Technic Gearhead

Progress! I like what you have so far - looking forward to seeing it when you're finished.

It looks like a safeguard against installing the original part backwards and locking up the drive train, which is impossible to do with the alternate part. I'm living dangerously with the one on the box art, albeit properly installed.

It looks like you're off to a good start! It would be nice to see it fully integrated with minimal impact to the original model. That's what I was going for with my modernized 8421 PF. My boom is still pneumatic for the sake of originality. I just display it in the down position for the same reasons mentioned here.

How about getting the 8455 and build the B model first to throw off the wife (as long as she doesn't see the box!). Then, later you can build the Backhoe and tell her it's the 'B' model!

Very nice review. I love this set! I own one MISB of the black box version, and another I put together with more modern Technic parts. I made it more yellow like the color scheme of the 8069.

That's a nice pile of 9398 the car is jumping over!

Excellent review - thanks for posting! I saw that set along with the 42002 on the TRU website that same day and was tempted to get one. Good catch on the gears. The pull back motor looks slightly different than the ones I have from the 8473.

Yep! Looks nice too, and an elegant solution for displaying the model with the boom fixed as well.

Congrats! That's great news for all involved in Lego Technic as well.

Incredible model! I love all of the details and the realistic color scheme. Love the Pro-link suspension as well. They used to mount the upper end of the shock to the frame back in my motocross days. It's interesting how it's now mounted to the swingarm. I remember emulating all of the dirt bike single shock systems with Lego back in the early 80s with whatever springs I could find. Suzuki's 'Full-Floater' system seemed to translate really well. Amazing job you have done - congrats!

You could always just build a red one. Oh wait... And monster thread bump!

I'm looking forward to this one!

Very nice model - beautiful from every angle!

Very nice model - great job! I also like the 8069 set a lot - one of the best for the money IMO. I love all of the functionality of the model per space and pieces. It is the perfect size and weight for playability also.

I picked up one myself recently for some orange bits for my 9398. Great set for some rare parts! The cars look great in white!

Wow! That's an amazing creation. I love the color scheme and design. The details are a feast for the eyes as well. I love the radiator/'electric' fan, plug wires and nearby coil packs, supercharger/fuel system, brake system and fluid reservoir on the firewall. I love the hemi-heads on the engine also - Boss 429 or Hemi? Very well done - congrats!

I want to see it! Is it similar to the one by Han or did you make your own version? No need to wait on the top part to post pics!

It looks really nice in white. Keep it out of the sun! I'm still holding out for an orange GT3RS. Good luck with that, huh?

If that doesn't work you could always go another route. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=508139

I was wondering where all of the red panels went! :)

I love your changes - very nicely done. The 8070 is a beautiful set and you have been respectful with your upgrades and they work very well as a result. I would like to see a better view of the engine. I like the idea of putting the panels on the engine similar to the LS series Chevy V8 and I think Mercedes AMG does something similar on their V8 engines. Great stuff!

I picked only the ones I have and will rank them in order below. 8455 Backhoe - I love all of the complexity packed into such a compact and attractive model. The pump is clever and what's not to like about pneumatics?! I like that this model is not too big and heavy as well. 8421 Mobile Crane - When I first got back into Technic in 2009 this was the one set I was most excited about and it doesn't disappoint. I added new PF parts in place of the RC motor to bring it up to modern specs. 8275 Bulldozer - This one is a must have for any serious Technic fan, IMO. It's actually pretty fun to play with which doesn't hurt. 8258 Crane Truck - This one is interchangeable with the 8275 in my ranking. I love the complexity of the gearbox and the handsome cab via clever panel placement. 8043 Motorized Excavator - I put this one last simply because I have not yet built it. I could easily see it fitting in at the number 2 or 3 spot at the very least since it is well liked and respected. I plan to buy the 8110 Unimog at some point, along with the 9398 4x4 Crawler but will probably skip the others. I look forward to seeing where they fit into the list.

You should be motivated by your own need to create, not what everyone thinks about it. Not everyone on here can be a 'MOCstar!' I like your mini crawler a lot. The fact that you inspired someone else to build it says a lot for your idea, although building miniature versions of larger models is nothing new. Just keep on building and have fun!

Excellent work with the amount of space available. Surely there are enough pieces at this scale to fix the color scheme but I know you are just matching the original. Well done - might just have to build little brother!

I don't like the old grays at all - they look so dated after getting used to the Bleys. I hope this isn't true.