Wiseman_2

8109 and 8438 are probably my favorites in this range... 8109 packs some great functionality into probably one of the better looking Technic sets I've seen. The fact that there is no wasted space inside the model - at all - shows how well designed it is. As for 8438, the crane is also very well designed and looks great, but I actually prefer the B-model. There are not very many knuckle-boom crane trucks in Technic (I think 8258 is the only other one, unless someone knows better) and 8438's is a great example:

I believe that part already got switched out in most later versions of the Crawler. EDIT: Beaten to the punch To be totally honest the Crawler never did appeal to me as a set, but when it looks as brilliant as this I don't think I'll be able to pass it up

Anybody mentioned the B-model of 8460? I built it last weekend and I think it makes better use of the pneumatics than the A-model. Fun build too, and unlike many B-models it doesn't feel like it stands in the shade of the A-model

I think the sets presented at the NY toy fair are earlier versions of the ones we saw at Nuremberg... there's missing panels, the white axles and LBG pulley wheels, and no stickers on 42009; and the stickers on 42008 look like an earlier version. Not looking forward to finding out how much 42009 is going to set me back, but I guess $220 will probably equal to about £165-170.

This photo seems to show that the switch in the carrier is for the outriggers only: http://www.flickr.co...157632677753378

I would take a photo, but unfortunately all mine's packed up while we wait to move... frustratingly, we don't even have a date and I've had the 2011 Bucket Truck sitting new in box for a month while I wait It's not exactly the most diverse collection, being mostly studless from the last 6-7 years. I have a few old sets from the studded era (which are apparently rather desirable ones, but which I acquired in poor condition so I kinda abandoned them) and then also a few miscellaneous sets from the last few years. I have to say, though Technic is easily my favourite theme, the 2010 Space Shuttle is probably one of my favourite sets. It looks incredible when displayed and I always get questions about it

I buy sets mostly for the model and build experience, but I will sometimes look at buying a set I would otherwise pass on if it has useful or interesting parts. I am not much a fan of cars but I bought 8070 due to its gearing and also the wheel hubs and suspension parts, which I had none of previously. I have not had much opportunity to build MOCs due to limited space for building in - I have no solid surface to build on so building can be a bit of a pain. Having said that, on the occasions when I have been able to build MOCs I have found myself wishing I could do it more often Still, as all my sets are currently broken down (we're moving house) I don't think it's likely I'll rebuild. Shall probably start MOC'ing once I have a desk (At that point, I will probably start buying sets for parts )

I remember this one, it's the last Technic set I got before my mini dark-age... in fact, I recently found this model intact gathering dust in one of my many unsorted boxes of old Lego. As it turns out several parts were of different colours as I remembered rebuilding it from the B-model without all the spares left over from the A I have all four of these excavators and though I prefer 8043 due to the rather brilliant gearbox 8419 is still a very good model too, doing the same things at a smaller scale. Not a bad one to have in your collection by any means.

I believe the article in question is intended as satire... As for the rumoured sets, the crawler with wreckage handler sounds good to me - but I'm not gonna get too bothered about these just yet, it's still not even August yet Doesn't mean we can't bat rumours about though

Excellent review, I'm really looking forward to this one. The photos were great too, made it quite clear on what to expect from this model Any chance of a video? I'd quite like to see exactly how that "safety feature" for the rotor works.

The instructions show that the motor attaches to the gearbox, and as you can rotate the blades through the gearbox, by extension, you can also do it with the motor.

Not every Technic set needs a motor to make it interesting That maze of linkages in the undercarriage(?) has me baffled... add into it the gearbox and the relative novelty of the model itself and this set has far more appeal for me than 9398 (which I will probably wait for a discount on).

One thing I noticed lately was that TLC seem to like having tractors as buggy B-models and vice versa. 2006, 2008, 2010 all had a set like this... and now 2012 gets one too... Not really complaining, it's a limited part set to be sure, and I might get this one if it's cheap enough just to boost my parts, though the tractor is admittedly not a bad looking model.

Actually, that only adds support for the gear driving the left (or right) track. The 8 tooth gear that turns the superstructure remains unsupported from below. As such, I would suspect it may have slipped off a little; also, you mentioned that you've built it with mods? I haven't myself and it works fine on the original version, perhaps the added weight from the mods (if any) affects the rotation? If it has slipped off, one solution could be to replace the regular 3L axle it sits on with a 3L with stop, though I'm not sure if the extra stud will catch on anything. And for what it's worth, I haven't had any problems with rotation on mine, or indeed with any of the functions (after the service pack release at any rate, for which I only had an issue with the track gear slipping ).

I think I would really like to see another forklift. It doesn't even have to be a flagship or large set (though it would be preferable). 8248 from 1998 was one of my first Technic sets so there's obviously a heap of nostalgia too

There'll be 9 sets in total this year that we know of, only 1 less than the last few years. Nothing to be worrying about really.

It's a shame it all turned out so bad, but at least the CUUSOO team seemed genuinely sorry about the whole thing. As it goes, I still want to see this made reality, because it was never about the license and was always about the awesome functionality for me. So I am still gonna support it in its new incarnation.

Is that a fake engine built using axles as pistons? That's a genius use of parts for a B-model Also, though these images do make the Crawler look a lot better, it still isn't really appealing to me on a technical level. Might pick it up at discount. The Helicopter is definitely a purchase though, I love those duel props on the B-model.

For 8043, the PF parts add upto around £70. The set costs £140 (sorry, I don't know the US equivalent of those prices), so that would mean the other 1123 parts would cost about £70, which is about average for a set of that size. Really, with 8043, the PF parts are worth it. Plus, the B-model is a helluva lot of fun to play around with, while the A-model has an incredible gear box. 8110 is a great example of pneumatics on the other hand, and those pneumatic parts don't come cheap (though it's not possible to easily price those up on Lego's online store). For someone just coming into Technic though I would recommend 8069, it packs in a lot of functionality in a tight space, has a good selection of parts and gears, and shows off a range of Technic building Techniques. It's a great starter point IMHO.

What, no ejector seat? Just kidding, this is a great MOC, the shape of the original car must be pretty difficult to render in brick form. As a die hard Bond fan this gets my vote... but the Lotus from The Spy Who Loved Me will still be my favourite Bond car

That was more in response to DLuders' earlier post, I'm not asking why it didn't win, I was more simply defending its right to be in the competition in the first place... And that's not to mention that the panel obviously felt it was good enough I think a part count would be too difficult to enforce, but I don't think it would be entirely too hard to maybe include scale categories? When it went to the judging panel, they could decide if certain entries would be better suited to being placed in a different category if it was too large or small for its intended category.

I think it was rather nice to see some more esoteric entries rather than just a load of variations on boats (not that the boats were bad at all). If a Technic model of an insect can win, then why not one of a shark? Is it because it is infused with a little fantasy, rather than straight-up Technic? Either way, I enjoyed watching this contest, there were some excellent MOCs in a theme that is slightly underrepresented in Technic; I just hope next time, we have a contest at a time when I can build and enter

Well, I was browsing Bricklink for those track parts the other day, and I found out that they were produced in metallic silver in this set... and it only has two of them. Guess that makes them kind of rare This part:

Out of curiosity, when was the last time the 40T was used in a gear train in an official Technic set? I know it's been used on a fair few bikes in the last decade or so but the only set I've seen it in a gear train in lately is the Imperial Shuttle.

3) Water Jeep - 1 vote 8) Steampunk Shark Submersible - 3 votes 9) Lifeguard's Personal Watercraft - 1 vote 10) Leviathan - 2 votes This was a hard vote, good luck to all