47 replies to this topic

[PlaneCrazy]

I went for the 8868 Air Tech claw rig.
B'day later next week and cannot wait to get in and build the classic that is the air tech claw rig.
Valuable addition to my collection.

Hmmm what next?

Jamie

[allanp]

PlaneCrazy, on 21 July 2012 - 05:31 AM, said:

I went for the 8868 Air Tech claw rig.
B'day later next week and cannot wait to get in and build the classic that is the air tech claw rig.
Valuable addition to my collection.

Hmmm what next?

Jamie

Excellent choice sir. If you are new to the older sets you'll find this a nice challenge compared to the super easy sets of today. You may notice in the instructions that in one step you are told to use a large pulley wheel for the pump, in the next step it tells you to use two medium pulleys. I suggest trying both to see which one best suits your particular motor and pump (no two are exactly identical, especially older/used ones). Usually the medium pulleys are better.

[Alasdair Ryan]

Porty, on 23 April 2012 - 09:46 PM, said:

Thus your avatar.

Technic Gearhead, on 24 April 2012 - 04:49 PM, said:

I noticed that as well.

allanp, on 24 April 2012 - 04:33 PM, said:

Haha yeah, well spotted!

Some people are slooowww........
Also be aware that Grepin also uses the air claw rig as his avater.

I could of got the set when I was down in Manchester.

[kieran]

You made the right choice, enjoy it

[allanp]

Alasdair Ryan, on 21 July 2012 - 11:43 AM, said:

I could of got the set when I was down in Manchester.

But you didn't???????

[Alasdair Ryan]

allanp, on 21 July 2012 - 01:44 PM, said:

But you didn't???????

No instead I bought another 4 small pneumatic cylinders and another micro motor.I later sold my micro motor to Ralph-s.

[PlaneCrazy]

allanp, on 21 July 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

Excellent choice sir. If you are new to the older sets you'll find this a nice challenge compared to the super easy sets of today. You may notice in the instructions that in one step you are told to use a large pulley wheel for the pump, in the next step it tells you to use two medium pulleys. I suggest trying both to see which one best suits your particular motor and pump (no two are exactly identical, especially older/used ones). Usually the medium pulleys are better.

Most of the sets I own are of the studded beam era. I seem to prefer the build experience of these older sets as they have a tendency not to work straight away after construction. A little tinkering here, an adjustment there. Even the instructions are more of a challenge, what was done in about 16 pages previously (including the B-model) now has books for the primary model. Not saying I don't enjoy the current generation of building. I think conceptualy it is harder to understand as you sort of build from the inside out, rather than bottom up. It is just in days gone by not having it all spelled out for you was half the fun.

I will keep the pully config in mind when I build it, Thanks.

Jamie

[SheepEater]

8868, duh. It's a classic.  

[Foggy]

I recently bought the 8868 (a dream since '92 when was 12 and saw it on lego catalogues..) and like it so so much
As others, i like so much the old instruction book, in 3 steps u bild up a lot while nowadays book shouold take you about 10 or more steps to do the same    ...

Think this is a must set for any tehnic fan     
ciao

Edited by Foggy, 22 July 2012 - 10:19 AM.

[allanp]

It must cost TLG a fortune to do the modern instructions. With three books to one model and multi-coloured gears and pins and different colours for odd/even/2L axles, building a modern set is more like a chore. I can start building the cherry picker whilst watching a movie and have it finished by the end of it, having remembered more from the movie than the mind numbing build. I'de much rather they save the money on instructions for the larger sets and make them smaller, say 50 steps per 1000 parts max and have both models in the same booklet. Then spend the money on the packaging so we get the see though thingy when you lift the lid so we can drool over the parts, especially the new more interesting parts in their own little tray. This ain't nostalgia talking this is common sence my friends  

[Crazydance]

Well I would go with the Air-tech set also. It's a set which really created a buzz with it's air-tank and compressor which made the pneumatics actually worth something.
The unimog does virtually the same thing now but we're not comparing that one now.

The logging truck looks more like 2012 though. It has more eye-candy, which the older sets just lack IMHO.
(This last remark could get a flamewar going but I'll stick to it till I get banned!)
I'm such a fan of the studless building when it comes to how the result looks, and how smart the 'tech' is built in.

BUT! When you let these two models go head to head the air-tech wins it hands-down purely for the compressor and how fun it is to play with that.

[PlaneCrazy]

The Air Tech Claw Rig is finaly togeather and I am very happy with it.
I have a little tinkering to do.
It seems that either over time the hose has shrunk a little or they were cut short; but all the hoses were shorter than they should be. Down side is when the crane slews, it binds up a bit.

I followed the advice given re changing the size of the pulley to drive the pump.
replacing the Large pulley 3736 specified with Technic wedge belt wheel 4185 gave a bit more life to the response of the various functions. Had to change the belt size to a smaller one as well.

What can I say, if you a looking for one of those classic Technic sets, this would have to be on the list of to builds.

Thanks to all those that recommended this one as I am very happy.  

[efferman]

if you have bought it used it should be possible that the first owner has cutted the hoses to short. against the modern technic sets, the airclaw had not pre cutted hoses.

[Lost_In_Noise]

efferman, on 05 August 2012 - 06:57 AM, said:

if you have bought it used it should be possible that the first owner has cutted the hoses to short. against the modern technic sets, the airclaw had not pre cutted hoses.

I always buy some spare hoses whenever I buy a new pneumatic set for this reason. It's extremely frustrating to have to halt the building process because the previous owner cut the hoses too short or something.

[davidmull]

I have a mint 8868 all boxed away was going to sell it but I think I'll keep it now :)

[allanp]

Many second hand sets come with the hoses to short. I think this is because the previous owner neglects to fully flatten the pages out when they are measuring the hoses against them.

[DLuders]

If you want to get some longer Pneumatic Tubing (Hose) in BULK, Conchas suggested (on this post) to consider the iLe9os ebay store's selection (on Page 3):  http://stores.ebay.c...14.l1513&_pgn=3 .  

[Alasdair Ryan]

Blokbrick's is a good place for extra hose.

[PlaneCrazy]

Just thought I would post a comparison between 8110 with B model and the Air Tech Claw rig.

[chorlton]

Crazydance, on 03 August 2012 - 12:25 PM, said:

Well I would go with the Air-tech set also. It's a set which really created a buzz with it's air-tank and compressor which made the pneumatics actually worth something.
The unimog does virtually the same thing now but we're not comparing that one now.

I don't think the Air-tech claw has an air tank? I was under the impression it did so was disappointed when I finally picked one up and it didn't.

[Alasdair Ryan]

I do not think the old one needs a airtank.
You only need one when you are needing a lot of power it quickly rise two or more rams at the same time.

[RohanBeckett]

I modded mine with 2 airtanks, replacing the fake ones... they fit in really well (although I only have blue - white would look nicer)

It did smooth out the operation of the pneumatics.. and if you wait a minute for the compressor to fill them up.. you get a bit more 'fast action' play time, before the pressure drops too much

Still doesn't fix the inaccurate rotation movement of the main arm - it's an ingenious solution, but too hard to control fine-movements.. so you end up overshooting, when rotating

When I rebuild mine, I think I might try some sort of geared solution, to make it more accurate

RB

[SheepEater]

RohanBeckett, on 08 August 2012 - 03:07 PM, said:

Still doesn't fix the inaccurate rotation movement of the main arm - it's an ingenious solution, but too hard to control fine-movements.. so you end up overshooting, when rotating

Yeah, that's one area where its successor 8110 wins out. (Although everything done with pneumatics is always cool and unique).