Blakbird

You are thinking of the pins, not the pin connectors. The pin connectors are the smooth cylinders which used to be continuous but now have a slot on one side. I assume you mean less of a choking hazard because now you don't need to use you teeth to remove them!

I have not built the B model yet. I'll be building the B model of 8258 first.

No fighting kids, there are enough positions for everybody in Blakbird's Technic Museum of Justice. (Please note that this is a non-paying job). If anybody actually shows up at my house, I am going to laugh and laugh. And then put them to work.

Yes, I like to keep them well organized. Some of it is just for fun, but as I write Technicopedia I also need to be able to find and access everything quickly so I can write about models and make comparisons. Yes, there is certainly a dust problem. Most house dust comes from dead skin shed by humans, so the first thing I do is simply keep the door shut and keep the heater vent closed. This minimizes the dust ingress. Sadly, I am allergic to house dust so there is not a lot I can do once they get dusty. Sometimes I use make-up application brushes along with some furniture polish to prevent the dust from getting airborne. Yes, I also built the remote. I displayed and demonstrated the whole thing at Brickfest this year. It uses over 50 feet of pneumatic tubing!! I keep meaning to post more photos of the completed model at Brickshelf. Busy, busy, busy. I hadn't yet built Nico's loader at the time, but it is on my shelf now. Maybe I need to take some new pictures. Hardly any! You are hired! Report to work at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. I've always thought a real museum of LEGO history would be wonderful. I'd certainly love to display my collection and share it. My ultimate dream would be to have 3 of each set: MISB, unopened, showing box and packaging details Built on display Alternate model built on display I guess I'll keep dreaming. Yes, I've built a few of the very best MOCs, including yours. On my shelves, you should be able to make out your Annihilator, the huge Tow Truck and Monster Truck from Grazi, Barman's big working V-8, Han's Prinoth Leitwolf snow groomer, a pair of Brian Cooper's Teknomeka, and Jennifer Clark's JCB JS220 excavator. I've since also build Nico71's R/C wheel loader. I'm working on an LDraw file for Jennifer Clark's Baldwin mobile crane at the moment. Don't know whether or not I will try to build it. It would be interesting to convert it to use the new linear actuators instead of her custom lead screw. I'd also like to do one of RoscoPC's F-1 cars. There are lots of things on the list. Dark gray is pretty easy to tell the difference, but it can be tricky with the small light gray parts. It is not a big problem for me because I keep all of my models separate so the colors really don't get mixed. I mix them in my spare parts bins, but when I need to dig out a replacement part I always check for the right gray color. I'm also picky about detail like using the old style non-slotted friction pins on old models.

Yes, it is in work. I have all of the pictures and animations complete, I just have to write the text. As you can imagine, it has been a lot of work trying to do justice to 8880. I keep getting distracted with "improvements" to the sections already written. First I went back and improved the compression quality of all the images. Then I added rendered images to many models. Then I added revolving animations wherever I could. Most recently, I have been working on the LDraw model repository as discussed in this thread. This involves not only collecting and collating many MPD files, but also editing all of them to try to make them as "common" in layout as possible and making sure the most current parts are used. It is taking a lot of time but I find it rewarding. And then, of course, there's summer fun distracting me! Soon, I promise.

The yellow brick on the top is to attach the pole reverser when motorizing. The black one on the side is to attach the diode block of the LED lights when motorizing. It was nice of TLG to think ahead and provision these details to add Power Functions! I have done so to mine and it makes it much more enjoyable to use.

No, the bins are not from IKEA. IKEA does not have any small enough to really work for small numbers of LEGO. I got the bins at a store named "Storables". They are made by a company called "Art Bins". Very good quality.

It does have a lot of pieces, but they kind of cheated by putting two sets in one box: the tractor and the trailer. The tractor does indeed look identical to 8284 except for the color. The trailer has a linear actuator as well as the new panels in a new color. The "alternate model" is really just a different trailer; the tractor is unchanged. Again, this seems cheesy. Here is my guess. Toys 'R Us wanted an exclusive set. TLG didn't want to put too much work into it, and maybe they even had some extra inventory of the old parts (like the differential) laying around. So they designed a new trailer and said "good enough". Keep in mind that the 8284 tractor was never marketed as a tractor in the USA (it was that lame dune buggy instead). This means that, in a sense, this is the first time this tractor has been released in the USA. When I do my review, I'll be doing it independent of the fact that the tractor is a copy. I'll let the merits of the model stand on their own. By the way, there is nothing on the box to indicate that it is a TRU exclusive, so it may not be. That's just the only place I have heard it reported being seen.

