Blakbird

One switch for each cylinder. One lifts the main boom, one lifts the jib. By the way, also notice the price: $60 USD. This is very reasonable for a pneumatic set. In fact, only a year or two ago you would have had to pay almost this much to LEGO Education just to get the pneumatic parts. I predict a whole lot of these will be purchased and parted out on Bricklink. I'll certainly be getting a few myself.

Fantastic!! If you zoom in, you will see that these are very high resolution photos, but they have used the zoom function to prevent you from actually saving the high res photos. Regarding the buggy, note that it claims to have 4 wheel independent suspension. If it actually does, that will be a first for a buggy. They usually have a live axle in the rear. Even more important, look what it says about the pneumatic trailer: Add compressor function by purchasing 8293 Power Functions Motor Set Woohoo! In order for this to be true, they must be planning on selling some compressor cylinder. Either that, or they will actually drive the large spring loaded pump with a motor. Edit: OK, I couldn't take it any more. I took one of the zoomed pictures of the log loader and manually stitched it back together using about 15 different zooms from screen captures. It's possible to zoom even closer, but then it would have taken 100 individual images and I don't have that much time. Looks great though!!

That's up to you of course, but in my opinion LEGO exists to be built. The greater crime is letting such a treasure sit there and never getting to enjoy it. Now if you have two of them, then you can let one stay in the box! If you don't want to build it, then you should probably just send it to me.

I'd also like to see many of these things, but we have to accept that we are not the target market. These are made for kids, so a prime requirement is kids actually recognize the subject. This would probably not be the case with the scraper or perhaps even the grader. I like the front shovel idea though!

A couple of comments/questions: I love the way you hid and integrated the PF I/R receivers. Why did you use an XL motor to raise the bucket? Did you really need this much power or was it simply because you had that motor available? The yellow hubs seen in the tires don't seem to be the real wheels supporting the loader. What wheels are hidden behind them? How did you accomplish this? The side window appears to be curved. Did you use a sticker for this? Your photographs are really good. Was your background really this white or you did accomplish this in post processing?

I happened to see this model on Brickshelf yesterday and couldn't be more happy that you are posting it. It is absolutely gorgeous and in my opinion represents one of the very best examples of combining Model Team and Technic. I especially like the fact that you can see the differential casing and that you use central yellow wheels to represent the original. The way the cabin is reproduced is just perfect. All the details are there and it is certainly recognizable as a scale model of the L 580. Thanks so much for sharing. I would love to build a copy of this for myself and include it in my MOC collection with a few of my other favorites. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=403473

I've had some requests for a look at the way I modified the pole reverser position on my 8265, so here you go. I didn't make a big change, but moving it down and forward does a lot to help hide it and make it less conspicuous. Since there are no studs to attach it to here, the second picture shows how I used an axle through the center of the switch to retain it. It works well though you can no longer open the rear hatch with it configured this way.

This is a much better picture! It confirms that the set uses the old trad links rather than the rubber tread like 8419. It looks about the same size as 8419, so I wouldn't necessarily call it "mini". Rather, I would say the actual SUBJECT is a mini excavator. It is obviously a model of a small excavator that you could fit on the back of a truck with zero tail swing like the Kubota U17. Like 8419, the movement of the bucket is linked to the movement of the dipper; they are not independent. I see a turntable, but it does not look driven. I'm glad to see the links they are using for the bucket again! They are unusual. Also looks like there is a "blade" on the front of the carrier.

Small models are almost never inspiring, but they can still be a good introduction to the Technic building system for those who are not yet familiar with it. The helicopter does indeed look pretty bland but, like 8277, it is a big model (and hollow) for what it probably costs and for its part count.

That excavator is not that "mini". The dipper is 11 studs long which makes it the same size as 8419. In fact, it seems similar in most other respects too.

Those are Technic motorcycle wheels which first came in 8838. They have only existed in white in Technic models, but the Star Wars UCS Blockade Runner had 11 of them in dark red used on the back of the engines. That's the only place to get them, and that set is rare and expensive.

My family name is actually German, but mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut. My Dutch is even worse. I am interested to hear what comes of your solution and the TLG meeting though. How did you go about getting in touch with them?

I'm interested in this problem because mine has been assembled and used for weeks and I've had no issues whatsoever. It appears that you are referring to the use of the linear actuator bracket as a gearbox housing. In this arrangement, a 12 tooth double bevel gear mates with a perpendicular 12 tooth bevel gear. Presumably you are experiencing some problem due to the fact that the bevel gear is free to float on the axle and could theoretically jam. You seem to have added some spacers to prevent axial motion of this gear. What I wonder is, why do some have problems and some do not? Perhaps it is related to how tightly the gear fits on the axle and therefore how likely it is to migrate. Maybe you already said these same things in your document, but I can't read Dutch! Original: JunkstyleGio fix: With this gearbox arrangement, if you were to put the yellow bevel gear on the wrong side, it would make the gray axle rotate backwards. This would result in jamming of the mechanism and possible destruction of the gear. I don't know if this is what actually happened in the cases posted here, but if so the fix had nothing to do with the addition of the bushings and was merely related to installing the gear in the right direction when it was put back together.

