johnnytifosi

This was another advantage of B-models. It allowed for weird models to be made that would never fly as a standalone set. Now it has to be only cars to make the sets viable.

Another back of the box build: The mobile crane. Free instructions here: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-165890/johnny.tifosi/735-mobile-crane/#details

This means that TLG should include outsiders in the product development procedure (they can't release B-models after a set has gone on the shelves) and of course pay them. Effectively, the result would be the same for TLG with extra complexity .

Yes, always. I find most of the fun in the build, so what is better than rebuilding the same set over two varaints? Especially as a kid I must have rebuilt all my sets in the tens of times. Ah the joys of childhood, never getting bored. BTW, it is my impression most people here might complain mildly on forums etc, but eventually will buy the new sets anyway, and this is what matters to TLG, and they will sell the same amount of sets while offering less. If consumers don't vote with their wallets and stop buying I have a feeling this will be forgotten quickly. Personally, I am going to stick to my word and not buy any new sets.

I sent today an email to Lego to complain about the elimination of B-models in Lego Technic. I encourage anybody who cares to do the same.

Sweeeet! Might consider this set just for your MOC lol.

This looks pretty poor compared to recent 10 euro sets, which paradoxically used to be the stronger sets of Technic the past few years (Mini Claas Xerion, Skid Steer Loader, Telehander, Race plane and Snow groomer were all brilliant little sets). It looks more like a polybag set. Plus, the death of the B-model that this set represents makes me even more bitter.

*1977-2023 A sad day indeed. Personally, I will just vote with my wallet and move to Creator 3-in-1 for rebuilding fun, but unfortunately System just doesn't scratch the same itch as Technic.

2024 set leaks are out and Creator 3-in-1 comes out hard. A pleasant surprise for the last theme standing to carry the true Lego spirit. That semi with the helicopter is full Model Team 5590 nostalgia, if only it was larger. They release multiple 800+pice Creator sets in a year and this could be a great one. I also wish we got a better dragon for the Chinese new year animal, but that went to another CNY set already, which is great but not 3-in-1. The giraffe is a worthy successor to the majestic tiger though, and the lion and antelope alt builds look great too. For me it is the hit of this wave. Obviously they all look spectacular, but my issue with a lot of those are that they are not really playable, but look like 18+ shelf queens. A lot of them are just every day objects made out of Lego. I don't see the play value of a Lego roller skate or watering can for example.

Damn after seeing the January leaks too, the Technic B model is officially dead, even in the 10 euro bulldozer. I'm so done with modern Technic. At least I'll save money to spend on vintage sets.

This has to be one of the most original ideas for a Technic set ever. The implementation seems pretty accurate, too, with the Earth's axis tilt, moon etc. I really want to see it in action, this looks like it includes a ton of gears. However, the pricing seems pretty bad compared to the other space sets. And no B-model yet again.

I was pleasantly surprised by the space sets. Finally, Lego using their imagination to offer something new. They remind me of good old 90s Lego Technic sets, that's how starved we were for original ideas. All of these look quite promising, I'll be waiting on the first videos to see their functionality. However, it is truly sad that they do not offer B-models yet again, even in original, non licensed sets. Still a dealbreaker for me.

42171 will be a Mercedes F1 car, 1642 pieces, $220, 01/03/2024. More of the same.

Great job, I love the real car as much this model. I've got some comments for possible improvement: -The C pillar looks way too thick. -The roof looks flat and inclined to the front, while the actual roof is rather curved without incline front to back. -The bonnet could be improved by implementing the "creases" with a rise of one plate.

I recently got this very nice Basic Building Set I wanted since I was a kid. It has 9V lights and a siren and instructions for 5 models. Then I found out on this great website that 9 more models were featured on its box without instructions on how to build them. Talk about versatility! This is such a back of the box build, a semi-trailer fire truck, without instructions on how to build it. I found photos of the box online and reverse engineered this model, since it is nicer than any of the alternative models included in the instructions in my opinion. Building it based on a single low resolution image was quite time consuming, so please enjoy these free instructions! https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-163932/johnny.tifosi/735-semi-trailer-fire-truck/#details If this is not the correct section of the forum please move the thread freely.

