Wanting to start a Technic Collectioni

[nicoga3000]

Hey folks!

I'm having a potential moment that may bring me out of my dark ages again...I don't have any System sets anymore, but I was thinking of buying back into Technic. I find the concept of creating "stuff that does other stuff" and "stuff that moves" really intriguing. BUT! There aren't a ton of Technic models out there that are still readily available. For someone looking to build up a Technic collection only (and have the PF to make some fun and creative MOCs), what sets would you suggest grabbing?

Thanks!

[Hopey]

Depends on your budget, but I'm assuming you're an adult and have a bit of disposable income. Typically you get a lot more from a few larger sets than you would from buying several smaller sets of the same total value.

If you'd asked 24 hours ago, I'd have said to go for the 41999 Boss Crawler, and if you live near a Lego store, I'd suggest you give them a call and see if there's any left in stock. 4 Motors of various types, remote control, lights, big wheels, lots of opportunities.

If that's not an option, I'd recommend the Unimog 8110. It's what got me out of my dark ages a little over a year ago. There's only one PF motor and no remote control, but there's oodles of parts, including pneumatics, big wheels, and again, lots of opportunities. Also, it's probably not going to be on sale for much longer, after which it's probably going to get a lot more expensive.

After that, probably the 9398, which has almost as much PF stuff as the 41999, and the same chassis. Or the new 42008 or 42009.

But honestly, it's probably best to get one big set, see what you can do with the parts, and when you find yourself thinking "Gee, I wish I had parts so that I could do X", base your next decision on that.

[peter_m]

I would suggest 4 sets:

9396 Helicopter - it is a great set in terms of functionality even without PF - but it has also a great potential to include some serious PF functions. Nice parts diversity should also be mentioned. And the price is not so high.

8110 Unimog - get it while you still can (in a decent price). Great mix of PF and pneumatics - it is a great base for your own original MOCs and for extension MOCs. Tons of cool parts (springs, pneumatics, hubs, panels etc.)

42009 Crane Mk II - It is big! It is impressive. It comes with a lot of useful parts for original MOCs. It also has a potential for improvements such as adding more PF.

Those where the sets that are easy to get. And now it's time for...

8258 Crane Truck - for me it is the BEST SET EVER (I know I know - I did not have a space shuttle). It looks great, it has tricky mechanisms (so much fun to build!), it leaves place for extension with PF - and it also provides you with a great part inventory for MOCs. Shame is that it is hard to get in a decent price.

[Rishab N]

I would suggest 4 sets:

9396 Helicopter - it is a great set in terms of functionality even without PF - but it has also a great potential to include some serious PF functions. Nice parts diversity should also be mentioned. And the price is not so high.

8110 Unimog - get it while you still can (in a decent price). Great mix of PF and pneumatics - it is a great base for your own original MOCs and for extension MOCs. Tons of cool parts (springs, pneumatics, hubs, panels etc.)

42009 Crane Mk II - It is big! It is impressive. It comes with a lot of useful parts for original MOCs. It also has a potential for improvements such as adding more PF.

Those where the sets that are easy to get. And now it's time for...

8258 Crane Truck - for me it is the BEST SET EVER (I know I know - I did not have a space shuttle). It looks great, it has tricky mechanisms (so much fun to build!), it leaves place for extension with PF - and it also provides you with a great part inventory for MOCs. Shame is that it is hard to get in a decent price.

I would go with these four sets and also:

8043 Motorized Excavator: Its an absolutley amazing set with tons of pf

8070 Supercar: Although the set itself is not very good, it offers alot of good parts for making vehicular MOCS

[nicoga3000]

I can call my local LEGO store. I just saw that 41999 set. It looks fantastic, but I may be SOL in terms of getting one. Kind of a bummer! I wish LEGO wouldn't do that...Would I be able to order one on S@H and get it later, or is it a one time run?

