Help needed starting with Technic

[SMC]

Hi all as a kid I did used to like technic sets a lot but since I came back to Lego they don't really appeal as a collector, I have been back into Lego for a few years now and have spent a lot on my collection, Lord of the rings, super heroes and so on.

I did buy two 7938 Passenger Train sets when they were on a good offer mainly for the power function parts so that I could build my own trains and now I am wondering if I should start buying technic sets in the same way for the parts rather than as a collection.

Although collecting technic does not appeal to me building my own creations does, I love the ball machines and would love to have the parts to power my Helicarrier.

My main question is what sets are good for parts 42009 Mobile Crane Mk II and 42030 Volvo L350F Wheel Loader are sets I have looked at for the large amount of power functions which is what I am after. I am not sure where to start but at the moment I have only a few technic parts so I am also wondering if I should try and stick to say yellow/black sets as I don't want to buy too many sets then a lot of my parts will be in the same colour so if I do make anything it wont be made from lots of different colors as they are all I have.

Thanks for any help.

---Update--- Same as post 10

After thinking about it over night I think I have a better idea as to what I planning to do although I don't have a clear idea which sets to get so your help again would be great.

My plan is to add power functions to some of the system mocs I make in the future and for these to be controlled remotely. A few examples of ideas I have had.

Making a rocking function to put under 70810 MetalBeard's Sea Cow to make it look like its moving with the waves. I think the weight of the Sea Cow would be the problem here.

Making a helm's deep diorama where the minifigures move, kind of like how some of the great ball contraption move in a number of ways with just one motor. Having some figs moving forward and back like they are fighting and having some pop up from behind a wall.

Making an ice skating scene where the skaters move.

Making a castle with a remote controlled drawbridge.

So what I need are a lot of power functions parts like motors and remotes and so on but also gears and axles and other common technic parts. What I don't need are non remote parts like pneumatics (although how do these work now as a kid I used to have to pump them up by hand) and suspension as I wont be making cars.

My thinking behind starting by buying a couple of big sets was that they are better value with 42030 being £127.00 on amazon and just the power function parts costing about £90 on shop at home. I don't know what I need and I need to learn how parts work and the best and most fun way to do that is play around with them. I would also enjoy building the sets first and I would learn that way too.

So where am I best to start, I guess I have about £200 to send on technic sets or parts which will tech me and give me good parts to build moving remote machines to go inside mocs to make them move.

Thanks again

Edited April 14, 2015 by SMC

[AndyCW]

Welcome to the Technic forum.

I don't have either of those sets, but I'm sure they would make great parts bins to begin your own creations. You could also hold out for the New MB Arocs as a parts foundation.

You might want to spend some time with a digital building software suite (if that is your thing) and then bricklink the parts you determine that you need.

v/r

Andy

[Graydingo]

The MK II is awesome. It's an amazing build. Lot's of wheels, great gears and tons of beams. The drawback to me is the yellow parts. 9398 the rock crawler is also fantastic. That servo motor along with the two L motors and v2 receiver is worth it alone, it also comes with a nice variety of colors, white, red, and black.

Current sets, You might check out the 24 hour car or the loader if you want to build more construction style mocs.

[Kiwi_Builder]

I would highly recommend the 42030 loader, the 42009 mobile crane, the 42008 tow truck and the 42029 4x2 ute with suspension. They all come with a great selection of parts and make it very easy to start building creations from them. Although I have many Technic sets I hardly ever end up using parts that didn't come from one of those four sets.

[dhc6twinotter]

If you can afford both 42009 and 42030, you will have an excellent assortment of parts to start with.

You could build all sorts of awesome things, so long as it's yellow.

Edited April 14, 2015 by dhc6twinotter

[DrJB]

You need first to decide if you'll be using the TECHNIC parts that come with any of the sets mentioned above. Technic parts kind of live in a universe of their own. They have evolved away from the regular lego/system bricks. If you're not going to build your own technic sets, then simply stay from buying technic sets. You can put that money to good use and buy only the power functions components from either BrickLink or Lego Education.

