DarkShadow73

Like a couple others, I finally picked up an 8448 brand new thru Bricklink. Also, picked up the new sets 42032, 42035, 42037 and 42038 on Xmas eve, real lucky only 1 of each left on the shelf. What did you get doesn't always mean somebody else bought I guess as I paid for all these myself...but glad I have them.

Just replying to your comment on not liking the b model of 42030...If only Lego had included some panels to enclose the bed of the b-model, it would be great, but its a great looking front end with a skeleton in back...too bad really since it would have been fairly cheap I'm sure to design an enclosure of the bed similar to that of the 8264 Hauler.

A few come to mind: 8053 - I prefer the harbour crane over the mobile crane, not just for the looks, but Technic is lacking in that sort of thing, and the mobile crane's string/winch setup was horrible. The string always got bound up and ran over the sides of the winch and sometimes you had to pull apart one half of the substructure to detangle it and get it rewound. This was made worse if PF elements we're added on. 8284 - the tractor is ok, but oversized and the rear implement never worked right, the 12-tooth bevel gears always seemed to come apart from each other. Definitely preferred the Dune Buggy. In the US and Canada it was marketed main model Tractor, I believe in Europe it was marketed as the Dune Buggy as main model. 42029 - I like the pickup, but actually prefer the forestry truck. Just had to fix the ugly setup for the beacon and HOG steering on top of the cab. Easy fix. 8416 - once again, I really like the forestry truck. The forklift was fine, but way too big to fit in with any scale of model. 8295 - Telehandler is just too cumbersome and too wide and even w/ PF its slow and bulky, and a manual tilt on the forks??? The log loader style is much better and more fun to play with. I'm sure there are more, but w/o digging out my collection from storage tubs, can't think of any others at the moment.

What about 8258? I always considered that set to have the best gearbox. Only thing I didn't like with the 8043 setup was the changeover catch. No matter how many times I loosened it up, it was still a pain, but not all the time. Fun set, might just play with it later Unimog's crane was rather unique in that it hooked onto the vehicle (front or back, stock that is) but even with the outriggers it never seemed that stable, but that set is a beast and the orange color is awesome. What I'd really like to see is an excavator in orange, maybe between the size of 8294/42006 and 8043. No RC though, but PF elements, maybe an L-motor instead of an M, and have all 3 functions for the boom instead of combining 2 like in the 8294. Correct me if I'm wrong but when you speak of the remote having 2 sticks and return to center, isn't that what the current remote does? At least all the ones I have are 2 stick and they move back to center...

I'm really rather confused as to why Lego would re-release the 8041, now 42041, Race Truck??? It really wasn't that great or popular a set back in 2010. One would think they would release something more substantial with actual features. All the 42041 has going for it is a V8 engine w/ that ugly corrugated pipe and just steering. I can think of a dozen more sets from 2009 on that had a lot more going for them than this simple model. 8258 and 8265 come to mind, although as far as loaders go, probably 8265 may not be on their list as the 42030 came out last summer. Why not a re-release of the coveted 8455, heck even the 8436 was better than the 8041/42041. Or better yet, a re-release of the 8275 from 2007 or the 8043 from 2010. Odd...

Agree on color schemes w/ Technic sets...WAY far too much red, black and yellow...the new 42038 Arctic Truck and 42037 Formula Off-Roader are a nice change of pace. I believe that mid-size buggy/off-roader is nice, rather on par with the 8048 Buggy from 2010, just a bit higher price, but you get a real engine and 4-wheel suspension. Wonder if it has a differential? I can't find a parts list anywhere, even Bricklink. Realize its a new item, but some retailers/websites already have it available or for pre-order on 1 January. If it is another like 42008, please can the green color scheme...sure I bought it simply because I had a lot of TRU Rewards points to use, but it the green just doesn't work. Black would be good, kind of would go well with the 8285. I agree with you there...its no wonder on the boxes the age range is 10-16 or 11-16 on larger models. The instructions are so easy to follow that a young kid could put models together nowadays, and I blame RC too. I really like the looks of the 42030 Loader, but it was so simple to assemble. The last kit I had that was a bit of a challenge was the 8110 Unimog, and it had pneumatics, before that was the 8455 Backhoe/Loader, both took some thought, especially routing the pneumatic tubing and making sure everything came together as it should, one wrong move and you have to backtrack. Ever since they have gotten easier, sometimes a step in the instruction manuals is only 1 part to fit. I recently put together the 8853 Front Loader from 1988 and that was more of a challenge than some of the past year's offerings even though it was from the studded era. I recently picked up a new 8448 Supercar. Its not hard to assemble, but in all honesty its more fun than the 8070 Supercar from 2011. Don't get me wrong, I like RC, but sometimes models are more fun with just PF motors. Just my $0.02 worth...

