DarkShadow73

I called TLG and they said the 42006 Excavator will not be available until sometime in January but no guarantees according to the cust svc rep, so don't know where the Dec. 14 release came from...any more info would be helpful if anybody sees it available, a lot of times TRU has it, but checked stores in my area and none have it or any info on it...

@kieran - Siegfried helped me out and changed to the right set#...real nice guy @legomuppet9- I just hate to part out a set just for the larger tires...been busy lately, still gotta check my tire collection, but mostly I have standard tires like used in most of the large sets (8285, 9397, 8416, 8258, etc)...I'm going to check today...thanks for the link though, much appreciated

An RC backhoe would be a really cool summer release...I love my 8455's, but an RC one would be incredible esp with motorized pneumatics...it would be a tight fit as was the pneumatics in the 8455, but all the LA's needed to operate all the functions that the 8455 had would be hard since LA's are larger(ram-wise)... I have often wondered why TLG doesn't re-release some of the great sets like they used to back in early 2000's...if they did they would have a lot of extra business...I wouldn't mind another 8288 among many others...look at the track record to name a few, the pneumatic front end loader(8459/64/39) and the pneumatic crane truck (8460,31,38) they re-released twice..and for some odd reason the re-release of the small forklift (8248/8463)...and for the most part all of the molds of those parts are still in production for City sets, etc, so it wouldn't be a stretch for them to do that...

@kieran - probably not really necessary since being a huge Technic forum I am sure that members would know what I just made a typo with the set#...thanks for the info though in case I screw up in the future...

Alasdair - thanks for the link. I think the first match was used on the older construction vehicles, like the 8453 for example. i actually got the set# wrong, it is the 42004, not the 42006 which isn't out yet. Hopefully others don't get confused...I don't know how to modify the topic name. Just to clarify, I accidentally put in 42006 instead of 42004, which is the mini backhoe/loader which I am speaking of..I can't modify the topic description as far as I know...

True to a backhoe/loader I am considering larger rear tires, but would like to keep the same rims the 30.4 x 20mm ones, and the only yellow rims I know of. I know these size rims have been used extensively on smaller sets in the past several years, like the 8273, 8292, and 8052. What I am wondering, is there a larger, higher profile tire I can put on those rims. The 8292 and 8052 used the flat tires, but the 8273 uses balloon tires 56x26 ones. I wonder if they would fit under the rear fenders without rubbing. I have a few 8273's MISB, and haven't checked my spare rims/tires collection. I hate to part out one of my 8273's since I planned on selling them MISB. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Well crap, I wanted to post my first review on EB, guess somebody beat me to it... ...it is a nice set for its size and though I haven't completed it yet, I'm close...then on to the telehandler version, though I can't figure out why Lego doesn't release a telehandler with a forkset instead of always a bucket...real telehandlers have many attachments, but most use forksets...well excluding the huge 8295, but that set IMO was kind of subpar...

Well a lot of sets were posted for release, usually we only get on average of about 4 sets in the 1H release. I have seen the hovercraft, mini backhoe/loader, and both cars, which is 4 at local TRU's and on S@H. I figured that was it and the other larger sets would be released in the 2H, and possibly the 42006, since it looks to be on par with other medium-large sets for an early spring release. Usually by now 1H offerings are in the TRU stores, in the past years, they appear a couple weeks before Christmas.

@Horace T- According to what I've gleaned from one of the pinned topics at the top of the forum its not that large a set, not as big as I thought it would be. Actually that would be good thing, it will fit on my MOC trailer hooked my 9397, the 8294 fit perfectly with a lot of breathing room, so the 42006 should be a good fit as well if on the same scale. I've heard differing opinions on whether it even has PF elements (at least a battery box and some sort of motor (M would be my guess). So, I guess it would be like motorizing the 8294 to raise/lower the main boom and the shovel in/out, or in this case the booms (since it has 2) and the grappler, but that would leave me thinking the grappler, and 1 thought from another member is that the grappler is utilized by a gear knob somewhere on the model. Just waiting for it to arrive in TRU stores or at S@H.

Huh - looks can be deceiving with just box art and a jpg pic, I thought it was almost as large as the 8043 or in between the 8294 and 8043. I wonder when it will actually be released since Lego has already released 4 new sets already...

Always the comic DLuders...

I see all the new Technic sets for 1H2013 are now 5 digits, starting with 4, wonder why TLG did that? Just a random thought, I now there are many unused 4 digit #'s, they became 9--- last year and they have plenty of 9--- #'s available...thought it was kind odd...

