martin1965

Thanks. Yes, i guess it would be too soon without the parts list... But i was just wondering if buying one or another, what would be the cheapest/best way to in the future build all the Education and Retail models, spending the least amount of money :)

Hi all, I don't post much, much today i decided to ask for some advice from you. I want to buy the new EV3 set. I was already looking to buy the previous incarnation, but the time was not always right, but i finally decided to pull the trigger. But... I don't know if it would be better to buy the EV3 Educational (already available) or Retail (available on 1 September) - either ways, just by the mid September i will buy the set. My background? I love Technic sets, and i do some programming for the web, so my interest in robots/technical lego/programming is very high. :) I'm aware of some of the differences between the 2 sets (differente sensors, packaging, etc.). I know the Retail version would be around 399 Euros, but i can get the Education version + software licence package for about 480 Euros. Based on all your knowledge and previous Mindstorms versions, i have some questions: 1 - if i buy the Retail, and later the Expansion Education set + Ultrasonic Sensor + Gyro Sensor (the specific Education sensors), can i build all the larger Education models (like the elephant, the dog, etc.)? 2 - is the programming software the same on the Retail and Education sets, or the Education one has more capabilities? 3 - I've read that the Education version has more bricks. So, if i buy the Education, and later the IR Sensor + IR Beacon, will i be able to build all the Retail models (the 5 basic ones + the 12 extra)? 4 - Does the Education version, and buying later the IR Sensor + IR Beacon (the specific Retail parts), has everything the Retail version has plus way more options? So i'm a little undecided about what would be best... This will be my first journey into Mindstorms world (with a backgound in Technic sets and programming). What would be your advice? Thanks all!

Now thats an excellent Technic idea! Really really great!

Thanks for the suggestions! It's not that i can't buy the 8455, 8421 or 8285... I was just looking for something different from what i have for the variety. I don't mind whatsoever having two backhoe loaders, for instance, since they are diferent in terms of technical functions and implementation. The problem is to justify the money spent to my wife when two models look "the same" ;) The 8464 is really a nice model. I always loved the 8265, but i think the 8464 would be a better option for a front loader (the pneumatics that i'm looking for vs LA's that i already have). The 8110 would really be my dream set at this time: new, big, lots of parts, lots of functions and the pneumatics. But it's out of my price range... Money is really tight at this time and i can't justify buying such an expensive set. With kids at school, not very well payed job at the moment, money has to be very well managed and spent :(

Having come from the dark ages from a long long time, my interest in Lego Technic is really growing on me Over the last year, I bought the 8053, 8069, 9395 and 9397 sets. And what a pleasure to build Lego again! But, i really miss a pneumatic set... When a child, i used to have the 8040: http://www.brickset....ail/?Set=8040-1 Pretty basic by today standards, but at that time i really loved the pneumatic system. Anyway, today, the only set that has pneumatics is the 8110 Unimog, wich is really out of my price range... So i will buy used. But wich set? It seems like everyone raves about the 8455 and the 8868, both legendary sets. I really love contruction machines, and the 8455 Backhoe Loader looks great and it seems like the king of pneumatics, but i already have a Backhoe Loader (and my wife will surelly say - "what? you already have a model that looks like this one!" ). So, for someone that recently came from the dark ages, and keeping in consideration the sets i already have, what do you recommend for a great pneumtic set, in terms of fun to play/build and complexity? The 8868, 8455, or another? Thanks in advance!

Thank you so much for the reply! There are tyres that i wasn't aware of...

I'm going to buy the 8053 crane but i have one "problem"... I don't really like the all black tyres (those balloons...) and wheels. This is my idea: First of all, i'm gonna change the black wheels by grey ones (like the 8292 Cherry Picker). Now the tyres... I don't have the 8292 Cherry Picker to test, but do you think his tyres would suit the 8053 ( 8292 tyres: http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/44309 ) ? I mean, aren't these too thin, at least when compared to the original 8053 balloons? Will the 8053 still be able to move just fine? What other alternatives do you recommend? The 8421 wheels/tyres are just too big, right? Thanks in advance! :)

Thank you so much for the links! Unfortunately i live in Spain right now and will have to deal with the Language problem of these sites and the shipping costs...

Can you give me some links to online stores in The Netherlands where i can buy one for €60 - €70? I'm really looking forward to buy the 8053 but the prices i've found are rather higher... :(

Hello all! After many years in the Dark Ages, time to go back to LEGO! And after the 8880 i bought (but still didn't harrived), i'm drooling over the 8043 escavator... :) I've read a few thing about the problems on the Linear Actuators. Since the stores near me don't have the 8043 in stock i would probably buy online. The problem is, how to know if i'm ordering a set with the improved LA's? Or there are no set with good LA's and i have to contact LEGO Customer Service? So, my questions are: - are sets with "good" and "bad" LA's? - if there are "good" ones, is there anything on the outside of the box that i can check for a good one? Like a sticker, or check the serial number (for instance, serials above 123456 are set with good LA's) ? - or the LA's are all the same on all 8043 sets and i do have to contact LEGO to send me new ones? Like i said, i will probably online and i want to check with the seller if i'm getting the 8043 with the improved LA's (if this is possible without opening the box...). Thanks again!

Thank you all for the useful replies! So i guess i can build the Formula 1 too... I still didn't received the 8880, but i'm counting the minutes. :)

Hello from France! I'm new here, and after many years without building Lego, i finally pulled the trigger and bought some sets i always loved from ebay, namely the 8865, 8868 and the 8880. :) I bought the 8880 described as complete for a great price. The assembled car is complete, but without any extra/leftover pieces. But now i'm kinda worried if i still can build the second model, the Formula 1 car, with just the pieces used in the main model... For those who have/had the 8880 set, are the parts used for the 8880 (with no leftover pieces) enough to build the second model? Or there are extra leftover parts that are needed for the Formula 1? Thanks in advance, Martin