I'm not a typical AFOL in that, for the most part, I don't have any loose parts. My hundreds of thousands of parts are built into the sets which they constitute, all of which are on display. But there ARE still a pile of extra parts. I use them to replace parts which are missing, and I use them to build MOCs. Mostly, I don't really design my own MOCs, I rather attempt to duplicate some of the best which I find on the web. I decided my spare parts badly needed organizing, so I did this! More detail: Here are gears and axles. Next come pins and connectors. Beams and liftarms. Half thickness liftarms, suspension and steering parts. Technic bricks. Panels, pneumatics, engine parts, chain links, and turntables. And finally, the old standby Technic storage case for miscellaneous items. You'll notice there are virtually no standard plates, bricks, or regular System parts. I like it that way! If you are wondering what all the parts which are assembled look like, that would be this (after quite a few trips to IKEA). These photos of the room are several months old so some of the newest sets are not pictured.

Who am I to turn down a fellow AFOL? I just picked it up. I'll build it and write a review in the next few days. I also picked up a second copy of 8258 so I can build the alternate model and write about that.

Maybe it is a TRU exclusive? That would help explain it's lack of originality and how little we've heard about it. I guess I'll have to drive over there are take a look!

These are LDraw parts. The assembly was done in MLCAD. The graphic file was generated by LDView. If you've not used these before, you have a lot of reading ahead of you! Once you have the digital file, it is possible to rotate these illustrations in 3D space to help figure out how all the mechanisms work.

There are plenty of pictures of the transmission here. Here is an example: I'd also recommend checking out the LDraw file of the model if you want to see the internals.

By popular demand, I am posting a few pictures from my build of 8258. I didn't really do a review so the photos aren't "polished", but you get the idea. Here are many shots of the multitude of parts: Here are a couple of shots of the completed model along with a few other large sets for scale (all use the same wheels and tires): This set is practically perfect, but I still made a couple of minor "improvements". Firstly, as pointed out by another poster, a couple of long pins interfere slightly with the vertical u-joint. I replaced them with 3/4 pins as shown and eliminated the problem. I can understand why TLG did this though, because the build sequence is much more complex with 3/4 pins. Parts have to be put on in an order that makes it somewhat difficult to assemble, while the long pins were easy. Before: After: The second change is a bit more subtle. The fenders over the front wheels are cantilevered out a long way with no support at the front end. This makes them quite wobbly. As you can see in the first picture, there is a nice top of a long red pin with bushing just sitting there with nothing to do, so I used it. The second picture shows the bracket I made. It is shaped like it is to prevent interference with the cab when it closes. The final picture shows the change in place. Before: Bracket: After:

Well, since you asked so nicely.... Look over in the 8258 thread in a few minutes.

You're welcome! 8459 has a smaller turning radius because the articulation angle is greater. I finished building 8258 last night! As I said elsewhere, I am deferring a review since Starstreak is already working on one.

Hello all. In my ongoing quest to complete and improve Technicopedia, I have started compiling a repository of LDRAW files of Technic models for sharing. You can see a sample below. Each model will contain a picture, a link to the MPD file, a link to a parts list showing the required parts, a credit to the original author of the file, and finally a list of anything which may still need to be added to "complete" the file. The parts lists will be generated in LDView and will look like the sample below. As I go along, I will be looking for people to make the small corrections needed to some models, or to submit those which are missing to share with others. Let me know what you think!