If however you insist on buying Technic sets just for the power functions, ... well, go ahead, and you can send the technic parts to me.

[bonox]

technic hasn't evolved away from 'system' - there are lots of hybrid or cross overbits for joining the two together, from basic pins to the technic bricks. It doesn't take much to join the two together as is evident in a lot of current non-technic sets that use the stuff as support/scafolding. And a 13L liftarm will join just fine to a 10 stud technic brick. All the gears are compatible and there are some fabulous model team style MOCs around using studless technic underneath.

[TheLegGodt]

Before scavenging the sets for parts I would definitely go ahead and build the technic set first. They are great builds and just as rewarding as regular lego sets. i am saying this as an AFOL who generally prefers regular sets but loves to build the odd Technic one as well....

[SMC]

  On 4/14/2015 at 1:24 AM, AndyCW said:

You could also hold out for the New MB Arocs as a parts foundation.

You might want to spend some time with a digital building software suite (if that is your thing) and then bricklink the parts you determine that you need.

Thanks Andy I didn't even think to look at what sets were coming out this year although I plan to make moving mocs by remote control so other sets might be better.

I wanted some parts in hand so I can try them out see how they worked and what I could do with them as I am new, I don't think I would be at the level to be able to digital building something (not at the moment anyway). Once I know what I am doing and now for sure I need this part or that then bricklink will be my friend.

  On 4/14/2015 at 1:41 AM, Graydingo said:

9398 the rock crawler is also fantastic. That servo motor along with the two L motors and v2 receiver is worth it alone, it also comes with a nice variety of colors, white, red, and black.

This makes me think I should have picked up 41999 Crawler Exclusive Edition as I did see read about it at the time.

  On 4/14/2015 at 2:20 AM, Kiwi_Builder said:

I would highly recommend the 42030 loader, the 42009 mobile crane, the 42008 tow truck and the 42029 4x2 ute with suspension. They all come with a great selection of parts and make it very easy to start building creations from them. Although I have many Technic sets I hardly ever end up using parts that didn't come from one of those four sets.

Thanks I am guessing I wont use suspension a lot with what I have in mind and the green parts in the Service Truck just make me wonder what I would ever do with them which I guess is my problem, finding sets with the most parts I can use.

  On 4/14/2015 at 3:20 AM, dhc6twinotter said:

If you can afford both 42009 and 42030, you will have an excellent assortment of parts to start with.

You could build all sorts of awesome things, so long as it's yellow.

I think I could just about do both, I spent about £200 on two trains and a lot of track and now I have everything I need I was hopping to do the same for technic but I think I have bigger ideas so might have to rethink.

  On 4/14/2015 at 3:25 AM, DrJB said:

You need first to decide if you'll be using the TECHNIC parts that come with any of the sets mentioned above. Technic parts kind of live in a universe of their own. They have evolved away from the regular lego/system bricks. If you're not going to build your own technic sets, then simply stay from buying technic sets. You can put that money to good use and buy only the power functions components from either BrickLink or Lego Education.

If however you insist on buying Technic sets just for the power functions, ... well, go ahead, and you can send the technic parts to me.

Although I agree with the post below yours I do agree that technic has moved away from system since I had it as a boy removing for the most part the studs on top and this is what has made me stay away until now.

  On 4/14/2015 at 3:55 AM, bonox said:

technic hasn't evolved away from 'system' - there are lots of hybrid or cross overbits for joining the two together, from basic pins to the technic bricks. It doesn't take much to join the two together as is evident in a lot of current non-technic sets that use the stuff as support/scafolding. And a 13L liftarm will join just fine to a 10 stud technic brick. All the gears are compatible and there are some fabulous model team style MOCs around using studless technic underneath.

I think technic has moved away from system since I was a kid but other than that I think you are right look at the 76023 The Tumbler it has a lot of technic parts even though it doesn't have steering or any other technic functions.

  On 4/14/2015 at 4:48 AM, TheLegGodt said:

Before scavenging the sets for parts I would definitely go ahead and build the technic set first. They are great builds and just as rewarding as regular lego sets. i am saying this as an AFOL who generally prefers regular sets but loves to build the odd Technic one as well....

