Carrera124

Well, at least brickset offers a download link for 6576 instructions. And it seems as if the instruction PDF file is hosted on TLC servers: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=6576-1

Technicopedia is a great resource. Unfortunately, it "ends" in 1995

8074 and 8856 8840 and 8850

My votes: 1st place: 8865, imho better than 8860 and 8880 2nd place: 8851, pneumatics gone crazy ;-) 3rd place: 8846, good design + multiple features

Same for me. My older brother already owned some technic sets, but 8845 offered many new parts. The suspension works great, neither to stiff nor too soft. Not a flagship set, but really remarkable.

I did

Recently, I bought this small f1 racer set, too. I really like this classic studded style. White technic bricks, you can't have enough of them

Very well done. The cubic design of the original car really demands for a lego-rization.

Same for me. 4559 seems to offer good features (I like the modular cargo concept) and therefore good playability, too. But it doesn't look like a realistic passenger train, still today it looks somewhat futuristic.

Great review, great set. Nice look, great features, very playable.

Nice body and great features. But to be honest: the wheels are much too big, so it looks like an extreme-tuned version. Using smaller wheels would provide a much more realistic "Golf" street car look.

Your forgot about Bricklink... I assumed that Bricklink sellers would take care of proper shipping. But some weeks ago, I bought 6 older MISB technic sets (all of them were small). Descrition stated that 3 boxes were good, and 3 boxes were bad. For shipping, the seller used a box that was too tight. No space for filling stuff in order to protect the contents. Result: 5 sets were crushed, only 1 set survied without crushed box. So, 2 sets that have beend good before shipping, were damaged due to improper packaging. Lessons learned: when buying from private sellers, I always (!) talk abput shipping and packaging before buying. Most sellers only offer the cheapest shipping methods, related to limited allowed size of the shipping boxes this often results in improper packaging.

Interesting topic. As a child, I bought my last technic set in the year 1991 (set 8856). After that, it took about 20 years to buy my next technic set in the year 2011 But even during my (buying) dark ages, I still collected all catalogs, and therefore knew about the changes. Recently, I built 8070 und 9398. And yes, the studless style offers advantages when designing complex technical structures. But when building without buildung instructions, imho the studless style is less intuitional. And in my personal opinion, the studless beams remind me of Znap and Knex. So, I prefer the studded style. In some cases, the newer studless parts are a great addition. Fortunately, both Bricklink and Ebay offer enough pre-2000 MISB technic sets Some at high prices, but it is still possible to find bargains. For example, some weeks ago I bought MISB 8855 for €40 at Ebay. A set I always wanted to get as a child. Moreover, there are still some classic Technic sets I am planning to buy. But I do not plan to buy more modern studless Technic sets. Sorry TLC, you'll miss my money on that.

The biggest game changer since then is electronic retailing, and D2C. But even then, most volume will be done in bricks and motor stores, as this is where Joe Public go. Now we have Cuusoo and there are some really good train designs on there. Not just expansion packs. Winter Village Train Depot: 112 supporters. Lisbon Tram 155 supporters. Space Mining Monorail: 75 supporters. Ter Trans Rapid Express: 81 supporters. Pennsylvania Railroad Carriages: 12 supporters. Emerald Night Sleeper Car: 11 supporters. Now tell me that there is a massive market for trains, and expansion packs, when AFOLS' cannot even get these well designed projects to above 200 supporters? Whether you agree that Cuusoo is the right venue with it's rabid fandom or not, AFOL trains are simply in the minority especially when it comes to licensed branding. Non-licensed projects like Japanese Architecture scores 2871 supporters. British Birds 2102 supporters. Lego Mountain Biking 1909 supporters. Realistic Trees 920 Supporters. Roller Coaster 430 Supporters. I don't believe that Cuusoo is a represenative source for rhings like this. Iam pretty sure that only very few "standard" customers even have knowledge about it. And to support a model, you need to be registrated at the the Cuusoo site. I am not, I don't like to create a new login for each new subsite... if Cuusoo would be integrated into the Lego customer sites in a better way, and if the standard Shop@Home Login could be used, then it could be a potential representative source.

