Blakbird

This does indeed look smaller than the original for some reason, even though I can tell it is not. I'd love to build this. You can never have too many versions of 8868. Has anyone built both and can show them side by side? I may have to at least make an Ldraw file of it and render them side by side. I've already made an Ldraw file of the original. Very well done!

It has come to my attention that some people have not been able to find the new information (alternate models, etc.) for the old 1977 and 1978 sets. This area is accessed by clicking the "More Information" button at the top of the page. I guess this is not very conspicuous so perhaps there is a better way to do it to make sure that people find it. I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks, I've corrected those. Note that I intentionally left 8485 out of the "Tech Play" count since it does not say that anywhere on the packaging on instructions.

Major Update I've just finished posting a major update to Technicopedia which adds 1995 and introduces several new features. Includes 1995 with sets 8210, 8225, 8235, 8280, 8412, 8422, 8440, 8460, and 8485. For the years 1977 and 1978, I've added extensive coverage of all the alternate models, photos of the parts palette, and photos of the build process during construction. I've added a beta version of a new feature called "Technical Fundamentals" which has tutorials on how various basic technical concepts work along with animations and parts lists. I don't have this section linked from anywhere yet because I don't know where to put it. I was pretty burned out when I posted this update, so there are probably lots of typos in the new sections. I'll try to fix whatever is pointed out to me.

Yes, I can read SR3D files. They should be compatible with MLCAD. If you look through the Brickshelf folder, I am basically interested in anything I have not already rendered. My goal is to render every Technic model, and of course I also use those files in the preparation of my Technicopedia.

I was not there, but Paul did in fact attend Brickworld and displayed several models. You can see some photos here.

Actually, there are about 50 just on the first page, but there are 3 more pages if you scroll forward, so there are almost 200 Technic renders. One is running right now! I've never used LDD and don't have time to learn it at the moment, so these will have to wait for another time.

This is insanity of the best variety. To say "I want one" is a profound understatement. Sariel is a talented builder, but his biggest vice is in so blatantly encouraging covetousness in others.

No reason to get flamed for wanting to stick to LEGO. However, I think Paul did stick to LEGO. As a semi-purist, I am really only bothered when someone uses a non-LEGO part in an effort to avoid finding a solution with actual LEGO. Often, there is a way and that's a big part of the creative process. In this case, the wheels are LEGO. He only changed the color. I still consider this pure LEGO, but to each his own.

Yes, I built it. I do not have anything about non-official models on my web site, but there are photos of several of the other models on my Brickshelf page. I may eventually add such things to the site, but only when everything else is done.

Mostly I just made the LDraw file using the photos he posted on Brickshelf. At the end, he helped me out with a couple more photos of areas I couldn't quite make out it the original pictures. With the pictures currently posted, this one would be very difficult to replicate. I could probably manage the chassis, but there are many details of the body that you really can't see to duplicate in the photos. Who knows, I may try anyway!

The upper (yellow) picture is the Murcielago. The lower (black) model is his Gallardo, a different model.

I can't stop smiling after watching this. Great job!

I think the debate of whether or not to credit others for building techniques will rage forever. But using someone else's photographs is a bit more blatant. Even then, as long as they are credited I don't have a big problem with it. In this most recent case, the Brickshelf user was just displaying photographs. He wasn't claiming they were his own or making any claims whatsoever, so I didn't have a big issue. "Stolen" was probably too harsh a term. Other users which have actually used photos on their sites which are served from my site are taking my bandwidth (which I pay for) and that was a bigger problem. Different issue though. I'm more than ready to let this thread die and I'm kind of sorry I even participated. I'm happy to share my photos and my work in general.

You may as well go ahead and try to use it. Unlike Nickel-Cadmium batteries, Lithium-Polymer batteries have no charge memory so there is no issue with fully depleting them when they have not been fully charged. The lack of a full charge indication is puzzling, but of greater importance is whether or not there is something wrong with the cells preventing you from getting full capacity. I'd use it and make sure it lasts as long as it should. If it doesn't, then return it. Another thing to do would be to put a voltage tester across it. Lithium cells are nominally 3.6V, so the 2 cell LEGO battery should be slightly greater than 7.2V when charged. If it is significantly less, you have a bad cell.

Thank you very much Povratnik. No hard feelings. Based on the pictures, you have a very nice Technic collection and I hope you continue to enjoy it in the future.

First, I didn't start the thread and don't necessarily think this is that big of a deal, it is just irksome to find my work posted somewhere else under someone else's name without me listed. More irritating to me is that the images which are mine did NOT come from Brickshelf, they were taken directly from my Technicopedia site and then posted to Brickshelf under his name. I think it would be perfectly reasonable for this fellow to maintain a wish list on his own computer using these images, but Brickshelf is a way of sharing your images with the world. A more bothersome one I had recently is that someone had a website filled with images from Technicopedia and not only were they not credited or linked to me, he didn't even host them on his own site, he was pulling them all from mine. So each month, about half of my bandwidth was this other guy's site who was using my pictures and my bandwidth without my permission. It was from another country so there was nothing I could do about it. I guess I could have moved the files and broken all of his links, but that would have been a lot of work.

Several of the other photos are stolen from Technicopedia: 8040, 8042, 8044, 8835, 8837, 8849, 8851, 8852.

The tractor is MUCH smaller than the combine, but it should be. So on the one hand they are probably close to the same scale, but on the other hand they don't really look quite right together just because the combine is so much larger.

Yes, I'm still working on it. I've recently completed my move but all of my sets are still disassembled. I have completed re-assembling the sets from 1977 and am actually planning some new content on those older years as I complete the building process. 1995 has been 90% done for several months, and will probably stay that way until I catch up again. I've also been working on several projects of building instructions, one of which is still under way.

A truly stunning MOC in design and function. Kudos to you. This would not look out of place next to Jennifer's JCB JS220 and is a fitting successor.

Not at the moment. My collection is limited to Technic, Expert Builder, and the associated Technic Racers and Star Wars sets. I don't have the Bionicle marketed as Technic or any of the Dacta at the moment. I'd enjoy adding these, but it will have to be later after the rest of the site is finished.

Price is not merely a function of goodness, it is also a function of scarcity and being sought. Supply and demand are at work. For example, the old Expert Builder engines set, 858, is one of the most expensive sets I have ever purchased, yet it is not very large or impressive. This is due to the fact that it was only sold in one country and not very many were sold. Some of the other "best" sets you mention were made in high volume. Not only that, the kids who could actually acquire these "master" sets tended to be the same type of kids who kept them complete and in good condition. Even a kid recognized an 8880 as a treasure and kept it carefully. On the other hand, a much smaller set was more likely to be mixed in with the pile, played with harshly, or lost. Some of these smaller sets therefore cost more. The other component is who is looking for it. A lot of current fans know about 8285 and are looking for it, so that commands a high price (demand). Far fewer people know about 8868 so, even though it is arguably better and clearly much older, it sells for less. No matter how you look at, collecting old sets isn't cheap, but it sure is fun.

I'd call the helicopter the main model only in that it uses all of the pieces and the dinosaur merely uses most of them. The only real solution is to have 2 copies.

There are a lot of good alternate models. I have not built very many of the recent (last ~5 years) alternate models yet, but there are many wonderful models from the older sets. Here are a few highlights: The submarine from set 8480 The F1 car from set 8880 The combine from set 8862 The claw loader from set 8868 The racing truck from set 8457