mobi

Just finished built this one. Better than what I expected. A very good set - lots of functions in small space, clever use of cogs with good playability. An excellent set (probably best Technic for 2013 1H IMHO).

Since camera on top of a model is not very aesthetically pleasing anyway, you can remove the entire top body and fix the camera with those parts heavily reinforced in chassis. Then snoop at neighbor's garden

How does new recovery truck compare against 8258? Is it bigger, smaller or same size?

Already bought 42006. Looking forward for 42008 & 42009. Other sets don't interest me.

The 42008 and 42009 look awesome! Once these are released, the price of 8421 & 8285 in used market will fall like stone. Well done TLG. PS: Anyone knows what would be alternate models for 42008-9?

This is a mind map of most well known Technic sets. I have tried to arrange them in such a way you can easily see a visual placement of each sets under each category. A parent set is more complex (superset) of child/ren sets. For example, 8043 has similar function as of 42006 but the former is more complex. Not all Technic sets are included and this is based on my understanding of their complexity. Feel free to modify/update and share. The mind map was drawn using XMind freeware. I have attached the data file as well. Uploaded with ImageShack.us The binary data file is at http://ge.tt/8sX5EpW/v/0?c

I can see a trend here. In earlier days Lego released lots of good sets and then lots of not so good sets. But now Lego is releasing even better sets. Now there will be less repent if someone misses any good set because Lego is likely to bring an even better set later. Let's see if new service truck and crane truck surpass their previous versions

Some of your worst MOCs are far better than my best MOCs. :)

Sorting parts following inventory list is quite painstaking process :(

A major issue for mine, when trying to build MOCs, is keeping track of parts. If I use parts from a set which is easily distinguishable (for example, among all my sets only one has green parts) it is fine but otherwise I tend to lose track of what part came from where. I usually arrange my parts as per official sets because in future I may decide to sell few sets and thus avoid mixing parts into one giant bucket. As a consequence, I can't make complex MOCs because that will invariably require mixing up parts among sets. I understand some of you buy 2 sets of each, one to display and one for MOC but that option I'd quite expensive. Any advise? PS: I looked at similar threads but they tend to focus on overall organisation of all parts i.e. mixing up parts from different sets.

No - I'm just Technic fan.

Good and bad are often subjective. I personally consider a set as "bad" depending on how far it behaves from real world equivalent (except for obvious compromise on toys). A good set is one which follows the mantra "as real as it gets". Using that analogy, 8070 is a bad set because in no car, you use gearbox to open doors I'll go against the tide and would say that most Technic sets are not worth buying. Only some sets worth every penny. Other sets are just toys. Of course, this is my opinion.

I searched for similar threads, while there exist quite a few, they are in General Lego section. I wonder how much you spend on Technic 1. Average spend per year for Technic 2. Total net worth of your Lego Technic (at purchase price - not at market value because high market value of old sets may skew the figure) I start with myself. I twice came out of my dark age. I never spend more than 200 GBP per year *. Total cost of all my Technic is around 1500 GBP (excluding childhood sets which were bought by parents). I usually only buy Technic with occasional purchase of Creator sets. I guess my spend is on lower side as most good MOCers spend far more than this. * = my wife closely scrutinize my Lego purchase and never allows me to go over the limit

It is refreshing to see when people go out of beaten path and come up with MOCs like this

In good old days, there are often good C, D or even E models from same Technic sets. In those days, alternate models were really alternate - not like cosmetic alteration as in more recent sets (eg. 8110, 9398 etc.) The 8043 B model is very good. 9397 B model is again very good. I personally never found 8880 B model interesting (in fact I didn't even bother to build it).

My 8479 sensors don't work anymore. Although the motor and bar code scanner works fine.

Somebody fully automated it

Excellent review! I can't help thinking this classic model now looks somewhat dated when compared against recent sets.

I have voted for your model. However, if you want to win in this competition, you need to actively engage people via social networking, Lego groups etc. This is not really a competition of which model is best but more like who can make better marketing in social media.

Lego bricks are manufactured with very high precision. It will take affordable 3D printers several years to reach that level of sophistication. However, with 3D printing available, it may not be necessary to print Lego compatible components. One can print components for say a non Technic gearbox and just make end points compatible with Lego bricks so that entire gearbox can be fitted on any models. This is like motors. Each motor has specific studs/holes to fit it with other parts but internals of the motors are hidden. It is only the interfaces which needs to be compatible with Lego parts.

But can anyone buy from this site? Or someone has to be associated with a school?