Well, thats more than 10 years ago. And imho, the "My own train" was just too much stuff during a too short period. Remember, I do not talk about 10 new sets a year. I am just talking about the small amount of 1-2 train sets per year. Just an assumption, but no fact. Well, these people just don't habe another chance. And the fact that the extra parts are bought by other people, clearly states that there is demand for them. Remember again, I am just talking about reducing of 1 set. E.g. technic - this year, 9 new sets have been released. Who would have been complained if it would be "only" 8 ? But that's the problem. What, if you already bought 7936, 7937, 7938 and 7939 already in 2010 ? And 3677 in 2011 ? If nothing new is offered, there's nothing to buy. Buying the same sets double or triple, just for buying's sake, can't be the right way to convince TLG that selling trains is profitable.

Of course, more train sets should be designed in a way that there are chances to sell them... the Toy Story set is not a real train set, at least for me. The same applies to the Monster Fighters train. Hogwarts Express was somewhere in between. I don't think that train sets ever made TLC run into problems... and at least, the strategy of producing many, many (imho too many) sets seems to work for Technic, City, etc. Why not reduce the amount of these sets a little (!!!) bit ? One Technic set less each year, one city set less each year. Instead, add one train set. It wouldn't have to bee a huge train or building, a single car or some accessoires would be enough. Today, there's really nothing. Even the level crossing has been dropped. So today, you can buy two different cargo trains (3677 and 7939) and a passenger train (7938). And a railway station (7937). and more over, you can buy a non-motorized Maersk train. That's not bad at all, but let's imagine someone would like to start with Lego trains. He looks up the sets that are offered. Not bad to start with, but not more than a small basic arrangement. Maybe our fictional potential train buyer, gets knowledge about the fact that TLC offered very few train sets during the last years. Conclusion ? It is not possible to create an interesting an varied model train layout, he only could buy the same sets twice or triple. So, he might decide NOT to start with Lego trains, because Lego trains do not offer a sensible perspective. And TLCs headquarter is whondering, why train sets are selling so bad...

No, of course not. How do you come to this weird conclusion ? I did not say anything like that. All I am saying is: two ro three more train sets would not tackle the business strategy of TLC. Nor, they would lead them into problems... I don't need the hundredth studless Technic set. I don't need the thousandth Star Wars re-released set. I don't need the next Sopwith Camel. Today, there are so many themes that offer lots of (redundant) sets. One or two sets less for those themes, nobody would even take notice of it. Thank god, both Bricklink and Ebay exist. If the TLC management doesn't want my money - well, Bricklink and Ebay sellers want it and take it. During the last 1-2 years, I spent thousands of € to buy sets that TLC isn't able to offer today. Money, that TLC could have encashed easily instead. Of course, I bought 10194 and 10219. I also bought 3677, 7936, 7937, 7938 and 7939. But that's all I bought from TLC during the last years. I would have bought more, but there's nothing more to buy. Well, sets that are not offered, cannot be sold.

The situation has changed in a way, that TLG does NIOT have the problems any more, than they had around year 2000. And production capacity can't be a valid reason. TLG produces more different sets per year than ever before (have a look at the current technic sets). And different sets can be produced parallel, there is no need to produce all sets simultaneously... If production capacitiy would ever be a problem, TLG could also drop sets from themes that are "over-crowded".

I don't think so. There are lots of sets that have the same price range: license themes, big technic sets, etc. Not at all. Today, it is nice to have train sets that come with trucks and other trackside structures. But for me, it is not necessary. Just compared to the old sets from the 80ies - in most cases, these old sets only contained the train and a minimum of trackside stuff, and nothing more.

