KEvron

it makes sense that they should come with the flagship sets, but to include them in every set could prove cost-prohibitive for consumers, and the inclusion of PF's in smaller models would seem impractical; where would one put the motor on 9390?! KEvron

you should look at that as a design challenge, and seek a traditional construction method to resolve it. KEvron

really, it was just an intellectual/philisophical exercise. given that, we'll understand if you feel the need to sit this one out. the goal posts were moved. KEvron

what a shame. shouldn't you pose that question in the "flash gordon" forum? KEvron

serendipity! wasn't this moc the topic of a similar discussion at TB's? i didn't get into it too heavily then, but i would probably assert that it is, indeed, technic. so, standard elements have been dropped from the theme recently. the theme has a 35 year history, for pete's sake. KEvron's first-ever Technic set, and his last lego set before the onset of his dark ages and it's not a seperate product; technic is still lego, isn't it? we need a word. i've dropped "technische" before, but my coinage rarely enters the vernacular.... KEvron

again, what about mocs? KEvron

is that you, potter stewart?! KEvron

absolutely. all machines are derived from the Six Simple Machines. KEvron

imagine the market that will grow for 3rd-party apps. i'll do you one better! KEvron

is that anything like a roy scheider compeller? i never get tired of that line! KEvron

no doubt, that technoliogy will soon be quite commonplace. not just within industrial manufacturing, but with hobbyists, as well. i've got a couple of custom elements in mind which 3D printing could accomodate, if i could just get beyond my purist streak.... KEvron

despite their vacillating? and what about mocs? KEvron

sure, up until the moment i hop in there and edit the entry. KEvron

since the discussion has arisen, what constitutes "technic" and what falls short? even lego's own definition has been altered over the years (bionicle, anyone?). as we discuss (should that occur), let's try to keep the gang wars and the pogroms to a minimum, shall we? honestly, technic/model team has got to be the most opinionated forum on EB's! can't spell lego without ego, i guess.... KEvron

KEvron

i'm still kicking myself.... KEvron

heh. i should have looked at your bio. i'd have bet my last nickle that you were northern european. oh, the internets! more heh. i tend to drop a lot of yankee idiom, and i have to wonder how much of it is grasped by our bilingual friends here. KEvron

that would certainly appeal to we devoted, but i don't think a hefty price tag is the answer to capturing a larger audience. i think they need to aim the line, as is, at an older demographic. it won't happen overnight, but once you've firmly planted the notion that adults and lego are sanug, your bottom line is bound to grow fat. KEvron

i blame lego for this. while they enjoy a small but avid adult customer base, they don't try to directly appeal to that base. they need to pursue an ad campaign that sells the product as one for the entire family. yes, they've dabbled in that approach a bit lately, but a more aggressive campaign aimed at an older demographic could payoff quite nicely in the long run. you got 'em when they were young, lego, now hold onto 'em when they're old. KEvron

that's a factor, i'm sure, but there's also a "cultural" aspect to it: we yanks tend to like our memorabilia, and a theme like sw caters to that much more than the technic line would. licensed themes (potc, sw, potter, et al) have cross-over value, whereas technic models tend to bear only their face value. we also like serialization: baseball cards, coins, comic books, beanie babies, etc. "collect 'em all! trade 'em with your friends!" KEvron

yeah, i'd bet dollars to donuts that minifigs are the top sellers among afols. KEvron

i share a similar sentiment. the new models have very clean lines, but the older sets relied more on innovation. the designs were more inherently instructive. KEvron

very cool! reminds me of the skylift (now defunct, i believe) at magic mountain. KEvron

i would think the flagship models would constitute the line's ucs equivalent. KEvron

gear boxes, shmear boxes! when used as a transmission, they're invariably redundant. they're fascinating to observe, but pretty much any model employing a transmission box will proceed from stop in any gear; 1st through 7th, the things move froward, regardless. they're much like a lego "engine block": the model moves it, it doesn't move the model. KEvron