x8 tile and a 1x8 plate. It is also visible on the cover of the instructions.

The pieces I mean are in this picture:

p1080196mod.jpg

Otherwise, great set!

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Thanks! You've just motivated me to go on a "senseless-preliminary-design-errors-hunt"...!

A few things I've discovered:

Left Side (Alternate Model):

the steering link can only be put in place with a little violence...

the handlebar (?) is turned (far more than it's actually possible) although the wheels are straight.

Right Side:

The 1x8 Tile simonwillems pointed out

The half bush right next to it is... *can't_find_the_words* ..."wrong". Could be that the Technic Triangle is missing.

The "windscreen"- 1x6 Technic Plates are mounted with 1/2 pins instead of Axle Pins with half bushes.

8858blubbb.jpg

Who can find more...? X-D

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hmm, seems like the wheels are recycled into the harley truck in the 2008 batman set!

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hmm, seems like the wheels are recycled into the harley truck in the 2008 batman set!

nope. the harley-truck-wheels are thinner and somewhat more modern. I do believe they're the same like in 8274.

LEGO-7886.jpg

Aaaaaaaand: for a long time in my life these wheels have been the best and coolest looking I've ever had! So where's your deference? :-D recycled... |-/ X-D

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I've seen a few cases like this where the box pictures are slightly different from the actual model. The Airtech Claw Rig compressor is another one that comes to mind. The changes sometimes seem pointless and make you wonder why they bothered. :-P

the only original stickers are the front headlight-patterns on the 2 red 1x2 bricks. The others have been destroyed - must have been the bad decaying sticker quality that breaks when you'll remove it - so I printed them. I didn't print the flag for only the alternate model needs it, although it's a neat idea...!

The other stickers on mine have held up pretty well, although I didn't try to remove them after I put them on. The flag started to break after a year or so and just fell off its axle at one point. I taped over it and it's holding up well now, although it's a little frayed along one edge.

This is actually the earliest set I've seen that uses this crappy sticker material (which is unfortunately very common today). Even other Technic sets had good stickers for many years after that.

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You've just motivated me to go on a "senseless-preliminary-design-errors-hunt"...!

Man..., this set is a disaster what were they thinking! :-D :-P

I just remembered one other fun aspect of this set: The crane hook can be attached to the underside of the rear bumper, to hold it in position while driving along, but when things are like this and you try and wind up the cable the winch is strong enough to break the (original provided Lego) rope.... It 'worked' with my copy. :-D

So this set is capable of demolishing itself....

But still, one of the best Technicsets I have, with all stickers intact. I'm not so sure about that flag though, must check on that.

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Wow, that first picture is great! You must have a very wide angle lens with the capability to focus very close (macro). The perspective makes the model look huge. Nice work.

I think the suspension on this set is my favorite of all Technic. It has such large travel and is so.... what word should I use..... "bouncy".

Hey, why do you only review sets which are red? :-D

Eric

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Hey, why do you only review sets which are red? :-D

I exactly thought that today as I made the pics for my signature...! X-D

At my school leaving examination I made a model in Blender3D and explained to the board of examiners how to build a car and how to animate it. It needed a color, so I took red "because all beautiful and fast cars are red..." My physics teacher contradicted. :-)

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A neat review of a cool set with very informative pictures, thanks BerndDasBrot! *y*

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At my school leaving examination I made a model in Blender3D and explained to the board of examiners how to build a car and how to animate it. It needed a color, so I took red "because all beautiful and fast cars are red..." My physics teacher contradicted. :-)

Did you use Ferrari to prove your point? Any physics teacher would have to admit that a really fast car, approaching the speed of light, will always look red as it drives away due to red shift!! X-D

On the other hand, 8880 looks pretty fast and it is black, although I have seen pictures of one that someone built in red. Yellow might be good too.

Some cars even look fast in green.

Eric

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I can remember that I've seen a few color variations on brickshelf and on ebay (They sold well).

It's new and familiar at the same time. That makes it more interesting!

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Reread your review today!

Great pictures!

This IS a fabulous model. Got this model a few months ago for just € 25!

It is small and has great working parts. I love the way the front-suspension is made! Epic!

I only had the light-stickers replaced with trans-clear bricks.

BTW:

The gear rack has been used in this years 8048 Buggy!

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I also happened to receive this set this weekend, virtually MISB (the seals on the side of the box were loose, however everything inside was untouched). This little beast a joy to build and even more so to play with! As indicated by Eric on the technicopedia page, it's crammed with functions for a medium-sized set.

I think I love it even more than my son does :tongue:

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I read blackbirds technopedia page on this truck the other week, went onto ebay and picked up a MISB copy for £25 GBP

Bargin, great to get old sets unopened, peeling the plastic off of the specialist parts was always cool!

Love the front suspension

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That price is exceptional. :thumbup: It's less than what I paid for mine 9 years ago, and is even less than the original price of the set.

Note that the stickers in this set are the bad variety that will crack and peel over time. If you want to preserve them (the Technic flag in particular), you will need to tape over it.

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Somehow I also managed to get this set in very good condition (including box, instructions and all stickers) for a mere €22 a few months ago.

This is indeed a very special set, and was a pleasure to build. The only flaw I noticed was weak support of the rear drivetrain, which was easily corrected with a few extra plates.

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........ The only flaw I noticed was weak support of the rear drivetrain, which was easily corrected with a few extra plates.

huh?

Like where?

Don't have that much problems with that rear train. (At least if i you don't trow the model down the stairs or something like that...)

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huh?

Like where?

Don't have that much problems with that rear train. (At least if i you don't trow the model down the stairs or something like that...)

Maybe it's unusual, but this section of the drive train didn't hold that well on my model:

rmtcg5.jpg

This is how it looks now:

2a7erdf.jpg

The parts made redundant were left in the built model, that's why there's that useless 8-tooth gear there :P

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