Does anybody know which manufacturer the designer of the 8455 may have chose as the inspiration for the model? To me, it somewhat resembles a JCB. Definitely not a CAT or Deere it doesn't look like, they are uglier, JCB's made in I believe the UK, are streamlined and elegant in their design. Seems like, at least in the past 10 years or so, Technic designers have designed as close to an actual manufacturer's model as they can. Most are European designs with cabovers, like the 8258 for example, but living in the US, I can say that they also try to design snout-nosed vehicles also like the 2 larger tow trucks, the 8285 beast and its smaller counterpart, the 9395, as well as the 9397 logging truck. A lot of the construction equipment is rather universal to the developed world. Loaders look like loaders, dozers like dozers, etc. But, some, more than others, do resemble a specific brand (disregarding the 8110 Mercedes-Benz Unimog and 42030 Volvo Loader, which are obvious direct manufacturer designs). But, I'm just curious about the 8455. Model year 2003 revived Technic, in my opinion, 2004 kind of didn't hit on all cylinders, with the exception of the 8436. Then 2005 comes, and since its been one great year after the next with Technic.

Indeed...now do us North Americans get our 1H2015 sets in the summer with the 2H like the strange way it happened this year? I do hope not...I'm liking that arctic tracked vehicle more and more as I look at it, and with suspension and I love the orange color, last big set in orange was the U-400 Unimog from 2011, nice... Wonder if that one would be a spring release though like many years, since it appears according to the pics to be the largest set of 1H ones...

Too bad, I have seen some of what you have built...brilliant Maybe the Volvo excavator as next summer's flagship?? Ha ha, pipe dreams...

Where I used to live here in the US, where JCB's aren't all that common, at least around where I live anyway, there was a contractor who stored his equipment on the property. Sure I'd seen all manner of CAT's, Deere's, Volvo's, Komatsu, Kobelco, etc, but he had a JCB Backhoe/Loader 214XL model and those stabilizers are definitely JCB I thought. He also had a JCB Loadall and JCB Front Loader, of course on the weekends and in the evenings I used to walk over there and check them out, JCB is tops in design in my mind. When the 8455 came out in 2003 and I saw first images of it, I thought this looks an awful lot like the JCB model. Either way, I would have bought the 8455, it is damn hard to get all the hoses just right in such a tight place, and getting them on those t-pieces (that large gray 'web' is esp hard with the 2L and 3L hoses you cut and have to get on all those t-pieces comes to mind), but the model was brilliant when it was finished. Like many have said, an air tank would have definitely benefited, but after a while it makes a great shelfpiece too. I have 2 assembled, and 1 new in sealed box and I almost don't want to break the seal. As far as genericness, I guess that can be said, but I think the majority of other manufacturers of backhoe/loaders don't have as good a design as even a favorite Lego toy has. Oh yeah, that is a nice tilting mechanism. I have never seen anything like the knuckle boom on Alasdair's pic. Very interesting, as I actually building an MOC medium-large size backhoe/loader right now that will be motorized with all mini-LA's. I have most of the booming done, but I might have to see if I can somehow incorporate that knuckle boom, but not sure if it can be accomplished on a non-tracked vehicle, my design is wheeled. I think in looks, the 8069 isn't a bad choice either, just too bad it can't be motorized. That is one sweet excavator. After buying the 42030, I really like the extra black on the Volvo's, rather than almost a total yellow machine like the 8265 Loader or 8043 Excavator (which has an unrealistic bucket in terms of size, I found a link here to a designer's re-created 3rd boom with the medium size bucket, much better looking that way). But, it would be really cool if TLG produced a large scale Volvo excavator to go with the 42030. Unlikely since they have produced so many excavators since 2008, but still...

Haven't been on EB in a while... I like the mining truck, motorcycle, and the tracked loader...the 24 Hr Race Car is just plain odd looking though...looks more like a Racer type set if that theme was still around...also the orange arctic dual tracked vehicle looks interesting.

Yeah, I never thought of that angle. I know with the Unimog and the Volvo they we're licensed items, much like Star Wars I suppose too.

What vehicle is the 41999 set based upon? I picked one up from Amazon last week. It looks to be possibly a late 60's or early 70's Charger, Challenger or Barricuda, not sure, really would like to know. Also, I was surprised upon checking Bricklink inventory of the set that it doesn't have an engine connected to the driveshafts that run to each differential. Anybody else think this is odd? Otherwise, really cool set. Had hoped Lego would release more, but when I queried it, the Crawler's pic came up and it said Retired, so I ended up paying a lot more than I had hoped to, but I really wanted the set.

