Recommended Posts

tn_8865-1.jpg

8865 was released in 1988 as the biggest Technic/Expert Builder set until that date. With 900 pieces, it included double wishbone suspension for all four wheels, a rear mounted v 4 engine powered by a differential, a 3 speed gearbox and popup headlights. This was also the first Technic set to bear the name "Car", since the previous sets had only been variants of the same chassis. The shape of the body is made by using pinned technic bricks at various angles, made possible by use of the new "pins with friction". It was the first set to include suspension on a steered axle, made possible with the new parts.

The box

tn_dscn4614.jpg

tn_dscn4615.jpg

The box is your average early Technic kind, with flip-top showing parts. There is also some pictures explaining the workings of the main model, and the alternate on the back.

tn_dscn4616.jpg

The parts

This set introduced several new Technic elements which were to help making those sets stand out in a crowd.

tn_dscn4625.jpg

Anyone who has seen or built the successor, 8880, knows that hinges were essential to the shaping of a decent body. While this is merely a test car, the hinges are only used to create some nice seats.

This was the first set to include specialized Technic pieces,other than bricks, bushes and axles:

Wheelhubs

tn_dscn4624.jpg

Steering arms

tn_dscn4620.jpg

Steering links

tn_dscn4623.jpg

Ball joints

tn_dscn4622.jpg

Steering wheel

tn_dscn4621.jpg

Toggle joints

tn_dscn4618.jpg

Also, perhaps the most noteable improved parts of this set: the half-bush,

tn_dscn4619.jpg

and pin with friction ridges lenghtwise without center slots.

tn_dscn4617.jpg

Too much friction in fact. Numerous people complained to Lego about these new pins damaging their pieces. This led to the replacement "pin with friction ridges lenghtwise WITH center slots" being made. This didn't have the strong clutch power of the previous, thus, it was far easier to dismantle. I will be replacing all the old ones for this review.

tn_dscn4627.jpg

The axles were previously only to get in even lenghts. This would change in this set, because it was needed to get the steered, sprung front axle to work right. Only a 3 axle so far though.

The wheels and rims are the same as the previous Car Chassis, only in an unusual color. This is the only set to have these in white.

tn_dscn4629.jpg

No new gears were included in this set, only 8T, 14T, 16T, 24T, a differential and some 1 x 4 gear racks.

The instructions

tn_dscn4630.jpg

The usual "how to assemble" page:

tn_dscn4631.jpg

This is the set with most pieces per part ratio. The first step requires 35 pieces alone. 24 steps for the 900 parts gives an average of 37 parts per step. This is a shot of the notorious engine assembly, requiring 144 pieces alone.

tn_dscn4635.jpg

No parts callout is given for the alternate model, common in early Technic sets.

Well, on with the building, starting with:

A model: Test Car

tn_dscn4637.jpg

The main model is built from the bottom and upwards, common in the early sets. This is the frame of the chassis at step 2. The steering arms with support for the wheels are placed.

tn_dscn4639.jpg

Each layer of the chassis is reinforced by plates.

tn_dscn4641.jpg

The base is nearly complete. The axle which runs to the front will operate the front lights. A differential is placed in the center of

the rear axle.

tn_dscn4644.jpg

tn_dscn4645.jpg

Next is creating the driveshaft, with a 14T spur gear at the end which meshes with the differential. Some Universal joints are fixed

at the end of the axles running from the differential. This allows the rear wheelbase to move without bending the driven axle.

tn_dscn4646.jpg

The suspension uses two springs per wheel, sufficient for the weight of the final vehicle. They are fitted to the lower arm of the

wishbone setup.

tn_dscn4646.jpg

A custom steering rack is made by joining two 1 x 6 Technic plates with a towball axle and a link on each side. The seats bases are also placed.

tn_dscn4652.jpg

tn_dscn4653.jpg

Here is the complete steering rack setup. The axle that drives it has a 1:2 gear reduction.

tn_dscn4654.jpg

The 12 axle is passed all the way through the rear wheelbase, connecting the springs and swingarms.

tn_dscn4655.jpg

Some custom made wheelhubs using Technic bricks and pins.

tn_dscn4656.jpg

tn_dscn4657.jpg

tn_dscn4658.jpg

The lever for the gearbox is placed. It has a 16T gear and a 24T on it.

