Rijkvv

My personal top 5: -8868 Air Tech Claw Rig: although it may look dated, I think this is still the best pneumatic set ever released. I found the controlling of the crane better than the Unimog. -8479 Barcode Truck: a complicated build with lots of gears. First time I built this I placed one piece wrong, didn't control the gear movements, and ended up disassembling half the vehicle to get the error out. A very good use of the Flex system and unique in the barcode way of programming. Unfortunately the motor in my copy broke. -8880 Super Car: IMO still the best supercar ever. Gearbox to change gears instead of functions, like it should. The set that brought me out of my Dark Age. -8485 Control Center II: in my opinion even better than 8479. The chopper is nice, the T-rex is unique and uses the Flex system. I might buy a second copy. -8480 Space Shuttle: Very unique, very complicated and I think this is the single best TECHNIC set and one of the best overall. Two other great sets: 8460/8431/8438 Pneumatic Crane Truck: while smaller than 8421, I think this uses it's size better. Not motorized, but better outriggers and a gear to slew the crane. 8459/8464/8439 Pneumatic Front End Loader: a great pneumatic set with which I played often when I visited my cousin. I think many agree with me this is the best front loader.

@allanp: The 8275 Motorized Bulldozer is my only set of the studless era, but reading the reviews I think you are absolutely right. Most of today's sets either use PF, or need them as add-on to stay playable. I think the PF system is overused. Some of the mid-sized sets would be more fun with either gears (a rack-and-pinion tipper like the tipper function of 8479 would be great) or pneumatics. The 8070 is a perfect example of a set that could me much better, if a proper manual gearbox was installed. Instead, a switchbox is used to control functions that I doubt are motorized in real life at all, let alone with a switchbox between the seats. The true supercars 8880 and 8448 prove that awesome sets can be made without the need of motors. But I guess that's what kids like these days: no need for realism, as long as everything is motorized. I see the same with MOCs: I think there are few new MOCs without motors.

http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/270408 Nice, but I prefer the original studded 8880.

I think controlling of the crane is done better in 8868 than 8110, but the latter is still available at the moment. The 8459 Front End Loader has been re-released twice, as 8439 and 8464. It might be not too difficult to get one.

I think there are many people who agree with you. I partly agree as well. When I look at my shelf, I see the TECHNIC Space Shuttle and some modular buildings. Is it a reason for me to be proud of? Of course not. But I enjoy the build every time I start again, and it's fun to watch them and play with the functions. The same with MOC's from other AFOL's.

7839-1: Car Transport Depot [12V Trains, 1986] 7839.mpd

1484-1: Houses [Town, 1987] 1484.mpd Errors: Used part 3003pe2 instead of 3003pe1 6360-1: Weekend Cottage [Town, 1986] 6360.mpd 6532-1: Diesel Dumper [Town, 1991] 6532.mpd

What about older, discontinued sets? At the moment it's logical that 8110 is more popular than 8421. Maybe interesting: Lugnet top 100.

For me, a re-release is the same model with the chance of part substitutes (if the original parts are discontinued). With that in mind, I don't see a re-release of Café Corner or Market Street likely. And to be honest: I don't even want re-releases of those sets. Sure, they look great from the outside, but they haven't got any interior. And íf there is a re-release of any of these sets, it's likely there won't be a new modular the same year. With a modular like the Cinema, I wouldn't mind, but that's another discussion. I would be happy if a new café/hotel will be released (IF it's nice looking, a decent interior and no stickers) but I don't even see that happen. I guess it will take a while before we see a café/hotel again.

Some rule I would consider is: must have opening doors. Of the regular (non-exclusive) train sets, that same Metroliner was the last with proper doors.

Since this is the LEGO Technic, Mindstorms & Model Team forum, I would say most of the Model Team sets. The main models looked awesome in general, but I think many of the alternates look ugly. The alternate of the 8421 was ugly, if you see it as an alternate at all. The crane truck itself was good for it's original purpose, but I never saw something like that on a cherry picker. And the cherry picker itself is the most ugly design I saw for this type of vehicle. Erik Leppen has made a far better alternative: a wrecker. A complete new vehicle, and looks better than the official alternate model in every way.

Here is another topic about the 8288.

Nice mod. You kept the same looks and these look better than the Maersk train. I liked the compability of the 9V era 8x4 containers with each set that contained them, including the harbour sets. Six wide is more realistic of course.

