Technic - "old" vs "new"

[Mithrandir]

Functionally, 8464 would be very bleh without the air tank - you would have to pump more or less constantly to make it do what little it does. However, it seems to me that the airtank would clearly be more useful in 8455.

Frankly, I can't think of any pneumatic set that woudl not be vastly better off with an air tank. Even 8868 would likely work a lot more smoothly,even though it has a motorized compressor.

I just had a look on eBay, and these tanks are getting nearly impossible to obtain! Wow. I can't believe TLC has decided to stop making this part.

In the Mindstorms NXT article from wired, they said that TLC is cutting down the number of unique parts that it manufactures in order to save money. I guess the Air Tank didn't make the cut. Considering that it's only been in 5 different sets, I'm not all that surprised.

Cleaning up meant ditching the software division, halving development times, and slashing product lines to reduce the number of unique pieces being manufactured in Billund from 12,400 to around 7,000.

link

Someone on Lugnet surmised that maybe they're making a newer "studless" airtank, but frankly, I doubt it. There's no reason to make it studless since you can easily fit it into a studless set as it is, and if they were going all-studless, then why didn't they make the big pneumatic pump studless as well?

Oh well. Underutilized and prematurely killed. We shall miss ye, Blue Pneumatic Airtank.

[5150 Lego]

<moves his pneumatic air tanks to the safety deposit box>

I'd suggest buying the bricklink one. But why not from this store. He has two for 11.50 each

http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=Jungl...&itemID=5654215

Price is reasonable, shipping reasonable, he takes paypal....

Buy 'em before they are gone forever!

Aww.... Looks like someone already snagged them up. That sucks,causeiwould have bought them for $11.50. Sigh... Guess briclink it is.

[Hobbes]

Aww.... Looks like someone already snagged them up. That sucks,causeiwould have bought them for $11.50. Sigh... Guess briclink it is.

I met a guy the other day who's selling off his old stuff (private only, though, no ebay or anything) and he might have one or two. He definitely has pneumatic stuff. I'll let you know once he checks back with me. Depending on how many he can find we can trade cos I don't need that many ;-)

[gylman]

<moves his pneumatic air tanks to the safety deposit box>

I'd suggest buying the bricklink one. But why not from this store. He has two for 11.50 each

http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=Jungl...&itemID=5654215

Price is reasonable, shipping reasonable, he takes paypal....

Buy 'em before they are gone forever!

Aww.... Looks like someone already snagged them up. That sucks,causeiwould have bought them for $11.50. Sigh... Guess briclink it is.

Aaargh. Sorry about that. I guess someone else read the post and snatched 'em.

[5150 Lego]

Aww.... Looks like someone already snagged them up. That sucks,causeiwould have bought them for $11.50. Sigh... Guess briclink it is.

I met a guy the other day who's selling off his old stuff (private only, though, no ebay or anything) and he might have one or two. He definitely has pneumatic stuff. I'll let you know once he checks back with me. Depending on how many he can find we can trade cos I don't need that many ;-)

Thanks hobbes! If you don't buy all of his pneumatic parts, please let me know, as i'm sure i'll be interested in the rest of the loot! HOpfully he has a few air tanks. I'm sure we can work out a deal. *y*

Aaargh. Sorry about that. I guess someone else read the post and snatched 'em.

No biggie. Thanks for the help anyways! As you can see, not all hope is lost. :)

[dunamis]

I can't recommend 8868 enough. You won't believe how much they pack into this set.

Well, I've been tracking this one for a while. I've lost out on a few Ebay auctions, but hopefully I got lucky with this one:

8868 Ebay Auction

I saw your caution about the turntable and pneumatics, so hopefully the set will be in good shape. If so, it looks like a steal.

Thanks for the recommendation.

[gylman]

If that item is as described, you got a bargooon!!!!

Enjoy it.

Gyl

[Lego Amaryl]

I don't like the "new" Technic, it seems too different from System sets. In the past, Technic and System pieces were completely interchangeable, now they look like two different collections of pieces.

