Meisseli

Just a guess, but could it be that those people complaining about opposite things are actually different individuals? On topic, I must say that front looks good to me but as many others, I'm very keen to seeing what kind of mechanics are inside this good looking shell.

What about these? Although they are not technic parts, but maybe still usable...? http://brickset.com/parts/6146792 http://brickset.com/parts/6043639

I'm wondering if there is an error in the description of "Silver Champion", or am I just understanding it wrong? "The setup on this model is an almost perfect representation of a real Formula 1 pushrod suspension except for the steering link. The steering is rotated such that the airfoil is broadside to the airstream which would be aerodynamically terrible. By looking at pictures, it seems to me that steering links are quite aerodynamically aligned. But the suspension links to pushrods look quite terrible, both front AND rear. Nevertheless, thank you very much for this update, I really enjoyed reading about these gems from my dark ages. I was already seeking for Silver champion to add to my collection but after reading about it I want it even more!

I'm sorry, is "space and time" somehow wrong, I myself know nothing about Dr Who? I bought this set as a gift to my wife and she also took the picture. I will tell her the compliments.

Doctor and Clara flying through space and time:

you can clearly see center switch turned to other direction to allow driving. This also makes sense when you look at stickers and how from center stick there's a connecting line to other two switches.

From those stickers, it looks like center switch is only to select slewing or driving and then those two other sticks on sides change direction of these functions. Where's the switch for digging? Or could it be that digger and conveyors are always active when center stick is on slewing mode? EDIT: Just watched the video and yes, turning center stick to slewing mode activated digger. So no slewing without digging and no digging when driving.

With small 1x1 parts, I always try to get them perfectly straight. My eyes bleed when looking at something like these seats for example (sorry Jim...): https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/14574549815_5714064e10_k.jpg Not much of a concern with pure technic, but many model team style creations can be put together looking quite ugly, if no attention is paid for these things.

Obviously someone thought the original 5580 Highway Rig had boring color scheme.

Bucket wheel excavator is something like this: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1010/trencher2_smd.jpg So they are not similar machines. But I still doubt that list to be accurate. Take a look at the Volvo: http://d20tdhwx2i89n1.cloudfront.net/image/upload/t_next_gen_article_large_940/jpocb6vdf0claajporxu.jpg It has quite complex boom structure. And if Lego makes a licenced set, they should be having all the main functions from the original machine. So I think that making a licenced Volvo EW160E should produce no less than a 2H flagship model.

Actually, there is a real life version of Arocs that has three bars on the front: http://media.daimler.com/Projects/c2c/channel/images/974830_1883086_400_267_13C433_024.jpg Although I do not know if this cabin version is actually possible in real life Arocs 3245, but at least in some models it exists. Thank you Jim for your excellent review!

Regarding 8459 loader, you wrote in differentials section that "A real loader is likely to have hydraulic rotary motors at each wheel and therefore this kind of mechanical drive system would be unnecessary." I must disagree with that, every articulated loader I have driven or seen, has mechanical drivetrain. Especially front axle differential casing is usually very easily seen when bucket is lifted up (for example: http://www.toreuse.c...2012/02/lo3.jpg). Very very small loaders and skid steer loaders are different though, but I think that the 8459 represents a loader so big, that it's real-life version would definitely use same kind of drivetrain. But this is very small detail, otherwise I thank you very much for this great update (and all the others in past and yet to come).

Very nice car in every aspect! But especially the engine bay looks stunning, and I just love that turbocharger! Very clever use of pneumatic hose.

Han's Stone Trailer Truck used similar trailer steering setup. Nevertheless, it's a very clever solution!

I would guess that it's 8-bit ISA slot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Standard_Architecture

Thanks for the advice, I started building this morning and have already seen that the wiring is indeed tricky to keep away from all those gears. I was also sure at some point that I had forgot to put a gear somewhere, because one long axle routing ended to nowhere, just couple half bushes in the end. But those half bushes were there for a rubber band, of course. I had simply forgot all about using rubber bands! Such a nostalgic trip this build. Also something new for me, I just finished mounting the engine block and this is my first ever set to include fiber optics. Those cables were tricky ones to route correctly! Like allanp said, this build really needs attention to get everything right. Love it!