tn_dscn4659.jpg

The Steering arms are used for the front wheelhubs, with an

axle with towball connected to them.

tn_dscn4664.jpg

The front wheelbase is finished, and the gearbox is complete. It uses printed tiles rather than stickers. Yey! Now if it'd only been

synchronized...

tn_dscn4665.jpg

The headlights are mounted on an axle wich has an axle connector at the end. They are placed on the chassis, and the axle with the red cone on it will operate the lights. Here is a front view of the lights with connectors.

tn_dscn4665.jpg

tn_dscn4666.jpg

This is how they work:

tn_dscn4667.jpg

tn_dscn4668.jpg

tn_dscn4669.jpg

tn_dscn4670.jpg

Now for the engine. This is the first Technic V-engine. It uses the old square piston heads, and a custom made cylinders. The trans-red bricks gives it a nice finishing touch. You can see more of this building process by reading my 858 Auto Engines review.

tn_dscn4671.jpg

tn_dscn4674.jpg

tn_dscn4675.jpg

tn_dscn4676.jpg

tn_dscn4677.jpg

The engine completes the transmission.

tn_dscn4678.jpg

Here is a cycle, showing the gear change.

1st: 1: 1,5

tn_dscn4679.jpg

2nd: 1 : 2

tn_dscn4680.jpg

3rd: 1,5 : 1

tn_dscn4681.jpg

And neutral:

tn_dscn4682.jpg

From the other side, showing the driveshaft:

tn_dscn4683.jpg

tn_dscn4684.jpg

tn_dscn4685.jpg

tn_dscn4686.jpg

In the next few steps the body of the car is made, using primarily pinned liftarms at various angles. The front grille is made of

plates.

tn_dscn4687.jpg

A simple callout for 73 parts forms the front and dash. Now the model is nearly complete, missing seats and windshield.

tn_dscn4688.jpg

The seats are a bit cheaper than 8860's, missing the reclining mechanism with gears. In stead, they use hinge plates.

tn_dscn4689.jpg

tn_dscn4690.jpg

The headlights are covered with plates, conceiling them when not in use. Some long Technic bricks finishes the windshield, and the wheels are placed, finishing the model.

tn_dscn4691.jpg

tn_dscn4692.jpg

tn_dscn4693.jpg

tn_dscn4694.jpg

Features

Steering with steering wheel. No HOG on this model:

tn_dscn4697.jpg

tn_dscn4698.jpg

Changing gears:

tn_dscn4699.jpg

tn_dscn4700.jpg

tn_dscn4701.jpg

Pop-up lights:

tn_dscn4702.jpg

tn_dscn4703.jpg

Reclining seats:

tn_dscn4704.jpg

tn_dscn4705.jpg

Engine drive by rear differential:

tn_dscn4706.jpg

tn_dscn4707.jpg

The double wishbone suspension is a major upgrade from its predecessor. The wheels will maintain the same angle no matter which state of compression the suspension is in.

tn_dscn4695.jpg

tn_dscn4696.jpg

Comparison

8860,

tn_dscn4708.jpg

8880,

tn_dscn4709.jpg

8448,

tn_dscn4710.jpg

8070

tn_dscn4711.jpg

B model: Jeep

tn_dscn4716.jpg

This build starts with the front axle, which is steered and suspended the same way as the main model. The steering rack is a bit smaller.

tn_dscn4717.jpg

tn_dscn4718.jpg

This model also uses double wishbone suspension for the front axle.

tn_dscn4719.jpg

Now the chassis is mostly finished. The red/blue levers doesn't have any function, besides aesthetics.

tn_dscn4720.jpg

The axle for the steering wheel uses two Universal Joints.

tn_dscn4721.jpg

Three 16T gears makes the wheels turn the same way at the steering wheel.

tn_dscn4722.jpg

A vertical 16L brick locks the parts together, before the dash is made.

tn_dscn4726.jpg

The car is nearly complete, all that's missing is hood, mudguards and the rear axle.

tn_dscn4733.jpg

tn_dscn4734.jpg

The rear axle uses the same setup as the main model. These four elements are created separately, then joined to form the rear axle.