Combination with System pieces used to make you able to build a Technic MOC using your existing collection of pieces. Viceversa, many pieces found in Technic sets were also useful in System (plates, hinges, wedges...). Instead, if you want to build a MOC in the "new" way, you need a lot of different connectors, liftarms, and so on. Since there are not universal sets any more, you have to buy many different sets to have enough pieces of different size and colours.

I think I'll try to expand my collection of "old" Technic pieces rather than buying new sets.

In a shop I've found these sets (new):

8456 Fiber Optic Multi set 60€

8286 3-in-1 Car 35€

Prices are reduced because boxes aren't perfect... and maybe because they haven't managed to sell them in the last 9 years! ;)

Do you think these prices are good?

[Mithrandir]

I don't like the "new" Technic, it seems too different from System sets. In the past, Technic and System pieces were completely interchangeable, now they look like two different collections of pieces.

Combination with System pieces used to make you able to build a Technic MOC using your existing collection of pieces. Viceversa, many pieces found in Technic sets were also useful in System (plates, hinges, wedges...). Instead, if you want to build a MOC in the "new" way, you need a lot of different connectors, liftarms, and so on. Since there are not universal sets any more, you have to buy many different sets to have enough pieces of different size and colours.

I think I'll try to expand my collection of "old" Technic pieces rather than buying new sets.

In a shop I've found these sets (new):

8456 Fiber Optic Multi set 60

[Lego Amaryl]

Personally, I think that's great. Lego has combined their pieces to make something even better, and I guess they decided to go studless with technic in order to further differentiate technic from system.

But differentiating for me is not the original "spirit" of Lego! I.e. that with the SAME pieces you can build DIFFERENT things... instead now they teach kids that to build different things you need different pieces, maybe to sell more sets?

However, this is not the main problem of Technic. New Technic pieces are useful, also in combination with System pieces, but as you said in your post, there's a problem of availability. In 80s and early 90s Technic pieces were few and many came in only one color. For example there were no "angle connectors", but two gray connectors that could be joint with a pin to make different angles. So, with few sets, you were able to build other models. Now, it's impossible to collect enough pieces of each colour. To build MOCs, I think the best solution is to combine both "old" and "new" pieces... but now there's also the question of the new colour scheme!

[Hobbes]

According to Jan Beyer, the reasons to introduce studless Technic were a wider range of functionality, more stability (especially with bigger and more utilized models), and its "module size" of 8x8x8 is more intuitional to children than the "old awry" Technic (whatever that means).

To build MOCs, I think the best solution is to combine both "old" and "new" pieces... but now there's also the question of the new colour scheme!

I had this issue in a used 8435 4WD I got on ebay. A few studded Technic beams were a different blue than the studless beams. You can only see it at close range, not when it's on the shelf. I dunno if that's true for a new 4WD set, but it's annoying anyways: blue isn't just blue anymore...

[dunamis]

If that item is as described, you got a bargooon!!!!

Enjoy it.

Gyl

Ok, the set came (about a week ago) and the seller was great. They had separated all the pieces by color in bags. All the hoses, pumps and the turntable appear to be in good shape. This is probably my best Ebay find ever.

I finished building the set and all I can say is WOW, what a great Technic set!

Gylman, you are right, this is probably the best Technic set I have ever built. It has so many functions and is very impressive to see in action. Have you build the alternate model? I hate to take this apart, but I'm intrigued to see if the alternate model is as clever as the primary. Any suggestions on it?

Thanks for the recommendation!

[gylman]

If that item is as described, you got a bargooon!!!!

Enjoy it.

Gyl

I finished building the set and all I can say is WOW, what a great Technic set!

Gylman, you are right, this is probably the best Technic set I have ever built. It has so many functions and is very impressive to see in action. Have you build the alternate model? I hate to take this apart, but I'm intrigued to see if the alternate model is as clever as the primary. Any suggestions on it?

Thanks for the recommendation!

X-D Another true believer.