My dark ages with lego started before this set came out. I did get 8880 supercar as a christmas present, but that was last of the flagships for me in a looooong time. So i missed 8480, and later I have been regretting that. I do remember seeing it in Lego catalogues but for some reason it did not raise my interest. Now I am a happy builder, because my copy of set finally arrived today. Found it from bricklink without a box, but with manual and all parts in excellent shape (white is white, not yellow), every electric part working, fiber optic cables in unopened bag, and even a mint condition sticker sheet. Had to pay 130 euros for it, but at this point I do think it's a set worth every cent! I have just finished going through the parts and made sure that they are all there (yes they are, even the extra parts). Next task, to build it...

This is very much appreciated! With these instructions (even first version) I finally got myself to build this beauty. There were some minor errors of which you already know, but nothing serious. Actually it was more fun to build with instructions that forced to think every now and then. As opposite to current TLG instructions which are way too simplified to my taste. Thank you afol1969 for your hard work, and of course Jurgen for making this beast and sharing it with us!

Thank you all for your kind words. Yes, I did forget to mention that after my last "history post" I have bought many other studless sets. 8110, 8043, 8258, 8265, 8070, 8448 and many other smaller sets are still sitting on my self, waiting to donate their parts. Not to mention the older studded sets, which of course contain lots of useful parts also. For this first attempt I only tore down three sets: 8052, 8071 and 9398. Wheels of course came from sets I have from time before my dark ages. Had to have at least something old and familiar to work with!

So, after almost 20 years, I've managed to do something of my own again. I won't go back to those years, if anyone is interested in my "Lego history", feel free to read this: http://www.eurobrick...0 Since I came back from my dark ages, I've been trying to learn this new studless building. I tried some MOC building, but it did not work out. I tried to build too big and too complicated things, which only led to frustration instead of MOCs. But few days ago I decided to give it yet another try. I started taking apart couple of my sets to achieve some parts and then set on building, with the simple goal to make something, ANYTHING at all, just to get started. And behold, this came out! I do not know what it is, somekind of truck it seems, but it definitely is NOT based on any real machine. It features RC steering (servo) and drive (XL). And that's it. It does not have suspension and no cabin interior. I started building by taking a differential and putting it on to frame. Slowly with trial and error I managed to make a rear axle, with rear part of chassis and XL motor for drive. At that point I made some tests and was very happy to see that everything held together even at motor's max torque (fresh batteries too). Then I left rear part and got to working with front axle. Steering, servo motor and there they were, two halves of a vehicle! Connected them together and I had an RC vehicle to play with. At that point it was looking like this: Rest from there was probably the hardest part to complete. But overall I am happy with the results. My truck is not falling apart when I grab it. No gears are slipping despite the mighty XL motor. Battery box is held tightly, yet it's very very easy to remove. Studless building feels still very odd (of course it does, it's based on odd lengths and I'm a child of even lengths building generation). Only way for me to see if something holds together is to build it, then put some force in it and see where it bends and which way, then put some reinforcement there. Couple more pictures if you are interested. They are not of very good quality, bad lighting and only phone to take them. https://lh3.googleus...0905_191926.jpg https://lh3.googleus...0905_191935.jpg https://lh6.googleus...0905_192052.jpg https://lh6.googleus...0905_192157.jpg

That was probably my bad, my original link broke the website. I've changed it now to http://www.brickfactory.info/set/index.html which should work.

I'm confused, I still see the instructions there (http://www.brickfactory.info/set/index.html), right after 8457 Power Puller, there is also 8457 Power Puller (extra model) which seems to be some kind of dragster. Or are you referring to some other model?

This sounds very nice, but unfortunately no one can see those photos, since your link points simply to your photos at google account. So when I open it, I see my own G+ photos... And I think that the same thing is happening with Brickself link too.

I just got my 8288 and have only built the main model so far, but it seems that besides B-model is only a variation of main model, it's actually better! It's bigger and better looking, has just as many functions as main model and uses all parts to actual crane. In main model, there is this totally useless cargo, made of parts that B-model uses for it's boom construction.

Maybe this one?