Unimog seems to be a solid option, so I may try for that (as well as the 41999 if it's available). I imagine the Unimog is heading out soon given what I've found in terms of it's shelf life. I'd hate to miss out on such a great set...I've seen that Crane Truck before, but it's impossible to obtain at a reasonable price. I'm thinking of trying to grab ~$500 worth as a starting point. It seems like a reasonable buy in for the larger sets.

[SheepEater]

8258 Crane Truck - for me it is the BEST SET EVER (I know I know - I did not have a space shuttle). It looks great, it has tricky mechanisms (so much fun to build!), it leaves place for extension with PF - and it also provides you with a great part inventory for MOCs. Shame is that it is hard to get in a decent price.

I strongly disagree. I own the vast majority of technic sets produced between 1978 and 2010, plus a good bunch of the better recent ones.

The 8258 is "meh" for a few reasons:

- LAs instead of pneumatics. Plus, the LAs you might get from the set are of the older type, before they got improved in the 8043 reissue, after the recalls.

- The outriggers are only partially motorized. After the outriggers are out, you need to deploy each feet by hand! What was the point of using a motor then if you're just going to use manually operated gears anyway?

- The crane's winch, AND the crane extender, are manually operated. What's the point of having a motor to rotate and move the crane arm if you're going to use your hands anyway?

I actually prefer 8285's alternate model to 8258's main model. The 8285 B model not only has a crane, but an interesting way the trailer is attached to the truck, via pneumatics.

[Junpei]

I totally agree with SheepEater, 8258 is not the set to buy. I highly recommend the Unimog as it has pneumatics, suspension, PF, and all kinds of crazy stuff. Actually now you can get it for 156.00 USD instead of its 200 USD retail price, which by the way was already a good deal.

How about 2 Unimogs and some PF from the Power Functions section of S@h?

Edit: Hmm, maybe a mog and 42009, depending on what kind of parts you want.

Edited August 2, 2013 by TwentyLeggedHen

[FuzzyBallz]

As far as what's available for purchase from LEGO directly, the unimog should top your list follow by the mobile crane mk2. Epic sets to get you out of the dark ages!

[dhc6twinotter]

I really liked 8258. I does have some manual functions, but otherwise, it's an awesome set! Lots of great mechanical aspects to it, plus it has a nice array of gears and other parts for mocing. Totally worth it, if you can find one cheap.

8043 Excavator is also a great set. Lots of PF stuff that comes in handy.

The new crane is probably going to be a good starter set. It's pricey, but does come with lots of gears and some great parts. The Unimog is great as well, although I was a bit disappointing with the lack of complexity. The pneumatics are a nice plus though.

Of the sets currently available, my suggestion would be to purchase the following:

42009 Mobile Crane MKII--lots of yellow parts and you can do a lot with 10 wheels. Lots of gears, 4 mLA, and 2 LA as well. Plus a L motor.

8110 Unimog--Not a huge amount of gears, but the tires, suspension parts, and pneumatics are nice to have.

Buy whatever other PF parts you need from the LEGO website. They sell the remotes etc on an individual bases. If you buy multiple PF components at the same time, the usually give a discount.

The crawler seems to be a good value for the money, so if you can find one, it's probably worth picking up. 2L motors, m motor, servo motor, V2 IR receiver, and LED lights are pretty nice elements to have.

[madjelly]

I had same dilemma when getting into technic. I went with 8110, 41999, and 8070. 42009 looks like a great set to get. I went with 8070 mainly, like it was mentioned above, for the nice moc parts. And I came across 41999 when i started getting out of dark ages several weeks ago. Like several people said, 8110 and 42009 should be on top. Get 8110 while it is still in production.

[nicoga3000]

If I can't get my hands on a 41999, how does 9398 compare? And speaking of 41999, will they be restocking on S@H?

Thanks for all of the info guys!

[Chilly]

Don't forget all the previous models, most available second-hand, some cheaper than when new, some dearer:

8865 - Test car - prequel to 8880

8880 - Supercar, amazing build

8455 - TLB - good for pneumatics

8466 - off-roader with power puller wheels

8094 and 8485 - Control Centres I and II - some amazing gearing and function changing with gears - not vehicles

8480 - Space shuttle

and many more, available from auction sites, car boot sales, local paper...........