tn_dscn4735.jpg

It's mounted in a pendular matter, rather than the double wishbone. It only uses two of the remaining shock absorbers.

tn_dscn4736.jpg

From the rear you can see how the differential meshes with a 16T gear. This is used in the motorization of the car. The light grey vertical long bricks are mounts for the motor.

tn_dscn4738.jpg

The seats in this alternate is made the same way as the main model, only they don't retract or anything. The jeep is finished!

tn_dscn4739.jpg

tn_dscn4740.jpg

tn_dscn4741.jpg

tn_dscn4742.jpg

Features:

Suspension:

tn_dscn4743.jpg

tn_dscn4744.jpg

tn_dscn4745.jpg

Differential:

tn_dscn4746.jpg

tn_dscn4747.jpg

Steering:

tn_dscn4748.jpg

tn_dscn4749.jpg

Comparison:

8820:

tn_dscn4750.jpg

8816:

tn_dscn4751.jpg

8066:

tn_dscn4752.jpg

The verdict

This set is what Technic evolution is all about. It clearly shows the advantages of the new availible parts, along with the cons of the soon-to-be phased out parts. Namely, the huge unsynchronized gearbox and engine. The next model would have new parts which would save some space for those functions. Although the body is almost non-existent, it was a dramatic change in the "car chassis" models. This sparked the interest of creating a truly sculpted car for the successor. The build process is a challenging one, at least for the targeted 11 year olds, as this set came with a very short instruction, and even worse for the alternate model.

Thanks for reading. Questions and comments are always welcome!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is still my favourite Lego car. It's the mostest badassest beautifulest of all. I'm in love with it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
This is the set with most pieces per part ratio. The first step requires 35 pieces alone. 24 steps for the 900 parts gives an average of 37 parts per step. This is a shot of the notorious engine assembly, requiring 144 pieces alone.

tn_dscn4635.jpg

Features

Steering with steering wheel. No HOG on this model

Boy, there were the days. Two pieces for step and the lack of true steering in almost all models is meatheads' business.

I never built the jeep, and #8865 is, to this day, my only supercar. And I love her :wub: .

Edited by Plastic Nurak

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the review!

While I think 8880 is still the best supercar ever released, this 8865 Test Car was important for the evolution of the TECHNIC supercars in general, with possibly the most important feature being front suspension. I don't like the alternate model though. It should at least feature a working cylinder engine.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Boy, there were the days. Two pieces for step and the lack of true steering in almost all models is meatheads' business.

It's important when discussing pieces per step, that the early Technic models were designed to be an extra challenge for those tired of building Lego houses. You might think that the sets of today are easier to assemble for your average kid. While some early models included seats with functions, working steering wheel, and pop-up headlights, those IMHO very simple functions are cut from the current produced sets. They are cut simply because they aren't anything special, and doesn't add anything significant to the sets. If the Technic designers would still focus on creating the most comfy-looking reclining seats with custom-made parts, we wouldn't have the later huge models like the Unimog, Excavator and the Crawler.

Take the 8110 for instance. It has a working engine driven by 3 differentials, power functions, and even a compressor. AND it's buildable by a 10- year old.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This was my third technic set. I bought it myself when I was 16. I remember being embarrassed walking home with this set under my arm, in case anyone that I knew seeing me with it. The test car got some serious driving around on the kitchen tiles. I loved the suspension. I remember wondering if the track width was a bit long, as the wheels stuck out from the frame. Looking at the comparisions now, I think that would be the case. But I suppose you cannot have independant suspesion in those days, unless you are using todays more specialised parts. Thanks for the review.

Ohhh the smell of brand new 24x43 tyres... now that's nostalgia........

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's important when discussing pieces per step, that the early Technic models were designed to be an extra challenge for those tired of building Lego houses. You might think that the sets of today are easier to assemble for your average kid. While some early models included seats with functions, working steering wheel, and pop-up headlights, those IMHO very simple functions are cut from the current produced sets. They are cut simply because they aren't anything special, and doesn't add anything significant to the sets. If the Technic designers would still focus on creating the most comfy-looking reclining seats with custom-made parts, we wouldn't have the later huge models like the Unimog, Excavator and the Crawler.