The regularity with which these photos are disappearing suggests that something nefarious is going on. Quite a number of us have copies in our browser cache, and I would be happy to host them on my own site except that I suspect that would result in trouble. If they are "copyright" or otherwise secret, I wish someone would simply come out and say that to avoid any further issues.

The red color would make sense if it is a MOC since some of those parts only exist in red from 8258. If it was a TLG prototype, they would have other colors available. On the other hand, we know that TLG has an active license with Lamborghini. I would not put it past TLG to allow an intentional leak just to see what kind of buzz it would get. Deleting it a day later only fuels the fire. Some of those photo angles are a bit artistic compared to box art. I wonder if it is a coincidence that they are somewhat similar to these? I like the all wheel drive, but I did not see a gearbox and I didn't see suspension. To me this makes it more in the Racer class like the Enzo than in the Supercar class. Time will tell.

I used Super glue (cyano-acrylate) and accelerator. It worked but it is not very strong. You have to make sure there is no bead of glue on the outside or it will prevent movement through the sleeve. A better choice would be any type of model glue with Toluene in it. This actually "melts" the plastic and will form a chemical bond between the two halves. If you try it, let me know how it works!

Sorry for the delay in replies to all of these posts. I was out of town for the weekend. Good suggestion! I'd like to include a reference to this, but I'd also like to stick with my policy of not using any copyrighted Lego material. Does anyone have a personal photo of this from Brickworld or something that I could use? I think almost certainly they did have this use in mind. In fact, I mentioned it in my explanation of 1993. This would not surprise me given that some of the Super Car parts such as the wheels and tires also came out in 1993. I think it just took them a little longer to finish up the instructions and packaging for 8880 so they waited another year. Just speculation though! I thought about this. However, I own two copies and both have the white version with the pin holes so I have never actually seen the other versions. One more bit of errata for my enhancement list! Good idea. It is an excellent case in its own right. I actually didn't get my case with 8062, I got it as a separate item from LEGO Service. Yes, both of my copies had rather severe yellowing. However, I tried the "retro-brite" formula on them and it cleaned them up as good as new. I was very happy with it. I'd also like to add a big "Thank You" to everyone for the positive comments. As you know, there is no money in this project for me, but the enjoyment and utility that AFOLs get from it keeps me going. I'll try to keep the updates coming as long as people seem to want them!

It is possible that you simply built the model with too much friction. Check that all the axle holes are lined up, the gears are not clamped too tight, and that all the axles can turn freely. If there is too much drag, it will cause the clutch to slip. This will be most evident when lifting since it requires more torque.

I have both and while it is true that they are made of a different type of plastic, I have had no structural problems with either. LPE Power even uses some clear ones for their pneumatic engines.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. I've posted the 1994 update to Technicopedia. I processed over 1000 pictures for the 8880 page alone. Enjoy. Includes 1994 with sets 8032, 8062, 8808, 8812, 8816, 8829, 8858, and 8880. Adds pictures of new sets from 2009 and updates their respective categories. Makes updates to pictures and renders of many older sets. Adds set number for a large number of "other" Technic themes including Competition, Star Wars, and others. Add notation for sets which were released multiple times.

If you have a wife who likes Lego, you should do nothing but lavish her with the praise she so richly deserves.

There are indeed a bunch of Super Car stickers (which I've used) but, so far as I can tell, the front badge is not among them. Do you have a part number?

I just noticed the same thing. Sigh. Now I have no choice but to fix my renders..... While we're looking, what about the Technic badge on the front of the hood? I've never found that one. OK, you shamed me into it. I fixed it: Brickshelf Render

I only see the instructions for the B model. Where are the primary instructions?

I think if I had stuck to my original concept and didn't keep adding "new features", I would have been done by now. But I don't regret any of the new stuff, I think it has gotten better with each update. I hope others agree that the new features like revolving animations and renders have added something to the overall appeal. Keen eyed observers will notice a number of other updates to the overall site in the newest revision as well. I've thought about it, but I think it would be difficult to keep it consistent. I have had help though. A few people have been donating Ldraw models which has really saved me a lot of time. But still much to do. Need to add the next 15 years. I'm expanding the scope to add the Competition, Star Wars, and other sets that I was originally leaving out. I'm trying to collect Ldraw models for every set or make them myself. I'm trying to render every set. I want to add all the alternate models. I want to add the supplemental sets. I want to add the Idea Books. I top of this is the fact that I don't actually HAVE any of the Competition, Slizer, or similar sets so getting the time and money to collect them at the same time is slowing me down. I'll keep working though!