I finally figured out what you mean!! Basically, it is impossible to have both steering racks centered at the same time. An axle has 90 degree symmetry (4 points). Since 20 teeth and 12 teeth are divisible by 4, these two gears also have 90 degree symmetry. This means that there is a gear tooth lined up with each point of the axle. If you center both steering racks and try to mesh the gear trains with a 20 and a 12 tooth gear, the gear teeth will line up and therefore interfere. One or the other gear train must be rotated half a tooth to get them to mesh, resulting in either the fwd or rear steering rack being off center. It's only half a tooth and hardly noticeable, but if we can't pick on tiny technical details then why bother messing with Technic? (In the picture, note that the tan and green gear teeth interfere because they are aligned) In this case, 1/2 tooth would be 15 degrees of rotation on the drive axle. A 1x4 rack gear has 10 teeth, so this implies that a single gear tooth is approximately 0.4 studs in length. 1/2 tooth is therefore 0.2 studs. On this set, this part is used as a steering arm and has a length of 2 studs between pins. Using some trigonometry, moving the steering rack 0.2 studs will result in a steering angle of ~5.74 degrees. Therefore the rear axle steering is off center by 5.74 degrees when the forward axle is straight. Does that make perfect sense? Of course, all of this assumes that LEGO parts are a perfect fit (zero clearance) which they are not. Therefore in actuality you can get them to line up pretty closely. Or you can just twist an axle 15 degrees!

I'm almost done building this set. I was going to post a review here, but I see in the "Reviewer's Academy" that Starstreak is already working on one, so I guess I'll let him finish it. I may throw in a few thoughts of my own though.

Motor integration is very similar to the 8294 excavator. The battery box fits under the engine and it nearly totally hidden. The motor fits above the engine and is hidden by the hood (bonnet). The only thing you see it the pole reverser on the top, again similar to 8294. Strictly speaking, you wouldn't have to use the pole reverser since you could just use the switch on the battery box. The motorization also uses the LED lights. I'll post a picture after I try it.

8459 is smoother and turns more sharply. Yes, it comes with stickers. I just haven't put them on yet. The amount of cranking is about the same as the telescopic handler. You'll get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome if you use it for more than 5 minutes.

The steering is pretty tight. It's not full of backlash like the telescopic handler. If turned all the way to the right, sometimes it can get jammed due to the mechanism being near on-center.