Huh, didn't realize it was based on the chassis of the 9398. I know the 9398 got mixed reviews about the RC steering being kind of wacky so I never bought that one. Hope the 41999 doesn't have the same issues. In response to Cumulonimbus, too, thought it resembled a Charger or Challenger, one of Dodge's offerings in the 1970 or so time period, kind of like the Dukes of Hazzard car, only hopped up literally. I love the dark blue panels and the 'stripes' running up the hood onto the roof.

Yeah I knew it was Co-Creation, just wondering which actual real life car it was based on.

It in I live in the US as well and it was a big letdown to not see hardly any 1H sets, but once they came out the local TRU's in my area had them all. I don't think on the whole it was a bad year (1H and 2H), I got the 42023, 42024, 42025, 42027, 42028, 42029, and 42030. I am still split on whether I like the 42030 as good as the 8265 Loader from 2009. There are good and bad points. Personally I think the 8265 was designed a bit better, but I sold all but 1 of the 6 I had in my store. I had 1 built in 2009 and thought it was great with PF elements, just no RC. Have yet to actually build the 42030, but once I do, I will compare against the 8265. Also, like the b model of the 42030, just don't like the fact that the dumper bed is so barren...

Hi - I was considering building the Tractor 'b' model of the 42006 Excavator and wondered what the forks (axles) we're for on the front. Never seen a tracked vehicle like it, but it looks fairly simple to make a dozer blade for the front, especially since Lego is lacking in mid-size dozers. I'd definitely take off the back attachment since it seems kind of useless in a dozer. Has anybody done this? Can it be done with some 4x4 tiles w/ 1 row of studs similar to the 8275's front blade? I'm not much of a MOD'er so thought I'd get advice from the ones that know how to best. Thanks in advance.

That's really odd to have 8110 since we're released in 2011 and were retired long ago. Maybe a dist center employee found a case or 2 of them hiding somewhere. Since April the local TRU's have had the 42020, 42026, 42027 and the snowmobile (can't recall the set#). Still didn't have the 42030 or 42029 or any of the medium size sets from 1H2014, but I found all of them in a smaller metro area TRU abt 80 miles east. The 42029 was sold out, but I called Tues 7/22 evening and they had had 2 of 42030 and even though their policy is only to hold until end of day, it was 8PM and they agreed to hold the 42030's until close on 7/23 as I said I had a long drive to get them. I mentioned this in some topic that I got there late morning 7/23 and they only had 1 42030, after they told me they had 2 and still some on the shelf. I was kind of pissed, but figured well at least I got 1 anyway.

Couldn't open your lxf file, but I did take all ideas given to me and I made it work. Its a long beast for sure with the trailer, probably around a meter long but it looks great. Only thing I did to the tractor itself was not install the log sides and just designed a simple 5th wheel. I even built the crane to help offload pipes, etc, from the trailer bed. I'm not nuts about the way the crane folds up, but it works. Think maybe another project is to remove crane and using the same gearing I might install a winch. Thanks again for your input guys. That idea did make it a lot more sturdy and since I had 1000's of spare parts I had plenty of studless beams. I also raised up the landing gear 1 stud as well to get the height I needed without compromising the look. Once I raise the landing gear if you look straight on you can it tractor/trailer are nearly level with each other.

Hi- I built a large high-deck trailer (not a low-boy), semi tractor-trailer size, to hook up to my Logging Truck (the set 9397). I constructed it with pendulum type suspension on the 2 sets of rear dual tires on the back of trailer. I built it out of 11x5 black panels and beams to reinforce under it, between the decking pieces and also on the sides of the deck panels and front to slide over the chassis of the logging truck. Additionally, I added landing gear and a pin drop type hookup to a fifth wheel I added on the logging truck itself. My trouble is the front 1/3 of the trailer droops some and when trying to hookup to the tractor (the modified logging truck) the drooping deck front won't slide right onto the chassis of the logging truck's fifth wheel. The fifth wheel setup is similar to the fifth wheel found on the hook crane variation of the 8436 Truck. I have reinforced the bottom the trailer with beams across the width of the trailer and also lengthwise, but yet it still droops. I wish I had pics of the trailer and the problem but the digital camera doesn't work right now, and my cell phone won't connect to a usb on my pc. Without seeing the problem, do you guys have any advice? EDIT: Some additional info: I added some 15L beams at the front of the trailer. The trailer does clear the chassis of the logging truck, but once it hits the perpendicular part with the axle hole/pin hole for the 3L axle with endstop it won't go any further due to the sagging of the front of the trailer. If I manually lift the front of the trailer and slide it on everything's fine, but due to the realism of backing the tractor under the trailer this really bugs me...