What a deal z3_2drive...ebay can be a pain if your bidding instead of buy it now, but they get you with buy it now, but as with more rare items, usually sellers do the bidding process...back in the late 90's I was into Space series (not Star Wars), sort of right before I found Technic and never looked back...anyway I was bidding on a Unitron 1793 Space Station Zenon and the last couple hours I kept outbidding little by little against 3 other bidders, it was like a war those last minutes...I won by $0.50...gave away all my Space sets when I got heavy into Technic when I bought the 8448 Supercar (luckily at S@H MSRP back then)...but I saw the 8466 on Bricklink and even though it wasn't perfect, heck it was 11 years old when I bought it this past spring, both of the cheap round seals they used to put on Technic sets had disintegrated and it was dented in the top, all the contents were sealed in poly bags, instructions perfect, it was like I was a kid in a candy store when I got it in the mail . Crazy thing I've been so busy since springtime (had to put my mom in a nursing home, lots of problems there that took and still is taking my time up) I haven't even assembled it, but its safe and sound in my garage along with a ton of other vintage sets, some new, some used and complete. I really got into studded Technic, its a lot of fun, albeit expensive since these sets fetch big prices nowadays... Just went to 1 of the TRU's in my area, geez they were jam-packed with shoppers, but sort of expected that being 10 days from Christmas, no 42006 Excavators yet...per usual TRU tends to release sets before they are available, but no 42006's...I'm sort of thinking that one is going to be the usual early spring release since it appears to be a medium/large set if TLG follows the usual trend of releasing a set around that time...look at the past...2011 the 8070 Supercar and 2012 the 9397 Logging Truck...

Me too, I was in my 20's when the Silver Champion was released, but I had the 8448 Supercar so I passed...wish I hadn't...now look at the asking price for a sealed set, I'm not really into Used sets, you just never know what you are getting for sure...I did manage to find one 8466 4x4" which was released in 2001. I had wanted it, but I only found one brand new at a local TRU, but one corner was bashed in and taped by staff, and so I passed. Paid the price on that one, bought it last spring for $400 NISB, just the seals were breached. I was over the moon... I guess the biggest question I have for 1H2013 is the 42006 Excavator w/ claw attachment. There was a topic below (unpinned) about it being released Dec. 14, no sign of it. Any information available? It seems the USA Amazon website doesn't seem to work the same as the European Amazon's sites do, no pre-order, nothing. But then again, USA Amazon didn't even stock most of the 2012 lineup available except for Marketplace sellers, thus much higher asking prices, I always prefer ordering direct from Amazon, and even though some of those Marketplace sellers stocked their items as Fulfilled by Amazon, the prices were still well above the MSRP. I have the 42004 Mini Backhoe Loader and 42010 Racer, what I'm really waiting for is the 42006...

Well its the 15th and no sign of the 42006 at S@H or TRU...

@Tomik - You are among the best MOC builders I have seen, I took a look-see at your blog and the models you come up with from existing sets are incredible. I'm definitely going to build that telehandler, it looks perfect. That is one type of construction machine that Lego has lacked to produce in medium scale, the 8295 was large but not really all that likeable, I hated the steering, if you had it on carpet forget it, even on hard surfaces the wheels hardly turned and the same blah yellow. The blue look in your telehandler and platform truck are great models indeed among all the others...I saw your forklift, but can't find any instructions for it...am guessing you haven't produced any jpgs or pdfs for that one...

@Tomik - I noticed at the bottom of your post you had pics of what I assume are MOCs...what I'm interested is the blue telehandler...did you create that one? If you did, are there are instructions of it? Never mind, tired eyes (work 3rd shift) didn't make me look hard enough, I found the link and have downloaded the instructions, nice you can use the 8052 Container Truck and don't need extra parts... Alright, guess I do have a question on the work platform version...the telehandler takes me to a website that has easy to follow instructions in pdf format...the work platform takes me to Brickshelf with 50 some jpg images that isn't as detailed as far as parts needed, and the need to print each jpg image separately with all the Brickshelf stuff above and below the actual instruction pic on each jpg...are these or can these be put in a pdf format so I can larger images and print continuously without having to go back to each page? Just wondering...maybe you or another member can walk me through how to meld those images into pdf format...pardon my ignorance, I'm not a great PC guy, but Lego enthuiast and I tend to build a lot of MOCs others post because they are ingenious models from great, creative expert builders....thanks Great alternate models, both of them...much better than the actual 8052's alt model... Thanks

@Technic Gearhead - Saw that axle, looked a bit like either a partially hidden mini LA since the view only shows it from a side angle, but even a gear to open and close the jaws on the superstructure would be good, just not on the boom itself, it would be real awkward and unrealistic, probably end up tipping it over... @skylinedan - don't think its available yet. Its not listed on their website and I checked of the larger stores today in my area and the only things out for 1H are the 42010 & 42011 Cars and the Hovercraft. No sign of the 42006. Wasn't even about to go ask at Cust Svc, TRU's are mobbed this time of year. But, if its not listed, they can't check it on their computers without their 6-digit SKU# listed. I picked up the 42010 Blue Racer today, but called about it late last week and they had no information on that one at that point of time. Somehow I doubt it will be released until 'maybe' and that's a big maybe, January 1, or since its so large and if the trends of the past couple years are correct, this one looks to be a spring release. However, if you see it in your neck of the woods, send me an e-mail, you got my address.