Sorry for the delay folks, but I'm back from my vacation and it's about time I did this review. I've had the 8265 built for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say that it is a delight to build, to look at, and to operate. This set is very well done indeed and compares easily with the best Technic loaders ever made. Now on to the details! One thing to keep in mind here is that this set has over 1,000 parts. Not too long ago, only a few of the very largest flagship sets could say this. Now we get a 1,000 piece set which is not even the year's flagship but which, in my opinion, clearly could have been. For reference, it has almost twice as many parts as the venerable 8459 loader. Vital Statistics Set 8265 1061 Pieces 34.5 ounces, 982 grams Build time was about 3 hours (including taking all the pictures) The Box The box is very large. Pictures of the front and back can be seen below. This is one of the boxes in which you need to cut the rear corners to get it open. Unlike many of these boxes, everything inside was in good shape with no squashing of the instructions. In fact, they look like they came right off of the presses. You can see that the B model is a log loader which looks very good as well, but I have not yet built it. The Instructions The instructions come in three large booklets. They have 55, 61, and 61 pages respectively. There are a total of 122 major steps, as well as another 12 steps which can be used to add a motor and lights to the model (which I highly recommend). The instructions are quite clear, as usual, although I find that the splits between the booklets are rather arbitrary and slightly annoying. Like all the newer sets, these instructions come with a parts list at the end. Inside the Box There are 10 bags inside the box as well as a few loose pieces which I'll discuss a bit later. New and/or Noteworthy Parts Those interested in the new parts will be very interested in this set as it contains a very good selection of them. The most obvious new parts are these box beams. In keeping with the new tradition of using odd numbered lengths and widths for studless beams, this part is 5x7. There are axle holes in all 3 directions: 8 total on the face, 6 total on the sides, and 6 total on the ends. This vast array of connections make the part very versatile and usable in many situations. This large framed beam is very stiff in bending so I can imagine it becoming the foundation of many new large models. There are 3 of these parts in the set (TLG #64179) in light bley. There is 1 of the larger panels in yellow (TLG #62531) as previously described in my hauler review. There are also a pair of highly stylized fairings in dark bley. These have appeared before in other themes, but never in Technic. Here you can see 11 of the 3x3 T-beams in dark blay as described in my hauler review. These were loose in the box, and the parts list only calls for 8 of them. There were 8 of them in light bley in the bags. I can only assume that there was a late change to the color after the bags were packed, so they threw a handful of the right color in the box. This means you get a bunch of bonus samples of this rare part! There are 8 brand new 3x2 parts which I will call Axle Joiner, Perpendicular. They look like the old 1x2 axle joiner, perpendicular except with an extra stud appended on either side. I can imagine these being quite useful. You also get 3 linear actuators along with their attachment brackets. What about gears? Well, you are in for a treat as you can see in the picture. Of particular note are the 2 new style differentials, 6 clutch gears, and 9 of the 20 tooth double bevel gears. Here you see 4 of the large 81.6x36 tires and the big 18x10 bucket which has only appeared twice before in the 8459 and 8455 sets. Finally, there are these two mystery parts which seem to be bricked shaped and have studs on top. I've never seen such a thing. The Build This was a rather complex build loaded with technical functions, as you'll soon see. The finished model is huge and lovely. Though not entirely modular, much of the construction uses smaller sub-module which are integrated throughout the build. First we can see the base of the frame incorporating the 4 wheel drive with 2 differentials and an articulation axis at the middle. The core of the frame is the box beams. There is no center diff. These next two images show the front and back view of the lift assembly. This is the front of the loader and contains the gears to both raise and dump the bucket via the linear actuators. You can see the clutch gear which allows the functions to be concentric. Here is the nearly completed front lift assembly. The two U-joints you see allow the functions of both sets of linear actuators to be controlled from the rear of the vehicle. Here are the lift actuators and their gearing which passes through u-joints to allow their input angle to change. This shows the guts of the transmission which uses a driving ring to switch between functions. This allows the rear input to control either the bucket lift or the bucket tilt. Notice all the clutch gears and the significant complexity of the structural geometry. Here a significant portion of the aft structure has been built. The yellow link you see in the foreground is used to control the steering of the articulation. Previous loaders have used gears and turntables, but this is a mechanical linkage instead. Here's the rear mounted V-6 engine which is driven from the rear differential. As you can see, the engine is cantilevered completely behind the rear axle so it acts as a counterweight. The gears you see in front of it are actually part of the drive system for the transmission (linear actuator control). Now the back end is more complete with the rear radiator and fenders. The axle you see passing all the way to the back is the input for the linear actuators. The black double bevel gear is used to drive them. As you might expect, this is quite tedious. However, this axle can be replaced by a motor making everything much easier. Behold the complexity! If you like gears, mechanisms, and everything else which is generally Technicy, then you will adore this set. The technical details are very well done indeed. Note the three u-joints running across the articulation axis. The Verdict Now we can take a look at the completed model from a few angles. One of the things you will notice immediately is how good it looks. There are plenty of cheese slopes, lights, railings, and other greeble. This is great for a Technic model since this really brings out the best of both worlds (function and aesthetics). In fact, I'd say you'd be hard pressed to find an official Technic model which looks much better. Look at the railings, the radiator, the fenders, the mirrors, and the engine cover. The engine cover opens up and exposes the engine. The overhead Hand of God gears controls the steering. The rear gear controls the linear actuators. The red lever on the left shifts between functions. The engine is driven by any of the 4 wheels. I would personally rate this set right up there with the best Technic sets ever made, especially among the construction vehicles. I would highly recommend it to any collector or enthusiast. It looks great and works great and I even think the price is reasonable for what you get. I know it's hard to believe, but I think this set is equal or superior to 8459. Price: 8/10 Functions: 9/10 (for the size of the model) Appearance: 10/10 Parts: 9/10 (lots of good stuff here) Total: 9/10 I'd consider this set a "must-have" for any serious Technic fan. Scale In case you are trying to get a feel for how big this is, I've included a couple of comparison pictures. First we see it next to a pair of other loaders. On the right is 8459, and on the right is Nico71's motorized wheel loader. For reference, all 3 use the same bucket. Next is a comparison with the 8275 bulldozer. This loader is really big! Wrap Up While building this model, I listened to a random medley of 80's heavy metal. I think the mood was really set by Helix and Megadeth. Rock on AFOLs, rock on.

On vacation, but almost done. I'll be back in a few days. I'm relaxing in a hammock in Wisconsin at the moment while typing this.

Then the word REVIEW would have preceeded the title!