Just to add another bit of speculation, I noticed Sariel hiding a political message in a plotter MOC video 3 months ago. It could have been a factor.

Whoever thinks this was a cost cutting measure for a billion dollar company like TLG are fooling themselves. The true cost of even the biggest sets isn't above a few tens of dollars to them. The view count is also irrelevant, I have seen way smaller, even non-English speaking channels get sponsored sets for review. The reason IMO is that Sariel was (deservedly) simply too critical of most new sets, so he had to be silenced. On the other hand, shutting down his reviews because he is not getting freebies shows the absolute state of Youtubers. Not being willing to spend a couple of thousand of dollars on each year's set to keep a business running says a lot about the inability of most channels to stay independent. I understand it is not his main job, but he did mention the declining revenue of his channel. Simply put, reviewing toys on Youtube is not going to get you any money, so either you have to accept freebies from TLG or do it independently as a side hobby.

It's my favourite set of this year and the only one I got, exactly for the reasons you mentioned. Unfortunately, it has only been the 10 euro sets that have been worth buying for me the past few years. If you can still find them, I highly recommend the mini claas xerion and the skid steer loader, both equally brilliant little sets.

I'm not even a Modular fan but I have to say I liked it a lot. Great colour choice and architecture, it looks exactly like a museum. However, it's a pity it has only two floors compared to way smaller modulars that have three. I get that museums have higher ceilings, but it feels like you are getting less play value out of the set.

That's an interesting take I didn't think of and it makes so much sense. They said this themselves that effectively they are so rigid that they can't even alter their colour guidelines or they need 5 years for new components, sounding like a convoluted bureaucracy.

I dig out this topic because Racing Brick posted a nice video that fits it quite well, an interview with Lego staff about Technic's current status and future direction. TL;DW: Lego will stick with blue pins, colour vomit, licensed sets, app control and no B-models. Deal with it.

I created free instructions for an improved B-model with an extra function (driving the propeller through the landing gear), only with the pieces available in the set, here: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-159703/johnny.tifosi/8412-modified-b-model/#details

In 2019 already only about half of the sets (8 out of 14) had B-models. I agree on the rest.

I only got the snow groomer this year. Brilliant little set with lots of functions, B-model and good value, in the good old spirit of true Technic. The rest is the usual sh!t we've have been seeing the past 5 or so years since Technic has gone down the drain. The pullbacks are entirely functionless and uninteresting, I really hope they are killed off eventually in 2024. Same with all the copy pasted 1:16 and 1:10 car sets (Bolide, Huracan, Camaro, GT, 9X8). The Firefighter Aircraft could have been a lot better, but it has too few functions for its size, it has no B-model and the pricing has killed it, similarly to the material handler and the ATV last year. A simple comparison with the older 42025 makes it look sad. The Mars Rover looks like an unstable, janky mess. I'll admit, the John Deere skidder looks solid, but the lack of B-model is also makes it bad value to my eyes. The Yamaha motorbike is insanely overpriced even compared to the similar BMW bike and it is also a write off. The Audi eTron is just a sticker fest, is ridiculously overpriced and lacks a controller, and the Liebherr, well, where do I start. So I'll have to agree with Maaboo that the Technic theme as a whole is in a tailspin since at least 2019, when they got rid of Power Functions and B-models and went all-in with the licenses and price hikes. And I am not that bothered by the Liebherr or other 100+ euro sets. What bothers me is the complete lack of any interesting model in the 50 euro range year after year. I have eventually moved to the Creator line that offers multiple builds, reasonable value and original ideas to get my Lego fix, even though I wasn't into Lego System sets ever before. But what a bitter old fan says online may be totally irrelevant. Only Lego knows what sells and what not, and this licensed model kit strategy may work for them. But what that would mean is that Lego has all but lost its own branding power, and has been reduced to licensed merchandise manufacturer in order to make a sale.

This is amazing, and I am particularly impressed by the way you implemented the rear taillights. It's hands down the best Daytona alt build so far. You should definitely release instructions for it, it would be a waste for the community to not be able to replicate this!