@Mikka: That would be great! Here somebody showed a great engine, and that was without the compact battery box. It would be possible for sure for LEGO to release a model like that. And a previously released train wouldn't mean the same model can't be released a second time. The TGV has been released twice so far, but obviously the Hobby Train is a quite recent set. As for the 4551: that's likely based on an Austrian locomotive class 1020, built in Germany as the Baureihe E93 and E94. Can be nice as well, but this type of engine doesn't have driving rods. Of course LEGO can use a blend of different "crocodiles", most of the train sets aren't based on one single prototype. How about a German E03 train set? It could contain a locomotive and two coaches, possibly one dome car. That could be a reincarnation of set 7740. James Mathis has showed a nice engine, and I've seen a nice one here on Eurobricks as well. Tan and dark red match the colours best. It could be in the price range of the Horizon Express, but this set doesn't have to look strange without a second motor car. Something else I would love to see is a big modular train station.

The Br 80 PF equip-able? I doubt it - it's a very small shunter tank engine without much place to fit the components. Holger Matthes has built one, but that's in a much bigger scale than the average official LEGO set. @Legosjaak: that's not a diesel, but nice anyway. And don't forget the Austrian electrics. I've read somewhere in this topic about 4551. That's based on Austrian colours, but the classes were designed in Germany (Baureihe E93 and E94 if I'm correct). A possible upgraded successor could be built in red as well (as the Austrian machines were), or dark green or blue (German version). A electric locomotive with large wheels, the first electric engines could be nice as well. It would be a great reason to release some more dark blue curved parts!

The V200 was used mainly for mainline passenger service. The only diesel engine you mentioned is a typical engine used for freight trains and shunting duties. As far as I know, the only diesel passenger engine released by LEGO was the Santa Fe Super Chief - and that was modeled after an American engine. 7897 and 7938 aren't engines at all. I agree with you about the GG1, I think it's the best choice for an American electric engine. For something European I would love to see a model of the NS 1200. Reminds me to work on my WIP. Problem with our trains is that they are not well-known enough. Maybe an international train like the NS-SBB TEE diesel multiple units. As for steam: I would love to see a Dutch passenger steam engine like the NS 3600 or 3900 - but that will never happen. British steam trains have often the same problem as Dutch ones: wheels through the base. The solution used on the Emerald Night is not very realistic. German steam trains don't have that problem, and are known enough to be recognized by a large audience. Pacific is used already, but the advantage is that they have a proven undercarriage for it. And else the German Baureihe 38 (2C or 4-6-0) may be a solution? I don't see a very big American steamer like a Big Boy or Challenger happen as a set. LEGO doesn't sell seperate wagons anymore, and I doubt they can release a huge steam train with at least one wagon in a set while keeping the price reasonable. I'm not familiar with smaller American steam engines. But hey, I wasn't aware of any of the American engines released as a set, wanted them all and still regret not getting them when it was possible for a reasonable price. Perhaps a 1D or 2-8-0 freight engine? In the Netherlands alone there were five classes (two Dutch, a German, a British and an American). Shortly after WW2 many of the engines used by the Royal Army (WD Austerity) and the US Army (USATC S160) served in Europe. Especially that last one is interesting for multiple countries.

As for diesel engines, I would love to see a German V200. It will be hard to beat the one designed by James Mathis though.

For me, a supercar needs a working gearbox, independent suspension, working steering wheel, and a fake engine. I don't see the 8070 as a true supercar.

Great work, good old Lego builder! I like your good old classic approach here. I can't wait to see it with wheels added. Or the complete result for that matter. @VFracingteam: two corrections: the crashed truck was the X2, basically the same technique of the '87 truck, but with a body very similar to the X1. Vatanen didn't win the race in '88, his car got stolen and was only returned when it was too late to start the next stage. His teammate Kankkunen did win. Still one of the most famous and most impressive actions of rally history: (at 1:00 the actual action takes place)

The old points from the blue and grey era are more tight than the later 9V era and RC points.

I'm surprised I see some flagship sets. Personally I think the two backhoes can be counted as such. They may not have a very high piece count, but were among the most complicated sets of their respective era's. Piece count doesn't say everything. Today's sets contain many pins, increasing the piece count. As a result, a recent set will be smaller than a set with the same piece count 20 years ago. So, I think you can count 8053 as mid-range, but not 8880 - neither 8455 and 8862. The 8865, the flagship of 1988, contained a mere 900 pieces. That means the 2012 pick-up wouldn't count as a mid-range set! I think you have to compare the set with more sets from their era. In the late '80s till the late '90s there were many great mid-range sets. It's hard to pick a favourite, so I picked two: -8460/8431/8438: IMO still the best mobile crane. Better functionality than 8421 for less money. -8459/8464/8439: The best front loader. It has been with good reason these two sets were re-released twice.

In Railbricks issue 7 there are some problems written about the Emerald Night. About derailments: "Be sure to have enough cable length between the locomotive and the tender. Better a bit too long then a bit short. This can be the reason of derailing at points."

Congratulations!

You got me there nychase!

I agree with you. It adds something to locomotives and rolling stock. Without them, it looks empty. However, most train sets like EMU's and DMU's, as well as American stuff don't use them. The buffers in US-style trains like the BNSF and the Maersk Train look out of place.