tomacwhite

Love your model, it looks great and matches the design of the one in the film really well.. After seeing Rogue One, I excitedly went to Lego's website to go and buy the set for this... to discover there wasn't one. Odd as it's got such a unique design.

Are the pictures available to view now?

I wonder if the outriggers/stabilisers on the Crane come out and lower by motor, or if you have to finish them off manually like the Crane Truck. Either way, both of the large sets looks great.

There is a new video on http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/ and during the section showing the RC Truck, you can see the B model on the back of the box!!!!

Out of all of the Technic models I've ever owned, I have never had a helicopter. This looks amazing so maybe this is the year! Some more pictures of that would be great, surely the person who shot the 4x4 took some of the chopper too? It looks ace.

Cool! :)

Wow thanks!! I remember that booklet like it was yesterday too. I used to love the square-shaped normal Lego catalogues too, especially with all the old cool electric train stuff. Super rad!

Do we know what the Logging Trucks B-Model is yet?

I got a call from a very kind and friendly lady at Lego UK today, and this is what I was told. - The Lego designers in Denmark are aware of the problems with the Excavator - They have pulled 50 (fifty) models from storage and built them. ALL 50 had problems - At first the models work OK, then the performance drops over time (as with mine and others) - They think it might be transmission related but are not 100% sure - Problems were not noticed during design phase - Not a high population of users have complained about problems (I guess that doesn't mean they don't have issues, just not reported them) - They think it could be a bad batch of models - They hope to have full results in 7 days - There will be a redesigned model with fixes, hopefully within a few months (3~ months) I have been given a full refund on mine now which is great news. I am taking mine apart tonight and sending it off. I have to say Lego have been very good about this situation and they are working very hard to trying to solve the problems. For now though, I'd rather have the money back until it is fixed. Hope this helps.

I got the Lego Technic 8865 Test Car when I was 10 years old for Xmas. It was an awesome piece of kit and I loved building and playing with it. Some 20 years have passed since then, and my Test Car has stayed built up in numerous places. It's been on a shelf, in the loft (attic), then brought out again a few years ago to proudly sit in my room. I have since moved out into my own place, and after discovering this place and looking at all the cool new Technics, I thought I might as well rebuild the Test Car. Firstly, it's dusty. Really dusty. It needs a complete strip down, wash, brush and dry before we do anything else. Secondly, it's missing a couple of small parts, and/or some could do with being replaced. The "gate" parts of the gearbox is missing but I suspect my nephew has borrowed those small black "2 stud" slates for his own creations. And, the yellow blades from the engine have got small bites marks which I did when I was a child and didn't have the nails to pull parts apart myself. I know, gross, but hey I was 10 years old! Here is a pic of how it stands tonight. Steering is a little knackered, and lights don't raise/lower anymore, the engine has come free and the passenger seat is loose, but for 20 years old its not in bad shape. This will all be sorted of course when I rebuild it. These were taken on my iPhone 3GS so aren't the best quality I am afraid. I hope I am not breaking rules here by doing my own review, I just thought I would document and show my strip down, clean up, and rebuild process of one of my favourite Technics ever, and probably my most loved "toy" of all time. More to come soon...

The image has gone but there is a rough translation now available: With this sturdy car to get everywhere. Give to the toughest terrain and try the realistic four-wheel suspension, which handles all inequalities. Open the hood and check the moving pistons. The car has opening doors and trunk. It can be converted to a modified off-roader. Suspension V6 or V8 engine Doors, hood/bonnet and Tailgate open Oops just realised this has been posted already...

Looks awesome! I wonder if the turntable for the crane will be motorised?

I assume its because the B-Model is very similar, so its easy to change between A and B model setup without having to mess around with tubing...