The alternate is interesting. The looks are bleh. The functionality is interesting because it uses a pneumatic to flip a switch for another pneumatic, which I believe is unique for any "instruction" set, although the pros do it all the time. Overall, it is not nearly as impresive as the main model. I built it once and did not have up for long.

Glad you enjoyed.

[Mithrandir]

According to Jan Beyer, the reasons to introduce studless Technic were a wider range of functionality, more stability (especially with bigger and more utilized models), and its "module size" of 8x8x8 is more intuitional to children than the "old awry" Technic (whatever that means).

To build MOCs, I think the best solution is to combine both "old" and "new" pieces... but now there's also the question of the new colour scheme!

I had this issue in a used 8435 4WD I got on ebay. A few studded Technic beams were a different blue than the studless beams. You can only see it at close range, not when it's on the shelf. I dunno if that's true for a new 4WD set, but it's annoying anyways: blue isn't just blue anymore...

I didn't notice that in mine. I've since taken it apart and sorted all the pieces into my collection of loose parts, so it's doubtful I'll be able to verify this anyways.

However, one thing I did notice about the new Telehandler set is that this part, when in red, was a slightly darker red than the beams and liftarms. Did anyone else notice that?

I looked at my 1:10 Enzo too, and noticed the same thing, which is weird, because I never noticed that when I first built it.

[dunamis]

If that item is as described, you got a bargooon!!!!

Enjoy it.

Gyl

I finished building the set and all I can say is WOW, what a great Technic set!

Gylman, you are right, this is probably the best Technic set I have ever built. It has so many functions and is very impressive to see in action. Have you build the alternate model? I hate to take this apart, but I'm intrigued to see if the alternate model is as clever as the primary. Any suggestions on it?

Thanks for the recommendation!

X-D Another true believer.

The alternate is interesting. The looks are bleh. The functionality is interesting because it uses a pneumatic to flip a switch for another pneumatic, which I believe is unique for any "instruction" set, although the pros do it all the time. Overall, it is not nearly as impresive as the main model. I built it once and did not have up for long.

Glad you enjoyed.

So now I can't wait for the new 8285 truck that comes out in October. It looks like it will be a really nice build.

[Ickelpete]

However, one thing I did notice about the new Telehandler set is that this part, when in red, was a slightly darker red than the beams and liftarms. Did anyone else notice that?

I looked at my 1:10 Enzo too, and noticed the same thing, which is weird, because I never noticed that when I first built it.

I noticed this when building my Telehanler I got 3 different shades of beam and liftarm especially if you look at it in bright light but it does not show when on display.

I have also checked my Enzo there is some difference but it is not as noticable :'-(

[eMHa]

Hello,

please excuse if the following will sound a little sarcastically.

But differentiating for me is not the original "spirit" of Lego! I.e. that with the SAME pieces you can build DIFFERENT things... instead now they teach kids that to build different things you need different pieces, maybe to sell more sets?

You would like to build with 2x4 bricks only ;-)

However, this is not the main problem of Technic. New Technic pieces are useful, also in combination with System pieces, but as you said in your post, there's a problem of availability. In 80s and early 90s Technic pieces were few and many came in only one color. For example there were no "angle connectors", but two gray connectors that could be joint with a pin to make different angles. So, with few sets, you were able to build other models. Now, it's impossible to collect enough pieces of each colour. To build MOCs, I think the best solution is to combine both "old" and "new" pieces... but now there's also the question of the new colour scheme!

It's to say that the old "angle connectors" were very weak and in my childhood I broke a few of these.

For me "old" vs. "new" is like "past" and "future".

OK, I came out of my dark ages in 2008 and I was shocked that all models are studless. First I hate these studless things. First thing I've done after my dark age was to buy 8880. This was the style I knew and something like the peak of the LEGO Technic I knew. But while assembling 8880 I relised there were a lot of new parts I didn't knew.

Then I bought 8275, mainly because of its remote functions. I always wanted a remoteley controlled LEGO vehicle.

