Conchas

Someone has always to disagree, and this my turn. I didn't find boring at all, nor repetitive. Maybe because I was doing in Live Stream an interacting with the folks, but it was pretty fun to build. It won't be so fun now, to prepare the review material. Specially after all the information tha PAul already put in his viedo!

Do you mean pneumatics? LAs does not much in favor of 'Authenticity', as we can testify from the crackling noises.

42029 will solve at least the 5x11 red panels problem, for a while.

The things one builds and fogtes with time...

Ok, I see your point!

I don't remember one immediately, but most likely yes. In some case these are connected using half pins also. But being more precise in my comment, this is the rule. "Technic holes are slightly smaller than those of System. You can connect a single stud into a single Technic hole and a child can still take them apart. Any more than that and the resistance becomes too great and there is the potential for elements (and children) being stressed." So technically you can connect single studs into pinholes, but you're still stressing the elements because their dimensions are not 100% compatible, so I believe it should be avoided. Although I use it too!

You made me went to check the building instructions... :) That one I don't think it is illegal. It is a long friction blue pin, and it is not under stress. It connects a 2L equivalent.

Theory is that it stress the studs and decrease their clutch power. Techniques that are supposed to damage parts are never allowed.

Yes that's an illegal technique for sure! No studs allowed into Technic holes.

Yes, it is really PWM.

The logic is indeed inside the IR Receiver and inside the rechargeable battery box, which generate the appropriate PWM signals to control the speed of the devices which accept proportional control (it is also the case of the lights for instance). So if you want optimize space you can get rid of the unnecessary wires in a case by case basis. I made a kit of specific custom wires wire I can connect only what I need in each situation. This was done mainly for testing purposes and adaptations with other systems.

These http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=87408&colorID=11&in=A

Tethered!?

I tend to agree this could be the case, or something very similar to this. I also imagined that VOLVO could have for instance paid for the development of the specific and licensed parts. - Development of the new bucket (design, prototyping, mold, production) - Dedicated production run for the green engine parts

No, it is not!

These early box mockups are quite preliminary and several placeholder stuff. I've seen another box image with the "2 in 1" at the exact same place. So don't care too much about it.

Forget about that! No pneumatics in this set.

These are the new hinges introduced with the LEGO Mixels. Here they fit with the "Technic Pin with Towball".

We will never know how it really happens, but I feel licenses like this and the Unimog, start with an approach from the licensed brand instead of TLG. And if it like this, it may its influence on the value of the license. Maybe it becomes much cheaper. I imagine Technic licenses are a totally different game than Disney licenses for other LEGO themes, for example.

I got the impression (eventually wrong), they do not use to show all new sets at Nuremberg Toy Fair. That's why the details about the Dozer were only seen by a few who got access to the dealers catalog. Maybe we get to see it at NY Toy Fair, although the 1H LEGO Technic sets are not yet selling in NA.

Thought about that too, and it could be. But it looks like a very bad design, for an official set. Part is poorly connected! And are we now stressing and smashing parts to limit suspension travel!?

There is also noticeable differences among different type of parts, like textures and shades. In the case you mention that's definitely the first point that I explained. Decrease the production costs that a too tight color variance would cause. And here I'm not speculating as I've heard it from LEGO people.

Than that's maybe the solution! But weird it is the new part between the upper and lower beams. Their distance should reduce as the suspension moves. Are the Designers playing with the parts tolerance now!?

Exactly what I meant. Snowmobile suspension arms and C-shape frame. Already the dealer catalog image was suggesting such design. I don't see other solution.

Market and Toy makers competition has changed a lot, as almost everything else since then. Every thing needs to be calculated and justified. if price increases exponentially, a set point must be defined to guarantee profitability at desired level. These values are now much different then what they were in the 80s/90s. Now speculating a bit, guess there are other factors that may have a role here too. Like increased variety of parts/molds, materials used and different injection techniques for all these, like injection temperature. All these variety should also contribute to increase the difficulty and consequently the costs to achieve a zero color variance.