Not agreeing about the working steering wheel part in car sets. It may not be anything special, but leaving its function out is just lame. Just because something is solved, that doesn't mean it's meaningless to include in later sets. By that, we could leave out the whole independent suspension, because it's solved already and not any special and doesn't add anything significant to a car set...

We're talking about cars, other vehicles pretty much never had working steering wheels as far as I remember (apart from some exceptions). But cars, well, they are pretty much just cars, it's hard to come up with features.

Edited by Lipko

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I remember this being one of the last sets that I saved up and bought with my own money before going into my dark-ages, so this set always has special meaning to me. I must have built this set a dozen times or more, as well as the B-model and numerous other MOCs just using the pieces from this set. Good memories. :sweet:

This set also has Ackerman steering geometry which made it really nice to steer, despite it's large size. :thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Christmas 1988 comes back to my mind.. that was the time when I received the set.

8865 looks great, the only issue is the width of the axles. The proportions of the bodywork are fine, but the wheels stick out too wide.

But the design of the suspension is better than in set 8880.

Finally, at least two versions of this set exist. The Peeron instruction scans show how to motorize the set using 8720, which was released in 1990.

My printed instruction shows how to motorize the set using 8700, which was the only motor available during '88 and '89.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I got this set the year it came out for christmas. As being only 8 years of age back than, it took me about a week to complete it. Great set, only topped by the 8880.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Although I never owned this set, I borrowed instructions from a family member and built it with those. It's a great set, wonderful gearbox of the days before the driving ring was invented, and I love the pop-up headlights. Also the suspension is very smooth (unlike 8880's), and I like how it has only 900 parts against almost 1400 for its successor. I have always liked the squarish body shape, it reminds of real supercars of the older ages (some Ferraris for example).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's important when discussing pieces per step, that the early Technic models were designed to be an extra challenge for those tired of building Lego houses. You might think that the sets of today are easier to assemble for your average kid. While some early models included seats with functions, working steering wheel, and pop-up headlights, those IMHO very simple functions are cut from the current produced sets. They are cut simply because they aren't anything special, and doesn't add anything significant to the sets. If the Technic designers would still focus on creating the most comfy-looking reclining seats with custom-made parts, we wouldn't have the later huge models like the Unimog, Excavator and the Crawler.

Take the 8110 for instance. It has a working engine driven by 3 differentials, power functions, and even a compressor. AND it's buildable by a 10- year old.

Not agreeing about the working steering wheel part in car sets. It may not be anything special, but leaving its function out is just lame. Just because something is solved, that doesn't mean it's meaningless to include in later sets. By that, we could leave out the whole independent suspension, because it's solved already and not any special and doesn't add anything significant to a car set...

We're talking about cars, other vehicles pretty much never had working steering wheels as far as I remember (apart from some exceptions). But cars, well, they are pretty much just cars, it's hard to come up with features.

I agree more with Lipko. In 1988, the Technic sets were in the market from 11 years in Europe and 10 in North America, so they were not a new product, indeed Technic had already become a classic line. The Technic motto at the time: "models that work as in the real life". Today a similar motto is used, but last Supercar (super? Ha ha ha!) appeared like a big toy, and not as a detellaid model like the previous ones (excluding #853, too pionieristic) and #8466 big jeep.

Edited by Plastic Nurak

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I used to dream about this car when I was younger, looking back it's simplistic design makes me wonder, why do I prefer it's look to the modern technics cars? It isn't as good, but I prefer it..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

AnonymousLegoFiend posted this well-produced

of 1988's classic Lego Technic set, the 8865 Test Car. The video is a "A FULL REVIEW of this amazing classic!

V4 Engine, Adjustable Seats, 3 Speed Gearbox, Pop up headlights and independent suspension

-Detailed explanation of gear transmissions"

8865-1.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh dear, looks like another set of instructions I need to buy or print!

Note to self: stop reading reviews!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@DLuders

Thanks, I also found them elsewhere in pdf, but the scans from peeron looked better quality. So I've saved both. Have to see how each prints - when I get back home.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just "won" one of these on eBay - looking forward to putting it together, hopefully this weekend. Once I get my 8880 I'll have almost all of the bigger technic cars!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I buy one yesterday and is in good condition and the box is almost brand new and olso the books are in great condition and only paid € 60.00 for it :sweet:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.