[nicoga3000]

Well, I decided to try and get an order in for 41999. I figure it can't hurt.

My next purchase will be the Unimog since it's got such high regard! After that, 42009 will likely be my next grab. There are a LOT of sets I'd love to grab, but it can be very expensive getting things ready to go. We'll see!

[allanp]

Unimog is a great choice, it comes with a bit of everything.

[Erik Leppen]

I wouldn't go for old sets if you're building a new collection - you'll deliberately put yourself in the situation where you'll have new and old gray, and studded and studless models. The two systems are harder to combine that one single system is to learn.

I'd advise to get a few studless sets right now, try the system, and move to studded sets only if you don't like the studless system. The main reason for this advice is that sets within the studless system are currently widely available.

I'd say

Get 42009 if you want a large amount of generic parts at once - it's so large you can do some MOCing with just this one set.

Get 8043 if you want all the PF elements you probably need at once.

Get 8110 if you want pneumatics (including compressor) and the necessary elements for building off-roaders.

Get 42008 if you want small pneumatics (including compressor) or rare green Technic parts.

Get 8070 if you want all the necessary elements for building cars, including gearbox elements. Even though the gearbox in the set is used for something else, it has the necessary elements.

Get 8069 if you want to start smaller.

Get 8265 if you can, because it's awesome :)

Don't get 9398 if you own 41999 unless you really badly want the white and orange parts.

And last but not least, check the inventories of all sets that interest you on Bricklink, to get an idea of the parts that's actually in them. bricklink.com -> Catalog -> Sets -> Technic -> the rest follows itself

Any of the above will give you a lot of generic elements, beams, axles, gears, whatnot, in the basic Technic colors. As a bonus, 8110 has some rare orange parts. In any case, if you want to collect PF, take one set that has many PF elements (8043 is best, optionally 8275 if you want XL motors), above many sets that have one motor each, or you'll end up with a large amount of battery boxes ;)

All of the above sets are, or look to be, great (I do not own 42008, 42009 and 8070, but I have seen 8070 in person).

Edited August 2, 2013 by Erik Leppen

[dr_spock]

Well, I decided to try and get an order in for 41999. I figure it can't hurt.

My next purchase will be the Unimog since it's got such high regard! After that, 42009 will likely be my next grab. There are a LOT of sets I'd love to grab, but it can be very expensive getting things ready to go. We'll see!

Getting a 41999 can't hurt. It'll make rm8 happy.

Yup, it can get expensive. I started Technics a few years ago. I went with current sets and try to buy them on sale to stretch my funds.

Edited August 2, 2013 by dr_spock

[Foggy]

In my opinion, if you're even interested to build moc's, you should see what a set has to offer in term of parts even of what the set model is so I would say:

41999 you told you try to get, good choice, is a limited edition set so good investment for the future and you'll have 2L, 1M and a 1 Servo motor, 1 V2 IR receiver, 1 switch and 1 Led lights and 1 controller, 1 pf battery box of course, plus shocks, 4 big wheels, 4 steering portal axles, 2 differentials, some panels and liftarms in orange and white and gears......and the blue new color....and other...

8043 tracks and all that concerns with them, turntable, 4 linar actuators, 4M motors, 2 V1 IR receivrers, a lot of gears, a lot of yellow and black parts...

8110 4 big wheels, shocks, 4 steering portal axles, 4 pneumatic switches, 2 big pneumatic cylinders, 1 small and 1 pneumatic pump, hoses, 1M motor, 2 differentials and 1 central differential, turntable, lot of gears, parts in orange and red..fake motor.....and other...

42009 10 wheels, 1L motor, lot of yellow parts and panels, 4 mini linear actuators, 2 linear actuators, lot of gears...and other.....