@Hopey - thanks for the actual model image, wonder if it will actually be released on 12-14...it isn't listed on S@H as pre-order or on TRU online either... One question for the group, I wonder as in the past with other models as of late, if the claw on the main model operates manually by hand by turning an axle joiner (i.e: 8295 Telehandler's fork tilt for example), it sort of looks like it is a mini-LA, but can't tell for sure... Somehow I sorta think this will be their spring release...

Thanks DLuders - as always, you are on top of things and the lack of TLG adding on either set a way to connect them. When I looked at the 42010 I saw on the TRU shelf last week, it showed on the back of the box the melding of the 2 sets. Kinda of a dumb move on their part, they tell you can make the 42010 and 42011 together, yet you have to download them, and for me anyway, I'm at a tiny area, so would have to waste paper and ink just to do that. Ah well, they've messed up before, release something before they give it enough thought. BUT, what I'm really foward to is the 42006 Excavator w/ claw. Have enough buggies, some old school Technic all the way up to the 2010 8048 Buggy. The alternate of 9392 is not really that great and has so few elements, it would require some modification to make it look more authentic, but with being so small, there is not a lot of room for improvement. @hrontos - I tried selecting the jpg and all I could get my mouse to do is send out those 4 arrows in each directions in place of the pointer, I'll try your other idea, thanks for your input, I know how irritating direct quoting a member's post and including all his/her images.

So I assume as with the 9396 Helicopter it does not come standard with battery box and motor and that you have buy them separately? The model would be perfect for my logging operation to pick up logs or whatever and set them on the back of the 9397 Logging Truck. I hope it does become available soon. The alternate is cool enough looking, but what's up with the axles poking out in front...I realize they have to use what parts they have for the main model, but it looks like it should be bulldozer. I modified the alternate 8043 tracked loader with some parts to make a dozer instead, kind of like a mini 8275.

Yeah, you aren't kidding, you nearly have to disassemble a lot of the back part of the model just to put that tan frictionless pin. I decided to just take the boom off and rebuild the whole thing, and it does shift somewhat better, wish I had had known about this before I assembled the first time, but since the set was released in summer 2010 and I built it as soon as the upgraded LA's were shipped because of that issue, I wish I was aware of this problem with the changeover function so I could have installed the right gears and the pin...ah well one day I'll get to it...

@DLuders - Since its a brand set(s), wouldn't the instructions be included in both sets, and in one or the other, the instructions for combining the 2 sets into the dragster? As always DLuders never disapointments, he got us the 9397's alternate model plow last spring. I wasn't really interested in the dragster or the race car, I just wanted the 42010 alone, even if its just a shelf model as its meant as a pull-back model, but I liked the color scheme, blue is refreshing even if there aren't too many blue elements in the set. I'm into buggies/racers of any kind. Doubt its still at that store, I was there over a week ago, and all I could find was 2 on the shelf at the time. One question, with EB's new look, I can't seem to find a way to remove jpg images members post, is there a way to do this, usually I highlight the HTML pics and just reply directly. Any ideas on how to do that, I clicked on 'More Reply Options' link when I went to reply directly to your post, but it still wouldn't let me remove the jpg images. Any help is appreciated...thanks...

This is the 1 set for 1H2013 I've been waiting for. I figured it might be spring release much like we've seen in the past couple years. Its not listed on S@H or other retailers websites as even a pre-order yet. I know most times TRU has sets available prior to TLG's actual release date, but its not their website either, but with all the holiday traffic, I don't think they keep up the inventory/store counts when you enter a zip code for Store Pickup, and only way you can do this is if the item is available on the website. Funny thing I saw some 42010's on the shelf there last week, but nothing on the website. As far as their items listed, like say the 9397 Log Truck, I saw a few of them in 1 of the store areas in my area, but when I got home I decided to check their website, and when I entered my zip, it showed nothing available in the 4 stores close to me. And naturally the salespeople are so busy right now, they normally just check what I see and say no, its not in any area stores even though I visibly saw some of those sets in the store an hour or so earlier. Most times you really have to get in the car and go check yourself, this time they just do a quick scan and call it good. With all the pushed around items on the shelves, sometimes a set can be 'hidden' behind other sets that people look at and just stick back up on the shelf. The 42006 is so eerily similar to the 8043, but from what I can glean it is not RC? I saw DLuders had posted large images of the box and I don't see anything about RC or even the possibility to add PF elements.

From what I can tell the 42010 doesn't have any steering mechanism of any sort? I don't see a HOG steering on the top of the model.