Interceptor

Definitely Markus Kossmann for his passion, amazing talent and his contribution to the revolutionary innovations for the Technic line (PF and PU) for decades. He is also partly responsible for ending my dark ages with his benchmark set, the 8421 Mobile Crane from 2005, which is still one of my favourite sets due to the excellent maneuverability and breathtaking motorized boom extension, combined with synchronized winch mechanism. But his beloved sets are almost endless: 8265, 8275, 41999, 42009, 42043, 42055, 42100, 42113, 42145, 42131... By the way, he started his career at LEGO in 1998 Feb, so he could not be in the design team for 8840 Space Shuttle. I also very much like Uwe Wabra's clean designs and Jan Hatting's sets from the classic period (he was the lead designer for my favourite set, the 8868 Air Tech Claw Rig). I would also like to mention Anders Gaasedal Christensen, who, after designing 2 ingenious Technic sets (8043 and 8109), left the Technic team in favour of the Mindstorms team around 2010.

These are cars.Construction machines are treated other way, just a matter of perspective. 🙂 But you know what? I hope you are right.

Because I do not see them making 2 backhoe loaders in the same year. But time will tell.

Another lost year for making a proper flagship compressor and pneumatic backhoe loader.

Hello folks, here is my experience with the 21344 motorization. My primary goal was to use as few additional pieces as possible and to preserve the original appearance. I use the train on a LEGO 9v layout with R40 curves and original switches. I chose Rebrickable StijnD's (v1.3.) great mod as the base for my modification for the loco nearly half year ago, and I was basically happy with the outcome, although the top speed wasn't enough for my taste. There is an advice in StijnD's post for cheaper rubber bands, but I wanted to keep it original LEGO, so I purchased 4 red rubber bands (same as used on the Emerald Night) and put them on my Orient locomotive's big wheels (one band on each of the 4 drivers) for bigger adheison of the loco. I also thought about adding weight brick, but decided not to because the loco with the PU L motor already felt heavy enough for the job (I use it with the two coaches coming from the set). The bevel gears are not coming apart during operation. I also wanted to have an easier rolling of the coaches, because these are very heavy and permanently struggled in the R40 curves, so I incorporated metal axles with suitable bearing elements and wheels (used on e.g. on Emerald Night coach) into the bogies, and the end result was satisfying. The whole train moved smoother and faster. I tested it 4-5 times with new batteries until full discharge, non-stop. I always used new non-rechargeable AAA batteries. Before switching to metal axels, operating time was only about 1 hour before full discharge. After switching to metal axels, the operating time was appr. 1 hour and 30 minutes each time before full discharge. Switches and curves are still not the train's favourite part of the layout, but overall it can handle them. The train (tender) derailed a few times going forward but I found out that it was mostly caused by the PU wire when it came into contact with the driver minifigure in the loco's cabin in the curves so I put the minifigure on the top of the tender, and since then it has derailed probably only once. Not remember derailing the train going backwards, but this was tested for a very limited time only, so it's not really authoritative. I am pleased with the end result, and have no plan to further develop my motorized Orient Express.

Yeah, this is more close to the LEGO version.

Here you go: https://www.nuttauction.com/auctions/6172/lot/3163-1995-mac-truck-with-160b-barco-log-loader-truck-has-mac-250-engine-loader-has-cummins-4-cy-engine This kind of truck does exist, it is called truck mounted log loader. You will find several examples via google. I am sure it was not invented by the (otherwise brilliant) Technic designer of the set, Olav Krøigaard.

8868 Air Tech Claw Rig. I got in as a Christmas present from my dear parents in 1994. From aesthetic point of view, it has a clear and beautiful (old) design. Looks like the real thing, even sounds like the real thing. Compressor and pneumatic for the first time. Authenticity, because the pneumatic design comes closest to real one's hydraulic system. Challenging building and outstanding playability. Still my favourite Technic set.

I contacted LEGO customer service about replacing the pieces with typos and they said that the correct pieces are on their way to my address, so there is hope.

Sorry to hear that as it was the only lego set I was really looking forward to in 2023. But this also means they have plenty of time to make it a proper 6-7 studs wide train. 😉

Same here. I really hope the John Deere set is big and utilizes the Claas tires. I think it is doable with this piece count if it uses a lot of pneumatic solutions.

Yes, I remember the 1990s. But kidding aside, Technic has had good times and bad times, and right now we're going through a bad time - unless you're a car guy. But there is always hope that it will change sometime.

To be honest, 42157 - Skidder John Deere 948L-II is the only set, which interest me from the 2023 Technic lineup. Of course, TLG did not produced the longer pneumatic cylinders in gray colour only for the 42144 Material Handler, they have to incorporate it in a larger set soon, e.g. in the 2023 John Deere, which in real life has dark gray hydraulic cylinders. I hope this set is packed with a lot of motorized and manual functions, utilizes the Claas tires and has motorized compressor & pneumatic system out of the box. And finally this skidder is an interesting machine, that TLG has never done before in Technic.

Ye, this shows how old I am. At least they put the elevator function in this new airplane and it is nice from TLG. Happy New Year!

In my opinion 8855 has a better one, where the control stick in the cockpit pushes and pulls tie rods via ball joints.