8880 Supercar build help.

[Soluzar]

When I first rediscovered LEGO, this was one of the sets I really wanted. I never got to have one as a teenager, and I really wanted it. A few quick bids ebay later, I managed to snag one. Pretty good condition, too. The box is a tiny bit beat up, but hey... it's 20 years old. The bricks were pretty dusty, but everything is present and correct, so I'm a happy LEGO fan. I've completed the build, but not entirely to my own satisfaction.

It seems that the hood at the rear of the car sits abnormally high, when I follow the instructions. There's a gap of about an inch and a half between the rear bumper and the hood. I have no idea why. As far as I know, I followed the instructions to the letter, but maybe I got something wrong I'm not aware of. Since then I've tried some modifications of my own to correct the issue, but nothing has worked perfectly. If I can get it to look fine in the closed position, it causes issues with the opening mechanism. I've managed something that works fine for now, but I'm not entirely satsisfied.

Anyone else run into this? Was it a known issue with the set?

Edited January 18, 2013 by Soluzar

[JunkstyleGio]

Maybe you could take some pictures first?

You that a picture paints a thousand words...

[allanp]

My guess is that you need to pay attention to the placement of the axle in the picture below. Axle "A" is in the middle hole of the beam and also note that hole "B" is empty.

[Lost_In_Noise]

Here's what mine looks like. It is able to fully close and open:

Here's a pic of the brick with axle in the right place:

These bricks has to be moved in order to close the boot properly. From this:

To this:

Hope this helps

[Cwetqo]

I got the same problem when I was building it (5 years ago). Instructions are wrong or misleading. I was building with some bad scans so it was really hard to see how axle should be positioned.

[Samanen]

I actually remember having the same problem over 10 years ago when I built my 8880. Luckily it's an easy fix.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Samanen

[Lipko]

Does the hood touch the black slope-with-holes parts on chassis?

There is a gab, I can't remember how big, but bigger than what you'd call fitting.

[Blakbird]

I also built this wrong the first time I put it together, and it took me a long time to find my error. The instructions really are correct, but they are hard to follow with all the hinge plates. You can download the LDraw file from Technicopedia and zoom right in on all the details to see if you have it right.

[Soluzar]

My guess is that you need to pay attention to the placement of the axle in the picture below. Axle "A" is in the middle hole of the beam and also note that hole "B" is empty.

I've been away from home and LEGO for the weekend, but it is as you say. The axle labelled on your diagram was in the wrong hole when I built it.

I'm obliged to all those who posted pictures, advice, and things. It is heartening to know that others make the same mistake with this model. My 8880 is now completed to my satisfaction, and while there is still a gap, it is much smaller and loots substantially better. It now looks as I expected and hoped it would. I would have hated to get this build wrong, since I've had feelings of deep longing for it for many years during my dark age of not buying LEGO. I would have hated even more if the set had been flawed by design.

I'm intrigued by the LDraw model, but as yet I don't know how to use that application. I intend to learn.

Edited January 20, 2013 by Soluzar

[allanp]

Glad we could help

[Chilly]

I built mine just before xmas and had same problem. I stuck a post-it on the instructions on step 9, page 43 that says: "Not long enough to allow boot to fully close, Needs a 1 x 2 hole (brick) at BOTH ends." Looking at picture now, I'm not sure whether I should have written 1 x 1 hole.

Anyway, I remember fiddling around for ages with the length of that beam and did finally get it to open and close properly. Don't remember checking the axle position as mentioned above. I've now added another post-it to check that next time. Thanks.

[Strikeman]

Soluzar, when you download & run the ldraw all-in-one installer, it will install all the necessary files and programs for you. If you don't want to start doing CAD work right away, I suggest you open the mlcad file with the "LDView" program that is included in the installer; this will give you live a 3D-render of the model in the mlcad file which you can turn around and zoom into to your liking. If the creator has made "steps" in his mlcad file, you can even run through to steps in that live 3D view ! It's really neat :)

ps: Blakbird, I'm getting a 403 Forbidden error on Technicopedia at this very moment; is something going wrong somewhere ?

[Blakbird]

ps: Blakbird, I'm getting a 403 Forbidden error on Technicopedia at this very moment; is something going wrong somewhere ?

I've exceeded my bandwidth limit for the month, mostly due to hosting a bunch of pictures for some Eurobricks posts I made. It will work again Feb 1.

[Soluzar]

Soluzar, when you download & run the ldraw all-in-one installer, it will install all the necessary files and programs for you. If you don't want to start doing CAD work right away, I suggest you open the mlcad file with the "LDView" program that is included in the installer; this will give you live a 3D-render of the model in the mlcad file which you can turn around and zoom into to your liking. If the creator has made "steps" in his mlcad file, you can even run through to steps in that live 3D view ! It's really neat :)

I've used the installer, and yes... yes it is, very neat indeed. :)

I did have a brief experimentation with the design tools, but I can't figure them out just yet. Not quite as simple as LDD.