Yes yes and yes, for lots of reasons. 1. You are spending a lot for just parts, 2. They look great, like fun builds with interesting results and 3. to learn how to use all my new parts. Not only would I build them I would keep them built for some time before parting them out.

Edited April 14, 2015 by SMC

[SMC]

---Update---

After thinking about it over night I think I have a better idea as to what I planning to do although I don't have a clear idea which sets to get so your help again would be great.

My plan is to add power functions to some of the system mocs I make in the future and for these to be controlled remotely. A few examples of ideas I have had.

Making a rocking function to put under 70810 MetalBeard's Sea Cow to make it look like its moving with the waves. I think the weight of the Sea Cow would be the problem here.

Making a helm's deep diorama where the minifigures move, kind of like how some of the great ball contraption move in a number of ways with just one motor. Having some figs moving forward and back like they are fighting and having some pop up from behind a wall.

Making an ice skating scene where the skaters move.

Making a castle with a remote controlled drawbridge.

So what I need are a lot of power functions parts like motors and remotes and so on but also gears and axles and other common technic parts. What I don't need are non remote parts like pneumatics (although how do these work now as a kid I used to have to pump them up by hand) and suspension as I wont be making cars.

My thinking behind starting by buying a couple of big sets was that they are better vaule with 42030 being £127.00 on amazon and just the power function parts costing about £90 on shop at home. I don't know what I need and I need to learn how parts work and the best and most fun way to do that is play around with them. I would also enjoy building the sets first and I would learn that way too.

So where am I best to start, I guess I have about £200 to send on technic sets or parts which will tech me and give me good parts to build moving remote machines to go inside mocs to make them move.

Thanks again

Edited April 14, 2015 by SMC

[Jurss]

Not so long ago there was similar topic

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=107121

[SMC]

  On 4/14/2015 at 10:31 AM, Jurss said:

Not so long ago there was similar topic

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=107121

Thanks reading now.

Edited April 14, 2015 by SMC

[9v system]

I say go studed technic and not studless

[DrJB]

  On 4/14/2015 at 3:55 AM, bonox said:

technic hasn't evolved away from 'system' - there are lots of hybrid or cross overbits for joining the two together, from basic pins to the technic bricks. It doesn't take much to join the two together as is evident in a lot of current non-technic sets that use the stuff as support/scafolding. And a 13L liftarm will join just fine to a 10 stud technic brick. All the gears are compatible and there are some fabulous model team style MOCs around using studless technic underneath.

I know there are multiple opinions, but I stand by my statement. I see Lego as 3 worlds

1. System Bricks

2. Technic Parts

3. Hybrid parts (old system bricks with Technic holes)

Today most Technic is primarily #3. If you remove the old technic bricks, there is very little connectivity options between the current technic parts (liftarms+connectors) to the lain basic bricks. Yes, there are exceptions and SMALL commonalities, but those only confirm my statement.

Just like in biologic evolution, there are always 'remnant' genes that link current species in the distant past. Hence, my statement 'evolved away' does not necessarily mean they are no longer related ... nuance

[SMC]

Me again just 2 questions I am sure are simple:

1. How many remote controls can I use at the same time? Is it like the train ones where it is 4 channel and each controller doing two things so 4 controllers doing 8 different things? And also are these the same 4 channels as the train remotes so they will interfere with them, and if so could I just used them?

2. What is the difference between the 4 different motors and what are they used for?

Thanks again.

Edited April 14, 2015 by SMC

[9v system]

  On 4/14/2015 at 11:49 AM, SMC said:

Me again just 2 questions I am sure are simple:

1. How many remote controls can I use at the same time? Is it like the train ones where it is 4 channel and each controller doing two things so 4 controllers doing 8 different things? And also are these the same 4 channels as the train remotes so they will interfere with them?

2. What is the difference between the 4 different motors and what are they used for?

Thanks again.