In those days, this was a good decision. But nowadays, the situation has changed completely. I agree with that. But rday1982 also mentioned lots of other examples: e.g. combining train stuff with other City subthemes: harbour, combined bus/train stop etc. Even the new mining sets (8204 etc.) could be an option. That's it.

Well, what does TLG prevent to increase this number ? I don't think so. Today, trains are placed within the "City" range. So, everyone who is interested in the "City" theme, could be interested in buying train stuff. For me, it's just a chicken-or-egg dilemma: Today, only a very small amount of 3-4 different train sets are available. Same for the last few years. So, the range is very, very limited. This could prevent potential buyers from buying (not only AFOLs, but parents too), and force them to buy sets from themes that offer a greater range. Have a look at Ebay and/or Bricklink: single locos and cars from current train sets, are selling at good prices (and people who buy current train sets, and sell the locos/cars as single items, draw good profits...) Unopened train sets from 2006-2009 (RC trains) sell at prices that nobody dreamed of some years before. You won't be able to buy a MISB 7897 for less than 200 €, and MISB 7898 goes up to 250 € - 300 €. I do not believe that all this sets are bought by MISB set collectors. Conclusion: buyers have reasonable demand for train sets. TLG doesn't offer a reasonable range of sets, so buyers tend to buy older sets or single items from other sellers.

Indeed, it is. Current train sets are awesome. But I am missing single locos, single cars, more trackside stuff. But I just got the new catalog 2012 July-December, and it seems as if 7936 has been dropped. Instead, 3677 now appears as a regular set.

All in all, it's a good set with great features and great playability. But there's one thing, that is really annoying me: the design of the suspension. As instruction page #25 shows, the springs are mounted using part 6553 "Technic Pole Reverser Handle". The 6-length axles are not supported directly, therefore it's hard for them to cover forces that are vectored to the sky. Instead, the pole reverser handles have to take all the load, and are forced in lateral direction (lever action). It works, but I always have a bad feeling when the suspension is working... In this particular case, imho the suspension of 8865 is designed in a better way: the springs are mounted using axles, which are kept by bricks in a solid way. But as a disadvantage, 8865 looks somewhat strange, because both front and rear axle are much wider than the bodywork. 8880 offers a better shape that looks much better.

Thanks :-) Indeed, it is !

Hello, my name ist Christian, and I', from Germany. Like so many others, I was a huge Lego fan when I was a child. It started out at the beginning of the 1980s, when I received my first sets. My favourite themes were (and are) Town and Technic. I received lots of sets as birthday presents and Christmas gifts. I cannot remember my first town set, but my first technic set has been 8030, followed by 8845. Within Town, my favourite sets is 6391. Not many people know that it also has been available in Germany, but it was (as a "special item" distributed by particular toy store chains). Technic highlight was 8865, and the last sets I bought were back in 1991/92. Fortunately, I never sold my sets, I just packed and stored them safely. I always wanted to have a 4,5V/12V train set, but they were too expensive. When 9V trains were released in 1991, my parents decided taht I was too old for playing with Lego trains. 1-2 years ago, I re-discovered Leog an started with buying PF trains sets. Imho, the style of the current train sets is similar to the style of the train sets of the 80s and 90s, so I really like them. But it would be great if Lego would release more train stuff... the sets are great and big. But I am missing single locos, single freight cars, single passenger cars, single accessoires. I also bought modern Technic sets (8070 and 9397). The models look great and work fine, but to be honest: I do not like the modern Technic style. Bricks without studes, millions of parts that look similar but are different, that's not what I like. So, I decided that LEgo will miss my money, and bought older Technic sets instead, from the 80s and 90s. Sets that I missed when I was a child, and during my dark ages. Especially, I am looking for MISB sets with boxes that are damaged or heavily worn. They're not good enough for collectors, and in most cases, they're too expensive for people that only need bricks. So, I don have to feel guilty when I open them for building... Another hobby is racing and collecting of slotcars, fron the late 1960s until today. Both analog and digital, I modified my track so that it can be raced either in analog or digital mode :-) kind regards, Christian