Amazon US has 5 available now, 4 from Japan and 1 reseller already at a tad over $300. The Japanese prices are insane, and you would have to wait until well after the release next week to receive, of course dependent on where you live. In the US if I had ordered 1 it definitely wouldn't be here by 1 Aug, plus why spend over $400 for an item to be released in a week that costs $249 USD. I mentioned in an earlier post I found one at a TRU about 80 miles from me.

A bit off topic but which really is the better flagship model - the 42030 or the 42009 Crane from last year? I bought the 42030 rather on impulse today, and upon looking at it carefully, I am beginning to wonder if it was worth the cost. Basically, which is better, realize its a hard call for many to make. It was $249.99 at Toys R Us in the US. Seems like that is the reigning thing, the exchange for overseas currencies is putting the set well beyond US dollars. The b model hauler out of the box is quite bare bones as far as the dump bed and with only 1 set of rear tires, it doesn't look that good, but I love the way you modified it.

Found 1 42030 at a TRU in the next major city about 80 miles east from me. I called around and funny thing is I live in a huge metro area, but none of the TRU's had any of the 2014 sets in, although I got most of the 1H ones I wanted from Amazon. Out of the 2H models, all I wanted was the 42030 anyway. But when I called they said they had 2 and I wanted 2, but when I drove all the way there (through a 30 minute construction wait) they only had one. Ah well, at least I have 1. They had every one of the 2014 models in stock, but selling fast from what I could tell. I wouldn't pay that much for a newly issued set, maybe a retired one on BL or Amazon, you rather expect markup after retirement. I recently shelled out $300 for a new 8265 Front Loader from 2009. That exchange rate stinks indeed. Nice thing about TRU's, at least for now, is that they charge MSRP when sets first come in. Give them a couple months and it will have a nice fat markup.

And all I want is the 42030 I did call 2 in the area today and they checked and nothing. In the past when I was looking forward to a new release (and yeah TRU does tend to stock items weeks before release, you're right there) and they didn't have it out, they had a system (not their website) that would check whether items were on order or not and also what stores in like a 500 mile radius had them in stock or on order. Neither store I talked to said they had such a system but I know they do, that's the problem, TRU nowadays has such a skeleton crew, they don't really help much like they used to, and a lot of times when they say they are going to look for an item you call about you rather wonder if they really look or not. In this case, I did check the nearest store and all they had was TONS of 2013 stock along with a few of small 1H2014 sets. Evidently Technic must not be a big seller in the US, I've heard it sells like mad in Europe. That being said, how did most of Europe and Asia get 1H2014 larger sets around Christmas, and US and Canada got nothing officially as of yet, that's really odd, not even on TRU or S@H warehousing websites. Ah well, guess just have to wait until 1 Aug for official release on S@H and hope they don't immediately sell out of the 42030. I thought they used to have a pre-order option, especially being so close to release when their offerings just went on the site less than a week ago...

@ Alasdair - when you say 2 layers, do you mean under the decking, use beams downwards? My biggest issue is I don't have many studded beams, and hardly any in black (colour of the trailer). I have taken off the wheels in back and have lowered them 1 stud down to raise the height of the trailer, but its the sagging in front that bugs me and makes the tractor unable to slide under the trailer, and the trailer is the perfect height to go over the simple 5th wheel on the tractor, but not when its detached. @Bricktrain - the trailer is 15 studs wide, I checked the wheelbase width on the finished logging truck and it was exactly 15 wide. I use liftarm beams crosswise underneath the deck, and a whole line of beams lengthwise under the trailer deck liftarm beams crosswise underneath the trailer and between the deck panels on top I use 3 wide lengthwise between each set of panels, and crosswise between the deck panels I use 2 sets of 15L liftarm beams. Decking is nearly identical to the construction of the 8063's trailer. I suppose as Alasdair mentioned I could use a 2nd set of beams, but without enough studded beams might have to buy thru Bricklink. I have 1000's of spare parts, so figured I'd use what I had and it would be sufficient. I do believe some of the trouble is ahead of the decking I also have 8 15L liftarm beams pinned together and being non-studded beams there is no way to reinforce those beams underneath....ahhh On another note...that is one very nice truck and trailer you have there...that was my next project was a low boy to fit the 8043 Excavator, it needs a very wide deck indeed.