I will answer your motor question

M motor, normal speed motor

XL motor, very high touque

L motor, very similar to the m motor

Servo motor, goes left as right for steering

[Jeroen Ottens]

The PF system is the same as the train system. Same channels, same restrictions.

Train controllers can be used to control the PF motors, as can the regular technic controllers be used to control train motors.

[SMC]

  On 4/14/2015 at 11:54 AM, 9v system said:

I will answer your motor question

M motor, normal speed motor

XL motor, very high touque

L motor, very similar to the m motor

Servo motor, goes left as right for steering

Thanks, that what I liked about 42030 you get all 4 motors that I could try out and play with although I guess M motor will be fine for most things I am planning.

  On 4/14/2015 at 12:16 PM, Jeroen Ottens said:

The PF system is the same as the train system. Same channels, same restrictions.

Train controllers can be used to control the PF motors, as can the regular technic controllers be used to control train motors.

Thanks do they have variable speed like the train controller or is it just one chick up and down?

[Captainowie]

  On 4/14/2015 at 10:30 AM, SMC said:

---Update---

After thinking about it over night I think I have a better idea as to what I planning to do although I don't have a clear idea which sets to get so your help again would be great.

My plan is to add power functions to some of the system mocs I make in the future and for these to be controlled remotely. A few examples of ideas I have had.

Making a rocking function to put under 70810 MetalBeard's Sea Cow to make it look like its moving with the waves. I think the weight of the Sea Cow would be the problem here.

Making a helm's deep diorama where the minifigures move, kind of like how some of the great ball contraption move in a number of ways with just one motor. Having some figs moving forward and back like they are fighting and having some pop up from behind a wall.

Making an ice skating scene where the skaters move.

Making a castle with a remote controlled drawbridge.

So what I need are a lot of power functions parts like motors and remotes and so on but also gears and axles and other common technic parts. What I don't need are non remote parts like pneumatics (although how do these work now as a kid I used to have to pump them up by hand) and suspension as I wont be making cars.

My thinking behind starting by buying a couple of big sets was that they are better vaule with 42030 being £127.00 on amazon and just the power function parts costing about £90 on shop at home. I don't know what I need and I need to learn how parts work and the best and most fun way to do that is play around with them. I would also enjoy building the sets first and I would learn that way too.

So where am I best to start, I guess I have about £200 to send on technic sets or parts which will tech me and give me good parts to build moving remote machines to go inside mocs to make them move.

Thanks again

A couple of little points:

Weight of Sea Cow - probably won't be too much of an issue. To get it looking right at scale, you probably only want an amplitude of one or two studs to your mechanism, and a period of maybe a couple of seconds. A single XL motor should have no problems providing enough torque for that (bearing in mind that I don't actually know how big/heavy the Sea Cow actually is).

For the things you're suggesting, the technic bits are mostly going to be hidden - and therefore it doesn't matter what colour they are. So I wouldn't for example pass up on a good deal on a mainly red set just because your other set is mainly yellow.

Another thing to consider is that those kind of mechanisms tend to take relatively few technic parts - a motor geared down to the appropriate speed, and a couple of liftarms connected cleverly can do a lot of different things. On the other hand, there are few such mechanisms in modern technic instructions - be prepared to look up a couple of old-school engineering techniques like four-bar linkages etc.

  On 4/14/2015 at 12:36 PM, SMC said:

Thanks do they have variable speed like the train controller or is it just one chick up and down?

Alas no, they're full forward or full reverse only.

Hope this helps

Owen.

Edited April 14, 2015 by Captainowie

[SMC]

  On 4/14/2015 at 12:40 PM, Captainowie said:

Hope this helps

Owen.

Thanks Owen very helpful.

"one chick up and down?" I meant click. So now I understand the difference between the controllers. I agree that I might end up using very few technic bits for some of these ideas and that the ones I use will be hidden although I would still like it to be neat. For the Sea Cow my first thought would be to build a frame which would use technic parts and having it on a pivot point like a seesaw which would take the weight. And like you say I would only want a soft movement up and down nothing crazy. So I guess 42030 would be a good Power Functions pack for me and after that just brick link what I need.