pleegwat

Standard lego track (5 stud gauge) would be standard gauge to a 11-stud-wide train, or narrow gauge to a 15-stud-wide train. In either case TLG would have to add wider curves.

Same colour makes it easier for kids to buy a couple and make their own build from the pieces. It may also simplify production. Another note on these: I have heard in the past about different such collections that it was possible to buy an entire box (in this case of 16 sets) which is guaranteed to contain 2 of each.

If I remember correctly train track has a 40 stud radius, which is significantly more than the 15 or 16 stud radius of this curved gear rack.

Looks like a low-friction version could be useful as a higher-load slip bearing.

Combining that with traditional technic motors could lead to some interesting robotics possibilities. In theory, at least.

I wonder if 36 parts per wheel is a record.

Accurate control? On pneumatics?

Probably also only if the battery is actually included in the box, which is the case for sound/light bricks but not for technic battery boxes.

Last year's overarching theme was space, and we got some nice sets out of it. This year was F1, which was always going to be 'even more cars' for technic. We'll see what we get next year.

I'd bet the inner gears are not quite lined up. Flicking them about a bit, or rotating the top or bottom one (after sticking an axle in) should free them back up.

I've always been a fan of this classic video on differentials.

Size. A valve powered by a solenoid need not be more than twice as large as a regular valve.

I don't think a special servo is the way to go for RC pneumatics. I think it should be a dedicated valve part, based on a solenoid instead of a servo.

But the real thing isn't powered by pneumatics either. It's powered by hydraulics. And those might look similar, but linear actuators (if done right) can act more similar.

I don't think superstructure rotation and drive make interesting motorized functions if you don't have RC. The additional motorized functions I'd like to see on an excavator are one on the tool (rotation for the bucket, operation for the hammer) and possibly an additional actuated boom stage. But from a quick google search the real EC500 does not appear to have those either.

I have seen companies use april fools as a safe way to test customer interest in radical ideas.

If we're ever to get a real hydraulic set an 18+ Volvo model would be where they introduce it. That's probably too much to hope, but I don't see Volvo going for the "Looks good on a living room shelf" kind of 18+ set.

A lunar outpost as a technic set?

I own that part as included in 8868. There are no pinholes, which is not surprising given the era the piece originates in.

I don't expect lego to ever go for hydraulics.

Space was last year. This year is F1, and honestly I can't think of any technic-related F1 sets which aren't F1 cars.

Impressive.

When was the last 1:8 car with a new gearbox?

I know. Under display options, you can also choose to hide parts you own to get just a list of parts you need to substitute. But just having the parts list does not tell you whether you will be able to substitute something else for them, or if a recolor will be acceptable.

If a free MOC uses a part I don't own (ignoring color), I may download it and see if I can make it work anyway, and I may abandon the moc if I fail. But that's still a download. If I need to pay for the instructions (even if it's only a few euros) then it's much less likely I would take that risk.