The first MOCs with studless were very wrong. I tried to build like with studs, but it didn't had the stability. After last christmas (and after 8048, 8046, 8264 and 8265) I realised a few studless things which enlightened me. It seems, coming out of my dark age, that studless is really different. But it is only the logical evolution Technic has made.

If you build with studs the bricks have a alignment, and if you turn the bricks, like 90° which is common in Technic, nothing of the normal bricks matches anymore! You always have a gap.

So in my opinion, Technic has evolved LEGO. I think it's groundbreaking (in therms of LEGO) to say you can rotate a Technic brick beam in 90° steps in any direction and it matches, like the studless beams! This is a new view of the parts! Formerly the bricks had at least a top and down. But with studless, there's no top and down anymore! It's like a new degree of freedom.

And the best is, that the studless parts evolved from the Technic bricks with studs. In some way it's possible to combine them! That's great!

Speaking about new parts, TLG always creates new parts! Hey, if the hadn't created a new part since 1980, no one would buy anymore any LEGO!

But the good thing is, new LEGO bricks/beams were always be able to be combined with "older" parts in some way.

So for now, I like to build studless, but I use "old" parts with stud when needed. If it's better for some special case to build with studs, I'll build with studs. My "old" and "new" Technic parts are all sorted equal side by side.

So my conclusion is:

Technic - "old" AND "new"

There's no vs. in my mind (anymore).

[TechnicJuan]

New Technic Parts are much easier to clean that old technic parts. That is for sure.

[CP5670]

Dude, this thread is four years old.

Although I like using "new and old" together too.

[eMHa]

Hi,

Dude, this thread is four years old.

yes. I thought I just read from the beginning in this forum And the topic isn't old at all if you look at the discussions like studless vs. with studs and so on.

[Siegfried]

And the topic isn't old at all if you look at the discussions like studless vs. with studs and so on.

True, but you're replying to peoples posts from several years back. Their opinions could have changed since then. Bumping old topics isn't against the rules, but please don't pick up old debates like they were yesterday.

For more info...

[SheepEater]

M 2 cents...

I have many sets from all eras, dating as far back as 1977...

Personally I only wish Lego would STILL mix both old & new styles like they did for a short period in the late 90s/early 00s. The 8448 and 8466 were friggin' masterpieces.

While I'm nostalgic with the old style, it can't match the newer style for efficiency, robustness and compactness. Motorizing the bigger models was always hard.

On the other hand, like the first few posters said, the newer technic doesn't mesh very well with classic Lego bricks.

BTW It's ironic how in 8448 and 8466, the technic bricks formed the chassis and the studless beams were used for the body and decoration, while for 8421 and 8275 (while I was grateful they included the old style technic bricks) it's the opposite!

EDIT: My bad, this is an old thread. Sorry for bumping it. I found it with the search function, precisely because the mods don't like it when people create a topic that already exists

Edited July 15, 2012 by SheepEater

[KEvron]

EDIT: My bad, this is an old thread.

heh! it was kinda funny to scroll through this thread and see usernames i've never encountered before. ah, the intertoobs....

KEvron

[Crazydance]

heh! it was kinda funny to scroll through this thread and see usernames i've never encountered before. ah, the intertoobs....

KEvron

Being from 1985 I have enough experience with both worlds. However I prefer the new building methods, just because I believe the technology you can use has evolved just as much.

I've built the second control center and various smaller models but i'm comparing this to the 8275 bulldozer, and the small heli and backhoe available today.

The control center was nice but the backhoe has some really smart techniques that convinced me that the new building techniques are just better.

Now only they have to get the power functions expanded as they are scattered throughout the lego universe. They should take the tech in the train area head-on! And then a Technic control center for our PF element.

More importantly the HAVE get get off the batteries in the models themselves.

[BrickPicker]

While I love the new Technic sets, the 853 CHASSIS was a classic set. For a set that designed back in the mid 70s, it was way ahead of its time. I vote for 'old.'