After waiting ages before being able to build it, I finally got the chance last week, however I found myself with a missing piece! Arrggh! It wasn't a friction pin or beam either, but the short blue air cable that is required for the pneumatic system, so it stopped me dead in the build. It arrived after a few days directly from Lego, so tonight I finished the model off. Hurrah! Firstly, and most importantly, I like the model. It's quite a simple design, with very little in the way of complex gear systems or a detailed transmission for the tractor, but it's nice, and it looks great. There are a few flaws in the design which I'll go into later. First though, some shots of the front of the box, and its contents. I was surprised by how compact the new boxes were for Lego this year. Fair play to Lego for actually trying to reduce waste, this is smaller than the Cherry Picker model, and waaaay smaller than the Front Loader (although that does have double the parts count of this). The new Race Truck's box is exactly the same size as this model, in case you were wondering :) Numbered bags, which I guess makes sense for the age group this particular model is aimed at. It's quite light on number of parts to be honest, but there is fairly decent selection of colours and beams here, and of course it has pnematics AND a compressor included. Also to note, there are many parts left over when you complete the model, and these are used to add PF to the Loader, and instructions are included at the back of the 2nd manual. The Tractor is first up to be built, and its a nice looking model. I love the lime green colour Lego use here, and the white roof is a good match. Regarding technical features, the tractor is very limited, all that is included is HOG steering. The body is simple and lacking detail such as doors, and what body there is, is just floating on the sub-frame. It's a shame, but then the price point is lower. A engine with piston and some doors would of finished the model off nicely, but never mind. Completed tractor: Next up, is the trailer which of course has all of the good stuff in the model, and is more complex (but still relatively simple) than the tractor. Early stages of construction with piping added It's not long before you have a nearly completed trailer, and you realise it's fairly lightweight on detail. Crane arm construction. I love how the piping is routed, its really neat and looks great. Completed model. I wish this had been given the pneumatic treatment too. It's also fairly weak and the logs slip through the claw design. Overall I do like this model, playing with pneumatics is lovely, and brings my childhood memories right back. It's a nice model, but it is fairly basic on technical features. Do I think it should of had more complex systems to it? Yes perhaps, but that would of also put the price right up, and I assume Lego are testing the waters with the air system before committing to a full-on technical marvel. I guess that's why there isn't a pneumatic model for the 2H year yet, they'll see how this one sells first. Pros + Pneumatics are back, and they're great + Nicely designed tractor and trailer, if a little simple + Well priced, especially in ripoff Britain (£45.00) Cons - Claw could of had a mini pneumatic cylinder - Logs fall off the back of the trailer too easily, or through its base - Not much complexity with gears/transmissions 7/10

I thought I would have a little play about with making my own models, which is something I really haven't done since I was a child. I decided to try and build a new model from one single Technics set. I went with the 2009 8256 Go Kart. It's a nice and simple model which is good for starting up. No point in taking the big bulldozer apart and trying to make something is there?! :D From the start I wanted to keep the working piston and steering, and try and cram in any other new functions too. My original idea was to make an F1 style race car, but that didn't really turn out too well. This evening I have come up with an off-road style buggy, which not only has both working piston and steering, but also has opening doors and bonnet (hood) (the vehicle is still rear engined). Here are some photos of the model. Bear in mind that I haven't used any parts that are not included in the model at retail (and there are a fair amount left out too) and the official model doesn't have that much to it anyway which is why it kinda looks bare bones. Main image Side view Front Rear Quarter shot with doors and hood open: Rear Quarter shot with doors and hood closed: As you can see there isn't much to play with from the pieces you get from the Go Kart. I enjoyed doing this and would like to have a go with a slightly larger model. Any thoughts?

I got my letter through the post today saying enclosed is my replacement parts to make the arm stronger, and also some extra parts to help the Excavator drive more efficiently. I didn't receive any parts though, I assume because I got the refund but I am still on the mailing list for it.

The image on the box shows that the wheels go up and down, so it does have suspension.

This will be quite a complex set for 1H with that gearbox system, cool :) Steering Suspension 4-Gear transmission with powered Left door, Right Door, Rear Spoiler or Boot/Trunk and Bonnet/Hood V6 or V8 Technic engine Headlights? Can't wait to see the B-Model!

Brilliant (shame its red though) It looks like the headlights light up too?

Yeah they look like new smaller sized ones. Cool. Is the other page of the catalogue available?

Double the price now? So it will be bigger

I bet the Backhoe will be pneumatic :)

They have been very good, my full refund came through yesterday.

Just got another email from Lego UK saying the new part wont be ready until October, and it will be a new Linear Actuator part specifically for lifting heavy items such as the arm on 8043. I was offered a £10 credit if I waited for the part, or I could get a refund. Obviously this is a mail going out to all buyers of the model because mine has already been sent back.

I don't have the set now, but does this fix the slow Main Arm movement?