I just write about some parts...as already suggested you can check every set's parts on bricklink.com inventory. And obviously use bricklink to get some parts instead of buy a complete set or buy it if you want it for display

I personally like even the 9397 that has 6 wheels, 1 linear actuator and 1 small one, 1M motor, lot of black and grey parts, gears, 1 differential, fake motor, 1 turntable and 1 small......

If you think to buy classic sets there are some topics about them, as must have technic sets, or favourite technic sets or the famous polls about favourite technic sets divided by years, 80s, 90s,00s...

Cheers

Edited August 2, 2013 by Foggy

[Bricktrain]

42006 is another good set, 8069, 9397, 9396, 9395 are all good sets that may not be flagships but are good medium sets which will add a good building experience and parts to your collection.

[dhc6twinotter]

I wouldn't go for old sets if you're building a new collection - you'll deliberately put yourself in the situation where you'll have new and old gray, and studded and studless models. The two systems are harder to combine that one single system is to learn.

I'd advise to get a few studless sets right now, try the system, and move to studded sets only if you don't like the studless system. The main reason for this advice is that sets within the studless system are currently widely available.

I'd say

Get 42009 if you want a large amount of generic parts at once - it's so large you can do some MOCing with just this one set.

Get 8043 if you want all the PF elements you probably need at once.

Get 8110 if you want pneumatics (including compressor) and the necessary elements for building off-roaders.

Get 42008 if you want small pneumatics (including compressor) or rare green Technic parts.

Get 8070 if you want all the necessary elements for building cars, including gearbox elements. Even though the gearbox in the set is used for something else, it has the necessary elements.

Get 8069 if you want to start smaller.

Get 8265 if you can, because it's awesome :)

Don't get 9398 if you own 41999 unless you really badly want the white and orange parts.

And last but not least, check the inventories of all sets that interest you on Bricklink, to get an idea of the parts that's actually in them. bricklink.com -> Catalog -> Sets -> Technic -> the rest follows itself

Any of the above will give you a lot of generic elements, beams, axles, gears, whatnot, in the basic Technic colors. As a bonus, 8110 has some rare orange parts. In any case, if you want to collect PF, take one set that has many PF elements (8043 is best, optionally 8275 if you want XL motors), above many sets that have one motor each, or you'll end up with a large amount of battery boxes ;)

All of the above sets are, or look to be, great (I do not own 42008, 42009 and 8070, but I have seen 8070 in person).

In my opinion, if you're even interested to build moc's, you should see what a set has to offer in term of parts even of what the set model is so I would say:

41999 you told you try to get, good choice, is a limited edition set so good investment for the future and you'll have 2L, 1M and a 1 Servo motor, 1 V2 IR receiver, 1 switch and 1 Led lights and 1 controller, 1 pf battery box of course, plus shocks, 4 big wheels, 4 steering portal axles, 2 differentials, some panels and liftarms in orange and white and gears......and the blue new color....and other...

8043 tracks and all that concerns with them, turntable, 4 linar actuators, 4M motors, 2 V1 IR receivrers, a lot of gears, a lot of yellow and black parts...

8110 4 big wheels, shocks, 4 steering portal axles, 4 pneumatic switches, 2 big pneumatic cylinders, 1 small and 1 pneumatic pump, hoses, 1M motor, 2 differentials and 1 central differential, turntable, lot of gears, parts in orange and red..fake motor.....and other...

42009 10 wheels, 1L motor, lot of yellow parts and panels, 4 mini linear actuators, 2 linear actuators, lot of gears...and other.....

I just write about some parts...as already suggested you can check every set's parts on bricklink.com inventory. And obviously use bricklink to get some parts instead of buy a complete set or buy it if you want it for display

I personally like even the 9397 that has 6 wheels, 1 linear actuator and 1 small one, 1M motor, lot of black and grey parts, gears, 1 differential, fake motor, 1 turntable and 1 small......

If you think to buy classic sets there are some topics about them, as must have technic sets, or favourite technic sets or the famous polls about favourite technic sets divided by years, 80s, 90s,00s...

Cheers

Excellent advice from these two.

Nicoga, it really depends on the type of stuff you want to build.